The Seoul-office staff of the Ilhyeon Baseball Club were busy in motion. Determined not to relive last year's failure, they were doing everything they could to hold their focus right up to the last day of the season.

"Confirm the hotel reservations?"

"Yes. They say there are no problems."

"Even so, just to be safe, call one more time to check the rooms. It's peak vacation season — no telling how things might shift."

"Yes. Actually, that's why I've been talking with Busan Hotel now. The rooms were originally split across the fourth through seventh floors, and I've asked them to consolidate everything onto a single floor. I've made the same request to Gwangju Hotel too."

"Well done. The players' condition is the most important thing."

Director Jeong-seop Yun, head of the Support Division of Ilhyeon Baseball Club, emphasized to his staff once more —

"Right now is the most crucial time. Yes, we're pulling well ahead of second place — but none of that matters. In the end, whoever wins the Korean Series decides the champion of the year. We saw it last year."

At Director Yun's words, the staff's expressions turned somber.

"I don't ever want to go through that again. So this time, let's put in a hundred and twenty percent of what we've got and take the championship for sure. And to do that, what we have to do is make sure the players' condition doesn't drop off in the summer."

Director Yun paused a moment. He glanced sideways at the office door as it opened and passed his staff a final word of encouragement.

"They say the team that gets through the summer well is the one that wins the championship. So all of you — let's do our best so the players can play in their best form. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!"

Director Yun accepted the reply and waved them to go back to work. Then he stepped briskly toward the person who had just come through the office door.

"You've arrived."

"Yeah. Right."

Chang-jong waved a hand at Director Yun and pointed a finger…