Blackstone Code

Please support the translation by reading the translation and commenting on otakutl official site.

Thank you.Everyone from Otaku Translation

It's unclear whether it was because of the recent crackdown on Gevra's spies within the federation, but the TV was flooded with members of Congress criticizing the current foreign policy. Oddly enough, the public reaction wasn't as intense as one might expect.

There were protests in some areas, but they weren't particularly large-scale. Even more surprisingly, the Socialist Party didn't side with the Conservative Party this time around; instead, they chose to remain neutral.

The Socialist Party's neutrality essentially meant the Workers' Union would follow suit. But ultimately, the real reason for their stance boiled down to one thing—jobs. After all, who could put food on the table mattered more than political posturing.

Just a while back, during a major strike, even a brief halt in food stamps exchanges and food supplies had pushed many people to the brink of starvation. That despair was still fresh in their minds. As long as they weren't pushed to the edge again, they wouldn't risk causing another massive, uncontrollable uproar like last time.

Without widespread demonstrations or an unprecedented impact, some things are just hard to push forward.

Many people seem to think policies are top-down "commands," but that's not the case. In reality, policies often aim to serve the people at the bottom. You can see that in the proposals and regulations pushed every year.

Take, for example, the Minimum Wage Law. Originally, there was no such thing. The ultimate goal of passing laws like these is to help those who need it most.

The problem now was the lack of grassroots support. Even though Pretton had bribed some members of Congress in an attempt to sway the inevitable conflict, it was all for naught.

On a day like this, Lynch received an invitation to attend the final match of the York County Amateur Rugby League.

Though technically not the last game of the season—there were still eleven matches left until the league officially ended—a victory today would secure Lynch's team a spot in the second-tier professional league, allowing them to return to competitive play.

For the residents of Sabin City, this was monumental news. It was electrifying, uplifting, and deeply significant.

Society is strange sometimes. Many of these people were unemployed, scraping by on relief rations, and hadn't given rugby a second thought before now. Yet today, they cared more about politics, economics, sports, and practically everything else than ever before.

Not only did they care—they were invested. It was a peculiar phenomenon, one that might warrant a sociologist's analysis.

Standing on the newly renovated field, Lynch leaned against the railing. To him, the oval-shaped stadium wasn't luxurious—it was rather modest. But at this moment, standing in the best seat overlooking the entire stadium and the roaring crowd, he felt something stir deep inside.

Ambition? Perhaps. He couldn't quite put it into words.

As the players from both teams took the field, the game began.

From the very first whistle, the atmosphere reached a fever pitch. The young men from Lynch's club played with ferocity, their aggressive tackles sending shockwaves through the opposing team. Even some of the more well-known athletes on the other side chose to avoid confrontations altogether.

This made the game far more thrilling to watch.

In a time filled with despair and frustration, nothing was more invigorating than watching a team crush their opponents with ruthless efficiency.

As the crowd cheered for the team and its players, they forgot the emptiness in their pockets, the anxiety of job hunting, and all the burdens they wished to leave behind. For now, there was only joy and excitement.

Throughout the match, Lynch's club dominated the opposition, leaving them with no chance to fight back. He had hoped for a close contest, but alas, it wasn't meant to be.

When the final whistle blew, the stadium erupted in deafening cheers. The players removed their helmets and stood together, accepting congratulations and medals from representatives of the Athletes' Association.

Everyone was elated, and Lynch, as the team's majority shareholder, was invited to participate in the ceremony. It was only fitting that he be present for such a pivotal moment.

"Congratulations, Mr. Lynch. I'm looking forward to seeing your team's performance in the professional league later this year," said an official from the state Athletes' Association. His enthusiasm was genuine—for one, Lynch's personal influence was growing, making him a prominent public figure.

In a society where money talks, fame equates to status and wealth. No one could afford to ignore—or offend—someone like Lynch.

Moreover, Lynch was also one of the founders and directors of the Women's Professional Sports Development Association, which made him "one of their own." Naturally, they greeted him with broad smiles.

Lynch shook hands with the official, his expression polite but composed. Together, they posed for photos next to the trophy before presenting it to the team's manager.

Kane was overwhelmed with emotion. If there was anyone in the club who truly loved the sport and the team, it was Kane.

Just last year at this time, they were mired in enormous trouble. Investigations fueled by distrust and subsequent suspensions had stripped the club of its professional league license, demoting it to amateur status. The very existence of the club was on shaky ground, with the looming threat of dissolution casting a long shadow.

The athletes, disheartened and disillusioned, abandoned their sporting careers to find new jobs. Even the Athletes' Association began deliberating whether to withdraw financial support from Sabin City's professional club, contemplating erasing its name entirely from the Federation of Professional Sports Clubs.

Everything pointed to their inevitable descent into obscurity—until Lynch arrived. And with him came a glimmer of hope that slowly turned things around.

Under his influence, fortunes shifted, opportunities arose, and what once seemed doomed began to flourish again. It wasn't just luck; it was transformation. Lynch didn't just bring money—he brought vision, stability, and a renewed sense of purpose to a team teetering on the edge of collapse. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, there was light at the end of the tunnel.

His lips trembled as tears streamed down his face, mixing with a bit of snot. He pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his face, then tried to shake Lynch's hand—but Lynch deftly avoided the gesture.

With an unmistakable look of disdain, Lynch watched Kane, who seemed oblivious to the rejection. Standing a meter away, Kane poured out his gratitude.

The players were all smiles, basking in the promise of a brighter future. Meanwhile, reporters swarmed around the head coach, eager for quotes.

The coach had been a mid-to-upper-tier figure in college leagues, and his move to Sabin City was driven by ambition—to make a name for himself in professional rugby. Rumors had swirled about why he left college sports, with some suggesting personal misconduct forced his departure. But none of that mattered now. Looking at the smile on his face, it was clear he had succeeded.

Everyone celebrated this milestone. The spectators lingered in the stands, unwilling to leave just yet.

Perhaps they wanted to savor the afterglow of victory. Or maybe they simply sought to delay facing the harsh realities of life outside the stadium. They knew that once they stepped beyond those gates, they'd have to confront bleak prospects and lives barely held together by scraps.

Later that evening, Lynch, Kane, and the head coach gathered in the manager's office for a small meeting.

Promotion to the professional league meant new priorities needed attention. As the sole investor, Lynch had final say over any decisions made by the manager or coach.

"We need advanced professional equipment…" Coach Mo outlined his requests. "These tools will provide detailed data on our athletes' physical conditions, allowing us to monitor each player's health effectively."

"Once we enter the professional league, competition will intensify, and injuries will become a bigger concern."

"We also need our own star players. We can't keep relying on these expendable 'blue overalls' players forever."

Kane nodded enthusiastically in agreement. "Star players are crucial to a team's identity and culture. Most successful teams have their own stars, which helps unite the fans."

To convince Lynch of the investment, Kane offered examples. "I've prepared a document…" He handed Lynch a file, visibly nervous.

Lynch glanced at him, then lowered his gaze to the file. On the cover was a brownish circle—likely the result of Kane resting a coffee cup on it.

"This has to be the most unique file cover I've seen this year," Lynch quipped with a chuckle, flipping open the first page. Kane exhaled in relief.

Lynch listened as Kane explained further. "The data I've compiled highlights the impact star players have on a team, as well as their economic value."

"Compared to jerseys of regular players, fans are far more willing to spend money on jerseys featuring star players—or customized merchandise with their numbers."

"Additionally, if we develop our own star, their rising market value could net us hundreds of thousands—or even millions—in transfer fees. And we're capable of doing that."

Lynch didn't need convincing. He understood the commercial potential better than anyone. Among celebrities, sports stars often held greater influence—and positive connotations—than movie actors or singers.

People naturally viewed athletes as healthier and more wholesome than film or music stars, and often, that perception was accurate.

The transfer fee for a top-tier sports star had already surpassed a million, while even A-list movie actors were still far from earning that per film.

All in all, the explanatory document and plan were solid.

Lynch closed the file and looked at the two men. "How much do you need?"

Please vote for this novel at https://www.novelupdates.com/series/blackstone-code/

Please do not delete thisHow to find a list of chaptersPlease find the chapter label next to your favorite translator's name, and click the label.