InkBound
patreon
CH54 | DI
🕑 Added 2025-03-16 02:50:01 +0000 UTC7 PM.
As I descended to the Goldman lobby, a lively voice rang out.
“Sean! Over here!”
It was Rachel. Tonight, I had an appointment with David. Since I was briefly passing through New York, we decided to meet in person and talk. Rachel was also joining us because she had business with David’s fiancée, Jessie.
Rachel had to deliver the funds raised at a charity event hosted by her friend. Since we all knew each other anyway, gathering in one place was more natural than meeting separately.
The meeting place was a restaurant near Goldman. Its quiet and cozy atmosphere made it perfect for conversation.
“Sean! It’s been a while!”
David approached with a friendly smile, extended his hand for a handshake, and gave my shoulder a light pat. This was only our second time meeting since Philadelphia, but we’d been in constant contact through emails and calls, so it didn’t feel awkward.
After we ordered dinner, I wasted no time getting to the point. Tonight, I had to deliver some unpleasant news to David.
“Does the researcher you mentioned earlier have to finalize the contract within this month?”
This was the most urgent issue right now. We had found the right person to conduct the foundational research for our first Russian Roulette project, but they demanded an upfront payment as a contract deposit. In short, immediate financial support was needed.
“The funds are secured, but there’s a temporary issue preventing us from withdrawing them right now. Can we include a payment guarantee clause in the contract and come to an agreement? I can prepare the necessary documents.”
This was the problem. We had the money, but we couldn’t access it. And we needed it now. David’s face briefly showed a troubled expression.
“Well… the other side is also struggling with operational costs… even if they don’t start the experiment immediately, they emphasized that maintaining the samples alone incurs significant expenses, so they’re insisting on receiving the necessary funds upfront.”
In other words, they needed cash now.
“If we lose this researcher, can we find another suitable candidate?”
“We’d have to look again. There’ll be someone, but…”
“They’ll all demand an upfront payment too, won’t they?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Finding the right research personnel wasn’t easy. Whenever I explained the purpose of our study, most people reacted incredulously and shook their heads. It was hard to grasp at first.
After all, we were analyzing cherry angiomas in Castleman patients. Cherry angiomas are small red spots that appear on the skin, common in older adults, and are often called senile angiomas. It’s merely an expansion of capillaries, not a life-threatening symptom.
However, this seemingly trivial symptom is a significant clue in Castleman disease. It signals abnormalities in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).
David noticed this. Every Castleman patient we encountered displayed these red spots, even at a young age.
But doctors didn’t pay attention to this hypothesis. To them, red spots seemed insignificant compared to the organ failure and deterioration that led patients to death. It was such a trivial symptom that no one even tried researching it.
Our goal was to analyze tissue samples from Castleman patients to prove the overexpression of VEGF. This would provide evidence to attempt off-label use of VEGF inhibitors.
Because no research team took this study seriously, we had no choice but to hire someone by offering money. Plenty of people would do the research if we funded them, but without an upfront contract deposit, no one committed to starting the work.
If we kept hesitating, the researchers might leave for other opportunities. Finding another team and renegotiating would take even more time.
‘Of all times, why now…?’
We had the funds, and we had the researcher, yet an unexpected risk was delaying the schedule.
Of course, it wasn’t a huge problem. Even if it took a little time, it would eventually be resolved. A few weeks, maybe months at most.
But the thing I had the least of was time.
“For now, let’s see if we can move forward with the guarantee documents.”
“Sure, let’s do that. After all, Sean promised April. But…”
“You’re saying we have to wait.”
“Yes…”
A bitter expression crossed David’s face. He was also racing against time—perhaps even more desperately than I was. I still had ten years left, but he was battling seizures right now.
That’s when it happened.
“How about I lend you the funds…?”
A clear, bright voice chimed in from beside me. It was Rachel.
As everyone’s gaze shifted to her, Rachel hurriedly continued.
“You said you need $2 million immediately, right? I can lend you that much. Just until the funds are accessible.”
It was, in truth, an attractive offer. If I accepted it, we could start the research right away. Even so, it wasn’t easy to agree. Rachel was one of the greatest risk factors I faced.
‘You don’t mess with family.’
Most people react emotionally when it comes to family. In that sense, Rachel was like a trigger button for the Mosley father and son. Maintaining the right distance with Rachel was critical.
I circled around Rachel as a ‘potential risk factor’—one I must never directly involve myself with. This boundary had to be upheld.
Separating personal matters from business was important, but distinguishing money from personal ties was even more crucial.
Yet here she was, the princess herself, offering to lend me money. This was a literal danger signal.
“I appreciate the sentiment, but I can’t allow that. This matter has nothing to do with you, Rachel. I can’t burden you like that.”
It was precisely in times like this that I needed to draw a clear line. I spoke with as much politeness as I could while maintaining firm resolve.
“Two million dollars is a huge amount of money. Lending that much without any clear conditions, just on trust, would be strange.”
“What if there’s a condition…?”
“No. Even if you charge interest, it’s the same thing.”
Friendship and money must remain strictly separate. As I emphasized this point, Rachel hesitated momentarily before locking eyes with me and speaking up.
“I’m not saying I’ll just give it to you. And I’m not saying I’ll charge interest either.”
Then, to my surprise, Rachel said something completely unexpected.
“There’s a condition.”
***
Rachel glanced at everyone gathered around the table. Ha Si-heon, David, and Jessie all wore puzzled expressions.
It’s probably because of the word “condition.”
It was a term that didn’t suit Rachel at all. Even to her, saying such words felt awkward and unfamiliar. Her face burned with embarrassment, but she summoned her courage and spoke.
“If you accept the condition I set, I’ll gladly lend you the $2 million. If necessary, I could even give it to you as a donation.”
“What’s the condition?”
David couldn’t hold back his curiosity and asked.
Rachel took a moment to steady her breath, carefully choosing her words.
“I want the informed consent process to be conducted more strictly.”
Informed consent.
It’s the procedure where patients are thoroughly informed of all risks before consenting to a medical procedure.
Simply put, it meant ensuring that patients participating in Russian Roulette would fully understand and accept the potential side effects.
“Of course, we plan to follow the informed consent procedure, but…?”
Si-heon and David smiled faintly, as if to say, Isn’t that a given? But Rachel had something more in mind. Clenching her fist tightly, she finally revealed her true “condition.”
“What I mean is, there must be a separate person overseeing the process. Someone independent—a third party—not the two of you.”
In short, she was insisting that the responsibility of informing patients about side effects be delegated to an independent third party.
This was a statement that heavily implied distrust toward Ha Si-heon and David. Rachel hurried to clarify.
“Of course, I know both of you are approaching this project with good intentions.”
They were taking on this risky venture for Castleman patients, whom everyone else had turned their backs on. Rachel was deeply moved by their passion and dedication, yet…
After hearing about the plan, she had spent many sleepless nights. It was all because of something Ha Si-heon had once said:
—I have only one concern: solving the problem. Whether I do good or evil doesn’t matter. As long as the result is right.
She could never agree with those words. If one disregards means and methods, wouldn’t the faster and easier path be obvious?
For example, Ha Si-heon could easily deceive the patients. He might persuade them into choices against their best interests just to obtain the necessary data. Not overtly coercing them, of course, but subtly guiding them in a certain direction—just as he had during the Genesis incident, when he convinced everyone to move the way he wanted.
It wasn’t that Ha Si-heon was a bad person. On the contrary, Rachel considered him her benefactor and even admired him. But that didn’t mean he was flawless.
‘Even Jobs wasn’t perfect.’
Jobs had been notoriously ruthless and impatient with those who couldn’t keep up with his vision. He was cold and unrelenting. Giants who move the world often fail to see the ants beneath their feet. It was grandiose, but the bigger the picture one sees, the more likely they are to miss certain details.
Rachel understood and accepted both the strengths and weaknesses of Ha Si-heon as the inevitable traits of a genius.
But regardless of her understanding, she could not stand by and watch patients’ rights be trampled. A heavy sense of responsibility moved her.
“Your priorities are different from the patients’. For you, developing a cure is the top priority. But for the patients, what matters most is their remaining lifespan. If there’s even a slight chance that the side effects will shorten their lives, why would they take this risk?”
What if Russian Roulette meant death could come tomorrow? Would a patient who could live for another two months really pull the trigger? Even knowing this, would Ha Si-heon and David truly disclose every possible side effect? Rachel was pointing out exactly that concern.
“I’m not saying you’d intentionally hide information. But since both of you are from medical backgrounds, there are bound to be things you overlook. Doctors often dismiss side effects that seem minor to them.”
Doctors typically use their own judgment to decide which side effects to inform patients about. Rare possibilities often go unmentioned entirely—because, to doctors, they’re statistically insignificant.
“But it’s different from the patients’ perspective. Even a risk of less than 1% could mean losing their lives. Patients have the right to know all the risks and make an informed decision about whether to participate.”
Rachel reiterated her point. Even seemingly trivial risks must be disclosed to patients, and the role of conveying this information should not fall on the research team but on an independent third party.
“There needs to be someone who solely represents the safety and rights of the patients. Someone who cares only for the patients, regardless of the progress of the research. That person must oversee the informed consent process.”
“So you’re suggesting we create an entirely new position?”
“That’s right.”
Rachel was now asking them to create a new position within the foundation—one dedicated to safeguarding patients’ safety and rights.
“This wouldn’t hurt Sean or David either. Eventually, this project will face controversy. But having such a patient advocate in place would prove that patients’ lives and rights were respected. It would give the project legitimacy.”
Rachel knew it. Russian Roulette would inevitably be put under scrutiny someday. And when that day came, someone would throw stones at Ha Si-heon and David, accusing them of deceiving and exploiting patients for the sake of developing a cure. This process would become a powerful shield at that moment.
“Well…”
“That makes sense.”
Ha Si-heon and David quickly nodded in agreement. Rachel let out a sigh of relief at their unexpectedly positive reaction. But then David glanced to the side.
“Then, should we have Jessie take on that role…?”
Rachel immediately shook her head.
“No. Jessie is your fiancée, David, so she would inevitably be biased toward developing the cure.”
“Then the patients’ families or friends wouldn’t work either, would they?”
David sighed deeply.
“In that case, finding the right person won’t be easy. The only people we can utilize are members of the Castleman Foundation, but none of them are free from conflicts of interest.”
“I’ll do it.”
Once again, everyone looked shocked. Rachel, who had been observing from the outside until now, had suddenly volunteered to take on a key role in the foundation.
“But Rachel, you have your main job…”
“I can review the documents in my personal time and conduct patient interviews remotely. The important thing is having a representative who advocates for patients’ rights.”
Rachel took a deep breath before continuing.
“If balancing both roles becomes too difficult, I can quit my job.”
Her gaze was firm. She had no lingering attachments to Goldman. It wasn’t like she desperately needed the salary. Although she had plans to open a gallery using the network and experience she built at Goldman…
Above all, Rachel wanted to make the world a slightly better place. If so, this was the right choice, without hesitation.
Now that she had said it aloud, she felt even more certain. Rachel turned her gaze to Ha Si-heon.
“What do you think?”
