The sunset painted Deoksan Beach red. The sea sparkled with golden light, and waves rolled in gently from afar, softly breaking at their feet.
Taeho pulled out two fresh beer cans and handed one to Kim Jeonghun.
"Sitting here like this, everything that happened in Africa feels like a dream."
Kim Jeonghun popped open his can and took a long gulp.
Taeho smiled and drank as well.
Suddenly, Kim Jeonghun asked.
"Have you heard how the Dr. Whitman case was handled?"
"I've been swamped with scheduled patients and local villagers since I got back. What happened?"
"It happened twenty years ago locally in Africa, and since it took place in a refugee camp, the investigation seems to have hit its limits. But the internal disciplinary action by the WHO was severe. He was fired immediately and stripped of all positions. I heard his pension was revoked, too. The strongest measure was that his medical license was revoked in the United States on charges of overseas corruption, and he was completely banned from any medical-related activities there."
"It's unexpected that he was punished even within the United States."
"You didn't know?"
Kim Jeonghun's eyes widened as he looked at Taeho, who in turn countered.
"Didn't know what?"
"Judging by your expression, I suppose you really didn't know. The reason Dr. Whitman received such a heavy punishment. There's talk that a powerful US senator was behind it all. And they say the reason that senator was so furious was because he touched Dr. Kang Taeho…."
Catherine?
Taeho was surprised inwardly but didn't show it. He simply took another sip of beer.
The cold, sharp carbonation slid refreshingly down his throat.
Kim Jeonghun chuckled.
"What I've learned as a reporter is that things in this world don't necessarily end justly. That man did such things to refugees—who could be called the weakest people on earth—and to children, who are even weaker among them, all while enjoying every kind of fame as the 'Schweitzer of the 21st Century' and whatnot. When it ended so suddenly like that, I suppose I could say I was rather amazed?"
"Such a tragedy must never be repeated. Your reporting also contributed to a just conclusion."
"Hahaha. To be honest, while the fame is nice, covering the case was truly thrilling. It was like I finally understood the real taste of being a reporter."
Kim Jeonghun laughed, crinkling the bridge of his nose deeply.
"Oh, right. I heard the WHO is going to award Director Kang the Innovative Medical Technology Award for this. You'll have to go abroad again soon?"
"There are many doctors who have quietly done excellent work over the years. I don't know if I have the qualifications to receive such an award."
"You are more than qualified. It was a single case, but didn't you prevent a war? If you receive it this time, you'll be the first in our country. The government won't sit still, either. Won't the Minister of Health and Welfare give you a commendation at least?"
"There's no need to go that far…."
"It's nothing to be humble about. You have elevated the prestige of Korean medicine on the international stage. Of course the country should give you something."
Kim Jeonghun grew rather heated and excited.
Taeho simply smiled.
"Ah, right. I heard Geumsan Research Institute is thriving now, too?"
When Taeho looked at Kim Jeonghun with a slightly surprised expression, Kim Jeonghun smiled and shrugged.
"I'm a reporter, too, you know. I know that much. The Kigelia fusion treatment method, microneedle patches, and so on—didn't tens of billions already come in from patent royalties alone?"
Taeho turned his head as if embarrassed.
"That's all thanks to Dr. Seong Gihwan working so hard. Because of him, I can focus solely on my patients."
Geumsan Research Institute was reinvesting all the money earned from patent royalties back into the institute as research funds. Seong Gihwan encouraged the researchers like a fish in water, producing new results every month.
Taeho was truly nothing but grateful.
The two men's gazes naturally turned toward the two people playing by the water.
Seong Gihwan was playing a stepping-on-waves game with Hayul.
"Here comes another one!"
"Kyaaah—"
"Hahahaha."
Hayul's bright laughter rode the sea breeze and reached the two men.
"The child is really bright and pretty. You can feel that she is loved."
Kim Jeonghun's voice was warm. Taeho, too, smiled with a pleased expression.
"Gihwan is truly good to her. I'm grateful he has become a good guardian for Hayul."
The evening at Deoksan Beach was setting so warmly.
***
May 22nd, Geneva, Switzerland.
Taeho stood by the hotel window, gazing at the sparkling sunlight upon the clear, blue surface of Lake Leman. Through the window, the Jet d'Eau fountain soared high, creating a dazzling rainbow. It was an exotic yet peaceful landscape.
The fact that he had come all the way here to receive the WHO Innovative Medical Technology Award still didn't feel real.
Merit for developing a traditional medicine–modern medicine fusion model using Kigelia.
The wording of the award notification circled in his head. The WHO Innovative Medical Technology Award given to a young doctor under forty—and on top of that, the glory of being the first Asian recipient.
Dressed in a black tuxedo, Taeho adjusted his bow tie in front of the mirror. The Taegeukgi badge on his chest felt heavy.
This was something he couldn't have even imagined a year ago.
To think that I, who was groaning under 2 billion won in private debt, have changed 180 degrees like this!
Taeho exhaled deeply, composed himself, and left the hotel room.
The hotel lobby was already packed with medical staff and journalists from around the world. Amidst the din of mixed languages, he suddenly heard his name called.
"Doctor Kang?"
At the voice calling from behind, Taeho turned to see a blonde woman approaching with a smile.
"Yes, I'm Kang Taeho."
"I'm Sarah Mitchell from the WHO Department of External Relations. I'll be your escort today."
She took Taeho's hand and shook it lightly.
"You know you're the first Asian awardee? You've truly accomplished a remarkable feat."
"Thank you. I was simply lucky."
At Taeho's humble words, Dr. Mitchell shook her head and smiled.
"The whole world is paying attention to your Kigelia treatment method. Many people are looking forward to meeting you in person today."
Taeho followed her and got into a black Mercedes-Benz S-Class prepared in front of the hotel. Flags engraved with the WHO logo flew on both sides.
"Doctor Kang, is this your first time in Geneva?"
"Yes, it's my first time. It's a truly beautiful city."
"As you know, this is home to over two hundred international organizations, including the UN and WHO. It's also called the City of Peace."
As the vehicle departed, Geneva's classic and beautiful cityscape unfolded outside the window. In the distance, the Alps surrounded the city like a folding screen. But Taeho's mind was filled with today's awards ceremony and the matters yet to come.
It was when the vehicle turned onto Route de Pregny. The cars ahead suddenly reduced speed and veered precariously before a loud crash rang out.
Screech! Crash!
The Swiss driver hurriedly stopped the car and muttered something in German.
The cargo truck at the front made a sudden stop, and the passenger car following behind rear-ended it. That car was flung sideways and collided with a vehicle in the opposite lane. The cars behind crashed in a chain reaction, and the road transformed into a battlefield in an instant.
"My goodness, it's a major accident!"
Sarah cried out.
Chaos erupted in the middle of the road. One car was overturned, and smoke was rising from another.
With instincts sharper than the rest, Taeho assessed the scene in an instant. The screams from the accident scene, people trapped inside vehicles, and the smell of gasoline spreading through the air.
"Sarah, do you have an emergency medical kit?"
"What? We don't have anything like that…. Doctor Kang?"
Taeho was already getting out of the car.
"Call 112 first."
"Doctor Kang, where are you going?"
"There are patients."
Taeho ran toward the accident scene, quickly assessing the situation. Six vehicles were tangled together, and groans and screams came from all around.
"Ich bin Arzt! I am a doctor!"
Taeho shouted in a mix of German and English and ran first to the overturned compact car. Inside, a middle-aged man was hanging upside down, unconscious.
Taeho opened the car door and carefully touched the man's neck. His pulse was still beating, but his breathing was shallow. Cervical spine injury was suspected.
"Sir, can you hear me?"
The man's eyelids trembled and responded faintly. Fortunately, he was conscious.
Taeho pointed to a middle-aged man standing nearby.
"You there, please come here and help."
As the man approached, Taeho held the patient's neck and said.
"Don't move his neck. Please hold it just like this."
"Understood."
Taeho quickly ran to check the remaining vehicles.
In the second vehicle, a woman in her twenties was bleeding from her forehead and confused.
"Miss, I'm a doctor. Where does it hurt?"
"My head…. I'm dizzy."
Taeho checked the woman's pupils. Both pupils were equal in size, and the light reflex was normal. She had a concussion, but it didn't appear serious.
"How is your neck? Nothing hurts?"
"I think I'm okay."
"Then get out of the car and sit in that safe place over there. Absolutely do not lie down."
Taeho ran to the third vehicle. A middle-aged couple was pressed by their seatbelts and complained of chest pain.
"Is it hard to breathe?"
"No, it just hurts."
When Taeho pressed on their rib cages, there appeared to be no fractures. It was bruising from the seatbelt.
"Get out of the car slowly. Don't overexert yourselves."
The fourth and fifth vehicles were minor contact accidents, and the passengers had already exited.
Then a woman's scream came from the sixth car.
"Help! Please!"
When Taeho turned his head, a pregnant woman was trapped in the driver's seat. Her belly was quite distended, appearing to be near full-term.
"Hilfe! Meine Frau ist schwanger! (Help! My wife is pregnant!)"
The man who appeared to be her husband shrieked from beside her.
Taeho hurriedly ran to the pregnant woman.
The situation was graver than he had thought.
The pregnant woman was trapped in the driver's seat, and the dashboard was crushed severely, compressing her legs. Her face was pale, and blood was flowing down her forehead.
"Are you conscious?"
"Ah. It hurts. My legs…."
The pregnant woman answered weakly. Taeho quickly called Rema.
"Rema, analyze the patient's condition."
— Blood pressure 90/60, pulse 120 beats per minute, respiration 28 breaths per minute.
— Trauma: 3 cm forehead laceration, right lower extremity crush injury.
— Increased uterine tension, 87% probability of placental abruption.
— Hemorrhagic shock stage 2 in progress.
"Did you say 87% probability of placental abruption?"
— Yes, it is a comprehensive prediction based on abdominal trauma, uterine tension, fetal movement cessation response, etc.
— Fetal life-threatening risk: 85%. Maternal life-threatening risk: 45%.
Taeho looked into the pregnant woman's eyes and asked calmly.
"What's your name?"
"Anna."
"Anna, does your stomach hurt? Can you feel the baby moving?"
"My stomach…. It hurts so much. I don't think the baby is moving."
"Anna, I'm going to touch your stomach for a moment."
"Yes…."
Anna replied, half-sobbing.
Taeho directly touched Anna's belly. The uterus was abnormally hard. It was a sign of intrauterine hemorrhage.
Fetal distress was suspected—a condition in which the fetus's life was threatened by hypoxia in the womb.
The fetus was in danger. He had to act as quickly as possible.