At that moment, Gu Seungheon, who had flinched, carefully raised his head.
"An IV drip, you say?"
"Didn't I tell you from the beginning? That you could be hospitalized immediately and it wouldn't be strange."
"You did say that."
"I'm not telling you to actually get admitted. Since you have to stay here today anyway, I'm saying let's use that time productively."
When Taesu clarified his intentions, Gu Seungheon was bewildered.
"For someone who came to you like this…."
"However you came here, in my eyes, you are first and foremost a patient."
"I'm grateful for your words, but I don't think now is the time for me to comfortably get an IV and recover my health."
When he refused surprisingly stubbornly, Taesu furrowed his brows sharply.
"If you collapse like that, will those bastards care?"
"They probably wouldn't even care."
"Then will the people who trust you clap and fight to the death for you?"
"That would be difficult."
"Then why are you trying to tough it out all by yourself! Get up now."
Taesu snapped and yelled at him.
Only then did Gu Seungheon glance around cautiously and carefully get up.
Taesu gave him a reason to move a little faster.
"The doctor can only move comfortably when the patient is stabilized."
"I suppose so."
"You asked for my help, but if you tie my feet so I can't move, what do you expect me to do?"
It was at that very moment.
Gu Seungheon's eyes went wide.
"D-Doctor!"
"It's not certain yet, and I have no conviction either. I'm just saying I'll look into it first."
"Thank you. Thank you so much!"
Deep bow after deep bow.
Gu Seungheon kept bowing without straightening his back.
Taesu was worried he might collapse from anemia.
"It's not time for greetings yet. You'll get dizzy and collapse."
"Ah, uh…."
He staggered.
"See? Why don't people listen when they're told, and only look for a doctor when something goes wrong?"
Grumbling, Taesu immediately approached Gu Seungheon and supported him.
The instant he took hold of his arm, what he felt was coldness.
Taesu instinctively realized Gu Seungheon's condition was worse than he had thought.
Now it wasn't a suggestion—he had to make him lie down, even by force.
"Let's go!"
"Thank y—"
"Say that one more time."
"…."
"It's because I'm burdened by the situation without certainty myself. Now, be careful."
Even while supporting him, Taesu clearly stated his own situation.
There were things he could do with just his heart, and things he could not.
The current case was the latter.
Shortly after.
Taesu was standing in the guardian lounge inside the headquarters building.
It was literally a space where guardians could rest, equipped with cots as well.
Gu Seungheon was lying in a corner spot among them.
Glucose and amino acids ran in a long line to his arm, with several medicines added to the mix.
Despite that, his eyes were half-open.
He had fallen asleep as if passed out, but unable to be at ease, he couldn't fully close his eyes.
Taesu's heart ached at that sight.
*Just how much must be seething in his heart for him not to seem like he's sleeping even while asleep?*
Now he felt he could read some of Gu Seungheon's desperation.
Just then, Nurse Nabis spoke while organizing a bedpan—a steel bowl.
"This is the first time I've seen someone like this. To think he lasted ten minutes even with a mild dose of muscle relaxant…."
"There are circumstances for it."
"But is it okay not to hospitalize him?"
"If he is, it will have to be later."
Taesu carefully rebuffed Nurse Nabis's well-meaning concern.
Seeing Taesu's heavy expression, she didn't repeat the same words anymore.
"Alright. I'll check the IV time, so you probably don't need to keep watching."
"I'm sorry for asking suddenly."
"It's only natural to help the gentle and thoughtful Dr. Choe. I'll excuse myself first."
Nurse Nabis showed a light smile and left the guardian lounge.
Click.
As the door closed, Taesu tilted his head.
"She said I was the worst patient."
Thinking back, the way she treated him had been so kind.
It was enough to make him believe he had been imagining things all on his own until now.
Soon, Taesu recalled the reason for the change.
The gift was clearly the reason.
Nod, nod.
Taesu understood on his own and was satisfied.
But that moment was brief.
Creak.
The guardian lounge door opened again.
When Taesu turned his head, his eyes met Raku's.
Taesu gestured to guide him in.
"Come in."
"This doesn't appear to be a hospital room."
"It's a place for those who wish to rest for a while."
Taesu calmly explained.
In the meantime, Raku approached from the side and discovered Gu Seungheon lying on the cot.
"Mr. Gu ended up lying down after all."
"You already seem to know the situation, so why am I wedged in there like a sandwich?"
"Didn't Mr. Gu tell you?"
When Raku asked, Taesu answered briefly.
"He said it was because of the nickname, Hero of Ijambak."
"I suppose that would be the answer."
"Raku."
When Taesu called him quietly, Raku smiled bitterly and spoke in more detail.
"If there's an incident that is the only one talked about on both sides, it would be impossible to leave out Ijambak."
"That's already been almost a year."
"And you can't easily overlook the recent Malnoi incident either."
"Well, that…."
Taesu had been a bit extreme, but he showed no signs of regretting it.
Raku added, perhaps not wanting that kind of reaction either.
"Anyway, it's true that even if the commander changes, the soldiers remember Dr. Choe."
"Then should I send a radio message telling them not to fight at all?"
"I wouldn't exactly recommend it."
"Don't worry, I have no intention of doing so either. But realistically, it's difficult."
As Taesu calmly connected the dots, Raku nodded as well.
"I know it's difficult, but I couldn't help but bring him because I felt sorry for Mr. Gu."
"How much must he have clung to you?"
"Can you picture it?"
"It's because I know too well that Raku is a cautious person."
At Taesu's answer, Raku smiled lightly.
"Thank you for understanding."
"I'll think more about that part. What happened to the Korean village that you acted like that earlier?"
When Taesu asked seriously, Raku looked at him quietly.
"Hmm."
"Why? It makes me uneasy when you look at me like that."
"To get straight to the point, we were found out."
At those words, Taesu visibly wavered.
"F-found out?"
"My fatal mistake was underestimating Mr. Jo's perception."
"So what is the village saying?"
Taesu grew anxious.
Because he might have hurt their pride.
Contrary to such worries, Raku's expression was surprisingly calm.
"The village chief said if we're coming, we should come prepared."
"Ah…. So that's why he'd say that, since you got caught like that."
"Fortunately, we're not one hundred percent found out, so being told to prepare probably doesn't mean anything bad."
At those words, Taesu perked up his ears.
"What do you mean you're found out but not one hundred percent found out?"
"I lied and said I invested a considerable amount. So when the time comes, we'll probably have to go receive the young ones."
"If it's consignment raising, we'll have to go pick them up."
Taesu had no intention of taking them, but it couldn't be helped for a perfect lie.
Raku also wanted to discuss that matter.
"Livestock offspring aren't necessarily cheap just because they're young. The problem is what comes after, though."
"You can resolve that appropriately on your end. I'm just set up as someone who only partially invested, right?"
"Don't you care about my circumstances?"
"I'm too busy surviving, so answer that first."
When Taesu pressed him, Raku smiled broadly.
"If Dr. Choe goes to the Korean village again, he'll be a star popular with the children."
"Because of the snacks?"
"No. I took several puppies."
"The kids must have gone wild."
As Taesu reacted with a look that said he knew exactly what would happen, Raku answered affirmatively.
"Exactly."
"When the village chief corners us, I can just hide behind the kids."
"You say that so shamelessly."
"You have to put your shield in front. By the way, is there any other news?"
As soon as Taesu heard all the news about the Korean village, he subtly probed.
Just then, Raku pulled out a business card from his pocket and held it out.
"I thought Dr. Choe was just a doctor; I didn't know there was such an enterprise behind you."
"You met him……. Huh?"
Taesu was a little surprised because the name on the business card was unexpected.
— Manager Bak Haeyong, Dongseong Construction.
Manager Bak Haeyong was the large-built man who had blocked the way when approaching Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon.
As Taesu checked the business card, Raku continued.
"I met him twice. The first time, I don't know why he contacted me; the second time, we completed our first transaction cleanly."
"Already?"
"What do you mean, already? He contacts me every three days asking when the second transaction will be."
Raku shook his head.
On the other hand, Taesu nodded heavily.
"As expected of people working under the Chairman. Such work ethic."
Perhaps because he muttered in Korean, Raku glanced at him.
"What did you say?"
"I said Korea has a culture of rushing ingrained in everyday life."
"Shouldn't they be given time to make the products?"
"Tell them to make it."
When Taesu responded indifferently, Raku felt frustrated.
"I'll just handle that on my own. There was a strange request to pass on to Dr. Choe."
"What kind of request?"
"They say a big player will make a move soon. The request was that if you happen to run into him in the Korean village, you must absolutely not act like you know him."
Raku couldn't understand why such words were being exchanged.
However, Taesu knew exactly.
"That's good advice."
"Is it a code that only Koreans understand?"
"It's a code that only we know."
"If it's a code, there's no reason for me to be particularly curious."
As expected of a merchant, Raku accurately recognized when to back out.
That was why Taesu could ask Raku for several favors.
Just as he asked comfortably, it was only right that a reward should naturally come around in return.
"Raku. About those livestock offspring."
"Do you have some idea?"
"Yes. I'll gift them all to you."
At Taesu's bold decision, Raku was rather flustered.
"Dr. Choe, I told you it's not a small amount."
"If it's enough for your pocket money, all the better."
"It means I can plan more things."
"If I'm going to invest, I want to invest it in you. There's no asset more valuable than a person."
Taesu gave a playful wink.
In fact, the money could have gone into Taesu's own pocket.
But Taesu didn't even consider it.
Because he believed all production and consumption occurring in the Korean village was unrelated to him.
Whether Raku noticed Taesu's resolve, he didn't say anything more.
Instead, he conveyed a promise that Taesu would like.
"From now on, I'll try to put my strength into most matters."
"Of course you should."
"I didn't know it was a matter of course."
"Haha."
Taesu let out a light laugh.
He didn't rejoice too loudly since it was in front of Gu Seungheon.
Still, it was true that his mood had improved considerably from the conversation with Raku.
Taesu and Raku moved spots without disturbing Gu Seungheon's sleep.
They also left a note beside him so he wouldn't be confused when he woke up.
The two of them headed toward the lodgings.
Just before entering, Raku was the first to speak to Taesu.
"Actually, I told everyone inside what was going on first. They were all so curious."
"You did well."
Creak.
Taesu expressed his gratitude and opened the door to the quarters.
At that reaction, Raku followed behind with an even more flustered face.