A complicated surgical procedure? A lack of personnel to perform the surgery? Perhaps it is to remove a tumor? If so, why not do all of this in a hospital and complicate life this way?
Elion could only find one answer: the person seeking medical attention at this hospital wants to remain safe during moments of vulnerability.
Immediately, countless thoughts passed through Elion's mind in just a few seconds.
Even if his knowledge and sense of danger were sharp, his mouth spoke faster than he could process the risks.
"I can do it."
Charon stared at him for a long moment, and only after seeing that Elion showed no hesitation did she hand him a note with a room number.
"This surgery is very important. Don't ruin it, or you could get yourself into serious trouble."
Elion took the note and looked at what was written on it.
Room 8809, top floor, exclusive room for members of the High Table.
It seems that the person undergoing surgery this time is a very important individual.
Seeing the change in Elion's eyes, Charon kindly reminded him, "Everything can change before you enter that room, remember that as a kind gesture from us. But once you are in that room, the surgery has only one path forward: success. Do you understand that?"
Elion thought about it and realized that the surgery to be performed here was riskier and had a greater chance of failure than other surgical procedures.
"What kind of surgery?"
"They will remove a tumor."
"Cancer?"
"Yes."
It is not wise to gamble with the life of a cancer patient without knowing anything about them.
"May I see the patient's CT scan images before making a decision?"
Charon nodded when she saw that Elion was not taking this arrogantly and said, "Follow me."
She then led Elion to a secret room on the first floor, where they verified his fingerprints and iris scans before turning on a computer and retrieving the patient's CT scan images.
The abdominal CT images were analyzed using pseudocolor to differentiate tumors. Therefore, under the color display, a large red tumor adjacent to the abdominal aorta and the left kidney could be clearly seen.
Indeed, according to Elion's experience in the field, this seemed frightening.
As expected, surgery was required to remove the tumor. Elion stared at the scene, deeply thoughtful, and once again felt a sense of déjà vu.
Charon immediately misinterpreted the frown on Elion's face. She turned off the color monitor, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "You're still young, you have plenty of time to earn gold coins. There's no need to take on every job that comes your way."
"It's necessary to understand that in our line of work there are many things that carry fatal risks. Well, today you can go to a bar, have a drink, and call some friends. Get some good rest…"
Charon was interrupted by Elion before she could finish speaking. "No, I'll accept the job."
Charon's hand, which had been gently patting Elion's shoulder, immediately withdrew. "Are you sure?"
Having already remembered where he had seen this case before, and moreover, cases like this that he had experienced firsthand, he wanted to do it even if he did not receive a reward.
That was why Elion nodded without hesitation:
"I'm sure."
Seeing Elion's resolute attitude, Charon said nothing more and told him to go up alone. Performing surgery on important figures is a risky matter; even the slightest mistake could cost someone their head.
Since Elion was willing to take these risks, she naturally would not stop him.
Charon looked with a certain pity at Elion's retreating figure.
To her, it was not clear whether Elion was a fool or an idiot, but despite repeated hints, he still insisted on undertaking this dangerous surgery.
Charon shook her head and left the room.
As the front desk manager of a hotel, she had witnessed too many lives and deaths, and Elion would only be one of them if he failed tonight.
…
While waiting for the elevator to go up, Elion's mind began to recall the scene he had just seen.
He was very familiar with that CT image. This case was very similar to one in which a good doctor needed to remove the left kidney to obtain a surgical field to excise the tumor.
He was far too familiar with that CT image. It was not the first time he had seen something like this. The case was eerily similar to another in which a brilliant doctor was forced to make an extreme decision: removing the left kidney not because it was the source of the problem, but to obtain an adequate surgical field.
Only in this way was it possible to access the tumor and completely resect it.
The distorted anatomy and the position of the mass made it clear that there was no conventional approach; sacrificing the organ was the only way to save the patient's life.
This was also the source of Elion's confidence in undertaking this life-and-death surgery. "That's why there is no medical staff; no one wants to accept this surgery."
But with the correct procedures from relevant cases and the experience he had acquired in the past, he was very confident that he could remove the tumor.
As for postoperative recurrence?
That was none of his concern. According to his experience, if a relapse occurs, the person is basically not far from death.
Soon, Elion arrived at room 8809. After verifying the note and confirming it by phone, the bodyguard at the door let him in.
Upon entering, Elion discovered that it was actually a repurposed sterile operating room.
The man sitting on the hospital bed appeared to be around forty years old, exuding an air of authority, and his casual glances were sharp and penetrating.
Seeing this, four words immediately passed through Elion's mind: "A true predator."
Elion's gaze continued downward; the patient's back was slightly hunched, and one hand was unconsciously placed over his abdomen.
It seems that the tumor has begun to compress his nerves, causing him pain.
Suddenly, Elion's gaze sharpened and focused on the back of his hand.
There was a tattoo there of a bloodied hand.
Then this person's identity became almost obvious. Based on the combination of the top-floor accommodation and the temporarily converted operating room, it could basically be confirmed that he might be the leader of a fairly powerful criminal organization.
His name written in the documents was Albert Wesker; as for his other information, Elion did not know it.
What he did know was that if this person were to die here, it would likely cause great turmoil in that dark society.
At that moment, Albert also noticed the new doctor who had accepted his case.
He gestured for Elion to come closer. After putting on a sterilized surgical gown, Elion entered the operating room.
There were four other doctors here besides him.
It seems they are going to collaborate on this surgery.
Albert frowned as he looked at Elion's appearance and asked, "What makes you different from the rest, besides not fearing death enough to take my case?"
Before Elion could speak, an older doctor stopped him with a look and then stepped in to smooth things over. "Alright, alright, we can do this surgery ourselves."
Calling in another doctor is simply so someone can handle the occasional tasks.
Albert frowned and nodded. "Can we begin? I don't want to miss my daughter's wedding."
The older doctor and the other three doctors beside him exchanged glances, and they all saw the pressure in each other's eyes.
They are different from Elion. Elion had options, but they did not.
They were specifically chosen by Albert to perform this surgery!
The older doctor took a deep breath.
"Alright then, we will put him into a deep sleep now."
Albert first looked at the bodyguards outside, and after receiving an affirmative gesture, he turned back to them and said,
"Let's begin, then."
As he inhaled the anesthetic gas, Albert gradually lost consciousness.
He was now in a state where Elion and the others could manipulate him at will.
Only then did the elderly doctor dare to exhale the stale air from his chest.
He looked around and said, "I think everyone should understand the importance of this surgery. If we fail, we will be buried together with our families alongside this man! Everyone, cheer up, show your true skills, and don't cause me trouble!"
"Doctor Whitmore, I read your file but I don't know you. I know you have some special qualities, but I can't rely on that without testing you first. However, as you can see, we don't have time. That's why you'll just stay there and act as an assistant, handing over tools and things like that. I will be the chief surgeon. I'm Sebastian; this is César the anesthesiologist, Wendy the nurse, and the cardiac specialists."
Sebastian quickly assigned tasks to everyone.
Elion, who was assigned as one of the four assistants but was only responsible for the equipment, had no complaints.
If these four people could resolve it on their own, it would save him a lot of trouble.
Seeing that Elion accepted the arrangements smoothly and without any complaints, the older doctor nodded in satisfaction.
He did not expect Elion to be of any help; he only hoped he would not be an obstacle.
The rest depended on him.
Sebastian stared intently at the hand helping César open the peritoneum, praying that the situation inside would not be too complicated.
Their lives depended on it.