Chapter 242
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 242
Chapter Title: Dragon-Phoenix Gathering
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Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
This referred to a meeting of the promising young talents under the Martial Alliance.
It was a group with its own history and traditions, and in its early days—or even during certain periods of martial world history—it had played a truly outstanding role.
But during the twenty-odd years I spent in the martial world...
It was nothing more than a hangout for thugs.
Even kids who were perfectly fine back home would pick up weird pretensions the moment they went there. My master used to get furious, wondering what the hell kind of place it was.
'Changing a group's identity is incredibly difficult.'
The direction had already been set: survival and advancement depended on mastering the political games.
The more that happened, the stronger the inertia became toward pulling down anyone who stood out.
Those striving for achievements or trying to help each other alike ended up as the odd pegs out.
'Health is the same way, really.'
Addictions to alcohol or nicotine were the worst, but metabolic diseases like obesity or chronic inflammation were tough too. The body clung stubbornly to the habits it had grown accustomed to, making gradual improvements agonizingly hard.
"...Huh? Fire all four of them?"
Choo Miyoung reacted with surprise a beat late after hearing me out.
She was the affectionate type deep down, so this couldn't have been an easy call for her.
"Honestly, I thought that was the best option too. I suggested letting them go one by one to avoid a sudden staff shortage."
Im Sucheol nodded right away.
Hm, the follow-up made decent sense.
"You're right. If possible, we should give them a handover period."
"Firing Heo Youngsun first could be tricky. From what I've seen, she might rile up the others and push for everyone to quit together."
No way it'd go that far...?
Choo Miyoung clutched her head at Im Sucheol's warning.
But Seo In-ae confirmed it firmly.
"Doesn't matter. They're the types who'd bail anyway once things get busy. At this workload, I can handle it solo, so don't worry—just hire new ones."
"You sure that's okay?"
"Yeah. Before Teacher Seol Yuhee joined, we had this much at the main branch when patients first surged."
"Oh, right."
Come to think of it, Choo Miyoung had basically introduced Seol Yuhee to us.
She'd seen what it was like when our clinic first started getting slammed.
Seo In-ae had zipped back and forth between east and west wings, dominating the desk and treatment rooms single-handedly.
"They're getting better pay than back then, and they've got the hang of the work. No worries at all."
With Seo In-ae showing such confidence, even Im Sucheol conceded.
"If the manager's fine with it, we should state clear reasons and proceed with proper severance."
The directors' opinions converged.
I thanked them for mulling it over with me and encouraged Seo In-ae.
"Teaching three or four newbies at once will be tough. Fighting!"
"Way better than starting with folks full of bad habits and stubbornness."
"Hahaha."
"Hang in there, Manager Seo. Come visit our clinic sometime too!"
"Sure."
"Hope your branch stabilizes soon, Director Choo."
Everyone cheered on Choo Miyoung and Seo In-ae.
I didn't say it outright in front of the struggling Choo Miyoung to avoid awkwardness, but gratitude welled up inside me for the staff who were doing a great job.
Seo In-ae kept me updated on the Daegu branch regularly.
She and Choo Miyoung decided the specifics, while relaying reports and approval requests to me in between.
"Should I call Teacher Heo Youngsun in to notify her?"
"No, I can't leave that to you. I have to deliver the tough words myself. It's the least I owe her for all the time she's put in."
Choo Miyoung called Heo Youngsun first, explained the reasons, and personally recommended resignation.
She offered a month's grace period—hoping she'd stick around through next month.
"She was... really hurt. I know it's necessary, but it still feels awful."
She struggled with it at first.
For exactly one day.
Im Sucheol's prediction held true.
The next day, the other three submitted resignations all at once—thanks to whatever Heo Youngsun had done.
They probably thought the mass exodus would force some negotiation, knowing the gap it'd leave.
But we'd already resolved to phase them all out anyway.
"I told them to go ahead—no need to show up starting tomorrow."
Choo Miyoung stated it decisively.
They'd never expected the usually soft Director Choo Miyoung to take such a firm stand.
Two of the three retracted their resignations the very next day.
But Choo Miyoung didn't budge.
She gave them time to find new jobs but insisted they resign.
She conveyed sincere thanks for their time and wished them well elsewhere.
"It's finally sorted out now."
About a month of back-and-forth later, the staff turnover wrapped up.
Heo Youngsun, seeing threats wouldn't work, begged Choo Miyoung instead.
At her age, new jobs were hard to come by. She'd work harder than ever—please reconsider.
But Choo Miyoung, who gave affection freely, cut ties cleanly when needed.
You could tell just from how she'd left Haneul Clinic right away.
One of the remaining three quit immediately after landing a new gig.
The other two stuck out the handover for unemployment benefits after their recommended resignations.
"Manager Seo's job posting was spot-on—way more applicants than usual! The interviews... I just asked when they could start, but she grilled them harder than I did. Made me reflect a lot."
Choo Miyoung's clinic wasn't a hard place to staff to begin with.
But the crisp posting—just the facts, no fluff—drew them in.
And the vision she shared in interviews apparently resonated.
'Vision, huh.'
Sounded like a red flag for small businesses—run away if they start yapping about that.
She'd highlighted how Seongsu Clinic offered room to grow in duties and incentives.
"I'll drop by to check it out myself!"
Better to see it in person before bringing Seo In-ae back.
With reports that everyone was picking things up well and settling into roles, I scheduled a Daegu visit.
"Hello~! Here for back treatment. First time checking in. Han Yeowon."
A quick name search pulled up my face.
Pretending to be a regular patient could backfire later with bad vibes, so I'd told Seo In-ae to give them a heads-up.
"Ah, Director Han Yeowon? I'll check you in. ID, please?"
"Sure~."
They might tense up hearing 'main branch director,' but the desk staff handled it smoothly.
'Hm... but something's... off. Her voice has real power to it?'
New hires overflowed with enthusiasm, sure.
Especially since Choo Miyoung and Seo In-ae had picked folks with real potential.
But this wasn't fleeting zeal.
It was more like...
'...martial talent?'
I cracked open my senses a bit. The raw energy radiating from her was exceptional.
No inner energy cultivated, but she'd skyrocket with the slightest push.
Looking closer, her frame was impressive too.
"Manager Seo, a sec."
"Oh, Director—you're here?"
"What were your hiring criteria?"
I pulled Seo In-ae aside and whispered.
"Nursing assistant cert, good communication... but I prioritized growth potential over experience. Folks with that tough gaze—like our main branch staff or those amazing patients."
"..."
Good lord.
Not a fluke.
She was unconsciously spotting martial aptitude!
"Any issues?"
"None at all. Perfect picks, actually. Impressive."
They say even a dog hanging around a school for three years recites poetry.
I'd heard a story about a waiter at an inn near Shaolin who'd seen countless monks and could spot martial artists even if they hid their strength.
He recognized talent in a beggar kid panhandling.
Tipped off a Shaolin warrior monk, and the boy grew into an elite young expert. The Beggars' Sect regretted it bitterly, pounding the ground.
The waiter got recruitment offers from major sects after that.
'Not every school dog recites poetry...!'
I marveled at Seo In-ae's gift.
"Glad you approve, Director. We'll wrap up training strong."
"Yeah, ahem. Head back after this month."
Heck, gather these staff and you could found a sect.
I wasn't teaching them martial arts, but if a tower sprouted from the ground or a gate ripped open, we'd be fine.
Thank goodness the Daegu branch seemed set to settle without a hitch.
While Seo In-ae was in Daegu, we had multiple meetings with PK, and Saudi diplomats dropped by several times.
The Zeje production facility was fully equipped, prototypes ready. The MFDS was handling legal certification.
Saudi approval came quick—they'd prepped a spot, ready for our doctors anytime.
'Time to scout some candidates.'
Once domestic processes wrapped, we could send meds and people.
I posted on the community, outlining the situation and seeking applicants for high-paying gigs at the royal hospital.
Then back to routine: seeing patients.
Charting.
Handling clinic admin in spare moments.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
"Director, we've got a foreign patient."
Jin Minjeong was the one knocking.
Normals get noted as 'foreigner' in charts or messaged.
Coming to me with that troubled look meant she needed help out front.
"Huh? No one's scheduled."
No unannounced Saudis besides the ambassador and prince—they always gave notice.
Italians... Pianist Park Miseon sent a few colleagues.
But they were Korean-fluent or brought interpreters, with Korean friends.
Our clinic was getting too global.
'If language is a total barrier, I'm out of options...'
I fired up a translation app and headed to the desk.
"I'd like to see Dr. Han Yeowon."
Luckily, the patient spoke English.
Simple words I knew, with a crisp American accent.
"Seems like she's here for you. What'd she say?"
"Just wants to check in with me. Your name, ma'am?"
My English was rusty, but names were doable.
'How do you say alien registration card...'
App-assisted, I checked for that or Korean insurance—uninsured.
She wrote her name carefully, whispering to me.
"Please keep my visit secret."
No separate insurance meant no records beyond our charts anyway.
Nothing to hide or not.
I started explaining, glancing at my phone—then spotted the name she'd written.
'Sasha Lian?'
The familiar name-surname combo made me look up reflexively.
Seeing her face after the name, it clicked. The world-famous American pop star.
The one who'd name-dropped Melon Soda Horizon to land them on Billboard.
Why was she here?