Surviving as a Rogue Hospital Director - Chapter 127

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 127.
The directors of South Korea’s top four hospitals gathered for an informal discussion.
Korea University Hospital, a national institution;
Cheon Hui University Hospital, a university hospital;
Eunseong Hospital, a corporate hospital; and
Saint Hospital, a religious hospital.
It was rare for all of them to meet in one place. These competitors had little reason to socialize with one another.
But today’s meeting was an unofficial briefing organized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. At the government’s summons, all four hospital directors had shown up without exception.
“Well, thank you all for gracing us with your presence. Today, um, we’ve called you together regarding the establishment of the National AI Medical Center.”
A government official—one bereft of any visible enthusiasm—presided over the proceedings.
The meeting’s agenda had been disclosed in advance.
Every director here would have come prepared with knowledge of the National AI Medical Center.
Though it was a gathering of remarkable figures, Beom-jun’s status window chimed relentlessly.
[Warning: A hostile individual is in the vicinity.]
[Warning: A hostile individual is in the vicinity.]
Since none of the people present were subordinates of Beom-jun, no personnel information appeared. Instead, the status window kept sending warnings.
Someone here held hostile intent toward him.
‘Saint Hospital is the stronghold of the Uigwonhoe, so Kang Yo-han must be the one harboring the hostility.’
Based on the window’s warning, Beom-jun had fixed his suspicion on the Saint Hospital director.
Just then, the government official pushed up his glasses, which had slipped down to his nostrils, and spoke.
“We should probably decide which hospital will serve as the hub for operating the AI Center. Um, if anyone has thoughts on the matter, I’d appreciate hearing them.”
He said he was asking, but his tone carried the clear undertone that he didn’t care which hospital ended up with it.
The government official’s thick-framed glasses appeared quite heavy, their lenses distorting the eyes behind them into a peculiar shape.
After he finished speaking, the status window appeared again.
[Warning: A hostile individual is in the vicinity.]
[Warning: A hostile individual is in the vicinity.]
Odd, how they appeared twice in succession.
As Beom-jun was examining the window, Eunseong Hospital seized the floor first.
“The AI Center would be perfect for Eunseong Hospital. With our superior technical capabilities, we could not only establish AI medicine but exceed expectations. We’ve already been developing AI medical technology in-house.”
“No, the AI Center isn’t just about developing technology—it needs to be verifiable. As you know, Cheon Hui University Hospital has the most branch hospitals nationwide. We can integrate AI on-site and observe the results immediately.”
Following Eunseong’s pitch, Cheon Hui University Hospital enumerated its own advantages.
Sparks seemed to fly between the two directors.
Well, designation as the AI Medical Center meant securing hundreds of millions in government funding. It was only natural they’d charge in with fervor.
Lucrative work,
And work that benefited themselves—the hospital directors spoke with passionate intensity, one after another.
In that gap, the Saint Hospital director, Kang Yo-han, opened his mouth as well.
“Wouldn’t excessive focus on technology cause us to lose sight of medicine’s true essence? If Saint Hospital takes charge, we could address the shortcomings of AI medicine.”
“No, no! Addressing those shortcomings can wait until after the project is underway. Let Cheon Hui University Hospital oversee the National AI Medical Center, and we can review what needs supplementing afterward.”
The moment Saint Hospital finished its appeal, Cheon Hui University Hospital shot back a rebuttal. His point was sound—in the early stages of establishing the AI Medical Center, there wouldn’t be much Saint Hospital could contribute.
‘Whew, it’s fierce.’
Beom-jun shuddered slightly. He had been merely observing the competition between hospitals. Without popcorn, he was almost a spectator.
The evaluation documents submitted beforehand had been shared among the hospitals, so each could gauge the others’ standing.
It was effectively the government’s directive to jockey and compete on their own.
There were six evaluation criteria.
Medical quality / Patient safety / Patient experience / Workforce management / Financial soundness.
As befitted top-four hospitals, all four institutions had earned A grades in most categories.
Korea University Hospital had received A’s across the board. Since Beom-jun became director, patient experience—a metric of service quality—had been elevated from B to A.
Cheon Hui University Hospital and Eunseong Hospital, meanwhile, had received B’s in medical quality. Saint Hospital earned B’s in workforce management and financial soundness.
‘Between Eunseong and Cheon Hui, either would work fine. Neither is bad.’
Excluding Korea University Hospital, both Cheon Hui and Eunseong were respectable choices.
One was slightly lacking in research output, the other in treatment capacity,
But neither shortfall would much matter in establishing an AI Center.
Beom-jun flipped rapidly through the printed evaluation materials before him.
His habit of reviewing vast medical records had trained him to skim documents with speed.
In truth, Beom-jun had little interest in anything beyond completing quests. He’d taken on the hospital director role out of necessity. This briefing had nothing to do with his survival odds anyway.
While the other directors pitched actively, Beom-jun sat with vacant eyes, turning pages one by one.
Yet despite his indifference, the government official took interest in him first.
“Well, um, come to think of it, Korea University Hospital, being a national institution, might be the proper choice after all.”
“No! Korea University Hospital is already handling numerous national projects. The remote medical IT systems for military-commissioned hospitals still aren’t finished, from what I understand!”
The moment the government official spoke, Cheon Hui University Hospital cut him off aggressively.
Beom-jun, having lost his turn, felt slightly displeased.
Did this person have some habit of objecting first, then thinking later?
But the Cheon Hui University Hospital director wasn’t about to yield to Beom-jun—or to Korea University Hospital—and redoubled his efforts.
He’d been staring wide-eyed since the briefing began. His intraocular pressure might be rising, capillaries rupturing behind his eyes.
In the original “Doctor X,” Cheon Hui University Hospital is positioned as Korea University Hospital’s rival. Technically, Cheon Hui claimed the rivalry themselves.
And true to the source material, the Cheon Hui director seemed conscious of Beom-jun.
“It’s too much for Korea University Hospital to take on the AI Center as well!”
As if trying to beat Beom-jun to the punch, Cheon Hui interjected tensely. The director continued to pitch himself without letting the airtime lapse.
Watching the Cheon Hui director like this, Beom-jun smiled thinly.
‘I wasn’t even interested, but if he keeps going like that, things get interesting.’
Beom-jun spoke respectfully to the government official.
“If the Ministry directs us to take it on, we’ll do our best. Korea University Hospital has pursued multiple national projects over the years, so regardless of the Center’s nature, implementation should proceed smoothly.”
Honestly, whether it was AI medicine or anything else didn’t matter. Korea University Hospital had overwhelmingly more experience in government-led initiatives. Experience was the word.
From what Beom-jun knew, government-organized briefings like this were nearly nonexistent.
Usually, once Korea University Hospital was designated, only then would the other hospitals learn what the government was trying to do.
For the other hospitals, merely being invited to sit at this table represented an opportunity they rarely received.
“Um, yes, that’s right. Korea University Hospital certainly has the experience, so to speak.”
As expected, the government official responded favorably to Beom-jun, and the other directors went on high alert.
“That, well—”
“Now that the briefing has begun, I think it would be good to discuss this further.”
Cheon Hui and Eunseong tried to stop the official from making a premature decision.
“Um, I see. For now, um, it would be fine to discuss a bit more…”
Before the official could change his mind, the Saint Hospital director, Kang Yo-han, hurried forward with a proposal.
“Saint Hospital will bow out this time. Our current hospital circumstances make it difficult to take this on. Instead, I’d like to recommend Eunseong Hospital. I believe Eunseong’s technology will be the core of the AI Medical Center.”
And he exchanged a knowing glance with the Eunseong director.
The moment Beom-jun caught it, his pupils dilated. He understood instinctively. The two knew each other from way back. Saint Hospital’s sudden withdrawal seemed pre-arranged.
[Warning: A hostile individual is in the vicinity.]
[Warning: A hostile individual is in the vicinity.]
The moment Beom-jun confirmed the status window, his pupils widened further. Two hostile individuals. They had to be the Saint Hospital director and the Eunseong director.
And the instant Beom-jun reached this understanding, another hidden quest materialized.
[Hidden Quest Generated.]
[Hidden Quest: The Enemy of My Enemy Is My Ally]
Secure a new force to oppose the Uigwonhoe and forge an alliance.
Reward: Fever Mode (3-day pass)
‘What is this? I haven’t even finished the last hidden quest, and another one appears?’
[Hidden Quests have no limit on quantity.]
[Only Main Quests progress sequentially.]
The status window clarified his doubt. Beom-jun reconsiderd and examined the quest details more carefully.
‘Enemy of my enemy. I’m supposed to join forces with whoever stands against the Uigwonhoe.’
The enemy of the enemy the quest pointed to was, strikingly, Cheon Hui University Hospital. Yesterday’s rival was today’s ally.
Having felt no interest in the briefing moments before, Beom-jun’s appetite suddenly shifted. His eyes gleamed with purpose, like the other hospital directors.
Nothing would be decided at today’s briefing anyway.
This was from Beom-jun’s experience in his previous life. Government projects didn’t move at lightning speed—it would make no sense if they did.
‘Heh, I just need to complete the quest and move on.’
Beom-jun laughed quietly to himself and straightened in his seat. His cold gaze grew colder still, the eyes of a predator that had found its prey—a hunter ready to strike.
As he sat up fully, his broad frame loomed notably over the other directors—the emaciated ones and those with protruding bellies—his physique standing out as distinctly powerful.
That Beom-jun was the youngest director in the room added to the effect.
Everyone in the briefing room noticed the shift in Beom-jun’s demeanor, how he’d changed from listless to engaged.
The other directors in particular felt the shift in atmosphere and nervously swallowed, clearing their throats.
— Gulp, gulp.
“Ahem, cough.”
They silently vowed to settle the AI Medical Center designation before Beom-jun could fully enter the fray.
It was then that the government official, who had been quiet, opened his mouth.
“Well, then…”
In the briefing room, now hot with fervent discussion, everyone but Beom-jun swallowed hard—as if their necks might snap at the official’s next words.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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