Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 143

143.

A Difficult FA Negotiation (5)

“Hyunwoo, how have you been?”

The person who called me was Lim Yaeji.

It was the first time we had met since I stormed out of the meeting room about five months ago.

I never imagined we would meet again in a place like this, on a day like this.

“It’s been a while, Director Lim.”

I forced a smile, trying to act as if nothing was wrong, and shook hands with Lim Yaeji after a long time.

-Admiring Kang Hyunwoo’s achievements since going independent.

-Doubles proposed a starting pitcher to replace Go Jihun!@x$.

So, Lim Yaeji was the reason Doubles could be so rigid.

They proposed a player to replace Go Jihun to Doubles.

It felt unfair, but there wasn’t much room for human warmth in the game of business.

If that’s the case, I have no choice but to win in business, rather than appealing to human emotions.

“I should call you CEO Kang now.”

It felt awkward to hear Lim Yaeji call me CEO.

“I’m glad to see you doing well at your new agency.”

“I’m working hard.”

“I didn’t know you were so good at bringing in foreign players this time.”

“I just got lucky somehow.”

A faint smile appeared on Lim Yaeji’s lips at the mention of luck.

“Are you busy with Go Jihun’s FA [Free Agent] negotiations these days?”

“Of course.”

“Is it going in the direction you want?”

Well…….

It doesn’t seem like it, because you proposed another alternative to Doubles.

“Negotiations aren’t always satisfactory in one go.”

“I’m sure you’ll do well, Hyunwoo.”

“Of course. I have to make it work.”

Besides wanting to secure the best contract for my player, another goal was born.

I didn’t want to lose to Lim Yaeji in our first head-to-head match.

“I’ll be waiting for good news.”

Lim Yaeji gave a faint smile and walked away from me.

As soon as I finished greeting Lim Yaeji, I was able to meet the person who was waiting for me.

“CEO Kang.”

“Director, you’re here?”

It was Choi Minseong, the general manager of the Buffaloes.

-Anticipating that Go Jihun might come on the market.

-Seriously considering signing him if the conditions aren’t too excessive.

This was something I hadn’t seen when negotiating the salaries of Oh Seokhoon and Park Seongju.

I don’t know if the interview I gave in the lobby earlier had an effect, but whatever the reason, it was nothing but good news for us.

“Let’s talk for a moment.”

Choi Minseong took me to a quiet place outside the venue.

Then, he looked around to make sure no one was listening.

“What’s going on?”

I could guess why he was doing this from the information window, but I pretended not to know anything and asked.

“I’ll get straight to the point.”

I nodded to Choi Minseong.

“Is it possible to sign Go Jihun?”

“Of course, he’s a free agent. Anyone can sign him.”

I threw it out as a joke, but Choi Minseong didn’t seem to be in a situation to accept that.

“How far along are you with Doubles?”

“We’re discussing it in various ways. We’ve only just started negotiations.”

“The negotiations aren’t going smoothly, are they?”

“As you’ve already seen in the articles, we’re in the process of adjusting the conditions.”

“Hmm…….”

Choi Minseong paused to gather his thoughts, then put his hand on my shoulder as if he had made a decision.

“Let’s talk properly with us too.”

“We welcome that anytime.”

I barely managed to hide the smile that was about to break out as I replied.

“Are you free tomorrow?”

“I have an appointment with Doubles in the morning.”

“Doubles? Can’t you just postpone it?”

“Even so, wouldn’t that be a bit much?”

I won’t be seeing them again in the future.

“Then we’ll see each other as soon as you’re done talking to them.”

“Of course.”

Only after making a specific time appointment with General Manager Choi Minseong was I able to return to the venue.

“I never expected to see you here.”

“Oh, Manager?”

Kim Sangmoon, the newly appointed national team manager, was approaching me.

Kim Sangmoon was appointed to prepare early for the international competition that would be held in a few years.

This was to prepare properly in the long term, as Korea’s recent international competition results had not been good.

I never thought I would meet the national team manager.

I approached Kim Sangmoon and bowed.

“Congratulations on your appointment, Manager.”

“Thank you.”

Kim Sangmoon extended his hand, and I naturally shook it.

-I definitely want to achieve good results in international competitions.

-Worrying about which players to select for the national team.

“Nice to meet you. I wanted to talk to you sometime.”

“You wanted to talk to me, Manager?”

“The rumors are spreading. They say you have excellent skills from seeing players to developing them.”

Kim Sangmoon said with a deep smile on his face.

“You’re too kind. I’ve just been lucky a few times.”

“Luck doesn’t follow those who aren’t prepared.”

“I’ll work harder.”

I was really embarrassed to hear praise from the national team manager.

“Let’s set up a meeting later. I think I’ll have a lot of advice to ask for in many ways.”

“It would be an honor.”

There was nothing more rewarding than being recognized by the national team manager.

* * *

As it was time for the awards ceremony to begin, all the attendees, including me, took their seats.

The awards ceremony began with a performance by an idol singer.

The players were seated at tables divided by team, and I was watching the event from a table prepared on the other side.

Finally, it was time for this season’s Golden Gloves to find their owners.

Oh Seokhoon and Na Junho were nominated in the outfield category, Park Seongju in the third base category, and Jang Suyeong in the pitching category.

As the event progressed, the Golden Gloves were finding their owners one by one by position.

After first base and second base, it was finally the third base category.

Not only Park Seongju but also my hands were sweating.

“I will announce the Golden Glove winner in the third base category. Who will the winner be?”

The presenter paused for a moment, as if unaware that Park Seongju was holding his breath.

“The winner is…… Buffaloes’ Park Seongju!”

“Wow!”

As soon as Park Seongju’s name was called, I jumped up and clapped.

“Awesome! Congratulations, Seongju!”

In particular, Oh Seokhoon, who was sitting next to me, grabbed Park Seongju’s head with both hands and shook it, expressing his joy enthusiastically.

“Haa…….”

Park Seongju took a deep breath and got up to greet his celebrating teammates.

“Congratulations.”

Na Junho and Jang Suyeong also approached Park Seongju and congratulated him with hugs.

Park Seongju walked up to the stage.

He received the Golden Glove and raised his hand high, enjoying the joy.

“Park Seongju, please give us your acceptance speech.”

At the host’s words, Park Seongju approached the microphone.

“First of all, I would like to thank the fans who love professional baseball and the Buffaloes. Thank you especially for cheering me on every time I hit a home run. I will hit more home runs next year so that I can hear more cheers.”

“Wow! Park Seongju! Park Seongju!”

The Buffaloes fans in the audience gave another enthusiastic cheer.

“And I would also like to thank the Dream Agency family, especially CEO Kang Hyunwoo…….”

Park Seongju paused for a moment before continuing.

“It was my dream to hit a home run on the field and give an acceptance speech like this in this place. Thank you for making that dream come true. You know I love you a lot, right? Let’s be together forever.”

As Park Seongju’s gaze turned to me, suddenly everyone, including the cameras, was looking at me.

I could sense that it was a moment to do something.

After a moment of thought, I made a big circle with both hands.

Then applause erupted from everywhere.

After that, Park Seongju’s acceptance speech continued for a long time.

His high school coach and coaches even appeared.

“I will become a player who can be loved a lot next year as well. In particular, I will play a necessary role in helping the Buffaloes win the championship again. Please watch over me. Thank you.”

Park Seongju finished his acceptance speech vigorously and once again raised the Golden Glove high, rejoicing.

The awards ceremony continued after that.

“Now, finally, it’s the outfield category.”

The screen showed game scenes of the outfield candidates.

“The outfield will select three players regardless of the left fielder, center fielder, and right fielder positions. So, who will the winners be?”

As tense music played, Oh Seokhoon, who looked calm, swallowed hard, unlike Na Junho.

Park Seongju, who was next to Oh Seokhoon, was also gathering his hands with a nervous expression.

“Buffaloes’ Oh Seokhoon! Dragons’ Na Junho! And Angels’ Lee Sanghoon!”

As soon as the names of Oh Seokhoon and Na Junho were called, our agency members stood up at the same time and congratulated them once again.

The three winners greeted their colleagues and went up to the stage.

As they received the Golden Glove trophies, Na Junho and Lee Sanghoon gestured for Oh Seokhoon to stand first.

So, Oh Seokhoon stood in front of the microphone first.

The enthusiastic cheers of the female fans erupted as if to tear their ears.

“Uh…….”

Oh Seokhoon’s eyes were already filled with tears as he went up on the stage, and he turned around before even starting his first word.

Na Junho, who was standing behind him, came over and patted Oh Seokhoon on the back.

“Don’t cry! Don’t cry!”

The fans’ enthusiastic cheers were also with him.

Oh Seokhoon, who had barely regained his composure, turned back to the audience.

“I couldn’t get a spot in the first team for several years and went back and forth between the second team, and I thought my baseball career was over. But I got to play as a starter in the first team game, and it’s a miracle that I received such a big award.”

I could feel that the eyes of several people were already on me.

“Hyunwoo hyung [older brother/respected male figure], who is the best brother and senior who made that miracle happen, thank you so much.”

This time, the camera was on me.

I was wondering what action to take now.

This time, I made a heart with both hands.

“I will not forget the difficult and hard times in the future and will work hard.”

As Oh Seokhoon finished his acceptance speech and bowed, enthusiastic cheers and applause erupted from the audience.

The cheers and applause continued until Oh Seokhoon left the stage.

Na Junho also expressed his gratitude to me and our agency in his subsequent acceptance speech.

Jang Suyeong also had a good performance this season, but unfortunately, he did not win the award because the competition in the pitching category was too fierce.

He was good enough to win the award in terms of skill, but since the team’s performance was disappointing, there was a limit to how well an individual player could perform.

Fortunately, Jang Suyeong was proud to be happy just to be here.

With this, the festival was over.

The fun time is over.

It was time to get back to negotiations.

Because the professional baseball’s stove league [off-season negotiation period] was not over yet.