Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 279

The Challenge Towards a Dream (5)

As soon as the contract was signed, the club and I coordinated to release press releases simultaneously. The release also included a message Donald Watson wanted to convey to the Korean fans.

└He’s finally going back to the major league. Congratulations.

└You’ve worked hard, Watson. I’ll keep supporting you. Hope you do well in the States.

└If he’s guaranteed a spot on the 25-man roster, it seems like he signed a good contract.

└It’s been a while since he left the major league, but his performance in Korea was great, so it’s worth looking forward to.

└Watson, succeed in the Korean league and show us how well you can do in the major league. That way, more players will come.

└I’m happy he’s going to the major league, but what about the Jaguars now? As soon as we win the championship, our starting center fielder and key hitter are gone ㅠ

└CEO Kang Hyun-woo, Watson’s leaving, so you’ll find a new hitter, right?? The Jaguars have to win next year too!

└General Manager Jo Kwang-hoon must have secured the funds, right? You were going to use the salary for Watson anyway.

└But the maximum for a player coming to Korea for the first time is $1 million. Can you bring in a player like Watson with that money?

└I don’t know, I’ll just trust Kang Hyun-woo. He’ll recommend a good player this time too.

* * *

With the contract finalized, Donald Watson and his family immediately began packing their belongings at their residence.

Non-urgent items were shipped by boat, and the rest were packed into suitcases for the plane.

Since the family of four had lived there for two years, they accumulated more luggage than expected.

Olivia saw me, smiled brightly, and approached.

“Kang, I’m really sad to leave like this.”

Olivia’s expression was filled with regret.

“I think I’ll miss Olivia starting next year.”

“I was just starting to feel more comfortable in Korea.”

“Our agency is planning to hold baseball events every year from now on. Watson has agreed to participate, so Olivia, please come and visit then.”

“Wow, that’s a great opportunity. Of course, I have to come.”

Olivia clapped her hands, expressing her joy.

“And in the United States, a company connected to our agency will provide seamless management.”

Sky Corporation was to handle the local management in the United States.

“Thanks to Kang, I’ll be able to live comfortably in Arizona, too.”

“If you have any inconveniences, please contact me anytime. I’ll take care of it right away.”

“Thank you.”

Olivia replied with a smile.

I approached Watson, who was resting after finishing packing, and said, “Watson, is the packing almost done?”

“I think it’s almost done now.”

Watson’s clothes were soaked with sweat.

“Time has really flown by. It seems like you only had a few suitcases when you came, but now you have so much luggage.”

“Even though we’ve been together for two years, it feels short. Time really flew by.”

“Watson, thank you for coming to a faraway country and going through so much.”

“It’s nothing. Thanks to Kang, I made unforgettable memories. And of course, I’m grateful for helping me revive my career as a player.”

“You’re going back to your original home, right?”

“Yes, I have to.”

Watson nodded.

“It’s good that you don’t have to readjust.”

“That’s right. It felt really great that my family could live comfortably.”

“I think I’ll be going to the United States often, too, thanks to you. I should go see Arizona home games often when Watson is playing.”

“Kang is always welcome. I’ll introduce you to a lot of delicious food in Arizona.”

“I’m already looking forward to it.”

Footsteps approached, and Oh Seok-hoon and Park Seong-joo appeared.

“Watson! So you’re leaving like this.”

Park Seong-joo quickly approached and hugged Watson tightly.

“Park, Oh. It was really fun.”

Watson then hugged Oh Seok-hoon as well.

“Now that I think you’re a major leaguer again, you look different.”

Oh Seok-hoon exclaimed, looking at Watson.

“Oh and Park should come to the United States, too. If it’s you two, you can definitely succeed in the major league.”

Watson looked at Oh Seok-hoon and Park Seong-joo alternately.

“I was scared every time I met you as an opposing team, but I’m glad that won’t happen anymore.”

Park Seong-joo shook his head.

“You never know. We might face each other again in the United States.”

At my words, Park Seong-joo barely managed to close his gaping mouth.

“Huh, should I sign a contract with Arizona, too? CEO, did Arizona make a contract offer?”

“Park, you’re always welcome. Oh, it would be really comfortable if I could play with Park.”

Watson patted Oh Seok-hoon and Park Seong-joo on the shoulders.

Thud.

“Watson!”

Suddenly, the door burst open, and Michael Scott, Han Kyo-jin, Seo Seong-min, and Jung Min-woo entered.

“Wow, everyone must be busy. What’s going on?”

Watson couldn’t hide his delight at seeing the players.

“Our player is spending his last night in Korea, so we had to come.”

Han Kyo-jin approached Watson first.

“Watson, congratulations on signing with the major league!”

Soon after, he exchanged greetings with Scott, Seo Seong-min, and Jung Min-woo.

“They seem even closer because they’re the championship team.”

Park Seong-joo expressed his envy, looking at the Jaguars players.

“The Jaguars and the Buffaloes couldn’t be separated this time. I feel like we met the most.”

Scott smiled, revealing his white teeth.

“It was really tiring. It was so hard until the end, really.”

Oh Seok-hoon shook his head, though the corners of his lips were raised.

“We should review this season since we’re all gathered like this, right?”

Seo Seong-min said, looking at Oh Seok-hoon and Park Seong-joo.

“CEO, it’s okay to play all night tonight, right?”

Park Seong-joo asked me with an expectant expression.

“Of course, you should. There’s no game tomorrow. Why are you hesitating?”

Before I could finish, Watson added, “I’ll pay for everything today, so order whatever you want.”

“Ooh!”

Everyone exclaimed simultaneously.

We ordered delicious food and had Watson’s farewell party until late at night.

So Young-joon even joined, making it an even more enjoyable time.

Since it was the end of the season, we were able to enjoy the last moments with Watson without any burden.

The next day.

The day Watson’s family was leaving Korea had arrived.

The Jaguars players, as well as Oh Seok-hoon, Park Seong-joo, and So Young-joon, came to the gate to see Watson’s family off.

“Watson, be careful and see you in a few months!”

“Contact me when you arrive!”

Watson and his family waved to the players until the very end.

Lee Joo-hyuk and I accompanied Watson and his family to the airport.

We met some fans who were waiting at the airport, having somehow heard the news.

Watson smiled brightly and took pictures and signed autographs for each of the fans.

After a short fan meeting, he approached me again.

“Thank you so much. You even came to the airport to see me off as I leave for the United States.”

“That’s because Watson was such a good player.”

“Kang, thank you so much.”

Watson’s eyes were already red.

“It’s not like we’ll never see each other again. Why does it feel like it’s the end?”

I smiled brightly and patted Watson on the shoulder.

“I should go in now.”

“Thank you for your hard work in Korea.”

I said goodbye to Olivia, Watson’s wife, and his daughter for the last time.

“Be careful and be sure to contact me when you get home.”

Lee Joo-hyuk and I waved to Watson and his family until the very end.

And we returned to the agency’s accommodation.

Ding-dong.

From the moment I opened the door and entered, I could immediately feel that the atmosphere was different.

I couldn’t shake the feeling of emptiness since Watson’s family, who always welcomed me, was gone.

I approached the room that Watson and his family had used and opened the door.

The room was empty and spotless.

“I already miss them.”

Even though only one person had left out of many players, it felt completely empty.

* * *

Days were passing by in an instant as I worked on contracts.

The international competition was approaching.

And today was the day to announce the national team players who would participate in the international competition.

I was at the meeting to finalize the roster, so I knew the results in advance.

It was really difficult not to say anything because our players kept asking me if they had been selected.

However, I kept it a secret until the very end to prevent any leaks.

And at 4 p.m. on the scheduled announcement day, the players who were selected for the final roster were officially announced.

The pitchers were Go Ji-hoon, Jang Soo-young, and Choi Jung-hwan; the infielders were Park Seong-joo, So Young-joon, and Seo Seong-min; the outfielders were Na Joon-ho and Oh Seok-hoon; and the catcher was Han Kyo-jin.

Our agency’s players, who had been named in the preliminary roster announced a while ago, all achieved the feat of being selected.

└The lineup is no joke since they gathered the best players in our country.

└How do you choose the 3rd, 4th, and 5th hitters among So Young-joon, Oh Seok-hoon, Park Seong-joo, Han Kyo-jin, and Na Joon-ho ㅋㅋ

└There are four players who are the 4th hitter in their respective teams right now ㅋㅋㅋ.

└Even if you exclude So Young-joon because his team is a special case, it’s still amazing.

└Still, shouldn’t the home run king be the 4th hitter? There would be symbolic meaning, too.

└In the end, Han Kyo-jin and Seo Seong-min were also selected. There was a lot of talk about it, but the atmosphere must have changed now, right?

└There’s no room for argument now, right? A championship-winning catcher who achieved a perfect game and a starting-level utility infielder who can play defense are definitely worth taking.

└Then is Choi Jung-hwan the closer? It’s reassuring to have Jang Soo-young and Choi Jung-hwan in the later innings.

└Jang Soo-young will likely pitch in the 8th inning and Choi Jung-hwan in the 9th inning.

└I don’t know about anything else, but I’m curious if Choi Jung-hwan’s fastball will work against American hitters, too.

└It would have been the best if Michael Scott was Korean. It’s a shame.

└If we could have selected Scott as well, we could have really won the championship.

└But with this lineup, wouldn’t it be reasonable to say that there’s a good chance? It seems like the key hitters will be able to perform well.

└I don’t have high expectations because we were eliminated so easily last time. I just hope we don’t embarrass ourselves and come back.

└Let’s aim for the championship this time.

And another piece of good news arrived.

Donald Watson and Michael Scott had also been called up to the US national team.

Now, the time was approaching for our players to play baseball in their national uniforms.