Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 158

Unconditionally Can’t Bend (5)

The time spent waiting for the arbitration committee felt like an eternity.

Their meeting went on longer than expected.

About an hour later, the arbitration chairman and the committee members returned to their seats.

Lee Joo-hyuk and I, as well as Kim Seok-won, the Pelicans’ general manager, looked at the chairman with tense expressions.

The chairman looked at the paper he was holding and turned on the microphone.

“We have comprehensively discussed the opinions of both the player and the club regarding So Young-joon’s salary arbitration request. And now, I will announce the results.”

I swallowed hard and waited for the chairman’s next words.

“In this adjustment, based on the opinions of the player and the club, we have carefully considered and judged So Young-joon’s contribution in the previous season, the duration and consistency of this contribution, his official awards [achievements], the recent performance of the affiliated club, and the player’s past salary compared to the salary level of players at the same level.”

The chairman paused for a moment and continued.

What will the result be?

My hands were sweating.

“As a result of comprehensively judging the opinions of the player and the club, the conclusion is that So Young-joon’s salary for next year will be adjusted to 100 million won, as claimed by the player.”

The chairman banged the gavel and added the final words.

“If the club rejects the adjustment or does not sign a contract with the adjusted salary within 10 days, So Young-joon’s status will be immediately changed to a free agent, and at the same time, FA [Free Agent] negotiations can proceed with all clubs. Thank you to both the player and the club for your hard work. I will conclude the salary arbitration meeting here today.”

The moment the arbitration committee members got up from their seats after the announcement,

“Nice!”

I unknowingly kicked the chair and jumped up, uttering a word of joy.

“Representative, you worked hard!”

“Joo-hyuk, we did it.”

I clenched my fist and shared the joy with Lee Joo-hyuk by hugging him.

“Representative Kang, congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

The baseball association officials who had been watching the meeting also clapped and came to greet me.

I shook hands with each person who congratulated me and expressed my gratitude.

On the other hand, Kim Seok-won left the conference room with an unpleasant expression.

“General Manager Kim, you worked hard too.”

I bowed my head towards the direction Kim Seok-won was leaving.

“Hmm.”

Kim Seok-won looked at me with a dissatisfied expression and a dry cough.

When I met his eyes, I raised the corners of my mouth and smiled.

* * *

Lee Joo-hyuk and I walked out of the baseball association with lighter hearts.

And there, I could see some sports reporters who were waiting for me to come out.

I could also see Lee Soo-min standing with them.

A reporter standing in front of me asked me.

“Representative Kang Hyun-woo, you have won the salary arbitration even though players have rarely won in recent years. How do you feel about it?”

“Honestly, I’m not very happy that today’s meeting is attracting so much attention. It means that what should have been possible is only now starting to function.”

It was certain that today’s salary arbitration application case would play an important role in the future, but the road ahead still seemed far away.

And this time, another reporter next to me asked a question.

“There have been cases where players have won in salary arbitration in the past, but they were tacitly targeted by the team and were virtually released the following year. Are you worried that So Young-joon might suffer such disadvantages?”

“That was almost 20 years ago. Wouldn’t the world be a little different now than it was then? And I don’t think the Pelicans would make such a wrong decision, but if So Young-joon suffers such disadvantages, I have no intention of standing still.”

As soon as I answered, another question was thrown.

“If other players who are not affiliated with you need to apply for salary arbitration, are you willing to support them?”

“Of course. If you have received an unfair offer, we will help as much as we can.”

I was planning to step in if any of my fellow players were in an unfair situation.

I finished the interview and got into the car.

Now I could rest a little more comfortably.

With the results of the salary arbitration application and my interview, numerous articles poured out.

└Is this really a world where players can win too?

└Kang Hyun-woo is amazing too. He wins this.

└I wish Kang Hyun-woo would do my salary negotiation.

└It’s sad that a player like So Young-joon has to do this much to raise his salary by 30 million won.

└Kang Hyun-woo says he won’t stand still if So Young-joon is disadvantaged. Kang Hyun-woo is cool.

└If you belong to Kang Hyun-woo’s agency, you won’t be retaliated against by the club ㅋㅋㅋ [laughing]

└An important precedent has been set, so wouldn’t it be worth applying for salary arbitration from now on?

└Honestly, let’s stop the cheap tactics from now on.

└Pelicans will become FA if they reject the adjusted salary, is there a possibility of that?

└No matter how much they dislike So Young-joon, if the Pelicans’ general manager is sane, that won’t happen.

└Still, if So Young-joon is released as FA right away, many teams will make offers. If he can only show his performance in the second half, he seems to be able to eat 주전 [secure a starting position] in most teams.

└No matter how hopeless the Pelicans are, if they don’t have So Young-joon, they have to disband.

* * *

After a difficult schedule, Lee Joo-hyuk and I arrived at the agency dorm.

I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to arrive at the dorm.

Finally, as I was about to get out of the car and go inside,

I could see the players waiting for us in the yard.

When they saw me arriving,

“Kang Hyun-woo! Kang Hyun-woo! Kang Hyun-woo!”

All the players stood in a row, raised their hands, and shouted my name.

“Why are you all out here when it’s cold?”

“How can we just stay still when our representative is winning and coming back?”

Oh Seok-hoon and Park Seong-joo were the first to come up and lifted me up as if they were carrying me in a palanquin [traditional Korean sedan chair].

Then, they paraded me in front of the players, making them give me high-fives.

“Thank you.”

Thanks to that, I was able to greet the players.

I was able to get off the palanquin only after greeting all the players.

Then, So Young-joon ran to me and hugged me tightly with both hands.

“Representative, you know I love you a lot, right?”

“Why are you like this, it’s disgusting.”

“Let’s just stay like this for a moment. It’s so good.”

So Young-joon said in a cheesy voice.

“Ugh.”

I recoiled and barely got out of his hands.

“Our representative, you really worked hard.”

Go Ji-hoon gave me a bright smile and patted me on the shoulder.

“Thank you.”

“You’re 멋있어요 [cool], 아저씨 [mister].”

Choi Woo-jin also came to me and gave me a thumbs up.

“Woo-jin, thank you.”

I felt burdened as to whether I deserved to be treated like this.

“Everyone, I’m buying today. Tell me everything you want to eat.”

So Young-joon spread his hands and shouted loudly.

“Really? Can we eat expensive things?”

Park Seong-joo asked with sparkling eyes.

“Eat everything you want. I’m buying it all today!”

“Oh, So Young-joon is the best!”

The players cheered and rejoiced at So Young-joon’s shout.

Thanks to So Young-joon, a cheerful party was held.

Lee Joo-hyuk and I went directly to a popular restaurant for the players and picked up the food.

I couldn’t leave out spicy foods for this kind of occasion, but I excluded foods that could harm the players who had to prepare for the season without hesitation.

Tonight, the cooks who prepared meals every day also enjoyed a surprise vacation while eating food together.

On the table where everyone was sitting, various menus were set up, starting with jokbal [pig’s trotters], bossam [boiled pork belly], yangjangpi [cold seafood salad with mustard sauce], gganpung saeu [deep-fried shrimp in chili sauce], and palbochae [stir-fried seafood and vegetables in a thick sauce].

It looked so delicious that 침이 고일 정도로 [my mouth watered].

“But is it okay to buy like this?”

I suddenly worried about So Young-joon’s wallet.

“Uh-huh, do you think I can’t even do this much? It’s okay, so eat quickly.”

So Young-joon patted me on the shoulder and gestured to eat quickly.

“Young-joon, I’ll eat 맛있게 [deliciously]!”

“선배 [senior], 잘 먹겠습니다 [I will eat well]!”

We thanked So Young-joon and started eating.

As expected of a famous restaurant, the taste of the food was beyond doubt.

I also put down my worries for the first time in a long time and spent time eating delicious food with my colleagues.

After relieving some of my hunger, I approached Choi Woo-jin, who was sticking to Oh Seok-hoon like glue.

“Woo-jin, is training worthwhile?”

“Yes, it’s really fun.”

Choi Woo-jin’s eyes were sparkling.

“Oh. Training is fun?”

“It’s amazing, and I feel good because I feel like I’m getting better.”

I listened to Choi Woo-jin’s beaming expression and narrowed my eyes and opened my mouth.

“Hmm. Training shouldn’t be fun. I should tell the coach to make the training a little harder?”

“히익 [gasp]. That’s not what I mean.”

Choi Woo-jin shook his hand vehemently.

“I’m kidding. Just keep working hard like you are now.”

“But is Seo Sung-min 아저씨 [mister] a 괴물 [monster]?”

Choi Woo-jin suddenly lowered his voice and whispered.

“괴물 [monster]? What do you mean?”

“He trains really hard? He comes to the training center the earliest and leaves the latest, and he doesn’t seem to get tired.”

“Follow Sung-min 선배 [senior] every time he trains and do it together. You’ll have a lot to learn.”

“Will it change a lot if I follow him?”

“Of course, if you train hard next to professional players, it will definitely change.”

I patted Choi Woo-jin on the shoulder.

Jung In-gyu got up from his seat and clapped to get everyone’s attention.

“Ah! While we’re gathered like this, I have one thing to say.”

Naturally, my gaze also turned to Jung In-gyu.

“As you all have heard to some extent, our agency will soon be leaving for pre-season training in Guam, a warm country.”

“Wow!”

The players clapped and cheered.

“But we’re not going to play, right? Let’s go to a warm country, train hard, and come back.”

“Coach, do we still have free time?”

So Young-joon raised his hand and asked.

“If you faithfully carry out the training program, you will naturally have free time.”

“Nice!”

So Young-joon clenched his fist and rejoiced.

“And Go Ji-hoon 선배님 [senior] here and Na Jun-ho 선배님 [senior], who we will meet soon in Guam, have supported the cost.”

When Jung In-gyu pointed to Go Ji-hoon with both hands, everyone’s eyes turned to Go Ji-hoon.

“Oh! Go Ji-hoon! Go Ji-hoon!”

“Hey, no, no.”

Go Ji-hoon waved his hands as if he was embarrassed when the players shouted his name.

“Today is a happy day, so let’s enjoy it, and let’s run hard again from tomorrow.”

“Yes!”

With Jung In-gyu’s words as the last, the players had a good time until late at night.