Chapter 67
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: The Stove League Heats Up with a Major Trade! (2)
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-"Maeng-ho?"
"...Sorry. Someone keeps calling with pointless stuff. I wasn't trying to badmouth Soyoung at all!"
-"...Really?"
"Yes! Really!"
-"Okay..."
Her voice sounded deflated. She had definitely called with a cheerful tone at first...
"Whoa! I saw the signing article too! As expected from the AT Thunderbirds! Ki Sang-joo! Wow!"
I immediately cranked up my energy on purpose.
-"...Yeah. That's why I called."
Looks like fake enthusiasm doesn't always lift the mood, huh.
"But why sign Choi Jin-cheol? He's washed up."
I decided to just ask about what had been bugging me since it was already ruined. A few thrusts later when we meet would fix it quick.
-"Choi Jin-cheol is washed up?"
"Isn't he? Hitting .230."
-"Hmm. You could see it that way. But his physical abilities haven't dropped yet, so it was probably a mental issue."
"Physical abilities...?"
-"Yeah, his athletic stats."
"Got it."
-"Truth is, I didn't really want to sign Choi Jin-cheol. But all our team's hitters are mid-to-long range power types, right? Woo Kwan-hyung is like that, and the new signee Ki Sang-joo too. I figured having him in the lineup with you would put real pressure on opposing pitchers."
"Hmm... Yeah, that makes sense."
-"Plus, I thought he'd make a good mentor for you. We don't have any pure sluggers on the team."
Signing him for my sake... It was kinda touching. Of course, with Rogers Hornsby around, I didn't need it, but still.
"Thanks."
-"I just want it to help you. I don't want to see you down."
She hits you with stuff like this sometimes.
"Probably won't happen. I'm Ji Maeng-ho, after all. More importantly, what's the lineup looking like next season? Hmm... Can Choi Jin-cheol and Kim Su-ho coexist? Designated hitter spot goes to Woo Kwan-hyung, I assume."
Truth be told, I hadn't cared who the AT Thunderbirds' starters were until Soyoung mentioned it. But to win a championship, I needed to assess the team's objective strength, so I'd looked up the key players.
The outfield rotated three or four guys around Jang Hyun-ho before he got traded. All slow-footed lefty contact hitters in the Thunderbirds' style. Han Sang-gyu was the best of the rest, maybe?
Of course, Han Sang-gyu wasn't anything special either.
The infield had some decent talent, though. Kim Su-ho, who transferred from NV Rex to AT after the 2020 season. He'd won Gold Gloves at third base consecutively in '17 and '18 when Choi Jin-cheol was in the majors—solid hitter.
If you asked who led the AT Thunderbirds' lineup right now, anyone would say Kim Su-ho. Even I, who barely watched KBA games, knew him.
The problem? He and Choi Jin-cheol both played third base. Especially since both were FA signings, some position adjustments were inevitable.
-"We're moving Choi Jin-cheol to first. He played there in the majors. Switched back to third after coming to Korea."
"Oh, right?"
It rang a bell once she mentioned it. There'd been articles about it.
-"Yeah, his defense was decent in Korea, but not major-league level. That's why he shifted to first. We covered that when we signed him."
So infield would be Choi Jin-cheol—me—shortstop—Kim Su-ho? Shortstop was a free-for-all anyway, no one would blink at whoever got it, and second was mine.
"Infield looks solid. So you're getting a mercenary shortstop?"
-"Nah, the mercenary will be the best hitter available, position be damned. Woo Kwan-hyung's going back to the outfield next year."
"Whoa, that guy's a beast. Won't he be 41 next year? Playing outfield at that age. Where, though? Doesn't matter—he'd excel anywhere."
-"Probably right field? With you at second, his weak arm gets covered. Up to the manager, though."
"Yeah, that's manager's call."
-"Right. And I told the staff to build around power hitting to match the trends starting next year."
"It's wild seeing that. On paper, the Thunderbirds have the names to make the playoffs..."
-"Who're you shading?"
"Sorry. I'll do my best next year anyway."
-"Appreciate the words. Just don't push too hard and get hurt."
"No worries. My body's always priority one."
-"Doesn't mean slack off! Got it?"
She's picky. But I got it—worry for me and the team.
"Yeah. Gotta hit training soon, so can I hang up?"
-"Oh, did I hold up a busy guy too long? Sorry. Last thing—you're doing spring training with Woo Kwan-hyung, right?"
"Yeah. How'd you know?"
-"I'm operations manager. Team news is my jam. Anyway, learn what you can. Tons for a rookie like you."
Rogers thought so too, and so did Soyoung. Woo Kwan-hyung must be the real deal. Makes sense—he'd logged 20+ pro years with 3,000 hits in sight.
"Got it. I'll learn hard!"
-"Ugh. Means no seeing you during camp. Kinda sucks. Can't tag along either."
"Can't be helped. No lonely jerking off without me."
The late bloomer was scary—Soyoung got way bolder after her first time. Expected, though.
-"...I'll try."
"Hanging up then."
-"Yeah. Train hard! SY Agency's always open if you need it."
...Whew. Crisis averted. No more mopey voice. A bit of baseball talk and she's good. This girl... How much does she love baseball?
"Yeah."
-"......"
"......"
Business done, but we lingered on the line. Neither wanting to hang up.
-"Can't do it. Let's meet today. Knowing you're leaving soon... Feels off."
"Heading right after training."
-"...I'll wait."
Phone clicked off after that. Her last words almost got me hard already, but training loomed, so I reined it in.
Squelch, squelch—the lewd sounds echoed as Soyoung's big tits smacked against my body. Her soft breasts enveloping my dick felt like pure bliss.
'Heh, wanted to do this since I first saw 'em. Finally!'
Tittyfucking! A fantasy since laying eyes on her chest, finally fulfilled. She'd looked confused at first when I asked for it with her tits, but I made it happen.
"How's it feel, Maeng-ho?"
Soyoung on her knees, looking up—it was adorable.
"Great. Lick it with your tongue now."
"Okay..."
Slurp. The sucking sounds teased my ears. Less physical pleasure than pussy or mouth, but the mental high was peak. Conquering Soyoung!
Soyoung was heating up too as she licked. Was I hogging it all?
"Wanna switch positions? Like the one at the end last time?"
"Ugh, that's embarrassing..."
"C'mon, just us. What's to be shy about?"
"Still..."
At my urging, she squatted, hands behind her head, positioning over my dick. Her naked body from below wasn't athlete-toned, but her consistent workouts gave it nice firmness.
"Move a bit like that?"
"Okay..."
Her wet pussy—slick from sucking me—slowly sank down, engulfing me. No friction; her saliva lubed me plenty.
"Haang!"
"I'm not moving today. Your turn, Soyoung."
"Hngh, meanie..."
"Hey, I dragged myself here post-workout 'cause you wanted to meet. Don't I deserve some service?"
"Uungh."
I pinched her puffy nipple mid-chat, drawing a moan. She kept bouncing while I tugged and twisted, but not fast.
Each move scraped my glans against her walls.
"Ungh."
"That pace gonna cut it? Needs to be quicker."
"Your dick keeps rubbing... Hngh."
"We'll be at this till dawn."
"I-I'll try...! Haaang!"
Prodded, she slammed down hard. Faster speed wrung another loud moan.
"Haht, haht!"
I felt her cervix kissing my tip. After a few bounces, bored, I sat up and chomped her tit I'd been toying with. Tongue rolling her nipple froze her motion amid the fullness in my mouth.
"Maeng-hoo!"
Unable to hold back, her hands gripped my shoulders from her head.
"Ha, guess I have to take over. You only cum satisfied that way?"
"Y-yeah! I'm too dumb to do it alone...!"
Watching her embrace dirty talk, I gripped her wide hips tight.
"You can with help, right?"
"Haang! I'll... try!"
Guiding her hips slow at first, then powering fast thrusts.
"Haaaang! Haang, ungh! Ungh!"
Following my lead, she soon flipped me down, hands on my chest, pounding her ass like a pestle. Nearing climax, her pussy clenched and milked me.
"Aang! Ang! Cumming! Maeng-hooo! Cum inside!"
"Here it comes! Soyoung!"
"Yes! Come!"
Thrusting up into her rhythm, I unloaded inside. The strike hit her weak spot; she froze, arching back hard.
"Haaaang!"
Simultaneous orgasm! Trusting her steady birth control, I flooded her freely.
While Maeng-ho threw himself into training and sex, two men conversed in the KBA Commissioner's office.
"Secretary General, high school baseball attendance is up this year, huh? Best in history?"
"Yes, Commissioner. Jang Woo-joo's 160 km/h pitches and Ji Maeng-ho's home run record shattered it. Those two sparked the boom."
"Need star players to draw crowds. Feeling it more lately. So, Secretary."
"Yes?"
What was the commissioner building to with the preamble? The secretary focused, listening intently.
"WBC next year, right?"
"Yes."
'Finally announcing it?'
The commissioner had delayed the roster per past controversies and international flops. Official line was caution; reality was his veto.
"To spark a baseball boom, we need new stars. Jang Woo-joo and Ji Maeng-ho. Thoughts?"
Jang Woo-joo and Ji Maeng-ho—the high school duo behind the buzz. Jang especially, with his official 160 km/h, made headlines.
Why stay in Korea? The commissioner's ardent wooing.
He was an open future Buffalo superfan. Keeping the majors-bound Jang here was his win. The secretary didn't mind.
That future star packing stadiums? Win-win for KBA.
But...
"Putting straight-out-of-high-school kids on the national team? Bad buzz incoming."
"Secretary, we're not championship material anyway. Be objective."
"...True."
USA and Japan were walls; Cuba, Taiwan, DR—not pushovers. Elite reps mattered more.
"Fans' view of baseball soured from international losses. We need fresh stars. Skill's great, but handsome ones draw fangirls too."
Targeting female fans. The secretary's skepticism faded. Jang was cute enough; Ji, straight-up handsome.
"Renovation via youth infusion? Future leaders of Korean baseball. Asian Games lowered age limits—why not WBC?"
'This why he stalled the prelim roster?'
Jang's media push had been heavy. But the veteran secretary masked his thoughts.
"We used college players before."
"Exactly. They're amateurs too, right? Perfect narrative."
"Hmm..."
"WBC's March—leak to press now. I'll handle the manager."
"Got it. Starting tomorrow, I'll rally friendly reporters for positive spin."
They'd been hounding for the prelim list; good bait to placate.
"Perfect."
"I'll head out."
Ji Maeng-ho was side dressing to the commissioner. The prize: 100 mph dream arm Jang Woo-joo, diluting any backlash.
Jang dominating Korea then majors—that was the vision. Fan or elder statesman, it boosted Korean baseball.
A 100 mph guy here? Attendance boom, revival inevitable.
Jang needed the spotlight.
'National team fits perfect. Push shorter posting too. A talent like Jang should conquer KBA fast and head to majors.'
Good rep results nice, but unrealistic. Use it to etch Jang in fans' minds.
'Hope he shines, but doubtful. Manager won't use in close games. Tearful loss? "Korean Baseball's Hope Weeps in Heartbreaking Defeat." Rookie of the Year locked, then stardom with Buffalo championship and Korean revival!'
The commissioner dreamed sweetly.