Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 35

“Na Jun-ho, please sit over here.”

Im Ye-ji gestured to the seat opposite her.

Im Ye-ji’s gaze towards Na Jun-ho was like that of a mother looking at her dependable son.

“I’m sorry to call you when you should be focusing on the game.”

“It’s alright. Today is an off day, and this is important to me too.”

Na Jun-ho replied with a relaxed smile.

“The reason I wanted to meet today is to hear your thoughts one last time. We’ve talked several times during the season, but your thoughts might have changed in the meantime.”

Im Ye-ji met Na Jun-ho’s eyes and continued the conversation calmly.

“That doesn’t mean it will necessarily go the way you want. There’s no guarantee that negotiations will always go in our desired direction.”

Na Jun-ho nodded as he listened to Im Ye-ji’s words.

“Are there any conditions you want in this negotiation?”

“Actually, if a good offer comes from Major League Baseball [MLB, the highest level of professional baseball in North America], I’d like to give it a try. I’ve talked enough with my family about living in the United States.”

Even as he spoke his mind, it was evident that Na Jun-ho was deeply troubled.

“But if I stay in Korea, I still want to remain with the Dragons rather than go to another team.”

Im Ye-ji, who had been nodding until just now, paused this time.

“You want to stay if the conditions are the same?”

“Yes, and if the contract terms aren’t significantly different, I’d just like to stay.”

-My biggest goal is to become the Dragons’ first retired number.

Even if Na Jun-ho had a smooth performance while staying with the Dragons for the rest of his career, there would be no obstacles to becoming a retired number.

He had never caused any social controversy, and he had been selected as a national team player, showing good performance in international competitions.

If he could make his number the first retired number in the Dragons, which hadn’t been founded long ago and had no retired numbers yet, it would be an honor that he could not trade for anything else.

If it were me, wouldn’t I lean towards staying as well?

But it seemed that not everyone here thought the same way.

“Hmm… I see. I’ll keep that in mind.”

The moment she heard Na Jun-ho’s answer, Im Ye-ji’s brow furrowed deeply.

Then, she seemed lost in thought, as if she was deeply troubled.

As the conversation stopped for a moment, even the air in the room felt awkward.

Is this the timing for me to step in?

“Senior, how is your physical condition right now?”

“There’s nothing wrong with my body at all.”

“Your knee… it’s okay, right?”

I cautiously pointed to Na Jun-ho’s right knee.

“There’s no problem now. As you’ve seen in my recent games, there’s no discomfort in defense or running.”

Throughout his speech, Na Jun-ho’s expression was full of confidence.

But the data clearly told a different story.

There was also the team’s management aspect, but unlike his career, where he had successfully stolen more than 15 bases every year, he had barely attempted to steal since the injury, with only 2 this season.

I felt that he was less active not only in outfield defense but also in baserunning.

Fortunately, it wasn’t enough to significantly affect his performance, but it was clear that there was still fear in his subconscious.

I know better than anyone what that feeling is like.

“Na Jun-ho, if you have to choose a team to transfer to, what conditions would you prioritize?”

“Transfer… conditions?”

Na Jun-ho couldn’t hide his embarrassment at Im Ye-ji’s question.

“We can’t say that there’s no possibility of transferring teams. We’re checking what kind of team you’d prioritize if the salary is the same.”

“I haven’t seriously thought about that, but…”

“For example, you might have a preferred region. Or it has to be a team with the power to aim for the championship. Something like that?”

Im Ye-ji persistently asked questions with the momentum that she wouldn’t stop until she got the answer she wanted.

“Hmm… Can I think about it a little more and tell you?”

“Is it a difficult question to answer right away? Then I can’t help it. There’s still some time before the full-fledged negotiations begin, but please let me know as soon as possible. We need to reflect Na Jun-ho’s opinion to some extent.”

Im Ye-ji frowned and answered, seemingly disappointed to see Na Jun-ho having difficulty answering.

Watching her from the side, discomfort settled in a corner of my heart.

Reflect the player’s opinion to ‘some extent’?

Of course, if everything in the negotiation process went according to the player’s opinion, there would be no reason for an agent to exist.

But shouldn’t an agent who helps the player consider the player’s own opinion the most important thing above all else?

It might be a minor part, but it was a strangely unsettling remark.

“If you’re done, can I get up now? I don’t have much time left for team training.”

Na Jun-ho looked at his watch and jumped up.

“It’s already this late. I’m sorry for taking up so much of your time when you’re busy.”

“It’s alright.”

Na Jun-ho, who exchanged greetings with Im Ye-ji, naturally turned his gaze to me.

“Please contact me anytime you need after the Korean Series [championship series of the KBO League].”

“Yes. I’ll contact you separately.”

As Na Jun-ho went outside, only Im Ye-ji and I were left in the conference room again.

“Hyun-woo. Where were we? Let’s continue.”

“Yes.”

I could feel that she was trying to act like nothing was wrong, but Im Ye-ji’s expression was darker than before.

Seeing her expression, an ominous premonition flashed through my mind.

* * *

Oh Seok-hoon, Park Seong-joo, and I were sitting in comfortable positions on the sofa and the living room floor, watching TV.

The game that might be the last of this season was in progress.

The Dragons were ahead 3-1.

If they won today’s game, the Dragons could celebrate their first championship with a *tonghap useung*, winning both the regular season and the post-season [lit. unified championship, meaning winning both the regular season and the Korean Series].

The Dragons, eager to secure the championship as soon as possible, and the Wolves, trying to extend the *seungbu* to the sixth game at all costs [lit. the match, referring to the series], were pouring everything into a do-or-die match on the edge of a cliff.

As befitting the top two teams in the regular season, the game was tight from the start.

Watching the game on the huge TV screen that Oh Seok-hoon and Park Seong-joo had bought made me feel like I was there.

“Will we be able to play in the Korean Series next year?”

Envy was flowing from Park Seong-joo’s eyes as he watched TV.

“Next year’s goal should be to make the post-season.”

It might sound like a modest goal at first glance.

But I could feel subtle confidence and determination on Oh Seok-hoon’s face.

“If you two play full-time next year, you can do it.”

“Can we play full-time?”

Oh Seok-hoon looked at me, unsure of himself.

“If you don’t manage your condition terribly, what manager wouldn’t let you play?”

“Well, we did well when we came up. Right?”

Park Seong-joo shrugged his shoulders, stretched his legs, and made a relaxed expression.

“It’s true that you did well, but don’t be complacent. There’s no guarantee that you’ll do well next year just because you did well this year. Besides, anything can happen when you play full-time.”

“That’s right. I have to be nervous and work hard.”

Park Seong-joo, who had returned to reality, quickly folded his legs again.

Seeing that, a faint smile appeared on my lips.

-Wow!

At that time, I heard the caster’s shouting and the huge cheers of the audience from the TV broadcast.

Our eyes naturally turned to the game screen.

-Hooome run! Na Jun-ho’s decisive home run in the bottom of the 8th inning. The Dragons are one step closer to their first *tonghap useung* [unified championship]!

-Na Jun-ho! Na Jun-ho! Na Jun-ho!

“Wow. He just lifted that low-pitched ball and hit it over.”

“His swing is really amazing.”

Every time they showed the replay of Na Jun-ho’s home run, exclamations came out involuntarily.

“What would it feel like to hit a home run in a game like that?”

Park Seong-joo stood up as he watched Na Jun-ho circling the infield to the cheers of the fans.

Then, he took a swinging stance, and his expression was ecstatic, as if he was imagining the moment he hit a home run.

“He seems to be swinging close to an uppercut to increase the launch angle, but how can he hit the ball so accurately?”

Oh Seok-hoon watched Na Jun-ho’s swing posture intently, as if analyzing it.

The game continued, and the Dragons completely took over the tight game atmosphere with Na Jun-ho’s decisive home run.

-It’s up in the air! A high fly ball!

-Dragons’ right fielder Na Jun-ho catches the last out count of the season!

-Waaaaaah-

-It’s the moment when the Dragons’ first Korean Series championship is confirmed!

The moment the championship was confirmed, all the players in the Dragons’ dugout ran out and shared the joy of winning.

Some players ran around excitedly, and some held onto other teammates and shed tears, as if the difficult times they had gone through flashed by.

And Na Jun-ho, whose eyes were also red, went around and hugged the players who were shedding tears one by one.

Some of the fans who were cheering at the stadium also shed tears of joy.

With the Dragons’ Korean Series victory, this season came to an end.

It was also the moment to mark the end of one season and the beginning of the stove league for the next season.

The game on the ground was over, but the clock of professional baseball was running busily without a break.

The process of players who met the qualifications applying for FA [Free Agent] status, and the baseball association approving and announcing it, proceeded smoothly.

Of course, Na Jun-ho was also approved for FA player status.

Now, the players who have been approved for FA status, including Na Jun-ho, have become free agents who can negotiate with all clubs, including their existing teams.

The stove league, also called another league outside the stadium, has officially begun.

At the same time, my phone rang non-stop.

Not only club officials trying to gauge the FA market atmosphere, but also sports media reporters who were burning their eyes to find interesting articles.

It goes without saying that it became difficult to rest comfortably even late at night, and it was even difficult to go to the bathroom with peace of mind.