Perfect World [EN]: Chapter 124

“It was expensive. Darwin Pharmaceuticals’ track and field team wanted 150 million Krang [Avend currency]. So, I gave up and stopped paying attention. But last summer, because the parent company had financial problems, they sold her to the Red Foxes team for 50 million Krang. I was so jealous.”

Clark looked regretful. The fact that Vincent, a genius in recruiting gladiators, was showing such envy meant the elf had incredible potential. It was a shame for the national team coach that such a talent was sold to Ubei City, a remote area.

“But if she was that great, shouldn’t you have kept an eye on her and tried to acquire her?”

“I couldn’t help it. Maybe it’s because they were part of Darwin Pharmaceuticals, but they didn’t understand her value. To think of selling a kid who doesn’t even know swordsmanship to a gladiator team for 150 million Krang… Haha. I got annoyed and shut down negotiations completely.”

Clark nodded, understanding. 150 million Krang was enough to buy a promising player with top-tier potential who could play in the Wide League [a major gladiator league]. There was no reason to spend that much on a track and field athlete with only speed.

“I see. I’d be a little annoyed too. But wasn’t completely closing the door too much? The Red Foxes and the Professional Gladiator Association in the Grail region benefited.”

“Not really.”

“Why not? Didn’t you say Agelia has high potential?”

“What’s the use? She’s having mental issues. From what I saw on TV, her team, the Red Foxes, is struggling because of her. They reluctantly put her on the release list and offered her for sale cheaply—35 million Krang.”

Clark showed considerable interest. He thought it was a worthwhile investment. If an elf who could become the captain gladiator of the Avend national team was available for 35 million Krang, it was a bargain.

“Then why don’t you sign her quickly before another team does?”

“Sigh… You weren’t listening. I clearly said she’s having mental problems, right? If I sign her just because she’s cheap, the Dragon Knights will face the same problems the Red Foxes are experiencing.”

“What problems?”

“Agelia keeps showing her passion for track and field, and elf enthusiasts are picketing and demonstrating, demanding she be allowed to pursue track and field. If we bring her in, our team will face the same situation. Besides, even though it’s cheap, 35 million Krang isn’t a small amount. If she only wants to do track and field, we’d be throwing that money away. It’s better to invest more in a gladiator who can play immediately. The Dragon Knights need to survive in the Central League [a gladiator league], not bring in a promising player who can’t even play for a large sum. Selling our promising players to sign her? Out of the question.”

Clark fell silent. It was difficult for the Dragon Knights to sign a promising player with a high price tag, given their current situation. For newly promoted professional teams, avoiding relegation was the top priority.

“I see. It’s disappointing that such a promising player will go to another regional team.”

“Don’t be. She’ll come back to Avend.”

Clark looked delighted.

“Oh, really?”

Vincent nodded and turned away. He was tired and cold, wanting to warm his back on the heated floor. Maybe it was age, but his body wasn’t cooperating, even after one night.

“Okay, let’s go back then.”

“Where are we going?”

“You’re going back to the national team, and I’m going back to my team. Where else?”

Clark pointed at Beomseok.

“What about him?”

“Didn’t I say Agelia is coming back to our region?”

“What does that have to do with Beomseok returning to the national team?”

Vincent looked at Beomseok, leaning against the warm bus stop.

“Do you know Beomseok’s scariest trait?”

“His swordsmanship? I didn’t know someone could wield a sword like that until I saw him.”

“True, but his real strength is his eye for elf gladiators. I sold a gladiator named Rin before, and he was immediately impatient, even without testing her. I think Beomseok can infer their growth potential just by looking at their muscle development or skeleton. And that kind of guy is here, right in front of the Red Foxes, who are selling a promising player cheaply. He’s not just passing by while escaping the national team. That’s nonsense.”

Clark grabbed his collar.

“You’re saying he escaped the national team to sign Agelia?”

“Why ask the obvious? Why else would he be sitting here with nowhere to go and nothing to see? He’s suffering to sign Agelia.”

Indeed, there was nothing scenic in Ubei City’s sports district. There was no reason to sit there in the cold winter dawn.

“Then what about us?”

“We just did something useless in the middle of the night.”

Clark looked dumbfounded. He was sweating in the cold, only to find out Beomseok left to sign a gladiator… He felt foolish.

He glared at Beomseok, clenching his fist. He wanted to confront him about treating the national team like a joke, but he couldn’t because of his own actions. Beomseok could just tear up an outing pass and throw it at him.

Still, the future captain gladiator of the national team was coming to Avend because of today’s events. Since he had already sinned, he decided to ignore it for once.

“Sigh… V, Vincent, Coach. Let’s go.”

“Hehe. You thought well. He’ll probably come back soon, acting like nothing happened, so don’t worry.”

Clark bit his lip and followed Vincent along the jogging road. After moving away from Beomseok, he called a taxi to the intercity bus terminal.

Meanwhile, a huge two-story flying bus landed in front of Beomseok. It was Aaron. Expecting Esther, he approached the door.

She came out and greeted Beomseok happily.

“Chairman, long time no see. National team life must be difficult, right?”

Beomseok sighed. It was difficult.

“Yeah. Did you prepare the transfer documents?”

Esther showed him her electronic notebook.

“Yes, I brought them all. Are you going in now?”

Beomseok looked at the time and nodded. It was almost 8:00 AM; he had to go in soon. The meeting with the Red Foxes’ trade representative was at 8:00 AM.

“Hmm, I have to. Let’s go in.”

Beomseok led, and Esther followed, talking to him.

“Chairman, do you think today’s deal will go well?”

“Maybe? The Red Foxes already put Agelia on the release list. They’ll sell her for the offered price, 35 million Krang. I’m willing to pay that. The teams have agreed, so there shouldn’t be any problems.”

“Really? I heard the trade representative is difficult to deal with.”

Beomseok chuckled and waved his hand.

“Even if he’s difficult, this is unavoidable. Announcing they’re willing to sell her means the team decided to sell Agelia, even at a loss. Even a difficult representative can’t control that. He can only try to get as close to the asking price as possible.”

Esther nodded. Announcing the sale significantly lowered the gladiator’s value. The team not needing her meant there was a flaw. In Agelia’s case, the flaw was public: mental problems preventing her from adapting as a gladiator, and protests by elf enthusiasts. It was doubtful any team but the Gods Knights would pay that much. 35 million Krang could buy two useful promising players.

“I see. The Red Foxes must sell Agelia.”

“Exactly. Why would the representative come to work early and negotiate at this time, before business hours, to suit our schedule? They’re desperate.”

“Chairman, can’t we lower Agelia’s price even more?”

That was something to consider. Saving team funds would be good. However, Agelia had great potential, so not signing her would be a loss. The Red Foxes had to sell Agelia, and he had to sign her. He would try to lower the price, but he couldn’t risk too much.

Beomseok only had two hours for this trade due to his national team duties. He had to return to Avend by dawn, so he couldn’t drag out negotiations.

“I’ll try, but I don’t think I can lower it much. We have to sign Agelia, and we don’t have much time.”

“I see. It’s a shame. We could lower the price quite a bit if we did well.”

“There’s nothing we can do. Our situation is like this.”

Beomseok, reaching the Red Foxes training camp’s main gate, put his finger to his mouth. Discussing strategy was good, but not inside the other team’s training camp. If the representative overheard, it would be a disadvantage.

They told the security guard their purpose and boarded the unmanned electric car, moving towards the office building where the battle would take place.

“Welcome, Gods Knights officials. I’m Elliot, the manager of the Red Foxes’ trade team.”

Elliot was in his mid-40s, with an affable face and plump body. His waddling walk made Beomseok chuckle.

“Haha. I’m Oh Beomseok, the chairman of the Gods Knights. This is Esther, the acting manager.”

“Hahaha. Nice to meet you.”

Elliot shook hands and glanced at Beomseok.

“You seem quite interested in Agelia. Manager Esther and Chairman Beomseok have come. I’m so flattered.”

Beomseok, thinking it was a preliminary battle, started acting. It seemed like praise, but it was a trick to raise Agelia’s value.

“Hahaha. It looks that way, but it’s different. Our team was just promoted from amateur to professional, so we’re not organized yet. We’re a private company, not a corporation, so we don’t receive investment, and our finances aren’t great. That’s why we have to run around like this ourselves.”

“Oh, really? But why did you think of signing Agelia? Her price is 35 million Krang.”

Beomseok, feeling it was difficult from the start, was nervous. He was stabbed in a weak spot. If he backed down, it would hinder negotiations. He had to give a plausible excuse.

“Agelia and I are acquainted. We’re from the same Avend region track and field world. When I saw her on TV, she seemed to be having a hard time. I felt sorry for her and decided to take a risk.”

“Having a hard time? That’s not true. If you’ve seen TV, you’ll know she just wants to run. We’re not harassing her.”

“I don’t know because I’m not Agelia, but she likes running more than anything else. If you don’t let her do that, it’s like harassing her.”

Elliot frowned. The elf enthusiasts’ complaints were coming out of his mouth.

============================ Author’s Notes ============================

In the end, SK won. Kia had ace Yoon Seok-min, but it seems that it was too much because he hadn’t recovered from the fatigue of the first game. Thanks to that, Lotte is in trouble. They will face Sk, who will have one more day off.

Anyway, SK’s late autumn baseball is scary.

Then everyone have a comfortable day. I’ll see you at the same time tomorrow.