IMTS 1

Chapter 1

Professor Min Yushin was an outsider.

It hadn’t even been a few months since he started working at Boksan University Hospital. And yet, with shameless ease, he had slipped inside and was pretending to be a perfectly respectable doctor.

All while collecting a hefty paycheck every month—without batting an eye.

Of course, Yushin knew it himself.

This was a sacred place that didn’t suit him at all.

A hospital was the front line where life and death met. In that sense, it resembled the place he had originally belonged to more than one might think.

Both the hospital and that other place were filled with people drenched in blood and sweat. Only the reasons and purposes differed.

Here, everyone bustled about to save lives.

There, they usually did the opposite.

Yushin was someone who had come from there.

To him, the hospital was far too calm—far too peaceful.

This place really doesn’t suit me.

Thinking that, Yushin picked up the glasses resting on his desk. He slipped into the white coat hanging on the rack and stood before the mirror.

He forced the cold expression reflected back at him into a gentle smile, then swept his wild, unruly hair back into place.

Only then did the familiar figure appear—the one the hospital staff knew.

Professor Min Yushin
Department of Gastroenterology

He tapped the name tag pinned to his left chest with a long finger.

“…Hmm.”

After letting out a short sigh, he opened the door to his office and headed toward the elevator.

“Good morning, Professor.”

“Good morning.”

As the staff-only elevator doors opened on the outpatient floor, employees greeted him warmly.

Yushin returned their greetings with a polite nod and stepped inside.

He had been playing doctor—something never meant for his fate—for several months now. And yet, he had gained nothing from it.

Where should I start digging today… and how?

Pressing his lips together, he shoved both hands into the pockets of his coat and closed his eyes.

As the elevator descended toward the first floor, where the consultation rooms were, he quietly recalled the day he had first come here.

⋮

The cheap stench of alcohol and the metallic smell of blood filled the space, illuminated by a single, worn-out surgical light.

Loud piano music blared from the speakers. In rhythm with the melody of Gymnopédie, Yushin’s hands moved swiftly. Slice, slice—blood spread with each motion.

His mask and disposable plastic gown had long since been soaked red. With a blank expression, he hummed along, following the notes from the speaker.

Then—creeak—a heavy iron door opened.

A man entered the room, grimacing as he pinched his nose shut.

—What the hell? You’re still not done?

Yushin didn’t answer.

The man let out a dry laugh and turned the volume down. Only then did Yushin glance at him—just briefly, with his eyes.

—Oh. You’re here?

—Don’t you ever get sick of this? It’s always this music.

—It’s nice. Clean.

The man looked Yushin up and down, taking in his blood-soaked state, then shook his head.

—Yeah. Real clean.

—Hey, Gymnopédie isn’t the problem. The problem is those Cheonghwa gang bastards who sent him back as a shredded rag.

—You find anything out?

—Not yet. But no matter how I look at it, this was done by a pro. Did the Cheonghwa gang recruit new talent or something?

After staring at the wounds Yushin pointed out for quite some time, the man shrugged and stepped back.

—I wouldn’t know. That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?

—Damn it. Then you should pay me more. Looks like I’ll be up all night again.

At Yushin’s irritated tone, the man reacted with surprise.

—Why? You need money?

—Is there anyone who doesn’t?

The man wiped the blood pooled on the floor with the toe of his shoe, then looked at Yushin.

—Hey. If I pay you more, wanna work the field directly?

Only then did Yushin finally turn his head.

Under the surgical light, his cold eyes fixed on the man. A short scoff followed.

—That wasn’t in the contract.

—Yeah, it wasn’t. But this is.

—What.

—A rumor that the Cheonghwa gang is selling drugs there.

The moment those words left his mouth, the scalpel in Yushin’s hand trembled.

He smoothly adjusted his grip, curling the scalpel deep into his palm. In an instant, force surged through the blade as it thunk—deep into the corpse’s abdomen.

—Ah… ha?

Yushin’s eyes gleamed as he stared at the man.

—So? Want to try it?

—Where’s the site?

—Boksan University Hospital.

—Ah, shit.

Yushin’s brow furrowed instantly. The man hurried to continue.

—Come on, it’s perfect. I’ll plant you in a high-paying position. You earn money and get what you want. No matter how I think about it, you’re the only guy I can slip into a hospital.

—Conditions?

—A few months as a professor. Just track their movements. Professors make ten million won a month. Bonuses separate. From entrance to exit, the company will clean everything up.

—Snake. You’re awfully chatty today.

—I’m desperate if you say no. I’d even throw in my own money, man.

At the man’s joking tone, Yushin pulled down his mask with blood-smeared surgical gloves and smiled.

—Looks like it worked out. I’m interested.

⋮

[First floor.]

Less than ten minutes remained until morning consultations.

As the elevator doors opened, the employees packed inside began moving busily.

“Professor? You’re getting off, right?”

“Ah… I’m going to grab some coffee in the basement.”

Smiling, Yushin took a step back.

If he got off now, he’d have to walk to the outpatient wing surrounded by them.

Annoying.

The elevator doors closed with a clunk and descended underground. Yushin pulled out his phone and checked his recent calls, then dialed Snake.

After a short ring, the voice came through his Bluetooth earbud.

[Yo, Scalpel. Reporting for work?]

Yushin immediately started venting.

“Another dead end yesterday. How is it that for over a month there’s not a single trace of those Cheonghwa bastards?”

He clicked his tongue softly.

“Seriously. I’m about to start swearing—”

His words trailed off as his eyes narrowed.

He felt the cable slowly winding over the elevator pulley. The brake engaged, and a faint vibration traveled up from the floor.

The display read B5. The speed slowed. It looked like the elevator was about to stop.

There was movement beyond the tightly shut doors.

“Wait. Don’t hang up.”

As he said that, Yushin instantly hunched his back, rounded his shoulders, and lowered his head.

The commanding presence he usually carried vanished at once. Now, standing in the corner, he looked like nothing more than an overworked, ordinary doctor.

Ding.

The doors opened, and a woman with her hair tightly tied back stepped inside.

The moment his gaze brushed past her, Yushin instinctively held his breath.

She wasn’t strikingly glamorous at first glance.

She wasn’t wearing any noticeable perfume either.

And yet, Yushin felt inexplicably restless.

…What is it?

He quickly retraced what he had seen, gripped by a sense of unease—as though he had missed something. Unable to resist, he raised his head again.

Their eyes met.

But it was Yushin who looked away first.

His heart pounded as instinct screamed at him.

She’s dangerous.

It was a premonition unlike anything he had ever felt.

From the corner of his eye, he studied her silhouette.

She stood casually, yet the way both feet were planted on the floor—her straight posture, her perfect balance—was unmistakable.

She’s not… an ordinary civilian.

Hidden beneath cargo pants and a loose T-shirt, her frame was slim, yet solid.

Apparently unaware of his stare, she muttered, “Ah, right,” and rummaged through her pocket before pulling out her phone.

After tapping the screen and opening a message, she let out a deep sigh.

[You have been selected as the final hire for the Boksan University Hospital Environmental Services position.]

Yushin’s eyebrow lifted slightly as he peeked at the screen over her shoulder.

Janitorial staff?

After scrolling through the message, she checked the floor where the environmental office was located and pressed the button.

[Ring-ring-ring, ring-ring, ding-ding.]

A loud ringtone echoed inside the elevator. The caller ID read Park In-gyu. She startled and hurriedly answered.

Covering her mouth, she spoke quietly.

“I’m at the hospital. …Sick? What are you talking about? I’m at work. First day.”

Muffled voices came from the other end.

To hear better, Yushin quickly removed his own earbud.

“Yes, yes.”

[…]

“Okay, I got it. I’ll check everything thoroughly and clean it all up. Happy now?”

[…Fighting!]

The loud voice echoed through the phone.

She pulled the phone away from her ear as if it hurt, then ended the call and shoved it back into her pocket with a shake of her head.

As the elevator stopped, she turned toward Yushin.

She gave a brief apologetic nod for the noise, then quickly stepped out and disappeared.

Yushin watched her retreating figure as he slid the earbud back into his ear.

“So the Cheonghwa gang is planting connections inside the hospital like this, huh?”

[What kind of bullshit are you suddenly spouting?]

“Didn’t hear it?”

[No. What did they say?]

“She said, ‘Cheonghwa… fighting.’”

[…]

A dry swallow came through the earbud.

Yushin smirked, running a hand through the neatly combed hair at his temple.

“I should check it out. Just in case.”

“To see whether it’s real… or not.”