It was after several more exchanges of hands.
Taesu caught hold of the splenic pulp that was gushing blood.
“Got it.”
“Wait… Then here, right?”
“Good. Stop right there.”
Taesu halted Jeong Minsu and moved his hands swiftly.
In quick succession.
He sprayed on liquid hemostatic agent until it overflowed, suppressing the bleeding.
With no Bovie or suction, his touch grew rougher.
Fortunately, the bleeding began to lessen little by little.
There was no time to be pleased.
They had only managed to hold down the biggest problem.
“Phew.”
“Good grief, that was tough.”
Before they knew it, sweat was soaking Taesu’s and Jeong Minsu’s foreheads.
The treatment just now had been crucial.
If they had missed it, the situation could have turned into a major crisis.
Having prevented that, they could not help but let out a breath.
As they steadied their breathing a few times—
“Dr. Choi, if you’re done over there, let’s have a look over here too.”
Kim Hyeokgwon’s pained voice came.
He must have felt as if he were standing on thin ice.
Taesu could not leave him any longer either.
First, he briefly explained the next steps to Jeong Minsu, pretending to ask.
“You can shove in gauze and pack it now, right?”
“That much I can do.”
“Then finish it that way, and check if there are any other emergency surgery patients.”
“Again? No. What do I mean, again? We’d feel better doing it ourselves.”
Step, step.
Jeong Minsu mustered his strength again and began pushing gauze into the spleen.
His hands looked terribly exhausted.
Taesu knew it too, but he coldly turned away.
In truth, Taesu had no strength left to cheer him on either.
Too much had happened in just a few hours.
There was no physical reserve to hope for.
They were pushing through with sheer grit, stubbornness, and willpower.
He quickly changed his surgical gown and gloves once more.
Snap.
When Taesu arrived in front of Kim Hyeokgwon, a groan naturally escaped him.
“Phoo.”
“It isn’t easy going back and forth, is it?”
“I was prepared for it. But did you find the vessel?”
Taesu immediately asked about the progress.
Fatigue had settled in Kim Hyeokgwon’s eyes as well.
Putting himself aside, Kim Hyeokgwon pointed to the Mixter forceps he had placed.
“It’s near the beak of that Mixter.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
“It’s not even over yet, so don’t say things that make me go soft.”
“Then I’ll continue right away. Phew.”
Taesu drew in a deep breath and drew up his strength.
Then, as if the word exhaustion meant nothing, he moved both hands again.
Step, step-step.
Kim Hyeokgwon glanced sideways at him.
“I told you not to make me go soft, so why are you tensing up?”
“Needle holder.”
“Let me talk, will you?”
“Gauze and liquid hemostatic agent too. Spray saline once.”
Taesu’s orders followed at once.
Knowing how hard Taesu was pushing himself, Kim Hyeokgwon moved his hands with a bitter expression.
All effort leaves traces.
To that extent, the emergency surgery proceeded step by step.
And soon, the result came.
“Emergency surgery on the femur fracture patient is finished.”
“Current vitals…”
“Hyeokgwon. Add two blood packs and one glucose, then stand by.”
Taesu quickly gave the additional orders.
But Kim Hyeokgwon objected with surprising firmness.
“I’ll add the blood packs and glucose, but I can’t stand by.”
“What?”
“Someone behind you is withering away, Dr. Choi.”
Whip.
Taesu immediately turned around and saw sweat covering Jeong Minsu’s face.
He had thought Minsu would finish first, but he had not yet wrapped up.
It seemed his stamina had suddenly dropped.
One look at Jeong Minsu’s half-unfocused eyes made it certain.
As if aware of his own condition, Jeong Minsu urged Taesu on.
“Huff, huff. You bastard. Hurry, hurry and get over here.”
“Since when does a half-dried squid talk?”
“You, you bastard. Hoo.”
Jeong Minsu’s fingertips began to tremble slightly.
For an exhausted body, gauze packing was not such a simple emergency measure.
On top of that, he was doing it alone, so it was only natural that it would be overwhelming.
Taesu hurried his hands as he changed his surgical gown and gloves, calming him.
“I’m getting ready. Wait.”
“It’ll only take a moment.”
Rustle.
Kim Hyeokgwon, too, had already replaced his surgical supplies beside him.
Once they were prepared, Taesu and Kim Hyeokgwon approached at the same time.
Step.
The three gathered in one place again.
Taesu immediately asked Jeong Minsu, whose eyes had gone dull with fatigue.
“So where is it lacking?”
“I think the back of the spleen isn’t packed enough.”
“I’ll retract it. Hup.”
Press. Step.
Taesu quickly used a Deaver to widen the operative field.
It was a task requiring strength, so he had volunteered himself.
As if waiting for that, gauze poured down like snow.
At the same time, Kim Hyeokgwon’s calm voice came.
“We have more than enough gauze, so say as much as you need.”
“We’ll try first. Hup, hup.”
Slide. Slide.
Jeong Minsu’s exhausted hands began moving again.
With the burden reduced, his fingertips became more precise.
Perhaps because the three of them were together, they pushed through bit by bit despite the strain.
It was an emergency surgery where the medical staff’s stamina was more worrying than the patient’s emergency.
And a short while later.
All three took their hands off the operating table at the same time.
They had done it.
Even so, they had done it to the end.
“Aaaagh.”
“Hah, hah.”
“Oh, my back. There’s no strength in me.”
Groans flowed out endlessly.
By now, it was only natural for their hands and feet to tremble.
Even their vision shimmered before their eyes.
That was how far they had reached their physical limits.
Still, what had to be done had to be done.
“You’ve worked hard. Greetings.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Nod.
Unable to bend at the waist, they replaced the bow with only a nod of the head.
Then Taesu immediately picked up the radio.
Tremble.
The radio danced in his shaking hand.
Taesu pressed the radio button with both hands and called Brad Kim.
Beep.
“Brad. Both emergency surgeries here are finished.”
—Really? That’s a relief.
“Yes, they wrapped up incredibly fortunately.”
—You worked hard. And we’ve just found emergency patients.
For a moment, Taesu stared blankly at the radio.
‘Is this guy joking?’
If they had not been truly close, he might have cursed.
It was not only Taesu.
Kim Hyeokgwon’s and Jeong Minsu’s eyes were shaking violently.
But that absurdity lasted only a moment.
If there were patients, they could not turn away.
Forcing himself to press the button with both hands again, he asked.
“There are more?”
—More? Did you just say more?
“Phew. What are the patients’ conditions?”
Taesu forced the question out with a long exhale.
His thought was to at least hear it first.
But Brad Kim’s voice delivered despairing news.
—There are three in total.
“This time there are three?”
—I’d like to rotate you out, but all three have problems in the chest.
The moment he heard that, Taesu felt dizzy.
Three emergency patients related to the chest.
Among the medical staff currently here, only Taesu and Jeong Minsu specialized in that field.
As if fate were playing a trick, they could not step back.
Taesu’s gaze reflexively went to Jeong Minsu.
“Hoo, hoo.”
He was gripping the operating table with both hands, breathing hard.
That Jeong Minsu nodded heavily.
Next, Taesu looked at Kim Hyeokgwon.
“%#$%#$%.”
He was muttering something in Hindi.
From the intonation, it did not sound like anything particularly pleasant.
Then Kim Hyeokgwon tossed out one blunt sentence in Korean.
“We can talk later. Tell them to send the patients first.”
He looked as if he would properly hold a grudge afterward.
Even so, Taesu was grateful that he had not thrown up his hands.
Having received everyone’s permission, Taesu pressed the radio and replied.
“Please send in the emergency patients.”
—Can you handle them all at once?
“What else can we do? We’ll check their vitals and somehow hold out.”
—All right. I’ll send them now.
Brad Kim’s voice was terribly dark.
He must have been exhausted too.
It was obvious the other medical staff were all worn out as well.
Swoosh.
Taesu looked at the table clock lying face down.
‘That was the right move.’
They said there were times when ignorance was bliss, and this was clearly one of them.
Soon, Squad Leader Sam and the squad members entered.
Their attire had become lighter.
For the PKO troops to have removed their individual gear and put down their guns was no ordinary matter.
Putting himself aside, Taesu asked Squad Leader Sam.
“Sam, are you all right?”
“I’m sorry, but let’s talk later.”
“Understood.”
Taesu had no choice but to follow his intent to push the conversation aside.
A short while later.
The number of operating tables increased to three.
They were arranged in a triangle, leaving the center empty. The patients had not arrived yet, so the operating tables were completely empty.
Taesu was dumbfounded by the sight unfolding before him.
“This is really happening.”
Even now, it felt so unreal that he did not want to believe it.
Just then—
Flop.
The screen was pulled aside, and Brad Kim entered.
After quickly checking the preparations, he shouted outside in English.
“It’s all ready.”
Then he lifted the screen high.
At the same time, people in white gowns entered one after another.
Seeing the person approaching at the front among them, Taesu was startled.
“Dr. Jonathan?”
“They’re emergency patients. We need to hurry.”
“What? Ah, yes.”
Taesu shook off his surprise and tensed.
In the meantime, Dr. Jonathan approached and grabbed Taesu by the shoulder.
“Now hurry and lie down.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m looking at emergency patients, aren’t I?”
“Who? Us?”
When Taesu pointed at himself, Dr. Jonathan smiled brightly.
“Still not getting it?”
“Dr. Jonathan… Why are you here—no, has the main unit arrived?”
“Of course it has.”
Dr. Jonathan smiled with a wink.
He was as mischievous as his boyish face suggested.
Only after being reminded of that personality did Taesu understand the situation.
“Huh? Ah. Then what about the emergency patients?”
“They went into surgery as soon as the operating rooms were set up.”
“Then is our work over?”
Taesu asked hurriedly, as if he wanted a definite answer.
At that moment, a deep voice came from the entrance.
“Yes. It’s over now, so you can relax.”
It was a warm voice that seemed to soothe his pounding heart.
Whip.
Taesu’s and the other two’s gazes all turned that way at once.
As expected, James was standing there.
Behind him, Dr. Schmidt and Dr. Wallik flanked him like wings on either side.
The instant Taesu took them all in at a glance—
A deep breath burst out of him without his realizing it, and his legs gave way.
“Haa…”
Thud.
He sank down right where he stood.
But he was not the only one.
“Huh?”
“Ah.”
Thud, thud.
With startled sounds, Jeong Minsu and Kim Hyeokgwon also collapsed.
The words that they could relax had been decisive.
Perhaps because their taut nerves had suddenly loosened, all of them wore blank expressions.