Surviving as a Rogue Hospital Director - Chapter 20

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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 20.
After all consultations had ended, Min Ho stood behind Sung Hyuk in the outpatient clinic.
Tap-tap-tap.
With no more patients arriving, the room filled with the sound of Sung Hyuk entering orders and Min Ho, the PA nurse assisting him, typing on the keyboard.
As Sung Hyuk input orders tailored to each patient, he asked Min Ho a question.
“What’s KONIS saying?”
Though the question lacked a direct object, Min Ho immediately grasped it was about the patient Seo Jin Ha and answered at once.
“The surgery date, sir? Chun Hee University Hospital requested October 4th, so we’ve scheduled it for that day.
I see—so it worked out that way. Having heard the answer, Sung Hyuk posed another question to Min Ho.
“No issues from their end?”
It was entirely possible that Chun Hee University Hospital might create friction and adjust the schedule.
They were a rival hospital to Korean University Hospital, and he was merely a professor in an unpopular department. There was no reason for them to treat him poorly, but equally, no reason to make things easier.
‘I hope he didn’t have a rough time.’
Sung Hyuk worried whether Min Ho had faced any hardship contacting Chun Hee University Hospital simply because he worked under him. But Min Ho tilted his head and replied.
“No, sir. Nothing special. They just said they understood.”
At Min Ho’s words, Sung Hyuk relaxed.
He’d heard the surgeon performing the organ extraction at Chun Hee University Hospital was a rather skilled physician. He was pleased by the man’s ability to handle affairs smoothly even with rival hospitals.
But that wasn’t all. As though indifferent, Sung Hyuk asked Min Ho about what was truly weighing on his mind.
“What about the operating room?”
Even if Chun Hee University Hospital specified the date, if they couldn’t use Korean University Hospital’s operating room, it would all come to nothing.
The operating room was shared by professors from all departments, making it the place where senior faculty wielded the greatest influence.
Sung Hyuk, a junior professor who’d only recently been appointed, routinely found his surgeries delayed or cancelled despite prior bookings.
Though well aware of the hospital’s culture of blind obedience to hierarchy, Sung Hyuk had grown tense in the lead-up to this crucial surgery.
“I arranged it this morning. MD TF1.”
At Min Ho’s words, Sung Hyuk spun around sharply to look at him. Fearing he’d misspoken, Min Ho offered clarification.
“Ah—the Surgery Department Chief mentioned that time was available. It’s in the afternoon, but will that be…all right?”
All right was an understatement. Since Chun Hee University Hospital would be performing surgery at noon, having the second slot at Korean University Hospital also begin at noon meant the timing was perfect.
“The Department Chief told you that.”
What’s more, the Surgery Department Chief himself had arranged that slot. Sung Hyuk had clashed repeatedly with the Surgery Department Chief, who had always viewed the Thoracic Surgery Department with particular disfavor.
Unaware of this history, Min Ho was puzzled by Sung Hyuk’s reaction. He’d expected praise for completing the surgery preparations well.
‘Did I do something wrong?’
Unsettled by Sung Hyuk’s flat response, Min Ho tried to retrace his steps but found nothing amiss. He stood at attention and asked Sung Hyuk cautiously.
“…? He thanked you for reaching out first. Did I perhaps…not refuse properly?”
“No, no. You did well.”
Sung Hyuk glanced at Min Ho, then spoke without conviction, leaving Min Ho unsettled despite the praise.
‘How can he be so different?’
Sung Hyuk stood with his mouth half-open, dazed.
There was no reason for the Surgery Department Chief to be favorable toward him.
‘Did the Director step in again?’
Since the hospital director had become involved, everything had fallen into place as if by magic.
After deciding to transplant a heart into the patient Seo Jin Ha, Sung Hyuk had braced for the tsunami that would follow—yet he hadn’t been touched by a single drop of water.
He had stepped back from the countless decisions, discussions, and overwhelming responsibility that came with being a professor.
Standing before him was the director, like a vast levee holding back the waves.
“Min Ho, let’s do this surgery well. The Director is looking out for us.”
“The Director, sir?”
“Everything about this surgery—the time, the location—it’s all gone our way. That doesn’t normally happen. It shouldn’t be possible. If even one thing had gone wrong, I would’ve had to spend time negotiating in the middle.”
At Sung Hyuk’s words, the PA nurse nodded vigorously in agreement.
Sung Hyuk remained suspended in the weighty emotion he felt deep in his chest.
But rather than floundering in that feeling, he organized the work that lay ahead.
“Patient Seo Jin Ha—conduct the consultation, and double-check the pre-surgery checklist. All prior tests, records from other departments, every consultation response—don’t miss a single thing.”
Faced with the cascade of tasks, Min Ho made a wry face, but Sung Hyuk’s eyes remained unwavering. He etched a resolve into his heart: he would see this through.
* * *
[Sung Hyuk’s Favorability has increased by 1.]
[Through Synergy Effect, Min Ho’s Favorability has increased by 1.]
[Sung Hyuk and Min Ho’s Favorability has reached MAX—they will never betray you.]
What? Why did Favorability suddenly rise? Beom Jun checked Sung Hyuk’s location.
[Searching Talent location.]
[Sung Hyuk’s location confirmed: Thoracic Surgery Outpatient Clinic.]
[Min Ho’s location confirmed: Thoracic Surgery Outpatient Clinic.]
‘He couldn’t have been thinking of me while seeing patients, right?’
Beom Jun checked the time. Just past 6 p.m.—when all consultations should have ended. He’d be finishing up orders and tidying the paperwork.
‘Did Min Ho say something good about me?’
It felt odd that Sung Hyuk and Min Ho were speaking well of him—not even backbiting, but actually praising him—while he was aware of it the whole time.
Beom Jun pressed hard to keep the corners of his mouth from rising, but his lips twitched.
Either way, both their Favorabilities had now reached MAX. The condition of absolute loyalty came with it.
‘So I can push them a bit more, then?’
Beom Jun, who’d felt bashful moments before, now fully reclined in his chair and crossed his legs. Before him, footage from Korean University Hospital promotional videos he’d filmed in spare moments was playing.
‘The protagonist really is different.’
On screen, Sung Hyuk was aware of the camera yet treated patients with genuine sincerity—reaching its peak in the scenes with Jin Ha.
Watching the two of them converse like old friends, radiating chemistry, brought an involuntary smile to his face.
Yet even as they spoke comfortably, Sung Hyuk never yielded on treatment, pressing her to comply—and Jin Ha reluctantly followed him.
When this footage was released, Sung Hyuk would receive overwhelming public support.
But in “Doctor X,” Sung Hyuk had rejected all filming requests outright. When he said he needed to focus on his patients, the broadcasters couldn’t hold onto him.
‘This time it’ll be different, though. Heh heh.’
Beom Jun pondered the next step with meticulous, cunning deliberation.
Then another status window appeared.
[Hidden Quest has opened.]
[Hidden Quest: Raise your first registered Talent’s Favorability to maximum.]
[Hidden Quest completed.]
[You have obtained “Clear Tissue” as a reward.]
Oh, an item dropped? An unexpected windfall.
[Name: Reset Tissue
Property: Removes enmity from a specific Talent.
Remaining Uses: 1]
[Caution: Enmity must be removed before Favorability can be raised.]
Rewards often came from Hidden Quests, though they’d rarely opened before—more lucky stumble than anything.
‘The last Hidden Quest was when I registered Min Ho as a Talent. “Find your ally,” it said.’
Beom Jun recalled the previous quest and nodded.
Finding Sung Hyuk’s ally or raising Favorability to MAX had no direct bearing on Director Beom Jun’s murder case, nor would it affect survival odds.
But with multiple rewards available, he couldn’t dismiss it carelessly.
Beom Jun had grown somewhat accustomed to status windows and quests. He was beginning to sense how best to proceed.
Beom Jun opened his item window and reviewed the rewards he’d accumulated so far: the Card to Overturn Chairman’s Decision, an opportunity to raise a Talent’s ability by 1, and now this Reset Tissue.
After checking his items, Beom Jun pulled up Jae Gyeong’s Talent information.
Jae Gyeong desperately needed the ability to handle practical tasks. He’d managed to finish the main promotional video proposal this time, but if things continued like this, delays would certainly arise later.
Moreover, with Jae Gyeong’s Growth Potential being negligible, he couldn’t expect his abilities to improve on their own.
[Name: Jae Gyeong / Position: Secretary to the Director]
Schedule Management: ■■■□□
Administrative Support: ■■■□□
Internal Communication: ■■■■□
External Relations: ■■□□□
– Growth Potential: Negligible
– Favorability: 10
Beom Jun selected Jae Gyeong’s Administrative Support ability.
[Secretary Jae Gyeong’s Administrative Support raised by 1.]
[Name: Jae Gyeong / Position: Secretary to the Director]
Schedule Management: ■■■□□
Administrative Support: ■■■■□
Internal Communication: ■■■■□
External Relations: ■■□□□
The border of the fourth Administrative Support box in Jae Gyeong’s Talent information shimmered, then rippled from bottom to top like water filling it, turning black.
‘Four bars means mid-level competence, so he shouldn’t have major trouble going forward.’
There’d be no need to make him work late shifts or summon him to the Director’s Office anymore.
Beom Jun stretched by turning his neck. Jae Gyeong aside, between preparing the promotional proposal and ensuring the heart transplant for patient Seo Jin Ha was properly set up, Beom Jun’s entire body was screaming for mercy.
It was only because he inhabited a body in his mid-thirties that he hadn’t collapsed—his original body would have given out long ago.
Yet Beom Jun crunched on glucose candy. It wasn’t time to rest yet.
He briefly deliberated over whom to use the newly acquired item on to remove enmity, then shook his head.
‘The surgery has to succeed first.’
No matter how much enmity the Vice Director and the Chairman held toward him, they couldn’t kill him outright right now. There was no need to worry about it immediately.
Rather, Beom Jun’s concern was fixed on the patient Seo Jin Ha. The quest was complete, but she remained as she was.
As another doctor, Beom Jun too was hoping her surgery would proceed without incident.

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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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