Inheriting the Throne, Father
Munhyeok High had finally become a complete team.
The attention surrounding them was immense.
Especially from the students attending the school. The moment classes ended for a practice game, they'd rush to the stadium and claim their spots in the stands.
Today's opponent was Hwacheon First High, a powerhouse from northern Gangwon Province.
Coach Myeong Sinu gathered the players and delivered a stirring speech.
"Men, the Sejong Tournament is just around the corner! We've got exactly three games left for final adjustments!"
"No game is a waste! Don't slack off just because it's practice—approach every one like it's the real deal! Got it?!"
"Yes, sir!!"
The players' voices boomed through the dugout. The students watching up close from the stands couldn't help but size them up.
"Sunbae Geum Seong-muk and Seok Un-gang are huge!"
"Ryu Ji and Dong-hyeok are so handsome!!"
"Wait, since when do we have a Black guy on the team?"
"That's Ji Suyong…!"
"What??"
Choi Adam, sneaking glances at the stands in anticipation of some praise, overheard his own evaluation instead.
"Whoa, Choi Adam is tiny!"
"Shut up!!"
With nothing but wounds to show for it, leadoff hitter Choi Adam stepped up to the plate. He was currently refining his surprise bunt for even greater precision.
Thwack!
The ball trickled toward third base.
It wasn't the cleanest bunt, but Choi Adam's S+ speed was beyond what the spring tournament losers could handle.
The lineup ignited behind him.
The starting pitcher crumbled against Munhyeok High's order without snagging a single out.
Crack!
Thwack!
Crack!
Munhyeok High's bats unleashed a barrage of home runs.
Not just the cleanup hitters—even Ji Suyong in the sixth spot was smashing them out. Their firepower was staggering.
"Munhyeok High's lineup is insanely strong now!!"
"Yeah, they don't feel like a 'big three carry the team' anymore!"
The bottom of the order was starting to contribute solidly too. The biggest gain? The opposing pitchers had nowhere to rest.
Four pitchers took the mound in succession.
"Haqq (حق/truth), Fajr (فجر/dawn), Iman (ایمان/faith), Itaat (اطاعت/obedience)!"
"…As Allah commands."
Hassan, with his skill activated first, took the hill and shut them down clean for three innings. Park Chan-jun followed, locking down another three.
And in the seventh, Geum Seong-muk took over.
All eyes locked on him the instant he appeared.
He was the brightest star of the national tournament, Munhyeok High's undisputed ace at bat and on the mound.
Popularity like his was inevitable.
"Geum Seong-muk! Geum Seong-muk! Geum Seong-muk…!!"
The Munhyeok High students chanted his name.
Seong-muk tossed pitches effortlessly against the small fry who barely registered below the belt.
"Hup…!!"
Thump!
"Strike…!!"
Even casual tosses hit 156 km/h.
With his fastball base stat at A+, Seong-muk no longer needed to wrench his body—he could just unleash heat at will.
Thump—!
"Strike three!!"
The umpire's arm shot up repeatedly.
Seong-muk timed his "Woo-hyoh!" cry perfectly, spotting a few guys in the stands mimicking him.
"Oh ho, some sharp kids in the crowd, eh?"
Bolstered by the cheers, Seong-muk crushed a homer from the plate too. Today, every power bat—Ryu Ji, Seok Un-gang, Ji Suyong, and more—went deep.
Considering the opponents' strength lay in pitching over hitting, those long balls carried real weight.
Tweet!
"Game set…!"
The ump called it.
13-0.
Munhyeok High's shutout rout.
The mound was ironclad.
The bats exploded.
Whoa, insane. They've improved so much?
Seong-muk was floored by the sheer leap in skill—beyond even his expectations. Stats aside, their game flow was peaking.
Hwacheon First High would've beaten them before the spring tournament.
But now? Munhyeok High was on another level. They could win against teams like this picking their nose.
Alright, let's keep this momentum going…!
The Sejong Tournament loomed.
They sharpened their edges even tighter.
The Korea Baseball Association.
A stunning beauty visited the top-floor president's office.
Knock knock—
"May I come in?"
"Enter."
Whirr!
The door slid open, revealing Do Doyeon.
And far off at his desk, Do Hak-hun.
"Oh ho, Doyeon! Here to see your old dad?"
"That's part of it, yeah. But also…?"
"Hmm, another motive, eh? Let me guess—Seong-muk?"
"Haha…"
"…Nailed it. Sit on the sofa first."
Doyeon nodded and took a seat.
Do Hak-hun brewed two coffees via machine and handed one to his daughter.
"Thanks, Dad. I'll enjoy it."
"Good. You're busy, so what brings you here with a request?"
"Is there any way you could use your influence to help Seong-muk?"
Doyeon asked half-hopefully, half-doubtfully.
She knew her father's integrity made it unlikely, but for Seong-muk's dream of a Sejong title, she'd try everything.
"Me, help Seong-muk? Hmm."
Do Hak-hun polished his glasses, face stiffening.
He told her firmly.
"I get that you like him, and I think highly of the kid too—that's why I happily helped with Dong-hyeok last time."
"But the president's seat has eyes everywhere. If I openly favor his team, it'll hurt me, him, and everyone. You okay with that?"
Firm refusal.
Doyeon bowed her head.
"I spoke foolishly. Forget I said it."
"…………"
Do Hak-hun fell silent.
He sipped his coffee wordlessly, sent a text somewhere, then spoke.
"We've got a headache at the association lately. Want to hear?"
"Huh? Oh, sure—tell me casually."
Doyeon leaned in.
Do Hak-hun adjusted his glasses and began.
"We're lending top-tier training facilities—association-owned, state-of-the-art—to budget-strapped teams and tutoring groups, nearly free. Promotion's slow, but awareness is building."
"Ah, that's a great initiative!"
Association facilities were pro-level, packed with elite gear and full-time trainers to maximize it. Near-free access was massive welfare.
"Lately, sudden cancellations are spiking. Like, say, next week."
"……!?"
Doyeon jolted.
No way he'd stress "next week" randomly. He drove it home.
"Basically wide open—anyone could book it. Trouble is, trainers lose bonuses on empty slots. Someone should fill it…"
Do Hak-hun played it off like idle chatter.
Doyeon smirked at her dad's consideration.
No way a premium facility like that suddenly frees up.
She'd seen him texting moments ago. This was clearly the president pulling strings for his daughter's plea.
"Thanks, Dad."
"Ahem, no idea what you mean, but if you're grateful, I'm happy."
Do Hak-hun cleared his throat, flustered.
Thus, Doyeon secured Munhyeok High's final pre-Sejong training spot.
"Any plans after?"
"Nope, nothing now."
"Then relax a bit before you go. I was about to unwind myself."
He grabbed the remote and flicked on the TV.
A current affairs news segment was playing.
Footage showed a middle-aged man with striking blue hair, handcuffed and handed to prosecutors.
"Hm. Felt off when we met, but damn, he was deep in the wrong shit."
Do Hak-hun clicked his tongue.
He'd apparently crossed paths with Seo Mu-jin professionally.
…What's this feeling.
Doyeon felt an inexplicable unease.
It was unrelated to her, but a bad premonition stirred—like something unpleasant was coming her way.
"Wh-what the hell…!!"
Seo Mu-jin was utterly baffled.
Prosecutors' calls flooded in; news outlets plastered his crimes everywhere.
Just one step away.
One step, and Yujin Holdings was his.
Now? All ashes.
No lofty perch overlooking the Han River—just a prison cell for a decade or more.
"Dad, long time no see."
"……!!"
His daughter Seo Ye-bin, who should be overseas—why here? That alone told him plenty.
That she'd ratted him out to the authorities. Solely her.
"You're the one! Why, damn it—why!!"
"You really don't know?"
"Yes! I bought you whatever you wanted, housed you in mansions, fed you the finest! What the hell did I do wrong?!"
"Sigh. Still the same, huh."
Seo Ye-bin sighed.
Seo Mu-jin ground his teeth.
"You teamed up with my brother Seo Mu-jae, didn't you? Think he won't stab you in the back? So naive…!!"
"Teamed up? Me?"
She smiled brightly.
Chills ran down Seo Mu-jin's spine at her grin.
"More like I collared him. Trained him to bark on command like a loyal mutt."
"Th-that's impossible…!!"
His brother was ripe with dirt—easy to leash.
High chance he'd become her puppet chairman until she was ready to take the throne.
"Grr, you bitch Seo Ye-bin!!"
Still clueless why his daughter betrayed him, he'd learn soon enough.
"Reflect in prison. On the sins you committed against Seong-muk."
Because of Seo Mu-jin, Seong-muk lost two precious years to thin air.
His pressure on the schools nearly killed his baseball career outright. Without Seong-muk's strength, no comeback possible.
Ye-bin could never forgive it.
"………!!"
Seo Mu-jin's eyes flew wide.
He burst into incredulous laughter.
Pfft, all this lost… over that orphan punk?
He hadn't realized his daughter still harbored that grudge. Resigned, he hung his head.
…The monster I created.
Thus, Seo Mu-jin was hauled away by prosecutors.
Only Seo Ye-bin remained in the house.
"Sigh."
She sank deep into the sofa, heart heavy.
She'd seized Yujin Holdings' reins in a lightning coup, but purging blood kin by her own hand left her uneasy.
Don't go soft. Without this coup, I'd be caged forever.
Ye-bin slapped her cheeks sharply.
Face flushed red, she gazed out the window.
I'm coming back now, Seong-muk.
Seo Ye-bin was finally free.
Nothing could bind her anymore.