Chapter 156

               

<Hey, did you see the photo?>

<Think he’ll survive…?>

<Even Baek Kang-hyuk can’t save this one.>

<How long has it been since he got there, and that’s the state he brings him back in?>

<He’s overrated. That guy’s from Muan University. No real skills.>

No matter how fast he ran.

A bed isn’t exactly a small item.

Not to mention, the safety of Captain Lee Hyun-jong lying on it had to be taken into account.

So there was no shortage of photos snapped by the reporters.

Reporters from more established media outlets showed some restraint.

But plenty of online news platforms lacked even basic decency.

<We sent him to Dubai on the government’s dime, and all he did was sightsee?>

There were even articles with insane headlines like that.

One saving grace was that Kang-hyuk and the others hadn’t seen any of these articles or comments.

Had they seen them, maybe not Kang-hyuk, but Jaewon, Jang-mi, or Gyeongwon would’ve been affected.

They were still rookies, lacking a solid sense of self.

“Stop zoning out, everyone. Rookie, bring up the scan. I gave you the CD earlier, right?”

“Ah, yes!”

At Kang-hyuk’s words, the rookie Jimin dashed over and inserted the CD into the computer.

Before long, the abdominal CT of Captain Lee Hyun-jong taken just before departure appeared on the monitor.

Because of the bullet inside, the scan showed a lot of signal interference, making it hard to see everything clearly.

Still, the general condition was identifiable.

“Ha.”

No one said it first, but a collective sigh followed.

And it was justified.

It looked terrible.

“First time seeing a scan? Start anesthesia. Prep the area while you’re at it.”

“Y-yes, Professor.”

Only after Kang-hyuk’s sharp rebuke did Gyeongwon start moving again.

It had been barely over a week since this OR was last used.

Yet it somehow felt unfamiliar.

“Here it is.”

“Oh, uh… Thanks.”

But the sense of awkwardness didn’t last.

Jimin proved she wasn’t just standing around doing nothing.

Not only did she hand over every drug Gyeongwon requested instantly, but she also assisted with anesthesia excellently.

“Ah, senior, it’s over here.”

She even helped Jang-mi set up the surgical instrument tray with care.

“Ah, thanks.”

Thanks to her, what could’ve been an awkward beginning proceeded very smoothly.

Of course, one person remained completely unaffected by any awkwardness.

That was Kang-hyuk.

“Hurry up and clean! Move it!”

“But you’ve been waiting all this time. Why rush now… I can’t clean this carelessly.”

“You idiot, I’ve been waiting, which is why I’m in a rush!”

“R-right…”

As usual, Jaewon mouthed off to Kang-hyuk and got kicked in the shin, then quickly began disinfecting the wound.

It was a spot that had been sterilized eight times a day until now, but it felt different this time.

Before, it had been to buy time.

This time, it was to achieve a cure.

‘Is there… really a way?’

Sure, the wound was in terrible shape.

But just because he couldn’t see the answer didn’t mean there wasn’t one.

With that belief, Jaewon looked toward Kang-hyuk.

“What are you looking at, idiot? Keep cleaning.”

He didn’t get the encouragement he might’ve wanted.

“Make sure it’s all clean by the time I finish scrubbing in.”

Saying that, Kang-hyuk headed to the sink just outside the OR.

As usual, only cold water came pouring down.

Normally, that would’ve triggered a stream of complaints.

But this time was different.

It was oddly refreshing, as if it cooled even his brain.

‘The limbs are fine.’

If anyone else said that, they’d deserve a slap to the back of the head.

This was not a situation where anyone could say things were “fine.”

But for Kang-hyuk, it was.

He already had a plan, and the ability to execute it without a single error.

‘The abdomen… Today, don’t think about anything else. Just focus on the abdomen.’

As if comforting himself, Kang-hyuk finished scrubbing and shook off the water.

When he stepped back into the OR, Captain Lee Hyun-jong’s entire body had already been stained brown.

To the side, packs of O-type blood were stacked, pre-ordered and ready.

Just looking at it made him feel rich.

‘Whatever else, a developed medical country is still a developed country.’

Wasn’t it ironic?

In a place where they curse the surgeon about to operate, the infrastructure was second to none.

‘This time… I’ll turn the tables.’

Kang-hyuk firmly bit his lower lip as he put on the surgical gown and gloves handed over by Jang-mi.

As always, he liked the way the gloves snugly wrapped around each finger.

Just putting them on made him feel like he could save anyone.

And for Kang-hyuk, it wasn’t an illusion.

“Give me the thing to draw with.”

“The thing to draw with…?”

“Yeah. The marker.”

“Uh… okay.”

It was Jang-mi’s first time seeing Kang-hyuk ask for a marker instead of a scalpel at the start of surgery.

She wasn’t the only one surprised.

While marking the incision site with a marker was standard, Kang-hyuk never needed to—his cuts were always perfect.

So this was quite shocking.

‘The situation must really be bad.’

Jang-mi instinctively furrowed her brow as she watched the tip of the marker in Kang-hyuk’s hand.

He began drawing multiple lines across the abdomen.

Drawn all the way, it looked like the belly would be sliced to ribbons.

‘What is he planning…?’

Jang-mi tilted her head slightly, then looked up at Kang-hyuk’s face instead of his hand.

His expression was far more serious than hers.

‘The spot I was going to cut… won’t work.’

Kang-hyuk glanced down at his own hand.

He had excellent eyesight, but his other senses were beyond normal too.

Based on his touch, the area he had just marked was too firm.

A sign that the tissue beneath was badly inflamed.

‘Even if it’s further away… I’ll cut into a cleaner area.’

Ideally, he’d extend the original wound for the incision.

But that depended on the condition of that wound.

Right now, Captain Lee Hyun-jong’s abdomen—especially where the bullet was lodged—was already dead tissue.

Cutting into that would be far too risky.

“Alright. Scalpel.”

Having adjusted, organized, and finalized his plan, Kang-hyuk returned the marker and asked.

“Yes.”

Jang-mi was just about to hand him the scalpel when Jaewon returned from outside.

His hands were flushed red from the cold water.

“Get in here. We’re starting the incision.”

“Ah, yes!”

While Jaewon was putting on his gown and gloves, Kang-hyuk drew a long incision.

Thanks to the heavy antibiotics and excessive sterilization, this area was manageable.

‘The problem is over there.’

No matter how he looked at it, there was no saving that part of the abdominal wall.

The bullet had remained there far too long.

Though they had done everything possible.

At least in terms of ‘that’ wound, it was true.

“We’re going to have to remove that whole section. Slave, don’t assist just yet. Clean the right thigh.”

“Huh? Ah… Free flap…”

“Yeah. At least you catch on quickly now.”

“I’ve improved a lot, haven’t I?”

“Impressive that you say that yourself.”

“I’m just following your lead, Professor.”

“Came here ready to die?”

“N-no, please save me.”

As odd as it sounded in such a serious moment, they were now silent, each focusing on their tasks.

Zzzzt.

Kang-hyuk had already opened the abdominal wall and installed the [Iron intern].

(T/N: A retractor tool used to hold open the incision area by pulling tissue to the sides during surgery.)

As the [peritoneum] tore and gaped open, a rotten stench filled the room.

(T/N: A membrane lining the abdominal cavity and covering the abdominal organs.)

Part of it was the internal contents spilling out.

But mostly, it was because the bowel itself had decayed.

“Tch.”

Kang-hyuk had expected this, but seeing it firsthand left him visibly annoyed.

“Whew.”

Even Captain Lee Dong-joo and Internal Medicine Director Yoon Jae-ho, who had scrubbed in, looked just as disturbed.

A bowel that had turned pitch black?

Who could have imagined such a thing?

It was one of the worst scenarios a surgeon could face.

“Alright.”

But it wasn’t as bad as Kang-hyuk had feared.

Because of that, he was able to say something others might find unbelievable.

And act, instead of freezing in shock.

“Give me the [Harmonic Scalpel].”

(T/N: A surgical tool that uses ultrasonic vibrations to simultaneously cut and coagulate tissue with minimal heat damage.)

“Uh… Isn’t that not covered by insurance…?”

“Don’t talk crap. He’s a soldier. You didn’t know?”

“Ah, okay.”

At Kang-hyuk’s irritation, the rookie dashed off to grab the [Harmonic Scalpel].

Technically a single-use device, but the reimbursement didn’t even cover its cost.

Basically, they were being forced to sterilize and reuse it.

But despite that, Kang-hyuk demanded it.

Once used, you never wanted to use anything else—the legendary surgical tool.

Zzzzt.

Kang-hyuk used the [Harmonic Scalpel] to aggressively cut away every piece of visibly dead tissue.

This included portions of the small intestine and abdominal wall.

As if to confirm their death, no blood spilled from the cuts.

Even with the [Harmonic Scalpel], some bleeding was expected at this level.

But nothing came out.

“Done cleaning?”

Kang-hyuk, having cut off the external portions, turned to Jaewon.

This was the point he’d need him.

Fortunately, they had developed a good rhythm together.

“Yes.”

“Then get up here. We’re removing it all at once—including the bullet.”

“Ah… All at once?”

“Yeah. That’s the only way he lives.”

“But then…”

Jaewon stared at the disaster that was the patient’s abdominal cavity.

‘He’s just… going to cut through all that? Is he insane?’

He couldn’t even tell where anything was anymore.

As a surgeon, it was a bit embarrassing to admit.

But it was true.

“We have to cut. That’s how he survives.”

“U-uh… Where should I…?”

“Just watch how I do it. This can’t be explained in words.”

How could he explain what only he could see?

All he could do was show.

“Yes.”

Jaewon nodded, knowing this was one of those times Kang-hyuk taught through action.

Kang-hyuk, no longer concerned with teaching, focused solely on the surgical site.

Zzzzt.

With the sound of something frying, the rotten bowel began to sever piece by piece.

The intestine wasn’t just hanging in the air—it was attached to the [retroperitoneum] by a fatty membrane, so there were more cuts than expected.

(T/N: The space behind the peritoneum where organs like the kidneys and pancreas are located.)

“Whoa…”

As the cuts progressed, Jaewon’s jaw dropped lower and lower.

Eventually, even with a mask, you could tell from a distance.

And rightly so, considering what was happening.

“We might really… be able to save him.”

“You think he’s gonna die? He flew here on a plane with me, didn’t he?”