Chapter 145

Captain Lee Hyun-jong’s right humerus was finally set back in place after countless twists and turns.

It wasn’t something that could’ve been done easily.

It was a miracle wrought from Jaewon’s suffering as the whipping boy and Kang-hyuk’s uncanny surgical skill.

“That’s done. Gyeongwon, how’s the patient?”

Kang-hyuk could gauge circulation and heart function with his own eyes, but—

He had a trusted anesthesiologist here.

To leave such a resource unused would be wasteful.

“He’s still holding on without transfusion. But if bleeding increases, we’ll need blood.”

“And we’ve only finished one arm.”

“Then transfusion will be unavoidable.”

“Hmm.”

At Gyeongwon’s words, all eyes turned to the official outside the OR.

His face had gone pale.

The dreadful expectation wouldn’t stay an expectation much longer.

“Bring him.”

Kang-hyuk voiced the order that made it real.

“Professor, saying it like that—someone might think you’re literally dragging him in for blood.”

“That’s exactly what it is.”

“Ugh… fine, I’ll bring him.”

Jaewon gave up arguing and pressed his foot into the panel groove at the bottom of the OR door.

With a soft hum, the door slid open.

Even in crisis, the wealthy nation’s facilities gleamed.

“You’re wanted inside.”

“Ah…”

The official’s face showed resignation.

But he was still a servant of the state.

For a soldier who had bled for his country, giving blood in return wasn’t unreasonable.

He was just afraid.

“Understood.”

“Lie here.”

“Already prepared, I see?”

“Yes.”

He shot Jaewon a resentful look, but climbed onto the bed—

Adjusted high, making the climb awkward.

Jaewon offered an excuse.

“Higher draws blood better.”

“My blood, you mean?”

“Yes.”

The man sighed.

Who knew a casual mention of his blood type would end like this?

Closing his eyes tightly, he felt Jang-mi begin wrapping his arm.

“What, you’re starting right away?”

“There’s surgery happening right now.”

She tilted her chin toward the back—

Where Baek Kang-hyuk stood like a debt collector.

The official couldn’t help thinking—’When did I ever owe this man blood? Or money?’

‘What is he, Shylock—taking payment in blood?’

But regardless of his thoughts, the needle sank in.

“Ouch.”

“It hurts?”

“Of course!”

“That’s normal.”

“What—”

He stared in disbelief.

From the moment he’d heard her called “Gangster,” something felt off.

Now he understood.

‘Are all Baeks like this?’

Before he could dwell on it, the line was connected to Captain Lee.

It felt different than just having a needle—

“Uh… it’s draining out.”

“Yes. That’s the point.”

“Isn’t it too fast?”

“It’s regulated. Don’t worry.”

She gestured to Gyeongwon, who nodded apologetically.

The official sighed.

“Quit whining. Back to surgery. What’s one bag of blood? Such fuss.”

“Whining?!”

“Scalpel.”

Kang-hyuk drove the nail deeper into his chest and resumed operating.

The official muttered complaints, but Kang-hyuk ignored them completely—

As if he had selective hearing loss.

“Now the left arm. Forearm… complex bone structure. This’ll be tricky.”

“The CT showed [comminuted fracture].” (T/N: [Comminuted fracture] is a type of bone fracture where the bone breaks into three or more pieces, often caused by high-impact trauma. It is harder to treat than a simple fracture because of the multiple fragments involved.)

“The worst.”

A bullet, plus shattered fragments—

A breeding ground for infection.

And the forearm was further from the heart than the upper arm.

The inflammation was far worse.

“This must be dealt with. Delay, and he’ll lose the arm.”

“Yes, Professor.”

Already, necrotic patches spread across the skin.

Schlik.

Kang-hyuk’s scalpel glided smoothly.

Blood welled—dark, sluggish.

But not as much as feared.

He had cut to the exact depth.

“Good. Wipe… retract.”

“Like this?”

“Yes. Pressure’s right. Better than before.”

“Guess I learn fast?”

Kang-hyuk didn’t dignify nonsense with replies.

He worked deeper, not with tools, but with his right index finger.

‘This bone can’t be set as is.’

The two forearm bones were shattered, midshaft destroyed over five centimeters.

They couldn’t be aligned directly.

‘Later, grafting bone from elsewhere…’

He never saw patients in fragments.

It wasn’t only about immediate survival.

It was about the life after.

He would not consign this young patriot to disability.

‘First remove bullet and fragments. Then trim the ruined bone.’

With renewed resolve, his hand moved even faster.

Schrrrk.

Muscle planes parted under his finger.

Soon, the troublesome bullet was revealed.

“Got you.”

He plucked it free, then swept out the scattered shards.

Over twenty fragments.

It was a wonder the arm hadn’t been severed outright.

‘The vessel… damaged, but… infection’s kept bleeding down.’

Untrained eyes wouldn’t see it—

But limbs had compartments, muscle groups encased by fascia.

This wound was trapped within one such compartment.

The pressure from infection and bleeding had clamped vessels shut.

Ssshhhk!

Now, with pressure relieved—

Blood burst forth.

“Hm.”

If he hadn’t identified the vessel earlier, the hemorrhage would be uncontrollable.

But Kang-hyuk was already pinching the artery.

“Repair it?”

“No. Plenty of collateral flow here. I’ll just ligate. Useful later.”

“Later?”

Jaewon couldn’t fathom how “later” mattered in such despair.

The case notes Kang-hyuk had given him—none had been this severe.

And many had died even then.

Only Kang-hyuk’s godlike hands had snatched survival from death.

But this patient was beyond even those cases.

He remembered his first sight of Captain Lee in the ICU.

‘It was like… life forcibly glued back on.’

Like a corpse propped up.

Enough to crush hope in any observer.

But he didn’t know—

Kang-hyuk never gave up on a patient, not if even the faintest chance remained.

He clung to hope longer and harder than patient or family.

“Don’t just stand there. Hold the field open or I can’t work.”

“Yes, Professor.”

Thanks to his focus, the artery was swiftly tied off, ending the bleeding.

Kang-hyuk ordered irrigation, then checked the rest.

Ssshhhhh.

While Jaewon rinsed diligently, Kang-hyuk inspected the abdomen.

The bowel looked discolored through the bullet holes.

Much of it would have to go.

That meant a massive surgery.

‘Not here. Even I can’t, without blood.’

He was extraordinary—

But not divine.

‘Then… the leg next.’

He moved to the thigh—

And grimaced.

‘Can I even call it “next best”?’

It was terrible.

The thick bone, thick muscle—

Crushed femur had triggered severe compartment syndrome.

He wanted to scream—’Why wasn’t this first?’

But held back.

‘It’s gunshot. Clumsy probing could destroy vessels and nerves.’

While he planned, Jaewon finished irrigation.

The wound was clean—for now.

Soon pus would pool again.

They’d deal with it then.

“Slave, over here.”

“Yes, M—… Professor.”

The title slipped out naturally.

Kang-hyuk gave him a complicated look, then said,

“This one’s going to bleed. A lot.”

“Yes.”

Jaewon felt his despair lift.

Kang-hyuk’s face was grave enough to demand all his focus.

“Gangster, retract. I’ll cut, you cauterize. Same time. If not, he dies.”