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Chapter 37 – Transaction Complete
My stomach was so full that I had a hard time breathing.
But I did it!
I finished that Everest-sized bowl of rice!
Youngho Hyung and his wife looked stunned, their eyes wide.
“You finished all of Mother’s food?”
“You knew, didn’t you?”
I asked Youngho Hyung’s wife in anguish.
She avoided my gaze.
It seems she already knew.
Still, I’m glad I finished it.
I doubt I’ll be able to drink anything, even water, for the next few hours.
“Our Jin, you eat so well! Just wait a moment. Grandma will go peel some fruit!”
“…Oh my goodness.”
Despite my exclamation, Grandma simply walked into the kitchen.
I reached out to stop her, but instead cleared my throat.
Then, looking at Youngho hyung, I said,
“Shall we get down to business?”
“Yes, I’ve been waiting.”
“Please speak freely.”
The two of them sat up straight, waiting.
I addressed them first.
“You know I’ve received one wish from each of you, right?”
“Of course.”
“So, I’m going to use those wishes.”
Upon hearing this, both of them swallowed hard.
Then, I stated my wish.
“From this moment on, I hope you won’t ever lie to me.”
“…What?”
“Are you sure that’s okay as a wish? It’s a wish, after all?”
“As I mentioned earlier, I came here to make a ‘deal.’ For that deal to happen, I need honest answers.”
Upon hearing my serious words, the two looked at each other.
Then, they nodded and promised me.
“We won’t lie to you.”
“We’ll keep our promise.”
I nodded at their answers.
Then, I wondered where to start.
I soon realized that deliberation was pointless.
I planned to tell them everything anyway.
So, I revealed my identity immediately.
“Do you know Hua Tuo, who recently became famous for his crops and troll-brand regeneration herbs?”
“Of course. How could I not know that?”
“Exactly. He’s a very famous person now.”
“That’s me.”
I calmly dropped the bombshell.
I expected them to be stunned and shocked.
But their expressions were strange.
“Huh.”
“You finally told us.”
It was as if they already knew.
I was flustered by that look.
“…Both of you. Did you already know?”
“Dammit! After all the hints you gave, how could we not catch on?”
“Someone who can cure heart disease and heal my mental illness isn’t exactly common, right?”
“When exactly did you figure it out?”
I asked, utterly bewildered.
The answers came back immediately.
“It was obvious from the start that the Troll Brand Regeneration Herb was cheap. If such a herb existed, it would normally be sold at an exorbitant price.”
“That’s right. I heard that Mr. Heo Jin is very helpful to people, like your father. With that kind of heart, I thought you would sell the herb cheaply.”
Exactly.
Wait, was I really that easy to figure out? They didn’t stop there, though.
“And recently, the elders in the village have been acting strangely, haven’t they?”
“They’ve all been unusually energetic lately. Plus, they all said they got healthy after eating Mr. Heo Jin’s vegetables.”
“Seeing that reminded me of the vegetables Hua Tuo used to sell.”
“There was plenty of other evidence, too.”
I chuckled at their conversation.
“Both of them are incredibly sharp, aren’t they?”
Honestly, I didn’t think I’d hidden my identity very well.
I preferred to give to others without worrying about being found out.
I figured it would come out eventually.
But I never imagined it would be this soon.
“So you both knew my identity and pretended not to?”
“You little rascal! Can you really force someone to reveal what they’re hiding?”
“Besides, you weren’t hiding to do something bad—you were doing good deeds. Pretending not to know was the right thing to do.”
Their words made me chuckle.
“Looks like I made the right choice after all.”
“The right choice?”
“Because I learned you’re good people—good enough to pretend not to know my true identity.”
But what if they were both bad people?
They would have taken advantage of my weakness and tried to extort herbs or money from me.
But neither of them had a single bad thought. Instead, they showed consideration and supported me behind the scenes.
“With people like you two, I feel I can trust you and proceed with the deal.”
“Yeah, what exactly is this deal?”
“You know a hospital is being built in this village, right?”
“Of course. They’re building small hospitals in each rural area as part of a national project, right?”
“I’m scheduled to work at that hospital.”
Upon hearing this, both nodded as if they had expected it.
“But there’s one problem.”
“…The medicine supply?”
“Exactly, sister-in-law.”
I affirmed her words.
Then, Youngho Hyung’s wife continued.
“Companies involved in national projects rarely make a profit. That’s why no pharmaceutical company wants to take on a national project.”
“Correct. That’s why we’re in a difficult situation even though the national project is underway because we can’t secure a medicine supplier.”
“If the medicine supplier is the problem, it should be resolved soon, right?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Well, the pharmaceutical companies are probably just holding out on purpose.”
Youngho Hyung’s wife made a sharp remark.
I swallowed hard at that single sentence.
It was as if she had already seen right through the situation.
“The pharmaceutical companies are waiting. They’re waiting for the government to back down.”
“Back down?”
“Yes. The government is trying to distribute medicine at near cost price. That way, the elderly can purchase them without financial burden.”
“And by holding out like this, they’re trying to negotiate the price, right?”
“Exactly. The pharmaceutical companies won’t make a move until the government compromises on the price.”
This situation is truly infuriating.
The government is building hospitals to care for the elderly.
But these pharmaceutical companies.
They’re holding out just to line their own pockets.
“So sister-in-law’s side refused too?”
“No way. We didn’t even receive an offer.”
“Uh, why…?”
“Because the Healer Association, which selected the pharmaceutical companies, is obviously colluding with them.”
“You mean the Healer Association is actually colluding with the pharmaceutical companies?”
“Probably not the entire association, but it’s likely that some faction is.”
My head was spinning.
From the beginning, the Healer Association and the pharmaceutical companies had manipulated this project.
The government initiated it with the intention of helping the elderly.
However, due to these two forces, the project’s original purpose was fading.
“But the A-rank healer I know was pacing frantically, saying they had to find a pharmaceutical company.”
“That healer is probably one who hasn’t been corrupted.”
“His heart seems corrupted, though.”
—Jin Yeongseok. That guy has a truly rotten heart.
Regardless, he was a medical professional.
In truth, he was deeply committed to treating patients. As a person, he might be rotten, but as a healer, he wasn’t.
“Then, if we bring in Sister-in-law’s pharmaceutical company through that A-class healer…”
Perhaps Somang Pharmaceuticals could participate in the national project.”
I clenched my fist at those words.
An uncorrupted healer?
That connection must be uncorrupted healers, too.
Plus, from what I’ve heard, Jin Yeongseok has few superiors.
“But participating in a national project is definitely not an easy task.”
“I suppose so.”
“First off, forget about making a profit. We don’t even have that many medicines to begin with.”
“Right, Jin. There’s no way one pharmaceutical company could supply all the medicine.”
“So even if we participate, it won’t make much difference.”
I shook my head at that.
Then, I summoned Yakseon’s notebook and said,
“Medicine? That’s not a problem.”
I possess an EX-grade herb garden with an infinite supply.
Its potency is absolutely killer.
* * *
I was quite worried, but everything went smoothly.
Afterwards, I received a promise from both of them.
They promised that I would continue supplying the medicine.
In return, I asked them to distribute it at a low price.
“Honestly, there wasn’t much in it for them.”
At best, the name “Somang Pharmaceuticals” might become a bit more well-known.
That was it.
Unexpectedly, however, they were very proactive.
How else could it be?
Mr. Heo would have helped out without question.
Youngho Hyung said this enthusiastically.
“Young Master, you look pleased.”
“It feels like I stopped corruption in a national project with my own hands.”
“That’s a very good thing! Corrupt people exist in every sphere!”
“If Somang Pharmaceuticals steps forward, the big pharmaceutical companies will be caught off guard.”
I chuckled, imagining the big pharmaceutical companies getting their comeuppance.
“Besides, there’s no way those two would spill the secret.”
“Is that so? I’m a bit uneasy.”
“At least I trust my instincts.”
Judging by how they’ve behaved so far, the probability of them betraying me is remarkably low.
The probability of them betraying me is remarkably low.
Besides, Youngho Hyung was heavily influenced by my father.
There’s no way someone like that would betray me.”
“Then I guess I’ve put out the fire I’ve been worrying about. So now there’s only one problem left.”
“What are you worried about?”
“Ugh!”
Startled, I spun around.
And there…
“Yunseol?”
Yunseol was standing there.
“Long time no see, Doctor!”
“Did something hurt you and bring you here?”
“No, I’ve moved in this time!”
“Moved?”
That made me think of Nak-yong’s words.
They’ve been building a new structure in the village lately.
Seeing that, I wondered who would move there. But I guess it was Yunseol after all.
“Why this remote village?”
“Well, because Doctor Hua Tuo is here!”
“Haha, your jokes are amusing.”
“It’s not a joke.”
Yunseol muttered to herself and sighed.
“By the way, Doctor, has anyone visited you recently?”
“Someone did send a letter recently. The contents were just one word: ‘Found.’”
Upon hearing this, Yunseol’s expression twisted slightly.
“Who could it be? Side Mafia? Or the Closers? If not them, then who?”
“Why are you like that, Yunseol?”
I called out to her. She had suddenly grown serious.
She jumped in surprise.
“Ah, it’s nothing! More importantly, I’m glad I came down here!”
“I’m also happy to see you more often, Yunseol.”
“You really mean that?”
“Of course. Curing your illness perfectly is also my goal.”
Yes.
After gaining this power,
I felt that I could completely cure Yunseol’s illness.
“So please visit often.”
“Hehe! Yes! I’ll stop by often with my friends!”
Yunseol nodded so hard that her head seemed like it might snap in half.
Then she asked me,
“More importantly, what was that problem you mentioned earlier?”
“Ah, that’s a problem Yunseol doesn’t know much about.”
“Then tell me! I might be able to help!”
Faced with her earnest gaze, I pretended to give in and opened my mouth.
“Recently, someone has been interfering with my work. Because of them, many people are being deceived, and it’s troubling me.”
Of course, that was about Nam Dongjun.
Because of him, many people had lost trust in the troll-brand regeneration herbs.
Consequently, even those who truly needed the herbs were living in constant anxiety.
“Hmm, I see?”
Yunseol nodded calmly at my words. Then, turning back to me, she spoke slowly.
“It will be resolved soon.”
Hearing this, I could only tilt my head in confusion.
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