episode_0141

Going a step further, if they arbitrarily change the content or destroy it. Whatever it may be, it’s not a pleasant thing. You wouldn’t be able to hide the anger, injustice, and resentment. A sensitive person might even shed tears in secret. An act that denies the time and effort a person has dedicated. In society, such cases are called thuggish behavior. This isn’t my personal assertion; it’s a social agreement. An unfair situation that anyone, regardless of age, has probably experienced. If you haven’t experienced it, you’ve likely come across it often in dramas or movies. In reality, it causes cancer cells, and in dramas, it raises viewership ratings. The case of Director Jang, who is enraged before me now, is not much different. His face was flushed to the point where I worried about his blood pressure. His eyes were distorted by a pain that wasn’t pain. His eyes were severely bloodshot, as if they would burst. Director Jang’s voice, as he poured out his heart as if bursting a festering wound, was laced with moisture and sorrow. The doctor, who once had a benevolent impression, now looked only like an old man struggling with pain. A desperate emotion emanating from one person. I didn’t avert my gaze from Director Jang and looked at him directly.

“My heart wants to believe that my friend Seokwoo couldn’t have done such a thing. He’s the one person in the world who knows better than anyone what I was thinking and feeling when I conducted this research. But… but…” Director Jang, clenching his fists as if to crush his hands, struggled to swallow his emotions. But he ultimately couldn’t hold back the tears that streamed down his face. His words, exhaled with rough breaths as if he were agitated, were filled with an endless sense of grief. The emotion was so profound that it pained everyone listening. As a result, no one else in the room could open their mouths.

“This research was completed together, in memory of someone I couldn’t protect. I wanted to prevent people in the world from feeling the same pain… but… that friend told me to trust him and wait…” As his emotions intensified, Director Jang spoke somewhat ramblingly, unable to properly string his words together. I gently offered a cigarette to Director Jang, who was struggling with uncontrollable emotions. While offering a doctor a cigarette inside a hospital is morally questionable…

‘…He’s going to collapse at this rate.’

I offered him a cigarette and lit it for him, hoping it would help him compose himself, even a little. Fortunately, Director Jang didn’t refuse the gesture. With hands trembling from intense emotion, he took the cigarette and inhaled deeply. “Hoo… Haaa- hoo…” Breathing out long, like taking a deep breath, Director Jang seemed to be trying to expel the remnants of his emotions along with the cigarette smoke. The experienced physician, who had been gasping for a long time, slowly got his breathing under control. And it wasn’t long before he was able to compose himself a little.

“…I’m sorry. I’ve shown you an unsightly display.” “It’s alright.” Director Jang’s face, as he wiped it with the hand not holding the cigarette, clearly showed the complex feelings he hadn’t quite managed to erase. “I believe my research is deeply involved in this incident. As a result, my research has claimed many lives. I have committed an unforgivable sin.” He spoke in a dry voice, calling himself a sinner. After that, he simply put the cigarette to his lips as if drinking hard liquor. No one spoke while Director Jang smoked.

‘I’m indirectly involved, but really…?’ Could Jang Myeonghwan, this man, truly be accused of sin for this? As everyone remained silent, I took an object from my pocket. Thud— People were surprised when they saw the tool I placed on the table. Director Jang merely looked at it indifferently. In the slightly unsettled atmosphere, I spoke calmly. “It’s a common kitchen knife you can find anywhere.” “…” “It’s generally used a lot for cooking, but it’s also often used for other purposes.” “…I can see that.” “Among our group, there’s a grandmother. She uses this when she cooks, but I’m different.” A mass-produced kitchen knife lay in the center of the table. Director Jang’s gaze, which had been silently looking down at it, turned to me. Meeting his eyes gently, I spoke without hesitation. “I use this to slit throats and stab heads. Whether it’s a zombie or a hostile human, I stab and throw it indiscriminately.” Even with my somewhat crude words, Director Jang’s eyes didn’t waver. Director Jang already knew that I had massacred gangsters. Perhaps because of his life experience, he seemed to understand what I was trying to say. “It’s a cheap knife, but its use changes depending on the person using it. The grandmother uses it for everyone, but I use it to harm enemies. And I plan to continue doing so.”

“…Are you saying its purpose depends on the user?” I nodded slightly. “After all, it’s just a tool. Couldn’t your research also be likened to a kind of means or a tool?” “…” “A knife can save lives or take them, depending on how it’s used. I think you’d know that better than me.” It’s not a difficult problem to consider. There’s nothing special about a sword that saves versus a sword that kills. If a doctor like Director Jang wields it, it’s a healing sword; if someone like me wields it, it’s a killing sword. Director Jang’s research is the same. It was quite a stretch, but that’s what I wanted to say.

“After hearing your story, I think I understand a little. You think the research, created for people, is now harming them, don’t you?” “…I thought it was a foregone con—” “But you didn’t do it.” “Even so…” “If you put it that way, Nobel, who invented dynamite, should be exhumed and have his body crushed into powder.” “Ah, no, what kind of…” It might seem like I’m reaching, but that’s what I think. I don’t know the full details, but I learned that Nobel, who greatly influenced history, developed dynamite for peace. The problem is that people use it well for war and crime. Director Jang’s research is the same. It was originally created in memory of someone he loved and for the benefit of people. The issue is that someone is using this crystallization of good intentions in a fucked-up way. Furthermore, it’s medicine, not something like a bomb. Pests are taking good intentions and spreading them as evil. And there’s a high probability that the target is related to Taeseong. There’s no direct evidence yet, but looking at their past actions, I can’t help but be suspicious.

“And there’s no certainty that Dr. Kim Seokwoo—ah, my apologies. That Dr. Kim did it, is there? You didn’t see it yourself.” “Th-that’s true, but the circumstances are—” “Even if I don’t know, there must have been many excellent researchers and scientists at that research center in Gangwon-do, no?” “…That’s certainly true. To do it alone…” “Isn’t it possible there’s some bastard who was instigated by Taeseong?” “Hmm…” “Director-nim. This is my friend, Choi Dongwoo, the heir to the best Gukbap restaurant.” “Huh? Oh, hello?” Dongwoo, suddenly pointed out mid-conversation, greeted them, albeit flustered. “Dongwoo. When we first met.” “Yes.” “What did I say when you were on the phone with your grandparents?” Dongwoo briefly retraced his memory and recalled their blunt conversation from back then. “Uh… ‘Are they gone’…? No, you asked if I saw them suffer something bad directly?” “That’s it. Director Jang, did you hear that? When he was freaking out because he didn’t know if his grandparents were alive or dead, I pressed him, asking if he’d seen them die directly. I told him it was disrespectful to jump to conclusions without confirming.” “Um…” At my words, Dongwoo scratched the back of his head, looking embarrassed. People looked at us, slightly surprised. Hyuk hyung also looked a little surprised, as if hearing it for the first time. …I am aware my wording was a bit strong back then…. Amidst these reactions from the people, Director Jang’s eyes gleamed.

“…That means…” “Director Jang, you haven’t seen or confirmed anything yourself, have you? Can you truly conclude that Dr. Kim, your close friend, did this?” “…” “Try to trust Dr. Kim a little more. You said he was a friend who shared the same pain, didn’t you? And most importantly…” I spoke calmly to Director Jang, whose eyes were slowly regaining their light. “Dr. Kim told you to trust him, didn’t he?” I don’t know the full story, but their friendship doesn’t seem light. While I also find Dr. Kim Seokwoo suspicious, I’m even more suspicious of Taeseong, who seems to be operating like a blackout curtain behind him. At my words, Director Jang inhaled sharply and straightened his back. He gently closed his eyes, his trembling hand caressing his lips. And a single tear traced its way from the corner of his closed eye. Slowly covering his face with both hands, he remained silent for a moment. “Yes… you’re right.” Director Jang, wiping his eyes lightly with his palm, offered a faint smile. It wasn’t an illusion that the shadow that had covered his face seemed to have diminished a little. The calm smile, the first since our conversation began, showed that he had composed himself. Unlike his slowly returning complexion, his eyes shone brightly. It’s true what they say, a person changes depending on their mindset. The doctor before me instantly shed the fragile appearance he had.

“…I suppose my heart had become very weak. To have overlooked something so simple… I’m ashamed at my age.” “Having gone through so many major events consecutively, I don’t think it’s unreasonable.” At my words, Director Jang’s gaze turned deep and meaningful. Receiving that gaze fully, I felt an inexplicable burden. “Seonghan, you’re much younger than me, yet I’m receiving comfort from you like this.” “…I wasn’t specifically trying to comfort you. I was just stating what I felt.” “Thank you. And I’m sorry.” “Hmm…” I felt awkward at the sudden thanks and apology. Just that gaze alone was burdensome… “You guys. Don’t look like that. And Hyung, you too…” “What did I do?” Grinning— Our group members sent subtly annoying glances. Hyung was even being slick. Director Jang, watching us, cautiously spoke. “Anyway, the problem now is what to do from here on.” Something came to mind regarding Director Jang’s concern. My guess is that Taeseong won’t give up on Director Jang. They had already made two attempts, and if I hadn’t discovered it, who knows what would have happened to Director Jang. Aside from that, there was something I was beginning to grasp.

‘No matter how I look at it, these bastards seem to be operating on two channels.’ Listening to what Daehan’s team leader said and what Director Jang said, I think I understood. Taeseong was moving in two directions simultaneously. One was publicly helping people and moving towards a goal. The other was a shadowy movement, secretly doing all sorts of pointless and dirty things. They pretended to be good, kind, and righteous on the surface, but behind the scenes, they shamelessly carried out all sorts of dirty and shady deeds—a dual nature. And yet, these same people calmly played a part in building a massive shelter and walked around proudly. Such individuals were now targeting the old doctor before us, stopping at nothing.

‘…Should I hide him?’ If I hide him, letting him enter our shelter would be a good method. Just by concealing this person, it would be a huge slap in Taeseong’s face. However, there’s a risk that our group would be put in danger. If we were to hide him in some quiet place, I don’t think he’d be able to endure it. If we leave him here, his location is already exposed. Most importantly, it’s too close to the Konkuk University Shelter where Taeseong is. Didn’t the Daehan guys, who are practically Taeseong’s hands and feet, head there just now? …My head is starting to hurt.

“What are you thinking so hard about?” “Huh? Oh…” It seems my thoughts had run long without me realizing it. In a situation where an easy answer wouldn’t come, the back of my neck began to ache. As if sensing my thoughts, Director Jang spoke calmly. “I’ll remain here.” “…What?” “How can I go anywhere, leaving behind a seriously wounded patient with a gunshot? More than that, the people of the market need a doctor, don’t they?” “…” “So, please don’t feel burdened.” I was speechless at Director Jang’s dramatically calm and bold demeanor. “If they try to take me again, I intend to go with them.” “What? What do you mean…” At his unexpected words, everyone in the lounge, including me, was startled. Director Jang, maintaining his composure despite our reactions, declared as if vowing to himself that he would follow them to meet his friend and confirm things directly. His reaction made me wonder if I had brought up unnecessary talk. It was good that he had regained his spirit, but I wanted to prevent anything that would benefit those hostile to me. In the end, I unilaterally suggested that he come with us to our shelter, but Director Jang politely refused. He insisted that he could no longer cause trouble and wanted to stay by the people’s side and help them.

“…Director Jang, you’re quite stubborn.” “Hahaha~ As I’ve gotten older, stubbornness is all I have left, it seems. I’m sorry again.” After that, I no longer pressed him. They say even a high-ranking official is useless if he doesn’t want to do something. It seemed no words would sway Director Jang, who now appeared detached, as if his mind had awakened. I decided to respect his dramatically calm choice. ‘…He’ll manage.’ When I backed down, I instead asked him to send his niece, Dr. Jang Heeyeon, with us. Being relatives, Dr. Jang Heeyeon was also quite stubborn. At Director Jang’s gentle insistence, pushing her away from staying by his side, Dr. Jang Heeyeon relented and decided to follow us. As the atmosphere loosely concluded this way, I asked one last thing.

“Do you happen to know where that facility in Gangwon-do is located?” “Hmm… I don’t know that well. We went by helicopter from Taeseong Medical Center… But there was a large exercise field, and the security was ironclad. Yes, it felt just like a military base.” “A military base…” I scratched under my chin. True to their nature as a large corporation, their scope of activity was spread out everywhere, jumping around. If I had known this, I would have squeezed more out of Lee Deokgyu in Yeongdeungpo. Thinking about it now, it feels regrettable that I let him go too easily. Unconsciously, I clicked my tongue in frustration. “Ah…! Come to think of it, there’s something I overheard when I was captured.” Director Jang, clapping his hands together as he spoke, pieced together fragments of conversations he’d overheard from the gangsters when he was held captive and recounted them. There was nothing particularly notable. However, there was also something suspicious.

“Sangil-dong?” “Yes. While they were exchanging words about going to Hannam-dong soon or Gangwon-do, there was also talk about Sangil-dong. They discussed my whereabouts in relation to Gangwon-do and Sangil-dong.” “Did you hear anything about what’s there?” “Hmm… I didn’t hear anything in detail, but Taeseong Logistics and Engineering? They discussed those buildings.” …Seeing them spread out everywhere really makes them seem like cockroaches. What a bothersome bunch. ‘Sangil-dong, huh…’ Still, at the end of the long conversation, I gained one small keyword. I wasn’t going to go there immediately, and there might be nothing. Just a crumb of a clue dropped from a passing conversation. I didn’t know where that crumb would lead, but I carefully stored it away in a corner of my memory.