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I heard about everything that happened from Gi-hyun Choi. To be honest, my first thought was, “So what do you want me to do about it?”

I couldn’t help but wonder how difficult things must have been for him to send me a message.

If it were me back at this age (18), wouldn’t I have just replied with “But…?”

Hmm. Considering I was at my most cynical phase, I probably would have.

Isn’t there a time for everyone when the black flame dragon sealed in their left hand would go wild?

My phase came just a bit later.

– “Senior, this guy is smiling?”

– “That newbie is full of himself. Hey. He’s going pro right after high school—how can he not be full of himself?”

Well, of course, the middle school syndrome I had at that time disappeared through the socialization process of getting grilled.

“Ha. That was really tough back then.”

It was a period when I was struggling, yet my football skills were also rising at a fast pace.

I was determined to take the starting spot to get my revenge, training hard. As a result, I secured my starting position in the second half of the year I signed my pro contract.

Well. I don’t think the club was too disappointed. That guy, after all, ended up being expelled from the football world for match-fixing later on.

[Jeong Do-cheol, president of the Football Association, delivers a sharp reprimand to board members: “Instead of thinking about expanding the rice bowl, you’re just busy fighting over a limited bowl.”]

[The true opposition of Korean football, Heo Moon-sun, and Shin Seung-pyo push back against the bitter words of the president. “For the future of Korean football, the medieval house must step back…”]

By the way, as Gi-hyun Choi said, the situation in Korean football was gradually getting worse.

At this point, the Football Association of the original history might have been better…

[Shock… The Football Association appoints a new president unilaterally after a surprise amnesty for match-fixing footballers?]

[“‘Physical conflict over flags’ netizens say it’s like we’re back in the military dictatorship era…”]

[After the draw at home against Thailand, the Football Association claims flawless performance!]

Hmm. Maybe not.

Anyway, when I told Gi-hyun Choi that if he was really struggling, he should come back to Germany, he firmly refused, saying his pride as a mentor wouldn’t allow it.

Well. Even though he said that, I doubt that’s what he truly meant. Gi-hyun often clumsily mixed up important things (like his passport) and showed some funny moments, but surprisingly his sense of responsibility is stronger than you’d expect. In fact, it was Gi-hyun who handled administrative tasks through the night during my study abroad in Germany.

– Ho-woo: Who discovered me?

– Gi-hyun Choi: It’s… me!

– Ho-woo: Who discovered Kang Chan?

– Gi-hyun Choi: It’s me!!!

– Ho-woo: Ahem, I’m the one who discovered Kang Chan.

– Gi-hyun Choi: It’s… you?

– Ho-woo: But it was the coach who allowed Kang Chan to switch positions.

– Gi-hyun Choi: …!! It’s me!!

With those thoughts in mind, I wrote and sent a respectful message, and it seemed like Choi Gi-hyun was so moved he sent an immense amount of messages back. Han Gyeouri, seeing that, couldn’t resist commenting.

“Is that Ronaldo?”

“No. It’s Coach Choi Gi-hyun.”

“Since you sent a text bomb, I thought it was Ronaldo.”

Hmm. It seems Han Gyeouri’s image of Ronaldo has become a little strange…

As I was imagining the changed image of Ronaldo.

Woo-wooooong─!

“Who is it this time? Ronaldo?”

“Yep.”

“I knew it.”

Just as the saying goes, speaking of the tiger brings it forth; messages from Ho-bum-doo started pouring in.

– Beom-doo: (Investment ROI.jpg)

– Beom-doo: I guess I’m pretty good at investing too.

Out of nowhere, Ronaldo was bragging about his investment returns.

“Huh.”

I scoffed at Ronaldo’s bragging.

Even Warren Buffett, known as the sage of Omaha, would turn back into a commoner in the face of a returner bragging about investment returns.

– Ho-woo: This is our level.

I immediately logged into my stock and coin app, grabbed a screenshot, and sent it to Ronaldo.

“Goodbye, commoner who couldn’t even return.”

Right after disclosing my investment returns, there was a moment of silence from Ronaldo.

– Beom-doo: This letter starts from England…

After a while, what came my way was a lucky letter.

I burst into laughter at Ronaldo’s response, which seemed to gather good fortune, suddenly reminding me of an article saying Ramos had gone deep into debt because of real estate investments.

Later, it was revealed through Ramos’s interview that it wasn’t true, but I started to feel uneasy.

“That Ronaldo guy… Surely he’s not considering making a reverse offer to Man City just because he’s in debt?”

No way… right?

I slowly shook my head.

Still, just in case, I should send a warning.

– Ho-woo: Chris.

– Beom-doo: Why do you call me?

– Ho-woo: Investments need to be made with caution.

– Beom-doo: Hmph.

– Beom-doo: Are you afraid of me growing?

– Beom-doo: Soon I’ll catch up to your returns.

Why do I have this feeling?

– Manchester United! You should have respected me!

I really felt like I might meet the failed investor Ronaldo again in Manchester.

***

At the moment Son Jinho was feeling something was off.

Choi Gi-hyun was shedding tears of emotion.

He was moved by the message from his disciple Son Jinho, who said he respected and believed in his mentor—something he had never done before.

Choi Gi-hyun hesitated a moment upon receiving Son Jinho’s message to return to Germany, but he didn’t want to abandon the youth policies he had been pushing and flee from the football association.

– “I will become a world-class midfielder like Son Jinho!”

– “I’m a striker like Lewandowski! I’ll finish after receiving a pass from Son Jinho!”

And he couldn’t leave behind the young youth players who believed in him and joined the program.

Choi Gi-hyun recalled the harsh images of coaches who had mercilessly smacked the heads of young children in his memories.

Korean youth players, endlessly shrinking due to the coaches’ misguided teaching methods.

– “Gut! Tony well done!”

In contrast, he was shocked by the bright and cheerful faces of the German youth players.

‘I’m the only one who can reform the youth coaching system in South Korea.’

As he steeled his resolve, conviction filled Choi Gi-hyun’s eyes.

“Ah… this hot sensation. It’s time to return as the arsonist Choi Gi-hyun.”

Thus, the traditional Korean game Jwibulnori began.

Choi Gi-hyun, who had started exposing scandals centered around SNS and community platforms.

The media, that had deliberately ignored Choi Gi-hyun’s Jwibulnori for a time, finally began to pour out articles and news when the public’s anger boiled over.

[Shocking revelation, Son Jinho’s mentor Choi Gi-hyun exposes internal corruption of the Football Association on his personal SNS and internet community.]

└ “I thought he was just a click baiter, but it’s real?”

└ “Is the Man Utd doctor not actually just his girlfriend?”

└ “Our goddess wouldn’t do that.”

└ (Goddess blushing while startled by Son Jinho’s statement.gif)

└ “So cute…”

[Following additional revelations! Coach Choi Gi-hyun, “I even uncovered journalists who demanded money and threatened…”]

└ “It’s crazy for real lol”

[Netizens claim Choi Gi-hyun’s allegations can’t be trusted as they are just a personal statement.]

└ “We can’t believe you, fake news reporter.”

└ “Whoa. Is it real that at this level, someone confessed that they were the journalist who asked for money?”

└ “Originally, when humans panic, they stop thinking. It’s not that rookies or newbies have accidents; they’re just a bit disoriented.”

[Senior executive of the Football Association speaks out regarding the exposure: “That’s baseless.”]

[After the release of Choi Gi-hyun’s recordings, another senior official speaks: “Just an individual’s wrongdoing.”]

[“Endless controversy” Football Association, is there now suspicion of backdoor deals on the national team’s uniforms? “Investigation revealed that it was merely livelihood-related corruption…”]

[Jeong Do-cheol, president of the Football Association, “No matter what happens, I will trust Coach Choi to the end and let him lead the youth program.”]

[Chairman Hwang Geum-soon from Geumsun High School praises Coach Choi Gi-hyun, “A true educator of this era.”]

***

As Gi-hyun Choi began his Jwibulnori,

– Chairman Hwang Geum-soon: Indeed, I have an eye for people.

With Chairman Hwang Geum-soon’s self-praise.

– Father-in-law: Ugh. I feel like going fishing today.

The sigh mixed with sadness from FC Korea’s father-in-law echoed in the group chat.

– Gyeouri: Dad, let’s cheer for Man U this time.

– Cheolmo: Naturally, couples should cheer for Chelsea since they are of one mind!

– Chairman Hwang Geum-soon: Hmm. Arsenal, the aristocratic club even the British royal family supports, and the only team to win the EPL undefeated, sounds good too.

And within that, Han Gyeouri and the mother-in-law are coaxing their father-in-law.

– Cheolmo: Honestly, it’s not irrelevant, right?

– Chairman Hwang Geum-soon: What?

– Gyeouri: Let’s not fight and just support Man U if we’re Korean!

As usual, it was nearing a quarrel.

“Getting ready to enter.”

I made my way to the entrance tunnel for the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals between Dortmund and Juventus.

“Even if we’re leading 3-0, let’s not be complacent and give it our all!”

“Ja!!”

Before entering the stadium, Sebastian Kehl, who was starting for the first time in a while, gathered the players and wrapped up with a brief speech.

“Today we want victory; we will win!”

The ultras, proclaiming their intent to show German enthusiasm in Signal Iduna Park, began to wave flags symbolizing Dortmund along with flames bursting from yellow smoke.

“Are there no part-timers in Signal Iduna Park?”

I couldn’t help but marvel at the Germans doing chemical warfare training at the stadium.

 

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