Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 45

Fifteen thousand won for a cup?.

Even for hotel coffee, isn’t this a bit much?

I cautiously took a small sip.

The taste is excellent, but still, this feels overpriced.

“Please take a look at this first.”

Kim Sang-wook handed me a transparent file.

“Ah, yes.”

I flipped through the file, page by page.

The content was an introduction to a company called Sky Corporation.

It represented popular sports players in baseball (MLB), basketball (NBA), American football (NFL), ice hockey (NHL), soccer (MLS), and golf.

In short, it was a huge company that earned over $100 million in contract fees alone per season.

There were some English words I didn’t know, but I could understand the overall content through context.

“But why are you showing me this……?”

“Our company is now aggressively pursuing entry into the Asian market. I am Kim Sang-wook, in charge of that project.”

“Ah… yes.”

Asian market, project, in charge, and so on. As these unfamiliar and grand terms came up, I couldn’t help but feel insignificant.

“Our company is paying close attention to Asia, especially the Korean market. You can see that clearly just by the fact that a Korean person is in charge of the project.”

Kim Sang-wook slightly raised the corner of his mouth.

“As Korea’s economic level increases, the professional sports market is also growing. However, the domestic market has now reached its limit. To take another leap forward from here, we need to promote globalization. That’s also why I joined Sky Corporation’s project.”

I could feel confidence and energy in Kim Sang-wook’s words.

“What does it mean to promote globalization?”

“It means not staying only in the domestic market but making it marketable in the global market as well. To do that, first of all, we need to support talented Korean players so they can go out onto the world stage and prove their competitiveness.”

The reason why Korean professional baseball became a national sport was largely due to the good results achieved in world stages such as the Olympics and WBC [World Baseball Classic], and the success of Korean players active in Major League Baseball.

“While preparing to enter the Korean market, we were putting a lot of effort into the baseball sector, which is especially popular in Korea. I’ve been asking around and meeting people to find out who would be the most suitable person to carry out this project. But I couldn’t easily find someone who seemed suitable.”

Kim Sang-wook paused for a moment and then continued.

“Then recently, I thought we had found the talent we needed. I thoroughly checked the reputation and history around him, and I couldn’t see any flaws.”

Could that be me?

“I would like Hyun-woo to take charge of the Korean baseball part in this project.”

I thought it couldn’t be, but it was real.

Am I getting a job offer right now?

“M-Me?”

Rather than the joy of being recognized by a global company, the question ‘Me?’ felt more prominent right now.

“What does Sky Corporation expect from me?”

I carefully asked what I was curious about.

“It is to discover players who can be competitive on the international stage and help them grow.”

It seemed like a role to help Korean players advance to Major League Baseball.

“Then does the company help those players advance overseas?”

“Yes. While the players are under Hyun-woo’s management, we plan to consistently provide reports on the affiliated players to Major League clubs locally. We need to give Major League clubs enough time to observe and investigate the player before they meet the FA [Free Agency] or posting requirements to increase the possibility of a transfer.”

“Hmm… I see.”

It was clear that it could create good opportunities for players who definitely wanted to challenge the world’s best stage.

“And if Hyun-woo joins our project, we plan to delegate almost all authority of the company to you.”

My eyes widened at the words ‘almost all authority’.

“To what extent are you talking about?”

“It’s probably everything you’re thinking of. Including player recruitment, budget execution, and the direction of management. Of course, Hyun-woo personally will be compensated with a high salary. If you show sufficient results.”

A high salary and a lot of authority could be delegated.

It was an offer I couldn’t help but be tempted by.

So I was even more curious.

“But why did you bother to come to me? I haven’t been an agent for very long. I’m still young too……”

As if he had already anticipated my question, Kim Sang-wook had a faint smile on his face.

“I first learned about Hyun-woo after seeing an interview in a media outlet. After that day, I became interested as I learned more about Hyun-woo. After being a professional player, he retired due to an injury, and then suddenly became an agent and immediately raised Oh Seok-hoon, who had been sluggish for several years, to a starting-level player. It was really an unbelievable achievement.”

It also meant that he had only learned about me for less than 6 months.

“I was impressed by two things when I saw that.”

“What is it?”

“The fact that he recognized the potential of the player Oh Seok-hoon, and the fact that he accurately identified the problems he had and made tremendous changes in a short period of time.”

It wasn’t easy to listen to the other person’s unilateral praise as if nothing was wrong.

“Of course, I didn’t just come here after seeing that. We’re not that careless.”

Kim Sang-wook chuckled at my expression.

“I also watched the process of pulling off a big deal in this FA [Free Agency]. I also judged that he has sufficient business skills. I was convinced that he is the person who can best achieve the direction we are pursuing.”

“Then what kind of results align with the direction that Sky Corporation is pursuing……?”

“It’s about how much of a foundation you can create for discovering and managing talented players in Korea and signing a big contract with a Major League club.”

“You have to get them into Major League Baseball.”

“There are views that see this as a player drain, but ultimately it will be a good opportunity for Korean professional baseball as well. Because it’s the most sure way to grow the market itself.”

If the size of the market itself grows, it could be a way to help younger players train in a better environment.

Besides, since he said he would give me all the authority, there seemed to be no reason to refuse.

“When do I have to let you know?”

“I’m going to give you plenty of time to think about it. Our company desperately needs Hyun-woo’s ability.”

It seems like this is the first time in my life that I’ve been offered something so actively.

“Okay. I’ll think about it and contact you.”

“Then think about it carefully, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions.”

Kim Sang-wook greeted me politely until the last moment when he got up from his seat.

Even after he left, I sat there for a long time.

I read the Sky Corporation introduction material over and over again by myself.

Haa……

What kind of feeling is this?

It definitely seems like a good opportunity, but somehow, one corner of my heart felt empty.

But I couldn’t exactly figure out what it was.

* * *

Since the major contracts of the agency’s players have been finalized and there are no official activities for the players during the off-season, I also have some time to spare.

I needed a break because I had been running without a proper rest for the past few months.

I felt that way even more because I started working right away with overflowing enthusiasm at first.

I headed to my hometown where my parents live after a long time.

I also made an appointment to meet an old friend.

I even forgot the password because I came home after a few months.

Beep beep.

As soon as I opened the door and went inside, the smell of food filled the house.

My mother poked her head out of the kitchen, perhaps hearing my presence.

“My son! Welcome.”

As soon as my mother saw me, she opened her arms and approached me.

I also smiled brightly and hugged my mother.

It was similar to when I came out on my first vacation from the military.

“Have you eaten?”

“I didn’t eat before coming.”

“Come in quickly. Eat first.”

I headed to the dining table as soon as I took off my shoes.

“Wow.”

I couldn’t help but exclaim when I saw the food that was set up as if the table would break.

“Eat first.”

“But where did my father go?”

I couldn’t find him no matter how much I looked around the house.

“He went out to buy beef and said he’d be right back… Did he go to catch a cow?”

I could immediately imagine what the situation was like when I saw my mother’s displeased expression.

Beep beep.

At that time, the door opened and my father came in with a black bag.

“Oh. My son’s here.”

“You said you’d be right back, why are you so late?”

“CEO Kim said that it was freshly butchered, and the cow that came in today was so amazing. He was making a fuss saying that I would regret it if I missed it this time.”

My father’s shoulders were constantly shaking as if he was excited while talking.

“Sit down quickly.”

“The yukhoe [Korean beef tartare] can be eaten right away, and I’ll grill the other meat right away, so you sit down and eat too.”

The meat kept coming out of the bag my father was holding.

The sound of meat sizzling on the grill right next to me could be heard.

My father put a piece of meat on my plate.

“You’ve worked hard from afar. Eat a lot.”

“Thank you for the food.”

The beef I just ate was literally amazing.

Every time I chewed, the juice burst in my mouth.

“Wow, it’s really delicious. Eat with me.”

“Eat a lot.”

My mother, who was happily watching me eat, put another piece of freshly cooked meat on my plate.

“But why did that bastard Na Jun-ho suddenly go to the Dragons when it seemed like he was coming to the Jaguars?”

My father was a Jaguars fan to the bone.

“Are you disappointed?”

“It seems like his parents are here too. Then shouldn’t he come? It would be nice to come to the hometown team where he was born and raised and contribute.”

I chuckled at my father, who was full of disappointment.

“And Lee Sang-hoon, how can he suddenly leave like that? I cheered him on so much.”

“Talk about that later so the kid can eat.”

My mother said, putting another piece of meat on my plate.

After that, my father’s lament about the Jaguars continued.

It seemed like I should include this in the consideration for the next transfer market.