Stopping the Wrong Deal (1)
Kang Noah.
A streamer who shot to fame like a comet.
A freak who reads the future by flipping a single card.
Kim Juhyeong couldn't put down his phone.
Ever since meeting him, he'd watched not just the summary clips of his streams, but the full broadcasts too.
And he'd realized something.
The guy was the real deal.
So what he'd said might be real too.
"Juhyeong! Let's go!"
[In the next game against the US, at the top of the 9th with two outs, the bounced ball will unexpectedly pop up over your head. Catch it and we win. Drop it and we lose.]
His words lingered in Kim Juhyeong's mind.
WBC quarterfinals.
The opponent was the United States—one of the top contenders you couldn't underestimate.
"Everyone ready?"
The players shouted back with enthusiasm at the manager's words.
The other team was strong.
But that didn't mean they had to cower.
"We're strong too."
"Strong!!"
"Winning here won't get you out of the military, but do well and you might make the Olympics, right?"
The players who hadn't sorted out their military service yet laughed awkwardly.
Kim Juhyeong was one of them.
Normally, he'd have laughed at the manager's joke.
But not this time.
Kang Noah's words still dominated his thoughts.
"Juhyeong!"
"Y-yes? Yes!"
"Not focused? Something wrong?"
"N-no, nothing!!"
"Good. Stay sharp!!"
The manager then explained the strategy.
Kim Juhyeong let out a heavy sigh as he listened.
Soon, the game began.
In the WBC stadium, packed with cheering crowds.
To boost their value.
And to honor the nation.
They had to perform here.
"Play ball!!"
The umpire's call kicked things off.
Even then.
His words echoed in Kim Juhyeong's head.
.
.
.
3-2.
The lead seesawed back and forth, and now it was the bottom of the 9th—America's turn at bat.
"Hoo..."
His heart pounded.
Two outs.
A runner on second for the opponents.
The moment he'd described was coming soon.
Would it really happen like that?
That was when Kim Juhyeong froze stiff.
Crack!!
The opponent's number-two hitter swung.
The ball came flying his way.
Better to snag it before it bounces, but the distance was off.
Fine—field it and fire to first.
No room for a single mistake.
Inside pitch.
Instinct from endless training pinpointed the bounce spot.
Glove down low.
But.
He squeezed his eyes shut.
Instead of dropping, Kim Juhyeong's glove shot upward.
Thwack!!
Whether it hit a bump on the field, the baseball ricocheted wildly—straight toward his face.
It sucked right into the glove like it was meant to.
Kim Juhyeong whipped it to first.
"Out!!"
Game over.
Cheers erupted as teammates rushed him.
"You bastard!!"
"Nice one!! You fucker!!"
Even amid their pounding slaps and shouts.
Kim Juhyeong couldn't say a word.
***
"They won."
WBC quarterfinals.
Korea beat the US.
I checked the stream—everyone was celebrating the victory.
I scanned the gallery, a mix of toto bettors' joy and despair.
Just as I was slapping 10-day bans on the rule-breakers with my mod powers.
Ring ring!!
My phone buzzed.
Kim Juhyeong's number.
Right on time.
"Hello."
Sir...!!
His exhausted voice carried real fear.
I'd like to meet!
"After the game's over."
.
.
.
Korea fell short in the WBC finals.
But hey, second place ain't bad.
Second is still a win!
Maybe that's why.
"Whoa... Kim Juhyeong..."
"Kim Juhyeong's coming here?"
"No joke..."
"Should I ask for an autograph?"
I headed to my usual café, and there he was—Kim Juhyeong, waiting, looking anxious.
Chewing his straw to bits, glancing around nervously.
"Hello."
"S-sir!"
The vibe from our first meeting was gone.
He rushed me like a kid.
"Sir! Sir!!"
"What the hell are you?"
"It's Kang Noah...!!"
"Kang Noah calling Kim Juhyeong 'sir'? Damn, that's wild..."
At this rate, I won't be able to show my face at the local café anymore.
Every time I come here...
"Calm down."
"Sir, please..."
"I'm not gonna eat you..."
Kim Juhyeong flailed helplessly.
I finally got him settled, ordered a sweet café latte, and sat across from him as he trembled.
"My future... it's destruction. For real?"
Surprisingly, yes.
Win or lose this time, the match-fixing offer was still coming.
And the false accusation tied to it—the public humiliation—wouldn't change.
"Why...!!"
A guy who'd lived for sports his whole life.
He'd turned down doping offers, built his skill on blood, sweat, and tears.
This kind of scandal was unbearable.
"Why me... of all people...?"
"No idea."
Blame the money-crazed bastards.
I sipped my coffee.
"That's not the issue. It's how to escape that mess."
"...How can I get out?"
Hmm.
I just see the future—not an expert on this stuff.
That's why I called him in.
"Inspector Kang!"
The café door swung open.
A gruff-looking guy entered—Dobong Station's Inspector Kang Injeong.
He spotted us and strode over, slyly pulling something from his bag.
A baseball.
"K-Kim Juhyeong. Big fan."
"......"
Don't look at me like that.
Kim Juhyeong hesitated, then carefully signed the ball.
Only then did Kang Injeong exhale in satisfaction.
"I've heard from Inspector Kang. You're getting tangled in a match-fixing case..."
"Y-yeah..."
"This is serious."
Even if he's innocent, an incident like that means investigation—no avoiding it.
Especially if money hits his grandma's account.
"Ditch the grandma's account..."
"Won't work."
His future shifts.
Money goes to his aunt's account instead.
"That alone won't solve it. Let's think another way."
"Hm... How about this? I know a prosecutor who specializes in match-fixing cases."
"Oh..."
"We team up with him."
If that happens, contact him right away.
Not just a suspect—but a pre-arranged ally with the prosecutors.
No false accusations or scandals.
"Sir...?"
Kim Juhyeong's eyes shook.
Is this okay?
"Looks good."
"R-really?!"
"Yes."
The future changed.
From framed victim to hero who teamed with prosecutors to crush baseball match-fixing.
"But it'll be exhausting."
Dragged around everywhere.
Plus, mid-season—training suffers.
"You okay with that?"
"Of course!!"
Way better than wrongful disgrace.
Kim Juhyeong shouted joyfully.
I nodded to Kang Injeong.
"Let's go with that."
"Yes!!"
My part was done.
Time to finish this drink and—
"Inspector Kang."
"Yes?"
"If you're okay with it, why not come along too?"
"Me?"
Do I really need to butt in?
But Kang Injeong looked dead serious.
"Teaming with prosecutors could benefit you too."
Not everything's solvable by police alone.
Prosecutors' help would be useful.
True enough.
"Then I'll leave it to you."
.
.
.
A few days after meeting Kim Juhyeong.
I headed to the Uijeongbu District Prosecutors Office with Kang Injeong.
First time in a place like this—kinda cool.
"Here."
His guidance led to an office inside.
Piles of documents—looked hectic.
"Well, well! If it isn't Inspector Kang!"
A gray-haired guy, built like Kang Injeong, grinned wide.
"Who's this?"
"Kang Noah. The one I told you about, Prosecutor."
"Kang Noah."
"Ah, yes. Nice to meet you. Prosecutor Gu Namchul."
"Nice to meet you."
"Haha. Heard a lot from Inspector Kang. Did some digging myself."
Grinning, he handed me a fresh mixed coffee.
"But is it real?"
"Wanna check?"
I smiled and offered a card.
He flipped it with a chuckle, and I spoke calmly.
"Prosecutor Gu Namchul. Failed the judicial exam twice before passing. Fought with a friend at the training institute. Enemies with the Iron Dragon faction."
His grinning face froze.
Eyes widening slowly.
"...Haha..."
"Lots happened in your prosecutor days. The biggest regret... fighting with that fellow trainee and friend, another prosecutor."
"........"
His eyes sharpened.
I didn't stop.
"Also, four days ago, you fought with your daughter. Thinking of a fishing trip to make up... don't."
Shockingly, a middle-school daughter—reconciliation gift: fishing trip and pricey rod.
Buy an iPad with that cash instead.
"Finally. You're hunting the Dorong faction boss on the run, right?"
"....!!!"
Dorong faction boss, Go Il-nam.
Wanted for murder, assault, illegal gambling dens. Gu Namchul was grinding his teeth over him.
"Anyang Oyasu Motel, room 207."
"...You're the real deal."
He shot up and made a call.
An hour later, he stepped out briefly, returned beaming.
"Subscribed to your channel, liked, and joined membership!!"
Gu Namchul was now my die-hard fan.