Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 81

The Lazy Genius (5)

“That man started it first!”

“What? You pushed me first. Didn’t you?”

A man, face red as if about to explode, shouted at So Youngjoon.

“Alright, alright. Calm down now. From now on, just answer the questions I ask.”

The detective, sounding weary, gestured for the man to sit.

Once the man reluctantly sat down, the detective started typing again and asked,

“Okay, let’s start with Mr. So Youngjoon. What happened?”

“I didn’t do anything. I was just walking out, and this guy started yelling at me as soon as he saw me.”

“That’s all?”

“That’s it.”

So Youngjoon’s expression was full of injustice.

The detective, having finished typing, turned his gaze to the man beside him.

“Sir, can you tell us what happened?”

“Does the detective even know how frustrated I am because of this guy?”

The man thumped his chest.

“What do you mean? Explain it in a way that’s easy to understand.”

“Because you play baseball like that, we lose every time! Do you know how much I get ignored by my friends because of that?”

“Excuse me?”

The detective burst into laughter at the man’s words.

“Detective, aren’t you the same? Doesn’t it frustrate you every time you watch the Pelicans play?”

“Well… that’s true, but.”

The man jumped up and pointed at the people around him.

“Ask everyone here. They’re all thinking the same thing as me. Those guys are a disgrace to our town! A disgrace!”

“But why is that my fault?”

“Is it just once or twice that you’ve ruined the game? You’re always making errors!”

“This guy is really…”

So Youngjoon clenched his fist.

“And if you’re bad at baseball, you should practice until your body breaks. What’s with coming here, drinking, and having fun? That’s why you’re still like that after all these years.”

“What did you say?”

So Youngjoon stood up again, and the tension escalated once more.

“Both of you, sit down. You’ll be subject to additional penalties if you act like this here.”

Another detective came over and sat the two men further apart.

“I could do better than that.”

“If you’re so confident, why don’t you try it yourself? Do you think you can hit a home run with that body?”

“Hey, I’ve hit home runs before.”

“Not in neighborhood baseball.”

The two men’s war of nerves showed no signs of stopping.

I cautiously approached as the conversation seemed to be winding down.

“Oh, by any chance…?”

The man who had been arguing with So Youngjoon recognized me first.

I exchanged a light greeting with the man and approached So Youngjoon.

“What happened?”

“I don’t know. I just stepped in poop on the street.”

So Youngjoon said, avoiding my gaze.

“Stepped in what? What did you just say?”

At So Youngjoon’s words, the man stood up again.

“Sir, just a moment. I’ll try to talk to him.”

I stood in the middle and barely stopped the man, who was getting emotional.

“Detective, can we talk outside for a moment?”

“You’re not going to run away, are you?”

“Both So Youngjoon and I have recognizable faces. Do you think we’d run away?”

“Alright, go ahead.”

The detective gestured with a tired expression.

I took So Youngjoon outside for a moment.

I bought him a drink from the vending machine next to us.

-Involved in an unintended incident and feeling wronged.

-His pride was hurt by the man’s words.

“Drink this first.”

“Why are you here?”

“A player under contract is being investigated at the police station. Is the agent just supposed to sit still?”

“It’s nothing. That guy is just weird.”

So Youngjoon sighed and took a sip of the drink.

“That’s not what’s important right now.”

“What are you talking about?”

So Youngjoon looked at me with a dumbfounded expression.

“If this goes on, there will be an article about it tomorrow morning.”

“……”

“‘A professional baseball player went to a club to drink and have fun after a game, got into an argument with a citizen, and was taken into custody.'”

“But I’m the victim. I didn’t do anything! That crazy guy suddenly started yelling at me.”

I continued without paying attention.

“How long do you think it will take for fans to find out that the player is So Youngjoon? There must be more than one or two people who saw it directly at the scene. Once the name is revealed, follow-up articles will pour out, needless to say, right?”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Whether you’re the victim or the perpetrator isn’t important.”

“……”

“Just being involved in an unpleasant incident will cause a lot of talk, and in the worst case, you could be disciplined. It’s a sensitive time because there are so many incidents and accidents [referring to other scandals in the league].”

“Damn it. So what do you want me to do?”

So Youngjoon crushed the empty can and shouted.

“I’ll stop the article from being published, I will.”

“How?”

“I have that much ability.”

I raised the corners of my mouth and gave a relaxed smile.

“But only if you promise me one thing.”

“Promise? What promise?”

“I’ll solve the immediate problem first and then tell you.”

I went back to the police station with So Youngjoon.

Even while So Youngjoon was sitting back down, the war of nerves with the man continued with their eyes.

I approached the man and bowed 90 degrees [a deep, respectful bow in Korean culture].

“Sir, I apologize on his behalf.”

“Wh, what…?”

The man couldn’t hide his embarrassment at my actions.

“Regardless of the reason, if you felt unpleasant while watching baseball, we believe it is our fault without any excuse.”

I raised my head, made eye contact with the man, and continued.

“The reason professional sports can exist is thanks to fans like you. Therefore, it is our duty to show games for the fans.”

“Th, that’s… I’m not just upset. It’s because I like the Pelicans more than anyone else.”

“Of course. I know that very well.”

“Hmm…”

“I will try to make sure you can enjoy and be moved while watching baseball in the future.”

“How are you going to do that?”

“If you like baseball, you must know me. I’m Kang Hyunwoo.”

“So what?”

“You know how Oh Seokhoon and Park Sungjoo changed, right? And Choi Junghwan from the Doubles too [referring to players who improved significantly under Kang Hyunwoo’s management].”

“So you’re saying you can make him like that too?”

The man narrowed his eyes as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Is there any reason why I can’t do it for this friend? Please keep an eye on him.”

I gave the man a bright smile.

* * *

So Youngjoon and I left the police station and moved to a nearby bench.

It was a place where we could talk comfortably because there were no people passing by.

A pleasant spring breeze was blowing gently.

“What’s that promise you were talking about earlier?”

“It’s nothing special.”

I took out the documents I had brought and handed them to him.

“What is this?”

“Training program. From now on, you’ll train according to this schedule.”

“Who made this?”

“Our agency has a lot of experts.”

So Youngjoon frowned and flipped through the documents one by one.

Then he let out a ridiculous laugh as if he was dumbfounded.

“Is this even possible? Isn’t this a program we used to do in high school?”

“I’ve only written down what’s needed in the current situation.”

“Nah, I can’t do it.”

“Then shall I tell them to release the article now?”

I took out my smartphone from my pocket.

“Are you threatening me now?”

“If it’s something that helps a contracted player, there’s no reason not to do it.”

At my firm words, So Youngjoon picked up the schedule again with a displeased expression.

“Sigh… But there’s so much training to do after the game?”

“Of course, you have to do it after the game.”

“Then… when do I rest?”

So Youngjoon looked at me with shaking eyes.

“Sleep in in the morning. I won’t tell you to wake up early.”

“No, I need to hang out at night too. How can a person live only training?”

“Oh, you want to go to the club [nightclub]?”

“You have to rest when you rest.”

“No clubs for the time being.”

“Hey!”

“Instead, how about going once every 10 games without any errors?”

“Hmm…”

So Youngjoon quickly calculated whether my offer was feasible, as if he was turning his head quickly.

“But there’s one serious problem. Even if I want to, I can’t train according to this schedule.”

“What’s the problem?”

“I can’t use the practice field alone. All the team players have to take turns using it, so how can I do so much training alone?”

So Youngjoon put the documents down on the table as soon as he finished speaking.

“Ah… There’s that problem.”

“You didn’t even think about this before you said it? You have to talk about things that are possible.”

So Youngjoon’s lips twitched as if he was proud of finding an impossible reason.

“But don’t worry. It’s a problem that can be solved right away.”

“How are you going to solve it right away? It’s difficult even if you talk to the team.”

“Haven’t you been there yet? Our agency’s training facility is well-equipped. You can do it there.”

“Agency training facility…?”

So Youngjoon’s face turned pale rapidly.

“I’ll send you the address, so let’s meet again tomorrow morning. Don’t be late this time.”

* * *

The next morning.

Fortunately, So Youngjoon showed up at the training facility on time.

We started infield fungo training [a baseball drill where a coach hits balls to fielders] alone at the outdoor training facility of the accommodation.

I brought three boxes full of balls.

I picked up the balls one by one and sent them flying to where So Youngjoon was standing.

Thwack.

“How are you going to catch it if you take such big steps?”

Thwack.

“The timing of catching is too late. You have to run out further.”

Thwack.

“Where are you throwing it! You have to be accurate until the last throw!”

The more his stamina decreased, the more ridiculous mistakes he made.

Every time that happened, my voice naturally got louder.

Before I knew it, the uniform So Youngjoon was wearing was covered in dirt.

My hand, which was hitting the fungo, was also getting sore.

Instead, I was gaining know-how, so I was able to send the ball to a course that was good for training.

There was no problem even with difficult courses that he couldn’t catch unless he threw his body.

After emptying all the balls in the box, So Youngjoon sat down on the floor.

“Hah. Hah. Is it over now?”

“Yeah, that’s it for today.”

So Youngjoon lay down on the floor and breathed deeply without stopping.

“Let’s go inside before your body cools down.”

“Go inside? You just said it was over?”

“The defense training is over, and now we have to do batting training.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Defense is defense, and batting is batting. It’s not the first time you’ve done it, so why are you being so strange? Get up quickly.”

“Can’t you see I’m completely exhausted? How can I do batting training here?”

“Then from now on, are you going to tell the manager that you can’t play on days when you’re tired?”

“Is it the same as that now?”

“What’s the difference?”

I grabbed So Youngjoon’s arm and pulled him up.

So Youngjoon struggled to get up with a blank expression.