Inside the club, Kane faced his colleagues, some of whom he had worked with for as little as three to five years, others for over a decade. His face was pale.
People's gaze towards him was also complex, filled with disgust, hatred, and something inexplicable, intertwined with a hint of timidity and a sycophant aspect tainted with hatred.
Everyone had been dismissed, but only Kane remained, and what was even more difficult for people to accept was that Kane had become the executioner responsible for carrying out the final sentence.
It was understandable why they kept the plumbers and electricians; that was the nature of technical jobs. The more hours they put in, the more skilled they became, making it easier to find fulfilling work.
The experienced plumbers and electricians could effortlessly handle any problem, big or small.
But others weren't as fortunate. They were all summoned by Kane and had their last hopes extinguished.
The atmosphere in the club was now as heavy as if a funeral had just taken place. Each person wore a solemn expression, as if mourning something buried deep within.
Seeing these people, Kane lowered his head and muttered an apology.
No one responded; they simply looked at him or elsewhere.
The dismissal of the coach was something everyone had anticipated, but they hadn't expected to be part of the dismissal plan themselves.
Gradually, some began to stand up one by one and silently leave. They already had other jobs; their purpose in the club was not out of passion but to receive subsidies.
The Athletes' Association never ceased its support for professional athletes, but there was a process involved. They needed to be affiliated with a club, even if it was an amateur one.
While losing the subsidy was a disappointment, they weren't willing to beg for it. Losing it didn't mean they would starve, and gaining it wouldn't drastically change their lives.
So they chose to follow their hearts and leave directly.
Some who remained had a deep attachment to the club or had nowhere else to go. They still wanted to meet Lin Qi and see if there was any chance of redemption.
In the afternoon, nine trucks barged into the club's parking lot. The sight of these towering trucks driving side by side was undeniably imposing. Kane and their leader, Cook, had a brief discussion, which left him even more perplexed.
Shortly after half past three in the afternoon, Lin Qi's luxury car entered the club. Kane immediately led the remaining dozen or so club members out to greet Lin Qi.
Lin Qi didn't behave like someone who had just terminated the opportunities of these people to continue their lives at the club. Instead, he exuded warmth, like a familiar figure from everyone's memories—a neighbor's child, a relative's child—youthful, radiant, full of energy, with a beaming smile.
The stark contrast left everyone with a sense of unreality. Could this good-looking and sunny youth really issue such heartless commands?
"Each one of you is a hero of the club."
In the small meeting room of the club, Lin Qi affirmed the contributions these people had made to the club as his first words. His expression was genuine, his voice filled with deep emotion.
Some of the more sensitive individuals immediately teared up, reminiscing about the miracles the club had created in the past, witnessing its rise and fall.
The more they thought about it, the more painful it became.
Lin Qi's gaze lingered on each person for a moment. "The rise of a new empire is inevitably built on the ruins of the old. It's the same for this club."
"The irrational structure, the management system, and the criteria for hiring led to a brief glory here, followed by a plunge into the abyss."
"I'm here to rescue it from the depths. I won't joke around with my money. To rejuvenate it, to reintroduce Sabin City Rugby Club to the people, I must cut off its rotten flesh."
"In truth, it pains me deeply, and I feel distressed too!"
"Each of you is a precious asset to the club, but we must face a difficult choice."
"I recently spoke with the mayor; our club will relocate. I will establish a more professional sports center, with a more competent team to take over the work here and more humble and reliable athletes."
"We will create new glories, new histories, and write our own miracles in the national leagues."
"You are all witnesses, even if you are not here at the club, you are witnesses to these miracles."
Lin Qi's words were always heartfelt. He paused here, then his tone lightened slightly. "To thank you for your past contributions to the club, starting today, I will establish a Hall of Fame. Your names will be inscribed, and you will become lifelong honorary members of the club."
"Whenever we have a match, whether it's rugby, tennis, polo, baseball, hockey..." His gaze swept over them once again. "Whenever we have a match, anytime, you can enter for free and watch the game from the best seats."
"You can also come to the club anytime, see, experience our progress every day."
"Of course, although you have temporarily lost your jobs, I will reopen the application process to the public. If you meet the requirements of the new team, I welcome you back to this family..."
Suddenly, the resentment toward Lin Qi dissipated among these people. They even became somewhat pleased, feeling that what Lin Qi was doing made sense and was the right choice.
Previously, there had indeed been an atmosphere in the club that was difficult to address. Many people were just going through the motions, even neglecting their duties.
Their affiliation with the club was solely for the subsidies; they didn't care about the club's fate, including the coaching staff.
Now, in retrospect, it was evident that when the club faced investigations and troubles in the past, if they had been able to bounce back on their own, it might not have led them to their current situation.
The Athletes' Association could guarantee their basic operations. As long as they continued to strive and win, they would have a different future.
But it was those who only wanted to laze around that brought the club to such a state. Without removing these pieces of rotting fleshes, there would never be hope.
Some even thought that Lin Qi deliberately did this. They believed they could easily integrate into the new club and feel proud of themselves.
Under Lin Qi's sincere and emotional speech, everyone gradually began to feel how much Lin Qi valued the club and understood his good intentions.
They even thought that Lin Qi's purpose was to drive away some people like this, and then they would be rehired and lead the club to new glories.
Suddenly, they no longer resented Lin Qi. Of course, they still harbored some dissatisfaction towards Kane, but overall, they were very satisfied. With or without the club, they could enter the Hall of Fame, enjoy prestigious treatment—what more could they ask for?
After Lin Qi vividly described the future and discussed the current challenges with them, each of them left with gratitude and excitement, shaking hands with Lin Qi.
Of course, they didn't notice that everything was being recorded by several cameras.
After seeing off these people, Kane's emotions were somewhat stirred. Many of the things Lin Qi had just mentioned were unknown to him.
He didn't dare to ask earlier, but now he couldn't help himself. "Boss, you mentioned we would have a new place..."
Lin Qi glanced at Kane and nodded. "At least 30 acres or more, maybe even more. The club won't just focus on rugby; we'll engage in various mainstream sports."
The value of sports and the associated brands and businesses wasn't yet apparent in this era; people hadn't realized the potential. But Lin Qi understood.
The news of people wielding guns to rob shoes on the streets was the best proof. They didn't even want money; they just wanted specific shoes.
In this "barren" world, many things were still in the nascent stage, making it the perfect time for industrial layout.
It might take a long time to see satisfying results, but once these industries matured, they would bring enormous profits and influence that couldn't be ignored.
Kane wasn't aware of Lin Qi's profound intentions. At the moment, he only felt that it was worth enduring the criticism he had faced for Lin Qi. He didn't have any other thoughts; he only cared about rugby.
At this moment, he believed Lin Qi must be in a good mood. So, he tentatively asked, "Boss, you mentioned that you would recruit those colleagues..."
Lin Qi chuckled, a laughter that made Kane feel uneasy. "Of course, but they must meet the requirements of the new team first. We don't keep deadwood... no, we don't keep useless people."Please vote for this novel at /series/blackstone-code/There are advance chapters available nowAccess will be granted 24 hours after the donationTier 1: 7 Advance chapters Link
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