The Only Active Player
It was a pyrrhic victory, but McKinley didn't care. Winning was what mattered, wasn't it? Besides, getting rejected by players was just a normal day in the life of a scout. If he let every little rejection get to him, he wouldn't be able to do his job.
"Player Kim Tae-hyun, it's a pleasure to meet you. I haven't seen you since you turned down my offer last time, so it's wonderful to run into you like this. It's a shame you rejected my proposal, but I'm quite alright. Ah, would you like to sit next to me?"
"No. I'll sit somewhere else," Tae-hyun said flatly.
If he sat next to McKinley, he'd be so uncomfortable he wouldn't even be able to swallow his food!
But the seats were already assigned, and Tae-hyun's spot was right between McKinley and Ames.
"..."
"My, Player Kim Tae-hyun. This must be fate."
"Are you sure it's fate? He looks incredibly uncomfortable."
Tae-hyun ignored them both and turned to the staff member. "I have some companions with me. Is it alright if they watch from the back?"
"Of course, of course! Hehe."
The Guild Alliance staff member rubbed his hands together, his voice dripping with sycophancy. He had received strict orders before coming here.
— "You know we can't afford to ruin this tournament, right? Stick to Kim Tae-hyun and make sure he doesn't cause a scene!"
— "H-How am I supposed to stop Kim Tae-hyun? If he draws his sword, I'll be sliced to pieces in five seconds!"
— "Five seconds? Try one second. I'm not telling you to fight him, I'm telling you to butter him up!"
With those orders fresh in his mind, there was no way the staff member would refuse Tae-hyun's request.
"And who might your companions be? Players from Team KL?"
"A player from Team KL, and a player from Yuseong Gaming..."
"Lee Se-yeon?!"
"Yes. Lee Se-yeon."
Rustle!
McKinley and Ames bolted upright from their seats. The other judges also subtly stood up.
Tae-hyun was one thing, but Lee Se-yeon was a talent they absolutely couldn't afford to miss. Moreover, realistically speaking, Lee Se-yeon seemed much more likely to be recruited than Tae-hyun.
After all, Tae-hyun was the owner and representative of his own team.
At the start of the season, many people believed Team KL wouldn't last long.
However, those expectations completely shifted after Team KL took the league by storm.
As the team that was supposed to fail kept writing legends and running smoothly, other teams half-gave up on recruiting Tae-hyun. At this point, there was simply no angle to recruit him.
But if it was Lee Se-yeon...!
If Chairman Yoo had heard their thoughts, he would have clutched the back of his neck in fury.
The judges who had rushed over to Lee Se-yeon to hand her their business cards and pitch, "Our team is just as good as Yuseong Gaming," returned to their seats in a friendly manner.
"Honestly, why are Yuseong Gaming's terms so generous?"
"For someone of Lee Se-yeon's caliber, it's only natural."
"I don't mean it like that. Usually, Korean teams lack the financial backing compared to China or the US."
While Korean teams traditionally achieved excellent results, they were gradually being pushed back as time went on. In the end, it came down to a difference in money! If there was an outstanding Korean player, foreign teams would simply buy them out. Even if they didn't, it was a fact that players who received better facilities and training had an advantage.
Usually, the reason top-tier players remained in Korea had less to do with money and more to do with honor, patriotism, or the comfort of playing in their home country.
Yet, Yuseong Gaming didn't lag behind in financial power either.
"The Yuseong Group is a massive conglomerate, but still."
"Of course they're a conglomerate. But that's not the point. It's a matter of how professionally they approach the scene and secure investments."
No matter how large the parent company was, if the chairman had no interest in esports, no funding would be allocated. In that regard, Korean teams were at an overwhelming disadvantage. Overseas, the entire system operated differently.
"There's a rumor that their chairman is personally interested."
"That's absurd... It would make more sense if the chairman's grandchildren were obsessed with Pan-On."
"Actually, that's not far from the truth. Remember Los Angeles Fire? Their general manager got torn to shreds by the public for trying to recruit a player just because his grandson liked them."
Running an esports team was a cold, hard business, but humans could not always be perfectly rational. Every now and then, a crazy individual would appear, leading to crazy investments.
"Now, everyone. If you are ready, we shall begin!"
"Let's begin."
The judges nodded. Since the host had finished the introductions, it was time for the judges to step forward and give brief self-introductions.
The people gathered here all worked for prestigious organizations. Even without introductions, anyone who knew anything would recognize them, but such formalities were still important.
Above all, it's great publicity.
I can't let myself be outshone by that New York Lions bastard next to me.
Image-making! Esports teams had to pay extreme attention to their public image. How well they presented themselves here would directly influence the interest of the participating players. Even for those not participating, it would leave a lasting impression on the countless viewers watching.
"I'll go first."
"Be my guest."
Ames stepped forward first. The former head coach of the Boston Tigers! Though he was currently working on the front lines of the Boston Tigers, his affection for the team was genuine.
"What kind of team is the Boston Tigers! Since ancient times..."
The players gathered in the square, who had initially listened with intrigued expressions, gradually began to yawn as time passed.
It was boring!
The Boston Tigers were indeed a famous, prestigious team. But listing every single facility and curriculum in detail was bound to be tedious.
"...And that is why the Boston Tigers is a place that treats its players with the utmost sincerity through such a curriculum! Do you understand, everyone?"
"Yes! Thank you for those wonderful words! Now, moving on to the next..."
"Wait, I wasn't finished—"
Before Ames could even finish his sentence, the host swiftly moved on to the next turn.
McKinley clicked his tongue at the sight. Ames was a decent fellow, but he was far too rigid. He was bound to be unpopular in a setting like this!
"I am McKinley, the Scouting Director for the New York Lions. Hello, everyone."
McKinley spoke.
A massive roar of applause and cheers erupted from the players gathered in the square. The New York Lions were a legendary, prestigious team! To have their scouting director stand before them was bound to raise expectations.
"I truly hope to recruit some of the outstanding players present here today to our team. Ah, of course, that is assuming you wish to join us!"
Laughter broke out. McKinley didn't bother explaining all the benefits one by one. Everyone already knew them anyway!
"Player Smith also wanted to be here, but he couldn't make it due to a quest."
"..."
"..."
The members of the Guild Alliance wore complicated expressions.
That quest wouldn't happen to be the one attacking the Auston Kingdom right now, would it...?
"I'll leave the boring introductions at that. Everyone, please look favorably upon the New York Lions!"
Afterward, the other judges gave brief introductions, but none received as much of a reaction as McKinley.
Tsk. That bastard McKinley.
Just because the New York Lions have deep pockets, huh?
And since they're based in the US...
Fundamentally, the wealthiest teams were in the US or China, but given equal salaries, the US was generally more popular. After all, most players preferred living in the United States over China.
What if the New York Lions sweep up all the talent at this rate?
That obnoxious bastard, coming to another country and...!
Despite being simple self-introductions, sparks flew among the judges. It was an unyielding battle for the sake of their respective teams!
Everyone's glaring so intensely.
Amidst the tension, Tae-hyun was the only one at ease. He yawned and looked around. He wondered if he should have made Lee Se-yeon sit here after all. She had refused, so there was nothing he could do, but still...
Meanwhile, the representative for the Osaka Dragons stepped forward.
The expressions of the other judges softened. Japan's esports pool was notoriously weak. The Osaka Dragons were a bottom-tier team in the 1st Division. Their image as underdogs was so pronounced that rumors floated around: Did the Pan-On developers only put them in the 1st Division out of national consideration?
No player willingly wanted to join a weak team. Everyone relaxed, curious to see what he would say.
"I am Guroda, the Planning Team Leader for the Osaka Dragons. Unlike the illustrious individuals who spoke before me... our Osaka Dragons don't really have... any notable strengths. We are quite weak, after all..."
Laughter erupted at his self-deprecating humor.
Guroda wiped his forehead with a handkerchief and continued.
"O-Of course, we are still a good team. We have a great head coach, excellent coaches, fine facilities, and solid support... though our results aren't very good..."
Tae-hyun was slightly impressed. To think he would take such an approach!
Using his team's poor performance as a comedic bit to capture the audience's attention and refresh the atmosphere was brilliant. It was a clever idea, but it also required throwing away a massive amount of pride.
"Does Beijing Fighters not do things like that?"
"..."
The Guild Alliance staff member pretended not to hear. If anyone at Beijing Fighters tried a marketing stunt like that, their head would roll immediately.
"Our... starting roster is extremely weak, so if you join us, there is a very high chance you'll get to play in the main matches. So, we do have at least one advantage!"
As Guroda successfully won over the crowd, the other judges stared at him, realizing they had been outmaneuvered.
To think we'd get upstaged by this guy...!
"Next up is Player Kim Tae-hyun. He is the only active player among our judges today!"
As Tae-hyun stood up, the judges grew even more tense.
The most dangerous opponent here!
Tae-hyun's influence was beyond imagination. He was practically an idol to the players.
Team KL doesn't even have that much money.
But still, Kim Tae-hyun's words are dangerous. His influence is far more threatening than just stealing players...
Meanwhile, Tae-hyun opened his mouth.
"Hello, everyone—"
"WAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!"
"KYAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!"
A roar of a completely different caliber erupted. He hadn't even said anything yet!
The other judges grumbled inwardly.
He barely said a word.
At least listen to what he has to say first!
"I am Kim Tae-hyun..."
"UWOOOOOOOOOHHHHH!!!"
The crowd screamed so loudly that the Guild Alliance members had to step in to calm them down before he could speak again.
"Listening to the previous speaker, I found myself deeply empathizing with the Osaka Dragons."
"?"
"???"
Empathizing?
The number one team empathizing with a bottom-tier team? Was he mocking them?
"Our player pool is also quite small..."
"..."
"..."
Ah...!
That was true!
Massive teams created multiple reserve rosters composed entirely of substitutes to foster fierce competition for the starting lineup. Even smaller teams kept a few substitutes on hand just in case.
But Team KL was a team that had survived without a single substitute player.
"Aaaagh! I'm joining! I'm joining Team KL!"
"Block him! What is he doing?!"
As crazed fans among the spectators who weren't even participating in the tournament began rushing the stage, the Guild Alliance members scrambled to block them.
Seriously, this Kim Tae-hyun guy was terrifying!