Chapter 193: The Shaking Empire (6)

In front of the dedicated entrance of the Taeseong Hospital emergency room, the medical staff who had already been contacted were waiting in a line.

As the car door opened, Kang Cheol-woo got out first.

He scanned the surroundings once and spoke in a low voice to a hospital official who approached.

“What about the media?”

“Do not worry, Chief Secretary. We have also switched the CCTV to private. We have also blocked access to the treatment room line for a while, so you can rest assured.”

The Taeseong Hospital Administrative Manager bowed his waist deeply.

In the meantime, the opposite car door opened and I, Lim Hyunjun, got out while supporting Lim Man-seok.

He was conscious at first, but Chairman Lim Man-seok’s complexion became noticeably pale after walking only a few steps after getting out of the car.

“Grandfather, are you all right?”

I asked while supporting Chairman Lim Man-seok’s body as much as possible.

Catching his breath for a moment, he pulled up the corners of his mouth as if it were no big deal.

“Why make a fuss over this much? I am still far from dying.”

He said so, but strength did not enter his legs properly.

Moreover, his balance even became distorted.

Later, I held onto him almost as if embracing him.

“I should probably carry you on my back and take you in.”

At that time, the automatic door inside opened and a middle-aged man wearing a white gown ran out with quick steps.

He was the Hospital Director of Taeseong Hospital.

He came as if almost running and asked.

“Chairman. Moving right now is too much for you. I will prepare a bed immediately. Please come this way.”

A mobile bed stopped from behind with a clack.

Looking at my grandfather for a moment, I nodded my head.

“That would be better. Grandfather, please lie down for a moment.”

Lim Man-seok did as he was told reluctantly.

The moment he laid his body on the bed, his eyelids gradually came down.

His lips were exceptionally pale because he had bled.

The medical staff spoke while quickly pushing the bed.

“We should probably pick up the pace. This way.”

I and Kang Cheol-woo followed along on both sides.

Control of other floors had already ended for the elevator going up to the VIP ward.

While the elevator door was closing, I glanced down at my grandfather’s back of the hand.

Blood was still seeping out little by little through the back of the hand wrapped in bandages.

‘There is no way he would be fine after bleeding this much.’

My lips were tightly closed.

The door opened as soon as the elevator stopped.

The medical staff spoke while pushing the bed.

“We will take him to the emergency treatment room.”

As we passed quickly through the hallway and entered the emergency treatment room, brilliant lighting poured down dazzlingly.

The medical staff spoke to me and Kang Cheol-woo.

“The guardians, please wait outside for a moment.”

I peered at the situation inside through the glass wall of the treatment room.

Inside, the primary physician removed the handkerchief while wearing gloves.

The red-soaked back of the hand and palm were revealed beneath the blood-soaked handkerchief.

Finely broken glass fragments were embedded between the wounds here and there.

My gaze wavered for a moment.

“Please prepare physiological saline. Local anesthesia as well.”

The medical staff moved quickly at the primary physician’s instruction.

When the anesthetic injection went in soon, wrinkles were slightly formed on Lim Man-seok’s forehead and then relaxed.

When the sensation in his hand became dull, the primary physician nodded his head.

“Entering the cleaning phase.”

Coldly cooled saline poured over the wound.

As it was washed down along with the blood water, a few glass fragments fell out.

The primary physician picked up the remaining fragments one by one with tweezers.

The fragments were collected on a metal tray.

“X-ray is ready.”

Mobile equipment approached the side of the bed.

The medical staff carefully supported and lifted his hand.

“I will check if any glass fragments remain. You must not move.”

After the filming ended, the primary physician looked into the screen and spoke.

“No large fragments are seen. Fortunately, there are no fine pieces either.”

A sigh of relief spread through the room.

The primary physician turned his gaze back to the hand.

“Then I will perform the sutures.”

A needle moved back and forth over the anesthetized hand.

The torn flesh was organized while being interlocked one by one.

Lastly, disinfectant was applied, and thick gauze and elastic bandages wrapped around the entire hand.

“He will receive a tetanus shot and we will use antibiotics while watching the progress after he is hospitalized.”

When the organization ended, the medical staff tidied up the bed once more.

“Now I will take him to the VIP hospital room.”

The door opened and the bed moved again.

I and Kang Cheol-woo followed next to it and looked down at the hand wrapped in bandages once more.

The speed at which blood seeped out was noticeably reduced compared to earlier.

‘I am glad it is only this much.’

Thinking so, my eyes met with the primary physician the moment I raised my head.

The Hospital Director opened his mouth instead.

“I will tell you after he is settled in the hospital room.”

After going up to the hospital room, the Hospital Director talked with the primary physician for a while.

After that, he called the two of us separately.

“I will explain to you two briefly. The bleeding was more than expected, but the fortunate point is that the fragments were not deeply embedded. Since he is of age, his blood pressure dropped during movement, and his consciousness became faint for a while due to that influence.”

Strength entered my fingertips.

“Was it not a dangerous situation?”

The primary physician, who was next to the Hospital Director, nodded his head and spoke.

“There is no great hindrance to his life. The wounds on the back of the hand and the palm side looked deep to the naked eye, but fortunately, the examination results showed no damage to tendons or major nerves. No glass fragments are seen remaining on the X-ray from just now either.”

Kang Cheol-woo also asked while exhaling a sigh of relief.

“Still, he is of age and bled a lot, so I am very worried.”

The Hospital Director explained thoroughly.

“We will also sufficiently keep that point in mind and watch the progress. He must take absolute rest for a few days. He must try not to use his hand as much as possible. If pain is controlled and the wound is well managed, the aftereffects will not be great.”

The primary physician looked at the two of us alternately once more.

“Right now, he is sleeping deeply as there is the influence of painkillers and fatigue has come all at once. He will probably be very tired even if he wakes up. It would be better to reduce stimulation as much as possible tonight.”

I nodded my head.

“Yes, I understand. Thank you.”

“And…. You have worked hard. You may go now.”

After sending the primary physician, the Hospital Director spoke while lowering his voice slightly.

“As the Chief Secretary also mentioned earlier, the Chairman’s hospital records will be managed separately from general treatment. We have received confidentiality oaths again from all medical staff and nursing personnel. You do not have to worry about external leaks.”

Kang Cheol-woo bowed his waist deeply.

“Thank you for your concern.”

After a few requests were exchanged a while later, the Hospital Director quietly left the spot.

Silence settled in the hospital room again.

Inside the VIP hospital room, it was quiet.

Subtle lighting shone over the bed through the half-drawn curtains.

Lim Man-seok, who was lying on the white sheet, had a face that was deeply asleep.

Oxygen lines were connected to his nose and regular waveforms were rising and falling on the monitor next to him.

His hand wrapped in thick bandages was out over the blanket.

I approached the side of the bed and looked down blankly for a long time.

The incident that happened in the Taeseong Hotel office came to mind.

The sensation I had not been able to feel properly back then because my mind was on edge was now rushing up late from deep within my chest.

Kang Cheol-woo opened his mouth toward me.

“Representative, the Chairman has become much more stable now, so why don't you go back and rest.”

Without taking my gaze away, I slowly opened my mouth.

“I would have stopped him if I had known he would go this far today.”

Regret was buried in my voice.

“I should have made it so Grandfather did not have to do this….”

The end of my words blurred.

I also knew it.

Even if I had spoken up back then, Lim Man-seok was a person who would have pushed forward without the slightest hesitation.

Still, regret rushed in while watching him lying in bed.

Kang Cheol-woo paused in silence and then carefully continued his words.

“Even if you had stopped him, Representative, the Chairman would probably have done the same.”

I looked to the side.

Kang Cheol-woo had a tired face, but his gaze was firm.

“I realized it after attending to him for a long time. The Chairman is someone who does what he has set his mind to. Even this matter today, he would have done it even if you had stopped him, Representative.”

Looking down slightly at the bandage-wrapped hand, he added.

“That is why I could not stop him from the side either. Because if he had not done this, Chairman Nam Kun-ho would not have backed down.”

They were words meant to comfort, but my expression conversely became more hardened.

“That is why I am more angry.”

I wore a bitter smile.

“I can no longer just stand by with my hands folded. From now on, I must make sure Grandfather does not have to go this far.”

Kang Cheol-woo’s gaze became a little softer.

“That would also be what the Chairman wishes for the most.”

I nodded my head shortly.

“Chief Secretary.”

“Yes, Representative.”

“I leave Grandfather in your care. Please tell him not to worry about anything when he opens his eyes. Please tell the family tomorrow. Let them sleep peacefully even for tonight.”

Kang Cheol-woo furrowed his eyebrows slightly.

“Where are you planning to go, Representative?”

I took my cell phone out of my pocket and said.

“I think there is work I must do.”

Coming out into the hallway, I walked toward the window while looking for a quiet place.

Staring down at the garden where the lighting shone, I turned on my cell phone as if I had made some kind of decision.

Scrolling down the contact list, my finger stopped at one name.

[Advisor Hong Jang-gun]

When I pressed the call button, a voice was heard as if he had been waiting.

-Yes, Representative. What is the matter?

“Advisor Hong, I am at Taeseong Hospital right now.”

-The hospital? It wouldn't be that you were hurt, Representative… Is it perhaps regarding the Chairman?

“Yes. Grandfather hurt his hand quite significantly. He bled a lot, so I brought him here. Fortunately, there is no hindrance to his life.”

After a moment of silence, Advisor Hong’s low sigh was heard.

-I understand. Should I go to Taeseong Hospital now?

“Yes, you must come to the hospital. I will tell you the details after we meet.”

-Yes, I will hurry as much as possible.

After hanging up the call, I pressed another number this time.

[Chief Jung Jin-woo]

A clear voice was heard after two or three ringtones.

-Yes, Representative.

“Chief Jung. I have something to ask of you.”

-Yes, please speak.

I turned around and scanned the end of the hallway with my eyes while lowering my voice.

“Please select personnel who are strong from the security team and prepare them to move immediately. Please send them to Taeseong Hospital along with Advisor Hong Jang-gun.”

-About how many people should the number of personnel be?

“At least twenty people are needed.”

Jung Jin-woo nodded his head shortly and answered.

-I understand. I will organize reliable people and send them. Are you going to designate the destination separately after arriving at the hospital?

“Yes.”

My gaze sank coldly.

“I plan to organize things at the hospital once and move together.”

-Is it perhaps related to the Daehan side?

I turned around again and cast my gaze into the darkness outside the window.

Suddenly, one scene came to mind.

‘I shall send your son back safely.’

Nam Kun-ho left the office.

However, knowing his character, there was absolutely no way he would send him back nicely.

“Chairman Nam Kun-ho decided to send President Lim Do-hyun back today. But he probably will not send him back nicely.”

My voice became lower.

“If a problem arises for President Lim Do-hyun at a time like this, we would be the ones in trouble in many ways.”

The sound of Jung Jin-woo exhaling a short breath was heard.

-Yes, I understand. You mean we will strike first before they take action.

“Yes. Now it is also time for us to move.”

After finishing the call, I fiddled with my cell phone for a moment and put it in my pocket.

After looking toward the hospital room once, I slowly moved my steps.

The place I had to head to now had narrowed down to one.