Every morning, whenever Ethan drove out from home, he would pass by the new stadium.
As construction progressed and the stadium gradually took shape, the project, already praised by many as a work of art, attracted increasing attention.
That was especially true after Manchester City Council confirmed plans to redevelop the surrounding area.
Land values had risen dramatically.
It was no exaggeration to say that every piece of land around the stadium had become extremely valuable.
New Manchester United's average attendance at Old Trafford that season was already approaching 40,000.
Once the club entered the Premier League the following season, Ethan expected attendances to rise even further.
Because of that, he revised the stadium plans.
Instead of opening with only part of the second tier completed, the club would finish the entire second tier before moving in.
That would increase the stadium's initial capacity to 55,000.
It would also include 150 executive boxes.
A number of wealthy supporters and corporate clients had already begun asking about prices and advance reservations.
The commercial department, however, had no intention of releasing them immediately.
Their assessment was simple.
Unless New Manchester United were relegated immediately after reaching the Premier League, demand would continue increasing.
By then, the price of an executive box at the new stadium might even exceed the equivalent hospitality packages at Old Trafford.
Nobody at the club was worried about selling them.
According to the stadium's design, the executive boxes would provide more extensive and more personalised services than those currently available at Manchester United.
New Manchester United also possessed one of the best home atmospheres in English football.
Whether clients came primarily for the match or for corporate entertainment, the club believed its hospitality experience could compete with anything Old Trafford offered.
Of course, there was no denying Manchester United's enormous brand appeal.
Plenty of wealthy spectators attended simply because of the name.
But New Manchester United had developed a powerful identity of their own, particularly among younger supporters.
Turning off Alan Turing Way towards the new stadium complex, Ethan could already see the enormous structure rising in the distance.
At its highest point, more than fifty metres above the ground, the stadium made the cranes and heavy machinery around it look surprisingly small.
The workers below appeared almost tiny by comparison.
From the beginning of construction, Ethan had insisted that safety take priority over speed.
As a result, progress had occasionally been slower than initially hoped.
But the project remained within schedule and construction was proceeding smoothly.
More importantly, the workers were operating in a safe environment.
That mattered more than anything else.
The moment the workers saw the distinctive red sports car with green-and-gold detailing stop nearby, they knew who had arrived.
The young owner came almost every day.
Sometimes more than once.
He rarely interfered.
Most of the time, he simply stood nearby and watched quietly.
Several veteran engineers joked that Ethan wanted to witness the stadium emerging piece by piece.
The satisfaction of seeing something he had imagined gradually become real was difficult for outsiders to understand.
Ethan remained there for more than ten minutes.
Then he returned to his car, turned onto Ashton New Road, and drove towards Manchester city centre.
...
Roman Abramovich sat inside a business suite at one of Manchester's most luxurious hotels.
Two assistants were with him.
One of them was the same man who had accompanied him to several matches at Old Trafford.
He was currently presenting the results of their investigation.
"According to our valuation of Manchester United, acquiring a meaningful stake wouldn't be easy unless we pursued something approaching a hostile takeover.
"At the moment, two of Manchester United's largest shareholders, John Magnier and his associate, are involved in a serious dispute with Ferguson.
"The club's share price is also high.
"We could potentially acquire their holdings."
The assistant paused.
"But Manchester United's overall valuation is substantial and the ownership is relatively fragmented.
"Unless we acquired a very large percentage of the outstanding shares, achieving complete control would be difficult."
"What about New Manchester United?" Abramovich asked.
He was clearly more interested in the Red Rebels.
"We estimate the football club itself at roughly £150 million.
"But Ethan has invested around £250 million in the new stadium project, and there is also the surrounding land and associated development.
"If we wanted to acquire everything outright, I believe we'd need to offer at least £500 million."
From a conventional business perspective, much of New Manchester United's value lay in the stadium development and surrounding property.
What outsiders failed to appreciate was that Ethan considered the players themselves the club's greatest assets.
£150 million sounded enormous.
But several years from now, Kaká, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Messi alone could potentially be worth more than that.
"Five hundred million pounds?" Abramovich asked in surprise.
"Yes, Roman.
"And even that is a relatively conservative estimate.
"The surrounding land has appreciated enormously, and we're talking about a very large site."
The stadium itself naturally required considerable space.
But Ethan's cleverest move had been purchasing much of the surrounding property before redevelopment plans became public.
Now that the entire district was being transformed, that land had become one of New Manchester United's most reliable long-term assets.
As Ethan had once joked, the club might eventually make money simply by existing there.
Even rental income from the surrounding developments could someday be enough to finance the signing of a major player every year.
Unless the club created serious problems for itself, its financial foundations were becoming increasingly secure.
"So Ethan really has invested an enormous amount into this club?"
The assistant nodded.
"Yes.
"Which is why I don't believe he'll sell."
"What about buying only a stake?" Abramovich asked.
"I could inject substantial capital into the club.
"That would allow them to sign established stars and strengthen immediately.
"I wouldn't need control.
"I'd only want a percentage."
His assistant looked at him carefully.
"You really like this club, don't you?"
Abramovich's attitude had changed noticeably since attending the Millwall match.
"Yes.
"Very much."
"Then you'll still need to convince Ethan," the assistant replied with a helpless smile.
Abramovich's original plan had been to acquire a Premier League club.
Naturally, Manchester United had attracted his attention first.
But the price was enormous, and Abramovich had not been particularly impressed by the atmosphere at their home matches.
Then, almost by accident, he had watched New Manchester United.
At that moment, another assistant entered the suite and whispered into Abramovich's ear.
Abramovich immediately stood.
"Ethan's here."
...
Abramovich was already extremely well known in Russia.
Internationally, however, Ethan's name was arguably more recognisable in business circles.
And while Ethan might not yet possess Abramovich's wealth, the gap was not enormous.
More importantly, he was still only twenty-eight.
Abramovich had previously contacted Ethan and asked for a meeting.
Ethan had agreed, partly because he remained curious about the Russian from memories of his previous life.
But he had deliberately suggested meeting at a hotel in the city centre rather than Newton Heath.
His reasoning was simple.
The last thing he wanted was Abramovich walking around the training ground, becoming fascinated with one of his players or staff, then buying another English club and returning with an enormous offer.
Newton Heath had already been developed into a complete structure.
Losing one person would not destroy it.
Even so, continuity mattered.
Keeping the right people was always preferable to replacing them unnecessarily.
When Ethan finally met the Russian oligarch he remembered from newspapers and television in his previous life, his first impression was surprisingly positive.
Abramovich did not possess the intimidating manner Ethan might have expected from his reputation.
Instead, he seemed approachable and easy to speak with.
Abramovich personally greeted him when he arrived.
After the usual introductions, their conversation naturally turned towards the Millwall match Abramovich had attended.
Ethan could roughly guess why he had been invited.
He remained polite, occasionally offering his own opinions while allowing Abramovich to do most of the talking.
The Russian already sounded remarkably like a New Manchester United supporter.
Sometimes becoming attached to a football club really was that simple.
Abramovich himself might never have expected that one match would affect him so strongly.
But during the demolition of Millwall, he had seen something in New Manchester United's mentality that reminded him of himself.
That sense of recognition had immediately drawn him towards the club.
"I hear you're making an all-out push for the First Division title now?" Abramovich asked.
"Yes.
"The night after tomorrow we host Portsmouth.
"That match could decide the championship."
"Then I'll definitely have to watch it."
Abramovich thought for a moment.
"And who are you playing in the FA Cup final and UEFA Cup final?"
Ethan increasingly suspected that Abramovich was not yet much of an English football follower.
"Arsenal and Celtic."
"Arsenal..."
Abramovich repeated the name thoughtfully.
Arsenal were another club that had appeared during his initial investigations of English football.
"They're very strong."
"They are," Ethan agreed.
"But I'm confident about the final."
Ethan's answer remained polite.
Abramovich could also sense that he was beginning to bring the conversation towards a close.
It was time to address the real reason for the meeting.
"I'll be straightforward, Mr. Yu.
"I admire New Manchester United very much.
"I know you'll almost certainly be playing in the Premier League next season, and competing there will require considerable investment.
"I also understand that some of the funding for your new stadium came from selling portions of your outside investments.
"So I'd like to ask whether you'd consider selling part of your stake in the club."
Ethan frowned slightly.
Abramovich had clearly investigated both New Manchester United's finances and Ethan's personal holdings in considerable detail.
Otherwise, he would never have known so much.
"I'm sorry, Roman.
"I'm very happy to meet you, and I'm perfectly willing to consider you a friend.
"But I won't sell any shares in New Manchester United.
"I've said the same thing before.
"The answer would be the same regardless of who asked."
"I wouldn't need control," Abramovich replied.
"I'd only take a minority stake.
"You would still make every important decision."
Ethan shook his head.
"I'm sorry.
"I'm not selling."
"That's unfortunate."
Abramovich sighed, and his disappointment appeared genuine.
Ethan could see that.
But what difference did it make?
Someone wanting New Manchester United did not mean Ethan was obliged to sell it.
He had built the club from nothing.
He had personally watched almost everyone inside Newton Heath arrive.
Every important contract, appointment, and transfer had passed across his desk.
No amount of money could replace what that meant to him.
"I can see that you're genuinely interested in owning a football club, Roman," Ethan said.
"So from one friend to another, I'll give you one piece of advice.
"Football isn't like most investments.
"It has its own rules, its own culture, and its own way of operating.
"If you want to succeed over the long term, you have to respect that."
Abramovich smiled and extended his hand.
"Thank you.
"I'm genuinely glad we met."
Ethan shook it firmly.
"So am I."
...
Walking out of the hotel, Ethan gave a helpless smile.
He wondered what was happening to English football.
Two major investment groups had approached New Manchester United in quick succession.
One had come from the United States through an intermediary.
Ethan had rejected it immediately without even entering serious discussions.
The other was Roman Abramovich.
The landscape of the Premier League really was about to change.
Ethan looked towards the grey Manchester sky with a strange sense of anticipation.
He understood that greater investment could help the Premier League grow into a stronger and more internationally powerful competition.
But the nature of that investment mattered.
If more owners entered English football, Ethan would much rather they behaved like Abramovich than the Glazers.
Then Ethan returned to Newton Heath.
And almost immediately, he found that he had nothing left to smile about.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)