Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 104

Dream Agency (4)

“You really started a company?”

Jeong In-gyu’s eyes widened as if they would pop out of his head, showing how surprised he was.

“It just sort of happened.”

“Wow, that’s amazing.”

“So, you’ll come, right?”

I asked Jeong In-gyu to join the agency and be in charge of the players’ training.

I’ll help too, but I won’t be able to focus solely on training like I used to.

“Of course, I have to go. But…”

“…?”

“It might be a little difficult right now.”

“Is there a problem? I’m not saying you have to start tomorrow; I’ll give you plenty of time to sort things out.”

“No, it’s not that. If I suddenly leave, the kids at my school will be in trouble. High school baseball is in the middle of the season, and it won’t be easy to find a replacement coach on short notice.”

“Ah… I see.”

“So, I was thinking of helping out with important things for now, and then fully joining around the end of the year. Would that be possible?”

“If that’s the case, then of course we can do that.”

“Thanks for understanding.”

Now, we’ve even recruited a coach to be in charge of training our players.

“But are all these players really joining?”

Jeong In-gyu looked through the data I showed him again, asking as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Of course, it’s real. Would I lie to you?”

“You’ve really made it. You look different.”

“Made it? It’s just the beginning.”

“By the way, I don’t know if I’ll have any advice to give to these players. It’s one thing with high schoolers, but the players here are already the best in the country. Just looking at their careers, they’re so much better than me.”

Jeong In-gyu took a deep breath, overwhelmed by the pressure.

“You’re the best coach in the country. It’s not like you’ve only developed one or two players.”

“Me, the best coach…? Well, it’s not entirely untrue.”

“It’s no different for players playing professionally. In the end, they still have to train and practice.”

“Hearing you say that gives me a little more confidence.”

Only now did Jeong In-gyu have a faint smile on his face.

“We’re having a party tomorrow with all the players, do you want to come?”

“Is it okay for me to go to such a thing?”

“Of course, you’re part of our company now.”

“Really? Then, of course, I have to go.”

Jeong In-gyu twitched his lips, showing his anticipation.

* * *

I was busy preparing for the event from morning.

I wanted to create an environment where the players could celebrate the start of the company together and get to know each other.

It was also to introduce the new dorm and training facility.

Not only Lee Ju-hyeok and I, but even Jeong In-gyu came early and was busy preparing for the event.

In the yard, a catering company was preparing the food.

I went into the building that would serve as the dorm and training facility with Lee Ju-hyeok and Jeong In-gyu.

The new space for Dream Agency was perfectly equipped to help players maintain peak physical condition.

In the underground training room, weight training and basic batting and pitching practice were possible, and outside, facilities were created to allow for training that closely simulated actual games.

The necessary exercise equipment was also planned to be installed soon.

The focus was on creating an environment where players could train according to the weather and their individual needs.

“Wow, the facilities here are really good.”

Jeong In-gyu looked around the interior and exclaimed.

“We put a lot into it. You have to work hard in the future.”

“Can I come here and stay after the season ends?”

“Of course, it won’t be easy to find a place somewhere else.”

“The company’s support is amazing?”

“Accommodation, meals, and utilities are all free. Don’t worry about anything else and just focus on your work.”

“Wow, this company is worth working for.”

Jeong In-gyu clapped his hands and cheered, then high-fived Lee Ju-hyeok.

As time passed and the promised time approached, players began to arrive one by one.

The first to arrive were Oh Seok-hoon and Park Seong-ju.

Oh Seok-hoon and Park Seong-ju walked in, pushing their suitcases.

The two players decided to live in the dorm again this time.

“Wow! It looks better than the YJ Agency dorm?”

“It seems bigger than before.”

Oh Seok-hoon and Park Seong-ju turned their heads from side to side and approached me.

“Hyung [older brother or close male friend], this place is really good.”

“I’ll make sure you can live here comfortably.”

I smiled brightly and shook hands with Oh Seok-hoon.

“Wow, he’s really handsome up close.”

Jeong In-gyu, who was next to him, looked at Oh Seok-hoon, opened his mouth, and couldn’t close it.

“Oh, right, you don’t know each other yet? This is Jeong In-gyu, who is currently working as a pitching coach at a high school, and he will be in charge of training at our agency from now on. And these are Oh Seok-hoon and Park Seong-ju, who are playing for the Buffaloes.”

I stood in the middle and pointed to both sides with my hands, introducing them.

“Ah, hello, I’m Oh Seok-hoon.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Jeong In-gyu.”

“I’m Park Seong-ju. Coach, please take good care of me.”

As soon as he shook hands, Park Seong-ju went behind Jeong In-gyu and started massaging his shoulders.

I teased Jeong In-gyu, who was getting a massage.

“Coach Jeong, don’t forget that you promised to train our players hard, right?”

“CEO! I’m working hard to suck up to you, how can you say that?”

Park Seong-ju looked at me with resentful eyes.

“Even so, they’re the best professional players in the country, so you shouldn’t deliberately treat them harshly.”

“Right? Our coach knows best.”

Park Seong-ju’s expression brightened in an instant at Jeong In-gyu’s words.

“It’s enough to do just as much as our school players do now.”

“Our players… are you talking about high school students?”

Park Seong-ju stammered and barely continued speaking.

“Of course. Still, they’re professional players, so it doesn’t make sense for them to train less than high school students.”

“I knew I had a good eye for the coach.”

This time, I smiled brightly and massaged Jeong In-gyu’s shoulders.

“No… even so.”

“There won’t be any training today, so relax and enjoy yourselves. Go in and unpack.”

I patted the shoulders of Oh Seok-hoon and Park Seong-ju, who were in despair.

The two players pushed their suitcases and trudged into the dorm.

Not long after, another player opened the door and came in.

Jang Su-young and So Young-jun arrived, and soon after, Na Jun-ho also entered.

“Wow… a 15 billion won hitter.”

Jeong In-gyu couldn’t close his mouth again this time.

“Professionals are all professionals, why focus on the money?”

“That’s true, but 15 billion is on a different level.”

It was hard to argue.

And another player came in, and this time Jeong In-gyu was so surprised that he approached me.

“Hey, isn’t Choi Jeong-hwan the pitcher who hit you in the head?”

“Oh, yeah.”

“How did that player join?”

“I recruited him.”

“You directly?”

“Yeah.”

Jeong In-gyu’s eyes sparkled with interest as I nodded.

“That’s an interesting combination.”

There was another player who was interested in Choi Jeong-hwan.

“Oh, you’re Jeong-hwan.”

Park Seong-ju looked at Choi Jeong-hwan and approached him as if he had met a long-awaited guest.

“Hello, senior [someone older or more experienced].”

Choi Jeong-hwan bowed his head to Park Seong-ju.

“I really wanted to meet you.”

“Really?”

“Your ball is really good. My bat was pushed back, and I was really surprised. There are really only a few pitchers who I thought I couldn’t beat with strength.”

The moment when Park Seong-ju couldn’t hide his surprise after hitting Choi Jeong-hwan’s ball in the game they faced off against each other came to mind.

“Thank you.”

Choi Jeong-hwan couldn’t hide his embarrassment.

“Come this way. Let’s get along.”

Park Seong-ju took Choi Jeong-hwan to the seat next to him.

Go Ji-hoon was unfortunately unable to attend due to being hospitalized.

That’s how all the players arrived.

I clapped my hands and stepped forward.

“Everyone, please pay attention to me for a moment.”

The eyes of everyone in attendance turned to me.

“Thank you for joining us at the new start of our agency. It’s just starting, so there will be many shortcomings, but we will try to provide as much support as possible for the things you need.”

“Kang Hyun-woo is handsome!”

A burst of laughter erupted for a moment at So Young-jun’s words.

“If you have any needs or concerns, please tell me anytime, anywhere. No matter what happens, I will find a way to help you.”

“Our CEO is the best.”

This time, Park Seong-ju’s voice was heard.

“The meal is also prepared deliciously. Eat as much as you want and have a good time talking with other players today.”

“Yes!”

The smell of steak being grilled began to fill the yard in earnest.

Lee Ju-hyeok and Jeong In-gyu also sat down and greeted the players.

A lot of time passed since the meal started,

Thump, thump, thump, thump. Bba bba bbam bbam.

Suddenly, music that could be heard in a club flowed out through the speakers.

“Oh, oh!”

With exclamations, people gathered in one place.

I also moved my steps to see what was going on.

“Whoo, yeah!”

Someone was dancing so wildly in the center that their arms and legs couldn’t be seen.

It was So Young-jun.

“Oh, oh!”

There was no way to explain it other than to say that he had entrusted his body to the music.

The people who were watching this scene were also actively responding and shaking their bodies.

Creating a feeling as if you were in a club in an instant.

This was also a great ability.

Even I, who was watching quietly, was shaking my body involuntarily.

I couldn’t help but smile as I watched the players enjoying themselves.

Right then.

Someone tapped me on the shoulder.

“Hyun-woo, can we talk for a moment?”

When I turned my head, Na Jun-ho was already next to me.

“Yes, of course.”

I nodded and moved to a quiet place with Na Jun-ho.

We sat facing each other at a table in the living room of the dorm.

“Is there something wrong?”

“It’s not that, but I was wondering if there’s anything I can help with.”

A player is going to help the agency?

“I appreciate the thought, but the agency should be supporting you. How can I get help from a player?”

Na Jun-ho continued to say what he wanted without paying any attention.

“I was looking around earlier and there weren’t any exercise equipment in the training room yet, so can I buy it for you?”

“Exercise equipment…?”

It took a lot of money to equip the training room with the best system. Exercise equipment was one of them.

I should refuse right away, but I was hesitating without realizing it.

“I really want to do it for you.”

“I’ll just take your heart. Even so, that’s something the company should do.”

“It’s okay because you can come and use it often when you come to away games. I’ll support you. I have a lot of money now.”

Na Jun-ho didn’t seem to have any intention of changing his mind.

Then maybe it would be better to borrow it for a while.

“If you insist, I’ll gratefully accept it and repay you later.”

Na Jun-ho nodded with a smiling face and patted me on the shoulder.