Chapter 35
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 35
Chapter Title Black Cats Massacre
As I think I mentioned before, even though Sunderlands first team plays in League One, their youth setup is nothing to scoff at.
Just making it into the Northern or Southern Leaguethe top tier for youth teamsis proof they have one of the best youth systems around.
On top of that, after dropping to the lower leagues and struggling financially, theyd turned into a selling club that develops and sells top prospects through their academy. They had no choice but to take youth development seriously.
Thats why some of these kids with baby faces looked familiar.
Id probably faced them in Europa League or Champions League matches, or seen them on TV.
But get this.
Why the hell are you here?
This is all your fault, you bastard.
There was one guy I never expected to see.
L. Hartz.
Hed lost his starting spot to me, left Newcastle out of nowhere, and now here he was, on the opposing Sunderland side.
No, hold onthese guys must be getting growth hormone shots when they hit high school age or something. Why do they age so fast?
Is it that mustache?
You ruined my dream.
L. Hartz glared at me with resentment in his eyes.
But that face looked familiar.
Not because it was L. Hartz, but like Id seen it in my past life.
You got booted because you sucked. Why blame me?
If you hadnt shown up, I wouldve been Newcastles starting striker. I wouldve become Alan Shearers successor, Englands striker.
Yeah, right.
Not Shearerlevel, obviously, but with that England premium, he mightve made a decent career.
No, even if you werent Shearers heir, if you were any good, you couldve been Englands starting striker, right? Now hes trying to pin his own failures on me.
Someone behind me chimed in as I spoke.
Yeah, putting on that Sunderland kit isnt Taeyangs fault.
It was Shallet.
I heard it all. Your parents divorced, so you moved to your moms hometown, Sunderland. Thats not on Taeyang, is it?
Oh, so thats his backstory?
Hmph, eavesdropping on everything. If Id rattled you a bit, your guilt mightve broken your mentality.
L. Hartz, whom I hadnt seen in about eight months, wasnt the same brainless meathead kid anymore.
He seemed to have turned into a bitter, pathetic adult after the shock of his parents divorce.
Anyway, youre still a fucking Asian. Damn it, Im gonna beat you today.
With that, L. Hartz turned and walked away.
I could see his back.
JOYCE
9
Joyce.
Joyce? Not Hartz?
Guess he took his moms surname after the divorce.
I looked at Shallet and asked how he knew.
Hes famous. His familys a pretty big deal in Tynemouth. His full names something like L. Jack Rodem Joyce Hartzhe inherited names from his ancestors. Who puts three middle names from their forebears? Cant figure out British nobility.
Three middle names, huh.
Wait a sec.
So now they call him Jack Joyce on the pitch?
Huh? Yeah? There was already a guy named
I tuned out Shallets words as a memory surfaced.
Jack Joyce.
Hed go on to become Englands starting striker.
No wonder that suddenly aged face rang a bell.
Was he some superstar?
Nah.
England was in a historic striker drought, and he was good enough to snag the starting spot.
He wasnt bad, per se.
Just miles behind historic England strikers.
Think Peter Crouch or Jermain Defoe level.
Anyway, hope youre happy at Sunderland, you punk.
From what he was like at Newcastle, its hard to root for him.
A surge of spite welled up.
Cant hold back today. Gotta go all out.
Huh?
People arent consistentsome days you feel off for no reason, but others, your bodys so light and fresh its like peak condition.
Today was one of those days.
Time to drop the gears.
Time to show them Soccer 1.0 for real.
Taeyangs father, Yoon Jiseong, was riding in a car with his colleagues.
They were heading back after touring a site with buyers from a Korean food company for exporting gulbi to Korea.
City Centre soon.
At his bosss words, Yoon Jiseong snapped awake from his doze and peered out the window.
Ah, Little Benton.
Remembering his son had an important match today, he stared blankly at Little Benton until his boss asked, eyeing him.
Your sons on Newcastles books, right?
Oh, yes.
Hmm
The whitehaired boss gazed quietly at Little Benton.
His bittersweet expression made Jiseong wonder if there was a story there, so he held his tongue and watched awkwardly until a clueless colleague spoke up.
This guys son is the kid they call Sunny, the future of the Toon. Hes amazing.
The Toons future?
Yeah, theyre saying hes the Premier Leagues top prospect. Even big clubs are sending scouts.
I see. Must be proud, Yoon.
Haha, yeah, kinda.
As Jiseong scratched his head sheepishly, the clueless colleague added,
Oh yeah, isnt your son playing the baby Black Cats today?
Right. Its the derby.
Should be fun.
Black Cats? Sunderland, TyneWear Derby right?
The boss, who never seemed into soccer, knowing about the derby was odd, but as a Newcastle local, hed know it even without watching. Jiseong nodded.
Yes, exactly.
A derby, huh
As the boss murmured derby, clueless Jake piped up.
Haha, Director prefers cricket over soccer, right? Still, TyneWear is the Toons pride
Before Jake finished, the boss cut in.
Jake, turn the car around.
Huh?
Cant miss a game against those Black Cats, even if its youth level. Head to Little Benton.
RReally?!
You think I like cricket or rugby more? Im a proper Newcastle lad.
Oh, right! Haha, knew it. Turning around now!
Jiseong panicked at grinning Jake spinning the wheel.
Uh, but its work hours
Your sons playingwork can wait. Lets go! Gotta see how awesome he is in the derby.
Thank you.
Touched by his usually cold, stern boss, Jiseong looked at him with sparkling eyes. Embarrassed, the boss turned to the window.
All Newcastle bornandbred Toon Army in the car, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement.
Little Benton Stadium was in full swingunbelievable noise from the small crowd, Newcastle chants echoing.
The colleagues hopped out, humming the chants on reflex as they found seats.
On the pitch, a blackhaired boy had the ball.
That your son?
Yeshuh? Yeah?!
Jiseong nodded proudly, then got hyped.
Seeing reserved Jiseong fired up drew all eyes to the field.
Whoa!
Jiseongs son, Taeyang, was sprinting.
He burst from central midfield to the flank, blew past the defensive line, and eyed the goal.
Confirming the distance to the center from the wing, Taeyang opted for a cutback cross instead of dribbling in.
The pass skimmed perfectly behind the line to Shallet on the far side.
Shallet didnt trap itinstead, he flicked it goalward, and it beat the keeper clean.
Wooooaaah!
The roar hit as the boss eyed Jiseong.
Your boys got skills. Nice assist.
Haha, thank you.
Jiseong calmed his excitement and watched his son.
The goalscorer ran over, arminarm, celebratingTaeyang just looked bored.
At that age, after a pass like that, youd expect hype.
My kid, though
Hm? What?
Oh, nothing. Just proud.
Having a son like that makes any parent proud.
Yeah, exactly.
Midconvo, play resumedSunderland built up into Newcastle territory.
Yoon!! Oh, come on! Dont drop back!
The managers shout rang from the Newcastle bench.
Glancing at him, then backTaeyang had dropped from striker, ghosting in to nick the ball.
An unstrikerlike pinpoint standing tackle, then he bolted for Sunderlands goal.
A small boy storming through bigger, older players.
One blocked himbut a ghostly La Croqueta dribble smoked him.
Sunderland players swarmed, but he kept the ball glued to his feet.
Looked like plain running, but he shielded masterfully, light touches dodging feet.
Some shoved with physicalityhe wobbled but stayed up, using their momentum or insane balance to push into the box.
Then, two Sunderland players sprinted to form a triangle with the keeperno contact on Taeyang.
One hacked with a foul tackle, another stabbed wildly at the ball, a third blocked the path.
Was the boys charge over? Nohis backheel lofted it skyward.
Todays clear sky hid the ball in the sun as Taeyang, eyes elsewhere, swung confidently like he knew exactly where itd drop.
Bang!
It hit his boot clean, rocketing straight into the net.
WAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!
Pandemonium in the tiny stadium.
Dribbling past six Black Cats, flick to volleypure wondergoal magic.
Jiseong and his colleagues lost it too.
See that? Thats my son!!! Taeyangggg!!
Whoa, your kids insane!
Rumors didnt do him justice! What a son!
Jiseong and crew linked arms, belting Newcastle chants.
The game rolled onNewcastle, no, Taeyang in godmode, turned predator, tearing the Black Cats apart.
A stunning free kick for his second, then one whipped leg from distance fooled the line and keeper for a hattrick screamer.
Final whistleTaeyang, Little Bentons king, crowdsurfed by teammates to the stands.
Dad!
Spotting Jiseong, Taeyang yelledplayers carried him over.
Smiling warmly at his son, Jiseong heard the boss.
Impressive. Truly the Toons future.
Huh?
Your son.
Haha, thank you, Director.
I dreamed of being a pro once. Made it near the first team for the Toon.
Jiseong gawked at the bossalways poshsuited, noble air. A footballer?
Cricket or horse racing, maybenot this.
The boss chuckled at the stare.
Injuries and family opposition turned me into just another office drone. One who cares more about status.
Watching soccer hed ignored for family honor made his heart race.
Rank, age, status forgotten.
Deep down, he was Toon through and through.
Ill have to come more often.
Patting Jiseongs shoulder, eyeing the Toons future.
Using your son as an excuse. Employee morale, membership perks, whatever.
Haha, yes. Anytime at Little Benton.
Better yet, get me to St. James Park.
Of course!
Suddenly, Jiseong thought soccer was amazing.
Making everyones heart pound like that aint easy.