Chapter 135: Abnormality (5)

‘A lie?’

Suhyuk raised his eyebrows. The gesture seemed quite abrupt, but Shin Hyun-tae and Lee Hyunjong didn’t pay much attention to it. After all, they were used to Suhyuk’s occasional quirks. Besides, their focus was entirely on the patient before them.

“Nothing wrong?”

“No.”

“Hmm…”

The conversation between Professor Hong Changgi and the patient remained stagnant, as expected since the patient continually denied any issues.

[That is a lie.]

‘A lie?’

Throughout this exchange, Baruda kept asserting that the patient was lying.

‘What’s your evidence?’

[His pupils are vibrating by nearly 0.5mm horizontally. This can occur during dizziness, but…it shouldn’t be happening here, right? Therefore, I conclude it indicates psychological unease.]

‘Ah.’

The analysis of human expressions by Baruda was continually advancing. However, I didn’t like that most of the reference materials were myself. In any case, his arguments were much more plausible than before.

‘His words make me want to believe him.’

[And now your gaze is constantly… towards the other patient lying there.]

‘Oh’.

There was no way another patient could be seen from this position. What did it mean for my gaze to continuously go in that direction?

[It means you are quite concerned about them.]

‘Does he think something might go wrong because he didn’t provide all the information…?’

[Yes.]

‘But…why lie? If it was accidental exposure to toxic substances…there is no reason to lie.’

[That’s right. It is somewhat strange.]

‘Hmm…’

Suhyuk was now completely swayed by Baruda. This meant he started viewing the patient with suspicion. A doctor doubting a patient’s words - it was sad but surprisingly common.

“I’ll change my question then. Have you experienced this before?” Professor Hong Changgi wasn’t sure if he should believe the patient or not, so he altered his line of questioning.

The patient shook their head.

“No, this is the first time.”

Bardu analyzed every word of their conversation.

[That is true. This patient has experienced these symptoms for the first time.]

‘Well…isn’t that obvious? If he had these symptoms earlier, he wouldn’t have joined the army.’

[Ah, you’re right.]

Neither Suhyuk nor Baruda were familiar with the medical examination criteria used for military enlistment. However, it seemed unusual for someone who required intensive care due to pneumonia to be accepted into the army based on common sense.

“Before enlisting, did you travel abroad?”

“No, I haven’t. Um…I’ve never been on an overseas trip.”

“Then, have you visited places like farms or zoos where live animals are present?”

“Uh… that would be visiting a cat cafe with my girlfriend?”

“Hmm.”

A cat cafe - it could be considered ambiguous at this point. Cats can cause infectious diseases, but there were no reports of them causing pneumonia like this. Moreover, cats in cafes are typically pets, not wild animals. Nevertheless, as they needed to consider all possibilities for treating the patient, Suhyuk noted it down separately.

“It’s mostly meaningless information… Based on my judgment, something happened after he joined the military.” Baruda reached this conclusion while observing the ongoing conversation.

Suhyuk, who had started viewing the patient with suspicion, shared a similar thought.

The patient seemed suspicious no matter how Baruda looked at him. The patient was hiding something crucial. This information could be helpful for both his treatment and that of other patients.

‘Is it something that would cause trouble if revealed?’

[It is possible. It is irrational not to provide information beneficial to your treatment.]

‘What could it be? What is he hiding?’

[Among the events after his enlistment…there must be something he cannot disclose. Perhaps it’s prohibited by the military?]

This should immediately come to mind for someone who has served in the military. Unfortunately, Suhyuk had yet to serve, and moreover, he was already exempted from conscription. In essence, he had never shown any interest in matters related to the military.

“Uh, excuse me for a moment…I need to use the computer due to another patient.”

“Huh? Oh, yes. Yes. Suhyuk, feel free.”

Thus, Suhyuk subtly moved back.

It wasn’t difficult as there were no great figures like Shin Hyun-tae, Lee Hyunjong, his fans or other heroes present. The only annoyance was Hong Changgi causing disturbances during treatment, but Suhyuk couldn’t voice this complaint. How could he say anything in front of Lee Hyunjong, the father of someone he admired?

‘Hmm… What is forbidden at military training camps?’

Normally, I would ask Baruda, but since he wasn’t subject to military service, he had no knowledge on this topic.

However, Baruda wasn’t subject to military service, so he didn’t have any knowledge about this topic. Instead, he diligently searched for information online.

[Firstly, alcohol and smoking are prohibited.]

‘As they can’t bring them… I see.’

In fact, it made sense regarding alcohol consumption. Drinking at a training camp? It seemed quite insane.

However, I couldn’t understand why smoking was banned.

‘It must be quite difficult for smokers to abstain.’

Even during their busy intern life, smokers would find time to smoke between sleep breaks. There has been some improvement recently, but until not too long ago, people were even smoking in operating rooms and changing areas.

After hospital regulations imposed penalties for smoking on duty, such behavior became rare. However, at dawn, there were still times when thick cigarette smoke wafted from the locker room.

“You’re right. It’s tough, really… Seeing doctors smoke despite knowing its harmful effects…”

Doctors are among the most knowledgeable about the dangers of tobacco, not just theoretically but also through firsthand observation. They witness patients daily who suffer various cancers or chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases due to smoking.

Yet, regardless of this knowledge, many physicians continued to smoke.

‘Cigarettes truly have a powerful addictive nature.’

[Hm.]

‘Why?’

[A drug as addictive as tobacco… Would it be easy for a typical person in their twenties to resist?]

Baruda displayed footage of the patient Suhyuk had seen earlier in his mind.

The patient appeared unremarkable at first glance. In fact, with his shaved head, he looked even less intelligent.

‘Hmm… Now that I think about it…’

[If they were smoking somehow, they would have undoubtedly hidden it.]

‘But can smoking cause such damage? Despite its toxicity…’

[There are reports on acute lung damage due to cigarettes.]

‘But shouldn’t those cases involve non-smokers?’

[Remember, there were sixteen people together in one room.]

‘Ah.’

It was entirely possible that one brave individual among the sixteen secretly brought cigarettes.

Didn’t my boss mention something similar earlier? There were all sorts of strange things happening. Smoking might be one of them.

[Although they are considered adults in their early 20s, they are still susceptible to peer pressure.]

Peer pressure could involve statements like ‘everyone is doing it except you’. It may seem insignificant as we age, but for someone in their early twenties, especially after being exposed to a different environment like the army, it could have a stronger impact.

‘They started smoking at the military training camp… But why did two of them show acute toxic reactions from cigarettes?’

[The probability is low, but currently, this hypothesis has the highest likelihood.]

‘Hmmm… Two individuals simultaneously…’

Acute toxic reactions to cigarettes were rare but not unheard of. Upon reflection, it made sense. Cigarettes contain highly toxic substances, so why wouldn’t they occasionally cause acute reactions as well?

“Doesn’t everything fall into place if we consider this an acute poisoning?”

‘Well, yes… But them coming at the same time is still…’

“[That’s precisely what confused you earlier. If only one patient had presented with these symptoms, would Shin Hyun-tae have been puzzled?]

‘He does have a point.’

The simultaneous presentation likely led him astray, assuming it was due to infection. This bias has persisted, leading to the current deadlock in diagnosis.

‘But wait…this could be…huge.’

There are various treatments for toxic reactions, but the most crucial one remains…

The most crucial factor was still steroids. The problem with these drugs is that they can have fatal consequences for patients with infectious diseases, especially viral infections. In other words, it reinforced his belief that nicotine poisoning was the cause of their condition.

What should I do now?

[You’re quite good at acting, right? Let’s give it a try.]

Try what…?

[Let me draft a rough scenario…]

Baruda started generating ideas as expected from such advanced AI.

Oh boy.

It felt insane to be manipulated by this scheme, but the more he listened to Baruda, the more plausible it sounded. He even began thinking it might actually benefit the patient.

When Dr. Lee approached the patient again with the completed script, Professor Hong Changgi was still engaged in futile conversation.

“So… You have never had tuberculosis?”

“No.”

As everything was denied, there was no progress in the conversation. Now even Shin Hyun-tae and Lee Hyunjong looked bored behind Hong Changgi. Initially, when he introduced the concept of poisonous substances, they thought it might lead somewhere, but nothing changed afterward, so their interest waned.

“U-um, Professor.” Just as everyone was getting tired, Suhyuk interrupted. As always, his demeanor was cautious, and he received support from one of the two renowned professors present.

“Yes, yes,” replied Hong Changgi, “What is it? Tell me anything.”

Given the current situation, Hong Changgi couldn’t help but encourage him. He had to ask why Suhyuk seemed concerned.

“Why do you ask?”

“May I ask you something briefly? I just spoke with the unit, and there is updated information.”

“Oh, really?”

Hong Changgi was already tired of this unresolved situation. Moreover, the condition of the patient he had previously treated was gradually worsening. It meant they needed to do something urgently.

“Then go ahead.” Hong Changgi willingly stepped back, hoping it would help Lee Hyunjong’s evaluation score.

“Yes, Professor.” Suhyuk bowed towards Hong Changgi before deliberately maintaining a blank expression as he looked at the patient.

The patient became nervous upon hearing about the phone call with the unit. As his breathing was already labored, his sympathetic nerve tone increased further.

[Baiting is already halfway successful.] Baruda cheered after finishing his psychological analysis.

Suhyuk ignored this interference and spoke according to the script he had prepared earlier.

“Mr. Kim Kichang, right? Mr. Kim Kichang?”

“Ah, yes… Doctor.”

“There were sixteen people sharing the same room with you, correct?”

“Yes.”

Not one of his statements was false so far. The advantage of speaking only the truth…

“Among them, there were smokers… There is testimony that they shared cigarettes.”

Even if Suhyuk lied next, it would sound plausible.

“Eh…”

“You smoked those cigarettes together?”