CHAPTER 348: THE DREAM TO BE UNDEFEATED?

It’s not that Richard was afraid of what might happen to him if he supported Charles Spencer’s idea to investigate his sister’s death—

But wouldn’t it be better if he simply had no enemies at all

Moreover, Richard had already made up his mind: unless something truly urgent forced him, he would stay far away from politicians and their tangled problems. He would rather focus on what truly mattered to him—Manchester City.

So, after offering his thoughts and gently persuading Charles, Richard stepped back and let him reflect on it thoroughly.

As for King’s Cross itself, the area presented both opportunity and challenge.

Once an industrial "brownfield," it was littered with aging infrastructure and industrial relics in desperate need of transformation. The public space was limited, fragmented, and poorly connected. To make matters worse, the circulation in front of the two major railway stations—King’s Cross and St. Pancras—was chaotic, undermining their efficiency as key transportation hubs.

Therefore, from a regional development perspective, King’s Cross—at the heart of Camden—is increasingly positioning itself as a key global financial hub within London. Given the widening gap between housing supply and demand, as well as the shortage of quality office space, a large-scale, comprehensive redevelopment of King’s Cross is not just ideal—it’s a necessary foundation for Camden’s future growth.

After gathering extensive information and confirming the key details, Charles finally agreed with Richard’s assessment—for the first time—and began actively assisting him with the land strategy for the "Conjoined Triplets" gas tanks.

Richard pulled out a map he had carefully collected and studied over the past four years, ever since he first set his sights on acquiring those tanks.

Charles looked up from the papers. "So, what’s your conclusion, Richard?"

Richard’s tone was calm but deliberate. "My initial impression is that Kenton is definitely planning something major for King’s Cross. But it’s not finalized yet. Even if they’ve made up their minds, there are still several bureaucratic layers to clear before anything is made public. That said, while we can try to gather more intel, I suspect that by the time those signals become obvious, this won’t be a secret anymore—at least not among the right circles."

Indeed, if Richard’s only goal were to develop his own land, he wouldn’t need to act further. He could simply wait for the final government announcement. But his ambition extended far beyond that.

London was the beating heart of Britain—and as the world’s first industrialized capital, securing land there had never been easy. The Duke of Westminster’s family holdings alone were enough to make any developer envious. But Richard knew better than to aim there—such territories were untouchable.

Instead, he saw Viscount Bute’s estate as a rare opening—one of the few viable paths left to realize his broader vision for St. Pancras Hotel.

Thanks to earlier moves, he had already secured plots in Islington, Mayfair, and Wilmington Square. Combined with the St. Pancras Hotel under his control, the groundwork had been laid. But at this point in time, most of London’s prime real estate had become saturated—too crowded and too competitive.

The only exception was the Camden area, particularly King’s Cross, which remained largely underdeveloped and riddled with rundown buildings and forgotten corners. That reality, of course, discouraged most big-name developers. The area’s environment was bleak, and interest was low.

But for Richard, that was precisely what made it the perfect opportunity. He already knew the future. He had seen the transformation that King’s Cross would undergo—how it would rise to become one of the city’s most vibrant, sought-after districts. So for him, acquiring land there wasn’t just a business move—it was a strategic imperative.

If he truly wanted a stake in London’s real estate game—especially as housing prices were set to soar over the next decade—then King’s Cross, with its current low prices and untapped potential, was his best shot. Getting as many parcels as possible and becoming a key player in the area’s regeneration wasn’t just a smart move.

It was the move.

Starting from London and Manchester, his long-term dream eventually stretched to owning property in every major city across the UK.

One goal, in particular, felt personal: ensuring that Manchester City—his club, his pride—would never have to stay in someone else’s hotel again. Why should they need to rent a room from someone else?

He envisioned a network of properties across the country—not just as investments, but as part of an integrated system. Lodging for the players. Luxury hospitality for visiting fans. Flagship venues that carried the club’s identity with them, even when they weren’t on home turf.

From Glasgow to Birmingham, from Cardiff to Edinburgh, each site would serve a purpose—part business, part strategy, part legacy. Owning a piece of every major city wasn’t about power or ego. It was about vision. And permanence.

"Understood. I’ll think it over again," Charles said quietly as he rose from his seat.

Richard simply nodded, offering a small, respectful smile. He didn’t push. He didn’t need to.

Some decisions couldn’t be forced—and for now, planting the thought was enough.

After wrapping up the meeting with Charles Spencer, Richard hurriedly closed the office door behind him and immediately turned on the television—just in time for the UEFA Champions League broadcast.

The 1997–98 UEFA Champions League marked the 43rd season of UEFA’s premier club football tournament, and the sixth since its rebranding from the old "European Champion Clubs’ Cup."

This season introduced several notable changes. For the first time, the group stage expanded from four to six groups—meaning only two of the six group runners-up would qualify for the quarter-finals, unlike in previous years where all second-placed teams advanced. Additionally, two qualifying rounds were now required, instead of just one.

After three years of being funneled into the UEFA Cup, champions from smaller nations finally returned to the Champions League. Even more significantly, this was the first year that runners-up from eight domestic leagues were allowed into the competition.

Borussia Dortmund, the defending champions, had finished third in the Bundesliga the previous season—making Germany the first country to send three teams to Europe’s top tournament.

Before the calendar turned to August, the schedule for the upcoming rounds and draw dates of the competition had already been set. All draws were to be held in Geneva, Switzerland. Naturally, the ones representing the club would be O’Neill and Mourinho, as they were scheduled to attend the event.

Group D: Monaco, Ajax, Sporting CP, Lierse

After defeating Lierse with a 2–0 score, Manchester City will face Ajax Amsterdam today.

Two years have passed since Ajax’s triumphant reign over Europe in 1995, but the club that once dazzled the continent has changed almost beyond recognition. The core of that legendary team has largely dispersed.

This summer, Patrick Kluivert confirmed he would not be renewing his contract.

The future of their flying winger, Marc Overmars, remains uncertain.

Winston Bogarde has already departed for AC Milan.

Most significantly, their revered coach, Louis van Gaal, appears to have his eyes elsewhere—his ongoing flirtation with Barcelona is now an open secret.

Over the past twenty years, Ajax has sent nearly 50 players to Europe’s top five leagues—most of them becoming household names. For elite clubs across the continent, Ajax is not just a Dutch football powerhouse; it’s a boutique of talent, a proving ground where stars are made.

In just the past decade, Ajax has earned over $100 million in transfer revenue—a staggering figure that many clubs today can only dream of.

Together with Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven, Ajax forms the backbone of Dutch football. Their renowned youth academies are among the strongest in Europe, consistently churning out world-class players.

Much like Real Madrid and Barcelona have long supported La Liga’s growth, Dutch football thrives on the output of these three clubs.

Barcelona’s famed La Masia has become synonymous with elite youth development. While Real Madrid is less celebrated in this regard, its academy still contributes significantly to Spanish football.

Many youth players who fail to break into Madrid’s first team go on to successful careers elsewhere—across both La Liga and the lower divisions. Each season, roughly ten professionals emerge from their ranks, reinforcing the league’s depth.

Well, each club has its own distinct philosophy.

Ajax, constrained by the limited financial pull of the Eredivisie, cannot afford to retain top talent. Guided by a pragmatic, profit-oriented strategy—one shaped in part by its historical Jewish roots—Ajax has embraced player sales as a core business model. Simply put, if they don’t sell, they can’t survive.

Even as Barcelona has increasingly recruited Dutch players in recent summers, it remains clear that under Van Gaal’s stewardship, the club is doubling down on its homegrown talent. The promotion of Xavi from La Masia reflects this commitment. The seamless tactical alignment between Barcelona’s youth teams and first team ensures a consistent pipeline of talent.

Real Madrid, on the other hand, runs on a philosophy of elite performance and ruthless selection. As a club with a "noble" image and an appetite for instant results, it rarely grants extended opportunities to young players.

Unless one is a prodigy like Raúl or Iker Casillas, patience is limited. Still, the club’s widespread influence is maintained by distributing its youth products across the broader football ecosystem.

Ricahrd believes his manchster city must draw lessons from these three models to build a youth system that can power future success. From Barcelona, he aims to adopt tactical cohesion from the academy to the senior team. From Ajax, he seeks to emulate their sharp talent-scouting network. And from Real Madrid, he hopes to instill a culture of competition—where only the best rise.

Because if one genius trains among a hundred average players, that genius may be dulled, lost in the mediocrity.

But if fifty geniuses train among fifty average players, competition becomes a forge.

The average rise.

The gifted soar.

"GOAAAAALLL!!!"

The commentator’s voice cracked with excitement.

"Ronaldo finds the net again! Manchester City remain unbeaten this season—unbelievable! How do they keep doing this?"

Richard blinked, snapped back to the present by the roar of the crowd echoing through the speakers. He turned his eyes to the screen, just in time to see Ronaldo sprinting toward the corner flag, arms outstretched, teammates chasing him in celebration.

By the time the match ended, Manchester City had defeated Ajax Amsterdam in their second UEFA Champions League game with a score of 2–0.

He couldn’t help but smile.

’My club. Still undefeated.’

If their performance keeps up like this... could we really be on the verge of making history?Could we become the first Invincibles—even before Arsenal ever did?

The thought sent a quiet thrill through Richard instantly.