A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 428

The New Recruit of the Baseball Team is Too Good 428

Chapter 93: Boys, Be Ambitious (5)

“Hey, buddy. Why aren’t you answering?”

Don Chronos, the main designer of Clark Wise, was glaring menacingly at Nicholas.

The way he bared his white teeth and growled made him look like a leopard about to pounce on its prey.

Interestingly, despite this tense confrontation, the employees of Clark Wise didn’t bat an eye.

Perhaps this kind of situation happened often. They approached Ji-seop with very calm expressions, showing him the T-shirts.

“Sir, we currently have the following lineup available in our flagship store… Which one would you like to take a look at?”

They were just trying to help a VIP customer exchange his T-shirt, but Ji-seop had no choice but to wave his hand dismissively, saying, “Just a moment.”

With such an interesting confrontation unfolding before his eyes, he couldn’t possibly be interested in T-shirts.

‘It was definitely… a lounge, right?’

More precisely, a luxury lounge.

Recalling the words Don Chronos had uttered, Ji-seop swallowed hard without realizing it.

‘Yankee Stadium has quite a few luxury lounges, doesn’t it? And now they’re adding another one… Damn, it’s tough being an unpopular team.’

Luxury lounge.

It was a concept that hadn’t yet been fully introduced in Korean professional baseball.

Simply put, it involved installing lounge facilities, like those found in airports or hotels, within the baseball stadium.

Qualified customers could watch the game from these lounges, which, of course, provided comfortable seating and excellent meals.

‘Well, up to this point, it’s similar to a regular lounge, but…’

Recently, some Major League teams had been implementing a policy that went a step further.

The team would provide a specific company with a space within the stadium, and the company would create a lounge in that space that matched their concept and image.

General spectators were not allowed access to these lounges. Only people specially invited by the company could use them.

In conclusion, the team could generate huge profits by renting out the space, and the company could widely promote its name through the operation of the lounge.

That was the,

Major League’s luxury lounge.

Don Chronos of Clark Wise seemed to have a great interest in this luxury lounge as well.

No, it seemed that discussions with the New York Yankees had progressed considerably.

Perhaps the reason Nicholas was receiving VIP treatment at Clark Wise was also related to that.

‘Clark Wise having a luxury lounge at Yankee Stadium… Well, considering their reputation, it’s not surprising.’

They were undoubtedly considered the best fashion brand among young people in New York.

While Ji-seop was nodding to himself, recalling the stories from the Future Strategy Planning Department, he heard a loud voice in his ear.

“Hey, what are you talking about now!!!”

It was Don Chronos’s voice.

While Ji-seop was lost in thought, Nicholas must have said something.

“You’re telling me a decision hasn’t been made yet? Do you think that makes sense? What do you even want from me?”

Don Chronos, thoroughly agitated, roughly took off his sunglasses.

“I’ve met all your demands so far, haven’t I? I agreed not to play music with profanity, and I even changed the staff’s attire. And that’s not all, is it? I even canceled the dance party that I had ambitiously prepared…”

Is that still not enough?

What else could it be?

Don Chronos banged on the table, demanding an answer, but Nicholas simply shook his head.

“Don, I’ll visit you next time with the team’s president. It doesn’t seem appropriate to have this conversation here.”

“No, no, no! I can’t have that! Do you think I don’t know your tricks? You say ‘next time’ and then disappear for months… It’s not like I haven’t experienced it before.”

Don Chronos placed a thick hand on Nicholas’s shoulder.

“Come on, let’s go! Let’s go! If you’re uncomfortable here, I have my studio! We can talk there, can’t we?”

“I’m sorry, Don. But I really don’t think I can today. I have a companion with me.”

“A companion?”

It was at this moment that Nicholas gestured towards Ji-seop.

As Ji-seop hurried over, Nicholas said to Don Chronos,

“Don, since we’ve met like this, why don’t you say hello? This is Kim.”

“Kim?”

Don Chronos’s thick lips twisted slightly.

His eyes seemed to be asking, ‘Who the hell is this Asian guy?’

But that look didn’t last long.

“He’s the assistant general manager of the Tampa Bay Rays. Do you happen to know Brian Spon, the president of baseball operations? He’s also his right-hand man.”

“A, assistant general manager? Such a young guy? And Brian Spon’s right-hand man…”

Don Chronos, looking at Ji-seop with a newfound interest, took out a steel business card case from his pocket.

“Don Chronos.”

He handed over a business card.

“Thank you for visiting our Clark Wise store. I hope you and your friend have a pleasant time.”

“Ah, yes, I’m Kim. I look forward to working with you.”

After exchanging business cards with Ji-seop, Don Chronos made an uncomfortable clicking sound with his tongue.

“Well, since you have a companion, I can’t insist any further… Nicholas, make sure to tell those old fogeys [old-fashioned or stubborn people] at the Yankees this.”

He raised a finger.

“According to the preliminary agreement between the New York Yankees and Clark Wise… our contract period is until January 10th of next year. You remember that, right?”

“…”

“I’m not willing to wait even a single day longer. If you don’t give me a definite answer about the construction of the luxury lounge by January 10th…”

The end.

We’re finished.

That was the last thing the chief designer of Clark Wise said that day.

* * *

Immediately after finishing the conversation with Don Chronos, Ji-seop and Nicholas had to leave the Clark Wise store.

It couldn’t be helped. Because Don Chronos had caused such a commotion, the eyes of everyone in the store were focused on them.

“Kim, would you like to have a cup of coffee?”

“I suppose I should.”

There happened to be a small cafe not far away, so the two were able to order coffee.

When they came out onto the street again with their iced coffees, the first thing Nicholas said was this:

“What a damn mess.”

Ji-seop simply turned to Nicholas without answering.

“I’m sorry, Kim! I forgot to exchange the T-shirt. I ended up bringing the shirt I took with me.”

Nicholas showed the paper bag with an awkward smile.

It was perhaps natural that Ji-seop let out a hollow laugh.

“Heh heh, is a T-shirt a big deal right now?”

Ji-seop had already lost interest in T-shirts of the same design.

“Nicholas, shouldn’t you tell me what you’re thinking now? I think enough safety measures have been put in place.”

“Safety measures?”

“Yes, that’s how I saw it.”

Ji-seop continued.

“Giving me a Clark Wise T-shirt as a gift, naturally leading me to the store… Aren’t those all safety measures? In case there’s a problem later, to create a justification to brush it off.”

“…”

“It was a little obvious, but I think it was staged naturally enough. Meeting Don Chronos, and me hearing your conversation…”

So please, tell me.

Ji-seop smiled brightly.

“What on earth are you thinking? It seems like you’re doing something that’s harmful to the Yankees?”

“Haha, as expected… Kim is Kim. You figured out my intentions right away.”

Ji-seop thought he had made a rather sharp observation, but all he got in return was Nicholas’s satisfied smile.

Was he grateful that he had figured out his intentions? Or had he anticipated even this question?

“If you’ve caught on to that much, then there’s no point in hiding anything anymore.”

Sip.

Nicholas took a sip of his coffee.

“Kim, what you’re thinking is probably right.”

“Yes?”

“The Clark Wise luxury lounge, I mean. The project that Don Chronos and our Yankees are working on…”

Swoosh.

Nicholas looked up.

“I want that project to go to the Tampa Bay Rays.”

“To us?”

He had a vague idea, but hearing it directly from him made it feel all the more powerful.

It was a luxury lounge. And a Clark Wise luxury lounge at that.

Why would he want to give away a project that could bring so much merit to the Yankees?

“Speaking from the perspective of someone who was in charge of the negotiations, our Yankees won’t be able to handle Clark Wise.”

“Won’t be able to handle it?”

“Yes, the fans’ opposition is too strong. Especially among the old fans in their 50s and older.”

They valued the history and tradition of the Yankees as much as their own lives.

They couldn’t understand a newly emerging fashion brand. Especially a brand like Clark Wise.

“It was a project that was initially started to attract young fans, but I was short-sighted. I didn’t anticipate that the old fans would react so strongly.”

“Hmm.”

“At this rate, the project’s failure is almost certain. Probably after January 10th, Don Chronos will try to find a new team…”

Ji-seop could easily guess what would follow.

“You mean you want us Tampa Bay to seize that timing. Before Don Chronos starts contacting other teams.”

“That’s right.”

Nicholas quickly nodded, but Ji-seop had no choice but to take a step back.

“Nicholas, what’s the reason?”

“Yes?”

“First of all, thank you. It’s valuable information. If a famous brand like Clark Wise were to come to Tropicana Field, we could make a huge profit. But…”

Ji-seop tilted his head.

“Why are you telling me this? Because we’re friends from the same school? The matter is too big for that, isn’t it?”

“The matter is too big? Haha, I never thought I’d hear those words from you.”

Nicholas smiled faintly.

“Kim, aren’t you the one who has done even bigger things without batting an eye? You recruited Vincent Hyama, and you led Tampa Bay to victory. And now…”

The next moment, Ji-seop felt his heart sink for the first time in a long time.

“Constantly stimulating our Yankees fans to increase the number of spectators at Tropicana Field… Aren’t you carrying out such an absurd project?”

“…You knew?”

“How could I not? Richard Stelmezek’s remarks were intentional to anyone who saw them.”

It was at this moment that Nicholas’s expression became serious.

“To be honest, Kim, I didn’t like you very much. You didn’t come from a prestigious university, and you didn’t have a glamorous professional career… But you were the most noticed person at school.”

“…”

What’s with this guy?

Ji-seop was thinking that to himself.

“But after seeing your performance last season, I couldn’t help but admit it. You are an excellent front office executive. You’re also a front office executive with tremendous drive. And that’s a skill that I lack.”

That’s why I’m telling you this.

Nicholas raised his head.

“This season, the project you’re leading… I want to be a part of it.”

“Together?”

“Yes, you’re trying to create a rivalry, aren’t you? Between the Yankees and Tampa Bay. That’s something that the current Yankees desperately need.”

He continued.

“If I’m alone, there’s a high possibility that I’ll just think about it and stop there. If I face various difficulties, I might give up. But Kim, if I get on your shoulders, I feel like I can see it through to the end no matter what.”

“Haha, this is something.”

Ji-seop let out a hollow laugh.

“So what you’re saying is, you’re going to use me? Ride me like a bus? To achieve your own goals?”

“Our goals, Kim. Aren’t you and I people who are trying to climb to the top in Major League Baseball?”

Nicholas smiled gently.

“One of our team’s seniors told me this: ‘You need two hands to clap.’ A person can’t even clap by themselves.”

“…”

“If you’re going to clap, and if you want to make a sound so loud that this baseball world shakes, I think you’ll definitely need someone’s help too…”

Kim, what do you say?

Nicholas said, holding out his half-empty coffee cup.

“Nicholas Viner II. The youngest special advisor to the New York Yankees’ general manager. Don’t you think I’m qualified to be your partner with this much?”

“Heh heh, you need two hands to clap…”.

That’s not a bad story.

Ji-seop tapped Nicholas’s coffee cup with his own.

“Alright. Let’s do it together. Let’s make St. Petersburg and New York, and even the entire Major League, noisy.”

That start is,

To bring the Yankees’ luxury lounge project.