External Patient (2)
“Master, there's no need for you to come out personally! We'll greet them.”
“What are you talking about? It's our first sucker... I mean, external patient. Of course I should greet them myself. And he's the Chief Secretary of the Republic of Korea government, right? I'm curious to see his face.”
“Your Excellency, you must absolutely follow the advice I gave you last night.”
“Ah... You mean, when we meet, don't use formal speech and talk down to him? But if he's polite, do I really need to be rude...?”
“In this world now, it's enemies or allies. Especially with the Republic of Korea government—we might clash someday.”
It felt like excessive worrying. We'd settled in Gangbuk, and the government was in Gangnam, so we were basically each surviving on our own without crossing paths.
Today was the day Secretary Na Jong-hoon was visiting. I'd been so excited thinking about what else I could squeeze out of them that I hadn't slept a wink all night. Alcohol and cigarettes were overflowing, so maybe it was time for some real luxuries. Like high-end suits no one would use in this world unless they were insane... or expensive furniture.
> Your Excellency, multiple vehicles approaching.
“Got it.”
Im Jui, who'd been on recon, returned and reported to me. Dust clouds appeared in the distance, followed by several modified military trucks. The cargo beds were loaded with goods under tarps—it looked like my demand for upfront payment had gotten through loud and clear.
I'd told them no refunds even if treatment failed, and they'd still paid in advance. Two thoughts crossed my mind. First, her condition must be so dire they had nowhere else to turn. Second, what incredible power did this so-called Special Awakener Chief Secretary possess to make them come all this way in such a humble posture?
“Your Excellency, they're here.”
Clink. Han Byeol touched the hilt of her sword with a grim expression.
“Calm down. They're not here for war—they're here to check into the hospital.”
“Yes.”
The Han sisters, Im Jui, and the 1st Guard Unit were all visibly tense.
The trucks screeched to a halt before the barrier. A man in a suit stepped out from the black sedan in the middle.
“Hmm...”
He looked exactly like the Chief Secretaries from movies and dramas I'd imagined—slicked-back hair, suit, weary face. But he didn't seem gravely ill.
He waved off his escorts and approached the barrier alone, bowing his head to me.
“Your Excellency, it's an honor to meet you in person after only hearing rumors.”
“Yeah...”
“Thank you for greeting me yourself.”
“Yeah...”
A man old enough to be my father was bowing first, and keeping my head high while speaking casually wasn't easy.
I glanced at Han Seol; she smiled and nodded encouragingly.
“You've probably heard, but I'll say it again: no one but the patient can enter.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
“Good. Then I'll issue you a residency card. Residency card issuance.”
Duration: 30 hours
I issued a 30-hour residency card. A bit of a hassle, but for an outsider, I'd check their status daily and renew it in 30-hour increments.
“Whoa...”
Na Jong-hoon picked up the fallen card, marveling at my ability as he stepped inside the barrier.
“Then let's head to the hospital.”
“Thank you, Your Excellency.”
No matter how I looked at him, he just seemed like a tired uncle worn out from overwork—not someone dying from a fatal illness.
Han Seol and Han Byeol must have sensed something off too; they gripped their sword hilts and followed closely behind him, ready to strike at any suspicious move.
“Your Excellency!!”
Lee Kyung-min shouted as he spotted me in front of the 1st Hospital. The doctors beside him knelt when he did.
“The one in the middle kneeling there is the hospital director. He's the doctor who'll diagnose and treat you. Han Byeol, go tell the director to get up.”
It was embarrassing—outsiders might think I was some cult leader.
“Your Excellency!”
“Let's talk inside first. Han Seol, Han Byeol, Governor Im—you three follow into the hospital. 1st Guard Unit, manage the residents, move the alcohol, cigarettes, and cans paid as hospital fees, then check the goods for issues.”
“Yes, Your Excellency!”
As soon as the hospital doors closed, I turned to Na Jong-hoon.
“It's been bugging me since I first saw you... Are you really sick?”
“Y-Your Excellency?”
He flinched and stepped back in surprise. If he'd come here not because he was truly ill but to spy for intel, I'd have to take it as a declaration of war.
“Tell me what's wrong. I'm not a doctor, but I'm not an idiot either. You walked off the truck on your own two feet and came all the way here—someone with a fatal disease?”
Clink. The hospital atmosphere froze instantly; the three guards gripped their sword hilts.
Na Jong-hoon rolled his eyes, gauging the mood.
“Speak—anything. If you don't, I'll assume you're here to spy. This isn't a threat; it's a chance...”
I'd tossed it out casually out of curiosity, but seeing him sweat bullets and tense up turned my suspicion into conviction.
“If you won't answ—”
“Your Excellency!”
Na Jong-hoon suddenly prostrated himself before me, shouting.
“Your Excellency! Forgive me for deceiving you!”
“Huh? For real...?”
“Master, bind this man immediately and execute his subordinates outside!”
Na Jong-hoon raised his head, waving his hands frantically.
“N-No! The one who actually wants treatment isn't me—it's my daughter!”
“Daughter? Sheathe your swords first... You, sit here and explain everything.”
I pointed to a chair; Im Jui dragged one over in front of him.
“Yes, Your Excellency...”
Na Jong-hoon spilled his story—true or not, I couldn't tell yet. The patient wasn't him, but his only daughter, Na Hye-won.
It made sense why they'd sent the Chief Secretary as the face. He was an Awakener too, but just physically enhanced. Na Hye-won, however, was a Special Awakener—the core of the government's '1st Special Awakener Battalion' project. Her power? Awakener power amplification.
But the cost was brutal: extreme physical fatigue buildup. Why not rest and recover? Apparently, the government had decided to wring her dry even if it killed her.
They'd tried resting with recovery Awakeners, but it wasn't enough, and as her condition worsened, they shifted to maximum exploitation before she died.
Her ability boosted an Awakener's power for 24 hours. Experiments revealed something amazing: using it on one Awakener for 30 days made the boost permanent.
Initially, they used it to crush rebellious warlords. Once permanence was discovered, they treated her like a lab rat.
She was now in severe nervous breakdown, unable to even stand.
“So... you came here to heal her, then take her back to use?”
“Your Excellency! How could we? She's my only daughter... If I'd known, I'd have hidden her ability... I regret it every night.”
“Then why come here? Sounds harsh, but even if she miraculously recovers here, going back means the same hell... Might be better to die.”
“Your Excellency... I have a shameless request.”
Shing. Han Byeol half-drew her sword, guessing his plea.
“Master, no need to hear more. I'll throw him out.”
“No, let's hear it.”
“Sorry for overstepping.”
I gestured; Han Byeol sheathed her sword, bowed, and stepped back.
“Speak.”
I could already guess.
“Your Excellency... If my daughter shows improvement here... could you let her stay? I'll tell the government she died during treatment.”
“...”
His expression and tone mixed a father's worry with resentment toward the government. But trust? Zero.
If her power was real, she was a game-changer. I had the Enhancement Chamber, but hers might be better.
“Hard to believe... And why would I take on that risk?”
“I understand if you refuse, Your Excellency.”
“We'll see, but nervous breakdown? No surgery needed—just admit her here, and she might recover.”
“Your Excellency! Really? Please! Save my daughter! I swear loyalty—anything you command... die if you say die, live if you say live... I'll live by your will!”
“I feel the sincerity, but still hard to trust.”
He trembled, tears hitting the floor.
“I... I just can't watch my daughter suffer anymore. I'm grasping at straws coming here.”
“How can I trust you? If true, I'd heal her and use her to boost my people.”
“Anywhere's better than the government. And... seeing your citizens' faces as we entered—they all looked happy. At the government, she'll die soon.”
“Hm... Where's your daughter now?”
“Lying in the armored vehicle.”
“If I take her and you lie about her death, you're betraying the government—riding with me. Means loyalty to me over them. Okay with that?”
“Yes. My heart left that hell a year ago, when her suffering began.”
“Not testing. I have ways to check if you're sincere.”
“Your Excellency! It's true!”
“If I order you to leak government intel to me? Betray the organization and bosses you served?”
“Yes—that trash exploiting citizens deserves to fall.”
Truth or lie, I'd see soon enough.
“Citizenship issuance.”
Loyalty:87%
Status:Submissive
“...”
That was trustworthy enough. He'd truly soured on the government—and hearing her treatment was possible sealed his decision to submit to me.
“What about the body? If they check if she's really dead?”
“Your Excellency... I have a plan.”
Her state was so horrific she could die any moment—21 years old, but ruined beyond recognition, face bandaged. He'd prepared a body in his car: a woman resembling her as much as possible, bandaged up. Even the government escorts would buy it.
The body was from his aide, who'd treated Na Hye-won like a sister and proposed the plan. The government had no hopes for her anyway—their tech was "the best," and if they couldn't heal her, no one could.
“Bring your daughter first... And if anything goes wrong, I'll disavow you immediately.”
“Yes, Your Excellency! Thank you! Truly!”
If we restored her and she could use her power, we might mass-produce an invincible army.