Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 357

358. 10%

“Alright, kids! We’re going to take care of this bastard today.”

With those words from the seemingly strongest man, the inmates’ indiscriminate assault on No. 1137 began.

Thwack!

No. 1137 collapsed to the floor from the unexpected punch.

“……!”

The impact was so strong that he couldn’t even manage a groan.

“Ah! Wh-why are you all doing this, cough!”

Clutching his stomach with one hand on the floor, No. 1137 reached out to the inmates surrounding him, only to be kicked in the thigh by someone.

His body twisted against his will from the kick to his thigh, and he groaned in pain as he fell into a prone position.

“Haa! Ugh!”

“Hey! Old man? This is just the beginning. Hey! Brighten up.”

Thwack- Thwack- Thwack-

The inmates surrounding No. 1137 all began to beat him in earnest, as if competing to be the first.

Thwack- Thwack-

The inmates struck indiscriminately at his thighs, back, waist, arms, and other body parts, and the intensity was considerable.

The severity of the assault seemed unbearable for anyone.

The relentless, torrential beating continued for about 30 minutes, and No. 1137 gradually became a wreck.

“Ugh!”

Eventually, he coughed up a mouthful of blood from the beating.

Thwack- Thwack- Thwack-

Even as No. 1137 spat out blood, the inmates showed no sign of stopping, and the continued assault made it clear that fights had also broken out in other nearby cells.

“What’s going on? Looks like they’re taking someone down over there?”

“Yeah! It is. Ooh! Shit, that’s brutal.”

The inmates in the cell directly across were the first to notice the assault.

“Who’s getting beat up?”

“Don’t know who it is, but they’re going to die at this rate, aren’t they?”

“Ah! Watching a fight is the most fun, but it’s a shame we can’t see it up close.”

“What! Who is it?”

“Is it a fight between junkies?”

“They’re messing someone up in oo cell.”

The news of the assault spread quickly to other cells, and the inmates were quite curious about who was being beaten.

“Someone’s getting beat up!”

As the inmates’ noisy voices grew louder, an inmate from another cell stuck to the bars of the door and shouted loudly.

“Guard? There’s an assault happening in oo cell.”

“What?”

Peep-peep-

At that sound, a guard who happened to be on patrol blew his whistle and ran to the cell where the assault was taking place.

Soon after, other guards arrived in succession.

“Hey, you bastards?”

The guard shouted as he opened the door.

“What is the meaning of this?”

“Get off him now!”

As the guards rushed in, the inmates stopped hitting him as if nothing had happened and quietly stepped back.

“Hey! Are you okay……!”

The guard, checking on the victim who was lying face down, was momentarily speechless when he realized that the person being assaulted was No. 1137.

Fights between inmates often broke out inside the prison.

Because it was a place where so many different criminals gathered, they would get along well and then suddenly fight as if they wanted to kill each other, so the guards always kept a close eye on the inmates.

The target of the fight could be anyone, but it was a little surprising that No. 1137, of all people, was being beaten.

He was one of the most exemplary prisoners in the Yeonson Detention Center, and all the other inmates relied on him and followed him well, which made it even more surprising.

“No. 1137, are you okay?”

“Ugh! Ugh…….”

No. 1137 answered with a groan. His face was covered in pain, and he had no strength to speak.

“Hey! You bastards? Why did you make No. 1137 like this?”

“Sir, we should move him to the infirmary, shouldn’t we?”

“Right.”

The guards quickly took No. 1137, who appeared to be in bad condition, to the infirmary.

Clang-

“Doctor! Doctor?”

The guards called for the doctor as soon as they opened the infirmary door.

“Oh, isn’t that No. 1137?”

Lee Ji-guk, who was looking at another inmate on one side, approached as he saw No. 1137 lying on the bed.

“Oh, what happened to this friend?”

“A sudden assault broke out, so we don’t know the exact situation right now.”

“I was a little surprised that No. 1137 was beaten, of all people.”

“I guess he was giving advice to live properly, and the other person’s mood soured. This friend tries to correct inmates who are going astray himself. I told him to step in moderately……. Tsk, tsk.”

“Anyway, doctor, he looks like he’s in very bad condition. Will he be okay?”

“It looks like he’s been beaten pretty badly. I’ll have to take a look.”

Lee Ji-guk checked No. 1137’s body here and there.

“Ugh…….”

No. 1137 still groaned with a painful expression.

“Doctor, how is he? Is this person okay?”

“Can we treat him here?”

“Hmm…….”

Lee Ji-guk, who took the stethoscope from his ears at the guard’s question, said with a dark expression.

“This friend No. 1137, I think we need to move him to the hospital right away.”

“Really? Guard Kim, go and report to the warden quickly.”

“Yes, sir.”

As the junior guard hurriedly left the infirmary, the senior guard looked at Lee Ji-guk.

“Then, if we send him outside, which hospital should we send him to? As you know, some places are reluctant to take inmate patients from the prison.”

“Don’t worry about that. I happen to know a good place, so I’ll give them a call.”

“Ugh!”

Watching No. 1137, who was intermittently groaning, Lee Ji-guk made a call somewhere.

* * *

Convenience store near the hospital-

“I wonder if it’s good?”

“That’s a new one, and they say it’s delicious.”

The convenience store owner answered Lee Chan-hee, who was talking to himself while looking at the jelly he hadn’t seen on the shelf.

“Really?”

“Yes, my daughter likes jelly, and she says it’s delicious because it has a strong sour taste.”

“Oh! Then should I buy this too?”

Lee Chan-hee had been stamping his attendance at a nearby convenience store whenever he had time after dinner these days.

He didn’t particularly like snacks, but he came to the convenience store to buy snacks for his girlfriend.

Choi Mona really liked jelly, and she was genuinely happy when he gave it to her, and Lee Chan-hee liked seeing that.

So, since some point, it had become a routine for him to naturally come to the convenience store near the hospital whenever he had time.

“Give me a This, please. Ah! And give me two, no, five instant lottery tickets too.”

“What’s with the lottery tickets all of a sudden? Did you have a good dream or something?”

“Yes. I had a good dream. I dreamed that I fell into a latrine [outhouse or toilet].”

“Really? You had an amazing dream.”

Lee Chan-hee, who was picking out jelly, perked up his ears and focused on the other customer’s words about falling into a latrine.

“Everyone around me told me to buy a lottery ticket, but I can’t wait for the lotto, so I’m going to buy an instant lottery ticket.”

“If you win first prize, treat us all!”

“Of course. I’ll treat you not just once, but twice. Have a good one.”

“Yes, goodbye.”

After the customer who bought the lottery ticket left the convenience store, Lee Chan-hee, who had picked out several kinds of jelly, headed to the counter.

“I’ll pay.”

“Is the director doing well too?”

“Of course.”

“Dr. Lee, you’ve been coming to buy jelly often these days. Do you like jelly?”

“Ah, yes. It’s quite delicious because it’s sweet. But, Mr. President, if you dream of poop, do you buy a lottery ticket?”

“Of course. Usually, if you dream of poop, it’s said to be a good omen, so you buy a lottery ticket or think that something good is going to happen.”

“Then, if you actually get covered in poop, is that also good?”

“Oh, what are you talking about? It’s even better if it actually happens.”

Lee Chan-hee, who had recently been covered in poop while giving an enema to a constipated patient, felt like he was feeling some good energy.

“Give me a lottery ticket too.”

“Did you have a good dream too, doctor?”

“I’m just going to try it for fun.”

“That’s right. Lottery tickets are supposed to be for fun. If you try to win a fortune, it doesn’t work out well. Should I give you a tip for scratching lottery tickets?”

“There’s a tip for scratching lottery tickets too?”

“There are quite a few people around me who have won huge amounts of money, and when I listen to them, they have something in common.”

“A commonality? Wh-what is it?”

Lee Chan-hee, who had said he was buying a lottery ticket for fun, was already listening to the convenience store owner as if he were trying to win a fortune.

“When they scratch this, they don’t scratch it themselves, but they have someone around them…….”

“Someone around them what?”

“They had someone with good luck scratch it for them.”

“Someone with good luck?”

“That’s right. You know, there’s always one person around you who does well in everything, and even if others study like crazy, they pass the test in one go. You know someone like that, right?”

“Yes, I do. I know someone.”

“Have them scratch it for you. They say that energy goes into the lottery ticket.”

“Yes, thank you for the good tip.”

After saying goodbye with a good feeling, Lee Chan-hee quickly returned to the hospital and went straight to find Tae-kyung.

“Do you know where the director is?”

“He went to the cafeteria to eat a little while ago. What’s wrong…….”

“I’ll tell you later.”

Before the receptionist’s words were finished, Lee Chan-hee headed to the cafeteria and ran into Tae-kyung, who was just finishing his meal.

“Director? Have you eaten?”

“I just finished eating. Emergency patient?”

“No. It’s not that, but I have a favor to ask you.”

“A favor? From me? What is it?”

“Director. I’m really sorry, but could you do this just once?”

Lee Chan-hee took out a lottery ticket from his gown pocket and showed it.

“What, why a lottery ticket all of a sudden?”

“I just bought it for fun, but if you scratch it, I feel like I’ll win.”

“No, what kind of nonsense is that?”

“It’s a bit like that, but just scratch it once. They say that if someone with good luck or someone who does well scratches it, that energy goes into the lottery ticket.”

“Dr. Lee, is that true?”

Team Leader Choi, who was at the reception desk, showed interest in the conversation.

“Yes, Team Leader. I heard that there really is something like that.”

“Well, our director is a lucky person. Listening to Dr. Lee, I’m curious too.”

“You see? So, Director, please scratch this just once. Instead, if I win first prize, I’ll give you 10%.”

“How much is the first prize?”

“500 million won [approximately $375,000 USD].”

“Oh, 500 million! Dr. Lee, you’re not lying, are you?”

Team Leader Choi continued, flaring his nostrils at the word 500 million.

“If you really win first prize, you can’t suddenly quit the hospital or lose contact or anything like that.”

“Team Leader, come on. Do I look like someone who would do that? You know I’m not that kind of person.”

“That’s true. Director? If you scratch a lottery ticket and get 500 million at once, it’s worth it, isn’t it?”

“Director, I’m really going to give it to you.”

“I don’t know what’s making Dr. Lee act like this, but why are you doing this too, Team Leader? Winning the lottery is harder than picking a star from the sky.”

“What the director says is right, but just scratch it for fun.”

“Dr. Lee is doing this so much that we’re curious too.”

Not only Lee Chan-hee and Team Leader Choi, but also the reception staff each added a word, and Tae-kyung reluctantly decided to scratch the lottery ticket.

“Okay. Instead, if I really win first prize, you don’t have to give me 10%, but Dr. Lee should give the staff a gift each.”

“Of course. I can give you not just one, but two each.”

“Really? Dr. Lee, then please change my phone to the latest one.”

“Don’t worry. If I win first prize, I’ll give you all the gifts you want.”

“I really hope Dr. Lee wins.”

“Me too.”

With everyone’s expectations high, Lee Chan-hee took out the lottery ticket and placed it on the reception desk table.

“Here’s the lottery ticket.”

“I don’t have any coins?”

“I have coins here too.”

Lee Chan-hee handed Tae-kyung a 500-won coin [about 38 US cents] that he had exchanged at the convenience store.

Scratch- Scratch-

As Tae-kyung scratched the lottery ticket with his hand holding the coin, the picture that had been hidden inside gradually appeared.

“……!”

Then, Lee Chan-hee’s expression, who was watching right next to him, changed in real time like a startled rabbit.

“N-no…… no way.”

“Dr. Lee? What’s wrong? Could it be that it’s really first prize?”

“500 million?”

“I don’t know yet, but the pictures are the same.”

On the lottery ticket that Tae-kyung scratched, there were two identical pictures of soccer balls.

“Oh my! The pictures are the same.”

“For now, it’s certain that you’ve won something.”

“Really? If the pictures are the same, is it a win?”

Unlike the faces of all the staff next to him, Tae-kyung’s expression was calm.

“If the pictures are the same, it’s certain that you’ve won something. Director, have you never bought a lottery ticket?”

“I’ve never bought a lottery ticket in my life.”

“Really? I feel like something’s really going to happen!”

“Everyone, ask questions later, and Director, quickly scratch the rest.”

Lee Chan-hee, whose mind was already approaching 500 million, was pacing back and forth.

“Director, hurry!”

Then, just as he was about to scratch the part where the winning amount was written with a coin at Lee Chan-hee’s urging.

“Director!!”

Nurse Im Jeong-suk, who was in the office inside the reception desk, called Tae-kyung with a serious expression.

“I think you should take a call right now.”

“Is it 911 [emergency services]?”

“No. It’s the prison.”

At the word prison, the staff who had been distracted by the lottery ticket all looked at Nurse Im Jeong-suk at once.

“The prison?”

“Yes, they said it’s Yeonson Prison.”