Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 217

217. An Inevitable Showdown (1)

Today, I decided to wear a suit, which was a departure from my usual attire.

“Feels a bit uncomfortable, doesn’t it?”

Since I don’t wear suits often, my reflection in the mirror felt a bit strange. The unfamiliar formality made me self-conscious.

Compared to my everyday clothes, moving my arms felt somewhat restricted. The tailored fit, while sharp, wasn’t exactly conducive to comfort.

Still, considering the occasion, I needed to get used to it. This meeting required a certain level of formality.

I had a dinner appointment with Kim Sang-mun, the national team manager. This wasn’t just any dinner; it was a meeting of significance.

A representative had vaguely mentioned that he wanted to discuss the upcoming international tournament at the end of next season. The details were scarce, but the implication was clear.

He had mentioned in passing at the awards ceremony that he wanted to seek my advice, but I hadn’t heard the specifics. I was left to speculate about the true purpose of this meeting.

Perhaps it’s related to our agency’s players? That was the most logical assumption, given my line of work.

What’s certain is that it wouldn’t be a lighthearted meeting. This wasn’t a casual get-together; it was business.

The national team manager of South Korea, a man who must be incredibly busy, wouldn’t propose a dinner just for casual socializing. His time was valuable, and this meeting had to be important.

In fact, the national team manager position was often called a poisoned chalice [a position that appears desirable but is fraught with danger or difficulty]. It’s a role with immense pressure and scrutiny.

It’s the most honorable position in South Korean baseball, but any failure or mistake would be met with the harshest criticism. The stakes were incredibly high.

For that reason, many baseball managers decline the recommendation even after receiving it. The fear of failure outweighed the prestige of the position.

Therefore, for every international tournament, the winning team’s manager from the previous season would temporarily take charge. However, recently, due to consistently poor performance, a full-time national team manager was introduced to increase competitiveness. The hope was that a dedicated manager could turn things around.

And the first manager was Kim Sang-mun. He was a pioneer in this new approach.

His achievements, including winning multiple championships as a professional baseball manager in Korea and achieving good results as a temporary international tournament manager about 10 years ago, played a significant role in his appointment. His track record spoke for itself.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Kim Sang-mun made a sacrifice by wearing the heavy crown for the sake of Korean baseball. He took on a thankless job for the love of the game.

Anyway, I don’t know what advice I can give to a manager who has led a team to win the Korean Series in domestic professional baseball, but I felt good just being recognized by such a figure. His acknowledgment was a validation of my work.

“Hoo- Let’s just relax and go.”

I felt a mix of nervousness and excitement. It was a potent combination.

It was finally time to leave. The moment of truth had arrived.

I entered the address into the navigation system and stepped on the accelerator. The car sped off, carrying me toward the unknown.

* * *

A short while later, I arrived at a Chinese restaurant located in downtown Seoul. The city lights twinkled around me.

As soon as I entered the restaurant, a staff member recognized me, and I was easily guided to the room where Kim Sang-mun was waiting. My reputation preceded me.

Standing in front of the door, I straightened my clothes and knocked. First impressions mattered.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

-Come in.

As I carefully opened the door and entered, Kim Sang-mun stood up from his seat with a bright smile. His welcoming gesture put me at ease.

“Representative Kang, welcome.”

“Manager, thank you for inviting me.”

I bowed deeply to Kim Sang-mun and shook his hand. Respect was paramount.

-I’m feeling a heavy burden, thinking that we must achieve good results in this tournament. He confessed his anxieties about the upcoming challenge.

-I’m working hard to find the people needed to form the best national team. He was determined to assemble a winning squad.

I also exchanged light greetings with the person next to him, who appeared to be a staff member. A silent observer, he seemed to be taking everything in.

“Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule.”

“It’s nothing. I should come when the manager calls.”

“Please, have a seat over here.”

Kim Sang-mun extended his hand and pointed to the seat opposite him. The stage was set for our conversation.

I moved my feet and sat facing Kim Sang-mun. The anticipation was palpable.

And Kim Sang-mun naturally started the conversation. He was a seasoned professional, comfortable in this setting.

“Even after we met last time, I kept hearing stories about Dream Agency.”

“I’m just lucky to be working with good players. Thanks to them, I think I’m being overly praised.” I deflected the praise, attributing our success to the talent of our players.

Kim Sang-mun, after hearing my answer, asked with a faint smile on his face.

“Do you have a knack for accurately identifying the needs of players? I’ve been a manager myself, but I find it most difficult to understand each player’s thoughts and offer them the necessary suggestions.” He sought my insight into the human element of the game.

“When I talk to the players comfortably, they often already have the answers themselves.” I emphasized the importance of open communication and trust.

I couldn’t say it was thanks to the information window [referring to a game-like system that provides detailed information], of course. That would sound absurd.

“So, it’s important to be close to the players. As I get older, I feel that the players are becoming more uncomfortable, which is a real concern. Haha.” He lamented the growing distance between himself and the younger generation of players.

“You’re close enough to them, Manager.”

“Am I really?”

“If you weren’t, how could you have won the league championship and achieved good results in international tournaments?” I pointed to his past successes as evidence of his connection with the players.

“Hahaha. I’m glad you see it that way, Representative Kang.” He seemed genuinely pleased by my assessment.

The conversation between Kim Sang-mun and me continued in a friendly atmosphere. The initial tension began to dissipate.

After a while, the course meals started to come out one by one. The aroma of the food filled the air.

We continued to have light and comfortable conversations even while eating. The shared meal fostered a sense of camaraderie.

I talked about the stories and episodes I had experienced while running the agency and with my affiliated players, and Kim Sang-mun told me stories from his time as a professional team and national team manager. We exchanged anecdotes and insights from our respective roles.

Since we had a common interest in baseball and the perspective of a manager was a bit different, I could listen without realizing how much time had passed. The conversation was engaging and informative.

As the main course was finishing, Kim Sang-mun got to the main point. The pleasantries were over; it was time for business.

“Representative Kang, you must be very busy with company matters these days, right?”

“There are many things going on, but the colleagues I work with are so outstanding.” I acknowledged the workload but praised the competence of my team.

“Actually, I wanted to make a suggestion.”

“What kind of suggestion…?”

“As you know, there’s an international tournament at the end of next season, right?”

“That’s right.”

I already knew this much. It was the reason for this entire meeting.

“In order for professional baseball to be loved even more, our country needs to achieve good results in the international tournament again this time. To do that, we need the help of many people.”

Kim Sang-mun said, looking into my eyes. His gaze was intense and sincere.

“Could you possibly help in selecting the national team players?”

“Me… help in selecting the national team players?” I was taken aback by the directness of the question.

I thought it was something related to our agency’s players, but I never expected to be asked to help with the selection process itself. This was a significant proposition.

“Yes, I’d like you to serve as a technical committee member for this tournament’s national team. There have been many opinions within the organization to recruit Representative Kang. I know you’re busy with your agency work, but I’d like to ask you just this once for the sake of Korean baseball.” He appealed to my sense of national pride and duty.

Me, a national team technical committee member…? The thought was both exciting and daunting.

“Can I really take on such a position? I still lack a lot of experience.” I expressed my reservations, unsure if I was qualified for such a role.

“If Representative Kang helps us, it will definitely be a great strength.” He reassured me, emphasizing the value of my contribution.

I could feel the sincerity in Kim Sang-mun’s eyes. His conviction was persuasive.

“If I can be of help, of course, I will.” I accepted the offer, recognizing the importance of the opportunity.

There was no reason to refuse, as there was nothing better than achieving good results in the international tournament for the revival of Korean baseball. The success of the national team was paramount.

It was even more of an honor that they wanted to recruit me from within the organization. It was a testament to my reputation and expertise.

“Thank you. If Representative Kang joins us, I don’t think it’s impossible for us to win this time.” He expressed his optimism, envisioning a successful tournament with my help.

I could see smiles on the faces of Kim Sang-mun and the staff member next to him. Their relief was palpable.

“Then, what exactly should I do?”

“I’d like you to analyze and recommend Korean players so that we can build a team with the best players in Korea.” He outlined my responsibilities, focusing on player evaluation and selection.

“Analyzing players is my specialty.” I affirmed my expertise in this area, confident in my ability to contribute.

I had always been collecting data on domestic league players to help our agency’s players, so it wouldn’t be a significant increase in work. I was already well-prepared for this task.

I was able to hear from the staff member next to him about how things were progressing so far. He provided valuable context and background information.

It was hard to hide my anticipation and excitement while listening. The possibilities seemed endless.

“I will do my best to help our country win this time.” I pledged my commitment to the cause, determined to contribute to the team’s success.

Perhaps it was thanks to the new goal that had arisen? The challenge ignited a fire within me.

I felt like I was wearing the Taegeuk mark [the symbol on the South Korean flag], and my desire to achieve good results began to burn. National pride fueled my ambition.

* * *

As soon as I finished the conversation with Manager Kim Sang-mun, I returned to the office. I was eager to share the news with my team.

When I told Jung In-gyu and Lee Ju-hyuk about what we had discussed today, they couldn’t hide their excitement. Their enthusiasm mirrored my own.

“Wow, that’s amazing. The national team…” Jung In-gyu said with an expression of disbelief.

“That means the player we suggest could be selected.” Lee Ju-hyuk said with sparkling eyes. The prospect of influencing the national team selection was thrilling.

“That’s right. If we think there’s a player who absolutely needs to join, we should strongly advocate for them.” I emphasized the importance of conviction and advocacy.

“Then, how should we proceed?” Jung In-gyu said, taking out a new sheet of paper. He was ready to get to work.

“The other committee members are probably already paying attention to the key players from each team. Let’s focus on finding players who aren’t being talked about as key players but could be valuable assets in the tournament.” I proposed a strategy to identify overlooked talent.

“That’s a good idea. Our agency specializes in that kind of area.” Lee Ju-hyuk replied with a beaming smile. We had a knack for spotting hidden potential.

“But aren’t all of our players good enough to be selected for the national team? I’m not just saying that because I’m biased, but I really think so.” Jung In-gyu said with a serious expression. He was a staunch advocate for our players.

“I think so too, but we need to talk with accurate data. We need to be even more careful when talking about our players.” I cautioned against bias, emphasizing the need for objective analysis.

There were always controversies in the national team player selection process. The stakes were high, and scrutiny was intense.

Therefore, we needed to proceed with much more caution when recommending our agency’s players. We had to be meticulous and thorough.

“Then, shall we start now?” Not only me but also Jung In-gyu and Lee Ju-hyuk’s eyes were sparkling. We were all eager to begin this exciting new chapter.

* * *

The long and arduous regular season has finally come to an end. The grind was over, and the results were in.

Following last season, the Wolves succeeded in winning the championship again this season based on their solid strength. They were a dominant force in the league.

Second place went to the Dragons, and third place went to the Buffaloes. The standings reflected the competitive landscape of the season.

The Dragons’ winning series in the final match against the Buffaloes was decisive. That series determined the final rankings.

The Jaguars, who had a hot season with the performances of Michael Scott and Donald Watson, finished in fourth place by a narrow margin. They were a team on the rise, fueled by star performances.

They threatened the Buffaloes, who were shaken after Oh Seok-hoon’s injury, until the very end, but unfortunately, they did not succeed in reversing the rankings. The injury had a significant impact on the Buffaloes’ performance.

Regardless of the result, they received enthusiastic support from fans simply because they advanced to the postseason for the first time in a long time. Their fans were thrilled with their progress.

Michael Scott had the hottest performance among our players, with 18 wins and an ERA [Earned Run Average, a measure of pitching performance] of 2.93. He was a standout pitcher.

He not only played a full-time season as a starting pitcher but also recorded an ERA in the 2-point range. His consistency and skill were remarkable.

Go Ji-hoon recorded a career-high with 16 wins, an ERA of 3.00, and 170 innings pitched. He had a season to remember.

He was unfortunately pushed back by Scott in the competition for the most wins, but he showed his worth by pitching a lot of innings. He was a valuable asset to his team.

Choi Jeong-hwan recorded an ERA of 2.20 and 28 saves. He was a reliable closer.

Thanks to him, as long as the Doubles were leading and entering the 9th inning, they could finish the game without difficulty. He secured victories with his strong pitching.

And above all, it was positive that he had overcome much of his trauma from inside pitches. He had conquered his fears and improved his performance.

Jang Su-young recorded an ERA of 2.03 and 21 saves. He was another dominant closer.

It was difficult to record many saves because the Angels were not a top-ranked team. His opportunities were limited by his team’s performance.

Donald Watson had a near-perfect season, batting .319 with 17 home runs, 92 RBIs [Runs Batted In, a measure of offensive performance], and 32 stolen bases. He was a well-rounded offensive threat.

Seo Seong-min recorded a batting average of .275, 10 home runs, and 72 RBIs. He had a breakout season.

He recorded his best personal performance while playing full-time in the first team for the first time. He proved his worth at the highest level.

Oh Seok-hoon, who missed about a month due to injury, recorded a batting average of .336, 13 home runs, 28 stolen bases, and 85 RBIs. Despite the injury, he had a strong season.

Park Seong-joo showed his still powerful performance, batting .293 with 35 home runs and 104 RBIs. He continued to be a force to be reckoned with.

Na Jun-ho showed that his FA [Free Agent, a player who is free to sign with any team] contract was not wrong, batting .301 with 24 home runs and 108 RBIs. He justified his high salary with his performance.

So Young-joon, who awakened after a series of trades, recorded a batting average of .289 with 25 home runs and 85 RBIs. He found his stride after changing teams.

It was a bonus that he showed several highlight-worthy defenses. He contributed on both offense and defense.

And Han Gyo-jin unfortunately did not set foot on the first-team stage once this season. He was unable to break into the starting lineup.