Surviving as a Rogue Hospital Director - Chapter 144

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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 144.
A busy week flew past in an instant.
Beom-jun had recruited physicians for volunteer work centered around Min-ho, and before applying to Saint Hospital for medical volunteer service, he called Kang Yo-han.
It was his first call since they’d eaten together at the Korean Traditional Restaurant.
By the terms of the Talent Contract, Kang Yo-han, who had become a Talent against his will, couldn’t refuse a thing Beom-jun said.
“Are you joking right now? Who applies a week in advance? We’re already at full capacity. And Korea University Hospital hasn’t even participated before. Why would you want to come… Aren’t you busy?”
Korea University Hospital had rarely participated in the medical volunteer services hosted by Saint Hospital, but this time was different. Because it was a volunteer event where Uigwonhoe members gathered.
“I heard it was meaningful work. I want to participate this time, specifically.”
After registering Kang Yo-han as a Talent, Beom-jun learned that this volunteer service was connected to the Uigwonhoe. Saint Hospital hosted it, and Kang Yo-han was in charge of it.
With the total scope at a thousand people, there would be a mix of the three hundred registered members of the Uigwonhoe from across the country and physicians who genuinely wanted to volunteer.
“Ah, look, I can’t… Hmm.”
Kang Yo-han started to tell Beom-jun it was impossible, but suddenly his words wouldn’t come out.
A Status Window appeared before Beom-jun’s eyes.
[The target has been confirmed as a Talent.]
[Control Power is applied to Kang Yo-han.]
[Control Power applied at lower grade due to insufficient Favorability with the Talent.]
[Control Power Level 2: Obeys even if reluctant.]
Since his registration as a Talent, Kang Yo-han could not refuse Beom-jun’s orders.
“Ugh, seriously.”
Through the phone call alone, Beom-jun could feel Kang Yo-han’s irritation.
It would be simple to add Korea University Hospital physicians to the existing personnel pool, but Kang Yo-han’s perfectionism wouldn’t allow even a shred of flexibility.
He’d rearrange the entire personnel distribution and reconstruct the volunteer schedule to leverage the physicians’ backgrounds and specialties.
Kang Yo-han fumed as he spoke with Beom-jun on the phone.
Already, just days ago, he’d held a Foot-washing Ceremony, and there was much cleanup to do afterward. Unlike decades before, public opinion on the ceremony wasn’t favorable.
It wasn’t an unfounded concern. Kang Yo-han himself still hadn’t found an answer to the question of who he’d done it for.
‘Damn it, I’m going to be up all night.’
But having to handle Beom-jun’s work on top of it all gave him a headache.
Yet his circumstances were none of Beom-jun’s concern. Kang Yo-han had, in effect, sacrificed innocent patients. Unintentionally or not, he’d used them to line Han Myeong-jae’s pockets.
So some suffering on his part was warranted. More than that—it was necessary.
Beom-jun extracted information about the medical volunteer service from Kang Yo-han, whether he was irritated or not.
“How many Uigwonhoe members are coming? Should I assume everyone’s attending?”
“What, did I say this was a Uigwonhoe regular meeting?”
Kang Yo-han startled at Beom-jun’s words and readily spilled details about the true nature of the medical volunteer service.
If it was a regular meeting, it was safe to assume nearly everyone would come. Somehow, the volunteer service’s scale matched that of the Uigwonhoe’s registered membership.
“Well, it’s obvious.”
Beom-jun spoke with leisured confidence, as if he already knew all this.
“But if you know all that, why would Korea University Hospital want to attend?”
“It shouldn’t matter. You withdrew from the Uigwonhoe yourself, didn’t you? The day after we had that meal.”
“… That’s not the only reason.”
At Beom-jun’s words, Kang Yo-han spoke in a subdued voice. Even as he denied it, he secretly acknowledged that Beom-jun had played a decisive role in his decision to leave the Uigwonhoe.
He’d realized that Han Myeong-jae was treating the Uigwonhoe like a family business, skimming money from the members.
His younger self, deceived by Han Myeong-jae into pursuing some greater cause, now filled him with bitter regret. Back then, he’d thought he was serving patients.
“Seems you came to some realization rather abruptly.”
Beom-jun spoke sardonically to a Kang Yo-han who insisted it wasn’t so. Twisted by nature, Kang Yo-han took the comment as mockery and began to buckle under Beom-jun’s momentum.
“It’s not your concern, Director.”
Yet Kang Yo-han still dug in his heels and refused further conversation. The only time he followed orders was when Beom-jun deployed Control Power. His temperament was formidable.
The physicians at Korea University Hospital were fundamentally scholarly types with open minds, even accounting for Beom-jun’s influence as director.
Kang Yo-han was the polar opposite. He was headstrong and unyielding.
“So you want to use me to infiltrate the heart of the Uigwonhoe? That’s what you’re getting at.”
Kang Yo-han continued to voice his opinion. He seemed prepared to persist until it took.
But Beom-jun answered him without hesitation.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Behind Beom-jun’s words lay the unspoken addition: ‘What will you do about it?’ Failure to clear the quest meant death. It was do or die, and no matter what tantrum Kang Yo-han threw, Beom-jun had to infiltrate the Uigwonhoe.
This volunteer service would be the entry point.
“Hah!”
Beom-jun’s brazen attitude left Kang Yo-han speechless.
He couldn’t fathom why this reckless bastard was acting this way, or why he himself couldn’t refuse Beom-jun’s words. Nothing made sense.
All the while, Beom-jun continued to enumerate what Kang Yo-han needed to do.
“Oh, and there’s bound to be a separate Heart team among the volunteers. It would be best to assign Dr. Min-ho there.”
For Min-ho to perform well, he needed to be placed in a team suited to his field.
The Uigwonhoe members would all know each other, so if Min-ho ended up getting menial work, it would be a problem. At first, he might even be looked down on as a mere Resident.
“Isn’t he the one who follows around Professor Im Sung-hyuk? You can’t divide volunteer sites by medical department like in a hospital. The Resident could end up on a different team, in surgery for instance.”
Kang Yo-han seemed to already know about Min-ho. It was as if he’d run a background check on Beom-jun’s associates.
“No. Assign him to the Heart team.”
But Beom-jun responded obstinately to Kang Yo-han’s objection.
“What are you doing! Why should I—”
And whenever Kang Yo-han tried to refuse, Control Power reliably kicked in.
[Control Power is applied to Kang Yo-han: Level 2.]
[Control Power Level 2: Obeys even if reluctant.]
“I didn’t know you were like this.”
Forced to do something he disliked once again, Kang Yo-han ground his teeth as he spoke. Unable to even protest effectively, his spirit had flagged somewhat.
“It’s fortunate you know now. I’d appreciate your thorough cooperation. With this and going forward as well.”
But Beom-jun remained unchanged regardless.
‘This reckless punk. I won’t be seeing you ever again.’
Kang Yo-han cursed inwardly in exasperation. Once Beom-jun had said all he needed to say, he hung up the phone.
– Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
Kang Yo-han held the dead phone for a long moment, turning over in his mind what had just happened to him.
A few seconds later, he hurled the phone onto the sofa. His seething frustration remained unabated.
Yet for some reason, Kang Yo-han found he couldn’t be rough with Beom-jun. Everything he’d said would come to pass—Kang Yo-han was powerless to stop it. The old rumors of Beom-jun being a reckless troublemaker, which he’d thought were exaggerated—
“Damn it! That bastard really is a reckless troublemaker!”
He was every bit as unruly as rumor had it—just not anyone’s personal lapdog, that was all.
“Something feels off. Maybe the beginning of this is just going to be messy.”
He had a strong premonition that this volunteer service would be considerably exhausting.
Trying to finish things perfectly even after leaving the Uigwonhoe had been his downfall.
He’d grown disillusioned with Han Myeong-jae and left the Uigwonhoe, but since everyone knew him there, he’d wanted to part ways without any awkwardness or hard feelings.
Now it seemed he was the one who’d end up with the most egg on his face.
Kang Yo-han picked up a pen and circled a date on the calendar lying on his desk. The box with the date already had a memo written in it.
– Southwest Region Medical Volunteer Service: Uigwonhoe.
Less than a week remained until the volunteer service began.
* * *
Friday morning, Min-ho received an email from an unfamiliar address.
– [email protected]
Min-ho, who’d heard only a verbal explanation from Beom-jun, had been waiting for word from the volunteer organization.
‘Ah, haven’t you heard yet? Saint Hospital will be contacting you soon. Seems they’re running a bit late.’
This must have been what the director meant. He’d said Saint Hospital would be in touch. He’d assumed it was a medical volunteer service hosted by Saint Hospital.
When Min-ho clicked open the email, he saw his name in the body text.
– Hello, Dr. Min-ho. This is the Saint Hospital Volunteer Team. Thank you for volunteering for the Southwest Region Medical Volunteer Service.
This volunteer service will take place over five nights and six days in the medically underserved Southwest Region.
Dr. Min-ho has been assigned to H-2 Team. Please review the attached file for detailed volunteer schedules.
Thank you.
It was the notification email he’d expected. It starts next Monday, yet the word is only coming now.
Min-ho had asked Beom-jun why the notification hadn’t come, but the director had only told him to wait.
So Min-ho had been uncertain whether he was really going on this volunteer service. His vacation had been approved long ago, so he’d even entertained wild fantasies about going on vacation alone if things fell through.
‘So I really am going on this volunteer service. Before my Residency even ends, I’m doing everything under the sun.’
The Southwest Region was over three hours from Korea University Hospital. When Min-ho clicked the attachment, he saw the route: by KTX train, then switching to a bus. Not returning until Saturday morning. It was dizzying.
Min-ho, who’d never treated patients outside a hospital, felt daunted by the prospect of going somewhere without any medical equipment or facilities.
At Korea University Hospital, he could order tests whenever needed and consult other departments—but at the volunteer site, there would be nothing.
Of course, they’d bring portable equipment, but it was incomparable to what the hospital had. Min-ho felt like he was going out with only a scalpel and nothing else.
Still, he was only a Resident.
‘Won’t there be plenty of Fellows and Professors in the volunteer group? I’m just a Resident seeing patients for the first time anyway. I can assist and come back.’
But as Min-ho was thinking complacently, he noticed the list of teams at the very end of the schedule.
The H-2 Team he’d been assigned to was a dedicated Heart team composed of cardiologists and thoracic surgeons, but it was made up entirely of Residents.
– H-2 Team Leader: Min-ho
And Min-ho was the team leader.
“What? Me?”
Faced with an unexpected role, Min-ho could only feel bewilderment.

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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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