Surviving as a Rogue Hospital Director - Chapter 79

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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 79.
In the end, it was decided that ten professors and ninety residents and fellows from Eun Sung Hospital would come to Korea University Hospital.
It was a far larger scale than Korea University Hospital’s initial plan to send only selected professors.
– Yes, Director. So this time we’ll go from Eun Sung Hospital. And if the opportunity comes next time, it would be nice if Korea University Hospital could visit us.
Kim Mu-hyung, who had shouldered the Medical Association’s unglamorous work all this time and asked for nothing but this one exchange, had somehow shifted his position entirely.
“Didn’t we discuss the Eun Sung Hospital exchange multiple times?”
– Yes, we did. But given various circumstances, I thought it might be burdensome for you. And our goal is to learn medical skills, after all.
“That wasn’t all there was to it, I suspect. You said you’d showcase the latest equipment.”
– That’s true, but after hearing what Director Choi had to say, I thought that if doctors have strong skills first, that might be sufficient.
The Director swallowed a hollow laugh.
Bringing up physician skill to Eun Sung Hospital, which possessed superior equipment? He wondered how thoroughly Choi had brainwashed Mu-hyung, but it hadn’t been through gentle persuasion at all.
Rather, it was a perfectly appropriate countermove. The man had taken his business card saying he’d give it a try, and this was what he’d wanted all along.
‘He knows how to read a room. He hid his hand from me and played it with the right person.’
The Director felt as though he’d been struck from behind.
But this couldn’t be all. For Kim Mu-hyung to change his mind just before a project he’d labored over for years came to fruition seemed too convenient.
There had to be more to it. The Director sensed something off, and it wasn’t the first time—he’d felt the same unease about the Vice Director.
“I didn’t think you were so spineless, Chief Kim. You could have told me straightforwardly.”
– No, that’s not it. I couldn’t put you in an awkward position, Director.
But Mu-hyung parried the remark skillfully and offered no further details.
The truth was, when Beom-jun had mentioned caring for Eun Sung Hospital VIP patients at Korea University Hospital, Mu-hyung had only pretended to deliberate before consenting immediately.
Eun Sung’s youngest daughter’s treatment had already been stalling anyway, and he’d been searching for alternatives. Korea University Hospital would certainly make an excellent option.
Of course, the ‘VIP patient care’ Beom-jun had proposed was confidential—known only to Beom-jun, Eun Sung Group executives, and a select few others.
Since it concerned the Eun Sung family, keeping it private was a condition, and the Director wasn’t exempt from that restriction.
– In any case, thank you for your attention, Director. Thanks to you, we’ve established this exchange with Korea University Hospital. We’ll do our best to live up to your expectations.
Seeing doubt cross the Director’s expression, Mu-hyung hurried to wrap up the conversation.
– Well then, I’ll be going, Director. See you at the Medical Association conference.
After hanging up with Mu-hyung, the Director gripped the armrest of his chair tightly. His fist trembled slightly, and the thinned skin moved independently of the subcutaneous fat beneath, deepening into harsh creases.
He, who had always stood at the center of Korea University Hospital, now felt pushed to the margins.
“Heh. Amusing. This has become amusing.”
The Director spoke with an expressionless face. Cold, sharp eyes blazed with the vigor of his youth.
He realized he’d underestimated Beom-jun. This wasn’t about taming someone to obedience—it was something else entirely.
‘Now my own people turn their backs on me. How things have changed.’
The Director reached for the phone on his desk and called Beom-jun.
“You got your way this time too. Eun Sung Hospital is sending their doctors.”
– Ah, is that so? I suppose Eun Sung got in touch with you.
Beom-jun, caught off guard by the unexpected call, responded with some confusion. The Director’s tone in delivering good news felt cold.
“Why wouldn’t you be? You got what you wanted.”
– No, sir. This is good news for Korea University Hospital.
Hearing the Director’s hostile undertone, Beom-jun quickly regained his footing.
Beom-jun sent the message: ‘This isn’t about me—it’s good for the hospital.’
In the original work, Director Choi Beom-jun was murdered by Vice Director Gu Hee-jung.
But it wasn’t her independent choice. The board had backed her and pressured her into it.
With the Vice Director’s hostility now gone, the board behind her was more likely to make a move.
‘Director Han Myung-jae was probably the one who ordered the Vice Director to kill him.’
In the storyline of Doctor X, Beom-jun’s death wasn’t particularly significant plot-wise. Though to Beom-jun himself, it meant everything.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself thinking everything will go your way. Beginners’ luck doesn’t last long.”
Han Myung-jae issued the warning and hung up.
And after the call ended, a Hidden Quest appeared before Beom-jun.
[A Hidden Quest has been opened.]
[Hidden Quest: Construct a Defense]
Director Han Myung-jae has resolved to kill. Become the benefactor of Eun Sung and shield Director Choi Beom-jun.
Reward: Direct contact number of the Eun Sung Group Chairman
‘A benefactor—at this point, there’s only one candidate: the patient Eun Seo-young.’
Eun Seo-young, the youngest daughter of the Eun Sung family.
Beom-jun understood that the quest was identifying her. Save her, and he could gain the entirety of Eun Sung.
* * *
‘But wait—isn’t saving the patient Eun Seo-young supposed to be something Im Sung-hyuk handles?’
Days later, Beom-jun mulled over the quest and tilted his head in confusion. In Doctor X, wouldn’t Eun Seo-young’s seizures stop once she met Im Sung-hyuk?
But the process of sending Eun Sung Hospital doctors here was different this time. In the original work, Korea University Hospital doctors went to Eun Sung Hospital—now it was reversed.
Substantial parts of the story were changing. Beom-jun decided to find a point of intervention.
“Director? Shall we head out when you’re ready?”
“Ah, yes.”
Today there was an event for the Eun Sung Hospital doctors—a launching ceremony marking the beginning of the exchange.
They decided to hold such ceremonies on the first and last days the Eun Sung doctors were here, taking photos for the occasion,
and so Park Ha-rin sought out Beom-jun for the first time in a while. She was here to support him as his secretary.
Jae-gyung spent much of her time coming and going from the Director’s office, but Ha-rin, whose office was already in the Accounting Team, rarely had the chance to see him.
“Long time no see, Manager Park Ha-rin.”
“…Eh? Oh, me? I’m sorry. ‘Manager’ sounds so unfamiliar. I’m more used to being called ‘team lead.'”
She, who now doubled as Accounting Team Lead, didn’t even recognize the title being used for her. Well, she still had a long way to go.
The Grand Auditorium, which Beom-jun visited for the first time in a while, was crowded with doctors as if some great spectacle awaited.
They hadn’t come voluntarily. Events like this were always mandatory attendance. With so much work piled up, having to attend yet another ceremony was tedious.
The doctors gathered one by one, gradually filling the auditorium. Since doctors from Eun Sung Hospital were coming, special care had been taken to leave no empty seats.
Guided by Ha-rin, Beom-jun took the center seat.
But not long after, he was called to the stage. It was time to deliver the opening remarks.
“Distinguished guests, please be seated. We will now begin the launching ceremony marking the start of Medical Talent Exchange between Korea University Hospital and Eun Sung Hospital. First, let us invite Korea University Hospital’s Director to the stage. Please give a big hand of applause.”
The Internal Medicine Department Head overseeing the proceedings stood at a corner of the podium, and Beom-jun stepped to center stage, taking the microphone.
“Hello. I’m Choi Beom-jun, Director of Korea University Hospital. Thank you all for coming despite your busy schedules. And thank you to everyone from Eun Sung Hospital for making the trip. Since you’re here, I hope you’ll give us your full cooperation while you’re with us.”
Beom-jun had delivered a brief thank-you to the Eun Sung doctors, essentially thanking them for becoming his hospital’s servants.
Everyone in attendance surely understood this had been spoken extemporaneously, without preparation.
What the exchange between Korea University Hospital and Eun Sung Hospital meant,
its underlying purpose,
its stated objectives—
all the standard talking points
were omitted,
leaving the Internal Medicine Department Head momentarily flustered, though he recovered and continued smoothly enough.
“Well then! Next, let us review the history of Korea University Hospital and Eun Sung Hospital…”
But Beom-jun cut that short too.
“Skip that and let’s do the ribbon-cutting. Surely there’s no one here who doesn’t know about Korea University Hospital and Eun Sung Hospital. Is there? If so, raise your hand.”
Naturally, no one raised their hand at Beom-jun’s question.
Everyone accepted the Director’s bold approach. His reputation as a loose cannon seemed to work in his favor.
“Good. It’s better to save this time and let everyone spend more of it on the actual work.”
Beom-jun sought agreement from the Eun Sung Hospital delegation, and they consented.
A sensible attitude. Usually, when you don’t know what’s happening, just go with the flow and you’ll do fine.
They exchanged uneasy glances at their unpredictable Director and lined up, each grasping a red ribbon.
Cutting the long, draped ribbon would mark the symbolic beginning of the exchange between Eun Sung Hospital and Korea University Hospital.
“Then, let’s proceed with the cutting right away.”
Beom-jun took the scissors from the Internal Medicine Department Head and passed them directly to the leader of the Eun Sung delegation.
“Ah, I think it would be better if you did this yourself, Director.”
“No matter. Let’s finish this.”
The Eun Sung Hospital doctor, caught off guard, took the scissors and cut through the center of the red ribbon. At that moment, flashes erupted multiple times. Staff from both hospitals’ Public Relations teams wielded their cameras like cannons.
Articles would probably run by tomorrow.
Korea University Hospital and Eun Sung Hospital are collaborating, have signed a cooperation agreement. That sort of thing. The purpose of holding this event.
Once the photo session wrapped up, Beom-jun gestured to the Internal Medicine Department Head. End it, he signaled.
But the Department Head, not quite catching on to the situation, missed Beom-jun’s signal. So Beom-jun drew his hand across his throat twice in the universal cut sign.
“Well then!! This concludes the launching ceremony for the Medical Talent Exchange between Korea University Hospital and Eun Sung Hospital!”
And so the entire event ended in just ten minutes, and a status window appeared before Beom-jun.
[Main Quest completed.]
[Main Quest: Prevent the loss of human capital.]
[Choi Beom-jun’s Survival Probability has increased by 3%.]
[Current Survival Probability: 62%.]
‘Done!!’
Seeing the survival probability rise, Beom-jun was satisfied. If he kept going like this, step by step, it would work. It always had so far.
Ever since his survival probability broke fifty percent, Beom-jun had worked even harder. He resolved to fill it to one hundred percent and ensure his own survival.
Meanwhile, Park Ha-rin, who had witnessed the entire proceeding, muttered to herself at Beom-jun’s unexpected side.
“Wow, he really gets things done.”
Though she, too, who favored efficiency, didn’t much care for such ceremonies,
this was her first task as secretary, so she’d intended to assist Beom-jun well.
But to think it would end in ten minutes?
Ha-rin, suddenly with nothing to do, kicked at the ground.
Though time had been freed up, not wasting it on unnecessary work suited her taste perfectly.
[Park Ha-rin’s Favorability has increased by 1.]

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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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