Chapter 56: Perspective

"Do you know the rules of the game?" Carmine picked up his already prepared cup of coffee, took a sip, and gave Virak a very concise explanation. "Simply put, the players need to kick the ball into the opponent's goal, though it is not as easy as it sounds. This sport features versatile tactics, intense physical confrontation, and exceptional entertainment value. As far as I know, a football association has already been established in the Kingdom of Verland, and it is foreseeable that the influence of this sport will grow larger and larger in the future, which means..."

"Which means there is money to be made?"

"Heh... Of course." Carmine deliberately slowed his pace, waiting for Virak to answer. He was quite satisfied that Virak could keep up with his train of thought. "It just takes time. The influence of domestic football is still far from sufficient; there isn't even a decent club yet."

Virak asked, "Then why don't you establish a club yourself?"

Carmine smiled faintly and motioned with his chin toward the pitch. "Both of those teams belong to me."

"..."

"I am currently strongly promoting the professionalization of domestic football matches, as well as the establishment of the Belsey Football Association," Carmine said. "It won't be long before professional football matches are on the right track."

"Weren't you in the phonograph business? What made you branch out into this industry?" Virak purposely asked a somewhat ignorant question.

Carmine was in a good mood and patiently explained, "A businessman never hangs himself from a single tree. Since other things can also make money, why stick to just one?"

"That's true..." Virak flattered him. "If it were me, I would never have thought that such a sport could make money. You are truly brilliant..."

Ignoring Virak's flattery, Carmine focused his attention back on the pitch. "The match is starting."

Virak looked beyond the glass partition as more than twenty players in black and white jerseys began to chase the football. Through seamless passing, the players in black used skillful coordination to press toward the white team's goal not long after the whistle blew.

"The white side is going to lose," Virak said instinctively.

"It's not that simple." Just as Carmine finished speaking, a player from the white team intercepted the ball from the feet of a black team player, launched a long pass to a distant teammate, and instantly reversed the defensive and offensive positions while the black team was still pushing forward in attack and unable to recover in time. "This sport is a ninety-minute endurance test of physical stamina. Every single goal embodies shifting tactics, teamwork among players, and the ability to seize fleeting opportunities. How could scoring be that easy?"

"Still not as deep an understanding as yours..." Virak said.

Carmine shook his head slightly. "I've only been exposed to it for a month."

"You decided to make a massive investment after just a month of exposure?"

"Then how long do you think it takes to decide on an investment?" Carmine countered. "Opportunities won't wait for you until everything is completely ready. As a businessman, one must have a keen enough intuition, and the intuition this sport has given me is already sufficient, so naturally, I must decisively join in."

"Where on earth did you see such immense profit potential in it?" Seeing that Carmine was generous with sharing his views, Virak asked with the attitude of someone eager to learn.

"Because this is a sport truly designed for the masses," Carmine listed some of the research he had conducted. "The sport's requirements for an athlete's physique are quite forgiving, which is a very crucial foundation. Its rules are also simpler compared to other sports, yet at the same time, its spectator appeal remains at a high level, which is another very crucial foundation. In Verland, the popularity of this sport has been growing at a terrifying rate year after year. Here in Belsey, although the growth rate is not as high as in Verland, it is obvious that becoming a sport of immense influence is only a matter of time. Furthermore, even if it ultimately fails to reach my expected level, the loss to me is practically negligible, making this investment entirely feasible."

Listening carefully, Virak processed Carmine's investment strategy and remarked, "Actually, you did conduct very thorough investigations and research before deciding to invest, didn't you?"

"Of course. What difference would blind investment be from gambling?" Carmine smiled. "Let's continue watching the match."

Carmine watched the fierce competition between the two teams of his club, while Virak secretly absorbed and learned this rare and valuable knowledge.

After he made off with the money and left, he would inevitably have to engage in some business; he couldn't just sit around and eat through his savings. Therefore, learning some insights from the boss of Belsey's top financial consortium would be immensely beneficial to his future development.

However, one thing puzzled Virak deeply.

Why was Carmine willing to tell him all of this? To Carmine, he was merely a puppet to be discarded before long. If it were him, he couldn't be bothered to waste words on a puppet.

Virak recalled what Fletcher had told him that day—that Carmine was a man who cared only about money and interests. Did this mean that as long as he retained sufficient value to Carmine, he could stay here indefinitely and continue to play the role of Chris Thomas?

That must be the case.

Yet Virak had never intended to stay here. He could guarantee his usefulness for the present, but not for a lifetime. Moreover, dealing with deeply scheming people like Carmine and Fletcher made him feel extremely uneasy.

Compared to living upright as his own true self without constant fear, the prospect of staying here simply for a more comfortable and stable life held zero attraction for him.

Perhaps Carmine currently felt that he possessed good aptitude and intended to groom him. Virak willingly accepted this for now, but the moment the time came to run, he would flee immediately without letting surface-level benefits cloud his judgment.

Forty-five minutes later, the first half ended, and the players entered a fifteen-minute rest period.

The current score was two to zero, with the black team in the lead.

Carmine stood up. "Let's go."

"Aren't you going to watch anymore?" Virak stood up as well.

"The black team will take the victory in this match; there's no need to keep watching." Carmine walked toward the door, where an attendant held it open for him.

Virak quickly followed. "It does look like the black team is somewhat stronger than the other side."

"Of course, the white team is merely a sparring partner I prepared for them." Walking unhurriedly down the corridor, Carmine wore a confident smile. "Currently, there isn't a single decent club outside of the one I own, let alone any rival opponents capable of matching them. Therefore, the only way to temper them is by putting together another team of close skill levels so they can constantly maintain their peak performance."

"Once the future prospects become clearer, more financial consortia will probably enter the field, right?"

"That is certain. Many people are already paying attention, and it won't be long before clubs spring into operation like a hundred flowers blooming."

"Many strong competitors will appear by then."

"Of course," Carmine smiled consistently. "If my club were the only one, then this investment would truly be a failure. Only when more and more people enter the field, driven by fierce competition, will money, public attention, and policy rapidly push it onto the right, professional track, and that is when the real money is made."