Perfect World [EN]: Chapter 400

402.

“Are you serious? There’s no reason for the Chaplin Whisper team to let her go, is there?”

“Yes, there is. It hasn’t been announced in the transfer market, but it will definitely happen.”

“But what’s the reason?”

Diana smiled brightly and said,

“Master, do you know when Yosia transferred to Chaplin Whisper?”

“Well, I don’t know exactly because I didn’t pay much attention.”

“It was about two and a half years ago. That is, when she was 27 years old, at her peak.”

“So?”

“At the time, she was an outstanding gladiator ranked 27th in the world, while Chaplin Whisper was stuck in the Central League.”

At this point, Beomseok vaguely remembered something about Yosia. He remembered Rebecca, the head of Chaplin Whisper, visiting him when he was hospitalized due to an injury and complaining about it. At the time, she was very worried about a prominent gladiator joining a rival team.

“Hmm. Now that you mention it, I remember. But what’s your point?”

“It’s simple. Yosia wasn’t the type of player who would go to Chaplin Whisper. Would you go if a Central League team recruited you? Of course, I’m talking about when you don’t have the position of chairman of the God Knights.”

Beomseok waved his hand, finding it absurd. No gladiator would give up the glory of the World League to go to a lower league.

“Unless they give me a fortune? Why would I go to a Central League team?”

“But Yosia went. She’s a gladiator without an owner, so she’s not even in a position to receive a salary.”

Beomseok crossed his arms and looked at Diana. He definitely felt something was strange. A gladiator who had risen to 27th in the world, giving up all glory and advancing to a lower league without even receiving a salary? It would be impossible unless there was another reason.

“For example?”

“It’s about coordinating her retirement.”

At that, Beomseok gave a bitter smile.

“Huhu. I see. If she’s an elf, she could definitely go to a lower league with the condition that they let her retire early. But how are you so sure she’ll be at the World Walker Auction Market this winter?”

“Actually, I’m not sure either. But in many cases like this, they retire around the age of 30, so there’s a high possibility.”

Beomseok looked at her with a somewhat perplexed expression. Most of the sports players sold at the World Walker Auction Market are big names. There couldn’t be that many available.

It only opens once in winter and once in summer, and the dates are usually ambiguous. The winter market opens around mid-January, when the gladiator world’s winter transfer market is almost over.

In other words, if they were to hold funds to recruit her, they might end up doing nothing during this winter transfer market. In this situation, unless there was a guarantee that she would be at the World Walker Auction Market, they couldn’t recklessly jump into the recruitment battle.

“I can’t focus on recruiting her based on a guess. If she doesn’t come to the market, we won’t be able to do anything and we’ll pass through this winter transfer market.”

“But there’s definitely a way to find out.”

Diana subtly glanced at Rebecca. Rebecca, as the former head of Chaplin Whisper, had been actively involved in Yosia’s recruitment. Naturally, she would have a detailed understanding of the contract situation at the time.

It was a convincing method, so Beomseok nodded. Rebecca was his woman. It was somewhat morally wrong, but she wouldn’t refuse to provide information on a gladiator who was leaving the team anyway.

“Ah. That’s right. There was a way to ask Rebecca.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Beomseok called Rebecca, who was checking her equipment for the second round.

“Rebecca, can you come here for a moment?”

Rebecca jumped up and approached.

“Yes, what’s wrong?”

“Do you know about Yosia’s contract details?”

Rebecca slowly nodded. Recruiting her was the most successful recruitment case since she became the head. It cost a lot of money, but by recruiting a world-class gladiator to the team, Chaplin Whisper had significantly improved its strength.

“I know. But what’s going on?”

“I have some questions. Is she going to be at the World Walker Auction Market this winter?”

She looked at Beomseok with a shocked expression. The scheduled date for Yosia’s World Walker Auction Market sale was a top secret known only to herself and some team officials.

At 30 years old, she would be technically at her best if she didn’t suffer from old age. If it became known to other teams, there might be attempts to recruit her. This was not good for the Chaplin Whisper team, so the team had no choice but to keep their mouths shut.

‘What is it? Did Yosia say something?’

But Rebecca soon shook her head. The person who wanted to keep it a secret the most was Yosia. If it became known in advance, other gladiator teams might try to recruit her by any means. Then her plan to find an owner could be ruined, so she wouldn’t have said anything.

“W-Why are you asking that?”

“Ah. I have some information. Is it true?”

If he knew, there was no choice. Rebecca readily admitted the truth.

“Yes, it’s true.”

“Oh. Is that so? This is getting interesting.”

Rebecca hurriedly approached Beomseok. She was curious how he knew. Her recruitment-related information was a top secret within the Chaplin Whisper team. Even though she was at God Knights, if this high-level information was leaked by someone within the team, they had to be identified.

“But Beomseok-nim, who did you hear that from?”

“Ah. I heard it from Diana.”

Rebecca quickly turned her gaze to Diana.

“Director Diana, where did you hear that from? Did you hear it directly from our team officials?”

“No. I inferred it. Isn’t it obvious that a gladiator like Yosia would have that kind of option contract when she goes to a Central League team? She has world-class fame and skills, so there’s no need to go to a lower team on purpose. Of course, the owning team would have sold her if they got a reasonable price. And when this winter comes, she’ll be exactly 30 years old. It’s the perfect age for her to retire.”

“R-Really?”

“Yes. Elves who have been in this industry for a while know that much. But they’re all keeping their mouths shut for everyone’s sake. And most professional team officials know roughly. So I thought Rebecca-nim knew too? Is it because Chaplin Whisper team has a short history?”

Rebecca looked at her with surprised eyes. It would be really dangerous if other gladiator industry officials knew as well.

If it was true, it was something they really had to prevent. If Yosia went to another World League team, Chaplin Whisper’s competitiveness would decline. But on the other hand, she thought it was strange.

She had never seen an elf gladiator go directly to a professional team from the World Walker Auction Market.

“Really? But why doesn’t that happen? I’ve never seen elves who entered the World Auction Market fail to find an owner?”

“That’s obvious. I just said that most professional team officials know. So would the selling team just stand still? They add an option when signing a sales contract with the World Walker Auction Market.”

“What kind of option do they add?”

“It’s simple. If the buyer doesn’t become the owner of the elf, all contracts become invalid. Then most professional teams have no choice but to give up.”

Rebecca nodded, seemingly convinced. If it was as she said, there was no way she would go to another professional team. If they tried to buy in this situation, first of all, the shareholders wouldn’t allow it. Because team assets would flow to individuals.

Still, she was a little uneasy. And that worrying situation was happening right here. If Yosia came to God Knights, Chaplin Whisper would be in a very ambiguous situation.

God Knights wasn’t doing very well this year, but if they added a few outstanding gladiators, they would become a strong championship contender.

“I see. But wouldn’t it be more certain to add a clause that completely prevents professional advancement?”

At these words, Beomseok looked at Rebecca with strange eyes. He thought she was saying that with him in mind.

“Rebecca, are you saying that because you don’t want to sell Yosia to God Knights? You’re really petty. Is it because my family is better than yours?”

Rebecca, with a flustered face, waved her hands wildly. It was true, but she couldn’t admit it in front of him. Anyway, Beomseok was a promising man.

“N-No. That’s not it. I’m just saying it because I’m worried. It would be a disaster if a championship contender like the Ancient Warriors team took her.”

“I don’t think so. If you weren’t keeping me in check, there would be no need to add such a clause.”

Diana, who was smiling at Rebecca in trouble, said.

“Huhu. All the clauses that Rebecca-nim mentioned are not possible.”

“What do you mean? Why not?”

Diana looked at Rebecca, who was throwing a random gaze, and said.

“Because that clause itself doesn’t make sense. The first clause I mentioned can be added based on the elf’s right to happiness under the Elf Protection Act, but the content that Rebecca-nim mentioned has no legal basis. No, besides the black market, where in the world is there a market that discriminates against buyers without any legal reason? It’s against legal fairness, so even if they file a lawsuit, it’s useless even if they are not a suitable buyer. And frankly, other professional gladiator teams aren’t stupid. If it’s better to do as Rebecca-nim said, why wouldn’t they do it? There’s a reason for that. As long as they go through the intermediate stage of the Walker Auction Market, they can’t do as the team pleases.”

Beomseok, sulking, didn’t even look at Rebecca and answered.

“Still, if it doesn’t work out, I can go as an individual. I can just take off the team official title for a while. I’m the chairman, what can’t I do.”

“Yes. You can do that too.”

Rebecca, who was simultaneously attacked by Beomseok and Diana, shut her mouth tightly. If she made a mistake, she could be hated by her future husband. Since it was impossible anyway, it was better to stay quiet here.

But it was already too late. Beomseok got up from his seat and threw a bone-chilling word.

“Well, Rebecca is a member of the Chaplin family, so it can’t be helped. It’s natural that blood is thicker than water. Anyway, if Yosia’s recruitment fails, I’ll think that Rebecca, you were working behind the scenes.”

Rebecca hurriedly approached and opened her mouth.

“N-No, that’s not it. If Yosia comes to God Knights, I would naturally welcome it. We’re not complete strangers, and she’s a child who played together on the same team, so I’d be happy to have her as a support.”

Beomseok looked at her with squinting eyes.

“Really?”

“Hahaha. Of course. Why would I interfere? I’m in favor of it.”

Beomseok crossed his arms and subtly threatened her.

“Well. We’ll see about that. Hmm. Anyway, Rebecca, you have to participate in the second round. Aren’t you preparing?”

Rebecca, looking at her watch, jumped up in surprise. There was still time left, but she thought it was better to get out of here quickly. She was trying to plot for the family, but she didn’t even get her money’s worth.

“Ah, ah. That’s right. Then I’ll go and prepare quickly.”

Rebecca, who returned to her seat, spent time touching up her equipment again. And after a while, she hurriedly went to the entrance tunnel at the mention of the in-house broadcast.

The second round was almost an overwhelming victory for the Chaplin Whisper team. It was very difficult for God Knights’ second team, which was composed of lower-level World Leaguers and some starting gladiators, to win against an opponent with a mid-to-upper level World League strength. But it wasn’t without any results.

Perhaps because Beomseok’s disappointment spurred them on, his subordinate elves persevered by focusing on defense until almost the very end. Although Amelie didn’t participate, Beomseok, encouraged by this performance, went all the way to the dugout door and greeted them with a bright expression.

Of course, except for Rebecca. He needed a silent threat in case she interfered with Yosia’s recruitment.

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

We had a typhoon yesterday, is everyone okay? Fortunately, my house was not damaged. The drainage facilities near my house are well maintained, and the typhoon passed to the other side, so the wind didn’t have much of an impact.

Then everyone have a nice day. I’ll see you again tomorrow.