Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 132

Mound Villain – Episode 132

I didn’t have a strong aversion to playing for the national team.

There were clear benefits for me, so I was considering wearing the national team uniform when the time was right.

But not now.

‘Adapting to the Major League is my top priority. Joining the national team would most likely worsen my physical condition.’

Once I’ve built up enough data as a starter, it’ll be different.

I can manage my stamina based on that data, join the national team, and play in games.

But this is my first year as a starter.

If I join the national team without sufficient data, I could get caught up in unforeseen events.

That’s why I was planning to avoid it until this year.

‘So, they’re saying they’ll make me join no matter what, even involving my family.’

I could roughly picture how my great-uncle got involved.

‘In Korea, you can solve everything with school ties, regional ties, and family ties. That’s the mindset of the old guard.’

Even though times have changed, the power of those connections is still strong.

The problem was that Ha-sung didn’t care much about family and regional ties.

More than anything, in the world of professional baseball, skill was prioritized over school and regional ties.

If you were skilled, no other factor had a significant impact on a player.

And Ha-sung was the best player in the Major League, beyond Korea.

There was no element that could put pressure on him.

‘From the old guys’ perspective, I must be a thorn in their side.’

In Korean society, Ha-sung was a unique character.

He wasn’t bound by school or regional ties, and he was also free from the pressure of age.

Above all, he was active in the world’s best league, the Major League, solely based on his skill.

In other words, they couldn’t control him, so they had no choice but to be dissatisfied.

“Even so, they touched my family.”

Touching family crossed the line.

However, doubts also arose.

“Why my great-uncle? Did their connections end there?”

The possibility was there.

But when I thought back to when my father supported me, there were some questionable aspects.

“He’s been building connections since elementary school, so there must be overlapping people.”

Unlike me, who is a freelancer, my father was clearly a member of society.

More than anything, he was in the sales department, so he always valued connections.

That’s why it was even stranger.

“I need to check it out.”

Ha-sung checked the time and sent a text message.

Not long after sending the text, he received a call.

“Yes, Dad. Are you still awake?”

[I go to bed a little late. But what’s going on at this hour?]

“Actually, I was wondering if you had been contacted by anyone from the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization].”

[Huh? How do you know that?]

“Did they contact you?”

[A few days ago, Chief Kim from Daehan Corporation asked to meet up after a long time. There was a guy called the technical director.]

“Chief Kim, you mean….”

[That’s Kim Hyun-gon’s father, the one who was in the same baseball club as you in middle school.]

“Ah……”

As expected, the KBO had contacted my father through all sorts of connections.

“But why didn’t you contact me?”

[Why would I contact my son, who’s busy playing games, with something like this?]

“Didn’t they tell you to make me play for the national team?”

[That’s something you have to decide. But how do you know about that?]

“Actually……”

Ha-sung told him about the call he received from his great-uncle.

[That damn bastard!!]

Of course, my father was furious.

[Don’t worry about it! I’m going to go find that guy right now and give him a piece of my mind! Family honor, my ass! Do whatever you want!]

“Really? I can do whatever I want?”

[Of course! Your mother and I have always said the same thing. We’ll support you no matter what choice you make. It’s the same this time. Especially since the national team is such an important position, you have to decide.]

A smile spread across Ha-sung’s face at his father’s words.

“Thank you.”

Hasing hung up the phone and looked out the window.

“They’re such good parents.”

Just like in my previous life, my parents were true parents in this life as well.

Thanks to them, I was able to relieve the burden on my mind.

“Now, I need to fight back.”

It was time to clearly show them what kind of person I am.

* * *

Chairman Kim Min-gyu smiled as he checked the text message that had arrived.

[I’ve spoken to my nephew.]

The text was sent by Ha-sung’s great-uncle.

“As you get older, you learn how to communicate.”

Kim Min-gyu wore a satisfied expression as the story unfolded as he intended.

“Now, I just need to go meet that guy.”

Since a family member had moved, the guy would follow his words.

He would definitely join the national team, and if that happened, the president would definitely see him differently.

‘If I want to become a manager in the future, I need to make sure I don’t get on the wrong side of the president or the board of directors.’

What Kim Min-gyu wanted was to be the manager of a professional team.

No, this was what most baseball people wanted.

The job that could earn the most fame and money after retirement was being a professional baseball manager.

You could earn a higher salary and more fame than most players.

That’s why he readily accepted the position of technical director, which didn’t offer much wealth or fame.

‘If I make this Asian Games a success, the teams won’t be able to ignore me.’

The Asian Games are a national competition where Korea is expected to win.

That’s why various elements were needed to make it a success.

From the current point of view, the most helpful thing for success was Ha-sung’s participation.

If he succeeded in that, his value would increase even more.

“Now, let’s slowly contact……”

It was then.

“Ch…… Chairman!”

“What?! Are you crazy, opening my door without permission?!”

“I…… I’m sorry! But you have to see this!”

The subordinate hurriedly handed over his smartphone.

“Tch! I can’t handle these things!”

“J…… Just look at the article that’s on there.”

“Ugh! I can’t read these small letters…… Huh?”

There was an article on the smartphone.

The title of the article was in large font, making it easy to read.

But Kim Min-gyu doubted his eyes.

“W…… What is this? Is this real?”

“Y…… Yes!”

“Really?!”

“Yes……”

Kim Min-gyu, who had confirmed again, looked back at the screen.

There was an unbelievable title.

[Is Jung Ha-sung becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States?]

It was an article about Ha-sung’s naturalization.

* * *

Naturalization means giving up one’s nationality and acquiring the nationality of another country.

In other words, it meant becoming a citizen of another country.

It was a story that came up from time to time when Korean sports stars were active in other countries.

It was because of the military service issue.

Generally, rumors about naturalization come out in the mid-20s when military service has not been resolved.

That’s why Ha-sung’s naturalization article created a huge issue and questions.

-What’s with the naturalization article?

-Is it possible?

-No, why is there a naturalization article for a 21-year-old?

-I heard the Oakland team is supporting him.

-Has there been a case like this before?

-In the past, the Korean Express [Chan Ho Park] was also offered support from the Dodgers if he naturalized.

-Where did this come from?

-I heard it’s from an American media outlet. Not a big one.

People with quick access to information even specified the media outlet.

Most people breathed a sigh of relief that it wasn’t a major media outlet.

But most netizens were different.

-There’s no smoke without fire?

-It’s definitely possible.

-If it’s Jung Ha-sung, he can make a living even if he naturalizes, right?

-Agreed.

-It’s better to live in the United States than in Korea.

-In Korea, his career is hindered by the military service obligation.

-He can win a gold medal, right?

-Can he do that alone?

-That’s true.

Netizens’ opinions were divided.

One side thought it was natural to naturalize.

There were, of course, opposing opinions.

-Even so, isn’t naturalization wrong?

-Is he abandoning his country?

-He’s a traitor.

-Even if you hate military service, do you abandon your country?

-A guy who abandons his country will abandon his parents too, lol [laughing out loud].

-That’s a terrible personal attack.

-I didn’t like him from the start.

-That’s what a guy with no respect for elders would do.

Some people even criticized Ha-sung with blatant insults.

In this atmosphere, no follow-up articles were coming out.

Korea was shaken by just one article.

Of course, domestic media companies were turned upside down.

“Is there anyone who can get an interview with Jung Ha-sung?!”

“Everyone has been rejected!”

“Rejected?”

“Yes! They even said that if we ask related questions, we should forget about interviewing him in the future.”

“Damn it!”

Most people are afraid of the media.

But Ha-sung was different.

Far from being afraid of the media, he could even threaten them.

The problem was that there was no way for the domestic media to harm Ha-sung.

“His skills are so outstanding that there’s no way to find fault with him.”

The power of the media is that they can manipulate public opinion.

It was convenient because public opinion would get angry or happy on its own just by slightly touching a phrase in the article.

But Ha-sung had become an existence that far surpassed that.

‘If we touch him carelessly, we might get hurt instead. We can only watch for now.’

Realizing that they had to be careful, the media did not delve into Ha-sung’s naturalization news.

Of course, not everyone was like that.

“Is this the place?”

Some reporters were running around on their own feet.

They were looking for the media outlet that released the first report and covering the Oakland Athletics team.

But the answer they got was uncertain.

“It’s hard to get anything out of them.”

Baek Jun-ki frowned as he looked at his notebook.

“The place that released the first report says they have their own coverage, but it’s hard to believe.”

The place that first released this naturalization article was Obs.

It wasn’t a national media outlet, but closer to a local media outlet, and the problem was that it wasn’t located in the Oakland area.

‘Why did the first article come out in a place like this?’

If it was an Oakland area media outlet, I would understand if an article like this came out.

But since the article came out in a completely unexpected place, it was suspicious.

‘Above all, Jung Ha-sung isn’t saying anything properly about this. Should I just see it as a rumor?’

It was possible that it was just a rumor.

‘Even in the article, it was just raising the possibility rather than being certain.’

The article released by Obs was just an article saying that this could happen.

Korea was turned upside down by just one article like that, so you could see how great an influence Jung Ha-sung had.

“It was forbidden to ask directly……”

This included Baek Jun-ki as well.

I was wondering if I could do something with my past relationship, but Jung Ha-sung wasn’t the type of person to allow that.

“Hoo…… This is a headache.”

It was when a headache was coming on.

Buzz-!

“Why is he calling at this hour?”

Baek Jun-ki checked the number and answered the phone.

“Hello.”

[Senior! Chairman Kim Min-gyu went to the United States!!]

“What? When?”

[Two hours ago! He’ll arrive tomorrow!]

Baek Jun-ki hung up the phone and immediately got into a taxi.

“Please take me to the airport.”

The fact that Kim Min-gyu had boarded a plane himself meant only one thing.

‘He’s going to settle things with Jung Ha-sung.’

Since naturalization has been mentioned, the technical director is bound to be cornered.

The authority to form the national team rests entirely with the technical director.

‘What’s important in this Asian Games is the buzz. Winning is a given, so those parts don’t appeal to the public.’

National competitions were good for promoting the league’s success.

From the KBO’s point of view, they had to somehow raise the buzz.

At the center of that was the superstar Jung Ha-sung.

‘Somehow, this will be settled this time.’

I smelled a scoop.