1047: Chapter One Thousand Thirty-One: Presenting the Spear 1047: Chapter One Thousand Thirty-One: Presenting the Spear Farouk rushed out; he had been waiting in the prep room outside the operating theater.
Dragging footsteps sounded in the hallway, slow and deliberate.
Peter wanted to push open the isolation door, but he hesitated, his hand resting on the doorknob without pushing.
Gao Yang pushed the door open for Peter, and then he saw Andy He, his surgical attire removed, pulling a long face and wearily walking towards him.
Behind him followed three individuals dressed as doctors and Farouk, maintaining a two-meter distance, simply trailing slowly.
The isolation door was completely open, but the group of Russians remained still and silent, just staring fixedly at Andy He.
Peter brought his hands together in front of his chest like a little woman, whispering continuously under his breath, waiting until Andy He walked up to the doorway and stopped in front of him.
Then Peter pleaded with a trembling voice, “Doctor, doctor…”
Peter was begging for good news from Andy He.
Andy He never disappointed.
Andy He nodded and said, “Your friend survived.”
Tears streamed down Peter’s face instantly.
He let go of his hands, and with a quivering voice, after a bear hug around Andy He, said, “Thank you, thank you.
I will be forever grateful for your grace.”
The group of Russians displayed a variety of reactions—some pumping their fists, others ecstatically lifting up the person next to them in an embrace—but nobody dared to shout loudly.
Andy He, with a calm expression, extended his arms and gently pushed away the embracing Peter, softly saying, “Don’t get too excited, this is just the good news, there’s also bad news.”
Peter’s body stiffened, he released Andy He, and then, like a man awaiting judgment, stood silently, waiting for Andy He’s verdict.
“Your friend has survived, but he’s broken.
That’s the bad news.”
Peter trembled as he asked, “Doctor, I don’t understand, what do you mean by ‘broken’…”
Andy He said solemnly, “Your friend, or rather your comrade-in-arms, he had severe internal bleeding and serious brain damage, two compound fractures.
I performed a craniotomy to reduce intracranial pressure, treated all his organ wounds, and conducted an operation to set the broken bones.
He’s alive because of me, and you need to be thankful for that because you won’t find a doctor as versatile as me in this world.
You’re lucky to have met me; otherwise, he’d be dead for certain!”
Having said this quite confidently, or rather complacently, Andy He then sighed and added, “Unfortunately, I’m just a doctor, not God.
I can save your friend’s life, but I can’t give him a complete body.
Your friend is a career soldier; he will not be able to do any heavy work for the rest of his life.
Maybe after a few years of recovery, he might be able to engage in some strenuous activities, but it’s certain he’s not fit for his current profession anymore, which means he can’t be a soldier.”
Peter chuckled lightly, then softly said, “It’s good enough that he survived.
Isn’t it?
My friend has a wife and children; for my friend and his family, it doesn’t matter if he can continue his military career.
What matters is that he’s still alive, and they can be together.”
After finishing, Peter took a long breath of relief and said with a smile, “The important thing is my best friend is alive.
The rest doesn’t matter, it’s all okay.
It’s good just to be alive; whether he retires or takes a desk job, it’s better than being dead.”
A person who should have died, didn’t – though his career got interrupted, being alive was still a good outcome.
The Russians all beamed with joy.
A Russian approached Andy He and earnestly said, “Doctor, I really don’t know how to thank you.
I’m at a loss for words, but I’m truly willing to do anything for you.”
Andy He waved his hand and said, “The patient’s condition has stabilized, but he’s not out of danger yet.
Fortunately, among the patients I’ve treated, your friend’s condition is relatively good.
As long as the hospital doesn’t have any major issues, he should survive.
Right now, you can’t visit the patient.
If you want to visit, you’ll have to wait at least three days.
Alright, make room, I need to change my clothes.”
Gao Yang handed Andy He the clothes on the chair and said with a grave voice, “Do you want to rest a bit first?”
Andy He shook his head and replied, “No, I’m going to change my clothes.
After I’m changed, let’s leave.
I’ll rest when we get back.”
One of the doctors behind Andy He immediately said, “Sir, please come with me.
I’ll take you to the changing room.”
Andy He followed the person to change his clothes.
At this time, Gao Yang said to Peter, “We are going back.
What about you, are you staying here or coming back with us?”
Peter showed a hint of reluctance but still sighed and said, “I have a mission; I can’t stay.
Let’s go back together, please wait for a moment.”
Peter and the group of Russians huddled together, murmuring quietly.
After a few minutes, Andy He returned in a clean set of clothes.
As he approached Gao Yang, Andy He glanced at Peter and the others, then said, “It’s all set, let’s go.”
At that moment, the Russians crowded around Andy He.
Peter said with a sincere face, “Doctor, it’s hard for us to express how grateful we are.
We’re all soldiers; you must understand our feelings.
I want to know how we can repay you.
Doctor, please give us an opportunity to thank you.”
Andy He touched his head and said, “Generally speaking, I wouldn’t readily perform such surgery, especially unprepared, without the right medical instruments, without well-coordinated assistants, especially when I didn’t even have time to prepare for a long surgery.
F**k, I hate wetting myself!”
After finishing his words, Andy He shrugged and said, “Well, according to my usual rates, plus the type of clients I serve, the charge for such a surgery isn’t low—two hundred thousand dollars.
Given that I performed the surgery under circumstances I despise, let’s make it two hundred and fifty thousand dollars for you guys.”
Peter’s mouth fell open, a look of utter shock on his face.
Andy He shrugged again, “No money?”
Peter nodded subconsciously, then said apprehensively, “Not, not that much.”
Andy He smiled and said, “I figured.
You bunch of soldiers are always skint.
I don’t need you to do anything special.
Forget it.
Our boss gave the word, so how could I possibly not help?”
Among all those who joined the Satan Mercenary Corps, Andy He was the only one who wasn’t short on cash.
With his medical skills and the fees he could earn from performing surgeries for South American drug lords, it would be difficult for him to run out of money.
Gao Yang smiled at Peter and said, “Don’t overthink it.
He’s just messing with you.
It’s right to feel grateful to him, but there’s no need to give him anything.
He lacks for nothing.”
Andy He clapped Peter on the shoulder and said, “My rates are no joke, but I won’t take your money.
Hm, I’m not a doctor by profession right now, so I’m not going to follow the same rules I did when I was practicing.
If I were still practicing, you wouldn’t be able to get out of paying, haha.
Just remember you owe me a favor, that’s all.”
Peter looked greatly embarrassed and said, “But, but you saved our comrades.
We can’t just do nothing; we ought to at least show some…”
Andy He glanced at the pistol on Peter’s waist and frowned, “No, actually, if you want to show some appreciation, that’s fine.
Are all of you using GSH-18s?”
Peter was taken aback but then started nodding vigorously, “Yes, yes, we are equipped with GSH-18s.”
Before Peter could finish speaking, there was a flurry of activity as several Russians unsheathed their pistols and handed them to Andy He.
“Please take it, we insist.”
“Idiots, take off the holsters too.”
The Russians split into two groups: those who were on the same mission with Palyuka and under his command.
Seven people in total thus seven pistols were presented to Andy He.
And a few more were unbuckling their belts to remove their holsters; others who had quick-release holsters had already offered their pistols along with the holsters.
The GSH-18 is a new generation standard issue pistol from Russia, capable of firing 9x19mm Parabellum rounds and 7N21 armor-piercing bullets.
It’s actually quite nice to use.
Looking at the pile of GSH-18s in front of him, Andy He smiled, “This is way too many.
My friends and I would love to add them to our collection, but this is just too much.”
“It’s no problem, no problem.
Keep them, doctor.
These guns are not ordinary GSH-18s.
They’re Signal Flags, specially supplied to our unit, not something you’d find on the outside.”
“Please, take it, doctor.
Let it be a keepsake.
We really don’t have anything else to offer now.”
At this point, Andy He took two of the pistols and laughed, “You guys won’t have a problem without your guns?”
“No problem!
We’ll just get another one later.”
Gao Yang also laughed as Andy He turned to him and said, “Rabbit has always wanted one, and Big Dog too, just never found the right opportunity.
I’m asking on their behalf.
Boss, Toad, do you want to keep one yourself?”
Gao shook his head and said, “I don’t want it.
The gun works fine, it’s just that it’s so ugly.
Russian gear, I’m only really interested in the Yarygin.”
No sooner had Gao finished speaking than Peter unbuckled his holster and pulled out a Yarygin 6P35 pistol.
The one who came with Peter drew a Yarygin as well.
Peter offered the grip of the gun to Gao Yang, “Yarygin, it’s yours.
Keep it as a souvenir.
Like the GSH-18, it’s a special supply for our unit, quite a rare piece.”
The Yarygin is also a standard issue pistol adopted by Russia, with a military designation of 6P35 and called the MP443 by the manufacturer.
It fires 9mm Parabellum rounds as well.
Both the Yarygin and GSH-18 are issued to Special Forces, but the GSH-18 is small and light, mainly issued to mid and senior-level officers, as well as to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and KGB, while the Yarygin is distributed to lower-ranking officers and departments that are not sensitive to the size and weight of their firearms.
Peter’s mission was different from Palyuka’s, so he used a Yarygin.
Upon hearing Gao Yang’s words, he promptly offered his service pistol with both hands.
Gao Yang hesitated, “Isn’t this a bit much?
The gun’s registered—what will you do if it’s lost?”
Peter smiled, “No issue.
Just file a report and get another one, really no problem.
Is two enough?
If not, we can send you three more after we get back.
If that’s still not enough, then I’ll file a report and get a few more issued.
Don’t worry, this isn’t Russia.
Losing a few guns in action is just normal, right?”
(To be continued.
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