Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 240

Mount Villain – Episode 240

Mount Villain Episode 240

August marked the start of the Yankees’ surge.

[New York Yankees on a 5-Game Winning Streak!]

[Yankees Ascend to the Top of the AL East! Widening the Gap with the Second-Place Red Sox!]

[Yankees Sprinting Towards the Playoffs! Led by Jung Ha-sung!]

[Yankees’ Acquisition of Jung Ha-sung a Grand Success! Is a World Series Championship Possible This Season?]

[Jung Ha-sung Continues to Break Records and Achieve Career Highs Every Year Since His Major League Debut! Can He Finally Get His Hands on a World Series Ring?]

[What Kind of Stats Will Jung Ha-sung Put Up This Season?]

The Yankees and Ha-sung’s journey garnered significant media attention.

The combination of Major League’s most popular team and a phenomenal player like Ha-sung was enough to capture everyone’s interest.

– Jung Ha-sung is seriously amazing.

– Who knew he’d perform like this in his first year declaring as a two-way player?

– Honestly, he’s on another level.

– He really has a knack for defying the expectations of all the experts and pseudo-experts.

– Successfully debuting as a closer, then a starting pitcher, and now a two-way player, lol [laughing out loud].

– I don’t think we’ll ever see a player like him again.

– It’ll be hard to see the first player in Major League history [to achieve what he has].

– It’s an honor to live in the same era as Jung Ha-sung.

Netizens continued to praise Ha-sung, focusing on his outstanding performance.

And throughout August, Ha-sung lived up to these high expectations.

Clang-!!

[He hits it! And this ball is going, going, gone!!]

[Ah-! The long-awaited 40th home run is finally here!!]

[Jung Ha-sung becomes the first player in Major League history to achieve 20 wins and 40 home runs!!]

[I’m left speechless!!]

Achieving 20 wins and 40 home runs was a historic milestone.

Ha-sung, who accomplished this great feat that eluded him against the Red Sox, circled the field and headed for home plate.

Despite being in enemy territory, he was met with thunderous applause from the opposing fans.

* * *

Ha-sung, having set a major record, was incredibly popular wherever he went.

“Jung Ha-sung, you’ve achieved a unique record in Major League history in today’s game. Any comments?”

“What are your plans for the future?”

“Do you think the Yankees can win the World Series this season?”

He was immediately surrounded by reporters in the clubhouse.

“Kyaaaaak!!”

“Mr. Jung! Please sign this!”

“Can you take a picture with my child?”

“Jung Ha-sung is the best!!”

“Long live Korea!!”

Outside the stadium, he was mobbed by enthusiastic fans.

Many of the fans were Korean, eager to support their countryman.

Visiting Yankee Stadium to see him play became a must-do activity for Koreans traveling to New York during their trips to the United States.

Korean travel agencies even launched specialized “Ha-sung Tourism Tours,” capitalizing on his popularity.

It was a clear testament to his widespread appeal.

As his popularity soared, sales of products related to him also skyrocketed.

[Vigor, which has an exclusive endorsement contract with Jung Ha-sung, sees a sharp rise in sales since last year!]

The most representative company benefiting from his fame was Vigor, a sports drink brand.

Following last year’s significant sales increase, they were solidifying their position as the leading company in their sector, with another huge surge in sales this year.

Many companies were eager to partner with Ha-sung, recognizing his star power and marketability.

Naturally, Isabel, his agent, was also getting busier than ever.

“Hoo…….”

She was working late into the night, meticulously managing his overflowing schedule.

“Being the agent of a player who’s completely shaking up the industry is harder than I thought,” she muttered to herself.

Isabel was a seasoned veteran in the agency business.

But none of the players she had managed previously had achieved such widespread fame and transcended the boundaries of sports.

That’s why she felt that the sheer volume of work coming in recently as Ha-sung’s agent was overwhelming.

“If it’s that hard, why don’t you hand him over to me?”

Suddenly, a man appeared behind Isabel, startling her.

“Robert, this is my office, isn’t it? It’s a bit much to come in without permission, don’t you think?”

“Ah, sorry. The boss told me to bring this to you.”

Robert handed her a document.

It didn’t appear to be an important document.

If it were a critical matter, the boss would have called her directly.

“Thanks. Tell them to have another employee do it next time. Our company’s ‘mental agent’ [sarcastic term for someone who does menial tasks] isn’t so free that they can do this kind of work, right?”

“That’s true. By the way, what about the offer I made earlier?”

“What? You mean hand over Jung Ha-sung to you?”

“Yeah. If it’s really hard for you, I can take over instead.”

“I think the drugs have killed your brain cells?” Isabel retorted sharply.

Robert’s face hardened.

As he earned more money, he had increasingly indulged in the excesses of the entertainment industry.

The situation had spiraled out of control, and recently he had even started using illegal drugs.

Of course, this was a serious offense that could result in disciplinary action from the company, or even legal consequences.

However, he wasn’t foolish enough to admit such a damaging secret.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Well, it’s a relief if that’s the case. I don’t want to see a guy who used to work at the same company get addicted to drugs and harm the company’s reputation.”

“You shouldn’t do stupid things like selling your body to win the favor of players.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Robert snapped, his voice rising.

“Was it just a rumor? I’ve been hearing that kind of talk here and there,” Isabel said calmly, but with a steely glint in her eyes.

“I’ve made it to this position with my ability and hard work. If there are any guys spouting that kind of bullshit, tell them to come and say it to my face.”

Isabel’s voice dripped with barely suppressed rage.

Her expression was fierce, as if she were ready to unleash her fury on anyone who dared to cross her.

Sensing her anger, Robert instinctively took a step back.

“Looks like I touched a nerve. I was just repeating a rumor. If you don’t like that kind of rumor, why don’t you be more careful about your actions?”

‘That’s complete bullshit,’ Isabel thought.

A rumor is not something that the person involved can control or prevent.

If that were the case, all the malicious gossip in the world would have vanished long ago.

It’s unrealistic to expect famous players, celebrities, or athletes to avoid being the subject of rumors.

But the world simply doesn’t work that way.

People are naturally drawn to gossip, and it doesn’t matter whether it involves a celebrity or an ordinary person.

“Get out,” Isabel said, her voice cold and dismissive, no longer willing to tolerate Robert’s provocative attitude.

Robert, however, simply smirked and left the office, seemingly unconcerned by her anger.

Left alone, Isabel sighed heavily and slumped onto her desk.

“Haa…… I’m so tired…….”

She was growing weary of not only the excessive workload but also the constant challenges of navigating complex human relationships.

She had always cherished the image of a successful career woman.

Everything seemed perfect, as she had achieved a solid position as a respected agent, which was her original ambition.

But the jealousy and envy directed towards her were intensifying day by day, adding to her stress.

In particular, she felt increasingly constrained and pressured by working within the confines of a large company.

‘Should I go on vacation?’ she wondered.

She hadn’t even been able to take a proper break, let alone a relaxing vacation, in the past year.

Naturally, she felt like she was rapidly approaching burnout, and the resulting fatigue was steadily accumulating.

“Haa…….”

A sigh escaped her lips.

Everything was going well on the surface, but the underlying sense of emptiness she felt was steadily growing.

It was then that her phone rang.

Beep-!

Checking the caller ID, Isabel quickly cleared her throat and composed herself.

“Why is he calling me first?” she wondered.

It was Ha-sung, her most important client.

Unlike other players, Ha-sung rarely initiated calls.

Even when he needed something, he usually communicated via text message, leaving her to make the calls directly.

That’s why she answered the phone with a heightened sense of anticipation and slight nervousness.

“Hello.”

[It’s been a while. How are you doing?]

“Of course~ I’m doing well thanks to you, Ha-sung,” she replied, injecting enthusiasm into her voice.

[Being busy is a good thing. Actually, I heard that it’s Isabel’s birthday this month. So I sent you a gift.]

“Yes?” Isabel exclaimed, her eyes darting to the calendar on her desk.

It was already September, her birthday month.

It wasn’t that she had completely forgotten the date, but she had been so preoccupied with work that she had lost track of when her birthday actually was.

[Why are you so surprised? Don’t tell me you forgot when your birthday was?]

“I’m ashamed to admit that I didn’t know until just now,” she confessed sheepishly.

[Oh my, you should take care of your birthday, no matter how busy you are. Anyway, I called in advance so you wouldn’t be surprised when the gift arrives.]

“Ah, thank you. You must be incredibly busy, but you still care about things like this.”

[I have to take care of things like this even when I’m busy. Isabel, don’t just work too hard, and make sure to spend time with your friends on your birthday. Then I’ll hang up now because it’s training time.]

The phone call ended, but Isabel remained holding the disconnected phone for a long moment, lost in thought.

‘He must be the busiest person I know……,’ she mused.

She knew better than anyone how grueling and demanding Ha-sung’s training schedule was.

And yet, he still found the time to think of her and send her a gift.

Isabel was deeply touched by his thoughtfulness and quickly regained her composure.

“Shall I get back to work?” she said to herself, a renewed sense of energy coursing through her, dispelling the exhaustion she had felt just moments before.

* * *

Fueled by Ha-sung’s exceptional performance, the Yankees continued their impressive winning streak.

[New York Yankees Maintain First Place in the Division in August, Giving a Green Light to Postseason Advancement!]

[New York Yankees Aiming for the World Series Championship This Season!]

[Will Jung Ha-sung Be Able to Get His Hands on His First Career Championship Ring?!]

As September approached, the focus of attention increasingly shifted towards the upcoming World Series.

In particular, public interest in Ha-sung, who was having a record-breaking season, was reaching fever pitch.

[Jung Ha-sung’s Great Challenge is Now Coming to an End.]

[He’s already cemented his name in Major League history with his remarkable first season as a two-way player.]

[He’s likely to win not only the Cy Young Award this season but also the MVP Award, right?]

[That’s right. As a pitcher, he has not only achieved 20 wins but also succeeded in reaching 300 strikeouts for the second year in a row, so there will be no other contender for the Cy Young Award.]

The Cy Young Award is the most prestigious award bestowed upon a pitcher in Major League Baseball.

Most pitchers can only dream of receiving it once in their entire career.

However, Ha-sung has been consistently setting new Major League records by winning the Cy Young Award every year since his debut season.

[As a hitter, he has already surpassed a .300 batting average and hit over 40 home runs, making him arguably the best hitter this season.]

[He has hit 46 home runs so far and is likely to record more than 50 home runs this season.]

[If he replicates the same incredible performance he showed last May, wouldn’t he be able to aim for 60 home runs?]

In May, Ha-sung broke the consecutive game home run record and blasted an astounding 15 home runs in a single month.

Considering his blistering early pace, it wouldn’t have been surprising if he had hit more than 70 home runs this season, but his home run rate slowed down somewhat in the second half.

To be precise, his home run pace decreased, but no one was particularly concerned about it.

This was due to the tremendous achievements he was still accomplishing in other areas of the game.

In any case, considering his overall performance, there was simply no other player who could compare to him this season.

[What’s certain is that Jung Ha-sung will win both the Cy Young Award and the MVP Award this season.]

[He has achieved feats that other players can barely accomplish once in their lifetime for the second year in a row.]

[But there is still one thing that Jung Ha-sung has not yet obtained.]

[That’s the coveted World Series championship ring.]

[That’s right. Baseball fans around the world are eagerly watching to see whether he will be able to lead the New York Yankees to victory in the World Series this season and finally get his hands on that elusive championship ring.]

September.

Ha-sung’s journey towards advancing to the postseason continued with unwavering determination.