Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 118

“What do you mean by that?”

I asked, trying my best not to lose my composure.

Kim Seok-won, general manager of the Pelicans, put down the data and said,

“Even though our team is in urgent need of a pitching change, we’re hesitant to make a change unless it’s a reliably proven pitcher.”

“Even though he still has weaknesses, if he can just *supplement* these, he’ll become a fearsome pitcher. You saw him throw his fastball and slider, didn’t you?”

“That’s true, but… the fact that he has no professional experience means it’s hard to guarantee that he’ll perform well right away, even if he comes. Besides, he hasn’t been verified as a starting pitcher either.”

“If he spends the rest of the season adjusting and *addressing* his weaknesses, he’ll definitely perform well next year and the year after.”

Kim Seok-won’s expression still didn’t seem satisfied.

Looking at his expression, I felt like cold sweat was running down my spine.

“Of course, that’s true. But we need a pitcher who can improve the team’s performance *immediately*. We need to bring in a starting pitcher who has been thoroughly proven on the professional stage, even if we have to pay him a lot.”

The Pelicans probably won’t be able to make it to the postseason this year anyway.

In this situation, is it really necessary to focus on immediate results?

“You need a pitcher who can improve your performance right away? Isn’t the Pelicans in a situation where they need to rebuild?”

“Rebuilding is rebuilding, but the fans are in an uproar, and now the parent company is starting to put pressure on us. What can we do? We have to bring in results that are visible right away.”

“From the parent company?”

“And rebuilding means developing young, promising players on the team, but we can’t wait for foreign players to grow. A foreign player should be able to play a central role in the team and bring us victories right away. That way, we can justify rebuilding.”

“…….”

What he said wasn’t wrong.

“Are there any other players besides this one? If there’s a guarantee that he’ll do well, we can get him as much salary as he wants.”

“You want a player who can perform like an ace right away, right?”

“If it’s a proven ace, we can sign him right away. Don’t worry about the money, we’ll get as much as possible.”

“I understand. I’ll look for more players to recommend.”

I quickly ended the conversation with Kim Seok-won and came outside.

It didn’t seem like talking more would change his mind.

I had to find another team where Michael Scott could play as soon as possible.

* * *

Regardless of the breakdown in negotiations with the Pelicans, Michael Scott arrived in Korea on the promised date.

I didn’t know which team Scott would be wearing a uniform for, but I was planning to film the process of him entering Korea and upload it to the channel.

But I’ll only be able to upload it after the team is decided…….

I headed to the airport with the video team to meet Scott and Lee Ju-hyuk at their arrival time.

We also had a large sign welcoming him to Korea.

Soon, the doors of the airport arrival hall opened, and people began to come out one by one.

At the same time, the video team’s cameras became busy.

After a while, Michael Scott was seen walking out with Lee Ju-hyuk.

I held up the sign I was holding and waved it.

Thanks to the boisterous movement, it didn’t take long for our eyes to meet.

“Kang!”

Scott and Lee Ju-hyuk strode towards me.

Scott, confirming that he was being filmed from the side, gave a thumbs up to the camera.

I put the flower necklace I had prepared around Scott’s neck.

“Thank you so much. This is a really happy day.”

Scott smiled brightly, showing his white teeth, happy with the unexpected welcome.

And he shook his body to the camera.

“Scott, and Ju-hyuk, thank you for coming such a long way.”

He bowed his head, saying thank you in Korean, which I don’t know when he learned.

“You must be tired from the long flight, let’s go to the agency’s accommodation first.”

“Let’s go!”

Scott’s energy hadn’t changed at all, even after the long flight.

Even while taking the car to the accommodation, he admired the scenery of Korea, which he was seeing for the first time, and kept exclaiming.

Was it because the camera was there? He seemed to be more excited than when I saw him in the United States.

I was so glad that Lee Ju-hyuk was there to explain in detail the points that Scott was curious about without showing any signs of fatigue.

Before we knew it, we had arrived at the accommodation.

“It’s really cool!”

Scott exclaimed as soon as he stood in front of the accommodation.

“Scott, how is it? Do you like it?”

If he ends up signing with a team in a distant province, it would be difficult to live here every day.

“Yes, you’ll be living here often.”

Since half of the teams are in the metropolitan area near the accommodation, it wasn’t wrong.

“Wow, beautiful house.”

Scott couldn’t close his mouth, giving thumbs up all the way through the yard.

First, I went into the accommodation and showed Scott the room he would be using.

While Scott was briefly organizing his luggage, I called Oh Seok-hoon and Park Seong-ju, who would be living with him, to one place.

“Oh……. It’s my first time living with a foreign player.”

Oh Seok-hoon came to my side and whispered with an expression of mixed tension and anticipation.

“He’s the player you met last time.”

“Me?”

Oh Seok-hoon, his eyes widened, looked at Scott and tried to recall, but he didn’t seem to remember.

“You hit a home run during the practice game at spring camp.”

“Is that really him?”

“That’s right.”

Oh Seok-hoon opened his mouth in surprise as I nodded.

Suddenly, Park Seong-ju’s voice was heard from behind.

“Is that the player from that time?”

He was almost running down from the second floor.

“Seong-ju remembers?”

“Of course. His fastball was amazing at the time. I’ve really only felt my bat pushed back that much a few times.”

Park Seong-ju shook his head.

“Get along well in the future. He’s a bright friend, so it’ll be fun.”

“Senior, which team is Scott going to? I haven’t heard any rumors about replacing a foreign pitcher yet. Hasn’t it been announced yet?”

I couldn’t easily open my mouth to Park Seong-ju’s question.

“Negotiations are in progress. I’ll let you know when it’s confirmed.”

“Is there a possibility that he’ll come to the Buffaloes?”

“If there’s one thing that’s certain, it’s that it won’t be the Buffaloes.”

“Really? Then I’ll be meeting him as an opponent……. I’ll have to ask him to take it easy on me.”

Park Seong-ju groaned, holding his head, as if he was daunted by the prospect of facing Scott in the future.

And finally, Scott came out with Lee Ju-hyuk.

As soon as Scott saw Oh Seok-hoon and Park Seong-ju, he seemed to remember them and spread his arms wide to show his delight.

“If my memory is correct, I think these two are Oh and Park?”

“That’s right. This is Oh Seok-hoon, and this is Park Seong-ju.”

I pointed to Oh Seok-hoon and Park Seong-ju and introduced them.

“Oh was a very fast player at that time, he even hit a home run against me. And Park is such a strong player that he could be a major league power hitter.”

Scott quickly ran in place when he saw Oh Seok-hoon, and then took a big swing when he saw Park Seong-ju.

“Your fastball is great…… Ah, English is difficult, Ju-hyuk, please tell him. It was the first time I’ve ever seen such a fastball.”

Scott, who received the message from Lee Ju-hyuk, smiled brightly and gave Park Seong-ju an American greeting.

“Then, now that the new family member has arrived, shall we start the welcoming ceremony?”

We went out to the yard and started a small party.

I was going to give them a last break before the league resumed soon.

As expected of baseball players, the conversation turned to baseball stories.

Scott was interested in the Korean official ball and asked questions about it.

Eventually, they ended up bringing gloves and balls and playing catch.

Is it because they’re baseball players, or did they become baseball players because of this?

* * *

After finishing the meal and continuing the conversation for a while, I went into the room alone.

I wanted to have a good time with the players, but I couldn’t because I was uncomfortable.

I had to find a team to sign with Scott as soon as possible.

So, which team would be best to offer Scott to?

I opened my laptop and turned on the current team standings.

Thinking back to the Pelicans general manager’s story, I thought that a player like Scott might not be the player that the bottom-ranked teams want right now.

Of course, the top-ranked teams with foreign pitchers doing well were out of the question.

The same was true for teams that had to compete fiercely for postseason tickets.

For them, winning even one more game during the remaining season to advance to this postseason would be more important than taking a risk for next year.

After erasing them like that, the only teams left were the mid- to lower-ranked teams.

A team that was virtually impossible to advance to the postseason this year, but whose power was not completely messed up, so if they prepared well during the remaining season, they could aim for next year.

One team immediately caught my eye.

Above all, he was someone who could give me more trust in my opinion than other general managers.

I didn’t hesitate to find his contact information and call him.

-Oh, CEO Kang.

“General Manager, are you free today?”

-Is it…… good news?

“Have I ever not given you good news?”

-That’s true, but I’ve been burned a lot.

I’ve never burned him, have I?

It was he who didn’t actively respond to my proposal.

“You’ll be satisfied enough this time.”

-Really? If CEO Kang says that, I’ll have to look forward to it.

“Are you free today? I want to see you right away.”

-CEO Kang is going to give me good news, so I have to make time even if I don’t have it.

“I’ll visit the club. It’ll be a quick trip by train.”

-No, I’m in Seoul right now for other business. I think it would be better to see you here?

“Really? Then please send me your location. I’ll go right away.”

As soon as I finished the call, a message with the address arrived.

It was a hotel that I could arrive at in an hour even if I left now.

Is this when things start to work out?

I immediately packed my bags and went outside.