Chapter 20

〈 Chapter 20 〉 Scouting

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GRS.

It's a familiar team.

No, it's a team that anyone with even a little interest in the League of Legends tournament couldn't help but know.

The Red Cup runners-up.

The dominant force in China.

A prestigious team that, if you searched the entire world, would always be counted among the top five.

They had contacted me.

‘Now that I think about it, the IDs with GRS in them were the ones who sent the most friend requests.’

I ignored them all because I had no intention of accepting, but the reason was obvious.

After all, I had just single-handedly dismantled GRS's Red Cup runner-up mid-jungle duo not long ago.

It wasn't strange, considering that teams often take players' opinions very seriously when recruiting new players.

‘What should I do…’

My sleepiness vanished.

I had deliberately not accepted any friend requests to avoid such a situation, but I never expected them to contact me like this…

It was obvious how they got my contact information.

I had already communicated with several professional teams in the past, so they must have gotten it from one of them.

For someone with the connections and the GRS coach's business card, it wouldn't have been difficult.

‘I should at least reply.’

No matter what, it was a team that had a good opinion of me. Out of respect, I couldn't just ignore them, so I pressed my smartphone.

"Yes, that's correct."

Ding

It seemed they were prepared, as a reply came in less than ten seconds.

This alone gave me a rough idea of what they thought of me.

"Ah, I see. Then, would it be possible to have a phone conversation?"

Of course, that was out of the question.

My voice, which anyone could recognize as a woman's, was indeed that of a woman.

As someone who was preparing to completely end my life as a prisoner, I couldn't leave any evidence that could link me to my future self.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not in a situation where I can do that."

"Ah... I see. Then, would it be possible to communicate via text message?"

I thought for a moment before sending a reply.

No matter what, they had recognized my value and reached out to me. It would be better to decline politely.

"Yes, it's possible via text message."

"I'll be straightforward. If you don't have a team you're currently affiliated with or planning to join, would you be open to a constructive discussion about joining our team?"

As expected, it was about joining a team.

In other words, a scouting offer.

Of course, my current situation was not one where I could join a team, so there was no need to think about it.

"Ah, I'm sorry, but due to personal reasons, I'm not in a position to be active in a team. I apologize."

A polite refusal should suffice.

After all, if they found out about my situation from my own mouth, they wouldn't give up.

"I know."

...I thought that, but the reply I received was completely unexpected.

"What do you mean?"

Pretending not to know, but I suspected Coach Jang Seok-hwan was referring to my rare disease.

Given that rumors about me had spread even to internet communities, it would be strange not to know.

"Regardless of your current situation, if you were to sign with us, GRS, we would provide you with a professional interpreter, a dedicated doctor, and a team of specialists who would live in your accommodation and care for you 24/7."

Clearly, they knew about my condition.

But... something was off.

They were scouting me despite knowing about my condition...?

To this extent?

‘What’s going on?’

Even as I stared blankly at my smartphone, the text messages kept coming.

"I believe you already know, but GRS is one of China's top teams, having achieved a runner-up finish in the recent Red Cup, surpassing many other top teams."

"Of course, we are not satisfied with just that. A runner-up finish in the Red Cup is certainly a good achievement, but GRS always aims for the championship."

"That's why we are confident."

"If you were to join us, we believe that next year's Red Cup will be ours."

This wasn't something written on the spot.

It was clearly a prepared statement.

Before I could fully realize this, a long text message continued.

"Regarding the most important matter, your salary, we are considering up to 600 million won in Korean currency, out of respect for your concerns about the overseas move."

"This is the after-tax amount, and all taxes imposed in China will be covered by the team."

"Additionally, performance bonuses will be paid separately from the base salary of 600 million won, based on your performance."

"We can confidently say that such a generous offer is unparalleled anywhere in the world."

A pure after-tax salary of 600 million won.

Plus, various other generous benefits, including specialized care.

While top-class professional players do earn tens of millions of won, that's only for the top class.

No matter how much they expected from me, it was an unreasonable offer for an amateur like me.

I know this because I have received countless professional offers in the past.

The highest salary offer I received was 300 million won.

Even that disappeared like a mirage after my rare disease became known.

So, at first, I thought this scouting offer was just a test.

They would give up like other teams once they found out about my condition.

But...

Something was off.

"I can't walk due to my illness."

"That's fine. We will provide you with an electric wheelchair and a team of professional caregivers."

"I might have a seizure at any time."

"As mentioned earlier, a skilled doctor will be on standby in the GRS accommodation. In case of an emergency, we can also transport you to the hospital by helicopter from the rooftop."

...Why are they even mentioning a helicopter?

"I have limited activity time each day and won't be able to follow the team schedule normally."

"We can adjust the team schedule to the best of our ability. Our team has many excellent players who can step in for you in case of an emergency. You don't need to worry about that."

No, then why not just use them?

Their obsession with me was so intense that it felt bizarre.

In the end, I had to ask directly.

"Why are you going to such lengths?"

"Because we believe you can become a player who will go down in history. And the first step of that journey will be with us, GRS."

The flattery was so tempting just to hear.

But it didn't feel bad.

In fact, it felt good.

Regardless of their motives, it meant they recognized me, the prisoner.

If I were my old self, I would have bitten the bait without hesitation.

Is there anything as joyful as having your value recognized by others?

‘But... it’s already spilled water.’

I have changed, and I will continue to change.

As a prisoner, I must disappear soon.

I'm sorry.

That's all I needed to say.

But for some reason...

Even though I knew I should reject it immediately, I couldn't bring myself to send a refusal.

Instead, I sent a different reply.

"Does that mean you plan to make me a starter?"

"Of course, there will be a fair competition process. But we believe you can secure a starting position, so you don't need to worry about that."

"Of course, this conversation is a secret from the other players ^^;"

Whether it was just flattery to lure me or genuine belief in me, Coach Jang Seok-hwan's evaluation of me seemed extraordinary.

‘The biggest reason... is probably my recent improved form.’

If my old self felt like, ‘Really? Is it necessary to go to such lengths?’ my current self felt like, ‘This player is worth taking any risk to recruit.’

That's why it's so disappointing.

So incredibly disappointing.

"I'm sorry."

In the end, I forced my fingers to send the reply.

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