Upon hearing Ha Saebyeok’s words, Kim Cheolsu was greatly surprised.
He never imagined the relationship could be like that.
These days, Hyundo Group was struggling quite a bit, but it was still the number one company in the business world.
And yet, Ha Saebyeok claimed to be the chairman’s illegitimate child…
“Is that true? So that’s why you brought me to see the chairman.”
“Yes. To be honest, we weren’t really in contact with each other. But still, he’s my father. I couldn’t just leave him to die. Please, Doctor. I beg you. Operate on my father.”
“Hmm…”
Kim Cheolsu’s mind grew heavy with concern.
It wasn’t just that he disliked chaebols; he simply couldn’t leave a patient with pancreatic head cancer untreated.
If left alone, he would die.
After pondering a little longer, he answered cautiously.
“First, let’s go to Y University Hospital and meet the doctors who have been treating the chairman so far. I want to review the MRI scans and medical records.”
“Thank you! Thank you so much, Doctor… I will never forget this kindness. I will definitely repay you someday. You’ve saved my life, and now I owe you this much more…”
“I haven’t said for sure that I’ll perform the surgery yet. But… you can’t just abandon a patient with pancreatic head cancer like that. The pancreas is an extremely important organ, after all.”
After finishing their meal, Kim Cheolsu woke Oh Hajin.
He got into the military jeep driven by Oh Hajin, and they left the hotel.
“Ah! It’s Colonel Kim Cheolsu! Quick, take a picture!!”
“Colonel Kim Cheolsu! I’m Ryu Jonghan from SBC. Please, just one interview. The public is very curious. How did you foresee the accident beforehand?
I heard the military police were waiting at the accident site in advance, and it seems it was at Colonel Kim’s request… What exactly happened?!”
Everyone was quite eager to know.
Eventually, with little choice, Kim Cheolsu rolled down the passenger window.
“I heard the forecast predicted heavy rain, so I prepared accordingly. I’m just glad there weren’t more casualties.”
At that moment, the man who had introduced himself as Reporter Ryu jumped forward and fired questions.
“Thank you for your answer. Accidents often occur due to careless responses, but this time you really pulled off something great. According to experiments by the National Science Research Institute, if it had rained as heavily as yesterday, even more people could have been harmed. So, Colonel Kim Cheolsu, the nation thanks you for saving so many lives. I thank you as well.”
“… Ah… yes.”
Kim Cheolsu responded with a somewhat reluctant expression. It was just his duty, yet being praised so much made him uncomfortable.
Reporter Ryu then asked,
“There’s also a rumor that you performed emergency surgery on a pregnant woman last night to save the fetus. Is that true?”
“Yes. I operated on a mother who suffered a tragic accident that day.”
“Impressive! Hearing that you saved a fetus from a mother on the brink of death warmed my heart. Colonel Kim Cheolsu, you’re truly amazing!”
“Well, I think I’ve answered enough for now, haven’t I?”
“Of course. Thank you so much!!”
“Wait a moment. Please give us an interview too. We’re from MBS. Colonel Kim Cheolsu!!”
“I’ve also received reports that Colonel Kim operated on a gallbladder cancer patient at a military hospital and saved them. Is that true? Please answer just once!”
“Vrooom!!”
Pushing through the noisy reporters, the jeep sped forward.
Kim Cheolsu looked a little tired.
Oh Hajin said in surprise,
“Wow—people really recognize a genius doctor. I only operated with you once and realized it. Colonel, you truly are an extraordinary genius! Looks like everyone else has noticed too.”
“… Captain Oh, I want to live quietly.”
“Ha! I understand how you feel, but… isn’t that the fate of a genius? When people discover a genius’s talent, followers appear. Also… some get jealous and resentful. But I believe you can overcome all of that.”
“Those words are comforting. Let’s get to Y University quickly.”
“Yes! Understood.”
Upon arriving at Y University, Kim Cheolsu and his group immediately headed up to the General Surgery Department.
But the stares around them were sharp.
So this was a hostile atmosphere after all?
Just then, a nurse appeared and said,
“The chief of general surgery is waiting for you. This way, please…”
Following her, they entered the chief’s office.
No one was inside yet.
The view befitted Korea’s top hospital.
From the spacious chief’s office, Sinchon Station could be seen at a glance.
Oh Hajin looked tense, while Kim Cheolsu stood by the window calmly admiring the scenery.
Click
At that moment, the chief of general surgery entered.
He wore a sly expression and said,
“Do you like the view?”
“Well, not really.”
“Ha ha — what a joke. This hospital is located in one of the most expensive areas in Seoul. If you don’t like the view from here, you must have very high standards. Or perhaps you’ve been tainted by the rural backwater of Hampyeong.”
His tone was harsh from the start. Anyone could tell he was trying to provoke.
Kim Cheolsu didn’t let himself be drawn in. Instead, he requested the documents immediately.
“Enough with the pointless talk. I want to see the chairman’s medical records and MRI.”
“I was informed by Hyundo Group in advance. Feel free to review the documents. Here they are.”
The chief handed over the file, and Kim Cheolsu slowly read it.
A patient with cancer in the head of the pancreas.
The condition was so severe that even bile flow was blocked, causing jaundice.
Kim Cheolsu’s expression darkened as he read carefully.
Even as a specialist in hepatobiliary pancreatic surgery, he couldn’t guarantee success.
He finally understood why the Y University doctors refused to operate.
Noticing his expression, the chief sneered.
“So? Can you perform the surgery? This difficult operation? If it goes wrong, you could be forever branded as the one who killed the chairman who leads Korea’s economy. If that’s the case, you must be very confident.”
“You’re absolutely refusing to operate? If you don’t, the patient will die.”
“It can’t be helped. Doctors aren’t gods. And considering the aftermath and medical lawsuits, such a reckless operation is impossible. If the chairman dies, how would we cover the astronomical compensation? We’re mere doctors. We can’t perform surgeries that cause economic damage. After all, the goal is for everyone to make money and live well. Honestly, I recently bought another apartment in Gangnam, so I can’t afford such risky surgery.”
“What kind of…”
Kim Cheolsu asked, and the chief whispered conspiratorially,
“Honestly, not doing this surgery is how you make money. So you should give up early and avoid losses. I’m telling you this because I’m a nice guy. Isn’t that right? Ha ha ha!”
Kim Cheolsu’s expression twisted at the shameless laughter.
“Y University’s standards are pathetic. With that mindset, how can you call yourself a doctor?”
“What did you say? Are you crazy? Who do you think you are?! This is Y University Hospital! And you, some military doctor, have the audacity to spout nonsense? Take back what you said right now! If you don’t, I’ll file a formal complaint!!”
The chief of general surgery flew into a rage.
His arrogance and elitism were overflowing.
Kim Cheolsu had now figured out what kind of person he was dealing with.
“Hey, you worthless bastard. Why did you even get a medical license if you just make patients suffer? Don’t you know what a doctor’s job is? If you like money so much, you should have chosen a different career. You’re not supposed to be a lifesaving doctor. Got it?”
“Wha… What?! You done talking? How dare some lowly military doctor say that to the chief of general surgery at Y University?! Do you want to be blacklisted in the medical community? I won’t forgive this insult today!”
“You’re truly despicable. Always threatening and full of spite. Come on, try to do whatever you want.”
The chief’s face darkened as Kim Cheolsu hit him with exact facts.
Honestly, everything Kim Cheolsu said was true. Yet no one had ever spoken to such a medical power player like this before.
That made him even angrier.
He sneered,
“So you’re saying you can operate on the chairman? That you’ll do it regardless of money? That you’ll take the risk of huge compensation?”
“…”
Kim Cheolsu remained silent, considering carefully.
That only encouraged the chief more.
“See? You can’t even do it yourself, yet you’re making a fuss. Why don’t you try performing the surgery with your so-called professionalism? If you can’t, then shut up. Got it?”
Kim Cheolsu paid no mind to his rant and read the patient’s medical chart from start to finish once again.
At that, the chief shouted angrily,
“Are you ignoring me? Why no answer? Can you operate? This difficult surgery that even Y University gave up on—can you really handle it? If you fail, you’ll be kicked out of the military medical corps, lose everything. There’s no place in Korea that Hyundo Group’s influence doesn’t reach. No doctor would dare take such a risk. Even someone arrogant like you couldn’t pull it off…”
Bang!
At that moment, Kim Cheolsu slammed the chart down on the table.
He already had a rough idea of the patient’s condition, but reading the full medical record was different.
He could see how long the illness had lasted and what treatments had been tried.
The patient had undergone three months of chemotherapy at Y University, but it had no significant effect.
That left only one option: surgery.
But this surgery required exceptional skill.
Like a master conductor leading a world-class orchestra…
Unless the doctor was a genius with artistic and swift hands, success was impossible.
It was an extremely difficult operation, with a postoperative complication rate exceeding 40%.
If the surgery wasn’t flawless, the patient would inevitably die.
That was why even Y University’s top doctors avoided it.
But… after careful consideration, Kim Cheolsu finally made his decision.
“I will perform this surgery. I will carry out a pancreaticoduodenectomy—removing the cancerous head of the pancreas along with part of the duodenum—and save the patient!”
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