Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 44

New Goal (1)

Na Junho and Im Yaeji sat facing Team Leader Im Seungjin of the Dragons and the operations manager.

I stood next to Im Yaeji, watching the situation unfold.

Na Junho and the Dragons’ team leader were each signing and stamping the contract placed in front of them.

They exchanged the documents and signed and sealed them once more.

With the signatures and seals complete on both contracts, the agreement was officially concluded.

“Congratulations on the contract.”

Im Yaeji, who was next to me, stood up with a beaming smile.

I also smiled and clapped.

The moments of running around and working hard to create this moment over the past few days flashed through my mind.

Na Junho, who had put down his pen, and the team leader stood up with bright smiles.

“Na Junho, let’s work hard again next year.”

“I will show you good results on the field.”

The moment they shook hands, smiling brightly at each other, was as amicable as could be.

I watched this scene with a satisfied smile.

“Shall we move to the press room then? The reporters are already here waiting.”

Everyone present moved to the press room under the guidance of the operations manager.

A large banner was hung behind the seats where the main figures of the press conference would sit.

The banner even had today’s date accurately printed on it.

It wasn’t something that stood out in such a setting, but meticulously preparing something like this in just a few hours was quite a feat.

Despite it being an early morning press conference, a considerable number of reporters filled the press room.

Among them was Lee Sumin, who I had given a heads-up to last night, allowing her to prepare an article ahead of the other reporters.

I made brief eye contact with Lee Sumin and exchanged a light greeting.

Na Junho, Im Yaeji, and the team leader walked towards the press conference table.

Na Junho sat in the center, with Im Yaeji and the team leader sitting on either side of him.

After confirming that the three were seated, the operations manager picked up the microphone and began the proceedings.

“Thank you sincerely to the reporters who have joined us despite the early hour. We will now begin the press conference regarding Na Junho’s re-signing with the Dragons.”

As soon as he finished speaking, several reporters raised their hands.

The operations manager pointed to one of the reporters who had raised their hand first, and a club official rushed over to hand them a microphone.

“First of all, congratulations on Na Junho’s contract. Could you say a word to the Dragons fans who have been eagerly awaiting this news?”

Na Junho adjusted the microphone in front of him and began to speak.

“I debuted with the Dragons, and this season, I was with them when we won the championship for the first time in the team’s history. I have never thought of my name apart from the Dragons. I want to show you more championship-winning moments with the Dragons in the future. And by the time this contract is over, I will do my best to have my jersey number retired by the Dragons.”

As Na Junho spoke, the sound of reporters typing filled the press room.

The reporter who had asked the question earlier raised the microphone again.

“Many baseball fans will be surprised to hear about this contract. This is the first time a six-year long-term contract has been made in the domestic league. How was this contract possible?”

The team leader put the microphone to his mouth and said,

“Our Dragons and Na Junho had already established a sufficient consensus from the beginning of the negotiations. In addition, YJ Agency suggested the great idea of a six-year contract. As a team that wants to be with its franchise player until the day he retires, we had no reason to refuse the offer.”

“Then, how did the agency come up with this idea?”

This time, Im Yaeji pulled the microphone closer.

“The only thing an agency needs to worry about is: How can we secure the best possible contract for the player? We simply focused on that one concern that we, as an agency, should have. And we will continue to do so in the future, just as we have done until now.”

Apart from the fact that this contract has been concluded, there was still one thing left unresolved for me.

What is the best contract for a player?

Fortunately, this time we achieved a result that everyone could be satisfied with, but if a situation arises where the opinions of the people surrounding the contract conflict, what choice would be the wisest?

And what is the best choice I can make?

This was a question that would not leave my mind throughout the press conference.

After Im Yaeji’s answer, another reporter, who was designated by the operations manager, took the microphone.

“I would like to ask Na Junho again. By signing a long-term contract with the Dragons, you will not be able to advance to the Major League [MLB]. Do you have any regrets?”

“The Major League has been my dream stage since I was a child. To be honest, I would be lying if I said I had no regrets. But it was even harder to reject the offer from the fans and the club that recognized my value the most. I don’t regret it at all now.”

Even as the press conference continued, articles were being uploaded every minute.

While listening to the press conference, I looked at the articles and community reactions on my smartphone.

└ 6-year contract, wow. So he’ll be playing until he’s thirty-nine.

└This kind of contract is possible in our country too.

└Is it just me, or does it not seem like they’re regretting spending so much money?

└Na Junho’s jersey retirement confirmed! Shout it out!!!

└Dragons, let’s win the championship for the second year in a row!

└ YJ is doing a really good job.

└The Jaguars are completely screwed. They lost even the national team outfielder, what are they going to do now?

The fans were showing a good response not only to the player but also to our agency and the club.

It was a result that created good outcomes for the player, the agency, and the club.

The feeling of physical exhaustion and mental complexity that had been building up for several days was swept away at once.

“Excuse me…”

Then, I felt someone tapping my shoulder, so I turned my head.

A man in a neat suit was standing behind me.

“Nice to meet you. If you don’t mind, can I talk to you for a moment?”

“Who… are you?”

I looked up and down at the strange man who had suddenly approached me.

From his perfectly aligned tie to his shiny shoes, there was nothing to criticize.

Everything he was wearing looked expensive.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Kim Sangwook from Sky Corporation.”

“Sky Corporation?”

I feel like I’ve heard that somewhere before.

It didn’t come to mind right away.

As I tilted my head, Kim Sangwook smiled and took out a business card from his inside pocket and handed it to me.

“We are a sports agency based in the United States.”

“Ah…”

I finally remembered.

It was one of the top three sports agencies in the United States.

As befitting a country called the land of sports, the scale of sports agencies in the United States was beyond imagination.

The gap was so enormous that it was embarrassing to compare it to Korea, which had just taken its first steps.

I accepted the business card he handed me.

Then, I shook hands with the man without realizing it.

-Promoting entry into the Asian market and looking for suitable talent.

-I heard about Kang Hyunwoo and became deeply interested.

“But… what brings you to me?”

“I’d like to have a conversation with you for a moment.”

“With me?”

Kim Sangwook, who had a smile on his face, nodded.

For some reason, I felt like I shouldn’t refuse.

“Yes. There are some things I’m curious about, and some questions I’d like to ask.”

“I think it’ll be possible after the press conference is over, is that okay with you?”

“Of course.”

Kim Sangwook answered without hesitation to my words.

“My contact information is on the business card. If you contact me at your convenience, I will come to you.”

“Yes… Then I’ll contact you later.”

Kim Sangwook, still with a bright smile on his face, bowed slightly and moved away from me.

I looked at the business card he had given me once again.

When I flipped the business card over, the back was full of English.

* * *

“Hyunwoo, you’ve worked hard.”

“You’ve worked hard too, CEO.”

I felt a sense of relief as I thought that the major task that I had been focusing on for several weeks had come to an end.

“But where did this idea come from? The 6-year contract.”

Im Yaeji looked at me with a sparkling expression full of interest.

“Long-term contracts of 10 years are already common in the United States. I suddenly thought that there was no reason why it couldn’t be possible in our country as well.”

A slight smile appeared on Im Yaeji’s lips as she listened to my story.

“Come to think of it, why hasn’t anyone thought of that until now?”

“Because it has felt so natural until now. I was the same way until two days ago.”

“Then, what would you have done if the Dragons hadn’t accepted the 6-year offer?”

If they had rejected the 6-year contract…

The offer of a huge sum of money from the Jaguars and the request to remain a legend of the Dragons would have completely lost their power.

Then, it would have been no surprise if Na Junho had decided to transfer.

“If that had happened… I probably wouldn’t have been able to avoid the transfer, right?”

“Couldn’t avoid it…”

Im Yaeji repeated what I had said and then paused for a moment.

“Wouldn’t it have been a good gift for the fans to deliver the news of a surprise transfer?”

“It was more important to me to help Na Junho achieve his dream.”

A faint smile appeared on Im Yaeji’s lips.

“In the end, you came up with an idea that everyone could be satisfied with.”

“It is a satisfactory result for everyone…”

What does she mean?

“Now that I see it, being a humanist isn’t so bad if you have the skills.”

“Yes…?”

“You won’t have any busy work for the time being. You haven’t been able to rest properly for the past few months, so take a few days off and get some rest.”

Im Yaeji showed a bright smile, then turned around and walked away without listening to my answer.

I stood there, blankly staring at Im Yaeji’s back as she walked away.