Chapter 033: What Must Be Done (2)
Hee-soo casually answered the chief's question.
"Isn't that just because we know the result now? Did we really have time to think rationally then? We excluded the first, second, and third floors because we couldn't enter them. While searching, we found victims on the fourth and fifth floors, and we simply did everything we could. As for there being no victims on the other floors, that was luck. How am I supposed to explain that?"
The chief couldn't answer Hee-soo's question.
Seeing him lost in thought, Hee-soo spoke first.
"Do you think I already had information about those people beforehand?"
"Captain Gu told me you have good instincts."
"Yes. I suppose I do."
"I'm wondering whether it really is just instinct."
"What else would it be? You don't think I'm secretly causing accidents and then rescuing people myself, do you?"
The shocking statement made the chief flustered instead.
"N-no. I wouldn't go that far."
"That's good. This accident gave me a lot of work to do."
"Work?"
"I almost died. One of our firefighters is still in the hospital too. There were too many moments when we had no options. If I don't solve those problems, then the next time the same thing happens, I could die. I don't want that."
"I don't want that either."
The chief thought for a moment before speaking.
"I heard from Gangbuk Rescue Team. They couldn't enter through that emergency exit. But Dobong Rescue Team walked in as though it were nothing."
"That's because of the protective suits I gave everyone."
The chief seemed deep in thought.
Then, as though making a decision, he spoke again.
"This is a shameless request, but could you supply those protective suits to the entire Dobong Fire Station?"
"Wouldn't using privately supplied equipment become a problem?"
"I've personally confirmed the performance. I doubt it would become serious enough to cause trouble."
"It's possible. But only if you accept my conditions."
"What conditions? If it's money, the amount we can use is..."
"The money available to Dobong Fire Station wouldn't even be enough for one suit."
"Really? Then what condition do you want us to accept?"
"It's nothing difficult. Sign a contract with Suseong Safety to provide us with usage data from the equipment. That would also include all video and accident data recorded while it's being used here."
"Do we have the authority to decide something like that?"
"Of course. There's no reason privately purchased equipment data needs to be made public anyway. So there shouldn't be any problem with us receiving that information."
"Well, if that's all..."
"Understood. Then after our legal team completes the contract, we'll provide the equipment."
"Thank you."
"And there's one more condition."
"What is it?"
"After this accident, I believe we need to introduce an incident-scene information system. I want to begin operating equipment for that purpose. I'll need your cooperation."
"What kind of equipment are you planning to use?"
"That hasn't been decided. I plan to use whatever equipment seems necessary at the time. There will also be an operations team attached."
"You want us to create an operations team?"
"How could you create one here? Suseong will operate the team itself. I only want you to approve emergency vehicle registration for the vehicles operated by Suseong."
"Understood. If that's all, we can approve it whenever you request it."
"Yes."
"And..."
The chief hesitated for a moment.
"Go ahead."
"Thank you for what you're doing for In-gyu."
Hee-soo could guess why the chief's attitude had changed so much.
"Ah. It's nothing. He's someone I work with."
"All right. You can go."
When Hee-soo returned to Rescue Team 3 on the second floor, nobody gave him a dramatic welcome.
They simply raised their hands in greeting.
"You're back?"
"Yes. I was discharged today."
"Don't push yourself too hard. Do some light stretching until we get a dispatch."
"Yes."
The stronger reaction came when he went down to the first floor.
Min-ah had just returned from a dispatch when she spotted Hee-soo and greeted him enthusiastically.
"Oh! Hee-soo! Thank goodness!"
Min-ah had apparently been the person who transported Hee-soo to the hospital that day.
Her face had been mostly hidden by her mask, but she'd apparently looked close to tears.
Hee-soo had first been taken to KEPCO Hospital.
After emergency treatment there, he was immediately transferred to Suseong Hospital, so Min-ah couldn't visit him.
She had wanted to go more than a hundred times.
But at least ten times a day, she stopped herself.
Do I really need to go all the way there?
They were only members of the rescue and EMS teams assigned to the same station.
She didn't want people saying she was showing interest in him because he was a chaebol heir.
Hee-soo bowed politely to Min-ah.
"Thank you for that day. Chief Jang told me what happened. Jae-sik also passed along your message."
"More importantly, what you did for Senior Firefighter Kim was really good."
"Why is everyone so concerned about Senior Firefighter Kim's case?"
"There's a high chance his injury wouldn't be recognized as an injury suffered in the line of duty. They examine everything, including whether there were any rule violations, and even then it's difficult to get recognition. This time, Hee-soo is covering his hospital expenses and making sure he can return after treatment, so there's nothing to worry about."
"No. I understand Senior Firefighter Kim's situation. I'm asking why everyone else cares so much about it."
"Ah. Because it feels like it could happen to any of us. One day I might end up in the same situation. And if that happens, I'd want someone to care for me like this too."
They were about to continue talking when the EMS dispatch bell rang.
Min-ah smiled and ran off.
"Welcome back, Hee-soo!"
Hee-soo nodded and waved goodbye.
Yoon-hee appeared in front of him immediately after Min-ah disappeared from view.
"Min-ah really is full of energy."
"Ah... Yoon-hee. Thank you for the articles."
