Surviving as a Rogue Hospital Director - Chapter 45

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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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Chapter 45.
“No, the circumstances have simply cooperated.”
Beom-jun spoke humbly to the man before him—a former Minister of Health and Welfare and his senior from medical school.
“Ah, there’s the man himself. Come here. It’s good to exchange greetings at times like this.”
Led by his hand, Beom-jun ventured deeper into the event hall—toward the cluster of military officers he’d seen earlier.
“It’s been ages. How have you been? This is my junior. He’s the director at Korea University Hospital, and apparently he’s undertaking a project with the Ministry of Defense.”
His senior introduced Beom-jun to the Defense Ministry officials. Though Beom-jun sat at the very apex of his hospital’s hierarchy, here he was merely a fresh-faced newcomer.
“Good to meet you. I’m Park Yoo-sung, Chief of Staff of the Army.”
“Good afternoon, sir. I’m Choi Beom-jun, director of Korea University Hospital. It’s an honor to make your acquaintance.”
Yoo-sung bowed slightly and scanned Beom-jun from head to toe. Not to be outdone, Beom-jun activated the Superior Lens.
[Activating Superior Lens.]
[Analyzing characteristics of individuals within a 1-meter radius.]
Status windows flooded into view around him. Beom-jun focused on two in particular: his senior standing beside him and the Chief of Staff.
[Name: Choi Moo-sik / Position: (Former) Minister of Health and Welfare]
An embodiment of ambition and avarice. Wherever he goes, he inevitably becomes the leader.
[Name: Park Yoo-sung / Position: Chief of Staff of the Army]
Without protocol, he’s a corpse. Following procedure is paramount, yet he’s obsessed with special treatment.
His senior’s profile made sense, but the Chief of Staff’s was contradictory.
“Right, so Korea University Hospital is preparing to become a commissioned military hospital. Seemed decent enough, wouldn’t you say?”
His senior smoothly steered the conversation to avoid any awkwardness.
The Chief of Staff answered in a clipped, formal tone.
Below the Chief of Staff came the Vice Minister and then the Minister—ranks above a four-star general—so even he held no special standing at this gathering.
“Yes, I understand the proposal was made regarding the defector patient. However, from our perspective, this isn’t an urgent matter. We’re still reviewing it.”
Beom-jun heard his words as: “We don’t need to do this.” The Chief of Staff was lukewarm on the entire venture.
‘Would Control Power work on him?’
Watching the Chief of Staff’s response, Beom-jun wavered.
Given his experience with Min-ho, the target’s state of mind mattered for Control Power. It had worked strongest when Min-ho was confused and unable to decide.
But resistance? That was different. Uncertain.
He’d only get one chance. Since the Control Gun had but a single use, Beom-jun grew cautious.
“I believe that safeguarding the health of our soldiers would greatly benefit national security. It would also boost troop morale.”
Beom-jun offered the Chief of Staff words crafted to please, but the man remained unmoved.
“Ah, yes. Is that so?”
‘I could punch those empty eyes right out of his head.’
“By the way, Father’s coming home soon, isn’t he? Why not get a checkup at Korea University Hospital?”
His senior then turned to the Chief of Staff with a playful tone, lending Beom-jun a hand.
Beom-jun sensed the Chief of Staff perk up at the mention of a checkup. So this was what “obsessed with special treatment” meant.
“Is that possible?”
“Absolutely, there’s that spot where you can see Gyeongbokgung Palace, wouldn’t it be perfect? When I went before, I noticed there wasn’t a separate hotel like that anywhere else. The President uses it too, doesn’t he?”
His senior was describing one of the private suites in Korea University Hospital’s VIP ward.
It was larger than other rooms, tucked away discreetly in the hospital’s depths—the sort of place typically used when former presidents made brief hospital visits during custody, as reported in the news.
Beom-jun found it unsettling to approach the Chief of Staff this way, but his survival depended on the quest.
Getting Korea University Hospital designated as a commissioned military hospital was worth prostrating himself before this man, if necessary.
“Absolutely. If your father is coming, we’d be honored to provide such accommodations.”
At his senior’s words, the Chief of Staff’s pleasure flickered across his face before he caught himself, touching his lips with his hand. His expression visibly softened the moment the word “President” was mentioned.
“Thank you. I’ll give positive consideration to the commissioned hospital arrangement you mentioned.”
“Certainly, I’m sure it will be worthwhile for the military as well.”
Beom-jun pressed once more in response to the Chief of Staff’s hedging. This was enough. At least he was no longer defensive.
After gauging the Chief of Staff’s response, Beom-jun activated the Control Gun.
[Use ‘Control Gun’? Yes/No]
The moment he pressed yes, a red dot appeared in his vision. When the dot touched a person, their silhouette turned crimson.
[Target acquired.]
[Target acquired.]
As Beom-jun’s gaze flickered between the Chief of Staff and his senior, multiple status windows materialized.
‘How do I use this? Surely I don’t actually form a gun with my hands and fire?’
The system, as if reading his thoughts, helpfully explained the method.
[Fix your gaze on the target and flick your finger.]
Got it. Beom-jun unclaped his hands from in front of him and clasped them behind his back, all while confirming the Chief of Staff’s silhouette glowed red.
— Snap.
As Beom-jun flicked his finger toward him, the Chief of Staff turned red from head to toe, then faded back to normal.
[Head shot. CRITICAL!!]
[Control Power Level 3 applied. Level 3: Give it a try.]
[Control Gun used. Remaining uses: 0]
Just meeting his eyes had registered as a headshot. Control Power activated at its highest level yet—Level 3.
The Chief of Staff blinked as if waking from a doze, looking momentarily dazed. Then he spoke to Beom-jun as if entranced.
“I’ll contact you soon. Don’t keep me waiting.”
His tone was somewhat stiff, yet he no longer treated Beom-jun as a mere formality—there was warmth now, an almost intimate ease.
Beom-jun guessed this was how the Chief of Staff’s psychological distance worked with his senior.
“I should be going now.”
Shortly after, the Chief of Staff excused himself, citing other pressing business.
As Beom-jun watched his retreating figure, he offered a silent prayer.
‘Please, let me complete this quest without disaster.’
Nothing in this world came easily.
Just then, his senior beside him regarded him with an appraising gaze.
“You know, you’ve lost that killer instinct.”
“Have I?”
Beom-jun replied with studied composure, while Jae-gyeong behind him widened his eyes in alarm.
“You’ve grown serene. A man representing an organization should be thus. Diminish yourself and you diminish the entire body.
For all his seniority, the man was in truth not far removed in actual age from Beom-jun—or rather, from Eui-jin. Yet Beom-jun felt the weight of a leader who had guided countless souls.
“I’ll take your words to heart.”
At Beom-jun’s response, dimples deepened in his senior’s cheeks. He then laid an arm across Beom-jun’s shoulders and led him back into the main hall.
“Everyone, this here is my junior. Did you see him get commended earlier? He’s the director at Korea University Hospital, and—”
His boasting about his junior continued for quite some time.
* * *
From that day forward, the commissioned hospital matter proceeded at a breakneck pace.
“Director, the Ministry of Defense is requesting a contact liaison. Should I take point on this?”
“Director, the Deputy Chief of Staff wants to hold a video conference. When would be convenient? He says to share current issues.”
“Director, about signing the contract. If you’re busy, he said he could send it by courier. What should we do?”
“Director, we’ve decided to form a Task Force Team with the Medical Command. Just so you’re aware.”
“Director, the roster’s in. Would you like to see it?”
After receiving the commendation, Jae-gyeong grew busier, and Beom-jun grew more exhausted. The decisions demanded of him as hospital director were staggering.
Most critical was the matter of the budget.
In the source material, Seong-hyuk receives multiple calls from the Ministry of Defense requesting treatment for other defectors besides that patient. It’s their method of maintaining media attention—the image of soldiers being treated at Korea University Hospital plays well.
The Ministry of Defense sees it as a tool to keep public interest alive. The sight of military personnel receiving care at Korea University Hospital is photogenic.
‘He’s a mobile patient with minor injuries, apparently. We just take photos and send him back. The Defense Ministry’s funding this? Think carefully, Professor Lim. This is a golden opportunity!’
The hospital director at that time had secured promises of substantial treatment fees from the Ministry and attempted to persuade Seong-hyuk, but the man coldly refused, citing insufficient time to care for critical patients.
“So really, there’s material to exploit here. This is nothing.
Beom-jun lifted the half-melted Americano. Work had been too hectic to drink.
In his other hand lay a contract bearing the Chief of Staff’s name.
— Contract for Designation and Operation of Military Commissioned Hospital
— Budget: 13,800,000,000
Thirteen point eight billion. Beom-jun counted the zeros again, confirming the figure.
Heh. It was lunchtime, yet he felt no hunger. Is this what it’s like to be so satiated you don’t need to eat?
Beom-jun signed in the blank space for Korea University Hospital’s representative and pressed his seal.
[Main Quest completed.]
[Main Quest: Secure a budget for Korea University Hospital]
[Survival Probability increased by 3%.]
[Current Survival Probability: 28%]
The long quest had concluded. Beom-jun collapsed back onto the black leather sofa. Though he’d used two items, it had been worth every expenditure.
He’d thought it a random quest, but there had been hints scattered throughout Doctor X, after all.
Going forward, he’d need to pay closer attention to incidents that weren’t prominently featured in the source material.
“Hmm? What’s this?”
Behind the contract, Beom-jun discovered another document—a roster from the Medical Command attached to this contract.
The list outlined those the military would assign to operational duties, and at the very top were three characters: Beom-jun’s name.
— Korea University Hospital Director Choi Beom-jun (Team Lead)
Beom-jun’s attention fixed on the word in parentheses.
The Chief of Staff had made Beom-jun the team lead for the Task Force, with the Medical Command’s commander and his direct subordinates ranked beneath him.
It signified that, by protocol, Beom-jun had caught the Chief of Staff’s eye, but equally—
‘He’s going to keep the military out of Korea University Hospital’s hair? Actually, that works in my favor.’
It meant the military would take a passive stance. Beom-jun scanned the list of names sent by the Chief of Staff. At the top, a familiar name appeared.
— Medical Command Commander Hwang Seok-hun
Contact with the original commander had gone silent. No callbacks to missed calls meant he likely remained unaware of the situation.
Information typically flows upward; it rarely trickles down. After all, policy decisions originate from above.
He must have no inkling that Korea University Hospital had already been designated as the commissioned hospital.
“Hmm, should I surprise him?”
Beom-jun turned the cup of watered-down Americano, speaking to himself.
He looked forward to seeing how hard the commander would faint when he learned the truth.

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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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