Chapter 4: Not A Rookie

Words : 1553 Updated : Mar 13th, 2025

After Tara left, Moses narrowed his eyes. "Walter, how about interning at Xyros Hospital with me as your personal mentor?" Max sipped his tea with a smirk, amused at Moses' sly intentions. "Thank you for the generous offer, Mr. Zimmerman! I plan to follow the school's arrangements," Walter replied softly. "Alright, if you need any help in the future, feel free to contact me." Moses handed a business card to Walter. Walter accepted it with both hands, smiling as he slipped it into his pocket. Tenos Hospital offered a larger stage, making it a better fit for Walter as a rising talent. His recent life-saving act had drawn media attention, with numerous outlets covering the story. However, Walter preferred to stay out of the spotlight—after all, he carried a secret that, if exposed, could turn him into a test subject for research. ***** In the Toria City of Gerton, at Tenos Hospital, Max sat in the office of Brayden Moore, smiling broadly. He placed a file of the current interns on the desk. As the Vice President, Brayden Moore, an alumnus of Xenas Medical College, had secured internship and residency slots at Tenos Hospital for students from his alma mater each year. "Our school has arranged for six medical students to intern at Tenos Hospital this time, and I hope you can look after them," Max said. Toria City boasted Tenos Hospital, the top hospital in Gerton and among the best nationwide—a sanctuary for countless medical professionals. Graduates from medical schools across the country dreamt of working there. Brayden opened the file, casually flipping through a few pages before pulling out one. "I heard that this student, Walter, saved someone on a high-speed train recently!" Max hadn't expected the news to reach Brayden so quickly. "The interns we recommend to your hospital are naturally outstanding. Without a doubt, Walter demonstrated extraordinary talent during the emergency," he explained. "Which department do you think he should be recommended to?" Brayden asked, focusing mainly on Walter. Walter's abilities displayed during his journey had undoubtedly earned him a stepping stone at Tenos Hospital. Max smiled. "I spoke with him, and he's interested in the Emergency Department." "Emergency is the most exhausting and demanding department, and it's difficult to achieve notable results there," Brayden remarked, surprised. "On the contrary, the ER exposes one to a variety of cases, helping hone his medical skills," Max responded. "Alright, ER it is then," Brayden decided. As Max left the office, Brayden smiled. Moses had highly recommended Walter, calling him a once-in-a-millennium surgical prodigy. A gem in the rough needed careful cutting to shine, and it was unexpected that Walter had voluntarily chosen the challenging path of the ER. His resilience and dedication were truly commendable. ***** Under the hospital's arrangement, Walter moved into the staff dormitory, sharing a double room. After settling in, he reported to the emergency department. The head of the department, Pablo Shayle, was forty years old. At his age, holding a middle management position at Tenos Hospital marked him as a young and promising talent. At just under five foot seven, with broad shoulders and long arms, Pablo's striking features included thick eyebrows, full lips, and a stubbled chin. His habit of keeping his eyes wide open, his face taut, and his brow furrowed gave him an imposing presence. As Pablo was about to brief Walter, a young female doctor entered, looking anxious. "Mr. Shayle, we have a special patient. Could you take a look?" She handed him a medical record, and his eyebrows twitched. "Walter, come with me to see this patient," Pablo was aware that Walter had voluntarily joined his department and wanted to ensure the newcomer understood that the ER was not a place for rookies to coast by. The female doctor, Gina Lapwood, was two years older than Walter and was still a resident assisting Pablo. Walter made a good first impression on her by being steady, efficient, and reliable. And so, Walter followed Pablo to the treatment room. It was a mess, with discarded clothes, crumpled paper strewn over the chairs, and the garbage can spilling over with used cotton balls. The patient had just vomited, so the floor bore traces of mopping. The patient's condition was peculiar as she sat in the curtained off-section. An oxygen tube was in her nose, and her mouth was wrapped in gauze, with blood seeping through. Walter initially suspected the patient had swallowed something unusual. Unwrapping the gauze, his expression turned odd. The female patient, about thirty years old, had a metallic object protruding from her mouth. Upon closer inspection, it was the blade of a spatula. Walter was baffled. "What on earth could drive someone to shove a spatula blade down their esophagus?" he wondered. "Walter, based on your observation, what can you conclude?" Pablo inquired. "The spatula handle has penetrated the chest cavity. Removing it shouldn't be difficult, but the esophageal mucosa is severely damaged. The handle is about 11 inches long, and I estimate around 7 inches of the esophagus is seriously injured," Walter deduced. While Walter assessed the condition, the patient appeared agitated. Gina reported the information she had gathered from the patient's family to Pablo, "The patient is thirty-five. While cooking at home, she suddenly felt a blockage in her throat, like a large cyst. She tried to clear it with her fingers, but when that didn't work, she used chopsticks, which were too short. Finally, she opted for an aluminum spatula and pushed the handle in." "I've dealt with countless emergencies over the years, but this one's a first," Pablo remarked. The X-ray of the patient's upper body was ready. Pablo examined it for a long time under the light. Walter's judgment was remarkably accurate, especially regarding the extent of the esophageal damage caused by the spatula handle. Pablo couldn't help but mused, "This intern, indeed, had potential!"

Chapter 4: Not A Rookie

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