A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 385

Chapter 74: Spring (5)

“Hello, Professor.”

Jun-hoo turned and greeted the person.

The man stood facing Jun-hoo with a stern expression.

The slender, bespectacled middle-aged man was none other than Hector.

“Is something wrong? You look tense.”

Hector cut to the chase.

“Why did you volunteer as the first assistant for such a difficult and challenging surgery?”

“I don’t think I’ll get another chance like this. I wanted to participate directly in the surgery if possible.”

“You’re still reckless, just like with the previous brain tumor surgery.”

Hector’s voice was full of displeasure.

Jun-hoo had known for a while that Hector didn’t like him.

It wasn’t so much a personal dislike.

But he knew that Hector disliked Jun-hoo’s unique, aggressive surgical methods and way of thinking.

Hector pursued stable, unremarkable surgeries.

So, as surgeons, the two were at opposite ends of the spectrum.

To use temperature as an analogy.

Jun-hoo was hot.

And Hector was cold, you could say.

“Separation surgery is beyond your capabilities. You should give up now.”

“Isn’t that for the department head to decide?”

Jun-hoo also took an aggressive stance.

Jun-hoo’s goal was to develop his skills through more surgeries, more difficult surgeries.

Even if it meant experiencing tears and frustration in the process.

But he couldn’t miss this opportunity.

“The department head has already chosen me as the first assistant. And I want to be the first assistant.”

“…….”

“If you want to persuade someone, you should go to the department head.”

“If you want surgery, can’t you be satisfied with being the second assistant? I’ll take the first position.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

Jun-hoo shook his head firmly.

The first assistant position was not a matter of compromise or negotiation.

“Tch. You’re so stubborn.”

“But why do you want this surgery, Professor?”

“Me?”

Hector chuckled and continued.

“I just wanted to do a surgery that suits my skills and position.”

The answer sounded plausible.

But Jun-hoo couldn’t be sure if it was sincere.

Maybe Hector was jealous of Jun-hoo.

Maybe he felt threatened when Austin gave Jun-hoo the first assistant position instead of him.

“Actually, I knew you wouldn’t give up the first position.”

“Then why waste time…….”

“I came to deliver good news for me, bad news for you.”

Hector continued his explanation.

According to Hector, the first assistant for the separation surgery had not yet been decided.

In three days.

Jun-hoo and Hector would each present their twin separation surgery methods at a conference.

And then, after judging whose surgical method was more effective for the patient.

Austin would decide on the first assistant again.

“You went to the department head and complained, didn’t you? That I shouldn’t be the first assistant.”

Jun-hoo smiled bitterly.

There was no way Austin would have suddenly changed his mind.

In that case, there was a 100 percent chance that Hector had influenced him.

“Do you hate me for taking your surgery away?”

“No. Not really.”

“That’s an unexpected answer.”

“From your perspective, you might think I took your surgery away.”

Jun-hoo’s gaze towards Hector remained calm.

It didn’t contain emotions like anger, resentment, or embarrassment.

“I’m actually more excited to have a friendly competition with you, Professor.”

“Competition? Excitement? You’re taking this situation too lightly.”

Hector burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. What was so funny? Several patients and guardians walking down the hallway stared at them because of his hearty laughter.

“You’re really something. You have a knack for surprising people. But listen.”

“…….”

“I already know how to do the separation surgery. Do you have any ideas?”

At Hector’s question, Jun-hoo, who had been so eloquent, was at a loss for words.

His lips twitched a few times.

But no sound came out.

How would I perform the conjoined twins separation surgery?

He had been thinking about it all day, but he couldn’t find a good solution. It felt like finding a needle in a haystack.

Thump!

Hector put his hand on Jun-hoo’s shoulder and smiled brightly.

“This is the difference in experience. Since we’re having a fair competition as you said, don’t blame me if you lose.”

* * *

The next morning.

Jun-hoo was the first to arrive at the conference room and sat down.

He closed his eyes tightly.

Crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair.

About 30 puzzle pieces of different shapes were floating around in his head.

He put them here, put them there, took them out, and put them back in, but.

He couldn’t get the big picture.

‘I wonder if someone will report me for abusing my brain cells.’

Jun-hoo muttered to himself, mocking himself.

Jun-hoo couldn’t find the exit, let alone the entrance, to the twin separation surgery.

He had been worrying for two days, but his hands were empty.

Suddenly, both temples throbbed.

Jun-hoo pressed his temples with his inner energy-filled index finger. Only then did his head clear.

“You look like you’re carrying all the worries in the world.”

A familiar voice came from the next seat.

Jun-hoo’s mind was so preoccupied with the separation surgery that he didn’t notice Maxwell’s presence.

“Have a drink.”

Maxwell pushed one of the coffees he was holding in both hands towards Jun-hoo.

Jun-hoo took the coffee in one hand.

Maxwell’s consideration was warmer than the warmth from the coffee.

“Thanks.”

Jun-hoo smiled and took a sip of coffee.

“Are you still racking your brains over the separation surgery?”

“Yeah. It’s killing me.”

“You look like you’re not making any progress at all.”

“Tell me about it.”

Over the past two days, Jun-hoo had been frantically searching through separation surgery papers.

But he didn’t find anything.

Conjoined twin separation surgery itself was so rare.

Moreover, the areas of separation were more diverse than expected, such as the waist, hips, and chest.

There were only four head separation surgeries at most.

Among them, there was only one case where the crowns of the heads were attached, and even that case did not involve patients sharing a cerebral artery.

In short, there was no reference material at all.

Jun-hoo had been butting his head against the ground all along.

Was that why?

Halfway through, the desire to use a cheat key suddenly surged.

If he contacted his teacher, Park Jae-hyun.

He could have gotten some pretty good advice.

But Jun-hoo barely managed to resist the urge.

He didn’t want to package a free answer as if he had found it himself.

Above all, it was time for Jun-hoo to break away from his teacher’s influence and become independent.

From now on, he might have to create surgeries under his own name.

Maybe this ordeal was a stepping stone.

“Does Professor Hector know the surgical method?”

“He’s been talking about it since the first day. He says he knows the answer.”

“It was an unfair game from the start. Why don’t you just give up? Don’t waste your time.”

“You won’t know until you try.”

“I feel like I know without even trying?”

“Then you’re wrong. Open your eyes and look closely.”

There was stubbornness in Jun-hoo’s voice.

Indomitable will.

This was also a powerful weapon that made Jun-hoo who he is today.

It was the same in the Murim world [martial arts world].

When Jun-hoo said he would take revenge on Jeok Il-do.

The people of the clan and acquaintances all dissuaded Jun-hoo.

How could Jun-hoo dare to deal with Jeok Il-do, one of the ten great devils of Murim?

They told him to forget everything and live on, even if it was unfair.

But Jun-hoo persevered with the determination to bide his time.

Eventually, he reached the Harmonious Realm.

And after many twists and turns, he succeeded in sending Jeok Il-do to the afterlife.

There was no reason why it couldn’t happen this time either.

However, the biggest problem was that there was not enough time, unlike in the Murim world.

After a short conversation, silence fell.

Maxwell didn’t give any more advice.

He slurped his coffee.

Jun-hoo looked over and saw Maxwell taking a snack out of his gown pocket when he heard a rustling sound.

It was a Twinkie, known as America’s national snack.

Maxwell split the Twinkie in half and dipped it in coffee.

It seemed like he was doing that so the bread wouldn’t get wet and fall into the coffee.

Jun-hoo just stared blankly at the scene.

Jun-hoo had no thoughts.

Because he had no thoughts.

But it was at that moment!

An unexpected realization flowed into his empty head.

“I found it!”

Jun-hoo shouted.

He jumped up from his seat and raised both hands to the ceiling.

How could he express this exhilarating feeling in words?

“You scared me! I thought I was having a heart attack. What did you suddenly find?”

Maxwell asked with wide eyes, startled.

“The twin separation surgery. I know how to do it.”

“So suddenly?”

“So suddenly!”

Jun-hoo nodded vigorously and wrapped his hand around Maxwell’s hand with one hand.

“Thank you. Maxwell. It’s all thanks to you.”

Maxwell looked even more bewildered at Jun-hoo’s sudden expression of gratitude.

“I…… I only ate a Twinkie?”

* * *

The next morning, conference room.

Austin crossed his arms and listened to the conference with one ear and let it out with the other.

Austin’s attention was entirely focused on the surgical debate between Jun-hoo and Hector that would unfold shortly.

A seasoned professor VS a trainee who has been training for less than a year.

In fact, the conclusion of the competition was as good as decided.

Jun-hoo probably didn’t even have a clue how to do the separation surgery.

Why?

Because there was no reference material at all.

Jun-hoo had no data at all.

On the other hand, Hector had accumulated a lot of data through his work as a professor of pediatric neurosurgery.

In other words, the gap between the two was like heaven and earth.

‘Well, my greed was too great. I just wanted to see how far Jun-hoo could go.’

Austin bit his lip.

But what could he do?

The water had already been spilled [the situation cannot be reversed].

Austin looked at Jun-hoo and then turned his gaze to Hector.

Coincidentally, Hector was also looking at Austin. The moment their eyes met, Hector’s eyes smiled in a crescent shape.

It was a look that he was full of confidence.

Hector had clearly found the answer to the separation surgery.

But that answer would be in a completely different form from the answer Austin had found.

‘You’re so smug. Your surgical methods and way of thinking have fatal problems. That’s why I was going to make Jun-hoo the first assistant to let you know.’

Austin clicked his tongue inwardly.

Time passed and the conference ended.

In an instant, the air in the room became heavy and tense.

Everyone in this place knew about the important event that would unfold in the future.

The person who made the first move was Hector.

Hector went up to the podium and looked down at the trainees, Austin, and other professors.

“I’ll cut to the chase and get to the point. The key to conjoined twins separation surgery that I’ve come up with is this.”