Season 3: Chapter 107: Unemployed Fleet (3)
[Korea vs. France]
[Think Tank Base]
The lighting was dim as usual, but the atmosphere felt completely different from the previous video.
"Wow!"
The think tank members hugged each other and jumped around.
"Hoorooroorooroo!" SharpSphere made primitive sounds while running around the house.
Chi-Seung also threw uppercuts into the air.
"Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!"
— Consecutive punches from Chi-Seung lol.
— Chi-Seung looks happy here.
— Why is SharpSphere like that? lol
— They look like madmen.
— They look more normal when they lose…
From the viewers' perspective, beating France didn’t seem like a big deal since Korea had already beaten them once.
However, the think tank members felt differently. Their goal of advancing to the finals was now within reach. Beating Spain meant they would directly advance, so they felt overwhelmed with emotions.
"Chi-Seung! We're really going to the finals, right?! We can say it now, right?! We can finally say— ugh!"
"Hey! Don't jinx it!"
Chi-Seung calmed down the overly excited Water Dumpling by hitting the back of her head. Then, he tried to calm everyone else down.
"Alright! Everyone, calm down!"
— He was the most excited lol.
— Chi-Seung enjoyed it all and now he's calm?
— Water Dumpling is so cute lol.
"We haven't made it to the finals yet. Spain is much stronger than France."
The think tank members still breathed heavily, but nodded in agreement.
"Spain will almost certainly beat France. If we can't beat Spain, directly advancing will be difficult."
Currently, Korea had three wins and Spain only had one. This made it seem like Korea was far ahead, but this gap would narrow significantly on the day they faced each other. If Spain beat France, Korea would need to beat Italy to ensure their advancement without a rematch.
"So, let's not pop the champagne yet."
"Okay~"
They could celebrate once their advancement to the finals was confirmed.
They tempered their excitement with small claps and gathered around the conference table to discuss feedback. Their routine consisted of immediately reviewing problems in the match right after it ended.
Chi-Seung placed his notebook on the table.
"But…" he glanced around cautiously and asked, "It's my first time flying. What should I do?"
"What…?"
For a moment, everyone didn't understand what he was saying.
"We have to go to Japan. We'll be flying."
— Why is he getting ahead of himself? lol
— He changed his name from Chi-Seung to Chi-ahead~
— He just told everyone to calm down lol.
— Lol.
The members around the table shook their heads.
"Chi-Seung, is it really your first time flying? That’s not just a joke, right?" Water Dumpling asked for confirmation.
"Yeah… what advantage is there in pretending I've never flown?"
— Lol that's true.
— He's really never been abroad?
— Questioning every little thing lol.
— Well, it's tough financially.
— It’s been a while since I met someone who’s never flown;;
Although more Koreans traveled abroad as the country became wealthier, it wasn't universal. A student working multiple part-time jobs to cover living and tuition expenses couldn't afford to travel abroad.
"Alright. I'll give you my window seat."
"Is the window seat nice?"
Water Dumpling chuckled as if asking why he would even ask such an obvious question.
"Of course~ The airplane is cramped, so it’s nice to open the window and let in some fresh air. And enjoy the view."
"Oh… that sounds good."
Most members at the table had to turn their heads to hide their laughter.
— LMAO.
— Why don’t you say clouds also come in too?
— Chi-Seung must be a liberal arts major…
They all struggled to contain their laughter. Even the person who made the joke, Water Dumpling, couldn’t help it. The camera zoomed in on her expression as she scrutinized Chi-Seung’s reaction.
Bzzzz.
The scene changed. Water Dumpling sat in a chair and was being interviewed by a writer.
"Did you know that Chi-Seung was flying for the first time?"
"… Yes, I think he mentioned it."
"How do you feel about it?"
"He's just a close brother! Why are you asking…?"
"Huh? No, how do you feel about him flying for the first time?"
"..."
"Water Dumpling, perhaps, are you…"
"No, no!!!"
Although she yelled, spring music began to play in the video.
— Background music lol.
— Oh, no way lol.
— Wait…
— No, you can’t do that, Water Dumpling.
— Chi-Seung, is spring coming for you!?
— Kimchi dumplings forming??
"No! Stop discussing the background music in front of me!"
Bzzz.
The screen changed again to a bustling morning rush hour. The shaking subway had an indifferent rhythm as it carried people staring at their phones.
Amid the crowd, the camera focused on one person. A man who looked like he would sigh at any moment. His hastily shaved stubble and long hair didn't match his suit at all. He even wore his ID badge around his neck as if he wouldn’t have time to put it on later.
[Kang Uh-Jin.]
His photo ID showed a clean-cut young man in his late twenties with short hair and fair skin, completely different from his current appearance.
— Isn’t that Pang?
— Going to work lol.
— Doesn’t match but kind of does at the same time, wow.
— That’s a pretty big company.
Even with the mosaic, some recognized that he worked for a decent company.
Pang got off the subway along with the crowd at a particular station.
The writer approached him with a mic.
"Can you say a few words?"
— What kind of words? lol
— ??
— LOL.
— What’s he supposed to say? How he felt on the subway?
Pang responded without hesitation, "It’s shitty."
Beeeeeeep.
— Lol.
— Such a genuine response lol.
— So funny how he said it like he was waiting for this.
They arrived in front of Pang's office.
"This is it. We’re here. Got it all? I’m going in."
"No, just one more thing!"
Before entering the office, Pang shared one final thought.
"I heard you’re going to work with special determination today."
"I always have determination. The problem is following through."
Thud.
Pang tapped his right chest.
"Is that a resignation letter inside?"
"Of course. I carry it around, always ready to hand it in like a referee’s red card. Oh. Boss, your words are harsh? Red ca~rd! Like this."
— lol.
— Red ca~rd lol.
— If it’s a resignation letter, isn’t he the one leaving?
"A red card makes the other person leave, but a resignation letter…"
"Writer. Red ca~rd!"
Sad music played.
"You’re out. Out. Shoo, shoo. Go away."
The sad music continued.
— LOL.
— The background music matches Pang perfectly.
— Red card (himself) lol.
— Funny how upbeat he is.
"Bye, I’ll see you later."
Pang entered the large building and approached the ID badge scanner.
The writer followed persistently with more questions.
"Pang, isn’t it better to have a job?"
"It’s better to have money. Jobs are better not to have. What are you saying?"
— Wise words lol.
— ??? But you love your job, right?
— Wisdom??
— Lol, true.
"Are you going to hand in your resignation today?"
"Are you crazy!"
Pang felt startled and looked around at the expressionless employees entering the building. Apparently, he wasn’t planning to resign.
"I’m applying for vacation, not resigning!"
"???"
— He’s exploding lol.
— So he was determined to take vacation??? LOL.
— Why so serious about taking vacation?
"Why would I resign? I still need to get married. I have so much to do! If my mother sees this, she’ll have a heart attack…"
Sad music played and his voice gradually faded into silence. As the music played, Pang passionately waved and continued his speech.
— LOL.
— So funny seeing an office worker passionately rapping about his determination…
— Thanks for the insight, Pang…
Bzzzz.
The scene changed and Almond appeared descending steep stairs.
— Oh, it’s Almond lol!
— The nut is here!
— The main character.
The writer asked, "Almond, you’ve been very sharp with your trash talk lately. Any secrets?"
"Trash talk?"
"Yes, making fun of and provoking your opponents."
"… When did I do that?"
"???"
— LOL.
— ?
— The perpetrator doesn’t remember…
— He doesn’t even realize what he did lol.
— "I didn’t insult you. I described you." — Sherlock Holmes
— So brazen lol
The scene changed again. Almond reached the bottom of the stairs and headed somewhere.
"Are you heading to the base?"
"Yes. We’re going to have some chicken to celebrate the victory."
"Are you buying?"
"Of course."
"Isn’t it a burden to buy so much?"
"That’s why I’m going when Chi-Seung is at his part-time job."
"…?"
The writer looked puzzled and sad music played.
— Was that planned? lol.
— Killer move lol.
— How far do you plan things out, Nut…?
— Is this the chikicha thing?
"Just kidding. Just kidding~"
"Oh, it was a joke."
At that moment, Almond met Chi-Seung in front of the team base.
"Oh. Chi-Seung. Going to your part-time job?"
"... Bro."
Chi-Seung stood there with his head bowed while holding his phone.
"?"
"Bro, I got fired from my part-time job."
"!"
— lol.
— Wasn’t expecting that, lol.
— Oh no lol.
Chi-Seung wore a serious expression.
Almond asked again, "Then, are you going to another part-time job?"
Sad music played.
— LOL.
— Trying to send him away by any means.
— Just go.
— Just tell him to go lol.
"No, bro… I got fired for real. I’m not doing any other part-time job right now."
Almond tilted his head and said, "… I’ve never been fired from a part-time job. That’s fascinating."
"If you suddenly confessed to a female co-worker, you’d get fired too…"
Chi-Seung looked up at Almond and then shook his head.
"… Actually, you wouldn’t get fired."
— LOL.
— Not fair…
— He realized it immediately after looking at Almond’s face lol.
— Almond wouldn’t get fired because he’s handsome~
"You got fired for confessing?"
"Yes…"
"It’s okay. Someone once said…"
Thud.
Almond placed his hand on Chi-Seung's shoulder to comfort him.
"Liking someone can be a burden for that person too…"
"Bro, are you trying to comfort me?"
Chi-Seung looked at Almond, who was holding back laughter.
Sad music played.
— How many times are we going to hear this music today? lol
— Lol.
— Almond lol.
— The Almond-style comfort, haha.
"Bro, why are you laughing?"
"No… I’m not laughing."
"You’re struggling to hold back laughter. What do you mean you’re not laughing?"
How could Almond not laugh? Chi-Seung had confessed and gotten fired. Even worse, the confession wasn’t even genuine.
— Almond is laughing like this for the first time lol.
— He’s lost it lol.
— Is this his thing? lol.
— Chi-Seung is Almond's laugh trigger.
Then—
"Here you areeeeee!"
A voice like a pirate captain shouted. It was a drunken voice.
A man reeking of alcohol approached and performed a diamond step. He grabbed Chi-Seung's shoulder.
"Pang… it's only six o’clock and you’re already this drunk?"
"Hey! Kim Chi-Seung!"
"…?"
"Man, why are you worried about getting fired from a part-time job! Don’t worry! I’ve also resigned!"
A resignation? Even Almond tilted his head at that.
— ??
— He said he wasn’t resigning lol.
— What day is this??
— “Red card”
— Really??
"You resigned? Why?"
"For taking consecutive Fridays off?! Are you well off?! Ugh… If I were rich, would I even be there…"
The finals took place on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for two weeks. An office worker would need to take two consecutive Fridays off. Apparently, Pang’s workplace denied his request.
"Even so, resigning forever…!?"
"Anyway!!!"
Thud!
Pang grabbed both Chi-Seung and Almond’s shoulders.
"We’re in the same boat now. Understand?"
"..."
"We’re the Unemployed Fleet now!"
— Unemployed Fleet lol
— LOL.
— WTF hahaha.
"Welcome to the Unemployed Fleet! We have nothing to lose now!!!"
Pang seemed to be making some sort of resolution, but the two didn’t agree.
"I still have another part-time job."
"I’m a streamer."
Thud!
[Fake National Team]
[Fake Athlete]
The video ended there.
— Nice.
— LOL.
— One-man fleet lol.
— Did Pang really resign? lol.
— So funny drawing the line between them.
— What really happened there??
Afterward, the match between Spain and Korea began.
"Hello, wandering mercenaries! Today, we have the decisive match for Korea’s finals qualification!!! It’s against Spain!"
"That’s right. If we want to advance, we must win today. On the other hand, Spain’s hopes are nearly gone if they lose today."
"Exactly! Korea and Spain! There’s been some tension in the interviews, but winning is ultimately what matters!"
"Yes! Let’s see if Spain can end their bad streak against Korea or will Korea advance to the finals! Let’s watch~ together!"