Season 3: Chapter 264. Spring (2)

After the Korea-Japan match ended, Ju-Hyeok collected the remaining merchandise in the empty stadium. He figured that even the fallen items on the ground could be sold as refurbished products for the semifinals. In fact, there seemed to be a decent market for refurbished items like plushies and cheering items even though they were meant to be disposable.

"Ugh."

He felt a stiffness in his back from bending over for too long, but a smile played on his lips.

"How much is all this worth?"

It felt like picking up money from the ground. Money that no one else seemed to recognize as valuable. Laughing to himself, he loaded the collected plushies and cheering items into the large SUV he had rented.

"Whew."

He haphazardly stuffed the plushies and tools into the vehicle.

"The manager would be horrified if he saw this."

Some people were obsessed with neatness and organization. In companies, especially larger ones, the volume of work and items increased to a point where it couldn’t function without being organized. Those working within such systems often maintain a tidy state even at the cost of some efficiency.

The somewhat old-fashioned demand for casual suits like at his old job reflected this. Recalling those times, Ju-Hyeok had been somewhat of a neat freak himself. Back then, he would have been classified as an extreme J in the MBTI personality test, which was why he found that test to be meaningless.

Clunk.

As he closed the trunk, he smiled wryly at the messiness and comfort of his current life. He started the car and warmed it up, but didn't drive off immediately. Unlike his former self, who would have checked everything thoroughly, he only decided to confirm things now.

"Let's see..."

His phone was connected to an Excel document on his computer, which was also linked to his payment devices. This calculated today's sales and the supply amounts he had sent to the factory.

"Wow."

He felt a rush of exhilaration at the numbers on the screen as if slightly intoxicated.

"You sold a lot, Kim Ju-Hyeok!"

Honk, honk~

He accidentally relaxed too much, causing his head to hit the steering wheel.

"S-Sumimasen! Sumimasen!

Haha...

"

After leaving the company, not everything had been easy. Creating revenue in the market was like fighting a war. He recalled a question from an American movie he watched as a child. Despite being in the land of capital and freedom, the stockbrokers in the center of that capital lived by stricter rules than anyone else.

He had once dismissed it as either a bluff or a remnant of old habits. Now, he understood why stockbrokers in New York had to dress impeccably in suits with pomade hair. It was akin to soldiers wearing uniforms. Stockbrokers, being on the front lines of the market, needed strict discipline to survive.

While they had their pomade comrades, Ju-Hyeok had to fight alone in this market as the boss. He had to don his suit, pomade his hair, and run around everywhere. Despite it all, his lips always curved into a smile by evening just like now. Just as his father did when he came home from work.

Vroom.

He drove toward the hotel where the players stayed. Next to their accommodation was a small business hotel where he stayed.

***

While driving through the night streets of Tokyo, he had no idea about the call he would receive or how popular

Civil Empire

had become. Even someone as sensitive to numbers and market reactions as he was couldn’t gauge the extent of its popularity at this moment. He simply indulged in a leisurely reminiscence.

Having somewhat adapted to driving on the right side, his mind drifted back to the past. Some memories were like white clouds in a clear sky while others were gray and murky, lingering long and wide. Faces from the past floated up and questioned him.

𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

“Manager? What's that about?”

“Is something wrong? Suddenly calling me a manager?”

“Were you laid off during the restructuring?”

He always encountered these expressions when reconnecting with former colleagues. It was remarkable how people with completely different appearances could all show the same expression.

“Ah... I see. You're living an interesting life.”

The subsequent forced compliments and dismissals felt like they were written by third-rate authors who had been asked to fill their scripts with the most cliched lines. Having once been a part of that world himself, he understood well the power of a business card with a company’s name.

Employees of prominent firms experienced this aspect of society positively and passed on their negative experiences to others. This happened naturally even if no one intended it. It was like how more people sought to understand the harm of fine dust than the benefits of oxygen. It was a natural order. They, and Ju-Hyeok, took the comfort and convenience of their corporate shade for granted even though it wasn't theirs.

Now, having to endure the scorching sun alone, he initially missed the corporate world. He longed for the cozy office where he exchanged greetings and occasionally chatted with colleagues. However, his feelings changed. He began to despise those who remained in such corporations and considered them fools. Resenting those who looked down on him was an elementary reaction, but he couldn't help it.

***

Despite the pleasant day, these unpleasant thoughts put Ju-Hyeok in a somber mood as he entered his hotel room. He checked on Sang-Hyeon at the players' hotel and decided not to disturb Sang-Hyeon’s sleep.

He sighed and stared at the Excel sheet on his phone again. He grew curious about how Sang-Hyeon would react to the impressive numbers, but decided it would be more effective to show off when Sang-Hyeon was in better condition.

Ju-Hyeok took off his clothes and opened his laptop. He revised the factory orders based on sales and planned for the semifinals. Just as the players prepared for the semifinals, so did he. Although he didn't have a team of two hundred or a dedicated think tank, he worked tirelessly.

***

A couple of days later, Ju-Hyeok fully grasped

Civil Empire

's popularity.

"Joseon Defeats Japan: 'A Miracle Victory.'"

"Semifinal Tickets Sold Out in 5 Minutes. Flights to Japan in High Demand."

"A New King in Esports: Civil Empire."

The domestic media was flooded with articles about

Civil Empire

. Major and minor outlets alike copied each other’s stories.

"This might seem like a temporary boom, but..."

"Yes, I am the manager of the national team. Who is this?"

Ju-Hyeok's phone rang incessantly with calls from companies whose names surprised him.

"Of course. I will call you back."

They all had the same intentions: to sponsor the team and get their logos displayed.

"Sir, we need a design change urgently. Yes, just a logo change..."

The factory producing the national team merchandise had to halt production to manage the influx of requests.

"You don't need to be included in the semifinals? Okay, we’ll aim for the finals or next year. And..."

Some companies even said it was fine not to include them in the semifinals, a bold request considering the sudden popularity surge after the Korea-Japan match. The Korean team, which previously struggled to secure a sponsor, now had more offers than they could accommodate. They could now afford salaries for all two hundred members and the think tank.

"Can you believe this happened between the quarterfinals and the semifinals?"

Ju-Hyeok could hardly believe it himself. Even more surprising was that he now had full authority over the profits and their distribution.

"Really?"

He couldn’t understand why Hui-Chul would hand over so much control, even temporarily.

"It's about trust."

He could rationalize it that way, thinking Hui-Chul trusted his abilities. However, there seemed to be something more. Hui-Chul had no children. This thought suddenly crossed Ju-Hyeok’s mind. Biting his lip, he nodded.

"I will do my best until the right time comes."

Hui-Chul was the first to trust Ju-Hyeok not just as an individual, but as a management representative. Ju-Hyeok didn’t want to disappoint Hui-Chul. Amid these thoughts, Ju-Hyeok received a call.

"Hello, this is Manager Koo Jin-Mo from the Ah-Sung Marketing Department."

“Hello. Manager Koo?”

It had been a long time since he heard this voice. Manager Koo had looked after him when he briefly worked in the marketing department.

"Is there a problem? I haven’t been on the marketing team for a while."

Ju-Hyeok assumed the call was about an issue from his former job. He had received such calls almost weekly before. His mild irritation was evident when he mentioned not being on the marketing team anymore, but the response was unexpected.

"Is this Manager Kim Ju-Hyeok of the national team? This is the number listed as the representative contact..."

‘Oh?’

Ju-Hyeok realized this call wasn't for the former Ah-Sung employee Kim Ju-Hyeok, but Kim Ju-Hyeok the head of Mixed Nuts and the national team manager.