Direct Call to the Director
The moment the words "Director of Taeseong General Hospital" left Kim Hanbin's mouth, not only Cha Kangmin but the thousands of viewers watching the livestream froze in shock.
Kim Hanbin paid no mind to the chat blowing up around him and continued the call with perfect composure.
"Ah, Director. The thing is, I'm actually in the middle of a YouTube livestream right now. Would it be all right to talk for just a moment?"
The director's hearty laughter came through the receiver.
"A livestream? Haha. Of course it's fine."
"I'm really sorry to call you when you must be so busy, Director."
"Not at all. My schedule just wrapped up for the day, so the timing is perfect. So, what can I do for you?"
"Well, you see, the internet's been in an uproar lately with all this talk about doping and steroids..."
"Hmm... would Hanbin really do something like that?"
"Oh, goodness, no, Director! I've never touched anything like that in my life!"
"Then there's nothing to worry about. What's the problem, then? You simply need a proper official test. Our Taeseong Hospital happens to be world-renowned for the technology and equipment we use for exactly these kinds of examinations, so why not come in and get a full workup?"
At the director's brisk, no-nonsense answer, color returned to Kim Hanbin's face.
"Oh! Would that really be all right, Director?"
"Of course. You're the new ace of our very own Suwon Blue Sky, after all. Oh, hold on just a second, Hanbin."
The director's voice drifted away from the receiver for a moment, then the sound of him speaking to someone else came through.
"Secretary Kim, could you check whether the Vice Director is free right now? And if he is, ask him to come by, would you?"
"Yes, of course, Director."
The livestream chat, which had been eavesdropping on the entire conversation in real time, could produce nothing but strings of "lololol."
A short while later, a knock sounded through the receiver, followed by a new voice.
"Director, I heard you were looking for me...?"
"Ah, Vice Director, I'm sorry to call on a busy man like yourself again."
"Not at all, Director. It's no trouble. What do you need?"
"Well, you see — about testing athletes for doping and steroids — which department at our hospital typically handles that? I need somewhere that can deliver accurate results quickly."
"Ah..."
The Vice Director paused in thought for a moment, then let out an "Ah!" as something came to him.
"That kind of specialized testing is usually carried out by external anti-doping organizations, but within our hospital, the Department of Laboratory Medicine handles the relevant analysis in a collaborative capacity. As it happens, the head of our Laboratory Medicine department recently returned from a research fellowship at a laboratory in the United States, so in that particular field, I can confidently say we offer the finest level of expertise in the country."
"Oh, excellent! Then is the head of Laboratory Medicine free at the moment? This is quite urgent."
"Ah... would you excuse me just a moment while I check, Director?"
The Vice Director's voice had slowed slightly, tinged with flustered hesitation.
Through the receiver came the sound of the Vice Director placing a call to the department head.
The livestream viewers held their breath, waiting to see what would happen next. Cha Kangmin had long since frozen solid, his mouth hanging wide open.
Before long, the Vice Director's voice returned.
"Yes, Director. The head of Laboratory Medicine says he happens to be free right now."
"Wonderful! Haha!"
The director's booming laughter rang out through the speakerphone. Then he turned back to Kim Hanbin.
"Hanbin, come straight down to Taeseong General Hospital now, all right? I'll make the arrangements in advance, so you'll be able to get tested the moment you arrive."
There was no reason in the world for Hanbin to refuse such generosity.
"Thank you so much, Director! We'll leave right this instant!"
"Good. Take care now, haha."
The call ended. Cha Kangmin, standing beside him, was staring at Kim Hanbin as if he'd just witnessed something absurd. A groan escaped Kangmin's lips.
"What... are you?"
Cha Kangmin still wore a dazed, hollow expression as he gazed at Kim Hanbin, who shook him by the shoulders.
"Hyung! Snap out of it and let's head straight to Taeseong General Hospital!"
"What? R-right now?"
Cha Kangmin stammered.
"Yes! The Director just told us to come immediately! At this point, NOT going would be the bigger problem. Come on, let's move!"
Kim Hanbin was actually the one urging Cha Kangmin along.
"Ugh... I don't even know anymore. Damn it! Let's go! Go!"
Cha Kangmin rose from his seat as if resigned to his fate.
When Kangmin picked up his phone to end the broadcast, Kim Hanbin stopped him.
"No! Hyung, don't turn it off — let's go just like this!"
"What? You want to walk out there with the stream still running?"
"Yes! Isn't this the whole thrill of a livestream? The viewers are dying of curiosity about what happens next!"
At Kim Hanbin's words, Cha Kangmin let out a long, deep sigh and shook his head from side to side.
"Fine. Then today we're going all the way to the bitter end!"
And so the two of them walked out of the clubhouse with the livestream still running, the chat already in full festival mode.
The broadcast kept rolling as the two of them rode in Cha Kangmin's car toward Taeseong General Hospital.
Before long, the car pulled up to the hospital's main entrance.
The moment they stepped out, they spotted an elderly-looking man already waiting for them at the lobby entrance. It was the Vice Director, whose voice they'd only heard over the phone.
"You're Kim Hanbin, I take it? I'm Lee Jinseok, Vice Director of Taeseong General Hospital."
"Vice Director! We're so sorry! Making a man as busy as yourself come out here in person..."
Kangmin and Hanbin hastily bowed their heads in apology.
"Haha... no, no, it's quite all right. These are the Director's orders, after all."
The Vice Director gave them a wry smile and ushered them into the hospital.
It was already past 6:30 in the evening. All scheduled outpatient appointments had wrapped up, and most of the medical staff and employees had gone home for the day, leaving the hospital lobby quiet and still.
Getting a visit slot with Dad would be tough at this hour.
Just as Hanbin was thinking this, they arrived, following the Vice Director's lead, at the Department of Laboratory Medicine.
Inside, a middle-aged doctor in a white coat greeted them with a somewhat sour expression. This had to be the head of Laboratory Medicine — the one who'd just returned from his fellowship in the United States, as the Vice Director had mentioned.
He too had been in the middle of packing up for the day when the Vice Director's emergency summons pulled him back in.
His face practically screamed, Why do I have to do this at this hour... and in front of a YouTube camera, no less? But he snapped back into professional mode almost instantly and spoke up.
"You're Kim Hanbin, correct? I received word from the Director. We'll begin with the basic tests. This way, please."
And so, under the department head's guidance, Kim Hanbin had his blood drawn, provided a urine sample, and began undergoing a series of additional examinations — every step of it broadcast live through Cha Kangmin's YouTube stream.
Once all the required tests were complete and he was waiting for the results, Kim Hanbin cautiously addressed the department head.
"Um... Doctor? Is the testing you're doing now much different from the doping screening I went through when I signed with Suwon? They told me everything came back clean back then."
The department head considered the question for a moment before answering.
"Hmm... I can't say precisely which items were covered in your signing medical, Mr. Kim, but the tests we've run today will be more precise and more conclusive across the board than the standard doping screen a professional club runs alongside a routine medical."
The department head paused to gather his words and continued.
"For example... it could include screening for gene doping, which has been in the news lately, or high-precision analysis capable of detecting trace amounts of specific substances lingering in the body. And..."
The department head went on at some length, weaving in technical jargon, but Hanbin barely absorbed half of it. All he could manage was a vague "mm-hmm" of a nod.
"Look, there's no need to overthink it. The important thing is that if you truly are being wrongfully accused, Mr. Kim, then today will put every single one of these suspicions to rest, once and for all."
"Ah... yes. Thank you."
Kim Hanbin felt a measure of relief at those words.
"Though... don't tests this sophisticated usually take a long time to produce results?"
At Hanbin's worried question, the department head answered with a smile.
"Haha, you needn't worry about that. We recently acquired a new testing machine — cutting-edge equipment of which there are only six in the entire world. And one of those six happens to be right here at Taeseong General Hospital. Thanks to that, your results will come back quickly. In fact... by now they should be..."
Just then, a notification chime sounded from the department head's computer.
"Oh — right on cue, the results are in."
With that, the department head turned his gaze to the monitor.
The eyes of Kim Hanbin, Cha Kangmin, and the countless viewers watching the livestream all converged on that single screen.
The department head clicked the mouse a few times and began studying the test results displayed before him with intense focus.
"Hmm..."
With a low murmur, he stared at the monitor for a long while without looking away.
The calm indifference on his face gradually gave way to an interplay of curiosity and astonishment. Before he knew it, he was adjusting his glasses and leaning in closer to the screen.
"Wh... ha... t..."
Incomprehensible exclamations kept slipping from the department head's lips.
Cha Kangmin and Hanbin waited tensely for his next words. The livestream chat was already flooded with question marks and a deluge of wild speculation.
At last, the department head, who had been unable to tear his eyes from the monitor, finally looked up. Surprise and excitement still hadn't left his face.
"Uh... well, first of all, Mr. Kim — your results are in, and... they're quite fascinating."
"I'm sorry... fascinating?"
Kim Hanbin echoed back.
"Ah — no, it's absolutely not a bad result. It's just that... medically speaking, it's extraordinary."
The department head angled the monitor slightly toward Hanbin and Kangmin and began his explanation. The screen was packed with dense graphs and figures.
"If you look at this results sheet, Mr. Kim's testosterone levels and growth hormone levels measure considerably higher than an average person's. At these numbers, drug use would normally be the first suspicion. However..."
The department head paused briefly before continuing.
"This... bears no resemblance whatsoever to the pattern you'd expect from artificially elevated hormone levels via doping agents. Rather, it appears that Mr. Kim's own genetic traits and physiological mechanisms are interacting to naturally activate his hormone production. And that process is highly unusual... and remarkably efficient. In a very good way, I might add. In all my years practicing medicine, I have never seen a case like this. Wow..."
Genuinely marveling, the department head couldn't take his eyes off the results. Cha Kangmin, who'd been listening to the explanation, asked the question he'd been burning to ask.
"Doctor, so the bottom line is... Hanbin here isn't on drugs or anything of the sort, right?"
"Correct. Drugs are one hundred percent ruled out. I'll state it flatly: if anyone on this earth could artificially replicate the physiological pattern we're seeing in Mr. Kim — they wouldn't be manufacturing illegal doping agents and selling them. They'd be collecting a Nobel Prize in Medicine right now."
At the department head's emphatic declaration, Kim Hanbin let out a silent sigh of relief.
The recovery ability from that time-stopped soccer field... is that what caused this? Come to think of it, even after getting out of there, my muscles kept maintaining themselves without any special training. They actually got better. Considering all that...
He'd had a vague suspicion all along, but now that he'd heard the medical explanation, his certainty only deepened.
Cha Kangmin asked once more, as if to confirm.
"So this won't... cause any problems down the line? Like sanctions or a doping ban when he plays in matches?"
"Ha! Absolutely not, never."
The department head shook his head.
"This is simply a unique physical trait belonging to Mr. Kim personally. Banning him from playing over this would be exactly like banning a marathon runner with an extraordinary lung capacity from competing. To put it simply, Mr. Kim's muscle recovery speed and muscle protein synthesis ability are far superior to the average person's. And entirely through natural means."
Having finished his explanation, the department head turned to Hanbin with eyes brimming with a researcher's curiosity.
"Um... Mr. Hanbin. If you wouldn't mind — would it be all right if I sent today's data to the American laboratory where I used to work? This is genuinely, immensely valuable material from a medical standpoint..."
Kim Hanbin judged that it could hardly hurt him, and nodded.
"Yes, well... that's fine with me."
"Haha, thank you so much! Honestly, I was in a foul mood getting called in right before quitting time, but I've walked away with a research subject I never dreamed of!"
The department head chuckled gleefully, as if he'd just been handed a windfall.
"We're sorry..."
Getting dragged in right before clock-out... Kim Hanbin and Cha Kangmin apologized in unison, sheepish expressions on their faces.
"Well, now that the testing is all wrapped up, shall we head out together, Doctor?"
Cha Kangmin launched the opening move, clearly angling to bring things to a close. But the department head shook his head and answered firmly.
"Absolutely not! What are you saying! How could I possibly walk away and go home with such a magnificent research subject sitting right in front of me? I've been racking my brain over picking a research topic lately!"
With that, the department head immediately pulled out his phone and started dialing.
"Hello, Assistant Kim? It's me. Round up every grad student in the department and get them emergency-summoned to the lab right now. We've got a fascinating research subject on our hands! Tell them to brace themselves — we may be analyzing this all night. Oh, and order plenty of late-night food for everyone!"
Vitality radiated from the department head's face as he hung up.
Watching him, Kangmin silently paid his respects in his heart to the graduate students who would be dragged into the lab tonight and worked until dawn.
"Then we'll be on our way. Thank you so much for today, Doctor."
Hanbin bowed politely once more and turned to leave, but the department head, still glued to his monitor, merely waved a hand in dismissal.
"Yes, yes. Get home safe. Oh! And Mr. Hanbin! I'll be in touch with you separately later! I imagine I'll have a few more questions to ask! Haha!"
The department head's voice carried nothing but thoughts of research.
Kim Hanbin and Cha Kangmin left the department head behind and stepped out of the Laboratory Medicine wing.
Only after exiting did the tension finally drain from the two of them, and they both let out a long breath. Cha Kangmin checked his phone's battery — nearly dead — and spoke up.
"Whew... today was absolutely dynamite. Battery's almost gone too. I'd better wrap up the stream."
Kangmin turned to the camera for his closing remarks.
"That wraps up today's emergency livestream! We hope every last suspicion about Kim Hanbin has been thoroughly put to rest! Please keep cheering for us here at Suwon Blue Sky — we'll see you next time!"
The broadcast ended. Cha Kangmin stretched his arms up with a long yawn and turned to Hanbin.
"Hanbin, go ahead to the car and get the AC running. I'm gonna hit the restroom real quick."
Cha Kangmin tossed him the car keys.
"Got it, hyung."
Kim Hanbin took the keys and headed toward the hospital entrance.
Cha Kangmin found the restroom.
Phew... that really could've been a messy situation... Thank God the Director cleared it up so fast...
Business concluded, Cha Kangmin stepped out of the restroom feeling light as a feather.
He spotted Hanbin standing in the lobby near the hospital entrance.
And in front of Hanbin stood some man, talking to him animatedly about something.
Who's that? A fan?
Cha Kangmin tilted his head and started walking toward them. But the moment he got close enough to see the man's face, Kangmin's expression twisted.
Huh! That son of a...!
The man was none other than one of the most notorious cyber wreckers in the football world.
He was infamous as the worst of the worst — a bottom-feeder who smeared players with sensational thumbnails and false information, deliberately stoking conflict for views.
Cyber wreckers like him typically took players' worst rumors, or an interview quote like "I respect the referee's decision, though it's unfortunate," and twisted it into something like "The refs have lost their minds. Looks like they got paid off" — inflating everything to absurd, rage-bait extremes.
And that very cyber wrecker was now talking to Kim Hanbin.
"Mr. Kim Hanbin! I watched your livestream today — incredible stuff! You must have been so wronged. Why not say a word to Seoul Citizen while you're at it! I'll make sure it gets maximum public exposure!"
His scheme was obvious: he assumed this rookie had no idea who he was, and planned to squeeze a sensational interview out of him for all it was worth.
Cha Kangmin darted between the two men and shouted.
"Hey! Kim Hanbin! Don't talk to this guy! He's a cyber wrecker!"
At Cha Kangmin's sudden appearance, the wrecker clicked his tongue — tch!
His plan to snag a sensational interview off a naive rookie had just fallen apart, and he was clearly seething.
But then — despite Kangmin's intervention — Kim Hanbin opened his mouth.
"No, hyung, it's fine. I'll say exactly one thing."
"What? Hey, you—"
The cyber wrecker's eyes lit up.
"That's the Kim Hanbin I know! You've got fire in you!"
The YouTuber whooped with delight and shoved his camera into Hanbin's face.
Already salivating at the prospect of inflating whatever Hanbin said tenfold and milking the most explosive thumbnail imaginable, the wrecker was practically vibrating with excitement.
Kim Hanbin took a slow breath, looked straight into the camera, and spoke.
"Seoul Citizen... you'd better be ready to die in the next match."
".......?"
".......?"