bookbashuk Chapter 24 Selection of Chief Referee
Chapter 24 Selection of Chief Referee
1963 6 Month 18 Day.
A high-level meeting was held at Sky Arena.
All the judges from the 200 floors also participated.
On the podium in the conference room.
"Before I knew it, I'd been working here for 15 years..."
The retired chief referee was named Harrington Maledez, a master of the Wind-Style Swordplay.
First, he reminisced about the past, and then he explained the selection method for the chief referee.
The selection of chief referees is usually done by outgoing chief referees, or more conventionally, through direct combat.
"Let's skip the formalities this time and use a secret ballot," Harrington said with a smile.
As soon as this selection method was announced, the expressions of several chief referees immediately turned sour.
The same was true of Lucci's adoptive father, Barn.
Even Lucci frowned.
Based on the usual selection methods, Lucci could be said to have won by an overwhelming margin.
However, if this method is used instead, Lucci's win rate is actually the lowest.
Lu Qi was focused on his training and didn't particularly cultivate interpersonal relationships, nor was he particularly familiar with the other referees.
It will probably be difficult to get their support.
"Let's schedule it for three days from now."
Thankfully, the vote wasn't held right now, otherwise Lucci would have lost.
The voting process involves only the chief referee and referees from floors 200 and above.
The chief referee's vote counts as 10 votes, and the votes of ordinary referees count as 1 vote.
After the meeting, Barn approached Lucci.
"That Harrington guy probably wants to keep a chief referee position in their Wind-Riding Sword Style."
Wherever there are people, there will be social dynamics and human relationships.
As the benefits of the Sky Arena increase, many martial arts styles naturally vie for those benefits, which then fall into the hands of others.
Some martial arts schools have already begun to connect and help each other, all in an effort to expand their dominance in the Sky Arena.
It also implies a certain degree of class stratification, which prevents newcomers from pursuing martial arts from having a chance.
"The chief referee has a total of 200 votes. Even if you include me and those two old guys, Baron and Lambert, you can only get a maximum of 30 votes."
"There are 197 judges on the 200th floor right now. How many votes do you think you can get?" Barn asked.
But considering his son's daily routine, he probably wouldn't get many votes.
Among the 200 judges, there are fewer than thirty judges who are independent martial artists.
Even if we manage to win them all, we'll only get around thirty votes.
Since Harrington proposed this selection method, he must have already chosen the candidates and garnered votes in advance.
It's virtually impossible for anyone else to compete with him.
Barn didn't necessarily want Lucci to become the chief referee, but he was quite dissatisfied with this selection method, especially if it continued in the future.
Doesn't that mean the position of chief referee was predetermined?
"I doubt he'll get many votes," Lucci thought, considering some of the referees he knew; they probably wouldn't vote for him either.
"Looks like you'll have to wait until next time," Barn said, feeling sorry for Lucci.
As for the next time, Barn is already 55 years old and not far from 60. Of course, there are also referees who are close to 60.
Most of these people became chief referees at the age of fifty, back when merit was the deciding factor.
I never expected such a turn of events to happen this time; I'm afraid others will follow suit in the future.
What worries Barn even more is that if Harrington chooses a young referee, then that person will probably be in the head referee position for a very long time.
"What do they take the Sky Arena, this holy ground of martial arts, for?" Barn vented his dissatisfaction.
Lucci didn't like this approach either.
This can happen once, and it can happen again.
It must be stopped, so what methods should be used?
"Father, I think it's time to change this referee system. I think we should hold a meeting to discuss it," Lucci immediately suggested.
"Change the chief referee system? Hold a discussion meeting?" I don't understand Lucci's idea.
Lucci had always wanted to change the Sky Arena, at least to further "modernize" it internally and make changes according to his ideas, but unfortunately he couldn't make the decision.
Even though his adoptive father was the chief judge, he never considered letting his adoptive father carry out his plan.
I was hoping to come in person, but it seems I'll need to move up the time.
However, the current concern is whether the suggestions will be adopted by the "board".
"Tell me more carefully!"
"I think the development of the Sky Arena has reached a bottleneck. Although more people are coming to the Sky Arena now, it's mainly because the transportation is more convenient. Some of the facilities and mechanisms of the Sky Arena haven't changed much..."
The chief referee said it was to maintain the operation and development of Sky Arena, but now it's basically becoming a retirement home.
In other words, being a referee probably requires some ability, otherwise the position would have been taken over by relevant personnel long ago.
But other areas have become private domains for some people.
The most serious problems are the arrogance of some staff members and the "corruption" in various commercial facilities within Sky Arena.
The fact that Lucci could discover the problem without even conducting an investigation shows that it was already "serious" to a certain extent.
Hearing Lucci say this, Barn's brows furrowed even deeper.
"Even if you say what you're saying, it probably won't change anything."
After all, those "directors" were themselves members of martial arts schools.
"This Sky Arena was built under my master's guidance. I will inform my master about the problems with the Sky Arena, and I believe he will support me."
Barn then remembered that Lucci was a disciple of the Heart Source School, and also a disciple of Netero.
The reputation of the Shingenryu school goes without saying. If they gain Netero's support, even if others disagree, it probably won't change anything.
Ultimately, it's a world where strength speaks for itself.
Moreover, Netero has been invincible for too long, which has instilled a sense of fear in many martial artists that he is invincible.
All the preparations are far less satisfying than simply clinging to someone powerful.
"Then you should contact Chairman Netero first, and I'll also let the others know first."
Anyway, I'm not far from retirement, so it doesn't matter if I don't become the chief referee.
Barn didn't care at all.
Lucci made a phone call to inform Netero of the situation.
Netero said he knew and told Lucci that he would send someone to handle it.
Soon on the day of the vote to elect the chief referee, all the chief referees received a message to convene a "board meeting".
Of course, the voting was not over.
In the end, a referee from the Yufeng Sword Style was indeed selected.