A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 540

무공 쓰는 외과 의사 540화

제105장 완결과 연결(6)

“What the hell have you done?”

The hospital director burst into Jun-hoo’s office and immediately spat out those words. His voice, filled with spite, trembled slightly.

“What are you talking about so early in the morning?”

A subtle, satisfied smile appeared on Jun-hoo’s lips as he retorted.

The hospital director became even more certain.

Jun-hoo was behind all of this, and he was still mocking him.

His face flushed red in an instant.

“You bastard. Answer the question properly. Do I look that easy to you?”

“Shouldn’t you be asking yourself if you’ve been underestimating me, Director?”

“What?”

“We’re equals now. Don’t treat me like I’m your subordinate.”

Jun-hoo remained utterly composed.

That composure only fueled the director’s anger.

The hospital director stomped toward the office chair where Jun-hoo was sitting. He grabbed Jun-hoo’s collar with both hands.

“Tell me now. What kind of trickery did you use!”

“Don’t you remember? I succeeded in the chairman’s surgery and received a special card. I borrowed the power of that card.”

“Ah… that card…!”

The hospital director wore a blank expression.

It had been so long ago that he had completely forgotten about it.

A kind of wish-granting ticket that the chairman only gave out once to a very limited number of people, including family.

탁!

Jun-hoo lightly tapped the hospital director’s wrist.

He thought he had used some force, but his grip on the collar was easily released.

“Thank you very much. After all, you’re the one who gave me that card.”

“Me? Why?”

“You were the one who nominated me as the chairman’s surgeon. Thanks to you, I get to enjoy this luxury.”

“Ugh….”

A groan escaped from the hospital director’s lips.

His volcanic anger toward Jun-hoo was mixed with a sense of futility and helplessness.

With the chairman involved.

There was no way to reverse this personnel reshuffle.

He was stuck having to take the position of director at the Incheon hospital.

He had already bought an apartment near the Seoul headquarters, but all his preparations had gone up in smoke.

“You asked me when we played golf a while ago.”

“Asked what?”

“Why I came to Busan instead of staying at the Seoul headquarters. The real reason is, it was to get revenge on you.”

“Revenge?”

“I suffered so much when you were a section chief. Finally, my wish has come true.”

“You petty bastard. You’re still holding onto something from that long ago?”

The hospital director clicked his tongue.

His days as a section chief were not just in the past, but way in the past. Probably about 10 years ago.

“Put yourself in my shoes. Do you think you’d forget today’s humiliation even after 10 years?”

“Never.”

“That’s how I feel. Understand? Tit for tat.”

Jun-hoo’s answer was shameless.

That didn’t mean he had any immediate way to retaliate against Jun-hoo.

That made the hospital director even more frustrated.

“You little punk, do you think you’ll get away with this?”

“…….”

“The position of hospital director isn’t that easy. You’ll ruin Busan Shinwon University and get kicked out. I give your tenure two years at most.”

“Do you think your future will be rosy?”

“What? Did you just disrespect me?”

“I don’t need to respect someone who’s cursing and wishing ill on me. You don’t even deserve polite language.”

Jun-hoo’s expression turned cold.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

That was the lesson Jun-hoo had deeply ingrained in his bones from the Murim world [martial arts world].

In particular, villains were not beings to be reformed, but beings to be eradicated.

If the hospital director were to take office at the Seoul headquarters, his evil influence would spread uncontrollably.

“The medical conference is about to start, so why don’t you get lost?”

“You crazy bastard. You got carried away for a moment after overturning the chairman. Let’s see how far your power goes.”

“…….”

“And when you fall, I’ll make sure to tear you apart so that not a shred of your flesh remains. Look forward to it.”

Jun-hoo didn’t feel it was worth responding to such low-level threats.

So, he responded by raising his middle finger.

The hospital director, feeling insulted, trembled.

쾅!

He slammed the office door shut hard enough to make it sound like it would fall off and left.

Only then did Jun-hoo get up from his seat and stretch.

His body felt refreshed, and so did his mind.

The hospital director had no idea how long he had been waiting for this moment.

Thinking you’ll be comfortable in Incheon?

Don’t even dream about it. I’ve already taken care of everything.

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

* * *

With the reshuffling of executive personnel, a new wave swept through the Shinwon University-affiliated hospitals.

First, the current Busan hospital director finished his retirement ceremony and left for Incheon.

It was effectively a demotion.

And Jun-hoo took the vacant position of Busan hospital director. Originally, that position should have gone to the vice director of medical affairs.

There was a lot of talk among hospital staff about this.

Jun-hoo was the mastermind.

Jun-hoo had someone powerful enough to influence the board of directors backing him, and so on.

Rumors spread rampantly.

Jun-hoo didn’t offer any explanation, which only amplified the rumors.

His goal was for the hospital staff to fear him.

Because the moment he used the chairman’s card.

Jun-hoo had lost the strongest shield in the world.

Even without the card, he had more than enough confidence to control the hospital.

Meanwhile, the biggest victim of this incident was the vice director of medical affairs.

He suddenly had to serve Jun-hoo, who had been his subordinate, as his superior.

Even though he had not yet officially taken office as hospital director, the vice director of medical affairs treated Jun-hoo with great respect.

He used polite language at official meetings without fail.

But Jun-hoo didn’t trust the vice director of medical affairs.

A smile on his lips, a dagger in his heart.

He knew that a sharp dagger was hidden in his seemingly submissive demeanor.

Once he took office as hospital director, he would begin a full-fledged power struggle with the vice director of medical affairs.

The one who would be devoured was, of course, the vice director of medical affairs.

Since his position had changed, Jun-hoo gradually reduced his presence in the neurosurgery department.

Outpatient care was only once a week.

Surgery was also performed only one day a week.

This was thanks to the fact that he had gradually reduced the number of patients and handed them over to other professors.

He only occasionally took on surgeries that were too difficult for even the professors to handle.

Even as hospital director, Jun-hoo’s affiliation was still with the neurosurgery department.

At the same time, he appointed Choi Jin-gu to the position of head of the neurosurgery department, which had been created by his departure.

A fox, not a bear, was the perfect leader for the department.

“Thank you, Director. I will continue to be loyal.”

Choi Jin-gu grinned upon hearing the news of his promotion.

It was by no means a lie.

As long as Jun-hoo’s power didn’t wane, Choi Jin-gu would not betray him.

Jun-hoo liked that neatness.

Amidst the unsettling atmosphere of the hospital, time passed mercilessly, and the fateful day arrived.

* * *

-How is the young master, Doctor? Will Seo Gong-ja [young master Seo] be able to live?

-The bleeding has stopped for now, and the wound on his chest has been stitched up well. But I can’t guarantee he’ll survive.

-Why is that? If what you say is true, then the treatment is going smoothly, isn’t it?

-Well, this ignorant fool used up half of his innate true energy [internal energy]. The injury is critical, but the recovery is relatively slow, so even I’m at a loss…….

-The sect leader sent an elixir with me. Please take a look at it.

-If it’s an elixir with a blue-green hue, then it must be the Taecheong Pill. It seems the sect leader is putting unspoken pressure on me to save this friend.

The old voice clicked his tongue.

-If I add my acupuncture to the Taecheong Pill, then we can try to be hopeful. You grind the pill and slowly drip it into this friend’s mouth. I’ll prepare the acupuncture.

-As you command.

The conversation ended there.

Jun-hoo placed his hand on his chest and got up from the bed.

There was still a burning pain in his solar plexus. A terrible pain, as if his flesh was being seared with a branding iron.

His pajamas were already soaked with sweat.

His bangs were also wet and hung long in front of his eyes.

Ah-young was not by his side, and faint light from the east was seeping through the curtains.

Should he call it a dream that felt like reality?

Or a reality that felt like a dream?

Jun-hoo experienced the Murim world for the first time in a while.

His Murim self, who he thought had died in a mutual destruction with Jeok Il-do, was still alive.

He was still being treated by the descendant of Pyeonjak [legendary doctor].

If the treatment is successful, will he return to the Murim world?

If the treatment fails, will he remain in the modern world?

Jun-hoo took a deep breath and shook off the complex thoughts floating in his head.

Doing his best in this moment.

That was the best thing for Jun-hoo.

He lightly patted both cheeks with his palms and went out to the living room.

Ah-young was toasting bread in the toaster.

“You’re up early?”

“I was hungry. I’ve been feeling hungry all the time these days.”

“The baby must want something to eat too. But I’m worried.”

“About what?”

“I’m afraid our child will become a bread-lover. Then I’ll have to spend my weekends just buying bread.”

Ah-young laughed at Jun-hoo’s joke.

The two sat at the table and ate warm milk and bread together.

“Time flies. It feels like just yesterday we were dating, and now we’re already married and having a baby.”

“I know. It’s like a blink of an eye when you look back.”

Jun-hoo nodded.

The tragedy of his teacher being attacked by a stranger and falling into a vegetative state had already passed as an old story.

No one could beat time.

But even in the midst of that, one thing remained unforgettable.

Jun-hoo lightly lowered his head.

The health bracelet was still on his left wrist.

It was a memento left by Sung-ho, who had passed away due to brain death. Jun-hoo still had a task to complete.

“Today is your inauguration as hospital director, right? Are you nervous?”

“The only things I’m afraid of are you when you’re angry and emergency patients.”

“Good to know.”

Ah-young smiled brightly.

There was bread crumbs on Ah-young’s mouth, so Jun-hoo brushed them off with his hand.

Jun-hoo still loved Ah-young and cherished their relationship.

After showering and putting on a suit.

Jun-hoo drove out of the house.

* * *

He pressed 6 on the parking lot elevator, then canceled it and pressed 3.

Jun-hoo’s home was no longer on the 6th floor.

It was 7 a.m. when he arrived at the hospital director’s office. The secretary was already sitting at her desk.

“You’ve arrived, Director?”

“Good morning.”

Jun-hoo raised his hand to greet the secretary and entered the hospital director’s office.

The hospital director’s office was much more modest than when the previous director was there. Showy golf clubs, artwork, and orchids had disappeared.

Among the furniture in the room, only the sofa and table were luxurious.

[Hospital Director Seo Jun-hoo]

A nameplate was placed on the desk where he would be working. The title and name were engraved in black on a transparent, glass-like background.

It still didn’t feel real.

He had dreamed of becoming a hospital director, but he didn’t expect to become one so quickly.

In some ways, the saying that going slowly is the fastest way might be true.

Jun-hoo, who took care of patients and colleagues, seemed like a snail at first glance, but he was promoted faster than anyone else.

Jun-hoo stroked the nameplate, looked around the hospital director’s office, and then came outside.

He moved to the grand auditorium on the 2nd basement floor.

A banner that read “The 7th Busan Shinwon University Hospital Director Inauguration Ceremony” was attached to the top of the stage.

Because it was the day of the inauguration ceremony, the auditorium was already crowded with staff.

The chairman, vice chairman, and foundation executives were sitting in the front row, waiting.

When he made eye contact with them, Jun-hoo bowed lightly.

The inauguration ceremony proceeded according to the progress of the head of the General Affairs Department.

The highlight of the inauguration ceremony was, of course, Jun-hoo’s inaugural address.

Jun-hoo briefly stated his thoughts on doing his best to create a hospital for patients and staff.

After all, actions were more important than words.

짝! 짝! 짝!

Jun-hoo came down from the stage to thunderous applause.

He didn’t know where the newly opened Act 2 of his life would take him, but Jun-hoo was confident.

Jun-hoo had martial arts and inner strength.

He had people he loved.

He had people who loved him.

He had an unyielding belief.

完