Chapter 426 – Episode 418. At an Away Stadium. (1)

‘Oh, I’m tired…’ .’

A special hit with Ki Ki-joo and So-young’s nagging. In particular, it was really sad that I couldn’t have sex. I should have relieved my fatigue with sex the day before the expedition…

“Meng Hao, let’s focus.”

“Yes…”

I had no strength. Part of it is because I can’t have sex, and part of it is that I think I’m going to skip it anyway. It was a difficult situation to concentrate.

“Did you know that Wright, along with Kim Si-hyun, is a pitcher in NV who throws like a human being?”

“Yes.”

“Still, it won’t be that difficult to attack. “You just have to watch out for the fastball.”

Obvious words come out of Lee Ki-cheol’s mouth. Information about today’s opponent, NV Rex’s starting pitcher Wright. He has an average fastball velocity of 153 and is dangerous because he throws modified fastballs such as cutters and two-seamers, but it is widely known that it will not be difficult to attack since his only breaking ball is a changeup.

“Left-handed hitters be careful of the cutter, and right-handed hitters be careful of the two-seam. Skip the changeup timing, and if you’re not sure, look at the sign. If I think it’s time for a changeup from the bench, I’ll keep signing. Okay?”

“I understand!”

The players’ voices are bright. It was inevitable that Wright was a type of pitcher. Based on his powerful fastball, he is the type of pitcher who throws 7 scoreless innings and 8 scoreless innings on days when he is scratched, but on days when his fastball speed is not good, he collapses significantly, giving up 6 runs in the 2nd inning and 5 runs in the 3rd inning. 〈 Br〉

In addition, he showed his best condition by pitching 9 complete innings in the previous game. What he meant was that, if Wright’s pitching pattern was the case, there was a high probability that it would collapse significantly today. And there was no player here who did not know that fact.

Of course I can’t help but be excited.

‘I also need to build up my stats on a day like today…’

I was jealous of other seniors.

“And today!”

‘Surprise, damn it!’

I was angry at Lee Ki-cheol for suddenly raising his voice, but after listening to his next words, I was able to understand why he raised his voice.

“Because the president said he would give 3 million won as encouragement to the player who received the award today.”

Boss, the news that Soyoung had staked her gold medal was quite important. Perhaps, he felt sorry for sending me on an expedition without having sex with him, so he gave me encouragement money?

‘Then what do you do? I can’t even ride.’

It was difficult to become a distinguished player even with five walks, so hearing the encouragement money completely dampened the good feeling.

“And? 300? “Are you a little strong today?”

300. Considering the salary that players receive, it may be a small amount of money, but it was still a huge deal to receive 300 after playing a day. Even Ki-gi Joo, the highest paid player in the club, was keeping an eye on him. Usually, about 1 million won was given as encouragement money, but today it seemed like Soyoung put in some effort.

“Hey, hit hard today. “Brother, earn some pocket money.”

“Why is a man who receives a lot of salary so greedy?”

“Yumma! You should get married! To be honest, only married people should receive money. “If you are single, you will be left out on your own.”

“Woo–!”

“Wait a minute, today’s starter is Yoon. Ah, Yoongi shouldn’t throw well…”

After Lee Ki-cheol’s words, the team’s mood, which had been dark due to the trip from Seoul to Changwon, immediately brightened. … Except me.

“And, just in case, you shouldn’t brag about receiving money. You know? Strict confidentiality. “If I don’t get this right, I’m screwed.”

“Hey, are you doing business for a day or two? “It’s cash anyway, so what’s the risk?”

Should I just report it? Every time you gave an incentive or a daily bonus, you had to be careful not to let the words you emphasize slip through. This kind of incentive money was one of the things prohibited by the association.

‘Was the penalty a fine for deprivation of the draft?’

Of course, it was a rule in name only that other clubs were aware of, but rules are rules anyway. A bad feeling creeps in at the thought of not being able to receive money.

‘Hey, it’s not even a little bit, it’s just 300.’

… I tried to think about it, but I couldn’t help feeling annoyed. Another man took my woman’s things. This was a disgrace.

‘Please, I hope we compete today… That’s how I did the interview, so why not do it?’

*

“Hoya, your balls are strong?”

“The effort is strong. Just throwing like usual.”

“Are you dissatisfied with me?”

“What about complaints?”

A quick-witted guy. Perhaps because Seongtae was always my catch ball partner, I quickly realized that his hands were strong.

“Relax and do it. “If I get injured like this, will you be responsible?”

“Hey, is there any player in the world who gets injured while playing catch?”

“That’s what it says. Ha, as long as the little mouth survives.”

“Are you strangely excited? Is it because you came near your hometown?”

“300 is in front of me… “Isn’t it obvious, child?”

Fuck. It should have been my money originally…

“You too, work hard today.”

“What do I do if I work hard? “It’s a walk anyway.”

“But you never know if you do well this time, kid. “The boss is here too.”

“Boss?”

What? President? Soyoung? Why is Soyoung here? As I moved my gaze towards the audience following Seongtae Yoon’s chin gesture, I saw a familiar face in the VIP lounge. Although she was wearing a suit and sunglasses, I could tell that she was Soyoung at a glance.

“Oh, but did you know, operations team leader, that the president is a third-generation chaebol? When I first got discharged, I thought there was a woman who was the head of the operations team, but when I looked at it, I was the only one who didn’t know.”

‘What? Suddenly without saying a word to me?’

Soyoung sometimes came to watch Jamsil games, but she didn’t come often. She says she has a jinx and loses if she has intuition. That’s why she doesn’t often follow Soyoung on expeditions.

‘Wow, I guess I was sorry about yesterday.’

It’s 100%. When I saw him yesterday, he was nagging me and his eyes were shaking, but I wasn’t mistaken. But she followed her husband to work. I really can’t stop you.

“Ma, are you listening to me?”

At that time, Soyoung seemed to have noticed me too and gave a small wave of her hand. Then she pointed her finger at her own cell phone. Does this mean check her phone?

“Shiba, who am I talking to now?”

After playing catch, there is time to stop by the locker room. I’ll have to check it then.

“Mind! Are you ignoring me?”

And Soyoung points behind me with her finger. Back? Look behind you? When she turned her head, a baseball was flying towards my face. Fuck!

Phut! You can hear the sound of leather popping from the glove and feel a heavy sensation.

“Evil! Brother! What if I suddenly throw the ball? “You almost got hit.”

“Are you not concentrating?”

“Were you concentrating?”

… Of course, to Soyoung.

“Anyway, I heard he’s belittling women. Wake up from your dream, Ma.”

“What is a dream? Anyway, things are slowly coming back, right? “I think her shoulders have relaxed as well.”

“Okay.”

“Ah, bro. I’m going to go to the locker room for a moment. “The gloves don’t feel good today.”

“Am I your friend?”

“Hey, I’m just coming back from a short visit. “If anyone asks, tell them you went to the locker room.”

“I get it. Come quickly.”

“Yes!”

After finishing playing catch with Seongtae Yoon, she quickly ran to the locker room and turned on her cell phone. There was a message from Soyoung on my phone.

-Soyoung: Cleaning time, come to the locker room.

A short tap. Surely, sex? Hmm… That didn’t happen. Soyoung is strict when it comes to baseball, so sex during the game. Considering Soyoung’s usual personality, it was unimaginable. So what is it? But are you going to give me 3 million won? … That didn’t seem to be the case either. I usually give it to the manager or coach.

What on earth? I was so curious that I couldn’t bear it.

‘Fuck it, let’s wait until cleaning time.’

Why did Soyoung call me? I guess that’s not really true… ?

“Play ball!”

While I was thinking that, time passed in the blink of an eye, and before I knew it, the game had started.

“Ball.”

And the first pitch ball.

‘Fuck, I did an interview like that, but they’re leaving me out like this? Mr. Rossby!’

‘What’s going on again?’

‘I’ll make you throw it in the zone, so I’m waiting.’

I can’t just walk to meet Soyoung. I could have done it without Mr. Rossby, but the operation I was about to do from now on was quite risky, so I needed Mr. Rossby’s help.

“You’re not going to compete, are you?”

“…”

“Okay, we’ll see. Throw it into the zone or not.”

Next ball.

‘It’s a fastball that misses. Tsk, call me when the score difference widens.’

‘Please wait.’

‘… ‘What is it?’

And the following windup. I swing the bat half-heartedly at the guy’s windup timing.

“… Strike.”

And when I saw the pitcher, I laughed once.

‘You still won’t throw it like this?’

Mercenaries basically tend to look down on the KBA league. There’s no way you wouldn’t get burned after seeing such a half-hearted swing.

‘… ‘Is it the ball again?’

‘Fuck.’

It seemed like it was still not enough. Okay, let’s do it till the end. Once again, I swing the bat half-heartedly in response to his windup.

“…”

The referee was probably taken aback by my swing,

“I swung, but no strikes?”

“… Strike!”

Two strikes, one ball with this. This is still not enough. I raised my hand and nodded at him.

A universal gesture to come here. The pitcher’s face turned red as if he understood my gesture. Perhaps because he was white, it didn’t take long for his face to turn red.

“Are you still not going to throw it like this? “If you ask for it again, won’t that bastard beat you to death?”

“Don’t say it’s you. “I am more senior than you.”

“Crack it. Fuck you, senior.”

‘… Be careful.’

Oh, beanballs. Is this unexpected? But as long as I wasn’t preparing to hit, it was too easy to avoid his ball. Because I also avoided Gerrit Cole’s fastballs.

“… Cheek. The balls are too deep.”

“My control was shaken because of the provocation. “Well, don’t provoke me either.”

“Wow, I thought you were a threat because you came in deep? Wasn’t it?”

“This bastard until the end… Under…”

Where should I throw it? Have some self-respect. He’s a pitcher. It’s two strikes.

He looks at the pitcher and continues to talk to him with his eyes. And the next ball.

‘It’s a cutter.’

Today, for the first time, he chose a ball other than a fastball.