Chapter 137

“What’s that?”

Even after going through such an ordeal, Baek Kang-hyuk’s hearing was razor sharp. He hadn’t missed the sound of the TV from inside the conference room.

By contrast, Han Yoo-rim, now nearing his mid-50s, looked puzzled.

“What are you talking about? Are you sure you’re okay? What are you seeing?”

He waved a hand in front of Kang-hyuk’s face, concerned. Being a doctor and academic himself, he didn’t suspect ghosts—he was worried about ‘delirium’, a symptom common in ICU patients.

“Hey, move your hand. I’m talking about that.”

Kang-hyuk grabbed Yoo-rim’s hand and pushed it aside. For someone who had just been lying unconscious with a catheter in, he was still surprisingly strong. Out-of-shape Yoo-rim was easily pushed back.

“Huh?”

Only then did he and the others see the TV in the conference room.

They couldn’t hear the audio well, but the large captions made the gist clear.

“Kidnapped by Boko Haram? A South Korean soldier?”

Yang Jaewon, the most recently discharged from the military, tilted his head. The Hanbit Unit was supposed to be a peacekeeping and humanitarian contingent in South Sudan—not a combat unit. How could they get caught up in a kidnapping?

“Let’s… go take a look. What’s going on here?”

Kang-hyuk was intrigued. It wasn’t his usual area of operations, but any place with bullets flying felt familiar.

“Yes, Professor.”

“I want to see too.”

Yoo-rim, Jaewon, Park Gyeongwon, and Cheon Jang-mi all headed for the conference room. Kang-hyuk trailed behind, sitting leisurely on the bed.

‘Breaking news always repeats the same points anyway.’

Besides, he had something to do first—personally checking on the child’s condition.

Jaewon had done a decent job, but Kang-hyuk preferred to confirm things himself.

“Hmm.”

Still in a patient gown, he approached the child and examined the colostomy first. It had been Jaewon’s work from start to finish.

‘Well… it’s a pretty simple procedure.’

It looked better than he expected. He didn’t say so out loud, but he approved.

‘Shuffle.’

While glancing over the child, he flipped through the ICU’s paper chart. Even though everything had gone digital long ago, ICU still kept manual charts—much faster in emergencies than logging into a computer.

‘Not a single fever recorded. Good.’

For this patient, the biggest danger was infection. Stool from a ruptured rectum carried countless pathogens. But thanks to thorough cleaning, disinfection, and proper antibiotics, the child was fine.

‘And… consciousness? They must have checked.’

The child had gone into [hypovolemic shock] (T/N: A life-threatening condition caused by severe blood or fluid loss leading to inadequate circulation.) in the helicopter, prompting Kang-hyuk to perform an urgent transfusion.

Given the risk of brain injury even in a short time, a neuro check was vital.

‘Professor Choi came personally.’

The notes showed Neurology’s Choi Jun-yong had examined the patient. According to him, brain function appeared intact.

“Phew.”

Only then did Kang-hyuk exhale in relief.

Meanwhile, the group in the conference room was glued to the TV.

“Twelve soldiers are currently missing. The list includes Captain Lee Hyun-jong, Sergeant Kim In-chul…”

The anchor’s voice trembled as she read the freshly received names. Out of twelve missing, many were enlisted men, not just career soldiers.

‘Clunk.’

Kang-hyuk entered just as the list ended.

“What’s the report?”

His tone was dry.

Jaewon jumped in like a good protégé.

“Yes, Professor. A militant group called Boko Haram took over a school near the Hanbit Unit’s base and staged a mass kidnapping. While they were there on outreach, Captain Lee Hyun-jong and his team rescued eighty-two schoolgirls who were about to be abducted. But…”

“They couldn’t get out themselves.”

Kang-hyuk muttered, recalling what he knew about Boko Haram. Though far from Syria, where he’d worked most, he knew nearly every armed faction worldwide from his time in a top-tier private military company.

‘They’re an extremist Islamist terrorist group in Nigeria… basically just armed thugs.’

‘Nigeria… borders South Sudan directly.’

South Sudan was so impoverished that borders barely mattered, ravaged by years of civil war. That was why South Korea had sent the Hanbit Unit there in the first place.

“Any rescue operation underway?”

“The anchor doesn’t seem to know. They’ve just been repeating the same points.”

“Hmm… I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

Kang-hyuk had been to Africa, though not for combat—mainly to treat the wounded in the rear. His impression: ‘Dangerous.’

Some areas were safe for tourists, but most were underdeveloped, and places like South Sudan or Somalia were outright travel-ban zones. Gunfire was common, and a few deaths didn’t even make the news.

“Breaking news!”

The anchor suddenly raised her voice, reading from a freshly handed note.

“At the Hanbit Unit’s request, nearby UN forces have joined the search! The South Korean military has also pledged its full effort! Army units stationed in the UAE are en route!”

On the map, even the Cheonghae Unit, stationed off Somalia, was moving in—essentially, every ROK unit in Africa was converging.

“They’ll find them.”

Kang-hyuk crossed his arms. African warlords were rarely trained military—just armed civilians. Large movements left plenty of tracks for professional trackers.

‘The problem will be if there are wounded.’

Medical care there was notoriously poor, with sky-high infant mortality rates. The Hanbit Unit might be the most capable medical facility in the area.

‘Can they fix it?’

He doubted it, recalling a scene on Baengnyeong Island. Even then, Captain Lee Kang-haeng had done well, but South Korean military doctors generally lacked trauma experience—especially with gunshot wounds. That wasn’t their fault; Korea’s safety simply meant they never saw such injuries.

‘Riiiing.’

The ICU phone rang. Jang-mi, standing nearby, answered automatically.

“Hanguk University Hospital Severe Trauma Center ICU nurse Cheon Jang-mi speaking.”

The caller’s voice was urgent—and rude, speaking in banmal.

“Is Professor Baek Kang-hyuk there?”

Unfamiliar with the voice, Jang-mi didn’t hide her irritation.

“He is, but why?”

“Why? Just put him on!”

The voice was so loud those nearby could hear it, including Kang-hyuk.

“Who is it?”

“No idea. They won’t say—just shouting.”

“Give it here.”

“Yes.”

Kang-hyuk took the phone.

“This is Baek Kang-hyuk.”

He matched the caller’s curt tone. Immediately, the voice on the other end changed completely, almost unrecognizably.

“Ah, our dear Professor Baek. Thank you for taking this call despite your busy schedule.”

They say once a man past forty decides to butter you up, it’s overwhelming. The flattery was so smooth even Jaewon, listening nearby, almost felt good.

“Cut to the chase.”

It had no effect on Kang-hyuk. Embarrassed, the caller cleared his throat before speaking.

“Yes, I’m Park Gi-tae, Director of Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare. At the Ministry of Defense’s request, we need to send someone for patient evacuation and treatment… The Minister specifically named you, Professor.”

“Hmm. This about Captain Lee Hyun-jong?”

Kang-hyuk glanced at the TV, which still only reported the ongoing search. Either an ’embargo’ was in place or no information was being released—a likely scenario for Africa.

“Ah, so you know. Yes, that’s correct.”

“Has he been rescued?”

“No, the operation is still underway.”

“Operation, huh.”

Kang-hyuk narrowed his eyes at the screen, which still displayed the list of those kidnapped.

‘If the operation’s underway and they’re already looking for a doctor… that means they’ve assessed the situation and reached the rescue target, who must be in critical condition.’

“Yes. From what we’ve heard, Captain Lee’s condition is quite bad. After emergency treatment on-site, he must be evacuated to Korea for further care.”

“So what exactly do you need me to do?”

“Go there in advance, stand by, perform emergency care upon rescue, then accompany the patient back to Korea and oversee treatment.”