Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Even Scouts Covet Golden Sun
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Bottom of the 6th, two outs, runners on first and third.
On the mound: Geum Seong-muk.
At the plate: Novik.
Seong-muk's straight fastballs sailed way outside the strike zone two pitches in a row. All intentional, but he launched straight into method-acting frustration.
"Oh man~ Why can't I find the zone?"
Grimacing, he shook out his wrist like mad. His face screamed fastball control issues to anyone watching.
[Oh, Geum Seong-muk tries back-to-back fastballs, but they miss big time.] [What’s the play here?] [When one pitch won't cooperate, switch types to grab the count. A circle changeup fits perfectly now—slipping that in would be a smart move.] A Kirin High player shared that exact thought. The runner on first, Chen Zifeng, was front and center.
'This breadhead's gotta go off-speed this time to get back in the count, right?'
He figured the hitter Novik would swing aggressively too. With his blazing speed—the best on Kirin High—there was no way he'd get thrown out timing up an off-speed pitch.
So the moment Seong-muk lifted his leg for the third pitch, Zifeng broke for second.
[And Chen Zifeng bolts for second...!!] But he had no idea.
This was all a trap.
Thwack!!
"............!!"
The battery called a fastball tailing hard away. It was so far off that it never came close to Novik, and Seok Un-gang yanked it clean from his squat, firing to second.
"Hng...!!"
The so-called "sit-and-fire"—a throw only a catcher with insane shoulder strength, core power, lower-body flexibility, and quick feet could pull off.
The ball streaked like a clothesline straight into shortstop Choi Adam's glove. Zifeng slid in, practically tagging himself out.
The ump didn't hesitate.
"OUT......!!"
Zifeng protested wildly at the ump in disbelief. But it was crystal clear—no changing that call.
"Run all you want, you're still in Buddha's palm."
Seok Un-gang's utterly enlightened one-liner.
Just like Sun Wukong could never escape Buddha's hand, Zifeng danced right into Un-gang and Seong-muk's trap. This was the moment the Thousand-Armed Guanyin Throw revealed itself—a laser that pinned even speedy runners at first.
With the stereotypical unlikeable Chinese guy Zifeng getting tossed to end the inning, the chat exploded again.
💬 Comments — Anon Chink roach SQUASHED!!! — BaseballFan123 Damn, Seok Un-gang is the full-package catcher. Fires a laser from the squat—insane. — KBOElite Not for nothing did he top the prospect rankings without pro games lol. — Patriot Aaah, pure-blood Korean supremacy. Finally some relief from the frustration. — FactChecker Info: Seok Un-gang's from Hong Kong. Historically, Hong Kong breeds 'real ones'. Comparing him to mainlanders is an insult lol. The inning flipped. Seong-muk high-fived his teammates on the way back to the dugout. In one spectator block, a group watched him intently: scouts from Korean pro teams.
"Geum Seong-muk... How's a kid that age more polished than most pros? Wild. Think he'll last to the second round?"
"Dream on. Golden generation or not, with talent overflowing in round one, you think twenty teams pass on a lefty fireballer who crushes homers?"
"Fair point. Kinda greedy."
Even without Sejongki League proof, Seong-muk had made a massive impact so far.
As the scouts huddled and refocused on the game, one drew extra eyes.
"That's Yoon Ji-na, right? The smoking-hot rookie scout who joined the Cups?"
Born to a Korean dad and American mom, she had flowing blonde hair and jewel-blue eyes—a total knockout.
"Damn, she's gorgeous. Cups guys must love coming to work."
"Wanna shoot your shot?"
"As if. Not with you."
The scouts buzzed about her when a middle-aged man sat beside her.
"What, Ji-na? You beat me here?"
"Ah, Manager Yoon!"
"C'mon, just call me Uncle."
Yoon Ju-hoon, senior scout for the Changwon Firebirds. Distant relatives, they stayed tight despite rival teams.
"Whoa, Yoon Ju-hoon himself...!?"
"Here for Geum Seong-muk?!"
The other scouts gawked at the big shot.
Ju-hoon had a world-class eye for talent. The value of players he'd unearthed? Easily trillions of won.
"Huge crowd today. Expectations are sky-high, huh?"
"It's judgment day. Real deal or fake? Munhyeok High flash-in-the-pan or legit?"
"Yeah, this game decides it."
Beating a powerhouse once is luck. Twice? Skill. This outcome would make or break Munhyeok High's rep.
Win today, and the whole roster's spotlight doubles for sure.
"So, Ji-na, what's your take? He's from Bujeon High—your turf, right?"
Bujeon High fell under Busan Cups' umbrella, so their view on Geum Seong-muk differed from outsiders. But Ji-na looked hesitant.
"Ugh, well... Other scouts said zero interest. Rumors were all 'bad work ethic' anyway."
"What? Pfft hahaha...!!"
Ju-hoon burst out laughing, clutching his gut.
"No wonder Busan can't shake the gull curse after a century. A gem like that right under their noses? Hilarious."
"...Changwon's been slumping too."
"True, but better than next door. We made fall ball three years back."
"Ugh..."
"Pfft! Fine, whatever. If they stole him, steal him back. How about bringing that kid home to Busan?"
"At this rate, round one's realistic. Depends how high his form peaks, though. This year's pool is historic—even spotlighting just Seong-muk feels narrow."
"Eh, no rush. Cups are dead last again, so draft-wise, you've got the flower-viewing cards. Heh."
"Uncle...!!"
Zzap!
"Okay, okay. Won't do it—stop with the death glare."
"...Hmph. No way you came just for Geum Seong-muk. What's the angle?"
"Hey, Ji-na. Business and personal are separate, right? If I spilled my hand like that, I wouldn't be senior scout."
"I'll tell Aunt. Like that time you snuck off fishing with buddies..."
"Argh! Fine, fine! I'll spill!"
Ju-hoon threw up hands and feet in surrender. Forehead in hand, he confessed.
"Surprise: I'm hot on Munhyeok High's hitters right now."
"Not Kirin High?"
"Kirin's lineup ends with Novik. But Munhyeok's cleanup? Insane. All three have monster bat potential. That Ryu Ji kid especially—total unknown, off today, but he can't fool my eyes. His pitch recognition is elite."
"Explains why he's ahead of homer-hitter Ji Su-yong."
"Su-yong's loaded with talent too, but sophomore. Too green to bump Ryu Ji from cleanup."
"Obvious pick, but what about Seok Un-gang? Catcher potential's unquestionable."
"Oh, you don't know? He's skipping next draft."
"Huh...? Why??"
Stunned Ji-na.
A hitter with trillion-won club potential dodging the draft? Unthinkable.
"Hong Kong's heating up. Big anti-China push coming soon. Un-gang's HK love is legendary. Patriotism? He'll go no question."
"Ah..."
She'd guessed religion, but nope—politics. Nodding, Ji-na pivoted.
"Okay, pitchers then? Don't tell me Munhyeok too."
"...Sigh, emptying my pockets here. One-time service. See that right fielder, Ri Dong-hyeok?"
"Ah, yeah. The closer from last game?"
"Kid's a finished product on the mound. Underhanders nailing their style young? Rare. He's there already. Guaranteed star—I'm sure."
"Whoa, first time I've seen you hype kids this hard. You ignore anything less than elite."
"Exactly why I'm all over Munhyeok lately. No clue who's collecting them, but packed with rough diamonds."
The talents Seong-muk had assembled? Even top scouts were drooling.
Ji-na perked up, nudging her uncle's shoulder.
"'Packed' means others are eyeing them too, right?"
"Nope. Lips sealed. What am I, digging for buried treasure? Service over—deal?"
"Tch, stingy."
"Oof......!!"
Then came Geum Seong-muk's roar.
Bottom of the 7th—he fanned Novik for his final strikeout of the day. Ji-na came face-to-face with Seong-muk descending the mound.
"......!!"
Her face flushed beet red.
Twisting shyly, she blurted,
"U-uncle, just curious, but..."
"Hm? What?"
"Do all guys... look like that?"
"Pffft...!!"
Ju-hoon spat his coffee.
He'd heard Ji-na was a workaholic virgin, but this naive? Unbelievable.
"No, no! Hell no. That's a freak mutation...!! Average guy's half that at best!"
Frantic to correct—lest her future hubby disappoint and tank her marriage. Her dad would kill him.
"Oh...?"
Ji-na's face was... intriguing.
Pure curiosity? Or interest in someone specific? Only she knew.
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