A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 214

Chapter 40: Suspicion (4)

A month had passed.

Some things had changed.

Some remained the same.

And some had developed.

Jun-hoo skillfully processed the emotional scars from losing patient Min Tae-woong, the man in the vegetative state.

He shook off the sadness.

He fought off the emptiness.

And he pushed away the feelings of helplessness.

Whenever negative emotions threatened to overwhelm him, Jun-hoo channeled them into positive energy.

He poured even more care and attention into the patients before him.

He couldn’t remain mired in painful memories forever.

Jun-hoo’s dream was to become the world’s best neurosurgeon.

An all-around, versatile neurosurgeon proficient in cerebrovascular, brain tumor, stereotactic neurosurgery, hand surgery, and trauma surgery.

The goal was distant, lofty, and challenging.

Even if it was tough, he had to move forward.

That way, he could prevent more patients from suffering the same fate as Min Tae-woong.

Driven by this, Jun-hoo visited the facilities team one day and strongly requested the installation of additional CCTV cameras to the facilities manager.

“Ha… It’s not easy because of budget issues.”

“I heard rentals are common these days. Is the cost that prohibitive?”

“You can’t compare hospital CCTV to home CCTV. The maintenance and repair costs are considerable.”

“It would be great if you could install just two in the ward. Is that not possible?”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think it will be possible.”

The team leader politely refused Jun-hoo’s request.

He explained that it could also create fairness issues with other wards.

However, Jun-hoo couldn’t back down.

CCTV was essential because he didn’t know what Si-hoo might do.

CCTV was the bare minimum for safety.

“How much will it cost?”

“Pardon?”

“How much does it cost to install CCTV?”

“It costs about 800,000 won [approximately $600 USD] per unit. Why?”

“I’ll cover the expenses.”

Jun-hoo decided to spend generously.

A university hospital resident’s monthly salary was 3.5 million won [approximately $2,600 USD] after taxes, and his NewTube revenue was twice that of his salary.

Even after contributing 1 million won [approximately $750 USD] to his family for living expenses and occasionally helping patients in difficult circumstances, Jun-hoo’s bank account was steadily growing.

It felt extravagant, but it was money he could afford to spend.

“You’re going to use your own money? That seems like overkill.”

The surprised team leader widened his eyes.

Compared to the prestige of being a doctor and the grueling working hours, university hospital residents were poorly paid.

So, he couldn’t help but be taken aback when Jun-hoo said he would spend 1.6 million won [approximately $1,200 USD] in one go.

“Huh… Do you really have to do this?”

“It’s not a matter of ‘have to,’ but ‘must’.”

“I’d be grateful if you covered the expenses, but the paperwork and procedures are complicated, so it’s not something we can proceed with immediately…”

“I’ll put in 2 million won [approximately $1,500 USD]. Right now, into the team leader’s account. And let’s keep this between you and me.”

Jun-hoo resorted to a more persuasive approach. It was a method he had often used in the Murim Alliance [a fictional martial arts world].

Meanwhile, the team leader, understanding the implication, gave a knowing smile.

“If that’s the case, I’ll do my best to handle it.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Jun-hoo smiled brightly and transferred the installation cost to the team leader on the spot.

The CCTV was installed the very next day in the afternoon.

One unit was installed in the center of the ‘ㄷ’-shaped [C-shaped] ward hallway.

With this, the blind spots disappeared.

If a problem occurred in the ward,

It would be clear who passed through the ward hallway and which room they entered.

In the evening after the CCTV installation was completed, Jun-hoo spotted Si-hoo.

Si-hoo was standing in the middle of the hallway, staring intently at the newly installed CCTV.

Si-hoo was sensitive to changes.

Most of the residents didn’t know that CCTV had been installed.

Because the installation was completed quickly.

Because they didn’t see the installation process.

They didn’t even realize that new CCTV existed.

But Si-hoo was different.

He immediately discovered the existence of CCTV.

Jun-hoo felt like he understood what that meant.

“Oh? There’s a new CCTV?”

Jun-hoo nonchalantly feigned ignorance and moved to Si-hoo’s side to speak.

“Jun-hoo, is this your doing?”

“What power do I have to install new CCTV?”

“You’re the only one who would do something like this.”

Si-hoo turned to face Jun-hoo.

Despite the installation of CCTV, Si-hoo showed a surprisingly calm demeanor.

“I went to a few other wards in other departments, you know? Our ward was the only one with CCTV in this location.”

Jun-hoo was amazed by Si-hoo’s meticulousness. As expected, Si-hoo was no ordinary person.

“I don’t know anything. Don’t accuse me of something I didn’t do.”

“Of course, that’s what you’d say.”

“But why are you so obsessed with CCTV? Did you commit some kind of crime?”

“Who knows?”

Si-hoo shrugged with a nonchalant expression.

“Well, this situation isn’t so bad either. It seems like you’re becoming more and more aware of me.”

“…”

“This is how you’re being influenced by me.”

“You’re so good at saying cheesy and cringe-worthy things.”

“You’re definitely an amazing guy. But there are also areas where I surpass you.”

Si-hoo put his hand on Jun-hoo’s shoulder and continued.

“Look forward to it. I’ll surprise you soon.”

With a sinister smile on his face, Si-hoo left.

Jun-hoo stared at Si-hoo’s back and brushed off the shoulder where Si-hoo’s hand had touched.

Go ahead. Do what you want.

Because you’re still within my control.

Someday, I’ll expose your true nature to the world.

While a peaceful daily life continued,

Jun-hoo often visited the cardiothoracic surgery on-call room. Ah-young also visited the neurosurgery on-call room.

For their dates.

One day near midnight, the two were in the neurosurgery on-call room.

They were holding thin files in their hands.

The files contained the results of their previous health checkups.

The two reviewed their own results and then exchanged reports.

“What’s this? Jun-hoo, you had a polyp in your gallbladder?”

Ah-young said with concern.

“It’s nothing. Gallbladder polyps sometimes disappear on their own.”

“Still, it’s 7mm, so I’m worried.”

“I’ll get it checked next year, and if it gets bigger, I’ll have it removed.”

Jun-hoo replied with a smile.

The checkup report showed a gallbladder polyp, but Jun-hoo’s gallbladder currently had no polyps.

Because he had it removed on the spot on the day of the health checkup.

“By the way, isn’t your reflux esophagitis more of a problem than my polyp, Ah-young?”

Jun-hoo tapped the checkup report with his finger.

Reflux esophagitis was clearly indicated on the upper endoscopy report.

“You said you had indigestion and a burning sensation, and now it’s finally confirmed.”

“I guess so.”

“No more bread, no more coffee.”

“That’s too much. I’ll give up coffee, so please let me have bread.”

“No way.”

“If not bread, then give me cake!”

“What are you, Marie Antoinette?”

“Marie Antoinette never said that! Anyway, give me bread!”

Jun-hoo couldn’t help but find Ah-young’s whining endearing.

Well, completely banning bread for a bread lover could be too cruel.

“Then promise to eat only one a day.”

“Ugh… Okay.”

While building memories and deepening his love with Ah-young,

Jun-hoo also accelerated his training in the Howol Twelve Moves. Martial arts training mainly took place at night.

In the on-call room when on duty.

In the conference room when not on duty, he practiced martial arts.

Perhaps because he had already reached the realm of Harmony [a state of perfect balance and understanding in martial arts],

The proficiency of the Howol Twelve Moves increased rapidly day by day.

Jun-hoo’s wrist, finger, and arm movements became more precise, faster, and more accurate.

In that way, Jun-hoo achieved 3 stars in the Howol Twelve Moves in just one month.

7 stars remained until the Great Achievement of 10 stars.

* * *

Ring, ring~

The phone on the desk rang loudly.

A call so soon after starting the morning routine.

It felt strangely ominous.

Jun-hoo, who was alone in the on-call room, answered the phone.

“Neurosurgery.”

“Yes, doctor. This is the emergency room. We have a patient to notify you about.”

As soon as he heard the words ’emergency room,’ Jun-hoo tensed up slightly. He braced himself.

“Please give me the patient’s number first.”

“Yes. It’s 0248732. The patient has had headaches and vomiting since waking up this morning. They are also showing signs of aphasia [language impairment] now. They can’t speak properly.”

The notifying doctor’s tone was polite.

It seemed like an intern training in emergency medicine.

“Yes. And?”

Jun-hoo reacted while reviewing the chart.

The patient was a 60-year-old male.

He had hypertension and diabetes and had a history of aortic valve surgery.

The emergency MRA [Magnetic Resonance Angiography] scan was performed.

If MRI [Magnetic Resonance Imaging] is a test to examine the shape, structural abnormalities, and functional abnormalities of the brain, MRA was a test to intensively examine the cerebral blood vessels.

Let’s see.

Jun-hoo enhanced his eyesight with internal energy and stared intently at the MRA image.

One of the patient’s left MCA (middle cerebral artery) vessels was nearly 50 percent stenosed (narrowed).

It was moderate stenosis.

Considering the patient’s symptoms and test results, a transient ischemic attack (TIA) was highly likely.

In other words, a cerebral infarction occurred as the blood vessel narrowed.

“The patient has TIA. We need to start the procedure right away.”

“Ah… Then are you going to take a look, doctor?”

“No. Contact the neuroradiology department connected to the cerebrovascular center. They need to get a cerebral angiography and stent placement.”

“If it’s a cerebrovascular disease, shouldn’t neurosurgery handle it?”

The intern who was notifying him asked with a puzzled voice.

“Cerebral angiography and cerebral stent placement are mostly performed by the neuroradiology department in our hospital.”

“Is that different for each hospital?”

“It is different. Some places do it in neurology, some in neurosurgery, and some in neuroradiology.”

Just as orthopedics and neurosurgery both treat the waist and neck,

Cerebral angiography and cerebral stent placement overlapped with neurology, neurosurgery, and neuroradiology.

Shinwon University Hospital was mainly in charge of this in the neuroradiology department.

The head of the neuroradiology department had more influence than the head of the neurosurgery department.

Things would be different if the head of the neuroradiology department was promoted to the vice president of medical affairs at the Incheon branch.

“Ah… I see. Thank you.”

“Is it hard to manage traffic in the emergency department?”

“Yes. I’m completely overwhelmed. I assumed the patient I’m seeing now was naturally a neurosurgery patient.”

“You’ll get used to it as you go. No one is good at it from the beginning, so don’t feel too pressured.”

Jun-hoo comforted the intern.

No one is proficient at their job from the start, but people often overlook that point.

If the work isn’t going smoothly,

They often criticize themselves for being incompetent.

There’s no need to do that at all.

“Are you Jun-hoo, the senior doctor?”

“Do you know me?”

“Senior, who wouldn’t know you? You’re a legend at medical school and a hospital promotional model. I’m a fan. I enjoy watching NewTube too. Goodbye.”

The intern was embarrassed and hung up after saying what he had to say.

Jun-hoo was also inexplicably embarrassed.

Anyway, it seemed like a storm was brewing.

Neurosurgery and neuroradiology seemed likely to clash over cerebral angiography and stent placement.

If the head of the neuroradiology department changes,

A power-hungry head would try to bring the relevant tests and procedures to neurosurgery to maximize the neurosurgery department’s profitability.

Bee, bee, bee-

This time, the pager in his gown pocket rang.

It seemed like he would be busy all day today.

It was a good thing.

Jun-hoo preferred busy days.

The more patients he treated and the more diverse the patients, the more he could improve as a doctor.

“Yes. Doctor.”

“Dr. Jun-hoo. This is the pediatric ward station. Could you come to the ward for a moment?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Well…”

Jun-hoo focused his attention on the nurse’s hesitant words.