Chapter 202: Self-Discounting and Hard Work

Suddenly going from an unemployed worker to a manager was a process Nail had never experienced before. He worried he might not handle it well.

Lynch reassured him with some tough encouragement.

True to his name, Nail didn’t mind crashing through obstacles and promised he would get the job done.

Assigning Nail as manager was partly because of their blood relation—Lynch trusted him. This wasn’t an ordinary job; it was a special company used to discount Lynch’s construction costs. In some ways, it was not illegal but also not entirely legitimate.

They also took on minor construction jobs. In the Federation, a construction company takes at least five years to qualify to build structures taller than ten meters, progressing from low to mid and then high-rise projects.

Most construction businesses buy certified companies to speed this up, but Lynch’s goal wasn’t to build for the Federation or himself.

Federation construction companies leave room for profit during bidding, following implicit industry rules. For example, they budget materials at higher market prices but use cheaper ones during construction.

They hold many secrets and sometimes create small material companies to carry out legal contract fraud, mixing brands and specs to maximize profits. This is legal because inspections check final building standards, not what materials were used.

These profit margins cause developers great frustration. Nail’s soon-to-be-managed company’s role was subcontracting.

As founder, Lynch could rig bids for Nail’s company, but since they lacked construction qualifications, certified companies would handle projects Nail couldn’t build.

To show goodwill, these companies left enough profit for Nail’s firm, saving Lynch significant costs.

Some even used a second company to subcontract further, possibly involving others like Mark’s company.

Certain practices, like legal profit transfer, are unavoidable.

“You need to find skilled workers. I’ll assign others to the main construction. You and your team just handle the roadwork.”

“Also, don’t hire people you’re close with—they’ll cause trouble. But you can try if you want.”

Lynch gave these final instructions, then had Asel come to the social service office. After registering the company, Asel would guide Nail for a while, making sure he knew what to do and what not to.

Before leaving, Lynch gave Nail three phone numbers: Lynch’s home, the office, and Asel’s office.

Soon, Lynch’s car arrived at the club, where two trucks waited outside. Workers in blue overalls were loading items from the club onto the trucks.

These materials would go to Lynch’s land on the city outskirts, which he had already sold to Hart.

A simple wooden fence, more like a rough picket, surrounded the club, with concept drawings of the land and future buildings posted on the boards.

Hart was a savvy veteran who understood the value of promotion. When Lynch arrived, some people, seemingly Hart’s staff, were already asking questions.

Lynch’s arrival quickly drew Kane, who appeared before him.

“Any objections?” Lynch asked as they walked inside.

The club had relocated from the city center to the suburbs, so some might have concerns, even newcomers.

Kane shook his head. “No. The head coach fully supports your decision, and the young players have no reason to oppose it.”

In the club, the owner, manager, and head coach hold the real power. With both the manager and coach backing Lynch, non-professional athletes had little choice.

Most problems in the club weren’t from the athletes but management using them against the owner.

When owner and management stand united, such conflicts disappear.

They passed through the club building to the sports field, where boys and girls trained separately.

Rugby wasn’t exactly a civilized sport but was thrilling and more likely to excite spectators.

Watching the young men run hard, crash into each other, and sweat made everything feel different.

The head coach noticed Lynch and came over. “Chairman…”

“Chairman?” Lynch laughed, glancing at Kane and Mordick. “That’s an interesting title.”

Mordick showed no embarrassment at his flattery. He had figured out the situation. Whether Lynch could help him realize his worth or not, simply keeping his team and getting paid on time satisfied him.

If Lynch could help him achieve his dreams, all the better.

He didn’t see flattery as humiliating—just a harmless way to strengthen relations.

Mordick nodded seriously. “We’re a professional sports club with multiple programs. Naturally, we formed a board of directors. You’re definitely the chairman.”

A single professional club and a multi-sport professional club operate differently. The former is a company; the latter is a group. Both form boards once they reach a certain size.

In the former, the chairman might be the owner or a hired manager; in the latter, shareholders usually serve themselves, even if the role is honorary. The chairman’s power remains.

This prevents executives or management from sidelining the shareholder. If the owner holds financial and administrative power, it’s harder to marginalize the chairman.

Mordick’s praise was simple but sincere, especially coming from a reputedly strict and proud coach.

Lynch looked back at the field. “The preseason starts next month. Have we registered?”

Kane nodded. “Our application is already submitted to the state federation.”

The amateur-to-professional league is the only amateur league with broadcast rights, run by the federation. The preseason results don’t matter much but aren’t irrelevant either.

If the team ranks well in the preseason, they might earn a seeded spot in the main tournament, starting directly from the second round, which would help with managing the athletes’ stamina.

Lynch turned to Mordick. “Coach, do you think we can secure a good ranking in this preseason?”

Mordick’s expression was a bit odd, but he nodded firmly. “The guys are working very hard. If they follow the tactics seriously and keep their spirits high, I don’t think it will be difficult.”

Mordick wasn’t boasting. Since recruiting the current players with Kane, he noticed something.

These young men, who had been doing hard labor, were more hardworking, humble, and obedient than the so-called stars of college football.

What pleased Mordick most was that these guys weren’t distracted by wild admirers.

In college, football players were always stars, with many girls trying to prove their charm by hooking up with them. The players often struggled to control their hormones, which led to inconsistent team performance.

Here, that didn’t happen. Everyone worked hard, and their dedication moved Mordick. He even thought that if he coached other teams in the future, he could copy this approach entirely.