The Betting Business
However, everyone unanimously believed that this was a divine punishment and warning!
So, despite Freyr's authoritative stance, no one dared to further pursue such activities.
Freyr was speechless, "Religious fanaticism can be deadly..."
Since launching from the ground into the sky was unfeasible, Freyr had to think of another solution.
After a night of intense brainstorming, Freyr came up with an even more astonishing idea:
Since shooting from the ground wasn't working... he'd throw it from the sky!
But... how to get up there... Should he ask a wizard to fly up using a flight spell?
That would be too technically unsophisticated!
Freyr disdained such a notion.
Moreover, any wizard casting a fire spell would be far more spectacular than these fireworks; if he could enlist a wizard, there wouldn't even be a need for fireworks! A fire spell thrown down would be far more magnificent!
But without relying on a wizard... how to reach the sky?
Freyr suddenly felt quite ridiculous... Was he really going to build a plane from scratch?
Damn, this was getting out of hand.
Freyr definitely didn't have the skills to build a plane... so, besides a plane, what other options were there?
Freyr's eyes lit up!
The betting business was basically handed over to Focker to manage... Freyr himself, although leisurely, was strictly controlled by the house arrest order and couldn't leave the castle to oversee his betting empire.
Focker, the former coachman, had now risen dramatically in status! Originally, as the "manager" exiled with the disgraced young master to the Russell family's domain, everyone knew his identity as a former coachman. The highest-ranking household servant was the old butler, and Focker, an outsider with a manager's title, had been a commander without any subordinates.
Now it was different! He was Master Freyr's chief manager! Overseeing the entire Russell Plains and half of the Coate Province's betting business!
Whenever Focker went out, casino owners would almost always send people to warmly welcome this manager. Wherever Focker went, a trail of gambling industry people followed.
Hoping, just hoping, that when Manager Focker was in a good mood, some benefits would trickle down from his fingers, so they could share in the bounty.
Under Freyr's instructions, Focker had once casually disclosed the odds for a few football matches, and indeed, those underground casino owners made a tidy profit.
Freyr deeply understood human nature; even though the so-called exclusive operating rights nominally gave him a monopoly, there were still plenty of people secretly following suit.
Even in his previous life, underground betting rings couldn't be completely eradicated.
Freyr didn't want the title of the one leading the trend of gambling, drugs, and prostitution in the Russell Plains pinned on him. Since blocking it was impossible, the only option was to guide it!
Freyr slapped his forehead and immediately made a decision! From today on, all betting activities in the surrounding cities would be suspended! Freyr wanted to reorganize!
It could be said that "the young master moves his mouth, and Focker breaks his legs running."
Freyr patiently gave Focker an urgent three-day intensive training, not caring how much the poor former coachman could understand or absorb; he just dumped a pile of information on him.
As for what he didn't understand, Focker would have to figure it out on his travels.
Firstly, Master Freyr declared that henceforth, betting was absolutely not to be called "gambling"! The young master had come up with something strange to be sold openly before each match, a product still predicting game outcomes but with a slightly different twist.
"From now on, we're not a gambling house taking bets! We're a shop selling products! And what we sell will be called... football lottery tickets!" When Freyr said this, his expression was exceptionally serious, almost sacred. After a pause, the young master added, "From now on, don't call it 'gambling'! It's... legal betting!"
As for legality, Freyr set the simplest standard: each time, 10% of the profits would be donated to local government institutions!
Alright then!
Regardless of how much Focker understood, he could only ride a carriage with a few servants, traveling along the roads of the Russell Plains, going from town to town, ready to sell the young master's "football lottery" tickets.
By the way, before setting off, Focker couldn't help but ask one more question, "Young master, since we're planning to open shops to do business... shouldn't our shop have a name?"
"Football Lottery Center!" Freyr answered decisively.
Thus, our dear Manager Focker was destined to acquire a new title in the future: Manager of the Football Lottery Center!
Freyr's second task for Focker was... Freyr planned a massive overhaul of the current "league"!
So far, the league comprised only teams and players from the thousand castle guards. Now, the soldiers' rest period was nearly over.
If these soldiers continued to neglect their military training to play football, Freyr feared the old butler would lodge a substantial complaint against him in the next letter to the capital.
Therefore... Freyr decided to establish a real league!
In the castle guard, only one team structure would be retained. Freyr had Focker run to several cities, establishing a team in each! Now, football was sweeping across the Russell Plains, and finding a dozen or so good players in each small town shouldn't be too hard.
After that, each local team could start playing according to league rules... this concept thrilled Focker immensely!
According to Freyr's calculations, this so-called league still looked highly profitable... firstly, players from Wallace's era wouldn't demand high signing fees and wages.