APGD 37

Chapter 37

Debut: 99 Years
Pro Gamer

At Song Gi-hak’s question, Lee Do-soo slightly nodded his head.

“Yes, we want a head-to-head match with the Rookies. We will prove our skill and our value directly.”

“Let’s say you defeat our third-team friends as you propose. Are you saying that, as requested, all of you will join Bears together?”

“Yes.”

“And then, half a year later, you plan to challenge the second-team members, and around the next season, the first team, demanding a call-up?”

“That’s right. I’m not going to blindly beg for a call-up. I will prove it with results first, and only then make a legitimate request.”

“Heh… really…”

Song Gi-hak couldn’t help but let out a short laugh.

Immediately after, Choi Yeon-sik slammed his hand on the desk.

“Executive Director! This is unprecedented! A rookie who hasn’t even had a debut match yet is making such demands! This isn’t just about skill—it’s a matter beyond that!”

Song Gi-hak raised his hand to calm Director Choi once more.

Negotiations require not emotion, but reason.

He crossed his arms for a moment, letting his mind cool.

“Prove it with results,” he thought.

Of course, evaluating strength based on match results is straightforward. There are few more objective indicators than that.

It was certainly tempting.

But why did it still feel… off?

Simply put, accepting this proposal outright didn’t sit right. And that was because…

the “risk” factor had not yet been completely eliminated.

As his thoughts reached that point, Song Gi-hak’s previously subdued mind suddenly lit up.

“I hold Lee Do-soo’s fighting spirit and sense of challenge in high regard. I like it. But… if we follow your request, we’d end up filling at least four spots on the first-league stage with rookies who have no prior experience.”

Song Gi-hak continued, his gaze cold.

“Why should our team take such a massive risk for an ‘adventure’?”

An e-sports match—the so-called “Ball” game—is not simply about pitting numerical team strength against one another.

Especially on the official stage, there are countless variables:

The meta of the period,
The day’s ban-pick trends, and individual player conditions,
Various in-game ‘luck’ factors, and so on.

Even strong teams could be upset by the lowest-ranked teams—that was the thrill of e-sports. It was why fans were so passionate about watching live matches.

“Adventure?”

“The higher the league, the larger the scale. Especially in the first league, Korea’s top players gather. And there’s a considerable gap between matches on and off that stage.”

“….”

“There’s no guarantee that simple scrim results will translate directly to real matches. Last year’s regular season showed exactly that. That’s why I say it’s a high-risk ‘adventure.’”

Indeed, this was the blind spot of Lee Do-soo’s claim of “proof.”

Results from off-stage matches without an audience cannot replace all indicators.

In other words, the risk cannot be completely removed based solely on that—it was a refined, logical argument with ample reasoning.

Now, how would he respond? Accept and yield? Or refute?

Say something.

“You’re right. Scrims and stage matches are indeed different. There’s no guarantee that off-stage strength fully carries over into real matches.”

A smirk—

Song Gi-hak smiled, confident of victory. Finally, he saw a way to bring the negotiation table back to normal.

Or so he thought…

“Therefore── I will sufficiently prove it on the third- and second-league stages, through victories, before the final first-league call-up. And not just simple victories—I’m talking perfect-match victories.”

“!?”

“If my team loses even a single match during the regular season… I will disband the lineup I envisioned and fully follow the team’s decision regarding player deployment.”

Lee Do-soo once again responded with an answer that far exceeded imagination.

From the beginning, I had anticipated that Song Gi-hak wouldn’t be convinced immediately.

Although I had never had a deep conversation with him, I knew his management philosophy and how quick and accurate his calculations were from industry rumors.

“On the negotiation table, besides head-to-head matches, we’ll need clear ‘indicators’ to convince him.”

With that certainty, I boldly played the card of a league “perfect-match victory.”

No matter the scale difference, a perfect-match victory is never an easy record.

Unless you have overwhelming team strength and meta adaptability, it is an achievement impossible to accomplish.

He would probably dismiss it as an absurd goal. Realistically impossible.

And precisely because of that──

Even with my request for roster selection rights, Song Gi-hak might have a reason to consider it.

“Uha-hahaha!!”

Song Gi-hak laughed heartily.

“Really… Lee Do-soo, you are entirely different from ordinary rookies in every way. Honestly, I never imagined hearing such ambitions and requests.”

Of course, mere “consideration” wasn’t enough. The final “extra push” for persuasion was yet to be delivered.

“First-league guarantees? Triple the salary? I don’t need that right now.”

“…!?”

“If you accept my request, I’ll be satisfied with rookie-level salaries. A one-year contract is sufficient. If next year you’re unsatisfied with my teammates’ skills? Fine, discard them anytime.”

Song Gi-hak crossed his arms with an expression as if to say, “Oh, really? Look at this guy.”

“Even the minimum salary doesn’t matter?”

“Yes. If you trust me, I will definitely deliver a huge return at low cost.”

“Return?”

A smile curved on my lips.

“Start from the third league, break through the second, and call up the entire roster to the first league with a perfect-match victory—a historic feat… isn’t that romantic? Fans would undoubtedly go wild.”

“Hmm.”

“Especially, perfect-match victories have never been achieved in the domestic league. You mentioned the ‘risk’ of inexperience earlier. A valid point.”

“….”

“But even the best and most experienced players need time to adjust if there’s a roster change. That’s why almost all teams face trial and error early in the season.”

I emphasized my point with force.

“However, we are different. With no roster changes, our team will have a clear advantage in coordination. Risk isn’t the only factor.”

“Not only risk?”

“Yes. Considering the solidity and story of a team that wins perfect-match victories against all variables, Bears would find it worth attempting.”

Song Gi-hak crossed his arms and tapped his index finger, clearly calculating.

It would become a hot topic. New fans would flood in, leading to massive merchandise and fan-related revenue. No room for disagreement.

“Song Gi-hak, known for his quick calculations, would instantly grasp the potential returns.”

If he rejected after hearing all this… well, that was fine. I didn’t have to insist on Bears. There were still teams sending me fervent love calls.

“Perfect-match victory… that is, undefeated through playoffs and regular matches, is a reckless goal with slim chances.”

“Yes.”

“Yet, knowing this, you still say── if I fail, I’ll give up my insistence on roster selection?”

“Yes.”

“So you’re confident you can prove it?”

“Yes. I truly believe my team has that potential and I am confident we can achieve it.”

A moment of silence passed. Then, from that quiet, Song Gi-hak’s voice pierced my eardrum.

“Good. Since you said that, I want to watch a match with the Rookies team firsthand.”

“Yes!”

I clenched my fists under the desk and silently rejoiced.

At that moment, Director Choi furrowed his brows and interjected.

“Wait, Executive Director!! Are you serious? You’re really going to trust this absurd story?”

“Director Choi, I haven’t agreed to the option yet. I haven’t even signed. More importantly… I’ve made my judgment. Any issue?”

“No, but… our Rookies team members have been together for a while and are consistently in the TOP 3 of scrims.”

“Yes, I know.”

“The current Rookies coach is someone I personally trained. There’s no way they’d lose to an amateur team! It’ll be a waste of time!”

Song Gi-hak’s brow furrowed even more.

“Is it because you don’t want to lose your roster selection authority?”

“What? No! That’s not why I’m saying this!”

Director Choi suddenly flared up—he had been hit at the core.

“Then what’s the problem? Aren’t they capable, as you said?”

“Eh?”

“Then just win and prove it with results. I never said I’d decide after just one match, did I?”

“But after all the bonds built over time… replacing the existing roster after just a few matches… isn’t that too harsh?”

Song Gi-hak’s lips curled in a cold smirk, clearly unconvinced.

“Director Choi.”

“Yes, Executive Director.”

“Since when have you been so sentimental?”

“Eh…?”

“Rookies, second, or first team—they’re all professionals, right?”

“Ye… yes.”

“Regardless of the number of matches… if they fail to produce results, why should we keep them? In the professional world, if you’re lacking, you get left behind.”

Song Gi-hak added quickly.

“And if one slips up, it’s over for Lee Do-soo as well. If he can’t prove himself against our third-team members, do you think I’d accept his request?”

“….”

“Think rationally, Director. Don’t bring up sentiment unnecessarily. Bears will go with more promising players. Whoever they may be.”

I swallowed once, quietly, as the VIP room air turned icy. Director Choi shivered in anger.

Wow… what’s with these two?

Were they always this tense?

“Well… even in the previous life, if they weren’t bad, they certainly didn’t seem good.”

At this point, it wasn’t just barbs in speech—it was as if the words had sharp steel blades.

Then, Song Gi-hak cleared his throat and turned back to me.

“Sorry. The conversation went off track.”

“It’s fine.”

“Back to the main point. You mentioned the support position is vacant, right?”

“Yes. We haven’t found a suitable candidate yet.”

“Hmm… Our third-league Rookies have a sub-support. That player can join your team. That would also balance the match.”

“Right. The support levels of both teams should be similar so that the four of us can be objectively evaluated.”

Song Gi-hak nodded.

“That settles it. The match roster will be as discussed… I want the match as soon as possible, within 2–3 days.”

“2–3 days?”

“We can’t delay longer either. We need to prepare Plan B and C as well.”

This year’s domestic off-season was fiercely competitive.

Starting this year, China began sweeping Korea’s S-tier and promising rookie cards.

I would have liked more preparation time, but considering all teams were busy, 2–3 days was the practical maximum.

“Understood.”

“Good. Then negotiations will continue immediately after that match.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll contact you separately regarding scheduling. Coordinate the exact time with the Rookies’ coach.”

“Yes, thank you.”

The discussion went as expected, so it could be considered a success. The conversation flowed well enough.

Now, the next step was crucial. I rose with a short bow.

Just before opening the door, I briefly turned my head.

“Ah, since you’re lending a support member… if possible, I’d like to request one more thing necessary to prepare for this match.”