Raising the team's wages was a serious matter.
Ethan was undeniably wealthy, but he did not believe that a club could maintain a healthy wage structure simply by throwing money at the problem.
It was an issue every wealthy club needed to consider carefully.
Ethan also had another concern.
Most of New Manchester United's players were still very young and possessed enormous potential. If their wages were increased too dramatically now, what would happen when they developed further?
A club's wage structure had to remain sensible.
Unplanned salary increases could be disastrous.
For that reason, Ethan instructed the Commercial Department to assess the club's financial position alongside the players' performances and contributions, with the aim of creating a comprehensive wage-review plan.
Under the proposed structure, several core players would receive salaries comparable to those at League One clubs.
Young stars such as Curtis and Čech would move into the highest wage bracket in League Two.
The remaining players would also receive appropriate increases, with even the lowest-paid members of the squad earning wages consistent with the division.
As a result, New Manchester United's total wage bill would rise significantly.
The Commercial Department's report stated that the club's off-field operations had been very successful that year, particularly after securing several major sponsors.
The team's performances had also been outstanding.
Provided that form continued, the club could afford the new wage structure.
That was another benefit of Ethan's decision to establish a professional Commercial Department from the beginning.
Before any of the players received their increases, however, Ethan believed one person's contract needed to be addressed first.
...
"Mr. Yu, Mr. Mourinho and Mr. Jorge Mendes have arrived."
The secretary's voice came through the telephone, followed by a knock at the door.
Mourinho entered first.
The manager was rapidly building a reputation throughout England, and he looked especially pleased with himself.
New Manchester United had continued winning in League Two and had extended their lead over second-placed Brentford to 7 points, an exceptional achievement.
The Red Rebels had also reached the semi-finals of the League Cup.
In the quarter-finals at the end of November, they had defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers, who were third in League One.
Wolves were an extremely strong side, and the match had been fiercely contested.
However, with home advantage and an outstanding performance from the players, New Manchester United had eventually won 2-1.
Their semi-final opponents would be Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.
Tottenham were currently fourth in the top flight, so their strength could not be underestimated.
Even so, New Manchester United had already emerged as the competition's surprise package after eliminating several strong opponents.
The team's recent performances had filled Mourinho with confidence.
Earlier in the tournament, whenever reporters asked about New Manchester United's ambitions, he had always said they wanted to progress as far as possible and that the experience mattered more than anything else.
Recently, however, he had declared for the first time that their objective was to win the trophy.
The other semi-final featured Blackburn Rovers and Fulham.
Neither side appeared unbeatable, which only increased Mourinho's confidence.
The man accompanying him was Jorge Mendes, his newly appointed agent.
Mendes was not yet especially famous, but Ethan knew that he would eventually become one of the most influential agents in European football.
He was not the sort of representative who constantly encouraged players to create trouble or make public demands.
He preferred to operate discreetly and was particularly skilled at building relationships.
"Mr. Yu, this is Jorge Mendes," Mourinho said with a smile as they entered.
"Welcome, Mr. Mendes. Please, sit down," Ethan replied, rising to greet him.
Mendes smiled.
"Please call me Jorge, Mr. Yu. José and I are good friends, so that would feel more natural."
Ethan shrugged amiably, and the three men took their seats.
"I believe both of you already understand why I asked you here," Ethan began.
"José has done an outstanding job at New Manchester United over the past year. I could not have asked for anything more.
"Considering the club's current position, I've decided to offer him a new contract."
Mourinho's excellent work had already attracted the attention of several clubs.
The newspapers were filled not only with rumours concerning New Manchester United's players, but also with reports linking Mourinho to other teams.
Ethan had investigated and discovered that those rumours were not entirely unfounded.
Nor had they been deliberately created by Mourinho or his agent.
Over the previous year, Ethan and Mourinho had developed an excellent understanding.
Whether discussing team management or communicating with each other, both men were direct and transparent.
Whenever a problem arose, they discussed it openly and resolved it without resorting to manoeuvring behind the other's back.
Mourinho despised players who behaved that way, and he knew Ethan felt the same.
For that reason, Ethan did not believe Mourinho would be foolish enough to use outside interest as leverage against him.
After speaking, Ethan handed a contract across the desk.
Mendes opened it and began reading.
Most of the terms were similar to Mourinho's previous agreement, but his annual salary had doubled.
The length of the contract, however, had been left blank.
Mendes glanced up at Ethan in surprise.
The smile remained on his face, making his thoughts difficult to read.
He then handed the document to Mourinho, who immediately smiled when he noticed the empty space.
Mendes was an intelligent man.
After considering it briefly, he understood Ethan's intention.
Mourinho was being invited to choose the length of the contract himself.
He could write down however many years he wished.
It demonstrated Ethan's extraordinary confidence in Mourinho and caused Mendes to reassess the young owner's ability.
Mourinho had often spoken privately to Mendes about Ethan.
He said that he had met many club chairmen and experienced countless situations in football, yet no one had ever inspired the same level of admiration or made him so willing to devote himself to their project.
At first, Mendes had assumed Mourinho was simply praising his employer.
Even so, he had been interested in meeting Ethan.
Now, during their first encounter, this single gesture had genuinely surprised and impressed him.
It was precisely the right way to deal with someone of Mourinho's personality.
"Mr. Yu, I don't believe there's much left for us to negotiate, is there?" Mendes asked with exaggerated helplessness.
Ethan and Mourinho both laughed.
The salary, bonuses, and other terms in the contract were virtually impossible to criticise.
They could not compete with the largest salaries available in the Premier League, but they represented the highest annual wage New Manchester United could currently offer.
The agreement also guaranteed annual increases based on results.
If New Manchester United earned promotion from League One the following season, Mourinho's salary would rise sharply once again.
"Jorge, our club operates differently from many others," Ethan said.
"We have a complete system for evaluating a player's contribution and value. José can explain it to you.
"We will never allow an important player to remain underpaid.
"In fact, we're currently preparing another wage review for the squad.
"The club is performing well both financially and on the pitch, so the players deserve to benefit."
Mendes had already heard about the plan from Mourinho.
He knew New Manchester United were rebuilding their entire wage structure and preparing to increase salaries according to each player's current status and contribution.
The situation confirmed Mourinho's assessment of Ethan.
He was not an owner trying to extract profit from the club.
He was genuinely different.
According to the evaluation team's report, Juninho Pernambucano would remain the highest-paid player.
Hleb and Malouda would follow him.
Those three would occupy the top wage bracket as a reward for their outstanding performances over the previous two seasons.
For the rest of the squad, the club had considered assessments from Mourinho and his coaching staff alongside each player's performances on the pitch.
They would be placed within the second and third wage tiers accordingly.
Whatever their position, every player would earn more than before.
"It appears your club has already entered a healthy cycle of growth," Mendes said with genuine surprise.
"That's remarkable."
"Not yet, Jorge," Ethan replied.
"We still need more time.
"Our results this season have been excellent, and our commercial strategy has aligned well with the interests of several major companies in Manchester.
"That has brought us some success away from the pitch.
"But it is still nowhere near enough.
"Our salaries remain well below those paid by many League One clubs, let alone Premier League sides."
From those words, Mendes could tell that Ethan's ambitions extended far beyond the club's present circumstances.
Just as Mourinho had said, his plans were enormous and long-term.
"By the way, Jorge, I've heard that you have an extensive network in Portugal," Ethan said suddenly.
"It's respectable," Mendes replied modestly.
In front of Ethan, he felt he had little reason to boast.
Ethan smiled.
"I'd like you to help me find a winger."
Mendes laughed.
"That should be possible.
"The two most famous wide players in Portugal at the moment are Simão at Benfica and Sporting Lisbon's rising star, Quaresma.
"But to be honest, Mr. Yu, I don't believe either of them would consider joining New Manchester United, no matter how much money you offered."
A player's salary was important, but so was his career.
That was especially true for exceptional talents.
Convincing players such as Simão or Quaresma to move into England's lower divisions would be an extraordinary challenge that few people could overcome.
"No, Jorge," Ethan replied, shaking his head.
"I understand our position perfectly well.
"I know we cannot attract established stars like them, so neither is my target.
"I'm interested in someone else.
"He is also at Sporting Lisbon, he is sixteen years old, and he has just signed his first professional contract.
"I want him at New Manchester United next summer."
(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.)