Opening Salvo Against North Korea!
Shwoosh!
The media was flooded with articles about North Korea.
Seo Ye-bin's gift had worked perfectly.
In this international tournament, right after Kim Jung-cheol's game, an article claiming he indulged in a scandalous private life topped the portal sites.
Bang!
"That crazy bastard Kim Jung-cheol...!"
Kim Jung-un, who had been smugly watching the North Korean team's game, exploded in rage. Their momentum had been strong this time, but that Baekdu Bloodline punk had dumped cold water on it all.
Still fuming, he called his second son.
"Ah, Father...!"
"What the hell are you doing, you fool! I told you not to give those South Korean bastards any openings...!"
"I'm sorry...! I was thorough with security, but it must've leaked from inside."
Kim Jung-cheol was a notorious womanizer in North Korea, having bedded countless women there, but he'd never tried other races.
He hadn't expected curiosity to lead to him getting caught so quickly.
"Jung-cheol, you didn't go messing with men too, did you?"
"M-men? That's ridiculous!"
"Hmph, and now these articles are popping up."
"That's absurd...!"
Controversial articles about Kim Jung-cheol had spread like wildfire, spawning fake news riding the wave.
But the sensational headlines had already gone global, turning him into a closet gay icon without his knowledge.
"Father, I'm innocent...!"
"Hmph, true... You've gone through a whole regiment of joy squads behind my back, so dipping into men now would be weird."
Kim Jung-un seemed convinced by his son's aggrieved tone.
But his anger wasn't fully assuaged.
He issued a final warning to his second son.
"Anyway, lay low like a dead rat for the rest of this tournament! Until you reclaim the Baekdu Bloodline from that bastard Ri Dong-hyeok...!"
Tu-tu-tu.
Call ended.
Kim Jung-cheol ground his teeth.
"Grr, you South Korean bastards. Pulling this dirty scheme...!!"
The reports started from some minor British outlet, but he didn't buy it outright.
Growing anxious, Kim Jung-cheol gnawed on his fingers.
Having embarrassed his father with this scandal, he had no path to forgiveness without handling it perfectly.
"Wait, Ri Dong-hyeok. I'll twist your neck myself...!!"
Fueled by resolve, Kim Jung-cheol slammed the table.
South Korea vs. North Korea.
The civil war the world was watching was nearly upon them.
"Oh ho, something juicy just dropped."
I scrolled through the internet articles with an amused grin.
Right before the game, pinpoint aggro pieces needling North Korea's nerves. I immediately pictured someone's face.
This is totally original Seo Ye-bin...?
She never uses Yujin Press directly for ops like this—instead, she leverages small foreign papers. Same pattern here.
Oh ho, worth comforting her after all?
Shaking North Korea at this juncture was a major achievement. They were no pushovers.
In reality, a sports backwater crippled by economy, but here—with half of baseball's birthplace Korea—they packed real punch.
No wonder they kept medaling internationally despite purging baseball dynasties.
This tournament proved it.
They'd cold-gamed Taiwan—consistent top-10 globally—into oblivion.
Our team's analysts had stressed not underestimating them.
"Never underestimate the North Korean national team. Among opponents here, alongside USA and Japan, they have the best pitching-hitting balance."
Flip!
The PPT slid to North Korea's key threats.
"Top watch: Kim Jung-cheol of the Shrinking Earth Technique. Elite contact, plate vision, and he knows how to rattle pitchers."
Kim Jung-un's second son, track-star speedster. Get him on base, and pitchers are in hell.
"Next: Starter Mu Geon-hyeok, catcher Ri Gang-san, first baseman Ryeo Gwang-hyeon."
Photos up, players murmured.
"Whoa, those guys are high schoolers like us?"
"They look wrecked. All North Koreans like that?"
"Not really—they're just extra weathered...."
"Ah...!"
Team nodded at Ri Dong-hyeok's clarification.
But I knew the truth.
...Those cheating bastards really faked their ages.
North Korea doped adult players with growth hormone suppressants for this high school tourney.
A year's edge for high schoolers? Adults mixed in was near cheating.
Caught, they'd DQ. Easy report to organizers, right?
Why waste it? Gotta smash 'em myself to suck up those stats.
Visible gains per game. Miss this honey pot? No way.
Plus Dong-hyeok needs Baekdu Bloodline boost.
Ri Dong-hyeok beat Kim Jung-cheol head-on once; needed upgrade for future pro clashes with Kim Jung-hong.
"Starter Mu Geon-hyeok first: Dae-po-dong Two-Seamer fame, monstrous velocity."
I knew Mu Geon-hyeok well.
Top-tier; tough first matchup for us.
"Catcher Ri Gang-san: stolen base killer extraordinaire. Power too."
"First baseman Ryeo Gwang-hyeon: team slugger backbone. Tread carefully."
Briefing wrapped with more breakdowns and strategies. Players dispersed to hotel; Ri Dong-hyeok and I stayed for Coach Shin Cheol-hyeong.
"Coach, a favor."
"...What?"
Suspicious squint at our sudden approach. I cleared my throat.
"I know a mere player shouldn't meddle in lineups, but..."
"For the North game, assign me as Kim Jung-cheol's dedicated pitcher."
Ri Dong-hyeok bowed 90 degrees.
Coach looked dumbfounded.
"Dong-hyeok, you want starter spot?"
"No—just mound when Kim steps up."
"Ha..."
Facepalm.
Irritated, he lectured Ri Dong-hyeok.
"Dong-hyeok, baseball a game?"
"...!"
"Separate personal from team. You're under the Taeguk mark here—not for private grudges."
"..."
No dice, huh.
Ri Dong-hyeok hung his head in shame.
Flip, flip!
Paper rustling. Coach pulled a thick stack from his jacket.
Licked thumb, flipped to spot.
"Let's see, Munhyeok High batter Ri Dong-hyeok. Killer vs. sidearm, eh."
"...Yes, balls popped clear against sidearm."
"I see."
Slap!
Stack away. Coach clapped Ri Dong-hyeok's shoulder.
"Hit some BP too—you're starting right field."
"...!!"
We both froze.
Expected rejection; this was gold.
"You know Kim best—ex-brother. Except first inning with Cho-won starting, he's all yours."
"...Thank you. I'll crush him thoroughly."
Ri Dong-hyeok bowed repeatedly, eyes blazing revenge.
Coach accepted awkwardly, coughed, looked away.
"...Don't misunderstand. Not favoritism—optimal lineup to win."
"Got it, noted."
Ri Dong-hyeok grinned and nodded.
Didn't peg Coach Shin as tsundere.
"Wait—Geum Seong-muk, you."
"Yes?"
"Baserunning coach says you've leveled up speed."
"Ah, yes. Correct."
Fresh from brutal drills, hit coveted A speed stat.
Even tracked that. No wonder youth ranks legend.
Stroked chin, pondering.
"...Cho-won needs DH spot, right occupied; Dong-hyeok RF, Seok-ho hot at first."
Long deliberation.
Grinned at me.
"Seong-muk, wanna try center?"
"...!"
Sudden position shift.
No hesitation—I nodded.
"Yes—entrust it, I'll nail it."
"...Alright, let's see."
Coach's lineup tweak for max firepower.
No reason to refuse.
Center defense boosts my value sky-high.
Perfect prep.
Me: player growth.
Dong-hyeok: personal payback.
All set.
Now—just sever North scum necks with trusty teammates.