A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 412

Chapter 80: Nowhere to Go (2)

“What did you say?”

Sung-duk frowned and raised his voice.

He straightened up from the sofa in the hospital director’s office, where he had been sitting leisurely.

‘If Jun-hoo had just spoken nicely,’ he thought.

He was planning to generously overlook the arrogant remarks in the medical report.

The neurosurgery community didn’t seem to know Jun-hoo’s true worth yet.

According to what Sung-duk had found out,

The Mayou Boost-Up Program’s curriculum was like hell.

What would Jun-hoo’s skills be, having taken the top spot in that hell?

Sung-duk dared to think that Jun-hoo was currently the No. 1 neurosurgery fellow.

That brilliant Park Jae-hyun.

He judged that Jae-hyun, the first triple board-certified surgeon in neurosurgery, would not be a match for Jun-hoo.

Why?

Because Jun-hoo was a whopping heptuple (7) board-certified surgeon.

In other words, Jun-hoo *was* neurosurgery walking around.

A tremendous skill that he hadn’t yet unleashed.

The powerful aura of Mayou.

A handsome appearance with star quality.

Jun-hoo was an un-scratched winning lottery ticket.

If he could get Jun-hoo,

Busan Shinwon University Hospital could once again experience a revival.

Just like how Professor Lee Jong-guk.

The name of Sungju University Hospital had spread widely throughout the Korean Peninsula (although this was mostly in a negative sense).

‘Is he saying he’s too big for his britches?’

Even so, Sung-duk couldn’t hide his displeasure.

It would have been somewhat okay if he had subtly shown his dislike.

Jun-hoo blatantly pushed Sung-duk away.

Even though he knew that he was the vice president of the Korean Neurosurgical Society and the director of Busan Shinwon University Hospital.

-It’s exactly as you heard. I cannot agree with the Vice President’s opinion.

Jun-hoo hammered it home once again.

“Do you think I’ve underestimated your achievements?”

-You know exactly what’s going on. For the record, I also know why the Vice President said that.

“I don’t know what part you’re talking about. Tell me in detail.”

Sung-duk asked, crossing his legs.

In fact, he wasn’t asking because he didn’t know.

Sung-duk knew exactly what Jun-hoo was angry about.

A week ago.

Sung-duk also had an interview with a *Medical Report* reporter.

At that time, the reporter asked about Jun-hoo. What did he think of Jun-hoo, who graduated at the top of the Mayou Boost-Up Program?

-Is it even possible to finish a neurosurgery fellowship in just one year? And to top it off, to learn seven subspecialties… It’s an absurd idea.

Sung-duk deliberately belittled Jun-hoo.

The reason was simple.

Because that would make it easier to get Jun-hoo.

If he had praised Jun-hoo in that spot,

Numerous university hospitals would have already sent Jun-hoo love calls [formal job offers].

If there’s something you want, first thoroughly ruin it.

That was Sung-duk’s motto.

-Weren’t you trying to recruit me by damaging my reputation? The fellow surgeon who published a similar article is probably the Vice President’s junior, too.

“Kekekeke.”

Before answering, Sung-duk tilted his head back and laughed heartily.

‘No, he saw through this tactic?’

If so, Jun-hoo’s political sense was at least on par with his own.

He thought he only knew medicine.

Was he a fox pretending to be a bear [someone who seems harmless but is actually cunning]?

“Well, since you seem to know everything, I won’t particularly deny it. So, do you hate me?”

-If I were the Vice President, would I like the Vice President?

Jun-hoo retorted boldly.

“Even if you hate me, you can still shake hands. In life, there are no eternal enemies or eternal allies.”

-If the Vice President makes an offer that really appeals to me, I might consider going to Busan.

“Are you serious?”

-I’m more of a pragmatist than I look.

Sung-duk’s eyebrows twitched at Jun-hoo’s answer. He thought the call would end with just an argument, but the atmosphere was surprisingly good.

A hope arose that he might actually be able to recruit Jun-hoo.

‘No, don’t believe it too easily.’

He might do this and then, at the crucial moment,

Stab him in the back.

Sung-duk erased the rosy future he had drawn in his head with an eraser.

He regained his composure.

-But for the time being, it will be difficult to work anywhere.

“Why? You’ve just returned from Mayou, so all that’s left is to spread your wings, isn’t it?”

-There’s a reason for that.

Jun-hoo’s voice became dejected for the first time.

After listening to the explanation, Sung-duk nodded.

It wasn’t just empty words or an excuse.

There was a fatal reason why Jun-hoo couldn’t go to any hospital.

* * *

Jun-hoo was sitting in the back seat of a taxi.

He was gazing blankly at the cityscape passing by outside the window.

Shops lined both sides of the road, and store signs were boasting their colorful lights.

Office workers leaving work late.

The streets were crowded with people who had appointments.

It had already been over an hour since he had ended the call with Sung-duk.

Even so, the lingering feeling remained.

Jun-hoo took out his cell phone from his pocket and looked down at it for no reason.

The call with Sung-duk was by no means pleasant.

The attitude of treating people like chess pieces.

Only considering their usefulness was disgusting.

But the world was a strange place.

Because it was a place where such selfish people rose to prominence and succeeded.

‘You’re going to use me?’

‘Don’t be ridiculous.’

‘I’m the one using you.’

A cynical smile appeared on Jun-hoo’s lips.

Even if Sung-duk was a stinky bastard, Jun-hoo was ready to shake hands with Sung-duk at any time.

As long as he could receive sufficient compensation.

And the one who would be sucked dry and discarded would definitely be Sung-duk.

Jun-hoo was closer to a doctor who only knew patients and medicine, but he had a political sense that they didn’t have.

He was more than capable of standing up to Sung-duk.

‘Well, what’s going to happen in the next three years, so there’s no need to worry about it already.’

While his mind was wandering, the taxi stopped in front of a crosswalk.

“Thank you for your service.”

Jun-hoo paid the taxi fare and got out of the taxi.

He stopped in front of the magnificent hospital building and looked up at the building.

The place Jun-hoo arrived at after leaving Ah-young’s house was Jewon University Hospital.

Jun-hoo also had quite a connection with Jewon University Hospital.

The hospital where his teacher, Park Jae-hyun, worked.

The hospital where he had secretly performed surgeries with his teacher, Park Jae-hyun.

The hospital where his mother had undergone surgery for a cerebral hemorrhage, and so on.

The reason why Jun-hoo suddenly visited Jewon University Hospital.

It was because he had received a call from his teacher.

Coincidentally, he received a call from his teacher just 10 minutes after ending the call with Sung-duk.

He asked if he could come to the hospital when he had time.

Jun-hoo readily agreed.

He was planning to make an appointment and see him sometime this week anyway.

Jun-hoo passed through the entrance of Jewon University Hospital. He passed the main building and headed towards the research building.

His teacher’s lab was room 502.

Toc. Toc. Toc.

When he knocked, he heard a voice telling him to come in.

His teacher, Jae-hyun, recognized Jun-hoo while working at his desk.

Jun-hoo didn’t miss the fleeting smile that passed over Jae-hyun’s lips.

“It’s been a while, Teacher.”

Jun-hoo bowed politely.

Jae-hyun nodded and approached Jun-hoo, lightly patting him on the back.

It was a more touching welcome than words.

“Sit there.”

“Yes.”

The teacher and disciple sat facing each other on the sofa and reunited after 7 years.

One of the teacher’s nicknames is ‘Vampire Surgeon’.

Of course, it wasn’t because he sucked the blood of patients…

It was because the teacher’s appearance hardly changed even as time passed.

In terms of foreign actors, it was like Tom Hanks or Keanu Reeves.

His teacher, whom he had met after a long time, had not changed at least externally.

The wrinkles on his neck and face had only become slightly more pronounced.

“You haven’t changed, teacher.”

“It only looks that way on the outside. I’ve gotten old too.”

Jae-hyun chuckled and stroked his right wrist with his left hand.

There was a scar on his teacher’s right wrist.

“Is your wrist okay?”

“I don’t want to pretend to be strong in front of you. To be honest, it’s not okay. I always take painkillers before going into surgery.”

Jun-hoo bit his lip at his teacher’s words.

Three years ago from now.

The teacher underwent surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome.

Despite being the head of the neurosurgery department, he was burdened with a surgery schedule like a regular professor, which put a strain on his wrist.

When Jun-hoo first heard that news, his heart sank.

Following Ah-young, Jun-hoo’s second mental pillar.

He was afraid that the brightest star in neurosurgery was collapsing.

“Shouldn’t you reduce your surgery schedule? It seems like you’re overworking yourself too much.”

“Let’s talk about that later.”

Jae-hyun avoided the topic.

He seemed to be hiding something.

But even the quick-witted Jun-hoo couldn’t get a glimpse of his inner thoughts.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t said the most important thing.”

“What do you mean….”

“Welcome back.”

“Ah. Yes. Thank you.”

Jun-hoo scratched his temple with his index finger, feeling embarrassed.

In fact, there was no need to tell his teacher in detail about the episodes he had experienced at Mayou.

Family and Ah-young.

The person who knew the most about Jun-hoo after that was Jae-hyun in front of him.

During the 7 years he spent at Mayou,

Jun-hoo often called Jae-hyun and exchanged emails.

“Aren’t you curious why I called you out here tonight?”

“I am curious. Did you happen to have an emergency patient?”

Jun-hoo asked with anticipation.

In the past, he had disguised himself as a staff member and helped Jae-hyun with surgery.

The reason for the sudden call was most likely related to a patient.

“You’re quite something, Jun-hoo. Thinking about surgery on the day of your return.”

“I can’t think of anything else.”

“It’s better to see once than to say a hundred times. Come with me.”

Jae-hyun got up from the sofa and headed to the lab next to the lab.

Jun-hoo followed Jae-hyun.

Jae-hyun’s lab was no exaggeration to call it a makeshift operating room.

Surgical instruments that could be seen in the operating room were arranged.

A suction machine. An electric cautery. Endoscopic tools.

Other forceps and needle holders.

Consumable items such as gauze, and so on.

This was because Jae-hyun was the best neurosurgeon in the country and received support.

It was impossible for ordinary fellows to decorate their personal labs like operating rooms.

While scanning the operating room,

Jun-hoo’s questions snowballed.

If it wasn’t because of a patient.

Why did his teacher call him?

Was he trying to show him a new research result?

The place where Jae-hyun stopped was a rectangular table.

On the table, two laboratory mice were lying with their bellies on the floor.

They were not moving, probably because they had been anesthetized in advance.

Next to the table, like the mice, two dressing carts were placed.

Jun-hoo couldn’t quite grasp Jae-hyun’s intention.

“Teacher, what is all this?”

In the end, Jun-hoo opened his mouth first out of curiosity.

“Wait a moment.”

Jae-hyun took out a medicine packet from his doctor’s gown pocket. He picked up a bottle of mineral water on the table and drank it with the medicine.

“You’re very embarrassed because it’s different from the development you thought, right?”

“Yes, Teacher.”

“Now. What we’re going to do from now on is a competition.”

“A competition? Suddenly?”

Jun-hoo’s eyes widened in surprise.

What kind of nonsense was this?

Suddenly having a competition with his teacher in the middle of the night…?