161: The "open conspiracy" of the wealthy

Henderson's footsteps echoed in the corridor.

Each step carried a noticeable unease, a hesitant rhythm that even his teammates behind him could detect.

The door opened, and Henderson stood there, lips tightly pressed, his eyes a mix of anticipation and anxiety.

"Boss, the rumors about Liverpool... are they true?"

Henderson stood at the door, his hands clenched into fists.

Lin Feng looked up, putting down the draft of the contract extension he was reviewing.

He didn't answer immediately, but instead got up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the distant harbor.

"Jordan, come and sit down."

Lin Feng's tone was so calm that it had no ripples, and this composure made Henderson even more nervous.

"The rumors are true."

Lin Feng turned around, looking directly into Henderson's eyes.

"Liverpool's chief scout just left my office; they want to buy you in the winter transfer window."

Henderson's body trembled slightly.

Liverpool, the club he had supported since he was a child, the Reds representing the highest honor in Merseyside.

"And they're not the only ones."

Lin Feng continued, his tone still calm.

"Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, these giants are all watching you."

Henderson felt his throat dry, even swallowing saliva became difficult.

Henderson lowered his head, rubbing his hands repeatedly on his knees.

This was his habitual action when nervous, one his teammates were very familiar with.

"Boss, I..."

"But I refused."

Lin Feng interrupted him, walking over and crouching in front of Henderson.

This action brought their eyes to the same level, eliminating any sense of condescension.

"Because I once told you that here, you would be king."

Lin Feng's voice became gentler, but every word was full of power.

"A king doesn't easily leave his territory and his people, does he?"

Henderson looked up, a complex light flickering in his eyes.

"Our goal isn't for you to become an ordinary member of another giant club."

Lin Feng stood up, his hands behind his back.

"But for you to lead us to become a new giant."

"I need you, the team needs you, and this city needs you too."

These words made Henderson's whole body shake, a buzzing sound in his head.

He remembered his confusion when he first arrived at Hartlepool, the trust his teammates placed in him, and the fervor of the fans whenever they chanted his name.

"Boss, I understand."

Henderson looked directly at Lin Feng, his gaze like tempered fire, without a trace of wavering.

"My heart is here."

He stood up and extended his right hand.

Lin Feng smiled and shook his hand; this handshake lasted a long time.

Neither man let go, as if confirming some sacred agreement in this way.

"Then, get ready to sign the new contract."

Lin Feng released his hand and picked up a document from the table.

"New salary, new buyout clause, new commitment."

Henderson took the document, quickly scanning the terms.

"Twenty million..." He almost squeezed the number through his teeth, speaking with an incredulous tone.

He looked at Lin Feng in disbelief.

"This is our valuation of you, and it's our bottom line."

Lin Feng's tone was full of confidence.

"Any club that wants to poach you must pay this price."

Henderson's breathing quickened; he had never been valued so highly, nor had he ever been expected so much of.

Twenty million pounds, this was an astronomical figure in League One.

"I'll sign."

He picked up the pen without hesitation and signed his name on the contract.

This signature represented his absolute loyalty to Hartlepool United and his firm belief in the future.

After seeing Henderson off, Lin Feng immediately summoned Richard Arnold.

"Vardy, Walker, Sigurdsson, all first-team players' contracts must be revised."

Richard quickly recorded the boss's instructions.

"I've already emailed you the specific buyout clause amounts; implement them according to that standard."

"Understood, Boss."

Richard nodded in response, but with a hint of worry on his face.

"Will these buyout clauses be set too high?"

"High?"

Lin Feng retorted.

"When you see their future performance, you'll realize these numbers are actually very conservative."

Meanwhile, the scouting department also received Lin Feng's latest instructions.

The recruitment efforts for Lallana and Clyne must be accelerated.

Chief scout Tommy White immediately contacted relevant personnel at Southampton and Crystal Palace.

"Tell them, Hartlepool United's offer will not be below market price."

Tommy assured the other party on the phone.

"We have sincerity and strength."

Southampton was not enthusiastic about selling Lallana.

This technical midfielder was in his prime and an important rotation player for the team.

But Hartlepool United's offer was indeed very attractive.

Three million pounds, this was absolutely a big sum for a League One club.

Crystal Palace's attitude towards selling Clyne was relatively more open.

This Dutch defender's position in the team was not stable, and his contract was about to expire.

The offer of two million pounds made Crystal Palace's management very tempted.

On the training ground, the team was making final preparations for the away match against Cheltenham Town.

Old John clearly felt the change in the players' mood.

The Liverpool rumors made everyone realize that they were no longer obscure young players.

"Focus on training, forget about those rumors."

Old John clapped his hands, trying to get the players to concentrate.

"Cheltenham is a very tough team, and their home advantage should not be underestimated."

But the players' performance was clearly somewhat distracted.

Vardy's shots were wildly off target, and Walker's crosses lacked accuracy.

This state worried Old John immensely.

He knew that external attention and temptations were huge tests for these young players.

At 3 PM, Sophie Green's article was published on The Guardian's website.

The title was: "Sweet Troubles: Hartlepool United's 'Prodigy Predicament'"

The article's angle was very unique; she didn't sensationalize transfer rumors but analyzed the deeper meaning behind this phenomenon.

"When giant clubs start paying attention to your players, that in itself is proof of success."

Sophie wrote in the article.

"Lin Feng's 'prodigy factory' model has been recognized by the football world."

"The question isn't whether players will leave, but how to continue moving forward on the foundation of success."

This article sparked a heated discussion online.

Fans expressed their views, some worried about the loss of core players, while others were full of confidence in the club's future.

Hartlepool United's official forum reached a record high in visits.

Fans fiercely debated the authenticity of every transfer rumor on the forum.

"Henderson cannot leave!"

A veteran fan posted on the forum.