Season 3: Chapter 268. Attack On Walnut (1)
"So how do you plan to propose it?"
The head of the marketing department leaned back, already displeased. The fact that they'd already been turned down once put him in a bad mood.
"They said no. They don't even want to put a simple logo. So are you just asking for free money?"
Koo Jin-Mo hesitated momentarily. When the boss was angry, nothing he said would go over well.
"Well, speak up! You just got turned down by your former subordinate and now what? You're going to come up with a new proposal policy? Don't you know what kind of image the executive wants?"
Bang!
The boss slammed the desk and began yelling.
"What did you do when that kid was at our company? Why did you end up in such a state? This is all because of your poor social skills. Social skills! Understand?"
Koo Jin-Mo decided to endure it for another round. It wasn't time to counterattack yet. He thought of the raid games he used to play. If the player attacked during a boss's rampage, even the top-ranked player could disappear like dust. Compared to that, this boss was nothing.
"Whoo."
The boss panted heavily after throwing a fit.
'Now's the time.'
Koo Jin-Mo sensed it was the moment to make his move.
"Well... I do have an idea."
The boss eyed him suspiciously.
"What is it?"
"We leak it to the media that Ah-Sung will sponsor them. We can suggest that Ah-Sung made the proposal."
"Go on."
"Ah-Sung's image will improve. We can contact journalists to write favorable articles."
The boss raised an eyebrow.
"And then?"
"It will create the image the executive wants. Ah-Sung supporting the future of two young men who left our company."
First, they would leak rumors. Then, follow-up articles based on those rumors would appear.
"It's not a lie since we actually made a proposal. And if they turn it down, it might not even cost us anything."
The boss's eyebrows twitched as he pondered, likely searching for any flaws.
"Every time you shut up, your brain works. Koo Jin-Mo, try to think ahead next time."
'If you gave me a chance to speak ahead of time...' Koo Jin-Mo thought this but didn't say it.
"Haha, yes."
However, the boss's words turned out to be correct. It would have been better to do it earlier. Koo Jin-Mo returned to his desk and saw shocking news.
[Ah-Sung to Establish Civil Empire Pro Team?]
[There are rumors that Ah-Sung, which once stepped back from esports, is attempting to establish another pro team.
The game in question is the recently popular Civil Empire, which has garnered national attention...]
"What the..."
Koo Jin-Mo felt dumbfounded by the article. They had only thought about adding a logo, but this was a completely different story.
"Was this Kim Ju-Hyeok's doing? How could it be so detailed?"
His colleague, Assistant Manager Seo, was right. Kim Ju-Hyeok had moved ahead of them.
"Sigh..."
Koo Jin-Mo slapped his forehead and sighed.
'He didn't refuse us.'
He'd been tricked. Kim Ju-Hyeok wasn't refusing Ah-Sung's support. He wanted to secure it properly. By leaking the pro-team rumor, he prevented Ah-Sung from merely getting credit for a sponsorship.
Koo Jin-Mo looked blankly at the ceiling and muttered, "Did I lose again?"
Did they now have to propose establishing a pro team or just ignore it?
"What should we do?"
"I don't know. Let's think about it."
Despite saying he'd think about it, he entered his usual stock community. He didn't want to think about this issue for the moment. Surprisingly, the community was also buzzing about the news.
[Breaking: Ah-Sung to establish Civil Empire pro team???]
— The stock price will skyrocket, right???
— Huh???
— But there's no pro league, how?
└ Are you kidding? If Ah-Sung joins, they'll create a pro league.
└ Seriously???
— Lol, this is huge.
— Let's go to Mars!
***
"That’s baseless," Ju-Hyeok answered clearly.
He was responding to a reporter's question.
"Isn't it true that Ah-Sung proposed an investment?"
"Yes, but the rumors about Ah-Sung creating a pro team are completely unfounded. We can proceed with becoming a pro team with our current sponsors."
Although Ah-Sung did make a proposal, Ju-Hyeok had glossed over it. He adjusted his suit button and smoothly pushed past the reporter.
"And please, let the players practice. Don't cause a fuss all the way here in Japan."
The reporter grabbed Ju-Hyeok's sleeve.
"Just one more statement! This is a management interview, not a player interview!"
Ju-Hyeok was now officially recognized as the national team manager. He smiled slyly as if expecting to be held back.
"Ha, what do you want to hear?"
"A message about the pro team announcement. What’s the status of that?"
The message sent to the players had also reached the reporter’s ears. That was to be expected with 200 players. Maybe it was even intended.
"It's just as I said. We can manage on our own with our current sponsors. We are planning a pro team."
"But there's no pro league—"
"You've already exceeded one question."
"Please, just finish this. Is the environment ready to create a league?"
Ju-Hyeok stroked his chin, stalling for time.
"Well... with the help of a major corporation, anything's possible. Now, really, that's it."
He then dashed away.
"Oh, come on!?"
***
Less than a day later, another article appeared.
[Not a Pro Team, but a League? The Two Ah-Sung Men Behind Big Changes]
The article was only speculative, but the headline drew countless comments.
— Really?
— Wow, lol.
— Of course, there's no league.
— So the manager is also from Ah-Sung? Almond’s manager?
└ Yes, quite famous.
└ They left Ah-Sung to do this? What a move, lol.
└ LOL, what a move.
└ And the manager is an elite.
└ Rumor has it he's rich. Did he start the business with that money?
— Can Ah-Sung create a league?
└ How would we know? Never tried.
└ LOL.
└ Esports is relatively easy.
└ But isn't Civil Empire difficult? A team is 200.
└ No, that's just for national competition. The pro league uses a different system with only 40 players and the rest as AI.
└ Oh? Really??
Of course, this news also reached Embul. The passionate Civil Empire community was in tears.
[They’re recruiting for Civil Empire pros? It’s finally happening!]
[Embul members, finally a pro league! Wow!]
[Breaking! Ah-Sung to create a pro league!]
***
"What?"
The boss's eyebrows twitched in the marketing department.
"We're creating a league? What is this? Are we the Olympics? The IOC?"
"Maybe... um... should we just drop it?"
"Drop it!? Now!? Pretend it never happened?"
"Maybe... we should at least propose something."
Koo Jin-Mo sensed danger. He'd never seen this pattern and had only ever heard about this dangerous omen from his predecessors.
"What proposal? Create a league? This is insane... Do I have to suggest that to the executives?"
The boss's face turned from red to almost black.
"Hahaha! Executive! Let's create a league and celebrate! Those two are doing well after leaving Ah-Sung! Let's spend even more! Like this!"
"No way. They'll live even better than the executive."
"YAAAAAH!!!"
***
With the match against China two days away, a middle-aged man with graying hair sat under the shabby sunlight in a makeshift container office on school grounds. He unfolded an outdated piece of paper.
Swish.
He brushed over the rough texture of recycled paper.
[Korea Daily]
The coach regularly read this newspaper. On the front page was a familiar face.
The headline read: [Ah-Sung Becomes Main Sponsor for Civil Empire National Competition, Pro League Plans in Progress].
The article detailed Ah-Sung's support extending beyond a simple sponsorship to creating a pro team and a pro league.
The lead-in read: [Two former Ah-Sung employees left to pursue their dreams and have joined hands again with Ah-Sung...].
Despite the grand wording, it essentially meant that Ah-Sung was a company that supported the dreams of those who left.
"Sigh..."
The coach understood how challenging Sang-Hyeon's work life had been. He found the article absurd, yet seeing them reunited and helping each other at the top left him with nothing more to say. He focused on the familiar face he missed.
"... If you were a national archery athlete, you would've won an Olympic gold medal by now and also appeared in the papers. Really, getting distracted like this."
Sang-Hyeon would have proudly made headlines years ago if it weren’t for the accident. A decade later, he still smiled brightly on the front page. Beside him was the top candidate to be Ah-Sung's successor with his arm around Sang-Hyeon’s shoulder. Next to them, Sang-Hyeon’s manager friend from Ah-Sung also stood awkwardly with his arm around them.
The coach's eyes returned to Sang-Hyeon, still smiling. Of course, it was a photo. He carefully cut out the photo and framed it. He pretended to dust it off and placed it in a visible spot.
"Well done."
The coach's eyes reddened. He felt a slight relief. The large lump of painful memories in his chest seemed to diminish a bit.
"Oh dear. Coach, looking at that photo again?"
"...?"
Someone entered the coach's room.
"Why don't you knock?"
"The door was open."
"The national team manager sure has time to spare. Why are you here?"
"You don't answer calls or texts. I had to come."
Despite his friendly tone, the man in a suit looked businesslike. He was the archery national team coach for the upcoming Olympics.
"How long will you stay here? Come exert some influence on the national team."
"No."
"Wow. No reason now."
"Why bother? You won't listen anyway."
The man walked in and glanced around the office.
"Hyeon-Ju is competing in this Olympics. Is Sang-Hyeon your only child? Isn't Hyeon-Ju too?"
"Hyeon-Ju?"
Hyeon-Ju had declared her retirement after a slump following her last Olympic gold medal. He thought she hadn't made it to the national team this time.
"She's going as a coach."
"... Wow. That'll be something. You as the coach, her as the coach."
"One person isn't enough, coach."
"Will you shoot the arrows for them?"
"Coach!"
The coach turned away, looking out the window.
"Hyeon-Ju will be a good coach."
He didn't want to be involved anymore. The Olympic stage wasn't for ordinary people. It required superhuman effort to achieve results. He no longer wanted to push someone to that level. Humans didn't need to live that way. Sports didn't have to be enjoyed that way.
"Work well with Hyeon-Ju. I'll occasionally check in. Don't come back."