A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 35

The Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts-35

The Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts 35

Chapter 7: Pre-Med (5)

“…That’s what happened.”

“So, there was a story like that.”

Jun-hoo nodded, feeling a pang of sympathy after hearing the teaching assistant’s explanation.

He understood why the patient’s death was ruled a suicide.

A suicide note was found in the vehicle where the [briquettes – a common method of suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning in some countries] were burned.

The deceased had often complained to those around him about the stress of his job.

Given the clear circumstances and evidence, the police apparently concluded it was a suicide.

The fact that the bereaved family didn’t want an autopsy also contributed to the decision.

However, after learning the truth, Jun-hoo felt sorrow for the deceased and a surge of anger toward the real killer.

The culprit had killed the deceased twice.

The first death was the physical one.

The second was the social death – the destruction of his reputation and the false narrative surrounding his demise.

To stage the scene like that, the person had to be vicious and meticulous.

I have to punish him.

Jun-hoo felt compelled to catch the culprit.

For the sake of the deceased.

For the sake of social justice.

“But, Teaching Assistant, you seem to know the details of the case very well?”

“I heard some of it from the bereaved family who came to donate their relative’s body, and I also looked up articles. It wasn’t a major news story, though.”

“So, it was reported in the news.”

Jun-hoo muttered, reconstructing the deceased’s death in his mind.

The culprit confronted the deceased in his car.

Catching him off guard, the culprit strangled him with a rope or wire, leading to his death.

Afterward, the culprit bought briquettes.

And staged the scene to look like a suicide.

…That was the picture he could piece together.

Based on Jun-hoo’s autopsy of the deceased.

The most plausible conclusion was this.

However, the suicide note was a problem.

There was no easy way for the culprit to force the deceased to write one.

Did the culprit physically overpower the deceased perfectly?

Or was the culprit psychologically dominant?

Several questions and doubts arose.

Among them, Jun-hoo found a potential answer.

He had encountered a similar incident while working for the Murim Alliance [a fictional organization from martial arts stories].

“You keep asking questions, which is making me suspicious. Don’t tell me you’re cooking up some strange conspiracy theory?”

The teaching assistant narrowed his eyes at Jun-hoo.

He also crossed his arms defensively.

“Like the deceased was murdered or something.”

“……”

“Please, dismiss such absurd thoughts. They can only cause more pain for the bereaved family.”

“I was just curious.”

Jun-hoo shrugged nonchalantly.

He understood the teaching assistant’s reaction.

Since he hadn’t performed the autopsy, it was natural he wouldn’t question the cause of death.

“Thank you for your time. Please take care of Seung-beom *hyung’s* [older brother or male friend] matter.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll scold him before I talk to the department head.”

“Thank you. Have a good one.”

Jun-hoo left the department office and walked down the hallway.

He searched for articles about the deceased, as the teaching assistant had done.

Several media outlets briefly covered the death, but there was no new information.

The deceased’s death was simply treated as another suicide in a country with one of the world’s highest suicide rates.

I’m the only one who can expose the injustice of this death now.

Everything rests on my shoulders.

Jun-hoo felt a heavy sense of responsibility and headed to his next destination.

* * *

Anatomy lab professor Bo-sung was organizing papers in his lab.

Even while teaching, Bo-sung dedicated time to his own research.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

A knock like an uninvited guest.

Who could be coming at this hour?

Bo-sung felt doubtful and told them to enter.

The person who opened the door was none other than Jun-hoo.

“Hello, Professor.”

“Oh, it’s you, Jun-hoo. What brings you to the lab?”

“I have something urgent to tell you about the cadaver we dissected today. It may sound absurd, but I hope you’ll believe me.”

Jun-hoo answered quickly.

What is it now?

For a student to seek out a professor because of a cadaver…

Bo-sung gestured for Jun-hoo to sit on the sofa in front of his desk, and he sat on the opposite sofa.

Jun-hoo’s expression was serious.

It didn’t seem like he was here to waste time.

“I’m listening, so tell me what’s on your mind.”

“Thank you, Professor.”

Listening to Jun-hoo’s explanation, Bo-sung clicked his tongue.

The deceased, who was being dissected as a cadaver, wasn’t a suicide but a murder victim.

He claimed to have found evidence of this during the dissection.

It was a shocking claim.

Bo-sung had been teaching anatomy for 10 years.

Such an absurd case had never occurred.

But Jun-hoo seemed sincere.

If the deceased had died from briquette fumes, there should have been scorching in the lungs.

If there was no scorching, then the cause of death would be compressive asphyxia due to the strangulation marks on the neck.

“Have you studied anatomy independently?”

Bo-sung asked, impressed.

Only with prior knowledge could he have shown such insight.

In fact, the other group members who dissected with Jun-hoo were completely unaware of the contradiction.

“Yes. And I also have a habit of observing things carefully.”

“……”

“I’m sorry, but do you also not believe me, Professor?”

Jun-hoo asked directly.

He seemed worried his claim would be dismissed.

Depending on the listener.

Jun-hoo’s claim could easily sound ridiculous.

“Of course not. I appreciate students who ask questions, doubt, and seek answers. Like you.”

Bo-sung smiled and continued.

“Let’s go check it out together.”

“Thank you, Professor.”

Bo-sung and Jun-hoo immediately went to the anatomy lab.

He put on a gown and stood in front of the table where Group 1 had been working.

Drrr.

Jun-hoo pulled the dressing cart with the necessary dissection tools and joined him a moment later.

To know what to do without being told…

Jun-hoo was indeed a bright student.

Flutter.

Bo-sung removed the white cloth covering the cadaver.

And first, he examined the lungs.

Indeed, Jun-hoo was right.

The lungs were clean; if he had suffocated from briquettes, the surface wouldn’t be so pristine.

Was the deceased really murdered?

Bo-sung felt a chill run down his spine.

Goosebumps had already risen on his forearms.

‘I need to stay calm.’

With a gloved hand, Bo-sung lifted the cadaver’s eyelids.

The moment his brow furrowed.

His lips were tightly closed.

Red dots were visible in the cadaver’s eyes.

They were petechial hemorrhages.

A sign often seen in patients who died from cervical compression.

This symptom appeared as uncirculated blood vessels burst.

Of course, there were exceptions.

“It seems you’re right. It’s highly likely the deceased died of compressive asphyxia.”

“……”

“It’s not 100 percent, but it looks like about 80 percent. Let’s find the remaining 20 percent now.”

“Are you going to dissect the neck, Professor?”

“I have to.”

“Then, can I film the dissection process?”

“What are you planning?”

Bo-sung asked, looking displeased.

Even just dissecting it would prove the murder.

Was there a need to film it?

“I thought the police or the culprit might later claim we damaged the deceased during practice.”

“……”

“We need to prevent such rumors from spreading.”

Jun-hoo gave a clear answer, as if he’d been waiting for the question.

Heh. Look at this guy?

Surprisingly, Jun-hoo was thinking a step ahead of Bo-sung.

He was considering the potential controversies that could arise after the dissection.

Bo-sung felt somewhat outsmarted.

“It would be best to do as you say. Then, I’ll start.”

Bo-sung held the No. 10 scalpel, and Jun-hoo filmed him with his cell phone.

The journey to uncover the truth had begun.

Ssssk.

The scalpel slid over the cadaver’s skin.

The incision was clean.

Bo-sung used the Kelly clamp to open the incision to the left and right.

As the subcutaneous layer and fascia opened, the neck bones appeared.

“Ah……”

A short sigh escaped Bo-sung’s lips.

A fracture was found in the cadaver’s hyoid bone and laryngeal cartilage.

This was conclusive evidence that the patient had died of cervical compression asphyxia.

It was a crucial turning point in transforming a suicide case into a murder investigation.

“Since the deceased who died of cervical compression couldn’t have lit briquettes, it’s clear someone disguised the death as a suicide.”

“……”

“Jun-hoo, you observed very well. The deceased can now find peace.”

Bo-sung praised Jun-hoo.

For a mere freshman to demonstrate such extensive anatomical knowledge and deep insight.

It was truly remarkable.

Without Jun-hoo’s sharp thinking, this case would have remained a suicide forever.

The resentment of the dead would have lingered in vain.

Bo-sung couldn’t believe Jun-hoo was just a freshman.

“Should I report it to the police and contact the bereaved family?”

Jun-hoo, who had finished filming, asked Bo-sung.

Bo-sung shook his head.

“You’ve already done enough. I’ll handle it.”

* * *

Jun-hoo was walking around campus with a light heart.

With Bo-sung’s help, the matter of the deceased was resolved, at least for now.

Bo-sung contacted the teaching assistant and obtained the bereaved family’s phone number.

He spoke directly with them to inform them of the truth.

He also contacted the police.

Since the evidence of murder was clear, a reinvestigation was certain.

Jun-hoo was proud he could help resolve the deceased’s injustice with his observation skills.

Saving dying people is important, but.

Isn’t it also important to prevent the dead from dying twice?

Maybe that’s why.

Jun-hoo was interested in forensic medicine.

He learned that Bo-sung was a professor of forensic medicine as well as anatomy.

So, he wondered if it would be a good idea to learn anatomy more professionally from Bo-sung and even study forensic medicine separately.

Of course, he would need Bo-sung’s permission.

If he didn’t get it, he was considering studying on his own.

“Seo Jun-hoo.”

Turning at the familiar voice, he saw Seung-beom’s gang standing there.

Their expressions were fierce, and they didn’t look happy.

They must have been called in by the teaching assistant and scolded for the SNS incident.

Jun-hoo stopped, savoring the schadenfreude [pleasure derived from someone else’s misfortune].

He stared at Seung-beom’s gang.

“What? Do you have something to say?”

“Don’t play dumb, you bastard. You snitched to the teaching assistant.”

Seung-beom said, his face contorted.

“I didn’t snitch, I reported it. Your reckless behavior.”

“……”

“If you were so confident, why did you delete the SNS post in just 2 hours? Care to explain?”

Seung-beom was silent at Jun-hoo’s point.

Then, he approached Jun-hoo and put his hand on Jun-hoo’s shoulder.

“You think you’ve scored one against me, don’t you? It’s obvious.”

“I think I scored not one, but two against you?”

A sneer appeared on Jun-hoo’s lips.

But surprisingly, Seung-beom was also sneering at Jun-hoo.

The expression that seemed ready to explode had vanished without a trace.

What is this guy up to?

“Our innocent Jun-hoo only sees one side of things. You’ll find out soon… the hidden side of the world you don’t know.”

Seung-beom said his piece and left.

Jun-hoo blankly watched Seung-beom’s back.

For some reason, he felt uneasy.