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Chapter 107: Under the Rule, There's No Mercy
The meeting between Lin Qi and the local Women's Rights Protection Association president was destined to be a successful one.
With both sides prepared, as long as neither breached the other's bottom-line principles, there was nothing that couldn't be negotiated and resolved.
Lin Qi directly informed President Elena that he could currently provide about a hundred job positions initially. Some were related to women's rugby players and associated support roles, while others were related to his Interstellar Trading Company.
Expansion of the company required diversification. Sometimes, egging each other on could indeed boost morale, but the decrease in resilience due to increased toughness shouldn't be overlooked either. Otherwise, even steel could shatter like glass with a single fall.
The solution was to introduce some female employees as a balance. Additionally, Lin Qi intended to arrange telephone operator positions, which would be more suitable for women than easily angered, impatient men.
President Elena once again commended Lin Qi's honesty, but she also had some requirements and opinions of her own.
Setting up these job positions wouldn't be accomplished in just a few days. She understood that it would take time, but she hoped that when arranging these positions, Lin Qi would preferably communicate with the local association, even if it was just a phone call.
This would prevent misunderstandings between them and improve efficiency. As the local association president, she expressed that there might be some tasks Lin Qi wouldn't handle well, but would be simpler for the association.
Overall, there were two main points. First, the Women's Rights Protection Association would fully support Lin Qi's plan to promote "female professional athletes" locally and statewide. Ms. Elena would also mobilize her own forces to initiate a nationwide sports equality movement.
Second, Lin Qi needed to provide more suitable job positions for women for President Elena to manage, including positions in other cities, all of which would need to be arranged by the association in Sabin City. This was President Elena's bottom line.
With no major disagreements, the verbal agreement was reached. Some other individuals were present as third-party witnesses. This verbal agreement itself had legal significance, although it wasn't as straightforward as a formal contract and could have some variables.
However, there was no need to worry about these variables until new, irreconcilable conflicts arose between the two parties.
After leaving the association, Lin Qi went to the club. Since signing the agreement yesterday, this club had officially become his property. Today, Kane had gathered everyone, waiting for the new owner's inspection.
Others in the club were very happy that someone was willing to take over. At least they wouldn't have to depend on the whims of the people in the Athletes' Association every month for their salaries anymore. They now had a somewhat brighter future.
For those unwilling to transfer, mainly the professional athletes no one wanted, they could finally return to the sports field. They were tired of the hard work and preferred the easier life of an athlete, which would also bring in more money.
In the afternoon, Lin Qi arrived, having subtly adjusted his morning hairstyle and donned a dark-colored professional suit. In an instant, he shifted from being a young, vibrant, and handsome youth to a mature adult with an air of sophistication.
On the training field behind the club, Lin Qi saw these people.
There were probably more than thirty of them, and each month, their salaries alone would amount to over seven thousand bucks. When Lin Qi signed the agreement, the people from the Athletes' Association who came to sign the contract were practically beaming.
With Lin Qi taking over, they no longer needed to bear the maintenance costs of a useless club, not to mention the "debt."
Lin Qi didn't make any direct statements to them. He briefly discussed his vision for the club's future and then let them go about their business, summoning Kane to the office.
Closing the door, the atmosphere in the manager's office became tense. Lin Qi sat behind the desk, expressionless but with a deep gaze, which made Kane's heart sink, feeling a suffocating pressure.
"Boss…" Kane started, breaking the silence in the room, but his words didn't finish as Lin Qi interrupted him, "Apart from electricians and plumbers, everyone else is terminated, including the athletes."
Kane forced an ugly smile. Among the thirty-odd people, there were only three electricians and plumbers. The rest were former team athletes and some corresponding professionals, including coaches, coaching assistants, and janitors.
Running a team required more than just a head coach. Under a head coach, there were often specialized coaches for different aspects like physical fitness and explosive power. These coaches were responsible for arranging daily training activities according to the head coach's requirements.
Below them were assistants who recorded each athlete's physical condition for the head coach to have up-to-date information.
It was a sizable group. Besides, there were also some athletes who couldn't transfer. Essentially, they were no longer athletes.
They received the lowest living allowance from the Athletes' Association while looking for other jobs outside. Many had completely lost their athletic physique, and most importantly, they were getting older.
A professional athlete's career usually lasted around ten years, assuming they maintained their form and participated in competitions and training continuously.
Now, with the club not maintaining training and competitions for several years, everyone was out of shape. Lin Qi even smelled heavy alcohol on the head coach, suggesting a potential drinking problem.
Perhaps he was a good coach, but he wasn't what Lin Qi needed.
Lin Qi’s fingers tapped on the desk twice, the dull sound making Kane's heart skip a beat, feeling a momentary palpitation, followed by his reiterating his decision, "They're all fired."
Kane lowered his head in silence. These colleagues had been serving this club together with him for quite a long time, roughly around fifteen years in total; some had been in the club even longer than he had.
Before Lin Qi arrived, they crawled forward in the darkness, encouraging each other, and anticipating the arrival of light.
The light eventually came, and Lin Qi's takeover immediately brought improvement to the club. But was it not somewhat cruel if this hope came at the expense of sacrificing these colleagues?
They awaited the light, but what arrived was not a blessing, but a judgment.
Kane, in his silence, pondered deeply. When Lin Qi dismissed Julie, he didn't speak up. It was too sudden, and he didn't even know what to say.
Now, as Lin Qi demanded the dismissal of others, he started to hesitate. Should he speak up? At the same time, he was afraid. Afraid that by opposing Lin Qi's demands, he would become one of "those people."
He still harbored the desire to lead the club back to glory. He had given his youth to this club. If he had to leave now, it would be more painful than death.
He didn't have many ideals or life ambitions. He just wanted to stand on the sidelines of the training ground, watching those guys run with smiles on their faces, striving for the championship.
He had thought his silence was accumulating strength to make a powerful statement. But soon he realized his silence was a compromise.
"They… for the club..."
"For those whose contracts haven't expired, provide an additional three months' salary as compensation. For those whose contracts are expiring, cease renewal procedures and provide one month's salary as compensation. This is the final decision."
Lin Qi's voice was filled with unquestionable authority, leaving Kane silent in the end.
After what felt like thirty seconds, Lin Qi spoke again, "Kane, understand this, I'm under immense pressure to take over this club. But since I've taken over, I'll breathe new life into it."
"I've already negotiated with the mayor. A larger area outside the city’s ring road will be allocated for us to build a comprehensive training ground. We'll have better facilities and a more efficient logistical system."
"I'm also prepared to bring in young, new players—stronger, more reliable coaches, and a more scientific training methods…."
"By early next year at the latest, the Sabin City Professional Rugby Team will step onto the league field. This is what everyone hopes for."
"Do you understand what you have to do, right?"
Though only a twenty-something young man, his words carried immense pressure, making Kane's breathing become heavier.
After a moment, under Lin Qi's gaze, Kane nodded. "I understand, boss."
Lin Qi nodded, his finger tapping the table. "Good. I want to see the results by next week. You can leave now."
With a heavy sigh, Kane left the room. Standing outside the office, he realized that this room behind him was his own office.
He somewhat understood Lin Qi's decision to dismiss these people, but emotionally, it was still hard to accept.
If these "veterans" weren't gotten rid of, Lin Qi would find it difficult to completely control the situation here.
The more glorious their past, the more they would become obstacles to Lin Qi's control. So, they had to be kicked out.
As for whether anyone would be willing to stand with Lin Qi?
Insignificant people’s thoughts were unimportant.
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