"Sigh."
Fortunately, none of the people we examined needed to be amputated immediately.
It seems that, regardless of who performed the surgery, they were quite careful.
They had to be.
Gangsters...
Their physical superiority aside, what makes them scary is that they don't abide by societal norms or laws.
Even in 19th-century England, if you mess with people recklessly, you'll get punished, but gangsters have the mindset to mess with people even if they'll be punished.
Their way of thinking is simply different from ours, that's what it is.
'The police... actually, the police are scarier.'
While checking the vital area of the last officer, I was able to organize the thoughts I've had for a while.
The idea is that the police during this period are more formidable than gangsters, and it's absolutely true.
Both gangsters and the police think, "Why should I pay?" and live with that mentality.
The difference is that they act based on the atmosphere and the person they're dealing with...
'Wait, no? They can't do that with us.'
Gangsters also act based on the atmosphere and the person they're dealing with, so it's reasonable to say that the only difference is whether they're wearing a uniform or not.
"Shall we go now?"
"But it seems these folks need to rest."
"No... why didn't you just come to our hospital and have it done, seriously."
At Liston's words, the people I just treated lowered their heads as if they had made a promise beforehand.
Even if gangs and the police get along well, this level of unity is a bit strange.
"Ah... now that I think about it, the scars these people have are all the same."
"Did you find traces of circumcision?"
"If they're doctors of that level, it's possible."
"Hmm."
For some reason, there's a hint of suspicion about witchcraft on Liston's face.
It's unfair, but since this isn't a new issue, it's hard to say anything.
"Don't mess with T.P. Young."
This is also because such talk has been circulating not just from Liston but all around.
At first, I wondered why they were like this, but even I think the timing of the incident when I was knighted was strangely coincidental.
The guy who was badmouthing me happened to lock eyes with me while cursing and immediately collapsed, didn't he?
And I was the one who saved him.
The latter is, of course, to be expected.
Who else in this era would be able to perform CPR other than me?
'Proper CPR didn't emerge until the mid-20th century.'
In the 21st century, CPR is something even taught during reserve army training, so it might be perceived as not that big a deal...
Working in trauma surgery naturally leads to in-depth learning about CPR.
Being so busy, I skimmed over the history, but chest compressions were really... only attempted recently.
In myths, there are descriptions of breathing life into creations, and even in Snow White or Sleeping Beauty, the kiss could be interpreted as a form of artificial respiration, so humanity has recognized it since ancient times...
But understanding what the heart does is quite recent, right?
"Why did everyone get this done at the same time?"
So the idea of externally compressing the heart to act as a pump...
At this point in time, it's almost like something a devil or god would think of.
Right, this is all my karma.
"Well... they said if I get it done here, my virility will improve."
Sigh...
This damn virility.
It really makes me angry.
"Do you think it won't work if it's done by me or Liston hyung-nim?"
No, I wasn't angry at this point, but talking made it come out this way.
"No, that's not what I meant!"
Anyway, since it's rare to see me lose my temper, and for the reasons mentioned earlier, the other person was immediately intimidated.
They should be scared.
After all, I'm someone who cuts flesh.
Coincidentally, everyone who had a bad encounter with me ended up like that.
This feels like the final chapter of that.
"Where's that?"
"Huh? Are you going to kill me?"
"No, why would I kill you? I just need to stop you from performing surgery."
"Huh? Did we do something wrong?"
"It's not properly sterilized... and you didn't even put on a cup. You said it hurts if they don't drink alcohol. Don't you feel it?"
"Huh? It doesn't really hurt at this point."
"Ugh."
The pain sensitivity of 19th-century folks feels quite different from that of 21st-century people.
For these gentlemen, it seems they only feel pain when it's so severe it feels like they're dying.
While I was sighing at this renewed realization of the difference, Liston approached and whispered.
'If killing them is a bit much, should we cut off their arm or something?'
'Huh? No, why would you do that?'
'No?'
'That's not necessary... just stop them from doing it.'
'Do you think they'll stop just because we tell them to?'
'Ah.'
At first, I thought this guy might have been holding back on cutting limbs lately, but hearing it, it makes sense.
Damn.
Right.
These aren't the kind of people who'll stop just because we tell them to.
Even Harry the Butcher ran away and castrated the duke.
Come to think of it, even the chef in charge of our anatomy lab kept cooking despite people dying because he was so insensitive.
"Let's lock them up."
"Where...?"
"Whether it's here or somewhere else, there's plenty of space."
"If we're going to lock them up for life, wouldn't it be better to just kill them?"
"If we teach them step by step, they'll improve."
"Haha."
Liston seemed amazed by my words, then shrugged his shoulders.
It definitely looks like he's going to lock them up for now and cut them when he gets a chance.
But it's not just Liston hyung-nim who can do something in secret.
I have my own methods, that's what I'm saying.
I have plans anyway...
And placing them there would be much better than having them cutting people's privates here.
"Alright, let's go."
"Yes!"
With our respective plans and thoughts, we headed out into the streets.
The gangs and the police were now roaming the streets.
"Hey hey, don't make eye contact."
"The Sword Saint..."
"And next to him is the Physician..."
"Hey, you want to die? Why are you staring like that!"
Even among those with one shoulder and one face, Liston and I stood out clearly.
It's a bit melancholic, but not a bad feeling.
Someone being afraid of me...
Hehe.
I couldn't do that in my past life.
Even if I had been a professor for a long time, it wouldn't have been the same.
Physically intimidating someone was absolutely impossible back then.
Actually, it's still somewhat similar now, but life is truly unpredictable, and somehow things turned out this way.
"We're here."
"Hello, could you open the door?"
Crash.
I didn't expect them to be this scared.
No, what's with breaking the window and running away just at the mention of my name?
"I expected this."
"Of course, when the Physician steps forward, it's only natural to be scared."
But it seems I was the only one who didn't anticipate this.
Our wise police officers and gang members were already stationed near the windows, not the doors.
What happened?
"Ahh! Save me! Please save me!"
They were caught immediately.
And they're twisting their bodies while begging for their lives.
"Hey, we're not here to kill you."
"Ugh. Ugh."
"No, this is insane."
They're not the kind of people to let go just because you squirm.
On the contrary, the more you squirm, the more fiercely they hold on.
In the process, the abdominal pressure must have risen too much, and they fainted from exhaustion.
Once again, the timing was insane.
Why do they faint and cause a scene the moment I speak?
"No, Pyeong. Did you mean we don't need to kill them with a knife?"
"No, no. Hey! Snap out of it!"
Following the manual, I tapped their shoulder, but there was still no response.
It's not just fainting, they're really...
'No, are you really using witchcraft?'
Checking the pulse, I couldn't feel it.
Well...
Since it's not done with a blood pressure monitor but manually, there's no way to know if the heart has really stopped.
But the guideline itself has been changed to skip the pulse check and go straight to chest compressions if there's absolutely no response.
"Take off their clothes first!"
"Wow... these aren't even expensive clothes!"
So what can you do?
We have to save them first.
But the reaction is strange.
"No, damn it. Expose the body!"
"Is this a posthumous execution?"
It's not just the police or the gangsters; Liston is like this too.
I don't know where or through what means he's studying Joseon, but he even knows about posthumous executions.
'Amazing... No, wait. This isn't the time to be impressed.'
Someone's dying!
CPR has a 90% success rate if performed within the first minute of collapse, but that rate drops drastically after just a few minutes.
When I think about it, this guy is a terrible butcher, so he deserves to die, but...
No, we still have to save him.
Kill him when it's time to kill him?
"You've done this before!"
"Ah, that's it."
"Yes, that's it!"
"Joseon witchcraft?"
"No!"
"Anyway, got it. Huff!"
When Liston grabbed the person's clothes from both sides and yanked, even though it was cheap clothing, it tore like paper.
"Oh my."
"Goodness."
"Are we really doing this? Usually..."
Seeing this, the others started chattering.
Watching this, I thought I should give a CPR lecture sometime soon.
It's unfair.
I'm trying to save someone.
No, that's not it; if it's just me without Liston, someone has to help.
Now?
Not now.
Thump thump.
Liston is... not human.
Chest compressions are really not an easy task, you know?
It's not just an assumption; I've done it myself.
Not just me, but even my friends with robust physiques sweat buckets and collapse after just one round.
But...
"How much longer should I do it?"
Look at Liston, this guy.
Thump thump.
He's not just pressing casually.
Like a machine, he's pressing exactly 5 cm deep.
From the sound of ribs cracking, it's not just an appearance but he's really pressing that hard.
Despite that, he's able to speak as if it's nothing...
Ugh.
"About 30 more times."
"Good. So it's different for everyone?"
"Ah... right. You do it until they come back to life."
"Aha..."
"You seem to think of it as something mystical... but it's not."
"Right, it must be something medical."
"No, not 'must be,' I've told you before."
"Huh? Did you?"
It's frustrating.
But since he's pressing properly, I should just endure it, right?
Actually, just the fact that it's Liston makes me have to endure it.
"Hey, stop now."
"Okay."
"Hmm."
"How is it?"
Moreover, now's not the time to argue.
Someone died and is coming back to life, you know?
Well...
Even if you perform CPR correctly and on time, it doesn't always bring someone back.
If it did, we'd have immortality.
But since this person is young, they'll probably...
"Hmm."
"What?"
"He's alive."
"Wow... so this was real."
He's alive.
He's alive, but...
"Gasp."
"Phew."
Since everyone's avoiding eye contact, the mood isn't great.