Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 88

The atmosphere in the meeting room was heavier than ever, especially after Go Ji-hoon’s disastrous performance and subsequent removal from the first-team roster.

Im Ye-ji’s expression said it all.

In this atmosphere, Oh Seok-hoon and Park Seong-ju’s performances were naturally overshadowed.

“As you saw in yesterday’s game, Go Ji-hoon’s condition is very poor. Let’s discuss what we should do moving forward,” Im Ye-ji said in a low voice.

“…….”

“Team Leader Kim, any updates?”

“I just checked. The exact test results will take a bit longer, but for now, it’s best to assume he’s out for the season.”

“What? Out for the season?”

Im Ye-ji stopped moving the moment she heard Kim Min-hwan’s words.

“His back, which wasn’t great to begin with, has gotten worse while playing. It’s best for him to rest and fully recover before returning.”

“…Team Leader Kim, you haven’t forgotten that this is a crucial season for Go Ji-hoon, have you?”

Im Ye-ji’s eyes were sharper than ever.

“Of course, I’m well aware of that.”

“In that situation, do you really think the method you just suggested is the best option?”

“Well, that’s…”

“Shouldn’t an agent find the best solution for their player?”

“But with the player injured, what can we really do?”

Kim Min-hwan’s eyes darted nervously as he mustered the courage to speak.

“Am I in this meeting with you two just to hear that? So, we just stand by and do nothing until Go Ji-hoon recovers on his own? Is that really it?”

“That’s not what I mean… I just thought it might be good to wait and see what the club decides before we act.”

“If we’re just waiting for the club to do something, what’s the point of the agency? And why would a player pay a lot of money to sign a management contract with an agency?”

Im Ye-ji’s tone was rising.

“…….”

“We need to find our own role. If we’re getting paid a lot of money by the player, we need to be worth it.”

“Understood…”

Kim Min-hwan replied, his voice choked, his head bowed.

“First, Team Leader Kim, focus on getting the most accurate assessment of Go Ji-hoon’s physical condition as quickly as possible. If domestic tests aren’t conclusive, send him to hospitals in the US or Japan.”

“Yes.”

Kim Min-hwan replied weakly, starting to write something down.

“Hyeon-woo, especially, manage Go Ji-hoon so he doesn’t lose his mental stability. With Go Ji-hoon’s personality, it won’t be easy for him to stay focused in this situation.”

“Yes, I’ll do my best.”

I tried to lighten the heavy atmosphere with a higher tone, but nothing changed.

“Then let’s talk again once we have the test results from the hospital,” Im Ye-ji said, immediately getting up from her seat.

* * *

As I closed the meeting room door and came back in, Kim Min-hwan was frowning deeply, his eyes closed.

“Ugh. Stress.”

He looked older than when I first met him, and it didn’t seem like just my imagination.

“Team Leader, what should we do first?”

“Haa… The test results should be out tonight or tomorrow morning at the latest. Shouldn’t we wait for the exact results before we do anything?”

“That’s true, but aren’t the test results obvious? His back is strained, throwing off his balance, and he’s putting too much stress on his shoulder and elbow, so his whole body is in bad shape. It’s not like we don’t already know this.”

It wasn’t just once or twice that I saw in the information window that Go Ji-hoon was experiencing back pain, and I even saw it with my own eyes while we were playing catch.

“Hoo… That’s true.”

Kim Min-hwan sighed deeply, as if the ground was collapsing beneath him.

“I think we should start looking for a hospital or doctor who can properly treat his back pain right away.”

“That would be good.”

“Does the agency have any connections with overseas hospitals?”

In fact, I didn’t know much about overseas hospitals yet.

“But what do you think, Hyeon-woo?”

“What do I think?”

He suddenly changed the subject without answering my question.

“Do you think it’s right to get Go Ji-hoon back as soon as possible?”

“If we can speed up his recovery, shouldn’t we get him back as soon as possible? As a player, he’d want to play even one more game; who would want to lie in a hospital bed and watch the game?”

“Do you really think there’s a way to do that?”

“Well… If he can get good treatment, maybe it can be faster?”

“What if it doesn’t go as fast as we want?”

Kim Min-hwan kept asking questions like we were playing Twenty Questions.

“Then there’s nothing we can do. He can only play after he’s fully recovered.”

“Hmm… That’s right.”

Kim Min-hwan paused, staring into space, lost in thought.

“But why are you so worried about that?”

“I’ve been working with CEO Im for more than just a day or two.”

I nodded, focusing on Kim Min-hwan’s words.

“Why do you think she was so sensitive in today’s meeting?”

“Isn’t it because she wants her player to recover as quickly as possible?”

“Of course, that’s right too. It’s not wrong, but…”

Looking at Kim Min-hwan’s expression, it seemed like he had more to say.

“Is there another reason?”

“Go Ji-hoon is a free agent this year.”

“So what?”

“So, the reason she’s trying to get him back quickly is because he’s about to become a free agent.”

I felt deflated, like I was expecting some grand reason.

It was such an obvious answer that I wondered if anyone didn’t know that.

“Regardless of the free agency, an agent should help their player get back on the field as quickly as possible.”

“Do you think Go Ji-hoon can meet the free agency requirements and recover from his injury at the same time?”

“……?”

“I overheard at the hospital that it’s best to avoid weight training for at least one to two months. After he’s fully recovered, it’ll take another month or two to get his feel back and get back on the mound, right? Do you think he can fill the remaining free agency days like that?”

Is that so?

If what Kim Min-hwan heard was true, it would definitely be difficult to meet the free agency requirements.

If he doesn’t meet the required number of first-team registration days this season, he’ll only be able to meet the free agency requirements after finishing next season.

A player’s value is higher when they’re younger, so it wouldn’t be good at all.

But Kim Min-hwan was missing one important thing.

“But he only needs about 50 days in the first team this year to meet the free agency requirements, right?”

“How do you figure that?”

“He played in international competitions as a national team member. If you add that up, it’ll be enough.”

He was called up to the national team and played in games a few years ago, so he was in a situation where he could receive benefits to meet the free agency requirements.

“Ah, that’s right! I forgot about that.”

“If that’s the case, there’s still plenty of season left, so he can take three or four months to fully recover. He can just show a good performance after he’s fully recovered.”

“Yeah, that’s the answer.”

Kim Min-hwan raised the corners of his mouth and cheered.

* * *

Ding-dong.

As I opened the door, I heard loud chatter.

“Wow, he’s catching that? No way!”

“If that was a hit, we almost got reversed.”

Lee Joo-hyeok, Oh Seok-hoon, and Park Seong-ju were gathered in front of the TV playing a baseball game.

“Hyung [older brother/friend], you’re here?”

Oh Seok-hoon, who was watching the game from the side, jumped up to greet me.

“Is the game that fun? I could hear the noise outside?”

“Is it that loud? We thought we were playing quietly.”

“It sounds like it can be heard in the next neighborhood.”

While I was talking with Oh Seok-hoon, Lee Joo-hyeok and Park Seong-ju were immersed in the game as if they had entered it.

The pitcher in the game threw the ball, and the batter swung.

“Agh!”

“Strike out!”

The moment Park Seong-ju screamed and covered his face, Lee Joo-hyeok clenched his fist and cheered.

“Wow, this defense was really difficult.”

“How can you not score in a bases-loaded situation with no outs!”

Park Seong-ju blamed himself and hit himself on the head.

Looking at the score, Park Seong-ju was losing again.

I guess I should be glad that he scored at least one point.

How can someone who’s so good at baseball in real life be so bad at the game?

“Seong-ju is losing again?”

“It was close until the middle, but he got hit by a home run and then got pushed back.”

“Isn’t Joo-hyeok just much better?”

“Hey… The game’s not over yet. You never know until the end of baseball.”

Park Seong-ju grabbed the joystick again with a determined expression.

Seeing that, I burst out laughing.

“But is Go Ji-hoon sunbae [senior/mentor] inside?”

“He’s not in the training room, so I think he’s resting in his room?”

Oh Seok-hoon tilted his head and replied.

Normally, Go Ji-hoon would definitely be in the training room, but with his current physical condition, even basic weight training would be difficult.

“I should go up and see him.”

As I turned to go up to the second floor,

Thump. Thump. Thump.

I heard footsteps coming down from the second floor.

It was Go Ji-hoon after all.

He was carrying a small carrier in his hand.

“Sunbae [senior/mentor], where are you going?”

“I was just about to contact you. I’m going home for a few days.”

“Home?”

He’s a player who has been focusing on training even while reducing the number of times he goes home, but I guess his thoughts have changed because of his injury.

“I want to rest for a bit, and my wife seems worried too.”

“Of course, you should do that.”

“I’ll be back soon.”

Go Ji-hoon waved goodbye to me and the other players a few times and went out the door.

I went out to the gate to see Go Ji-hoon off.

“Be careful on your way.”

He must be exhausted both physically and mentally, so it wouldn’t be bad to take a break at home with his family.

Go Ji-hoon’s shoulders were slumped as if he was carrying a heavy load.