Surviving as a Rogue Hospital Director - Chapter 50

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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 50.
Thanks to Beom-jun’s suggestion, a joint dinner between the medical staff of Korean University Hospital and Cheonhui University Hospital came to pass.
Beom-jun opened the quest window.
[Main Quest: Cut down the seeds of enmity before they take root]
There is someone nearby who Im Seong-hyuk could harbor a grudge against. Find the source of conflict and resolve it.
The key to this quest is ensuring that no conflict arises with Jason during the process of using the treatment method from the thesis.
To make that happen, I’ll need to either pay a price for using the treatment method or find a win-win situation for both.
I don’t know what Jason will ask for, but building a good relationship comes first. That way, the former will come cheap, and in the latter case, there’s nothing to lose.
But Im Seong-hyuk didn’t seem particularly pleased about it.
“Do we really need to buy them dinner?”
“Why? Weren’t you interested in Jason’s thesis earlier?”
“I did find it interesting, but… there are so many people, and the meal cost will be quite substantial.”
At Im Seong-hyuk’s words, Beom-jun let out a hollow laugh.
‘What am I doing here.’
Having cleared the last quest and secured a Ministry of National Defense budget, Beom-jun had a considerable amount of money to use on hand.
Alone, the military hospital construction project had allocated 13.8 billion won. And as additional military hospitals were added, the budget would only grow larger.
“Stop overthinking and just eat. I brought the Corporate Card anyway. Besides, you need to take better care of yourself.”
Beom-jun tapped Im Seong-hyuk on the back as he spoke. Of course, he had to complete the quest safely, but his desire for Im Seong-hyuk to rest for a moment was genuine.
After all, he’d practically dragged the man out of the hospital by force—someone who threw himself at patients like a moth to a flame.
“Yes, understood.”
After a moment of contemplation, Im Seong-hyuk conceded to Beom-jun’s words. Just then, medical staff from Cheonhui University Hospital approached the two.
“Uh, what about our menu?”
“W-we can j-just eat anything, c-can’t we?”
It was Jason and an ordinary-looking man standing beside him.
“On an occasion like this, naturally beef, don’t you think?”
Beom-jun spoke with ease.
“Kyaaaa!”
“See? Our director is really generous!”
“The director of Korean University Hospital is the best!”
United by the prospect of beef, the staff left their hospital divisions behind and moved together toward the restaurant, naturally gathering in groups according to their roles and interests.
“I’m a PA Nurse. I spent some time in the ICU, and I’ve been in TS for just under five years.”
At Hyun-ji’s self-introduction, the man standing next to Jason said he was an ICU nurse, and the two, doing similar work, quickly became friendly.
“Things have been so busy lately. Last month we even did a Heart Extraction from a brain-dead donor, apparently.”
At the Cheonhui University Hospital Nurse’s words, Hyun-ji’s eyes widened.
“What? We performed a Heart Transplantation. Right—that heart came from Cheonhui University Hospital! What date was your procedure? October 4th?”
“October 4th!”
Both spoke the same date simultaneously and high-fived like old friends.
The Cheonhui University Hospital Nurse added to the conversation.
“The professor who performed the surgery is seeing patients today. He said he absolutely couldn’t skip it because of an important case.”
“That’s too bad. Please tell him how grateful we were at the time.”
Listening to his words, Hyun-ji fell into thought. She had good memories of communicating with Cheonhui University Hospital.
……
Min-ho, standing a step behind the nurses, felt a subtle sense of being left out.
Meanwhile, Im Seong-hyuk walked idly beside Jason. Beom-jun had said he had something to discuss with the Chief of Surgery, Cheonhui University Hospital.
“You seem to have designed the research framework well. The subject matter was interesting too.”
Though Im Seong-hyuk was normally quiet, he initiated conversation with Jason.
He’d thought Beom-jun was entrusting this person to him. He followed Beom-jun’s instruction—”Just talk with Jason for a bit”—to the letter.
“Oh, ah, y-yes! Thank you. I h-have a lot of interest in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.”
But Jason stumbled over his words with visible nervousness, making it difficult for Im Seong-hyuk to continue the conversation.
The two struggled on, eventually walking in silence, staring straight ahead.
And at the very back of the group was Beom-jun.
While he carried on conversation with the Chief of Surgery at Cheonhui University Hospital, he occasionally kept his eyes on Im Seong-hyuk, Min-ho, and Hyun-ji.
The Chief approached Beom-jun in a friendly manner. It was less natural charm than the standard courtesy of workplace interaction.
“Thank you for treating us to a meal. We’ll enjoy it.”
“This is a good opportunity for the hospitals to communicate and build stronger ties. I hope we can see each other often.”
Beom-jun responded to the platitude with equally meaningless pleasantries. The Chief of Surgery at Cheonhui University Hospital was neither ally nor enemy—just someone he wanted to keep at arm’s length.
Probably, after today, there’d be no need to see him again. Unless it involved Jason. Beom-jun’s attention was focused on Im Seong-hyuk and Jason.
The two people walking directly ahead didn’t seem to be getting along at all.
‘The way they are, they’re not even talking. I can’t just leave them alone.’
He’d hoped that if Im Seong-hyuk and Jason became acquainted, the latter wouldn’t harbor resentment. But these two weren’t the type to grow closer without intervention.
“Actually, I’ve been very interested in the research being conducted at Korean University Hospital. Ah, not what kind of research, but how it’s conducted—the system itself.”
The Chief continued to chatter beside Beom-jun. Apparently determined to squeeze some value out of this situation.
“Well, the professors handle that themselves, so it all varies. There’s definitely an atmosphere of trying to do well and outdo each other, though.”
Beom-jun gave a measured response to the Chief’s words while his eyes still tracked Im Seong-hyuk and Jason.
Thus they arrived at the restaurant.
The group entered Udae Galbi Restaurant, with its thick bones and large cuts of meat.
Udae Galbi is actually a dish Im Seong-hyuk is obsessed with. The man who used to eat only Korean beef soup has been devouring Udae Galbi constantly since the middle of Part One.
His character on full display—always fixating on one thing to the exclusion of all else.
“Galbi in Busan—I never would have thought. I assumed we’d be having sashimi.”
“Oh, did you want sashimi, Hyun-ji?”
It seemed Min-ho was half-expecting a different menu. When Hyun-ji pursed her lips slightly in response, he spoke up smoothly.
Hyun-ji asked Beom-jun quietly.
“Director, how about we save the sashimi for just us another time? Tomorrow or the day after?”
“Sure, sounds good.”
Hyun-ji brightened at Beom-jun’s words. The Academic Conference was a three-day, two-night schedule after all. They’d have plenty of time for meals ahead.
“Tomorrow then. Tomorrow evening would be nice.”
Beom-jun settled on a time immediately. He needed to talk to Min-ho about a Fellowship position too.
‘There’s just so much to manage.’
Can’t things just work out on their own? If I nurture talented people well, eventually I can set up automated systems and hunt passively.
Beom-jun planned to live comfortably once he’d maxed out the survival probability to 100%. This ordeal was all temporary.
“This place is fine with me. Your menu selection was excellent.”
Unlike the complicated Beom-jun, Im Seong-hyuk spoke simply.
‘Of course he’d be fine. It matches his taste.’
But the group didn’t sit down at the table. They exchanged glances, gauging how to arrange the seating.
‘Same old dance.’
The moment of decision determines the entire meal. As medical professionals and employees, they began a careful game of social positioning.
“Director, would you prefer the inner seat?”
“Yes, I think that’s best.”
Guided by the Chief and Im Seong-hyuk, Beom-jun took the innermost seat at the table.
Im Seong-hyuk sat beside Beom-jun, with the Chief and Jason across from him. The adjacent table naturally became the domain of the Residents and nurses.
“Good spot. I actually had some things to discuss.”
“Perhaps… what kind of things?”
Beom-jun grinned toward Jason and the Chief. The Chief gave him a bewildered look.
The best way to prevent conflict between Jason and Im Seong-hyuk would be to have them work together.
Both were single-minded types—colleagues rather than friends seemed to suit them better.
“The Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Treatment seems to be at the stage of having verified a hypothesis. Is Cheonhui University Hospital attempting to introduce it clinically?”
At Beom-jun’s sudden question, the Chief’s eyes lit up. Beside him, Jason was practically foaming at the mouth.
“W-we’re j-just about to! We’re g-going to start soon!”
“Actually, we discussed it briefly on the way over. I think it would be good to share cases.”
Im Seong-hyuk added his response to Jason’s words. Though they barely looked at each other, they had apparently had a conversation.
‘Good. Now let me really get into this.’
Just as Beom-jun was about to launch into discussion of the joint research between Korean University Hospital and Cheonhui University Hospital.
Im Seong-hyuk spoke up in a serious tone.
“Shouldn’t we order the food first? I think we should start with four portions of galbi.”
Beom-jun couldn’t believe his ears. Was Im Seong-hyuk actually setting work aside to choose a meal?
“The terracotta-pot soybean paste stew and the pan-fried kimchi-and-rice also look appetizing. We can order more if it’s not enough.”
Im Seong-hyuk spoke gravely while studying the pictures on the menu.
Beom-jun chuckled. He knew from experience that Im Seong-hyuk often skipped meals while working. When they occasionally had dinner together, it was usually the man’s first meal of the day.
‘He really must have been hungry. Good menu choice though.’
The Chief of Surgery at Cheonhui University Hospital, sitting across, answered hastily.
“That works for us. Let’s order it that way.”
“Wh-what?”
The bewildered Jason was left behind as the Chief watched Beom-jun’s face, desperately wondering what information he could extract from the hospital director.
‘He said research systems differ by professor. So they delegate autonomously. We’re doing the same thing—what’s different about Korean University Hospital?!’
The Chief concealed his complex thoughts and smiled affably at Beom-jun.
“Ah, that pan-fried kimchi stew you mentioned? That sounds good too.”
The Chief was deploying his “everything is absolutely fine” strategy to match Beom-jun’s mood, when Im Seong-hyuk firmly corrected him.
“No. The terracotta-pot soybean paste stew and the pan-fried kimchi-and-rice.”
“Just order all of it at once.”
Better not to have any breaks in the flow. At Beom-jun’s words, Im Seong-hyuk nodded and raised his right hand.
“Auntie~ We have an order.”
Im Seong-hyuk’s voice remained serious throughout.

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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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