Surviving as a Rogue Hospital Director - Chapter 69

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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 69.
The Control Room didn’t say a word to Sung-hyuk. They were too busy chattering among themselves.
He must have pressed the wrong button somehow.
“Man, this is insane. Professor Im, you’re seriously incredible!!”
“To be honest, I thought you’d fail this time. I was prepared to reschedule without complaint.”
“Exactly!! Didn’t you say it was your first time? This is absolutely amazing!!”
Sung-hyuk didn’t respond, instead pressing firmly on Gang-woo’s groin to achieve hemostasis at the catheter puncture site.
Though he applied strong pressure with his hand, red blood seeped through the gauze, and Hyun-ji brought a sandbag and laid it on top. Crude as it might appear, it was the best method.
“It won’t slip off, will it?”
To Min-ho’s worried question, Hyun-ji wrapped tape around the sandbag. The bleeding should stop within roughly two hours.
“With this secured, it should be fine. If any bleeding signs appear, the ward will call us. Though I doubt they will.”
It was intuition born of experience. Patient Kim Gang-woo didn’t have severe bleeding, nor did he have underlying conditions related to hemorrhage.
As they completed the post-procedure work, Sung-hyuk, Min-ho, and Hyun-ji kept close watch on Gang-woo.
But outside the Angiography Room, the chatter showed no signs of stopping.
“I never thought Alcohol Embolization would become available at Korea University Hospital. This is going to cause quite a stir, isn’t it?”
“Exactly. There’ll definitely be another article soon.”
“Did you know? The top five hospital rankings came out last week.”
“Brand image, right? We’re always last anyway.”
“No way!! We ranked third this time! I bet we’ll get a performance bonus?”
When the topic finally shifted to something else, Min-ho spoke up cautiously.
“Um, we can hear everything.”
“…Oh?”
“….”
“??….”
After three seconds of silence, embarrassed voices echoed through the Angiography Room.
“Oh, you worked so hard!!”
“We, we appreciate your efforts, Professor.”
Click.
With that awkward greeting, the speaker switched off.
Sung-hyuk simply nodded, but Min-ho and Hyun-ji felt their shoulders relax.
“Hehe, Professor, you’re really… it’s an honor to learn from you.”
Min-ho seemed moved by the other medical staff’s generous praise, as though his mentor’s prestige elevated him as well.
Min-ho wiped his nose and broke into a soft grin.
He’d taken his Fellow qualification exam not long ago and passed the written portion. Barring any major surprises, Min-ho was now on track to become a specialist at Korea University Hospital.
“You passed the written exam. Congratulations. You know this already, but when you become a Fellow, you’ll have more opportunities than you do now.”
“Yes, I’ll work hard. No, I mean—I’ll really work hard!”
Right now, Min-ho did little more than assist Sung-hyuk. Residents weren’t given many opportunities.
The Alcohol Embolization on Kim Gang-woo was only possible because Sung-hyuk was backing him up.
With this procedure, Min-ho had crossed a threshold he was acutely aware of—he was truly leaving behind his days as a Resident who stood by and absorbed what he could.
“I really will do well.”
Min-ho voiced his resolve to Sung-hyuk. Though his words were partly for himself, he felt grateful that someone was watching over him.
It seemed unbelievable that just months ago, he’d planned to flee the hospital the moment his Residency ended.
‘Wow, what would have happened if I hadn’t met the Hospital Director back then?’
The Hospital Director was the turning point that led to Min-ho getting along well with Professor Im Sung-hyuk. He still didn’t understand why the Hospital Director had come to the Thoracic Surgery On-call Room that day, but thanks to that chance encounter, he’d been able to get close to the Professor.
Despite the rumor that he was a rogue, the Hospital Director turned out to be a genuinely good person. Min-ho had no idea why such a rumor existed—perhaps someone who disliked the Hospital Director had maliciously spread it.
‘Didn’t he say the cardiac arrest patient achieved Return of Spontaneous Circulation?’
‘Yes, that’s correct. We could make an early diagnosis because Premature Ventricular Contractions appeared.’
It definitely wasn’t just a casual question. The Hospital Director had been pointing out Min-ho’s good work in front of Professor Im.
Min-ho remembered Beom-jun’s consideration. He believed that thanks to it, Sung-hyuk had taken an interest in him.
‘I was really lucky. I mean, it’s unbelievable.’
From that moment on, he’d found his way to stand right beside Professor Im. Before that, he’d been someone who did nothing but drink Energy Drinks behind the hospital.
‘If things had stayed that way, what would I be doing now? Probably getting my internship finished and preparing for military service.’
People say you never know what fate holds, but for Min-ho, the present felt like a dream. It was strange to be able to learn medicine directly beside Sung-hyuk, someone he admired.
Though Sung-hyuk didn’t express it often, Min-ho believed he was the Professor’s favored disciple. He was the only Resident the Professor kept close.
The Professor was noticed everywhere, but then again, he had few people around him to begin with.
“Come on, you’re already doing well.”
“There’s still a long way to go. If I’d adjusted properly just now, I could’ve finished it in two attempts!”
At Hyun-ji’s remark, Min-ho expressed his regret first—a way of reflecting on what had happened while looking ahead to the next opportunity.
“That’s enough. The patient’s condition was fine.”
But at Sung-hyuk’s words, Min-ho smiled contentedly again. Slightly pleased with himself, he didn’t deny what he’d heard.
* * *
[Quest completed.]
[Main Quest: Open a New Door]
[Choi Beom-jun’s Survival Probability increased by 3%.]
[Current Survival Probability: 56%.]
When Im Sung-hyuk began the Alcohol Embolization on Kim Gang-woo, the status window chimed.
Even after the IRB Review was completed and the patient gave consent, it had stayed quiet, but apparently it considered the act of performing the procedure as the “introduction” of a new treatment method.

“Then at least say so upfront.”
Beom-jun, who had been anxious for days, spoke while looking at the status window. As expected, there was no response. The quest system constantly nagged him about one thing or another.
In any case, his Survival Probability was now 56%.
Hospital Director Choi Beom-jun’s death date wasn’t specified precisely in Doctor X. It made sense—he was merely a supporting character. There was mention of cherry blossoms in the work, so the timing was spring, early to mid-April.
He had to maximize his Survival Probability before then. Only then could he avoid death and survive in Doctor X.
He’d eliminated the Vice Director’s hostility, but the fact that his Survival Probability didn’t immediately jump to 100% meant there were still people who wanted Beom-jun dead.
Beom-jun paused to consider what came after his survival.
‘If a character who was supposed to die keeps living, what happens to Doctor X?’
The first part was supposed to end with Sung-hyuk becoming Hospital Director, but now the plot would deviate significantly.
‘But I can’t just die, can I?’
Somehow it would work out. Beom-jun gazed out the window and cast aside his worries. He had to handle what was unfolding right now first. Raising his Survival Probability by April. Time seemed tight.
Jae-gyeong approached the Hospital Director, who was unusually by the window, and spoke to him.
“You seem to have some leisure time for once, sir.”
“I wish every day felt like today.”
Jae-gyeong held her coffee cup in her right hand as she spoke.
“Jae-gyeong, have you ever gambled?”
“Pardon? Gambled?”
At the sudden question, Beom-jun didn’t answer. Instead, his gaze demanded a response from her.
“Oh! I tried it once when I was younger. I went to a casino while I was in Southeast Asia. I lost everything in an hour and came back right away, but you know, they said the odds were fifty-fifty, and fifty-fifty my foot! I was completely duped.”
“Hmm, and if the odds were higher than fifty percent, would you say it’d be worth a try?”
At Beom-jun’s cryptic remark, Jae-gyeong gave an uncertain answer.
“I don’t know…? But wouldn’t it be better to play it safe? If it were me, I’d need at least eighty percent.”
“Either way, probability can never reach one hundred percent.”
Beom-jun drank the coffee before him without waiting for Jae-gyeong’s response. Ever since she’d noticed that he liked sweet things, she added various syrups for him—today it was hazelnut.
Beom-jun savored the sweet hazelnut aroma and turned his coffee cup.
“…??”
Jae-gyeong fell silent at his incomprehensible words.
‘I’m raising the Survival Probability, but there’s no guarantee it will reach one hundred percent by April.’
Jae-gyeong had no way of knowing that her boss was gambling with his life.
“Oh, sir, what about the external interviews? Should we decline all of them again?”
Before her lost-in-thought superior forgot her existence, Jae-gyeong changed the subject. It was why she’d come to the Director’s Office.
“What, they’re asking for interviews again?”
“Ever since you appeared on KBC Newsroom, they keep calling. The other broadcasters say they feel left out. Or maybe it would be good for your brand image if you did an interview now?”
Beom-jun set down his coffee.
“Next they’ll ask me to explain Jason Therapy.”
Would media exposure be helpful? It had been before. It had been necessary to provoke the Ministry of Defense. But now?
Beom-jun stared into empty space. The status window, which had appeared sporadically, didn’t show up. If something would benefit Beom-jun, the status window had made him attempt reckless things before.
‘This doesn’t feel right.’
The broadcasters’ request was wrapped in nice packaging, but he couldn’t tell what was underneath. It could be bait from those hungry for a story.
In the first place, media was difficult to handle. The interests between broadcasters were complex, and edited facts risked distorting the truth.
‘If the broadcaster won’t definitively be on my side, it’s better to maintain neutrality without making enemies.’
Neither ally nor opponent.
But close enough to reach.
Beom-jun strategically chose ambiguity.
“Tell them it’s not the right timing. Don’t outright refuse, but leave the possibility open. You understand what I mean, don’t you?”
Though the hazelnut flavor lingered, the bitter coffee slid down Beom-jun’s throat.
Beom-jun had decided not to undertake unnecessary work. Above all, the broadcasters’ request was useless for raising his Survival Probability—reason enough to decline.
And as if to affirm that his choice was correct, a new quest appeared.
[Quest generated.]
[Main Quest: Strengthen the Foundation.]
Keep the organization healthy through circulation. You must reassign key personnel currently registered.
Reward: Survival Probability +3%
Failure: Death

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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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