Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 237

Hyung, Am I Cute? (237/500)

Finding the right key for a lock really tests your patience.

Is it this key? Or this one?

I should have labeled them in the key bundle beforehand, but instead, I’m stuck trying each one, sighing with each failed attempt.

It’s because I rarely need to take the keys out that this kind of thing happens.

Salary negotiations are the same.

Just once a year.

But because it’s only once, it’s a headache trying to find the right approach. [Here, ‘key’ is used metaphorically to mean the right strategy or approach.]

If it goes well, I’ll get the sweet ice cream inside [a metaphor for a successful outcome or reward], and if not, I’ll throw the key on the ground and move on to another place for a while [meaning to give up and look for other opportunities].

“Who are we dealing with today?” the NM [presumably, the name of the company] operations team leader asked an employee.

“Tyrone.”

“Ah, right. What’s his performance evaluation like?”

“So-so. He did well this season, of course, but his innings aren’t that high, so we might need to see more. His communication with the coaching staff is also just average.”

“Is that so? Hmm. Then it would be good to offer the same contract as this time. Or maybe a little bit more.”

“Wouldn’t it be okay to mention the club’s financial situation?”

“Well, I don’t know if it will work, but we have to try.”

Emotional appeal.

Of course, from the player’s perspective, they might say, ‘What does that have to do with me!’ but it often works on many people.

In reality, there are clubs that can’t offer more because they are in financial difficulty, so you can’t really argue with that.

Salary negotiation was about narrowing the gap between the operating side and the players’ positions.

“I heard the current translator is on a short-term contract. Is NM looking to hire someone permanently?”

“They said they’re posting a job opening this month, but we’ll have to see. They’re also planning to interview a few people through referrals.”

“But, well…”

“Right?”

“Isn’t it too much to ask for someone who knows baseball well and is also good at translation? It’s not easy to find that combination.”

“I understand they’re considering it as an internal assignment.”

“Why combine the roles?”

The operations team leader scratched his head.

He understood the logic from a business perspective.

Using good manpower cheaply. Yeah, it sounds good.

It’s also good to hire a full-time employee in the translation department and build a system where the translator doesn’t change frequently.

But it takes time for this to settle down properly.

He was just annoyed at the potential hassle and effort.

In the end, it all depends on the translator’s ability to learn.

“By the way, is the short-term translator who’s working with Tyrone doing well?”

“I haven’t talked to him much.”

“Why? You should talk to him if you hired him.”

“Didn’t the personnel manager from the game company hire him and give him the assignment, not us?”

“Damn it. Still, he’s our guy for a month. If he’s good, we should try to convince him to stay.”

“I heard he’s a college student?”

“What? Then that’s even better. We can quickly sign a contract when he doesn’t know any better.”

“We’re hiring a full-time employee, so a college student is a bit…”

“That’s true.”

He was hoping that they would at least have a graduate degree in interpretation and translation.

Or at least have graduated.

“Tch. I don’t know if he can convey the words well to Tyrone. Do you speak English a little?”

“Haha. My TOEIC [Test of English for International Communication] score is…”

“Ah, stop it! Are you trying to brag? Keep it in. Keep it in.”

“No. My score is…”

“Keep it in! Don’t do it!”

In the end, the employee who couldn’t brag became sullen.

The operations team leader roughly gathered the documents and stood up.

Today, he has to engage in a war of nerves to grill [meaning to pressure or interrogate] one player.

***

I entered the conference room with Tyrone.

The operations team leader was sitting in front, with thick eyebrows and a determined expression.

I could feel the pressure from his firm lips that it wouldn’t be easy.

But what’s questionable is why the HR manager is here?

Is it normal for NM Company to bring them along?

I had such questions, but I didn’t bother to ask them out loud.

The negotiation had already begun the moment I entered, and I had to be prepared for it.

He waved his hand brightly in front, and I slightly bowed my head in response.

In fact, I lowered my head because I was holding back laughter because he was too cheerful.

“Hello. I’m here as Tyrone’s translator today.”

“Yes, I know. Let’s sit down and proceed. We prepared this because Tyrone might not know. It’s a score based on the internal evaluation of the players.”

Tyrone and I received the data with the performance evaluation scores.

It’s not detailed, only the scores are reflected, so I don’t know if this is a high score or a low score.

It seems that by doing this, when players ask questions, they will be able to answer them.

Based on the facts.

Hmm. This is completely taking control on their side.

「Tyrone. You want a salary increase as I said before?」

「Yes. That’s right.」

I nodded.

Tyrone wants a 100% salary increase.

In fact, it’s double. But this wasn’t easy. Usually, top-tier players go up to a 300% increase, but Tyrone has less recognition compared to them.

Of course, Tyrone wouldn’t expect that much either.

He’s just throwing it out there.

“Tyrone is requesting double his salary.”

“Hmm. That’s difficult. We’re not printing money. We’re considering an increase, but it’s only going to be a small one. There are players whose values are decreasing right now.”

Since there are players being cut, they’re implying that this is a very generous offer.

That’s how they’re indirectly saying it.

“What does that have to do with it? Don’t talk about other players. This is only about Tyrone and the club.”

“Haha.”

The operations team leader laughed as if he had been called out.

It seems that they underestimated Tyrone that much.

But they probably expected this much.

Because Tyrone is a foreigner.

“Still, 100% is too much.”

“No. It’s not too much.”

I handed the prepared materials to the operations team leader.

A spreadsheet summarizing Tyrone’s performance.

“I’ve summarized the performance that Tyrone achieved as a closer this season. And the specially highlighted ones are organized by other players’ mistakes, not Tyrone’s faults. And…”

The operations team leader’s eyes widened as if he didn’t expect me to prepare such data.

I’m highlighting Tyrone’s strengths.

I don’t know how detailed your performance evaluation scores are, but there must be some shortcomings.

I’ll fill that in. Tyrone’s ERA [Earned Run Average]? Innings pitched? So what? Is it really Tyrone’s fault?

“Tyrone was better than other club pitchers’ ERAs even under that pressure. The table summarizing that is in the back.”

“Hahahaha. Wow. You organized all of this?”

“Yes. We prepared it together.”

“No. No.”

The operations team leader shook his head.

“Usually, players can’t do this. I’ve never seen players who have done this much.”

“You’re saying that players who aren’t ordinary have done it.”

“Hahahaha.”

“Anyway, I’m not just demanding an increase, but I’m presenting it based on clear data.”

“There’s no guarantee that he’ll do better next season. Do you know that? The accumulation of data is not just our club’s concern.”

“What if that data becomes worthless?”

“Hmm?”

“Look at this first.”

I took out my phone and went to Tyrone’s SNS [Social Networking Service] account.

And other players’ accounts too.

“Teamwork is not just about playing in the game anymore. It also greatly affects the relationships between players. In that sense, Tyrone gets along well with Korean players. Especially with hitters and catchers, not pitchers.”

“Hoo.”

“There will be enough points for this. He’ll show more improved performance.”

“Well, I don’t think it becomes worthless just with that.”

“Surely. You don’t think I’m just talking about this, do you?”

I showed another video on my phone.

The appearance of Tyrone fixing his pitching form.

I didn’t even think that filming what I was pointing out before would be so useful.

“He worked hard to study his pitching form, but now it’s worthless? There’s almost no distinction between the changeup and the fastball.”

“Hmm.”

“A player who fixed his shortcomings so quickly during the off-season. That attitude. Is the evaluation still lacking? Didn’t the club side also notice this? If you support him properly… Well, worthless? I think the club side can proudly make it that way. In an interview.”

“Hahahaha!”

It’s not just about having an impact on the sports world.

It can become popularity that the club’s fans can fall for Tyrone.

There are many meanings in this statement, so the operations team leader was even more impressed.

“Ah! Don’t say that the club’s operation is difficult. When I checked, NM game company’s sales increased a lot this time. Almost to the point of being called a boom.”

“I was unprepared and complacent. It’s hard to properly refute even one word today.”

“If you do it properly, he’ll show the value of a 200% increase. That would be good for the operations side too, right?”

I said with a relaxed smile now.

The initiative has completely shifted to this side.

Of course, the operations team leader was careless, and I also prepared a lot of data.

“Okay. Let’s do that. But…”

“???”

“Let’s calculate the amount to be finalized with some additional options.”

As expected of the operations team leader.

He’s saying that he’s not just guaranteeing the salary, but putting performance-based incentives on it?

Well, whatever. I achieved my goal.

Tyrone didn’t have high expectations, but his eyes widened at my translation.

「The social fund didn’t do anything for me, but Si-hyuk has done a lot for me!」

Are you still not over Blue Marble [a popular board game]?

I burst out laughing at comparing it to that.

Then the HR manager said.

“But wait, can I ask something?”

“Yes? What is it?”

“This is your first time translating for a baseball team. The acquisition rate is… At this rate, the game…”

“Ah, I’m not interested.”

“No. Wait a minute. Let’s have some salary negotiations after this too.”

“I’m on a one-month contract.”

“That’s why, as a full-time employee…”

“Ah, I’m not interested.”

The operations team leader interjected.

“You said you’d just watch quietly. Be quiet. Now, let’s get into the detailed contract story.”

We continued the discussion about the contract.

The HR manager is staring at my face.

Seriously. I’m not interested.

***

-Daycare Center.

Today, they were talking about their moms and dads working at the company.

One of them is a professor or faculty member here.

Anyway, the kids decided to play company play instead of house play today, based on what they saw somewhere.

The teacher doesn’t know why it turned out like this.

Seung-joon said.

“I watched a company drama, and it said that there are roles like in house play. That, that what was it?”

Jong-soo smirked and said.

“I know. Employee, Assistant Manager, Manager, Deputy General Manager, General Manager. There’s also a President and a Chairman!”

“Ah, that’s right! But who’s higher?”

“Huh?”

Jong-soo said it in order, but he didn’t know who was higher, so he was worried.

Si-ha raised her hand, saying she knew.

“Si-ha knows.”

“Do you really know?”

“Aah!”

Jong-soo looked at her suspiciously, but Si-ha was confident.

“Bigger than Hong Ajji. Representative. Representative.”

“Um. Who’s Hong Ajji again?”

It’s true that the Representative [CEO or equivalent] is higher than Hong Manager, but he didn’t know what he was talking about when he said Hong Ajji.

Hana said.

“Hana also knows. The Chairman is the best.”

“That’s obvious.”

First, the Chairman was ranked the highest.

He also knew that the President was next.

The problem was the placement below that.

“The Manager is below that. It’s similar to a snack, so it must be higher.”

I know that snacks are getting high scores from the kids.

Si-ha said something else she knew.

“Aah! General Manager. Glasses Hyung [Brother].”

It’s true that Ahn Gyeong-ho is the club president, but…

Jong-soo had an expression that said, ‘What the heck are you talking about?’

Si-ha knows something, but she’s the only one who knows.

Eun-woo said.

“Let’s just do it roughly. I’m the Chairman!”

Seung-joon and Jong-soo got angry.

“No! I’m going to be the Chairman!”

“Jong-soo can’t do it! I have to do it!”

The teacher clapped her hands at the sight.

“Then, shall we play rock-paper-scissors to see who will be the Chairman?”

“Yes!”

Everyone played rock-paper-scissors.

And the Chairman was quickly decided.