A Rookie in the Baseball Team is Too Good

Chapter 10 Not Even the Russian President Was Feared (2)

“Is everyone here?”

A voice echoed from the direction of the Skybox entrance.

Ji-seop turned his head towards the source of the voice.

‘Who is that?’

A crowd had gathered where Ji-seop’s gaze landed.

Among them, a middle-aged woman stood out remarkably.

She appeared to be in her mid-to-late 40s.

Wearing a wide-brimmed hat and oversized sunglasses.

Her extravagant attire was striking, but what left an even stronger impression was her hair, which flowed like a lion’s mane.

It didn’t take long for Ji-seop to identify her.

As soon as she appeared, all the KH Group executives in the Skybox jumped to their feet.

“Welcome, Madam Chairwoman!”

“Welcome, Madam Chairwoman!”

This was the moment when Joo Yeong-eun, Chairwoman of KH Group, first appeared before Ji-seop.

* * *

For someone like Ji-seop, who had spent his entire life playing baseball, what he felt might seem a bit out of place.

However, at that very moment, Ji-seop had a feeling that the ‘power’ of KH Group had already leaned heavily toward Chairwoman Joo Yeong-eun for a long time.

“Chairwoman, you look even better than the last time we met! I finally feel at ease!”

“Chairwoman, thank you so much for the suit you sent me. I’ll cherish it and pass it down to my son, haha!”

There was no telling who started it.

All the KH Group executives rushed toward Chairwoman Joo Yeong-eun, each spouting flattering remarks.

‘Geez…’

It wasn’t like Ji-seop had lived a noble life like a crane.

He had done much worse to survive, throwing 128 km/h four-seam fastballs.

But he thought that at least executives of a large corporation would offer their flattery with a bit more dignity… Apparently, he was mistaken.

‘Judging by how these supposedly powerful people wag their tails like this… It seems there wasn’t a single executive who ever planned to follow Sakhalin Park in the first place.’

Ji-seop had mixed feelings.

He wondered why he even bothered to call Sakhalin Park in the first place when he had no intention of showing up in uniform.

And what had that old man, Sakhalin Park, been doing while the balance of power shifted so drastically?

As Ji-seop clicked his tongue, feeling bitter, the atmosphere in the room suddenly quieted.

“…Hmm?”

It was Chairwoman Joo Yeong-eun.

The head of KH Group, who had been slowly shaking hands with the executives, noticed the elderly man standing awkwardly a few steps behind her.

“Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju?”

Several quick-witted executives swiftly moved aside.

Through the path they created, Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju approached Chairwoman Joo Yeong-eun.

He bowed his head politely.

“It’s been a while, Chairwoman.”

“Yes, have you been well?”

Ji-seop wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination, but a faint smile seemed to flicker on the face of Chairwoman Joo Yeong-eun as she removed her sunglasses and offered her hand.

However,

It was only for a moment.

“…”

After taking in Vice Chairman Park’s attire, her expression turned rather strange.

It seemed a bit scornful, perhaps even disgusted, or maybe she just pitied the old man who stubbornly showed up in uniform.

Chairwoman Joo Yeong-eun stared at ‘Sakhalin Park’s’ face for a while without saying much.

“Go on.”

Her tone was gentle, but to Ji-seop, it sounded incredibly cold.

“You… like baseball, don’t you?”

* * *

‘Sakhalin Park,’ Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju, remained silent.

Ding-

He didn’t say a word as he left the Skybox and took the elevator down to the first floor.

His lips tightly shut like a toad that had swallowed a fly, staring blankly ahead.

It was Secretary Yang who carefully broke the silence.

“Vice Chairman, shall I take you home?”

Secretary Yang’s face was filled with worry.

He seemed to be afraid that Vice Chairman Park might suddenly collapse from the stress.

“You don’t look well at all. How about you take a rest for now and think about what comes next later?”

As Secretary Yang spoke, he shot a meaningful glance at Ji-seop.

[Coach Kim, you have to help.]

His eyes were desperate, to the point where it was almost unnecessary to guess what he was thinking.

[The Vice Chairman values you greatly, Coach Kim. Don’t you think you should say a word for him?]

He was asking Ji-seop to suggest that Vice Chairman Park should go home and rest instead of participating in the game today.

But Ji-seop did not accept Secretary Yang’s request.

“…”

After briefly licking his lips, Ji-seop looked into the eyes of ‘Sakhalin Park’ and finally spoke.

“Vice Chairman, you should warm up, shouldn’t you?”

He continued.

“The weather’s a bit chilly today. You’ll probably only get in as a pinch hitter in the later part of the game… but still, it would be wise to warm up adequately.”

“Wha-what… Coach Kim!”

Secretary Yang literally jumped out of his seat at Ji-seop’s words.

“What are you saying? Warm up? Why? Don’t you understand the situation at all?”

“How could I not understand when I’ve been watching right next to you? Isn’t it clear that the Vice Chairman has just been backstabbed by the other executives?”

“Ba-backstabbed? How could you say such a thing in front of the Vice Chairman…?”

Secretary Yang was flustered, nervously glancing at ‘Sakhalin Park,’ but Ji-seop remained unperturbed.

“Anyway, as far as I can see, there’s no reason for the Vice Chairman to give up on participating in the game, is there?”

“What?”

“I mean, wasn’t the Vice Chairman planning to go at it alone from the start?”

Ji-seop continued.

“He came to the training center alone, signed the contract alone, and even when receiving lessons from me, he was always alone… What does it matter if the other executives betray him? He should just stick to his original plan.”

“Well, that might be true… but this isn’t a simple matter.”

Secretary Yang looked incredibly frustrated.

“Coach Kim, think about it. Even though the baseball world may not be much different… in a company, rumors spread incredibly fast.”

Secretary Yang lowered his voice as much as possible so that Vice Chairman Park wouldn’t hear.

“What happened in the Skybox will soon be known to everyone in the company. If the Vice Chairman participates in the game after all this, how do you think the atmosphere will be?”

Secretary Yang closed his eyes tightly, as if the very thought was dreadful.

“Fine, let’s say other employees feeling uncomfortable is one thing. But while the Vice Chairman is sitting in the dugout, he’ll have to endure all those awkward stares…”

“So, what you’re saying, Secretary Yang…”

At this point, Ji-seop raised his voice deliberately.

“You’re worried that the Vice Chairman might have to eat ‘humble pie,’ right?”

“Coach Kim!”

Secretary Yang was startled, but Ji-seop was already openly looking in the direction of ‘Sakhalin Park.’

“But, you see, Secretary Yang… baseball is a sport where you always eat humble pie.”

“What?”

“You eat humble pie if you miss a strikeout, you eat humble pie if you walk someone, and even if you pitch well, if you’re late covering the base and give up a safe hit, you eat humble pie…”

“Well, that’s oddly…”

Secretary Yang blinked.

“That’s oddly specific testimony.”

“Well, uh…”

Ji-seop cleared his throat.

“Anyway, that’s the kind of sport it is.”

Ji-seop quickly continued.

“But if you’re scared of eating humble pie and avoid it, then you’re really stuck in a rut.”

“…”

“There are times when you have to eat humble pie. If you endure it no matter what others say…”

Bang.

Ji-seop made a gesture as if a firework had exploded.

“There comes a day when you can finally give a solid punch to those who’ve been looking down on you.”

“…Coach Kim.”

Secretary Yang sighed.

“I understand what you’re saying, but from the Vice Chairman’s position…”

Secretary Yang still looked frustrated.

He seemed about to say something more to Ji-seop, but that attempt was interrupted.

“Secretary Yang, that’s enough.”

It was the voice of ‘Sakhalin Park,’ Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju, from behind.

“That Qingdao kid, he’s eaten so much humble pie playing baseball… that concepts like pride and dignity have completely disappeared. No matter how much you try to explain it to him, it’s pointless.”

“V-Vice Chairman?”

Secretary Yang turned his head, his expression brightening a bit.

This was because a wry smile was forming on the once-dour face of Vice Chairman Park, who had looked like a sick toad.

“When you have to eat humble pie, you eat it… Damn it, it’s an obvious thing, but somehow, it sounds convincing when this guy says it.”

“Hey, Qingdao.”

Vice Chairman Park called out to Ji-seop.

“Yes, Vice Chairman.”

“Let me ask you one thing.”

Vice Chairman Park strode over.

“In your miserable baseball career… has it happened a few times?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, did you ever endure eating humble pie and finally hit a big one?”

“Don’t be too surprised.”

Ji-seop chuckled.

“I had at least three or four of those moments every season.”

“Three or four times a season…”

Vice Chairman Park snorted.

“Considering your baseball skills, that’s not a bad rate.”

Nodding, Vice Chairman Park gazed out the window.

Staring at the green field outside the clear window, he spoke again.

“Hey, Qingdao.”

“Yes, Vice Chairman.”

“Let’s go.”

Vice Chairman Park gestured toward the field with his chin.

“We need to warm up.”

* * *

At the KH Group’s intra-company baseball tournament, held at the KH Cannons Field, the game on the field was intense, but the group executives gathered in the Skybox seemed uninterested in the match itself.

Some were watching the game, but even they were discussing entirely different topics.

“How’s Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju doing? Have you heard anything?”

“Sakhalin Park? Who knows, maybe he went straight home? After that public humiliation.”

“Oh dear, I wonder if he got home safely. He looked like he was about to burst with anger…”

The executives each had something to say about ‘Sakhalin Park.’

But just then, one executive, staring at his phone, spoke up.

“Vice Chairman Park didn’t go home. He’s sitting in the KH Duty-Free Team’s dugout right now.”

“What?”

“He didn’t go home?!”

The executives were startled.

“What on earth is he doing there? Playing coach?”

“But KH Duty-Free isn’t even his company!”

“Yeah, they told him the KH Duty-Free Team’s roster is full, so it might be difficult for him to play… But the Vice Chairman said he didn’t need any opportunities and just sat down.”

“Haha, what is that old man thinking?”

While the executives were making puzzled faces and muttering to each other, a low voice spoke from behind them.

“What’s going on?”

The executives turned to see who it was and jumped up in surprise.

“Oh, Chairwoman!”

“Did your meeting go well?”

“Yes, I tried to wrap it up quickly, but it took a bit longer than expected.”

Chairwoman Joo Yeong-eun spoke as she sat in the chair in the center.

“So… what were you all talking about?”

“Pardon?”

“I thought I heard something about Sakhalin…”

“Oh, well, that was just…”

Everyone in the group knew Chairwoman Joo Yeong-eun was uneasy about Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju.

Knowing this, the executives just looked at each other, none daring to speak up—

But at that moment, the enthusiastic voice of the stadium announcer echoed from the field.

-Ah, yes! KH Duty-Free is bringing in a pinch hitter! In this game-deciding moment, stepping up to the plate is… Wow! What a surprise!

The crowd began to buzz.

-KH Duty-Free is fielding an incredible player! Please give a big round of applause. The CEO of KH Global…

The next moment, the executives in the Skybox widened their eyes in shock.

-It’s Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju!