28. Bloody Purge: Driving a Dagger into the Faction's Core

Han Shin watched Jocelyn's presentation and delivered his private verdict: the man was worse than the average Korean university student.

Even my little brother could do better than this.

"Allow me to introduce Coach Antoine Fournier."

Han Shin was speechless.

Responsibility, strictness, passion? What is this, 1980s coaching-manual nonsense? Hell, even Klinsmann—who left chaos at every club he touched—still got a hundred-billion-won offer from the association because he was "always positive."

"Haaaaawn~~"

Kirill yawned openly, looking every bit as bored as he felt. The other directors were no better. Emily was busy checking her compact mirror, touching up her makeup so she would look perfect for the cameras.

Staff transfers had always been Jocelyn's domain as sporting director. This item had only climbed to second on the agenda because of the extreme staff shortage—an emergency. Under normal circumstances it would never have warranted this level of board attention.

Which meant that right now the only people actually watching Jocelyn's dull, outdated PowerPoint were Han Shin and Director Speakman.

Han Shin found the whole scene depressing.

If only Kirill—or even Emily, who at least speaks French—had paid a little more attention to that screen, we wouldn't have reached this point...

He kept glancing at his phone.

The analysis team should be messaging me any second now...

Jocelyn laid the groundwork with practiced smoothness.

"This fellow's surname is Fournier, right? No point hiding it—he's actually a relative of mine."

"Is that so? Well... no big deal."

The board looked thoroughly uninterested.

He knows I'll use the family connection against him, so he's getting it out of the way first.

Heh. Being related isn't even a disqualifying factor in this business, you idiot.

"It pains me that no one recognizes a diamond in the rough, so I wanted to introduce him here. As a former central midfielder he has a superb footballing eye, yet too many clubs have failed to appreciate his talent. He's currently on a short leave of absence."

I have plenty I want to say, but the evidence hasn't arrived yet.

Emily, reading the subtle shadow that had fallen across Han Shin's face, stepped in to probe on his behalf.

"Coach Antoine has been out of work for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠nearly four straight years since 2022. Why is that?"

"He's taking a sabbatical. Tends a small vineyard. But he hasn't hung up his boots—he still runs free football clinics for the local kids."

"Then why did he only score fourteen goals in a hundred and ninety matches?"

"Hahaha. Our marketing director Emily doesn't know much about football, does she? A central midfielder isn't supposed to score goals. He was an anchor. An anchor."

"Ah, so that's why~"

Han Shin's cold voice cut through the microphone.

Buy time.

"You said his coaching instincts are outstanding. Could you be more specific about what those instincts are?"

Oh my! Is he covering for me?

Emily, still smarting from the earlier slight, assumed he was backing her up.

"Our club has a lot of young players, doesn't it? Antoine is excellent at developing youth. Responsibility and passion second to none, and strict as well. Like a fine aged wine—this is the perfect moment for him. I strongly recommend him."

"He's spent his entire career in the French leagues. Does he speak English?"

"English isn't that hard to learn. He'll pick it up in no time. Besides, the lad's mind is razor-sharp. In any case, I give him my strongest recommendation!!"

"You're related to the coach. This isn't a personal favor, is it?"

"The chairman and I are distant relatives if you dig deep enough—does that make it a problem? And for someone from Korea who may not know how things work here, we actually give preference to people who come with solid recommendations."

"In that case...!"

As the exchange dragged on with endless nitpicking, Kirill finally took the microphone.

"The sabbatical isn't an issue, and being French isn't either. Manager, Director Jocelyn is giving him a strong recommendation—formality aside. If there are no major problems, let's proceed with a meeting."

Jocelyn immediately poured on the flattery.

"Bravo! As always, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠an excellent and outstanding decision. Our chairman, whom I respect more than anyone!"

"And since so many directors are present, detailed discussion of specific coaches can wait. Jocelyn and the scouting team can meet separately. Shall we move on to the next item?"

No way. This is the turning point—the starting line for the comeback.

Desperate, Han Shin forced his way into the gap.

"No, respected Chairman. I have something to say."

"Something about the coach, Manager Han?"

"Yes, that's right."

Han Shin rose from his chair and stood beside Jocelyn in front of the screen.

Why is it taking so long? Should I just start digging?

"I have serious doubts about his career."

"Career again? There's nothing to criticize anywhere you look! If there had been a problem with his record, you wouldn't even have set foot in this club."

"That's a bit much, Jocelyn. I was the one who appointed him."

"Ah, yes—my apologies. It's just that the manager keeps picking fights with a coach who has no issues at all."

Han Shin ignored him lightly and pointed at the PowerPoint.

"Look at this coaching record."

Coach Fournier
Saint-Étienne (2011–2014) — five-year gap — Laval (2019–2021)

"Director Jocelyn, I'll grant that Antoine is currently on sabbatical and staying in his hometown. Can you explain the five-year blank between Saint-Étienne and Laval?"

"Well, five years... people take... short breaks sometimes. Wh-what of it...?"

Jocelyn had clearly not expected anyone to zero in on a single line in the résumé and dig out a gap. Panic was written all ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠over his face.

"Is that so? Then why has your voice suddenly started trembling?"

"Wh-who! Who said I was trembling?"

There's no way that Oriental bastard found anything in the short time after lunch.

"If you explain it yourself right now, I might even look the other way."

Director Juan, scratching his nose, asked,

"Why, Manager Han? Is there a problem with that gap? Looks fine to me... clubs not calling is an everyday occurrence."

"He even served as interim manager—he must have had ambition. Why did he have to take time off?"

Don't fall for it. He's trying to bait me. Keep your mouth shut. He's just probing. He knows nothing.

But Jocelyn's blood was running colder by the second.

"......"

"Why the sudden silence? Something to hide?"

"Manager Han, a man can take five years off if he wants. Stop smearing an innocent person without any evidence."

Kirill, who had been watching in silence, could not understand why the two of them were locked in combat over one ordinary coach.

"Coaching careers can have gaps. There is no obvious disqualifying factor. If you have nothing further, we'll move on to player transfers."

"Just a moment!!!"

"Please wait!!!"

Isaac and Han Shin shouted at the same time.

It's here?

Yes! It's here.

They exchanged a quick signal. Only then did Han Shin feel the tension ease.

Isaac nodded and brought up the screen the data-analysis team had just sent.

"I will now explain Fournier's five-year blank. Your attention, please."

Thank you, William, Brian. Right on time... well, I bought the time, but you still nailed it.

"This is it."

It was half-time outside the stadium.

The hour when magic happens.

In other words—the hour of the comeback!

A massive headline filled the entire screen.

Han Shin read the article from his phone.

"This is a translation of an excerpt from a regional newspaper. Between 2012 and 2014, while serving as a coach, Antoine Fournier was charged with placing illegal bets on his own team's defeats."

The directors' eyes went wide with shock.

"What?"

"Jocelyn, what on earth is this?"

"Is this true???"

"Investigators discovered that large sums moved in the betting markets whenever certain players appeared. It was established that Fournier made strategic decisions—such as unauthorized adjustments to those players' minutes—in order to influence match results for the illegal bets."

"Wh... what??? What kind of nonsense is this! You think you can just bring in one fabricated article and call it a day?"

Ignoring Jocelyn completely, Scout Isaac delivered the knockout punch.

"The case was later uncovered through a joint investigation by the French Football Federation (FFF) and the police. Fournier's actions were judged to have seriously undermined the ethics and integrity of the game. He received a five-year license suspension and a ban from all football-related activity."

Han Shin summed it up.

"Fabricated? Shall we call the French Football Federation and the police right now? Antoine spent years in the game, yet he never held a P License—precisely because of this."

He rapped the white screen with his knuckles.

"And this man—punished for illegal gambling, a shameless individual who should have been driven out of football—you, Mr. Jocelyn, recommended as 'strict' and gave your strongest endorsement?"

"No—there must be some misunderstanding! I had no idea anything like that had happened to Antoine! It's an absolute disqualifying factor—he's out. This was entirely my mistake. Please forget it."

Jocelyn waved both hands frantically, desperate to prove his innocence.

"If you didn't know, you're incompetent. If you did know, you're complicit. Isn't that right?"

"This is a smear! A smear! If I had known, I would never have recommended him!"

"Huu..."

"It was entirely my mistake, so just don't hire him and we're done! Come on, let's leave it at that and move on amicably."

Move on amicably?

Han Shin threw the uppercut that would truly rock him.

"Director Jocelyn, did you by any chance take a backhander from Antoine? To plant him at Sunderland?"

"You son of a bitch—I've put up with enough! Who the hell are you calling a bribe-taker!"

Cornered, Jocelyn exploded so completely he forgot the cameras were rolling and let the curses fly.

"Then there should be a record of the money, right? Check the bank statements."

"What are you talking about? We're not amateurs—who transfers bribes into a bank account?!"

"You little shit—think you can just run your mouth with lies and get away with it? Who do you think you're talking to!"

"This isn't mere personal speculation. There's a very deep connection."

"What connection!"

Emily pointed out,

"The manager has already exposed the circumstances under which Jocelyn tried to appoint an unfit coach."

As she said, Han Shin had thoroughly dismantled the coach issue.

But that alone isn't enough to drag Jocelyn out of his seat. Now it's time to smash the connecting link.

Director Juan was stunned.

"This scandal alone is shocking enough—do you have proof of a bribe?"

McManus sneered.

"Director Juan. He's only been at the club three days—he hasn't even finished unpacking his desk. And in a situation where no one even knows who the coach will be, how could he possibly have found proof of a bribe? It's bluff. Pure bluff."

"Hahaha, of course... right?"

Emily fired back, spitting with indignation.

"Why is everyone like this? He found the evidence that the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠coach is unfit in the blink of an eye—Manager, you have something, don't you?"

The empty talk ends here.

"Exactly as Emily says. It may be something even worse than a bribe."

"What is it?"

"A force that's eating away at our club from the inside. In other words—a faction."

"A faction???"

"Yes. A powerful one. As the newcomer, I spotted it immediately. The rest of you simply never noticed."

"What is it, damn it! Stop dragging it out and tell us!"

I haven't even seen the finished slides myself—I'll have to improvise as much as possible. Huu... stay calm.

"Manager Han! Speak clearly, for heaven's sake—I'm about to have a heart attack. You have evidence?"

"I do. Next slide. This is the rotten root of our club."

"This is....!"

"Root...?"

"It's an actual tree root? What the hell is that?"

At last Han Shin leveled the razor-sharp dagger he had been honing straight at the man's throat.

Coldly, he struck at the unguarded heart.