Chapter 70

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Translator: Wjin

Chapter: 70

Chapter Title: The Phoenix Killer Falls

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"Ah, Dinosaurs' starter is Lee Su-chang?"

"No way we can answer that..."

Even though Cha Tae-hyun had completely shut down the Dinosaurs' lineup with his overwhelming pitching, the Phoenix fans couldn't relax just yet.

Last season, he had a 3.24 ERA and 11 wins. On paper, Lee Su-chang was just a solid pitcher, but the problem was how he performed specifically against the Phoenix—especially on the road.

How dominant was he...?

"Have we ever beaten our Lee Su-chang...?"

"Beaten him? We just lost every time he took the mound."

Incredibly, last year, Lee Su-chang had never taken a loss against the Phoenix.

It wasn't for nothing that fans said they lost whenever he showed up.

"He's human too, so he has to have an off day sometime..."

The Phoenix fans prayed silently.

Please, let Lee Su-chang's condition be as broken as his name suggests...

But their prayers didn't seem to reach the heavens.

─Striiike!

No. 2 hitter Lee Jun couldn't touch Lee Su-chang's pitches either. Before he knew it, it was one ball, two strikes.

On the fourth pitch, Lee Su-chang threw a slider.

─Whiiiish!

Lee Jun's bat sliced through empty air on the wickedly curving ball.

"Hey! Lee Jun, what the hell? Hit a double or something!"

"Taking 80 billion won for that swing? Aren't you ashamed?!"

Lee Jun muttered at the shouts from the first-base side.

"Even a 100-billion-won guy couldn't hit this..."

'He definitely wasn't pitching at this level before...'

It was truly ghostly.

As if wearing the Phoenix uniform made his power surge.

─Crack!

Just as Lee Jun was about to sit, Andy smacked the ball.

He connected, but it was a weak mishit. The pop-up floated high and dropped harmlessly.

"Haha! This is Andy lucky!"

Surprisingly, Andy made it to first. Whether blessed by the baseball gods or not, the ball split the defensive shift perfectly.

"Ooh~ Phoenix Andy! Zone!"

"Phoenix Andy Zone! This is Andy's zone~"

The subdued atmosphere heated up in an instant, and as Cha Tae-hyun stepped to the plate, cheers erupted.

"Kim Secretary, what are you doing? Cha Tae-hyun's up—stand and cheer with us!"

"Y-Yes... Ooh... Phoenix, ooh, Cha Tae-hyun, smash 'em without mercy..."

"Whoa... He could run for mayor of Busan."

Lee Su-chang marveled anew.

The cheers were so intense that Sajik Stadium itself seemed to vibrate. It was no exaggeration.

Cheers like this could shrink any pitcher, but...

'If I strike him out here, the crowd might go dead silent.'

Not that he'd ever lost at Sajik to feel intimidated. The notion of defeat didn't even exist in Lee Su-chang's mind.

'Start with a low curve to steal one.'

He nodded at the catcher's sign and fired.

The ball left his fingertips, arcing beautifully before dropping in front of the batter's eyes.

That was why Lee Su-chang's curve was called the waterfall curve—even top hitters fell for it.

Like right now.

'No way he doesn't chase.'

Grinning, Lee Su-chang figured he'd lured a strike, so next he'd fire one in tight.

─Crack!

"Hm...?"

But the thought halted at the crack of the bat. The ball grazed past his ear and screamed down the line.

'It was off by at least a ball...?'

Startled, Lee Su-chang whipped his head around.

The liner was rocketing with unbelievable velocity, and the center fielder sprinted desperately.

─Waaaaah!!!!

The ball slammed the fence for a hit. Cheers exploded as Cha Tae-hyun hustled to second and Andy to third.

"Ha..."

Lee Su-chang let out a hollow laugh.

"That Cha Tae-hyun guy's... kinda weird."

There was no other way to put it.

In the first, I ripped a double to put runners on second and third, but Lee Sang-jin struck out right after, so no runs scored.

Anhits stayed scarce after that too. Top of the 7th, still 0-0.

What can you do?

Lee Su-chang was the Phoenix Killer hyped even by Namas. Hitting against him at all was progress.

Last year, games he started were about whether he'd no-hit us or not.

I just had to keep us scoreless as long as possible.

The leadoff hitter stepped up.

The guy who'd fouled off my fastball last time. He was starting to time me.

Shin Si-woo accounted for it, signaling a lure pitch first.

I nodded, gripped the curve.

─Thwack!

The pitch dove from outside the zone into the heart. That's the beauty of the curve.

The batter gaped, tilting his head in confusion.

─Whiff.

Second pitch, forkball way off the plate. He flailed desperately, but it skipped off the dirt into Shin Si-woo's mitt.

Two strikes.

Last one...

─Fastball.

I smirked at Shin Si-woo's sign.

This guy sure knew how to mix it up.

I went into a big windup, whipping my arm viciously.

─Thwack!

Next, No. 2 hitter.

First pitch, two-seamer for a strike.

─Crack!

Second pitch changeup—he nicked it. Totally mistimed swing, not a hit, but...

Yeah, that's baseball. Even a 1% chance becomes a hit if you connect.

No big deal.

Rosin bag, blow it off. Lee Ji-ho steps up.

Truthfully, the Dinosaurs' most dangerous hitter. My first hit allowed today was to him.

─Inside fastball.

Nodded at the sign, fired.

─Crack!

Going for the first pitch?

Lee Ji-ho's bat whipped viciously. Solid contact, fast exit velo... toward Chan-woo hyung.

Ji Chan-woo's recent routine had been monotonous.

"Defense coach, um..."

"More fungo? Kid, I'm dying because of you."

"Haha... Please?"

Fungo after fungo until he gagged and his legs gave out.

Tough, but not unbearable.

That's what you do to survive as a pro.

And right now...

─Crack!

...for this moment, when the ball screamed his way.

Ji Chan-woo had sweated for it.

Time to atone.

The ball was blazing.

Old him would've given up. No read on direction.

But not now.

The crack whispered the path.

His drilled body moved before thought.

Yeah, this line.

He'd seen it in fungo with the coach.

Missed some, but clutched the tough ones.

'I got this!'

Teeth gritted, he dove, glove out.

Ball thuds in. Not done—the hop had kissed dirt. Groaning on the ground, he fired to second.

"Out!"

"Nice catch! Chan-woo!"

Andy snagged it, rifled to first. Umpire eyed the bag, then pumped his fist.

"Out!"

Double play. Ji Chan-woo bit his lip against the surge in his chest.

Just one play—shortstops do this routinely, right?

Yet tears welled.

"Nice catch, hyung."

Cha Tae-hyun approached, hand out.

"Nah, that was routine... Sorry about last time. That was easier."

"Still dwelling on that? It's fine. And..."

Cha Tae-hyun trailed off, pointing to the stands.

"Wave to the fans. Service time."

Ji Chan-woo had endured brutal heckling lately. Fan service?

He turned. Unheard cheers flooded his ears.

"Nice, Ji Chan-woo!"

"What's gotten into you! Keep it up!"

"Good job, Chan-woo! Finally woke up!"

"They'll flip if you mess up, but sweet for now."

Cha Tae-hyun chuckled, headed to dugout. Ji Chan-woo bowed to the crowd.

Then, sheepish grin flashing after ages, he dashed back.

"Busan~ Phoe~nix, Busan~ Phoe~nix, rise~ to the~ skies~."

Bottom nine, two out, runners on first and second—team song echoing in Sajik.

"Cha Tae-hyun here?"

Still on the mound, Lee Su-chang wiped cold sweat.

Sometimes pitchers feel it: everything's gonna get crushed. This was it.

He glanced at the dugout, hoping for a pull sign. Nothing. Battle on.

'Should've asked to get yanked...'

Fidgeting the ball, first pitch...

─Crack!!

Chilling rip—ball barely hooked foul past the pole.

"They call this a matchup?"

"They nuts?"

Fans were sure: as long as they didn't avoid him, Cha Tae-hyun would end it, hand Lee his first Sajik loss.

And that certainty...

─Crack!!!!

...proved true in two pitches.

Post-game, MVP interview wrapped.

Normally over, but today: special guest owner's unique 'prize' awaited.

"First time owner shows up in person and we win? Bet he gets a car."

"House possible too."

Phoenix players eyed Cha Tae-hyun enviously; he secretly hoped too.

How not to? Special gift from a conglomerate chairman.

"Everyone! Special guest today—our Phoenix owner!"

"Haha! Nice to see you, Phoenix fans! Enjoyed the game?"

Chairman booms into mic; roaring reply:

─In-person 12-game skid snapped!! Love you, Cha Tae-hyun!

Chairman chuckled, patted Cha Tae-hyun's shoulder.

"Haha! Loved it. Our Cha Tae-hyun shone again. Prepared a little something."

"Whoa... Owner's gift! Can't not be hyped!"

Chairman beckoned; Kim Secretary handed Cha Tae-hyun a palm-sized box.

Cha Tae-hyun's heart raced.

Whatever was inside screamed luxury—something huge.

"Thank you!"

"Haha! No thanks! Open it!"

"Yes!"

Camera zoomed as he opened it.

"Uh..."

Cha Tae-hyun's jaw dropped, frozen.

Inside: utterly unexpected, massive prize.