Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 181

#180. Time to Return

“Yes, okay. Director Park, let’s start the meeting promptly in 30 minutes. Please prepare the materials thoroughly without missing anything. Understood. Yes, let’s make a decision on that today as well.”

On a day in the second week of November 2027, which felt more like winter than autumn,

The Seoul Warriors ascended to the throne as the 2027 KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] League champions.

After chasing Incheon throughout the season, the Warriors secured a direct ticket to the Korean Series in the last game of the regular season. Ultimately, they defeated Incheon 4-3 in the Korean Series, returning to the top spot after a whopping eight years.

At the start of the season, they were classified as a bottom-tier team.

It’s only natural that many sacrifices followed to reach the top.

Veteran pitcher Lee Man-shik, who had been outstanding throughout the regular season, eventually underwent elbow surgery and entered a long rehabilitation period.

Captain Jo Sung-oh, who had led the inexperienced team well, is also in an uncertain state regarding joining the demonstration games next year due to ankle surgery.

Most of all, it’s a shame that the two people who had looked forward to the team’s victory more than anyone else could not share the glorious moment of lifting the Korean Series trophy.

But it’s okay.

It will be okay.

Park Sung-hoon, who had been managing the Warriors for the past year in place of Han Su-hyeok, sincerely believed so.

Just like his trustworthy younger brother said, the Warriors’ era has just begun.

There will be many more opportunities in the future. He firmly believes that will be the case.

Of course, his role is important from now on to make that happen.

The players and coaching staff who achieved the Korean Series victory went on a short break, and the full-scale stove league [off-season period of player trades and acquisitions] began.

It’s the front office’s time.

How effectively they strengthen the team’s power during this period will determine the future of this team.

‘Hmm…’

The entire front office meeting will begin in a few hours.

Salary negotiations with existing players, contract renewals, foreign player contracts, and external FA [Free Agent] contracts, etc.

None of them are unimportant.

To do this, what is most needed is funding.

He is somehow managing the team’s finances with the initial funds that Han Su-hyeok gave him.

With expert Min Tae-hyun attached and an unexpected explosion of spectator revenue, the annual deficit has been reduced to the 10 billion won [approximately $7.5 million USD] level…

Ultimately, considering the Warriors’ unique situation of not generating profits from the parent company, it’s like living on borrowed time.

Is it possible to aim for external FA acquisitions in this situation?

Of course, there is one way.

Selling the team’s naming rights, just like the Fighters, and receiving subsidies in return.

But Han Su-hyeok, of all people, opposed it.

You can’t push forward with something that the owner of the team opposes.

As Park Sung-hoon was holding his throbbing head and agonizing over his worries,

*Click*

A call came in from Han Su-hyeok.

Han Su-hyeok, who left for the United States with Min Ye-rin immediately after the Korean Series victory celebration.

Why is that guy, who should be relaxing on a beach in LA right now, calling so suddenly?

“Oh, Su-hyeok. Yeah, is it nice there? Ugh… Yeah, just hearing it is healing. What? You want me to come too? You crazy… Forget it. More importantly, what’s going on? What? Budget meeting? I was just about to start it in a bit. What? What are you talking about? Don’t worry about the money and do everything you want to do? How? What do you want me to look at, exactly?”

Han Su-hyeok abruptly told him to search for something.

Park Sung-hoon typed the word Han Su-hyeok told him into the internet search bar with a bewildered expression.

“ICJN Research Institute… Okay, I did it. News is coming up. Swiss ICJN Research Institute, embraced by Lopels. Stock price skyrocketing… Confidence in commercializing all-solid-state batteries in the first half of 2028. A major transformation in the global automobile market… What is all this about? What does this have to do with us?”

– The company I invested all in is there.

“What did you say?”

* * *

November, when most players suspend all activities and focus on rest.

But there are players who can’t do that.

Players who have earned the right to advance overseas or FA qualifications at the end of this season.

They must now leave their familiar home team and find a new nest.

“Yo, over here. Hyung [older brother/male friend] Jun-yeong, over here.”

“You were out first. It must have been quite a distance to get here.”

“Yeah, there was no traffic at all. What’s with the suit, though?”

“Still, I’m meeting the president, so I can’t wear a tracksuit. Hey, I thought we were going to eat together, but you’re already grilling the meat?”

“Hehe, I was a little hungry while waiting, so I ate a bit. It’s okay. It’s just the beginning.”

A private room in a restaurant located near the border between Seoul and Incheon.

Ryu Han-gyeol and Im Jun-yeong, who have acquired overseas advancement qualifications and their second FA qualifications, respectively, at the end of this season, sat facing each other.

The two have been competing for the title of best pitcher in Korea for the seven years since Ryu Han-gyeol debuted.

In objective evaluations, Ryu Han-gyeol has always been one step ahead, but Im Jun-yeong has a Korean Series championship trophy that he doesn’t have.

In any case, the two, who have divided the Korean baseball scene for a not-so-short period of time, are now facing another challenge.

“You’re applying for posting right away tomorrow, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“Tell me honestly.”

“Tell you what?”

“Where are you thinking of going?”

“I don’t know. The agent will take care of it.”

“Don’t give me that crap, tell me honestly. Where is it? Which team is the most likely?”

“Well, um… I can’t really say this anywhere.”

“I’m not going to say it anywhere. Don’t hold back and tell me. Where are you most drawn to in your heart?”

At Im Jun-yeong’s urging, Ryu Han-gyeol opened his mouth as if he couldn’t win.

“Um… My parents and I both like warm places.”

“Warm places? Maybe LA? Are you going to the Dodgers? Oh, the starting lineup there is going to be pretty tight?”

“It’s LA, but it doesn’t seem like that LA.”

“Oh? Then maybe…”

“That maybe is right. That small town next to LA, realistically speaking, it’s the best place to go in many ways… Hyung, think of me as your real brother and tell me what you think.”

“Hmm…”

Strictly speaking, it is a different city, but in any case, the Angels, who have the same LA attached to the team name, are being compared to the prestigious Dodgers in many ways.

A team that is evaluated as the worst in terms of team management and player development.

A team that has been ridiculed as a win-now tanking team, failing to achieve results despite having several superstars until Shohei Ohtani retired.

Im Jun-yeong suddenly felt sorry for his younger brother Ryu Han-gyeol.

“At this point, I guess it’s just your destiny.”

“What is?”

“A breadwinner.”

“Is that so?”

“Well, I don’t think it’s a bad idea. Above all, you’re guaranteed at least the second starter spot if you go there, right?”

“Right?”

The times Im Jun-yeong had tried to catch up with Ryu Han-gyeol over the past seven years flashed through his mind one by one.

He was five years his junior, but Ryu Han-gyeol was the only pitcher Im Jun-yeong allowed his name to be above his.

Of course, that was before that monster appeared.

“But hyung.”

“Huh?”

“Eat this instead of that tasteless part. This chuck flap tail melts in your mouth.”

“Hmm, you’re bland.”

“No, what I was going to say is not that… What about you, hyung? There seem to be all sorts of stories in the news, but I haven’t heard any news?”

“That’s because nothing has been decided yet.”

“Oh-ho… Look at this. You make your brother tell you everything, but you don’t care about me?”

“No, it’s not that…”

“Tell me honestly. Aren’t you going to America? Are you going to stay in Incheon? Or the Magicians? Not there either? Um, maybe the Warriors? But they don’t have any money.”

KBO pitcher BIG3 Ryu Han-gyeol, Im Jun-yeong, Choi Kyung-jae.

Among them, Ryu Han-gyeol’s overseas advancement is almost certain, while the other two have not yet revealed their positions on their future.

Especially Im Jun-yeong.

There was a very big offer from Texas, the original team Incheon promised the highest amount ever, and the Magicians said they would give 10% more than Incheon’s offer.

All sorts of rumors circulated, but Im Jun-yeong never revealed his position even once.

“Tell me quickly. I’m dying of curiosity. Are you coming to the same division as me? No, would that be more fun? Anyway, tell me quickly. I’m burning up inside.”

“Hmm…”

Im Jun-yeong, who showed a subtle smile at Ryu Han-gyeol’s urging, finally put down his chopsticks and slowly opened his mouth.

“I am…”

* * *

“Oppa [older brother/boyfriend]!”

Perhaps soon to be Ryu Han-gyeol’s new nest, on the outskirts of Los Angeles.

On the beach of Santa Monica, a resort city bordering the Pacific Ocean, Min Ye-rin is looking at someone with a happy expression as if she has everything in the world.

“I can hear you even if you don’t call out so loudly. Why? Where have you been?”

“This! This! Try this hamburger! Wow! The place I used to eat at is gone, which made me sad, but this is even better!”

“I don’t eat hamburgers.”

“Heeing, don’t do that, just take one bite.”

Perhaps because he was tired of the hard bread and jam he ate in the minor leagues, and the patties made of something he didn’t know what, Han Su-hyeok, who had never put a hamburger in his mouth even after lifting the dietary restrictions, reluctantly took a bite.

“Hmm…”

“How is it? Delicious, right? Delicious, right?”

To be honest, it wasn’t delicious.

No, to be more precise, it was exactly the taste he expected.

A slightly excessive greasy taste and a somewhat sour and sweet sauce.

In the past, he would have said it was bad without any hesitation.

But now Han Su-hyeok has learned how to talk to other people.

“It’s delicious. It’s exactly the taste you’d like, Ye-rin.”

“Right?”

“Yeah, but I still have to be careful with my diet, so you can eat the rest.”

“Hehe, yes. I only bought one to taste it anyway. Then I’ll enjoy it!”

Han Su-hyeok and Min Ye-rin.

It’s already been about fifteen days since the two of them came to the United States for vacation.

Han Su-hyeok, who had a thorough examination immediately after the last game of the Korean Series, received the result that he should not do any training other than simple running and rehabilitation exercises for at least a month.

Thanks to that, he was even excluded from the team’s finishing training with some players.

It was quite a frustrating situation for him, who had only known exercise all his life.

Min Ye-rin suggested to such Han Su-hyeok.

“Oppa, shall we go to LA together? An older sister I know said I can use her villa as I please.”

The owner of the villa was someone Han Su-hyeok also knew. An actress named Kim Eun-byeol, whom he had met with Min Ye-rin when she briefly came to Korea last time.

That’s how the two’s trip to the United States began.

There was a hug once in the last Korean Series final, but in fact, the relationship between the two is still difficult to define.

Too close to be called friends, and too lacking to be called lovers.

“Heeing… This life is coming to an end today.”

“Hmm.”

For the past fifteen days, the two’s daily routine has been boringly the same.

Waking up late in the morning and eating a simple breakfast, walking to Santa Monica Beach during the day when the sun is quite warm to enjoy sunbathing or taking a walk.

Stopping by a restaurant near the beach that Min Ye-rin confidently recommends for lunch, and sometimes chatting about useless topics.

After the sun sets, returning to the villa, eating dinner made by Min Ye-rin, sharing various stories, and then returning to their respective rooms to sleep.

Min Ye-rin doesn’t know, but at least for Han Su-hyeok, it was a series of experiences he was having for the first time in his life.

Spending a day without purpose, talking to a woman alone for so long, and watching the setting sun without any thoughts.

All of those things were so new to Han Su-hyeok.

In the process, Han Su-hyeok thought a lot and realized a lot.

And he was able to recall what he had to do.

The woman who remains in his memory from a long time ago.

He had the thought that he should meet that person.

There was no other reason.

Anyway, he is the only one who remembers what happened in the past. That woman doesn’t even know who Han Su-hyeok is.

He just wanted to meet her just once.

Standing in front of that person, he just wanted to say he was sorry and thank you.

He felt like he could sort everything out after saying just those words.

‘Ye-rin, can I ask you for a favor? You said you have a lot of acquaintances in the United States, right?’

‘A favor! That’s great. Yes, I have a lot. If I don’t have them, I’ll go out and make them right away. More importantly, what’s the favor?’

It might be a bit strange, but Han Su-hyeok decided to ask Min Ye-rin for that favor.

A woman who is now eighteen years old, whose name and surname he doesn’t know.

But it’s not like there are no clues.

First of all, she has been doing music since she was young, and…

‘Um… What does she look like… She’s taller than you, her legs are a bit longer, but her waist is thin and short. Come to think of it, her face is a bit smaller too… Oh, oh, hey, what’s wrong? Put that down. It’s dangerous.’

He almost got hit.

Anyway, Min Ye-rin gladly accepted Han Su-hyeok’s request.

She didn’t ask who it was.

Because she thought Han Su-hyeok was not the kind of person who would make her do something that would hurt her.

‘It’s difficult because I don’t know her name… But since she’s doing music, I’ll try to find a connection somehow. This place is so big that it’s not easy to find someone unless they’re very famous. Ah! What kind of music does she do? Do you remember any songs?’

‘I remember a little.’

‘Sing it. Just a moment. I’ll turn on the app here.’

‘Ahem, and somewhere……’

‘Oppa.’

‘Huh?’

‘It’s okay. I’ll just look for her myself.’

Of course, it was impossible to find her trace during the short stay of fifteen days in the United States.

But it’s okay.

It’s not urgent. Like Min Ye-rin said, the day will come when he will know who she is someday.

The last dinner prepared by Min Ye-rin.

Warm stew and side dishes that she made, saying that he had to get his stomach back to normal before returning to Korea, even though he didn’t know where she got them.

Han Su-hyeok, who put everything in his mouth evenly and slowly finished his meal, said.

“Ye-rin.”

“Yes, Oppa.”

“Thank you.”

The short break is over.

He can’t resume full-scale training yet, but Han Su-hyeok had something to do.

He has to strengthen the team’s power.

CEO Park Sung-hoon and General Manager Park Jae-cheol will work hard, but the person who will make the decisions must be by their side.

It’s time to return.

To the people who are waiting for him.