A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 542

The Newcomer to the Baseball Team is Too Good 542

The Newcomer to the Baseball Team is Too Good 542

Please Pick a Number (3) of Chapter 114

Two days later, Joo Sung-min, CEO of KH Cannons, departed for a business trip to the United States.

Accompanying him were the usual core staff, along with Yang Min-woo, head of the management support team, in a supporting role.

Guiding the entire group was Go Chang-deok, the assistant manager of the KH Cannons’ international affairs team.

“Mr. President, are you feeling alright?”

The Cannons group arrived at a luxury hotel in downtown St. Petersburg after nearly 40 hours of travel.

Go Chang-deok, sweating with nervous tension, diligently monitored the president’s condition.

“I apologize. If we had traveled via Los Angeles, we could have arrived a bit faster… I believe I made things difficult for you, Mr. President.”

“Haha, don’t worry about it. It’s an urgent schedule, so it can’t be helped. I know how much you’ve worked, Assistant Manager Go.”

President Joo, who was deferential in front of Vice Chairman Park Hong-joo, was, after all, the president of the Cannons when he was away from him.

As President Joo laughed heartily and patted his shoulder, a proud smile spread across Go Chang-deok’s face.

“It’s late, so we should rest for tonight. Assistant Manager Go, when is our meeting with General Manager Kim?”

“Ah, that’s…”

Go Chang-deok looked troubled.

“We are scheduled to meet at a hotel near Tropicana Field [home stadium of the Tampa Bay Rays] at 11 p.m. tomorrow night.”

“11 p.m.?”

Team Leader Yang reacted.

“That’s much later than I anticipated.”

“Yes, I tried to arrange an earlier time, but… the Tampa Bay Rays clinched their regular season championship a few days ago.”

Go Chang-deok wiped the sweat from his brow.

“There are many visitors from all over, negotiations with advertisers, and preparations for the post-season… It seems General Manager Kim barely had any time.”

“I understand the situation, but 11 p.m. is a bit late… I’ve heard the security around the baseball stadium in the United States isn’t very good.”

Team Leader Yang looked worried, but CEO Joo Sung-min smiled and patted him on the shoulder.

“It’s alright, Team Leader Yang. We aren’t meeting on the street; we’re meeting at a hotel.”

President Joo nodded.

“General Manager Kim is taking time out of his busy schedule for our Cannons, so what does it matter if it’s midnight or dawn? Hmm, Assistant Manager Go?”

“Yes, Mr. President.”

As Go Chang-deok turned his head, President Joo took out a memo from his jacket pocket.

“I’m sorry to trouble you, but please send a car to this address tomorrow. Someone will be joining our party to meet General Manager Kim.”

“Ah, yes, sending a car is no problem, but…”

Go Chang-deok tilted his head.

“May I ask who this person is? I need to inform General Manager Kim in advance.”

At this moment, neither Go Chang-deok nor Team Leader Yang seemed to have any idea.

Who could it be? Who is accompanying President Joo? Why haven’t they told me about this person until now?

The employees blinked and stared at the president’s face.

The answer that followed was unexpected.

“It’s the general manager.”

CEO Joo Sung-min dropped this bombshell.

“Our KH Cannons’ General Manager Daniel Hamilton has decided to join us tomorrow to meet General Manager Kim.”

“G-General Manager?”

Go Chang-deok’s eyes widened.

“General Manager Hamilton… didn’t he step down a few days ago?”

* * *

About an hour later

Go Chang-deok paced around the hotel lobby, biting his fingernails.

It was well past midnight. The bustling hotel lobby had become deserted.

It was time to return to his room and rest his tired body, but Go Chang-deok didn’t feel like he could fall asleep.

‘General Manager Hamilton is going with us?’

‘Is he crazy? Is he really crazy?’

He was starting to get angry.

‘He’s the one who messed up the team for three years. He’s the one who ran away to the United States before his contract was over. Why are you taking such a person to Jisub [Kim Ji-sub’s given name]?!’

Go Chang-deok wanted to grab President Joo by the collar.

‘What’s your ulterior motive? You came to find a new general manager, didn’t you? Why are you breaking your promise with Sakhalin Park [likely a reference to someone influential in the baseball world]?’

But the faces of his wife and daughter flashed in his mind, forcing him to suppress his anger.

Besides, President Joo was a former national ice hockey team reserve. He, who had become more plump recently, was a difficult opponent to subdue physically.

The only good thing was that ‘Sakhalin Park’s right-hand man,’ Team Leader Yang, had accompanied President Joo.

‘Yes, Team Leader Yang…’

He might be able to change President Joo’s mind. If necessary, he could get support from Vice Chairman Park Hong-joo.

But he was also concerned because the other party was Joo Sung-min. He had been doing a lot of nonsense for the past three years, so could this time be any different?

To sum it up, it felt like walking through a fog where you couldn’t see an inch ahead. Just as Go Chang-deok was stamping his feet and worrying,

Ding-

With the sound of the elevator, Team Leader Yang Min-woo appeared in the hotel lobby.

“Oh, Team Leader!!!”

Go Chang-deok ran to him.

“Oh, what happened? Did you persuade the president? Tomorrow… are we going alone tomorrow?”

Go Chang-deok approached with anticipation, but his expression soon turned gloomy.

Team Leader Yang drooped his shoulders and quietly shook his head.

“…I can’t do this anymore.”

This seemed to be the first time profanity had come from the good-natured Team Leader Yang.

“I’m sorry, Assistant Manager Go. It was beyond my ability. The president was adamant that he would accompany General Manager Hamilton no matter what.”

“Ah, no…”

Go Chang-deok was dumbfounded.

“Why is the president doing that? What’s the reason? It can’t be that General Manager Hamilton is his savior or something.”

“Well, to quote the president… he said that there is ‘Kim Ji-sub’s shadow’ in our Cannons.”

“Kim Ji-sub’s shadow?”

As Go Chang-deok raised an eyebrow, Team Leader Yang quietly nodded.

“Although many years have passed, General Manager Kim Ji-sub’s influence remains strong throughout the club. What he did, what he said, what he thought was important… it’s like a textbook for our Cannons people.”

At this point, Go Chang-deok had no choice but to shut his mouth.

There was definitely such an atmosphere in the Cannons front office.

And the person most influenced by Jisub was none other than Go Chang-deok himself.

“Because of this situation, General Manager Hamilton couldn’t fully express his wishes. The president seems to have judged it that way.”

“Well, to be honest, there was some truth to that. When we opposed General Manager Hamilton’s opinion, the main reason we cited was General Manager Kim’s advice in the past.”

Go Chang-deok scratched his head.

“So, what is the president going to do? Does something change if you call General Manager Hamilton and go together?”

Team Leader Yang’s answer was as follows.

“The president seems to be trying to go through a kind of ‘re-approval process’.”

“Re-approval process?”

“Yes, in the president’s view, the key to this problem… is that General Manager Hamilton couldn’t overcome General Manager Kim’s charisma.”

Team Leader Yang continued.

“General Manager Hamilton is scheduled to meet with General Manager Kim tomorrow to brief him on the direction of the club’s operations. He will also express his opinions on the points that have caused conflict with the Cannons front office people.”

“…”

“If General Manager Hamilton receives General Manager Kim’s approval at this meeting, and if that news is also conveyed to our Cannons people…”

General Manager Daniel Hamilton,

Can work at the Cannons again.

This time, in a better shape, with the trust of the club’s people.

This seemed to be the real reason why Joo Sung-min, the most loyal man of this era, the CEO of KH Cannons, came to the United States.

* * *

To be honest, at this time, Go Chang-deok couldn’t understand CEO Joo Sung-min’s thoughts at all.

‘No, doesn’t everyone see it that way?’

It was true that Kim Ji-sub was in the Cannons, and it was true that he had done a great job.

But at the time, Kim Ji-sub was only a special advisor to the general manager. A role to support former General Manager Seo Chang-ki.

When you think about it, General Manager Hamilton didn’t even get rid of the influence of the former special advisor to the general manager.

Isn’t this a sufficient disqualification? Isn’t this enough reason to replace him?

Go Chang-deok’s insides were boiling, but his guts didn’t allow him to openly object to what the president was doing.

“…Damn it.”

Eventually, time passed, and around 11 p.m. the next day, Go Chang-deok was in charge of guiding the two to the meeting place.

“This way, Mr. President.”

“Oh, thank you.”

He was a very polite person.

CEO Joo Sung-min, who gave Go Chang-deok a slight nod, turned his gaze to the white man following him.

“Daniel, are you all ready?”

“Haha, of course!”

Daniel, Daniel Hamilton.

He was the current general manager of the Cannons, whom President Joo was giving unwavering trust.

He had left the team just a few days ago, saying, ‘I’m going to quit everything,’ but now, he was burning with enthusiasm with an unprecedentedly determined expression.

“Since the president has trusted me to the end, I will show results worthy of the general manager of KH Cannons.”

“Oh!”

As President Joo nodded with satisfaction, General Manager Hamilton raised his momentum even more.

“According to my experience so far… the most important thing when dealing with Major League executives is the look in their eyes.”

“The look in their eyes?”

“That’s right. First, you have to overwhelm them with a strong look in your eyes. That’s how you can take the lead in the conversation.”

General Manager Hamilton’s tongue rolled smoothly as if it had been oiled.

“When I was in Seattle, when I was in Philadelphia, didn’t I control everyone with this one look? So don’t worry about anything. I will definitely get Kim’s approval today.”

“Yes, you have to. When you’re trying to do great things, there are bound to be minor troubles. Let’s start anew with today as an opportunity.”

“I understand, Mr. President!”

While the two leaders of the Cannons were reaffirming their close bond,

General Manager Kim’s approval and a triumphant return to the Cannons, just as such a dream was ripening,

From behind the two, someone’s bright voice was heard.

“Oh, are you already here? I guess it was right to hurry a little.”

“Hmm?”

“Oh?!”

The Cannons people, who turned their heads, let out a ‘Heok’ sound.

The general manager of the Tampa Bay Rays was standing in front of them.

Perhaps he was a little tired, Jisub, holding an energy drink, smiled brightly at everyone.

“Oh, I’m sorry. To ask guests who came from afar to come at this late hour… I’ve been rude from the beginning.”

Jisub, who winked slightly at Go Chang-deok and Team Leader Yang, approached CEO Joo Sung-min.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Ji-sub of the Tampa Bay Rays. You are CEO Joo Sung-min of KH Cannons, right?”

“Ah, yes, that’s right.”

He was a ‘royal family’ of the KH Group, so President Joo had met quite a few high-ranking people since he was a child.

Perhaps that’s why, even in the face of a situation where the goal of the day suddenly appeared, President Joo was showing a relaxed smile.

“I’ve heard a lot about you from Vice Chairman Park Hong-joo. Vice Chairman Park seems to think of President Kim as his own son.”

“Haha, I won’t deny it. If Vice Chairman Park hadn’t taken care of me, I wouldn’t be who I am today.”

In such a friendly atmosphere, the first greetings were exchanged, and President Joo quickly began to introduce his entourage.

“Hmm, Team Leader Yang and Assistant Manager Go must already be acquainted… That’s right! Let’s say hello. This person here is our KH Cannons’ general manager, Daniel Hamilton.”

“Ah, the general manager?”

Jisub, who had heard the situation roughly from Go Chang-deok, didn’t seem too flustered.

With his signature soft smile, Jisub shook hands with General Manager Daniel Hamilton.

But for some reason, General Manager Hamilton didn’t react to Jisub’s handshake.

“Um… Daniel?”

President Joo tilted his head.

“What are you standing there blankly for? General Manager Kim is asking for a handshake… Hmm?”

It was at this moment that a puzzled expression appeared on President Joo’s face.

General Manager Daniel Hamilton wasn’t standing there blankly.

Rather, with his eyes wide open and his hands trembling, he stared intently at Jisub.

“T-T-T…”

He barely opened his mouth.

“Are you really Kim? The Kim of the Tampa Bay Rays?”

“Yes, it’s not ‘Lee’ [a common Korean surname], though.”

Jisub, who had become awkward, made a slight joke, but it seemed that General Manager Hamilton didn’t hear it.

“Nice to meet you, Kim! It’s so nice to meet you! Oh, my! I never dreamed that you would really come!”

General Manager Hamilton grabbed Jisub’s hand.

“I thought someone else would come. You must not be sleeping properly these days because of the post-season preparations, but to take the time out like this for just one baseball team in Korea…”

“Hey, don’t say just one. KH Cannons is my home team and like my hometown. Of course, I have to come.”

General Manager Hamilton had an almost fainting expression at Jisub’s embarrassed answer.

“Oh, how can you say such wonderful things! I wanted to see you, I wanted to see you at least once before I die!”

General Manager Hamilton began to shake Jisub’s hand.

“Can I hear about the acquisition of Vincent Hiyama? Or the triangular trade that happened last year? No, no! First of all, the story of winning the championship for two years in a row…”

General Manager Hamilton was as excited as if he had met an idol he admired.

At this moment, he may have been having the most thrilling experience of his life.

“…”

On the face of CEO Joo Sung-min, who was looking at him, an absurd expression floated.

‘You said it’s important to take the lead?’

He blinked.

‘Is this… taking the lead?’