Originally, Chen Yu was at home studying the Promotion Ceremony to become a Certified Necromancer, wanting to make extra preparations for the ritual. Although both his knowledge and accumulation of Magic Power were already sufficient, and the chances of the ceremony failing were slim to none, getting more familiar with the ritual, and thoroughly researching it, would undoubtedly add to his knowledge base and lay a foundation for better use of similar spells in the future.
However, a phone call from Professor Kube, the father of Kube Rokuro, still called Chen Yu out of his house. With Professor Kube being someone who had greatly helped him, Chen Yu truly had no reason or excuse to refuse him.
"Mr. Chen Yu, you've been working as a surgeon at that hospital for over a year now, how do you feel? Are things going smoothly with your work?" While swirling his wine glass, Professor Kube inquired about the recent situation of his proud student.
Facing Professor Kube's concern, Chen Yu naturally and appropriately answered his questions, "Thank you for your concern, Professor. Because of your connections, I haven't faced any difficulties with the medical staff, and in this past half-year, I have even started leading surgeries myself. Everything is going quite well."
The place where Professor Kube invited Chen Yu for a meal was a rather upscale Western restaurant, of which Professor Kube was a regular. Chen Yu, during his time as a research student under Professor Kube, had often been brought here for meals, so he was quite familiar with this place.
"It's good that work is going smoothly. The fact that you qualified to lead surgeries is a testament to your own level and skills. My connections may have given you more opportunities, but the achievements you've earned are still the result of your own efforts. Don't sell yourself short," said Professor Kube, who, despite his rigid and inflexible nature, was not harsh with his students in private, especially with students like Chen Yu, whom he admired.
As the two enjoyed their meal and discussed a few academic topics, Professor Kube wiped his mouth and then asked Chen Yu, "Mr. Chen Yu, do you know what Rokuro has been up to lately?"
"Rokuro? He..." Chen Yu was taken aback, clearly not expecting the professor to ask him this question directly. Since he had promised Kube Rokuro to keep a secret, Chen Yu was momentarily unsure whether he should tell Professor Kube about his son's recent activities.
Professor Kube was well aware of the relationship between Chen Yu and Kube Rokuro and understood from Chen Yu's hesitant demeanor that Kube Rokuro had surely asked Chen Yu to keep secrets from him. So he said to Chen Yu, "I'm well aware of what kind of person my own son is. He must have asked Mr. Chen Yu not to tell me, right? But now, I'm asking you not as a professor but as Rokuro's father—please understand a father's feelings. I just want to know what my son has been up to lately."
"You've put it too seriously, Professor!" Hearing what Professor Kube said, Chen Yu felt it was no longer right to keep it hidden: "Rokuro has found a job now, and he's working as a record assistant at the National Institute of Unnatural Death Investigation."
Although he had told Professor Kube, Chen Yu still tried to beautify the situation as much as possible, hoping to make Kube Rokuro's work sound more satisfactory to Professor Kube.
"Unnatural Death Investigation Institute? That's just forensic science, isn't it? Record assistance should only be a temporary job, right?" As a Professor at the University of Tokyo Medical Department, Professor Kube knew instantly what that meant, and his face showed a mixture of disappointment and displeasure. Still, he refrained from lashing out at Chen Yu, and forced a smile, "Never mind, let's put that disobedient child aside. Mr. Chen Yu, you are currently in the stage of accumulating experience. Would you like to come back to Eastern University Affiliated Hospital? I can arrange for you to perform more surgeries and help you improve quickly. With your skills, you can already be an assistant lecturer, and as long as you work hard for a few years and build some connections and prestige, it is entirely possible for you to become a lecturer or associate professor before you turn forty."
"About that... Professor, I'm planning to stay at my current hospital for a while longer," Chen Yu considered for a moment before politely declining Professor Kube's offer to return to Eastern University Affiliated Hospital. "On one hand, I'm still not quite used to the working atmosphere in the university hospital, and on the other hand... you know about Naoki's condition. His illness has worsened recently, and I want to focus on healing him first."
The medical office system Chen Yu referred to is unique to Japan's medical structure. It denotes an organizational structure within the clinical departments of Japanese medical colleges and their affiliated hospitals, where the professor, or department head, is at the core and unilaterally manages the assignments and personnel within the department. Because professors in the medical office wield personnel authority and their word is absolute, sucking up to professors becomes a crucial task for those who aspire to advance within this system.
Chen Yu himself had once interned at the Eastern University Affiliated Hospital, but he found it difficult to adapt to such a working environment. Despite Professor Kube's care, he ultimately chose to leave. Leveraging Professor Kube's connections, he managed to secure a position at an ordinary hospital, thereby avoiding the troublesome social dynamics of the university hospital.
"Inomata-kun? His condition has worsened again? I remember he was using your medicine and had managed to suppress the tumor. How could his condition be deteriorating?" Professor Kube was quite familiar with Chen Yu's research and knew the details of past events clearly. That's why he found it strange that Naoki's condition should worsen with the use of Chen Yu's developed medicine.
With a sense of resignation, Chen Yu shook his head and sighed, "This kid Naoki is too afraid of death; he increased the dosage of the medicine on his own. Now, the tumor isn't much of an issue, but the side effects of the drug are nearly killing him. We had him come in for an examination previously, and his bioactivity is even like that of an elderly person, not even reaching half of what a normal person should have."
"Has the situation gotten this severe?" Professor Kube's expression changed upon hearing Chen Yu's words, and he asked with concern, "Should we transfer Inomata-kun to Eastern University Affiliated Hospital? After all, he is a student of our University of Tokyo, and it would be more reassuring to have him treated at our own university hospital. Moreover, as Japan's leading university hospital, Eastern University Affiliated Hospital has much better medical facilities than a typical associated hospital.
Furthermore, if you, Mr. Chen Yu, wish to heal Inomata-kun's illness, you will surely need to make new breakthroughs in your research. Where else in all Japan can you find better research conditions than at a university hospital? Take this opportunity and return! It would also give me a hand, wouldn't it? As for the interpersonal concerns you're worried about, you just need to focus on your research and ignore the rest."
"Since you've put it that way, Professor, it would be rude of me to refuse any further," Chen Yu hesitated briefly before finally agreeing to Professor Kube's invitation. However, he had one condition: "But Professor, may I bring someone with me?"
"That's a trivial matter," Professor Kube agreed without even asking who Chen Yu was referring to, as it really wasn't a problem.