Chapter 141: Convergence Medicine Center (2)

Is he crazy?

Hong Changgi had been sitting behind Suhyuk and watching him intently for almost the entire time. This was his first time seeing someone create a PPT like this, so it felt as if they were following a script already written.

Oh…where did we get to?

[…to ‘an artificial intelligence that can assist with diagnostics is needed’.]

‘Ah, okay. Good. The data is—’

[The files are saved here. Yes, there. In folder number four.]

‘Good, good.’

In truth, it was as if a script already existed, since Baruda was reciting everything word for word. The Baru that continuously developed within Suhyuk’s mind now possessed most of the abilities of a comprehensive artificial intelligence.

Not only could it diagnose diseases, but it could also perform almost all tasks that humans could do.

Does this mean…it can carry out any task I want it to…?

Hong Changgi clicked his tongue as he watched the PPT slides being completed one by one. Honestly speaking, the design wasn’t flashy or refined; rather, it was quite simple and unassuming. However, even just looking at the slides gave him a good idea of what Suhyuk’s presentation would entail. In fact, this was the first time Hong Changgi had heard about the diagnostic AI assistant, which meant he must have already known everything Suhyuk planned to reveal today.

“Ah, that’s enough.” As Hong Changgi’s mouth began to close, Suhyuk tapped on his laptop keyboard. Shin Hyun-tae, who had been listening intently to Seo Hyoseok’s explanation, turned toward them.

“Uh, really? Then let’s make a promise over the phone…”

“Yes.”

“Thinking about it now, I might not be able to do this today… Shouldn’t I have called earlier?”

The Convergence Medicine Center used to be open, but now it was more accurate to call it closed due to the high entry barrier. It was because of Baruda’s failure, so there wasn’t much they could say as Internal Medicine. Still, doctors couldn’t go anywhere else for AI-related research. There were people who didn’t even know what C language was. They had to accept help somehow.

Beep.

In any case, Shin Hyun-tae made the call and soon got a response.

“Yes, this is Taehwa Convergence Medicine Center.”

“Ah, hello. This is Manager Shin Hyun-tae from the internal medicine department.”

“Ah…yes, Manager An. It’s been awhile.”

Coincidentally, the person who answered the phone was one of the researchers involved with Baruda’s research.

Now that I think about it, I haven’t called him since the incident.

Shin Hyun-tae looked slightly embarrassed. He had made the call, so he should at least get to his point. He wanted to just hang up because he felt like he’d already done enough, but Suhyuk was watching.

‘Suhyuk…’

He couldn’t disappoint this son-like figure. Besides, Suhyuk had never disappointed him before.

“I-I have something new to propose.”

“Oh, is it?”

The researcher sounded like they were asking if Baru had been abandoned.

Shin Hyun-tae was a person of integrity and didn’t speak ill of others, so Suhyuk had been quite vexed by his manager’s behavior. However, Suhyuk could see that Shin Hyun-tae genuinely cared for him.

Suhyuk…

Shin Hyun-tae’s love for Suhyuk went against his very nature.

“Yes, new one. It is related to artificial intelligence.”

“Oh… Artificial intelligence?” The researcher’s interest piqued as he heard about Baruda-like artificial intelligence. He was in a similar position as the previous researcher who had been fired due to Baruda’s collapse, so he continued eagerly on this topic.

“Yes. For diagnostic purposes.”

“Hm…”

“Will you do it or not? Right now? Just tell me that.”

“Eh…” The researcher had worked with Shin Hyun-tae for quite some time.

I didn’t know that Shin Hyun-tae had voluntarily joined Suhyuk’s test subject, so I thought he might be upset about this.

“Okay… It is fine. There is another researcher.”

“Great. Then I’ll go right now.”

“Won’t you send me the PPT beforehand?”

“I am the manager of internal medicine. The research plan has already been approved by my department. I don’t think it needs to be reviewed before the meeting.”

It was true. As the director of the Convergence Medicine Center, I outranked Shin Hyun-tae. The difference between a researcher and any managerial position was incomparable. Shin Hyun-tae had simply been too human up until now. If I pushed him with logic, there was no way for him to reject these requirements.

“Ah, yes. Understood. Then I will prepare it right away. My apologies.”

“No need to apologize. In any case, let’s go.”

Thus, Shin Hyun-tae forced the meeting and hung up the phone, looking back at Suhyuk with a look that said, ‘I did well’.

[The person who came up with the idea and made all these presentations should die if they can’t do this.] Baruda showed no reaction but Suhyuk didn’t.

He isn’t even human.

[It wasn’t him.]

‘Ha’.

After giving Baru a hard time, he nodded toward Shin Hyun-tae.

“Thank you, Professor. You’re truly amazing, Manager An.”

“N-no, of course not. This is what we must do. Anyway, let’s go now. Oh, Professor Jo…”

Shin Hyun-tae stood up and looked around. Taejin Jo had briefly gone to get something, but he was nowhere to be seen. Maybe it was because of his size, but people could usually see him from afar. If they couldn’t see him, that meant he wasn’t here.

“Let’s go.”

Hong Changgi, a colleague and friend of Taejin Jo, spoke with a heavy heart. As he watched Hong Changgi, Shin Hyun-tae felt a pang in his chest.

The professor wants to ditch me…

He couldn’t help feeling sorry for himself. When did things at Taehwa Medical Center’s internal medicine department become so awful?

It’s all Jongi’s fault…

Was this what happened when someone didn’t watch their weight and became a walking skeleton? What kind of thoughts were these?

“By the way, you really have to go now, right? Should I call you on your way?”

“Huh? Oh, Suhyuk.”

But after hearing Suhyuk’s words, he forgot about his frustration and regret. Instead, he became even more embarrassed than Lee Hyunjong had been.

Suhyuk left the research lab with the two professors. As he was calling Taejin Jo, he realized that the other man didn’t answer.

Knock knock knock knock.

Soon afterwards, footsteps echoed down the hallway leading to the Convergence Medicine Center.

“What kind of crazy person runs like this inside the hospital…?” Shin Hyun-tae turned around in annoyance, but it was Taejin Jo running towards him. “These damn bastards! You’re going to abandon me just because you arrived late?”

The sound echoed like that of a stampeding pig, but neither Shin Hyun-tae nor Suhyuk raised their guard. Shin Hyun-tae was much higher up than Taejin Jo, and Suhyuk was someone whom Taejin Jo loved dearly.

“Yik.”

Thus, only Hong Changgi received his anger.

“You bastard! You were the one who did this?”

“Yik.”

He didn’t feel wronged at all. He had been the instigator of the whole thing, after all.

“Eh, if you keep doing this, people will die, Professor Jo.”

“I don’t care if he dies.”

“At a hospital…a professor shouldn’t say such things.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“What do you mean ‘is that so’? Stop it now. Ugh, I really need to perform CPR…”

Taejin’s arm was wrapped tightly around Hong Changgi’s neck until he started gasping for air, then released him just as he choked on his own spit. As a result, Hong Changgi stumbled back but didn’t fall behind Suhyuk or Shin Hyun-tae. It wasn’t that Taejin was heartless; it was because he kept nagging them nonstop.

“Why don’t you ask why I’m late?”

“Huh? You were late because you took a detour to=” “No, no. The patients are doing well now. Surprisingly, they’re doing well these days.” Taejin shook his head vigorously.

He looked sincere and his neck seemed too thick so Shin Hyun-tae nodded. He wouldn’t hit his hyung, would he?

Did he know?

“Uh-huh, uh-huh. Then why did you come late?”

“T-That’s because I didn’t want to.”

“W-Why? Why do you look so angry?”

“I met Professor Seo Hyoseok. He was furious about something.”

“Oh.” It wasn’t that Shin Hyun-tae was responsible for Seo Hyoseok’s bad temper, but his reaction had caused Seo Hyoseok’s anger. Naturally, Taejin Jo couldn’t help but show interest.

“What?”

“I-I don’t know much. That bastard said some nasty things and cursed at someone.”

“That bastard? This bastard…”

“No, it wasn’t what I said to my hyung.”

“I see, that’s… Anyhow, just cursing?”

“Nope. After cursing me out for quite some time…”

“Then?”

Taejin Jo cocked his head at Shin Hyun-tae’s words. He slowed down slightly and finally caught up with Hong Changgi.

“Eh?” Taejin Jo waited until Hong Changgi repeated himself several times before opening his mouth again after Shin Hyun-tae’s third question. “What did you say?”

“What did I say? Oh, Professor Jo?”

“Yes. That’s why he said we’re going to the Convergence Medicine Center.”

It seemed that was what happened. Taejin Jo had a good personality as well as looks, so he never lied about anything.

“Mm.”

“And why did you ask me where we were going?”

“I told you already, didn’t I? We’re on our way now.”

“Yes, you did.”

“Hah.” Shin Hyun-tae felt a bad feeling in his gut, even though this person was known for being a master craftsman.

Even though he was known for being blunt and straightforward, he still maintained his dignity as a person. It was easy to imagine how dignified this master craftsman must be if Shin Hyun-tae thought so highly of him.

But Seo Hyoseok…

It wasn’t like his personality had suddenly changed overnight. There was no better example of “what goes around comes around” than him. Both men knew exactly what they were capable of, yet they wielded their power too freely.

“What did you say?”

“I didn’t say anything… He just laughed and said that I’m busy, but it’s really bullshit. Who wants to be hit with all these curses when they’re already busy?”

It was embarrassing to admit, but there wasn’t much for Seo Hyoseok to do at the hospital. It made sense that patients weren’t sent his way, since he rarely treated them anyway. If he couldn’t treat patients, then he should be doing research, but even that wasn’t happening. So it meant that this man must have something else up his sleeve.

“Uh-oh.”

“What is it?”

“No, let’s go first.”

“Yes, hyung.”

“Will you call me Manager?”

“I’m just Suhyuk.”

“This is a hospital.”

“Ah…”

“Knowing is half the battle…” Shin Hyun-tae mumbled as he shook his head, glancing at Suhyuk sitting quietly in the corner.

If he really messed up…what will I do?

His footsteps were still brisk, but his mind was a jumbled mess.