A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 236

Chapter 60. Under the Protection of the Himalayas (2)

“Why keep it a secret…?”

Team Manager Seo Chang-ki asked.

“You know this well, Manager. The power analysis data… what happens after it’s created is more important.”

There was a time like that for the Cannons too.

A time when the 1st team manager would take roughly printed analysis data on A4 paper, toss it to the players, and leave.

Those who wanted to see it would, and those who didn’t wouldn’t. It was such a carefree time that the valuable power analysis data was even used as scrap paper.

But how many years ago was that?

“We need to gather opinions from the coaching staff and hold several team meetings. That will take at least three or four days…”

If it’s made public after the playoffs, all these processes will have to happen very urgently.

For Team Manager Seo Chang-ki, who was usually very cautious and preferred to proceed with things step by step, this was difficult to accept.

However, Manager Arthur Freeman seemed to have his own reasons.

“The power analysis team staff are currently in a retreat at a hotel on the outskirts of Yeongsan City, aren’t they? Right?”

“Yes, that’s right…”

The power analysis team leader nodded.

“And you received a call from ST Dynos’ new coach, Goo Seong, this morning, didn’t you?”

“Ah, yes, I did.”

When Team Manager Seo nodded readily, Manager Freeman opened his mouth with a faint smile.

“I think it’s enough if I just say this much to the people here, don’t you think?”

“So, what you’re saying, Manager…”

Team Manager Seo asked cautiously.

“Is it correct to understand that information security is needed until the end of the playoffs?”

“Yes, exactly.”

The manager lightly tapped his knee.

“Since the SH Knights have advanced to the playoffs, the UB Guardians will be moving in every direction to obtain information about player Kwon Jung-min.”

It was safe to assume that effort had already begun.

Considering the phone call Team Manager Seo Chang-ki received that morning.

“Based on what I’ve experienced over the past two years, the Korean baseball scene is characterized by strong senior-junior relationships [sunbae-hoobae culture]. There are definitely advantages to this, but there are also unavoidable disadvantages.”

For example, information leaks.

It was a foreign manager’s cold-hearted observation.

“Fortunately, such things have rarely happened in our Cannons, but haven’t they happened quite often in other teams? Information from inside the team leaking out due to a senior’s request or a junior’s plea.”

Manager Freeman continued.

“Of course, I trust our coaching staff. Not to mention our players. But when you think about the Korean Series, and considering that this is really hard-earned information… I think information security is absolutely necessary.”

What do you all think?

Manager Arthur Freeman said, looking around at the people around him.

* * *

The next day, in the morning.

Ji-seop was visiting the office of ‘Sakhalin Park,’ Park Hong-ju, the vice chairman, with Team Manager Seo Chang-ki.

It was necessary to report to the acting owner and CEO of the club about the decisions made at the meeting the day before.

“Hmm, information security…”

That was the reaction Sakhalin Park showed immediately after hearing Team Manager Seo Chang-ki’s report.

“Good decision. I think it’s right to follow the manager’s words this time. There’s no reason to give the Guardians the information we’ve worked so hard to secure, is there?”

Sakhalin Park continued.

“And the people who are coaches in professional teams… they get a lot of flak from the outside, but if you really know them, they’re all experts when it comes to baseball.”

Even a very minor hint could reveal the entire context.

Considering that, more thorough information security than usual was necessary.

“So, how many people know about Kwon Jung-min, excluding those who attended yesterday’s meeting?”

“The power analysis team staff would naturally know… but those friends have decided to stay in a hotel until the end of the playoffs.”

“Ah.”

“There are some people leaving for business trips to the provinces, but they are all tight-lipped. I don’t think you need to worry too much.”

“Really? If that’s the case, I won’t nag you any further, but…”

It was at this moment that Sakhalin Park’s eyes narrowed.

“Will persuasion be difficult?”

“Persuasion?”

“Yes. Persuading the coaches, persuading the players.”

Sakhalin Park’s gaze was directed towards the team situation board hanging on one wall of the office.

A situation board with the names of Manager Arthur Freeman, the coaching staff, and the players.

“The intention to ensure information security is good, but it could provoke a backlash from the front-line coaches, couldn’t it? In a way, it’s like declaring that they are likely to leak information.”

“…”

“And it could cause anxiety among the players, couldn’t it? In a situation where they are about to face a big game, they haven’t been given measures against the most threatening player.”

Sakhalin Park’s gaze shifted towards Team Manager Seo.

“To prevent their agitation, the front office needs to pay attention to how they explain this matter… Is there any preparation for this?”

Looking back, Team Manager Seo had always hesitated and failed to give a proper answer at times like this.

Then he would hear a scolding that started with, ‘Are you out of your mind or what!’

However, at this point, Team Manager Seo had reached a level where he could answer Vice Chairman Park’s surprise questions with ease.

“Of course, Vice Chairman.”

Perhaps he had predicted that Sakhalin Park would ask such a question.

Or perhaps he was proud that his prediction had come true.

At this moment, a triumphant smile appeared on Team Manager Seo’s face.

“I thought that part would be important, so I had the right person prepare thoroughly.”

“The right person? Who is it?”

“Haha, who else would it be? If there’s only one person in our Cannons who is dearly loved by the coaches and deeply trusted by the players…”

Thud.

Team Manager Seo placed his hand on Ji-seop’s shoulder, who was standing next to him.

“Of course, it’s our Special Advisor Kim, isn’t it?”

* * *

Around 7 p.m. that day.

Ji-seop was out in front of the Yeongsan City Hall intersection.

It was to solve the first quest given by Team Manager Seo Chang-ki, ‘Explain the club’s policy to the coaching staff.’

‘The people I’m meeting today are… Coach Nam, Coach Jung, and Coach Lee, right?’

It might sound a bit harsh to call it a ‘faction,’ but there was a culture of coaches grouping together within the Cannons.

People who meet because they are from the same hometown, people who meet because they are from the same school, or people who meet often because their tastes or views on baseball are similar.

When the front office meets with the coaching staff, it was common sense to contact these groups individually as much as possible.

For the record, the coaches Ji-seop was scheduled to meet that day were the so-called ‘Yeongsan High School Club.’ The gentlemen from Yeongsan High School.

They were surprisingly punctual people, so Ji-seop was planning to hurry as much as possible, but he encountered an unexpected obstacle when he arrived at the meeting place.

-Oh, is that you, Special Advisor Kim?

About 10 minutes ago, Sakhalin Park had called.

-Yeongsan City Hall intersection? Well, that’s good. Wait there for a bit. I’ll be leaving work soon.

Sakhalin Park said he had something important to give to Ji-seop.

He said he was too flustered to give it to him earlier.

On the outside, Ji-seop calmly answered, ‘Okay,’ and hung up the phone, but in reality, he was secretly looking forward to it.

‘Something important to give me?’

Sakhalin Park had become someone he treated like a neighborly grandfather, but he was still a man who was called the vice chairman of the KH Group.

Since such a person said he had ‘something important to give,’ Ji-seop’s heart was pounding for no reason.

‘What could it be?’

Could it be the suit he promised last time that he’s giving me now?

Or did he prepare some tonic for the employee who is working hard to prepare for the Korean Series?

‘No, no, if he’s coming all the way here… could it be a bonus? He has the face of a large company executive, after all.’

The expectations were getting higher and higher.

The happy circuit was running faster and faster.

Thanks to that, when he heard Secretary Yang’s voice from afar, ‘Mr. Ji-seop!’ Ji-seop ran towards him with a beaming smile, ‘Yes, Secretary Yang!!’ like a kid waiting for Christmas, but-

“…”

The next moment, the thing Secretary Yang handed over after getting out of the car was just a 1.5L plastic bottle.

No, to be more precise, it should be seen as the unidentified liquid inside that plastic bottle.

“What… is this?”

Secretary Yang answered Ji-seop’s question.

“It’s water boiled with Hovenia dulcis fruit [Oriental raisin tree fruit].”

“Yes?”

They say there are many things to say but you won’t say them… That’s exactly how Ji-seop felt at this moment.

“Water boiled with Hovenia dulcis…”

He tried to manage his expression, but perhaps it was still a bit obvious.

It was at this moment that the rear window of the luxury sedan opened with a ‘whirr,’ and a white-haired old man suddenly stuck his face out.

“Ahem, Secretary Yang! You need to explain it properly. What good is it if you just say Hovenia dulcis?”

Sakhalin Park had a very serious expression.

“This is a hundred-year-old Himalayan Hovenia dulcis.”

“Himal… what did you say?”

“The Himalayas, I’m talking about the Himalayas! The only remaining pristine area on Earth, the Himalayas!”

Sakhalin Park continued.

“It’s water boiled by picking only the fruits of Hovenia dulcis trees that are over a hundred years old in that pristine area. Do you even know how hard it is to get this, you rascal?”

He said that just one sip would make the next morning different.

He said that if you take two sips, you’ll never lose your memory at any drinking party.

He said that if you take three sips, all the effects mentioned above will manifest simultaneously, making it an amazing thing, but-

“No, Vice Chairman.”

Ji-seop couldn’t hide the burst of laughter that kept trying to come out.

“Did you come all the way here just to give me this?”

It wasn’t that he was underestimating the value of the hundred-year-old Himalayan Hovenia dulcis.

“Vice Chairman, I’m still in good shape. Even if I don’t take something like this, I can handle a drinking session like today…”

I’m fine.

I have no worries.

Ji-seop was about to make such a bold statement, but Sakhalin Park cut him off.

“You rascal, you should never be complacent about your health, no matter what else.”

His tone was more resolute than ever.

“Didn’t you see it earlier? That cautious Team Manager Seo Chang-ki is making a bold statement about you.”

“…”

“Team Manager Seo’s trust is like that, and I know the hearts of Manager Freeman, the coaches, and the players… You can’t be complacent about your health, you rascal.”

Ah, I almost forgot.

Sakhalin Park took out a small note from his pocket and handed it to Ji-seop.

Looking at the contents, it seemed to be a paper with the proper dosage of ‘Hundred-Year-Old Himalayan Hovenia dulcis’ written on it.

“I’d like to tell you not to put too much burden on one person, but what can I do? Everyone is just looking for you.”

“…Vice Chairman.”

“I asked someone I know to get it as a last resort, so make sure to take this regularly. Got it?”

Before Ji-seop could say ‘Thank you,’ Sakhalin Park rolled up the car window.

“Secretary Yang, let’s go!”

“Yes, Vice Chairman.”

Secretary Yang gave Ji-seop a slight nod and got into the car.

Just as the car carrying the two of them was disappearing onto the 8-lane avenue in front of Yeongsan City Hall.

“…”

A familiar voice reached Ji-seop’s ears as he blankly stared at their retreating figures.

“Hey! Special Advisor Kim! What are you doing there? Ah, we’re going to starve to death waiting for you!”

It was the Cannons’ pitching coach.

He must have come out to the front of the restaurant because Ji-seop wasn’t showing up.

Ji-seop quickly turned his head towards him.

“Ah, yes!”

“Come on in! The playoffs start tomorrow, so let’s have one last good drink today!”

The pitching coach laughed heartily and gestured towards Ji-seop to come to the restaurant.

Why do all the people who play baseball like alcohol so much?

Ji-seop chuckled inwardly and opened the lid of the 1.5L plastic bottle that Sakhalin Park had given him.

Gulp, gulp, gulp.

According to the prescribed dosage, exactly three sips.

Feeling the miraculous energy of the Himalayas spreading down his esophagus, Ji-seop was saying to the pitching coach.

“Yes, let’s have a great drink today!”