The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 374

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 374

Vittore Cervini appeared.

With his trademark hat and distinctive aura still intact.

This time he even had subordinates following behind him, making him look even more dignified.

…Yeah, I knew he would come.

But why did it have to be today of all days?

Just as they finished checking in and sat down in chairs, Cardinal Lucio opened the clinic door.

Sandro had been getting anxious since he said he’d come today but hadn’t visited until the evening hours.

It was fine that he brought companions who appeared to be fellow clergy.

But I could see him exchanging conversation with Mario Moretti.

“Clinic Director Sandro, could you ask those people to talk with me briefly in the consultation room? Please see Cardinal’s group first.”

“But the order is… Oh, do you know them?”

“Yes, yes. They’re people I met in South Korea. I’ll greet them briefly and send them for treatment, so please see Cardinal’s group during that time and send them to the treatment room quickly.”

“Quickly?”

“No, well… Never mind. Take your time.”

I hurriedly began taking measures to separate them.

Sandro was already so nervous just about the Cardinal – what would happen if he knew there were mafia members in the clinic?

Somehow I had to separate them before their conversation went on long enough for them to figure out each other’s occupations.

Not just for Sandro’s sake, but I also wanted to prevent the situation where the two groups would discover each other’s professions.

…What kind of synergy would that create?

It was hard to explain the reason clearly, but somehow an uneasy intuition surged up.

Common sense would say they’d avoid each other.

But somehow I felt things could flow in the completely opposite direction.

‘I need to separate them.’

I called in Vittore and Mario first to separate their movements.

If I could just separate those two, the other subordinates would wait quietly in the waiting room.

“Doctor Han!”

Entering the consultation room, Mario Moretti greeted me warmly.

I briefly wondered if we were really that close, but I also spread my arms wide to welcome them.

“I’m hurt. You came to Rome but didn’t even tell us about the clinic opening.”

“What’s there to be hurt about when I just opened? I was going to contact you soon.”

“Is that so? Wow, you already have patients bustling about. I guess there was no need to bring subordinates.”

Actually, it was true that I deliberately didn’t inform them.

I naturally told Chairman Richi about this clinic opening, and also told Park Miseun.

I even contacted Min Jeong-eun, who had helped as an interpreter and even served as a guide.

But the mafia members… No, even when I just simulated it, Sandro panicked.

I was going to let them know after getting used to treating patients a bit more.

‘But to appear this quickly!’

Of course, since Sandro and Roberto were close, and we even made promotional social media, there were plenty of ways they could have found out.

But does that mean they found out and showed up on their own in just 4 days?

“Why would you deliberately bring people to a hospital? If there’s something wrong, you should get treatment, but it’s better if there’s no reason to come.”

“That’s true. I also came today because I’m sick and need treatment.”

While Mario and I exchanged simple greetings,

Vittore, who couldn’t understand Korean, just stared intently at Mario.

“Oh, excuse me. If you two don’t mind, shall I speak in English?”

A gleam flashed in Vittore’s eyes under the shadow cast by his pressed-down hat.

Was he reluctant?

…Ah, whatever. Let’s think he’s happy to be able to talk directly.

“Where are you uncomfortable, Mr. Moretti? Of course, our Dr. Lucarelli will examine you again later, but I’m curious. And worried too.”

I continued the conversation with the purpose of killing time while Cardinal Lucio’s group received their examination.

But from him came a completely absurd answer.

“There was a bit of fighting. Phew, given my age, I had no intention of jumping into the field directly… but it ended up this way unintentionally.”

“…”

Of all the many reasons that could make a shoulder hurt, it had to be a combat injury.

I said I wasn’t curious about underworld affairs.

“Oh, of course we subdued the opponent without any problems.”

I wanted to know the results even less.

“That was impressive work.”

Even the taciturn(?) boss beside him praised him.

“For someone who’s more of a brain type, I’m quite confident in physical combat. Haha! Though probably not as much as Doctor Han. That was the first time I was so overwhelmingly defeated since Boss.”

“Ha, haha. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“As an ordinary Italian lawyer, I meant I was impressed by the Doctor’s rhetoric.”

I heard that lawyers don’t actually fight with words as much as you’d think.

But Mario, whether he was good at rhetoric or not, spoke nonsense quite brazenly.

“Yes, well. Dr. Lucarelli will treat your injured shoulder well. Did you come to get coptis, Mr. Vittore?”

“If that was all, I could have just sent a subordinate. Today my back hurts too. I came to receive treatment.”

“I see.”

I couldn’t bring myself to say “welcome.”

I might hear something I really shouldn’t if I ask how he got hurt.

I decided on my own to think of it as stenosis or disc problems common at that age.

“How’s your bad breath now?”

“Perfectly fresh.”

“You’ve quit drinking and smoking completely. You don’t even smoke e-cigarettes now.”

“Wow, you have incredible willpower.”

Still, if he succeeded in quitting smoking and drinking, I should give him some praise like I do with other patients.

“How is Roberto doing? I can’t sleep thinking about that tender boy struggling in a foreign country.”

“It’s been a while since I met him, but the gelato shop seems to be doing well. I introduced him to a tax accountant too.”

“No matter where you go, you can’t escape taxes…”

We exchanged news about Roberto and chatted.

Just as we were running out of things to talk about.

“kajkfjskjlsk sjkfjksdls sklslal.”

“akjfkdaslj ksjks jfkjdls kslssla.”

It seemed Sandro had finished his examination.

I could hear the sound of them chatting quietly in Italian as they came out.

“Oh, it looks like the previous examination is finished. We should also slowly…”

“Wait!”

I urgently stopped them.

If Mario left here now, they would meet exactly in the corridor.

The worst-case scenario.

“Do you have more to say…?”

At Mario Moretti’s question.

I quickly racked my brain.

“Is the card you gave me last time still valid?”

I remembered the fact that I hadn’t used the card with the memo saying they don’t forget favors or grudges.

“Of course.”

The answer came from Vittore.

It was a brief answer, but I could feel the same weight that a family head would carry.

I cleared my throat to lighten the mood.

Of course, that didn’t mean I had anything serious to ask for.

There was only one thing I wanted.

“Please keep your occupation secret from Dr. Lucarelli and the patients you meet at this clinic.”

Don’t cause unnecessary discomfort to ordinary citizens.

It would be enough if Sandro didn’t get scared.

It shouldn’t be a difficult request.

Vittore just stared at me deeply for a long time.

Then he soon shook his head.

“That won’t do.”

“What? Why not?”

“You saved my son’s life. To put it on the scales of favor and debt, it should be something involving life and death, whether killing or saving.”

What is this person saying right now?

Roberto was bleeding a lot at the time, but calling it a life-saving grace is excessive.

“Even if I say it’s fine…”

“Impossible.”

Damn, when they act like this, there’s no reasoning with them.

Master was like that too, and so was the Tang Family head.

People who are stubborn like this never back down once they get that look in their eyes.

“What you just mentioned, I can easily grant as a simple request from the doctor who treated my bad breath. We weren’t planning to go around making a big fuss about ourselves anyway. I hope to repay the debt for saving my son somewhere more meaningful.”

Vittore spoke coolly and stylishly in a low voice.

And I was certain.

I would never have occasion to use that card.

“If you insist, then there’s nothing I can do. …Let’s go for your examination.”

Fine.

At least the cardinal’s party had entered the treatment room, so my immediate goal was achieved.

“Clinic Director, you’ve finished talking too? Should I examine these patients?”

The cardinal’s party’s examination seemed to have gone smoothly, as Sandro was smiling brightly.

But I was exhausted.

I nodded and entered the examination room with the two of them.

“I think the problem was when I fell and braced myself with my arm. I think I twisted my shoulder.”

“I sat cross-legged for a long time and my back started hurting.”

Anyway, they kept their promise and explained their symptoms to Sandro with very ordinary causes.

They would probably reveal their identity someday.

But I was relieved that I didn’t have to worry about it right now.

‘Ha, as the CEO of headquarters, I’m going to such lengths!’

It’s a shame I can’t boast about this achievement to anyone.

Still, Sandro seemed to have gotten used to dealing with patients already, as he finished Mario and Vittore’s examinations quite smoothly.

And he shared his thoughts with me.

“You worked so hard on the difficult patient simulation, but luckily only gentle gentlemen came today. The elderly gentlemen are so kind, polite, and wonderful. I want to age like that too!”

“Y-yes, exactly. Hahaha.”

“Of course various patients will come in the future, but having such good people come during the opening period gives me strength! It’s all thanks to Doctor Han.”

At such a shocking statement.

I almost made everything I had carefully hidden come to nothing.

For some reason, I wanted to go back to South Korea.

This feeling of just wanting to climb the rear mountain and shout ‘The king has donkey ears!’

…Wouldn’t it be okay to tell the truth to Cheongsori and Songgol?

Anyway, I had work to do.

I watched carefully to make sure the flow didn’t get tangled, even observing the acupuncture treatments.

There was more than a 10-minute gap between when the last patient from Cardinal Rucio’s group received acupuncture and Vittore’s treatment.

When the Cardinal’s group finished payment and left, Vittore and Mario would still be in the middle of their needle retention, so the two groups wouldn’t meet again.

After confirming that everyone had left without knowing the fact that this was a clinic frequented by the mafia.

I let out a sigh of relief.

“We absolutely must eat something delicious for dinner tonight.”

Since I couldn’t confess to acquaintances back in South Korea.

I just beat my chest alone for no reason.

“The staff says the restaurant up ahead has decent wine and delicious pizza. Would you like to try it?”

“Sounds good. I’m particularly craving alcohol today.”

Tomorrow I was scheduled to have dinner with Chairman Richi, but tonight’s evening schedule was free.

Well, wouldn’t it be nice to have a company dinner to commemorate the opening while we’re at it?

Sandro and I spent time reviewing and giving feedback on the patients we saw today until closing time.

As soon as it was closing time, we shut down promptly.

As soon as we finished organizing the clinic, we moved to the restaurant.

“Huh? Aren’t those the gentlemen from earlier?”

But as soon as we entered that restaurant.

Seo Inae pointed to customers sitting in a corner.

“Wow, you’re right. The Cardinals are also having dinner here?”

Sandro chimed in agreement.

It really was them.

H-how did this happen?

The two groups were sitting together very amicably, having friendly conversations.

There weren’t many people in the restaurant, and perhaps with alcohol raising their spirits, their voices were quite loud.

“Cardinal Rucio and Mr. Vittore both have back pain, so they must have common ground. Both of them often have to stand in formal occasions…”

Thanks to Sandro, I ended up hearing conversation I didn’t want to hear.

And the more I heard, the more ridiculous it became.

“Ah, I heard the doctor made Mr. Vittore quit drinking and smoking? He’s also recommending abstinence to the Cardinals. He’s like an evangelist, haha.”

When I looked toward the dining table.

Wine was placed in front of the Cardinal’s group, while milk was placed in front of Vittore.

For a moment, my eyes met with Vittore’s.

He too seemed not to have expected to encounter me here, as his eyes widened briefly.

Then he lifted his glass of milk and grinned, showing his white teeth.

Something about the world was turning upside down.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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