Chapter 53: Let Me Be the Surgeon? I'm Just an Intern (4000 words)
Seeing House blocking the way between him and David, Robert frowned.
"Please move aside. I'm not looking for you."
House didn't show any intention of backing down and said with a forced smile:
"I think any personal matters can wait until after the surgery. It's not good to keep the patient waiting, is it?"
Robert sneered, appearing quite indifferent.
This wasn't a surgery for the High Table's leadership, so he didn't need to risk his life. He didn't need to rush at all.
"Will the patient code in just a few minutes?
Then perhaps you shouldn't have called me—you should have called the morgue directly..."
"Robert."
Suddenly, David spoke up, interrupting Robert's sarcasm.
Hearing David's voice, Robert's face immediately broke into a smile:
"Hey, kid, what a coincidence. I haven't properly thanked you for last time."
Hearing this, Nolan, who was standing behind Robert, gave a wry smile. This Robert was just as sarcastic as House.
This 'thank you' probably had a double meaning—dripping with sarcasm.
Unexpectedly, David said as if it were perfectly natural:
"If you want to thank me, you can use this surgery to settle the debt."
As soon as these words came out, the expressions of everyone around them became priceless.
Nolan's eyes widened even more as he stared at David.
Even if David was a trust fund kid, this wasn't how you played it.
Someone was being sarcastic and mocking you, and you actually just took it at face value?
Could it be that this David Wells really couldn't detect sarcasm?
Thinking of how David had directly called him out in front of everyone not long ago.
Nolan couldn't help but wonder if David's emotional intelligence was extremely low—so low that he couldn't understand sarcasm at all.
This made Nolan sigh, and he felt fortunate that his own emotional intelligence was high enough to understand House's sarcasm, so he didn't insist on discharging the patient directly.
It seemed that this was probably the difference in social awareness.
If he were David, he would either endure the sarcasm in silence or throw money at Robert until he shut up!
Of course, Nolan was extremely inclined toward the latter, as that would be satisfying.
While Nolan was lost in his thoughts, House also had a look of confusion on his face.
He didn't have Nolan's preconceived notions.
What puzzled him was that the two sounded extremely familiar, not at all like there was any conflict.
But David's résumé didn't include any experience as an intern at other hospitals, so how did he know Robert Romano?
Could it be that David had come into contact with Romano during those shady side jobs?
Before everyone could think for too long, Robert, who was notoriously mercenary, uncharacteristically nodded and agreed:
"Okay. I won't charge for this surgery.
But you must scrub in as my first assist and oversee my work, how about that?"
Nolan, who was beside him and whose eyes had just returned to normal, widened them again.
He felt that he had never been so shocked in his life as he was today.
What was going on?
Robert Romano had agreed to perform free surgery for the first time in forever?
And at David's request?
What kind of incredible connections did this David Wells have to make Romano, who was known for being money-obsessed, waive the surgical fee?
And to have Romano personally appoint him to be the critically important first assist?
And even say words like 'oversee my work', which clearly didn't fit the usual hierarchy?
One had to know that David was just a pure newcomer who had only graduated and started his internship recently!
This was simply absurd to the extreme!
It turned out that Robert's conversation just now didn't contain any sarcasm at all—it was just expressing genuine gratitude!
Then why did Robert pretend to be angry earlier?!
Nolan said that he really didn't understand, absolutely didn't understand.
Compared to Nolan, who was already numb with shock, House was much calmer.
After deducing the possibility that the two had worked together before, it was now normal for Robert to invite David to be the first assist.
After all, David had personally mentioned that he had performed many surgeries in combat zones.
It was also normal for Robert to know David's abilities.
However, House also couldn't understand why Robert would waive the surgical fee.
Robert Romano, who always acted for profit, was actually willing to provide free treatment?
And even let David oversee the tumor resection for him?
Which of the two was the top surgeon in the field?
Did this David Wells really have such great influence and ability?
House looked at David behind him with some suspicion, feeling that David was still hiding something significant from him.
David didn't plan to explain this matter. Robert's arrival was originally an unexpected development.
He also didn't know that the top surgeon at the Continental Hotel had such a renowned identity in the mainstream medical world.
It was no wonder that Viggo had specifically requested him to be the lead surgeon back then.
So, his reputation was well-deserved.
However, Robert was indeed aging and no longer at his peak. His stamina was on a continuous decline with age.
But even so, this Robert still had to come out to make money, which showed how massive the financial hole he needed to fill was.
According to David's experience, Robert or his family must have been involved in gambling, drugs, or prostitution.
Only these three things would cause someone to fall into such bottomless debt.
But this had little to do with David.
For him, as long as someone was addicted to any of these three, that person was not worth saving.
The time spent pulling an addict out of the abyss could have been used to save more people.
Soon, at David's urging, Robert went to the OR as requested to prepare for the surgery.
With David, he didn't need to put on any pretense. He just acted naturally.
After all, he felt that both sides knew each other well, and David had already seen his most helpless and desperate moments.
He also knew what David was capable of.
How could someone who could face High Table bosses without flinching just be a simple intern?
Needless to say, David's willingness to be an intern here must be part of some larger plan!
After entering the operating room, Robert walked over to David and whispered:
"Kid, don't worry. At my request, this surgery isn't being observed. The second assist, scrub nurse, and surgical tech are all people I brought, and they're absolutely discreet.
Why don't you take the lead? I won't embarrass myself."
David raised an eyebrow. Did this Robert Romano really think he was a surgical prodigy?
He knew that he could only perfectly replicate cases he had witnessed, because his hands were very steady, and he could even enhance his physical abilities at critical moments to increase precision.
But the matter of removing a hepatic tumor wasn't led by House's team previously, so he had to observe and learn first.
This was also the truth behind his request to scrub in and observe.
David thought for a moment and said calmly:
"I'm just an intern. My job is to hand over surgical instruments."
Robert instantly understood David's meaning. It seemed that David didn't want to do the work of an attending physician for intern wages.
So Robert immediately followed David's lead and said:
"Alright, I'll be the lead surgeon. If there's anything I should do differently, I'll have to trouble you to point it out."
David nodded noncommittally.
In fact, the surgery went very smoothly.
Facing a tumor that wasn't difficult to separate, just growing on the liver, Robert was not fazed at all.
With his refined laser ablation technique, the surgery was very successful.
He successfully removed the tumor while preserving the maximum amount of the patient's liver. Subsequent treatment would only require regular chemotherapy.
And David also successfully received the life extension notification, and his whole body felt lighter.
[Successfully saved a life, life extended by one day. Current remaining time: 15 days 01 hours.]
After finishing the surgery, Robert tossed the sterile surgical gown into the biohazard bin and said to David with a smile:
"How was it? I did well this time, right? This is actually my normal level.
Last time, the pressure was too intense, which almost led to a catastrophic error."
David smiled:
"Of course. Your skill is beyond question—otherwise Viggo wouldn't have specifically requested you to be the lead surgeon back then.
However, I suggest that if you have the opportunity, you should leave the Continental Hotel as soon as possible."
Hearing the suggestion, Robert immediately gave a bitter smile:
"Do you think I don't want to?
My son was lured by those call girls at the Russian mob's place and got into underground poker. He gambled until he lost his mind and racked up a massive debt of 30 million dollars.
They gave him two options.
Either he'd be shipped off to Southeast Asia to work in a sweatshop as essentially a slave for life, or I would work for the High Table, and all my earnings would go to the Tarasov organization.
After all, I only have this one son, so I could only sell myself to the High Table.
But who would have thought that just when the debt was about to be paid off, this ungrateful son of mine, out of spite, went and found another high-stakes game!
Now, the debt hasn't decreased but has increased to 50 million dollars!
This old body of mine is probably going to spend the rest of its days serving the High Table."
Facing David, who had saved his life, Robert recounted the whole story of why he was so obsessed with money.
David didn't expect that Robert's involvement with the High Table was actually forced.
It sounded like Robert's recruitment was more like a result of the High Table's Russian faction's deliberate manipulation.
For the High Table, a top surgeon like Robert could clearly greatly reduce the mortality rate of important figures.
Perhaps this was the real reason for luring Robert's son into gambling.
Facing Robert, who was pouring out his grievances, David did not reveal his plan.
He just offered comfort:
"Trust me, as long as you're alive, everything will get better.
Only when you're dead—that's truly the end of everything, and nothing can be changed."
Robert smiled helplessly:
"I appreciate the optimism. I only hope now that my son, who swore on his mother's grave, will stop gambling.
That's my last wish."
Looking at Robert's no longer straight posture, David clearly understood that the source of this evil lay with the High Table hidden in the shadows.
As long as the High Table didn't fall, tragedies worse than Robert's would continue to happen.
This also meant that David's previous reasoning was correct.
Overthrowing the High Table could save many, many innocent people.
Then, as long as the High Table fell, immortality seemed to be within reach.
Thinking of this, David directly took out his phone and contacted Finch.
And learned from Finch that McCall had already reached out and obtained the address of the Russian mob's nightclub from Finch.
It seemed that McCall wanted to have a 'conversation' with them.
David thought for a moment and asked Reese to acquire a batch of usable firearms and wait for his signal before taking action.
After hanging up the phone, David glanced at the clock on the wall—3:55 PM, five minutes before end of shift.
He simply didn't return to the diagnostics department office and directly hid in the frequently used supply closet.
He first called the High Table's dedicated training facility and reserved the private range, at a cost of 1 gold coin per hour.
Then he ordered two custom Italian suits from a tailor, one for day and one for evening wear. The lining was made of silicon carbide and ceramic composite materials, which could effectively stop 7.62mm rounds, at a cost of 1 gold coin per suit.
Remaining gold coins: 9
Then David walked out of the supply closet with a normal expression, clocked out, and arranged to meet Reese at the training facility.
As for Finch, he naturally stayed at the library as logistical support.
...
David first went to the tailor shop that was openly located in the bustling downtown area to pick up his custom-made suits, and then walked into an Italian restaurant also located downtown. After ordering at the host stand,
A waiter immediately came over to confirm David's identity and led him into the underground firing range equipped with soundproofing.
After payment, theoretically, no one would disturb him for an hour except for the people on David's guest list.
Soon, Reese, who had somehow acquired a large duffel bag of firearms, arrived following David's instructions.
Reese was full of curiosity about everything here.
He never expected that there was such a fully equipped training facility underground beneath what appeared to be an ordinary Italian restaurant.
Although this private range was compact, it had everything necessary.
Ambient noise simulation, obstacle courses, lighting adjustment, moving humanoid targets, accuracy analysis, firearm performance data, and so on—everything was available.
David took the heavy weapons bag from Reese's hand, casually pulled out a formidable-looking pistol from it, released the safety, and aimed at the moving humanoid target's head and fired a shot.
Bang!
The strong recoil directly caused the muzzle to kick upward.
The loud report echoed in the enclosed space, making David's ears ring slightly.
As for the targeted humanoid silhouette, it continued moving left and right relentlessly, as if mocking David's overconfidence.
And a deformed bullet was embedded in the ballistic steel plate above its head.
Seeing this scene, Reese immediately recognized that David was a complete novice with firearms.
He chuckled and instructed:
"As a beginner, I suggest you don't choose impractical hand cannons like the Desert Eagle.
No one would choose it as a sidearm in actual operations.
Remember, firearms with simple mechanisms and lightweight frames are most suitable for beginners.
For example, this Glock 17 is the most suitable firearm for quickly getting started.
Also, I suggest that when beginners first practice, they should wear hearing protection and practice shooting at stationary targets.
If you haven't even learned to walk, and you start trying to run, you'll just keep falling."
David deeply agreed with Reese's suggestion.
He humbly accepted the advice and then enhanced his cognitive processing.
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