Provoking the Baseball Hooligan

Honestly, that team won't win until the Earth ends. ……………

'Just be grateful for it.'

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠decided not to think too deeply about it anymore. Lee Jin-ah was a good junior. That was enough.

"If there's anything you need, just let me know anytime!"

Lee Jin-ah flashed another bright smile before heading back to her desk. I watched her for a moment, then sat down at my own desk and turned on the computer. The monitor lit up with the login screen. As I reached to enter the password—

"Senior Han Kang, could you possibly review these documents for me?"

A female employee from the other side ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of the office approached with a stack of papers. She looked to be in her mid-20s, with short bobbed hair. Her name was... '...what was it again?'

I couldn't remember. I knew she was probably a first-year or so, but that was it. I didn't interact much with the other employees anyway, and I didn't pay much attention to the administrative staff. Especially the women—aside from Lee Jin-ah, I hardly ever talked to them.

Anyway, the woman gave me a strange, knowing smile.

"Mm."

It was impossible to refuse when she locked eyes with me and asked so sweetly. I reluctantly reached for the documents—

"Ah, I'll take them for you!"

Suddenly, Lee Jin-ah appeared out of nowhere and cut in swiftly. She positioned herself between me and the nameless woman, snatching the papers almost aggressively.

"Senior Han Kang isn't feeling well today. I'll review them instead!"

"Ah, uh, um. Got it..."

Lee Jin-ah had her back to me, so I couldn't see her face. But the woman who'd lost the papers looked a bit intimidated.

'Well, honestly, it's not my job anyway.'

After 18 years on the job, reviewing reports? It was a hassle, and there was no need to ask a combat agent like me. I could do it, but it wasn't my role. There were plenty of people far better at admin work. As long as I didn't screw it up, it'd be fine.

'No idea why that girl specifically asked me to review them, though...'

Anyway, Lee Jin-ah stepping in like that was a blessing. I glanced sideways at her, and our eyes met. I gave a nod by way of greeting, and her face lit up like a flower in bloom.

'Mm...'

Now, what to do next. The Special Security Management Bureau wasn't some cushy organization sucking honey. Like any agency, there was plenty of work and too few people. But I was a veteran combat agent with 18 years under my belt. I only handled my own paperwork, and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I rarely pulled duty shifts.

'Let the young bucks with less seniority handle the grunt work.'

Not the healthiest culture, but as the beneficiary, I was truly grateful. In exchange, I took more daytime dispatches. Other duties? Training, gear checks, standby.

But today, with the hangover, I wasn't at peak condition. If I could just catch a nap here in the morning, that'd be ideal.

Then—

Beep—!! Beep—!! Beep—!!

The alarm blared suddenly, a piercing sound echoing through the entire office. Everyone's eyes turned to the large monitor on the wall.

Red text flashed on the screen.

"Ah, damn, first thing in the morning..."

"It's just D-rank. Can't the police handle it?"

"Or maybe a nearby hero."

One of the younger agents posed the question, and another replied.

"Who knows, maybe they'll come?"

'No, they won't.'

I thought to myself. A D-rank villain was too weak for famous heroes to bother with. Unless they happened to be passing by, they wouldn't dispatch for something that far out. D-rank was just a notch above a regular knife-wielding maniac.

But that didn't mean we could ignore it. Armed with just revolvers, the police might take casualties. Someone had to handle it. And in this world's Korea, that someone was the Special Security Management Bureau.

I stood up.

"I'll go alone."

……………

I ran. At full speed.

Asphalt blurred beneath my feet. Traffic lights, buildings, people—all smeared into ghostly afterimages. My strides were huge—one step covered nearly two meters. No shortness of breath. My heart beat steadily. Lungs drew in and expelled air in perfect rhythm.

'What an absurd body.'

Based on Han Kang's memories, his sprint speed clocked around 30 km/h. Close to an Olympic sprinter's top velocity. And I was maintaining it for nearly 10 minutes.

'So this is a body enhanced by the augmentation serum.'

I'd known it intellectually, but feeling it firsthand made it real. Straight-line distance from the office to Jamsil Baseball Stadium was about 5 km. At this pace, I'd be there soon.

But—

'Kuh.'

A sharp pain stabbed the inside of my right knee. A brief, piercing grind. Eighteen years of wear and tear couldn't be fully mended by the augmentation serum, it seemed. I'd taken the painkiller Lee Jin-ah gave me this morning, but intense movement brought it back.

'Bearable.'

A single D-rank villain was no problem. I ignored the pain. I'd grown used to it over the past few years anyway.

Jamsil Baseball Stadium soon came into view.

'There.'

The massive circular arena. Usually hosted baseball games, but now—

Lee Jin-ah's voice came through the small earpiece in my ear.

"Tell me."

'255 bpm.'

A normal adult male's max was around 180. 255 could burst a heart. 45°C was brain-boiling territory.

'Not scientific gear... just an awakener.'

And—

"Does 15 straight ninth-inning comebacks even make sense?! Quit it, you bastards!"

A thick, hoarse voice bellowed. I looked ahead.

In the Jamsil Baseball Stadium parking lot, a team bus was wrecked. Windshield shattered, side dented inward. Crushing a bus like that required something of equal mass slamming into it. No human strength could do that.

A man stood in front of the bus. Mid-50s, looked like your average neighborhood ajusshi in build and face. Wearing a baseball uniform. Number 10 on the back—a replica from a specific team. His face was sunburnt red, eyes bloodshot.

And his right arm—

'...Is that an arm?'

It wasn't a normal human arm. From shoulder to wrist, it was as thick as a bodybuilder's thigh. Veins bulging, muscle fibers starkly defined. Gripped in that monstrous right arm... a baseball bat.

"Mm."

Classic awakener—villain. Physical enhancement ability. Pretty dangerous for a D-rank.

The man, whom I'd dub the Baseball Hooligan, swung the metal bat.

Bang—!!

The bus side crumpled further, metal screeching in protest.

"You bastards—!! Are you even pros—!!"

His voice bordered on a scream.

"Quit it—!! You fucking shits—!!"

He seemed completely unhinged with rage.

"...Sigh."

I scanned the surroundings. Fortunately, no civilians in sight. Everyone had evacuated. Police who looked like they'd come from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the local station were watching from afar. Wise—they couldn't handle him with their weapons.

Then, having finished demolishing the bus, the Baseball Hooligan scanned around bat in hand. His gaze shifted toward the police.

'Can't let that happen.'

No more standing by.

……………

I whispered into the earpiece.

"Lee Jin-ah."

"Provoke him, obviously."

Lee Jin-ah's voice carried bewilderment. Fair enough. Han Kang wasn't much of a talker. Provocation wasn't his style.

"Yeah, hold on."

I eyed the Baseball Hooligan's uniform again. Number 10, team emblem on the chest.

'That's...'

One of Korea's 10 pro baseball teams. Never finished first in the regular season, no championship in over 30 years. Lingering in the lower ranks this year too. Including yesterday's game, they'd suffered ninth-inning comebacks in 15 straight contests.

'Perfect.'

Plenty of ammo. Now, how to cook it up.

'Mm...'

Drawing from my original world's pro baseball knowledge as a fan, I brainstormed lines. Quit being human?

'Nah, not provocative.'

Revolting evil... 'Lame.'

What the hell is this shit?! 'Too weak.'

Needed something sharper. Right in his sore spot.

First, raise my voice to grab attention.

"Hey—!! Why support a team that sucks? Just switch!"

The Baseball Hooligan froze. His head swiveled toward me.

"Switch to a good team from the next district over! No more stress!"

"...What'd you just say?"

His face twisted.

'Hook, line, and sinker.'

Might as well go all in and make him lose it completely.

"What bullshit—!!"

He swung the bat wildly and stomped toward me.

"That team honestly won't win until the Earth ends! Even with the best manager perfectly directing, they still lose like this!"

"You... youuuu..."

"Wouldn't win even with two Sadaharu Yoshiyukis! Forget championship—not even playoffs!"

The Baseball Hooligan's face flushed crimson, turning purple.

"You little shit—!!"

Lee Jin-ah's voice crackled in the earpiece.

'The original Han Kang couldn't pull this off.'

But I was Han Kang, yet not. So I could.

"It's not too late! Switch to the neighboring team now!"

"I'll kill you—!!"

He raised the bat overhead.