A Run of Unbeaten Games and the Shadow of Sabotage
The Manchester City fans were buzzing with excitement as the club clinched the league top spot with a flawless fourteen-game unbeaten streak.
Jung Tae-woo, the goalkeeper, had achieved an astonishing record of fourteen consecutive clean sheets, the stuff of pure legend.
He was now gunning for the one hundred and sixty-six-game clean sheet streak held by club legend Leo, the final gate standing between him and immortality.
The Manchester Derby—the ultimate grudge match against United—would decide it all.
If he succeeded, a new chapter in City history would be written in fire and glory.
Honestly? It had to be the luckiest thing in the world.
Over the last fourteen games, Manchester City had played with flawless team chemistry.
The defense had been unbreakable, and the forwards had turned every match into a goal-fest.
Without him, the season would have collapsed long ago, or so the doubters claimed.
But wait a second.
Thinking back, this season’s transformation into a new-look squad hadn’t started the moment he stepped into the starting lineup, had it?
If Ederson had been in goal, at least seven goals would have slipped through in fourteen games.
“Just because of me?”
A smug little smile tugged at his lips.
“What do you mean, just because of me?”
Guerrero shot him a look that screamed, Here we go again.
“Hey, what’s with that face?”
Why am I suddenly getting treated like one of Guerrero’s crazy antics?
This felt weird.
Normally he’d be the one scolding the forward and giving him that serious stare.
But something was off here.
“You… have you grown up?”
“Grown up? How so?”
“Nah, you used to be the guy yelling ‘Hey~ Man~’ like a maniac, right?”
Guerrero stared at him as if Tae-woo had suddenly sprouted a second head.
“Ugh… Tae-woo, let’s just train, okay?”
“Hah, seriously, this is weird.”
People who suddenly changed like this always ended up in trouble, people said.
“Hey, Guerrero, what’s wrong with you?”
“Tae-woo! Stop with the weird talk and let’s just train, yeah?”
The entire team watching the scene shook their heads in unison.
“Tae-woo again, huh.”
“That’s why, seeing Guerrero now just makes me think he’s the normal one.”
“Oh! I’ll take that. Same here.”
***
Absolute Defense
[Tae-woo saved it again! Absolutely insane!]
[Look at Tae-woo’s face. So calm… as if stopping it was the most obvious thing in the world.]
[If he keeps a clean sheet against Leicester, he’ll tie Leo’s record next in the Manchester Derby.]
[Isn’t that romantic? Beating the rival in the Derby and taking the crown like a true king?]
[This Derby is going to be something special. Manchester Derby isn’t just a football match—it’s a raw clash of pride between the two teams that split the city in two.]
[Players’ tactics go completely berserk in the Derby. Tackles get dirtier, bodies clash harder. Everyone loses their cool in the heat of battle.]
[This one is even more than just pride—it’s a six-point title decider. A win for United could snatch the top spot from City… literally deciding the league champion.]
[Haha, we got ahead of ourselves. We were talking like Tae-woo’s clean sheet was already a done deal. We’re only twenty minutes into the first half, you know.]
The biggest advantage of being a goalkeeper, in Tae-woo’s opinion, was the sheer independence it gave him.
Unlike other positions—especially forward.
Even the most talented striker couldn’t do anything if the whole team fell apart or the ball wasn’t connected.
But for a keeper, it was different.
No matter how badly the team’s momentum dipped or the atmosphere soured, as long as he did his job perfectly, he could cover enough.
But what if the team’s form was at its absolute peak?
The ball barely came his way at all.
“Haaah…”
A yawn escaped him. The game had turned into a half-court routine.
The score was already 2-0.
Our team is too good, isn’t it?
It reminded him of peak Barcelona.
“I wish it could stay like this forever… but the next match is going to be brutal.”
This game had been relatively easy against the underdogs, Leicester City, but the next one was the Manchester Derby against United.
A battle of pride between first and second place.
Obviously it would be intense, and the number of shots on target would be massive.
But there was something even scarier lurking.
Manchester United was still climbing the table with only one loss, and they weren’t fully formed yet.
The United Tae-woo knew was the one after Yoo Hee-sung joined.
That United went on to win the league title and the treble with an unbeaten run—the kind of record that belonged only in novels.
And that novel had become his reality.
Even if it is, a full league sweep is insane.
Even a perfect attacker made from Kim Chan-ki’s and Tae-woo’s skills combined would struggle to match it.
That was why this record mattered more than anything.
The last chance to achieve sixteen consecutive clean sheets.
If the United Tae-woo knew was the real one facing him—with Yoo Hee-sung included—there was no way he could keep it clean, no matter what he did.
So somehow he had to break that record… or at least hold a clean sheet until the next game to claim the legendary streak.
If he didn’t get the power now, the sixteen-game mark would stay impossible forever.
This season, I have to do it.
Thud!
Absolute Defense
[Hey, he saved it again! Why can’t Tae-woo ever get cracked? Leicester City kept pressing, but he stopped the ball with a blank expression!]
[Hey, when is that goal net ever going to shake?]
Even if I seem distracted, I’m still focused. But no matter how well we’re playing, I still have work to do.
“No way, the game’s already over? I said stay focused till the end!”
We’re almost done… should I go all out?
Absolute Defense
[Oh! What’s this? Tae-woo is dribbling out of his box!]
[Tae-woo dribbling the ball out—rare sight these days.]
At first, his teammates panicked every time he came out, but now they trusted his ability.
The game got smoother because of it.
[Tae-woo weaved past two players and kept running!]
[He broke straight through the midfield! His dribbling is so smooth and fluid!]
Time to pass… let me see.
Up front were Guerrero and the captain, and Sanchez was surging on the left.
Normally I’d give it to Guerrero…
He still remembered the look he’d given the problem child on the training ground.
But now, even though he’d been acting a bit strange lately, receiving that stare from no one but Guerrero felt deeply humiliating.
Eh? People can smile and laugh while checking out their girlfriend’s photos, right? They can’t turn that into stalking!
[Tae-woo… oh! Unexpectedly, he delivered a perfect through pass to Sanchez! A golden pass starting from the keeper’s toes!]
“Nice one, Tae-woo!”
[Sanchez took the ball and struck… GOAL!!! First assist of the season for Tae-woo!]
[Haha, maybe the goalkeeper with the most goals and assists of the season will be you after all?]
[Hahahaha, no way…]
That wasn’t bad… maybe I should ask the coach for a free kick?
***
“Da-rep, I’m sorry, but there’s a huge problem!”
Eun Ga-young stared at the employee who had burst in without knocking.
“What’s wrong? No knocking?”
“All the players scheduled for next week’s contract have contacted us saying they’re delaying their deals! Kim Min-soo, Park Jun-ho—everyone!”
Eun Ga-young’s face hardened instantly.
“Why suddenly? Was there some reason?”
“Someone has been spreading bad rumors about our agency… it looks deliberate.”
“Did you find out who’s behind it?”
“Not yet… still under investigation.”
“That’s strange… there’s no reason for our agency’s reputation to suddenly tank…”
Eun Ga-young rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.
APEX Agency was second to none in Korea, even next to the most famous agent.
But suddenly bad rumors circulating…
At that thought, her brow furrowed.
No way… Oppa?
“Look into SC Electronics’ moves, please.”
“SC Electronics…? Yes?”
The employee looked startled by the sudden order, but after seeing her serious expression, he nodded immediately.
“Yes, understood.”
Even if Father said there wouldn’t be any interference…
If her suspicion was right and Oppa was behind this, she would never forgive him.
Previously, the harassment at home only hurt her, but now her company—and the staff—was at risk.
“This time, if it is Oppa, I won’t forgive him.”
She picked up the phone and dialed.
—Ga-young, it’s been a while, what’s up?
“I need a favor, Uncle.”