Chapter 461: Chapter 461

Richard was starting to understand what Harry had meant earlier by "something important."

As their conversation drew to a close, he stayed unusually quiet, even when Harry tried to draw him out. Instead, Richard steered the topic elsewhere, deflecting with polite replies. He needed time to think. He understood perfectly how much weight his words carried with his brother — one suggestion, even a casual comment, could shift Harry’s decision in an instant.

When Harry finally finished saying his piece and saw Richard’s thoughtful expression, he chose not to press further. "Think about it," he said simply before leaving.

Once alone, Richard sat behind the wheel, lost in thought as the city lights streaked past his car window.

To be honest, his sister-in-law’s political ambitions had nothing to do with him. Why should he get involved? Even if his brother was part of it, wasn’t this all a bit exaggerated?

He let out a dry laugh and muttered to himself, "It’s not as simple as it looks. You can’t just judge it from the surface."

Because Harry — his ever-calculating, forward-looking brother — wasn’t the type to bring up politics for no reason.

Richard knew him too well. For years, he had watched how Harry managed Maddox Entertainment — how his network had gradually shifted from entertainers and producers to investors, government officials, and even members of Parliament. The pattern was unmistakable.

Harry wasn’t just thinking about the entertainment business anymore. He was quietly laying the groundwork for something much bigger — something political.

Even though Richard didn’t want to admit it, the truth was fairly clear: Harry wanted the Maddox family to become part of Britain’s elite. Wealth alone wouldn’t be enough, so he was betting on his wife’s rise in politics. It might not show results immediately, but with steady progress, that ambition could eventually take shape. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on Nove1Fire.net

That day, Richard’s mind was in turmoil. As he drove toward the sea container yard, he couldn’t help but dwell on his family’s growing aspirations — and Harry’s unspoken ambitions.

Whenever great wealth accumulates, politics inevitably follows. But did Harry really want Sarah to enter that world for something good?

’This was dangerous territory.’

Supporting junior politicians might start with money, but once the goals rise higher, money becomes just the entry ticket. Behind every campaign lies a battlefield fueled by power and wealth — and the one with the deeper pockets almost always wins.

"Forget about it," Richard muttered under his breath, shaking his head as if trying to drive the thoughts away.

He tossed his keys onto the bedside table and kicked off his shoes, exhaustion finally catching up with him. Reaching for the blanket, he pulled it over his shoulders and let out a deep sigh. The soft hum of Manchester outside faded into the distance as his eyelids grew heavy.

For now, he just wanted to sleep — and forget it all, at least until morning.

The next day, Richard forgot about the discussion with his brother and focused on Manchester City’s new agenda.

Manchester City could finally launch their long-awaited official website, www.mancity.com version 1.0, a project that had originally come from Karren Brady’s proposal.

Before this, he had discussed various aspects of the website development with her, essentially sharing ideas inspired by successful football media templates he had seen.

Initially, City had aimed to consolidate traditional media resources to create a simple online platform. But Richard’s innovative ideas transformed it into a full-fledged football portal, rather than just a one-way information outlet. It was estimated that Richard would be busy with the project throughout the next month.

The next day, in early September, City officially launched their website. As a club portal, the content focused on both club matters and broader football topics.

The club decided to conduct interviews with staff during training breaks for promotional purposes. Players, coaches, administrative personnel, even security staff — everyone was included, giving a comprehensive glimpse into the club’s culture.

Even when reflecting on a century of winless seasons and the darker periods when football hooliganism was at its peak, the website did not shy away from these realities. These moments were acknowledged as fundamental aspects of English football culture, unpolished and unexcused, yet inseparable from the club’s story in the eyes of outsiders.

The interviews were not conducted all at once; they were carried out in stages, making this a long-term project.

In the following days, Manchester City shifted their focus to the upcoming away match against Leeds United, who were currently sitting in seventeenth place.

Last season, Leeds had been a strong side. City had struggled against them during the first half of the campaign, but in the latter half of the season, George Graham’s Leeds suddenly began to falter.

During his time at Leeds, George Graham had one main focus — improving the team’s defense. By the end of that season, the club had achieved a respectable sixth-place finish in the Premier League.

However, out of nowhere, during a television program, Graham remarked that he "might be tempted if a big job came along in London."

Many Leeds fans took this as a sign that he wasn’t fully committed to the club and was already thinking about leaving. Naturally, the media jumped on the story — and they ran wild with it.

Some players and staff at Leeds began to feel that Graham was not fully aligned with the club’s culture or long-term vision. In short, Leeds — especially the fans and chairman Peter Ridsdale — believed that Graham was always looking for the next opportunity, that his loyalty was lacking, and that the club had merely been used as a stepping stone.

During match day, as they headed toward Elland Road, Manchester City shifted their focus, primarily relying on a youth squad in the league.

Nevertheless, O’Neill decided not to start the players who had just completed their quarantine, as he doubted their fitness and mood. Instead, he focused on the youth and newcomers, structuring the attack around Trezeguet as the target man, with Samuel Eto’o supporting to create more goal-scoring opportunities.

As always, Leeds United approached Manchester City with a defensive counter-strategy, which posed a significant challenge for the young City players. Despite struggling to break through Leeds’ solid defense, they also had to remain cautious of opposition counterattacks.

Thankfully, Trezeguet, acting as the target man, managed to head the ball past Nigel Martyn, giving City the lead.

Leeds United 0 – 1 Manchester City

Following this victory, Manchester City faced Wimbledon and Southampton, with both matches ending in draws, keeping their momentum steady but leaving room for improvement.

2. Manchester United P6 | +15

3. Liverpool P6 | +12

4. Tottenham Hotspur P6 | +9

5. Manchestr City P6 | +9

6. West Ham United P6 | +8

Just after the match against Southampton, Richard’s phone buzzed loudly on his desk. It was Harry.

"Tomorrow," his brother said over the line, his tone brisk but cheerful. "I’m coming to Maine Road — and this time, I’m bringing my wife."

Richard froze mid-sentence, staring at his phone. Bringing his wife? She was in her final trimester.

The next day, when Harry’s car pulled up outside the stadium, Richard nearly panicked the moment he saw his sister-in-law step out. Her belly looked enormous — she was clearly close to giving birth.

Rushing over, he blurted out in disbelief, "Shouldn’t you be resting? What did your doctor say? Why on earth are you still running around ?"

She only laughed softly, brushing off his concern with a graceful wave of her hand.

"I’ve spent weeks lying in bed, Richard," she said with a teasing smile. "and "Don’t make a fuss of it. I’m pregnant, not made of glass. The doctor said I’m fine as long as I don’t overexert myself."

Harry, standing beside her, just shrugged with a grin."She insisted on coming. Said she’s tired of being cooped up at home all day."

Richard shook his head, exasperated. "Unbelievable. The two of you are impossible."

Of course, Richard knew exactly why they had come — the visit was just a pretext. What else could it be, if not a continuation of yesterday’s discussion?

Their "investment" was purely political. Sarah’s position as a government official had given her valuable connections, and her ambition to become a junior member of the Conservative Party made their intentions crystal clear. She wasn’t just seeking a promotion — she was preparing to become a behind-the-scenes supporter, someone who could quietly shape influence from within.

To be fair, Richard understood their logic. Both Harry and Sarah didn’t have many viable options. With the Labour Party freshly in power and still riding a wave of popularity, trying to buy influence there would be pointless — a mere icing on the cake. They didn’t need new friends; they already had plenty.

The Conservatives, however, were a different story. Investing in them now was like offering a lifeline when everyone else had turned away. If they eventually regained power, those who had supported them during the hard times would stand to gain the most.

But it was also a dangerous gamble. No one could predict when Labour might falter. If the Conservatives remained out of favor for too long, all the money and effort Harry put in could vanish into thin air.

Still, Richard knew how the game worked. In Europe, large corporations often played politics like the stock market — spreading their bets across different parties, ensuring that no matter who won, their interests were protected. It wasn’t loyalty; it was strategy.

And as he watched Harry and Sarah talk about "public service" and "long-term vision," Richard couldn’t shake the feeling that this was no longer just about ambition.

Maddox family was already stepping into a much larger arena.