Chapter 33 – Retribution (2)

UN Hospital.

“Hahaha, Doctor Kim Ji-hyuk! Thank you. Thanks to you, I was able to prevent a huge loss!”

Mr. Brown grabbed Kim Ji-hyuk’s hand, looking as though he would jump for joy.

The death of Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union, which hit the global stock market, caused the stocks of military contractors worldwide to plummet on expectations that a mood of reconciliation between the Soviet Union and the United States would be formed, and Mr. Brown, who had bought an immense amount of military contractor stocks, was able to escape the crisis of suffering a major loss by selling the stocks right before the plunge.

“Not at all. It is the result of Mr. Brown not ignoring my words and listening to them.”

“No! Ji-hyuk’s eyes for looking at the world are simply amazing! I avoided a huge loss thanks to Ji-hyuk! My grandson owes a debt of gratitude to Doctor Kim, and I owe a debt of gratitude to Ji-hyuk! I never dreamed that I would owe such a debt to two Korean people!”

Mr. Brown was still unable to calm his excitement.

‘If you owe a debt, repaying it is a Korean virtue!’

“You are welcome. Mr. Brown did many good deeds, so you received blessings.”

“I am not the type of person who can live while owing a debt. Just say the word, whatever it is. If it is something I can grant, I will grant anything.”

“Heh, if you insist, I will not decline!”

“Hahaha, that is how it should be. You must absolutely do so.”

Mr. Brown burst into a roar of laughter and smiled brightly.

A moment later.

“So you are saying that a rat is gnawing at my precious things?”

Kim Ji-hyuk and Mr. Brown moved to a quiet place.

Kim Ji-hyuk exposed to Brown the fact that Jo Dong-ki and Executive Director Do Sa-hyeon of Hanchang Textile had plotted together to siphon off Brown’s military supplies and aid materials.

“It is two rats. Perhaps even three. If you meet Chairman Han of Hanchang Textile, you will be able to know everything clearly.”

“Hmm… If that is the case, it means Vice President Anderson is also involved.”

Mr. Brown wore a serious expression.

“If Vice President Anderson is supervising everything, the probability will be high. If you conduct an internal investigation and verify it, it will become clearer.”

“I understand! By the way, while trying to repay a debt, it seems I ended up owing another debt! I will handle this myself, so would you give me an opportunity to repay my gratitude to Ji-hyuk?”

“In that case… please invest in stocks with this money.”

Kim Ji-hyuk presented the black bag containing thirty thousand dollars to Brown.

“What is this?”

“It is difficult to explain in detail, but it is thirty thousand dollars of money that will be used for the future of South Korea.”

“Hmm, excellent! If it is for such a good meaning, I will add thirty thousand dollars to invest it! Where would it be good to invest?”

“Please invest in Polaroid Corporation.”

“Polaroid Corporation? Isn’t that the company that made instant cameras?”

“Yes. Please invest the full amount in that company.”

Since Polaroid Corporation would soon reap a profit close to 1,000%, the sixty thousand dollars invested now would become six hundred thousand dollars.

“I understand.”

“And there will be a young man named Warren Buffett on Wall Street. When you return to the United States, meet him and build a friendship. He will bring immense opportunities to you, Mr. Brown.”

“Warren Buffett… It is a name I have also heard in passing. He works at the Graham Company, and they say he is a young man with quite an outstanding eye for reading stock prices.”

‘Not just quite, he will become the greatest investor in America! You will have to hold onto Warren Buffett by all means!’

“It will not be just ‘quite’. You must absolutely make him Mr. Brown’s man.”

“Understood. I will do so. But wait, how does Ji-hyuk know the US stock market so well? I do not understand it at all.”

“Someone said that? If you want it desperately, it will come true! While thinking about what to do for the reconstruction of this nation, South Korea, I researched and studied this and that, and it ended up like this!”

“Hahaha, you are truly amazing. Honestly, I was negative about the country of Korea, but seeing Ji-hyuk and Doctor Kim, it seems I thought wrong. Let’s continue our good relationship in the future!”

Mr. Brown grabbed Kim Ji-hyuk’s hand again with a satisfied expression.

‘Is there any reason for me to dislike it!’

“Yes. I hope so too.”

Kim Ji-hyuk’s eyes shone as he looked at Brown.

* * *

A fortnight later.

Everything was revealed in broad daylight.

In the internal investigation conducted by Mr. Brown himself, it was revealed that Vice President Anderson, who was in charge of supervising military supply procurement, colluded with Do Sa-hyeon of Hanchang Textile and Jo Dong-ki, siphoned off supplies by inflating quantities, and then received kickbacks.

All these corruptions finally blew up.

Mr. Brown interrogated Anderson based on the double ledger siphoning off goods, and when presented with clear evidence, Vice President Anderson eventually confessed to everything smoothly.

Do Sa-hyeon and Jo Dong-ki, who were mentioned from his mouth.

Ultimately, they had no choice but to face catastrophe.

Professor Jo Dong-ki’s office.

“…”

Director Gustafsson had a solemn expression.

“Director! That is absolutely not true. Would I do such a thing unless I were crazy? Please believe me.”

Professor Jo Dong-ki did not admit his corruption charges until the end.

“Professor Jo Dong-ki! You are the only Korean professor in this hospital. Because you had to play the role of laying the foundation for the medical field in this nation of South Korea, how many conveniences did our hospital provide to you? And yet, for you to participate in fraud and embezzlement in this manner?”

“D-director! It is an absurd frame-up! I did not take even a speck of illicit profit!”

It was Professor Jo Dong-ki, who did not realize that all witnesses and evidence had been secured.

“Tsk, tsk, you are pitiful. All evidence and witnesses have already been secured. Chairman Han of Hanchang Textile and Mr. Brown notified us that they would stand as witnesses for this series of incidents!”

“…!”

“This is currently a wartime situation, and why do you not know that the corruption you committed is a matter that violates the UN military law? Why do you not know that laying everything bare yourself even now is the way to reduce your sentence even slightly?”

Director Gustafsson looked at Professor Jo Dong-ki as if he were pathetic.

“Director! P-please spare me! How devotedly have I worked for this hospital? Ever since this hospital was opened, I…”

“I heard there is an Eastern proverb like this: fields are ruined by weeds, and people are ruined by greed! This is not a matter where you can blame anyone else. Since this is entirely a disaster of Professor Jo Dong-ki’s own making, I hope you cleanly accept it and receive the judgment of the law!”

“D-director!”

Professor Jo Dong-ki was at a loss for what to do with a dumbfounded expression.

“It is regrettable! You will face a military trial soon. Still, since your contribution to our hospital is great, I will help within the scope of what I can help. Please accept the punishment of the law meekly. I will be leaving now!”

Director Gustafsson coldly rose from his seat.

“Director! N-no! What do I do if you leave like this? H-how hard did I work to build this up, I cannot blow everything away in an instant like this! Please, think about it one more time!”

It was Professor Jo Dong-ki, clinging to Gustafsson’s trouser leg.

“How frustrating! I told you it is already a situation beyond my control!”

At that, Director Gustafsson coldly kicked him away and came outside.

“Oh, no!!!!”

Professor Jo Dong-ki screamed while tearing at his own hair.

However, it was merely a futile gesture.

Professor Jo Dong-ki, who had been so high and mighty, met his end.

* * *

The news that Professor Jo Dong-ki was referred to a military trial immediately spread throughout the hospital.

“No wonder! Every single day, he enjoyed luxury with American snacks and American tea!”

“Tell me about it. They say he even siphoned off supplies going to the orphanage, which is truly absurd?”

“He is not even human. How can he commit such a shameless act in the midst of this chaos? A man who is supposed to be a doctor, no less?”

“A wolf in human clothing! By the way, they say Dr. Kim Ji-hyuk uncovered all of this?”

“That is what they say! Anyway, Dr. Kim Ji-hyuk is indeed quite a character! It feels like he is really not of this world.”

The hospital became a forum of condemnation against Professor Jo Dong-ki.

Professor Jo Dong-ki, who was once revered as the best doctor in South Korea. He fell to the bottom in an instant like this.

* * *

Mr. Brown’s hotel.

Mr. Brown, who was soon departing for the United States. He prepared a banquet for Kim Yun-seok and Kim Ji-hyuk on the last evening before returning to the United States.

“I am very happy to have known you two in Korea! The most rewarding thing I did after coming to Korea was becoming friends with you two!”

Sunshine was full on Mr. Brown’s face.

Yun-seok, who saved his precious grandchild, and Ji-hyuk, who saved him from the brink of death when he almost suffered an enormous loss.

From Brown’s perspective, the two were bound to be a precious relationship.

“I am also happy to have made a connection with Mr. Brown!”

“Me too!”

Yun-seok and Ji-hyuk looked at each other and smiled brightly.

“Therefore, you two seem to have greater potential than anyone else. Korea is in a situation where everything is lacking. The war will end soon, but it will take considerable time for Korea to reach a normal track. So, let’s go to the United States with me on this opportunity! Study and learn medicine properly there. That will also be a good thing for Korea. I will spare no support so that you two can study and learn to your heart’s content in the United States!”

Mr. Brown made a surprise proposal to enter the United States with him.

Right at that moment.

“I cannot live without kimchi!”

“Butter is greasy!”

The words burst out from Ji-hyuk’s and Yun-seok’s mouths at the same time.

Ultimately, it must have meant that they had no intention of going to the United States.

“Hahaha, did you eventually reject my proposal?”

“How could that be! America’s advanced medicine will surely be of great help to the medical development of South Korea. We will temporarily put Mr. Brown’s proposal on hold.”

Yun-seok looked at Ji-hyuk and smiled.

“On hold? Then does that mean you will come find me even later?”

“Of course! Where is the fool who would miss this good opportunity? However, the reality of South Korea right now needs us more than the future of South Korea. Until then, please keep this promise.”

Kim Ji-hyuk also looked at Yun-seok and smiled.

“Indeed! I really envy the friendship between you two! Good. I will be waiting at any time, so contact me! Now, now! The food will get cold. Let’s eat quickly!”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

In that way, Ji-hyuk and Yun-seok were able to build a strong backing in Mr. Brown.

On the way back to the hospital.

“It is a bit of a waste… Ji-hyuk, should we say we will go to America even now?”

Yun-seok, who felt regret while stroking his chin.

“Hey, hey! It looks bad! After acting so bold in front of Mr. Brown, and now?”

“Hey! It is a joke, a joke! I am also a human who knows how to preserve at least a minimum of pride!”

*Tap.*

Yun-seok grinned while nudging Ji-hyuk’s shoulder.

‘Grandfather! Let us make sure that this heart of ours never changes until the end. The war will end soon, and South Korea will make dazzling growth. There are so many things that you, Grandfather, and I must do for this country. Let us combine our strength and make an effort!’

Ji-hyuk looked with a wistful gaze at Yun-seok, whose face was flushed from drinking.

A few months later.

On July 27, 1953, a truce agreement was signed between the UN forces, North Korea, and the Chinese communist forces. Although it was a regrettable result in which South Korea was left out completely, it was fortunate at least that the tragedy of aiming gun barrels at one’s own people came to an end.