Chapter 13: Top Agent (1)

The crowd in Brighton was singing the same song. It seemed to be the official anthem, judging by the lyrics about Brighton & Hove Albion FC.

As the players lined up to enter the field, the anthem played in the background.

When the announcer began to call out the players' names, the anthem ended perfectly, and the crowd erupted in cheers every time a player they liked was announced. As the opposing team's players were called, the cheers turned to jeers.

The players took their positions, and with the referee's whistle, the roar of the crowd filled the stadium.

[Wowwwww!] Brighton's home game had begun.

The opposing team was Wolverhampton FC, and like Brighton, they were competing for playoff rankings, so the tension was palpable from the start.

Look, Liam Grant just kicked an opponent's shin instead of the ball.

The sound echoed all the way up here. I hope he gets sent off.

To my disappointment, no card was shown. Brighton's fans cheered instead. It ended with just the referee's warning. This is the rough and tumble world of football in England.

Liam Grant, playing in the same position as Sebastian, often disrupted the flow of the game with his clumsy movements. From what I saw during training with the helpers, he seemed to be playing both striker and right winger, but today it looked like the coach intended to use him as a right winger. So far, it didn't seem to be working out.

"I'm envious."

"What of?"

Sebastian and I were seated at the very top of the central stands, out of sight from the crowd. It felt like watching from a distant perspective.

"Do you want to kick players like that?"

Sebastian chuckled softly.

"It's just that there's an opportunity to do something like that."

If he had been on the excluded roster, he should have been sitting right behind the team bench, but the players were so uncomfortable that they escaped to this spot. I didn't want to choke while watching the game.

If we looked at skill alone, Sebastian Rodriguez should have been on the field, specifically in Liam Grant's position.

It was ridiculous that he was sitting among the spectators for reasons other than skill.

"I want to run out there…"

Sebastian muttered.

I sensed that he wasn't expecting a response, so I watched the field, hoping for a mistake from Liam Grant.

Overhearing the grumbling of the two bald old men in front of us as the loud anthem quieted down.

"If Rodriguez had been in form, we'd be looking at first place right now."

Sebastian flinched.

"What's the playoff ranking? With this level, we should be grateful. We might make it to the Premier League!"

"Look at this guy? Are you satisfied with that? If Rodriguez were here, it would be direct promotion."

"…That's true. I hope that guy isn't just a leech."

"He had a good start. Let's wait and see."

Right now, Brighton was precariously in sixth place, but with their current winning streak, the media had confidently predicted them as a team likely to make the playoffs.

On the field, Liam Grant, true to his large frame, was trying to push through the right side, using his body more than his foot skills.

And he made a clumsy cross while holding onto the ball, which, unsurprisingly, was blocked by the defense, leading to a counterattack.

"Ugh."

Compared to Sebastian, he was a good twenty levels below.

Was it because of his lack of skill that he resorted to racism? Was that why he tried so hard to undermine Sebastian? Because he was the direct competition in the same position.

So it was due to his inferiority complex.

…No, I shouldn't care.

The fact that he had done something trashy didn't change.

I turned to look at Sebastian. He was fully immersed in the game, his eyes sharp. He sighed when the attack failed and yelled with the other spectators when things got dangerous.

In his exaggerated behavior, I could glimpse one desire: that Sebastian truly wanted to be out there playing.

If I used the evidence I had gathered properly, I could get Sebastian onto that field as early as next week.

The game was coming to an end. It was time to wrap things up.

After dropping Sebastian off at the hotel, I opened my laptop as soon as I got home and pressed the call button.

After a few rings, the call connected.

[Ahhh!]

[Dad!]

I looked again at the name on the screen; I had dialed the right number. I had called this number last time too.

[Kids, hang on, I'm going to talk to Dad for a second.]

Finally, I heard the owner of the phone through the noisy background.

[Oh, Hyunseok. What's going on?]

"Hey, Harry. It's important. Are you home?"

[Important? Well, I am home but…]

I chose to contact Harry instead of Katie Cubitt. I was unsettled by the icy demeanor she had shown me. Harry, who had even used his own money to help prepare Sebastian's breakfast, seemed to be a more trustworthy source of common sense.

"Could you turn on your laptop or something? I just sent you an email, and I want to talk about it while you look at it."

[Email? Kids, let me turn this on.

I could hear the children's giggles as Harry's awkward voice followed.]

"Your kids sound lively."

[Haha, right? The laptop is on. Just a sec.

It didn't take long for Harry's soft and calm voice to rise to a fervor.]

[What is this?]

"These are videos, audio files, photos, and records I took myself."

[No, that's not it! While this was happening, why were you just sitting around? That Sebastian guy! You too! Why didn't you tell me sooner!]

Harry started to huff. His kids sounded startled, their hiccups echoing through the call.

I spoke in a calm voice.

"I reported it to the agency, but they said they couldn't take action without clear evidence. So I gathered all of this. What do you think? Is this enough?"

…

Harry's voice fell silent.

Did you contact Katie?

"Yeah, I did."

…

"Could you please tell the director directly if possible? I hate to say this, but I'm a bit uneasy about Katie Cubitt… I'd like to bring it myself, but I don't have the time to go back and forth to London. So I'm asking you, Harry."

Harry was quiet for a long time before replying in a gloomy voice.

You've worked hard. This should be enough; it has to be enough. I'll report it and call you right back.

"Thanks, Harry. I appreciate it."

Five minutes after my call with Hyunseok, Harry was ready to leave, putting on his coat.

For the past two weeks, I had barely slept due to the constant worry about Sebastian and the new recruit, and I never expected something like this would happen.

"Dad! Where are you going again?"

Dadddddd!"

Harry's two adorable daughters clung to his legs like little logs, refusing to let go. He gently patted their heads and said,

"Dad has something really urgent to take care of. Someone needs my help."

"But we need you too! When will you be back if you leave again…?"

"...."

Harry was at a loss for words. Since the players lived in various locations and the clubs were all different, Harry's job had him traveling around, only managing to return home once a week. He felt torn between his guilt toward his daughters and his worry about Sebastian's situation.

At that moment, his wife chimed in.

"Dear, how long has it been since you were last home? And now you're leaving again…!"

Harry clasped his hands together in a pleading gesture.

"I'm sorry, but it's really important. A player's life is at stake."

His wife glared at him for a long while. Then she sighed heavily, as if the ground had opened beneath her, and reluctantly pried her daughters off of him.

"Dadddddd!"

"If you're not home by midnight, don't even think about coming back!"

"I'm sorry, girls. I promise I'll play with you next time. Thank you, dear!"

Harry drove toward EW Agency.

When he contacted the director about an urgent matter, he was told to come to the office since the director happened to be there.

As he opened the door to the dark office, only the director's room was lit.

It was a familiar sight. The director didn't seem to have any days off.

"Did you come?"

"Yes."

He was dressed in the same suit as always, and documents appeared to be freshly inked. Harry wondered when the director ever took a break before realizing that wasn't important right now. He hurriedly searched for the tablet in his bag and pressed the power button.

"What's going on?"

"It's about Sebastian Rodriguez."

The director's face, which had held a slight smile, turned serious.

"I told you to come because you said it was important, and it's about Sebastian Rodriguez again?"

There was a hint of reprimand in the director's voice.

Harry remembered the director had told him to drop the matter that day, but he summoned the courage to present the tablet.

"You won't be saying that after you see this."

He played the first piece of evidence sent by Taehyunseok: a video showing Sebastian enduring intentional rough play.

Next came footage of gang members causing a ruckus in front of the house at night, followed by clips of Liam Grant, Kevin McGregor, and Daniel Knight engaging in racist behavior.

As the videos played one after another, the director frowned, focusing intently on the screen.

"Let me see that."

The director practically snatched the tablet from Harry and began to play each video himself.

There were also audio recordings, documents, and finally, evidence and photos regarding Liam Grant's critical weakness—his involvement in underage prostitution.

The director watched all the evidence from beginning to end, replaying it several times with unwavering eyes.

Harry patiently waited for the director's reaction.

"Who compiled this? That rookie, Taehyunseok?"

"Yes."

The director lifted his gaze, his face still expressionless.

But his eyes sparkled with intensity.

He said, "This is useful."