Chapter 96: Breaking the Seal (2)

Joo-hyuk glanced at the guard once, then turned to look at Steve again.

Steve, while not as imposing as the guard, was still a rather large guy.

In comparison, the patient standing before him had a menacing appearance but was not in particularly good physical condition.

[Still, if things get out of hand, we run. We can't.]

'I know, I know.'

Of course, he was still bigger than Joo-hyuk.

"Hmm."

Moreover, the tattoos covering his neck were enough to intimidate anyone, regardless of his size.

So, Joo-hyuk cleared his throat once more before speaking.

"Mr. Patient, I'm Joo-hyuk. Nice to meet you."

But once he started speaking, it was as smooth as ever.

Thanks to this, the patient nodded without much suspicion.

Though it wasn't a particularly friendly response.

However, there was no hostility either.

Joo-hyuk continued, feeling somewhat relieved.

"Your name is... Jesse Atwood, right?"

"Just call me Jesse."

"Jesse, may I ask what you do for a living?"

Joo-hyuk's gaze briefly lingered on the medical report the patient had brought.

Unlike in Korea, the items on the report were very detailed.

Naturally, there was also a section for occupation.

[Convenience store employee...]

'Would you hire someone like him?'

[No.]

'Sounds unbelievable, doesn't it?'

[Yes, probably. But it's America, so who knows.]

To think they would hire someone with this kind of demeanor at a convenience store.

Even in a free country like America, there must be some limits, right?

Moreover, the nonchalant attitude and mannerisms of this Jesse were far from ordinary.

At least, that was Baruda and Joo-hyuk's judgment.

"It's written there, isn't it? Convenience store employee."

"Um..."

But he couldn't just ask, "Are you lying?"

Otherwise, that fist adorned with mysterious rings might fly at him.

"So, what do you do at the convenience store?"

"What do I do?"

"Yes."

"Um..."

The patient seemed to fall into thought for a moment before suddenly getting angry.

"Is that important? This is a hospital, not a police station!"

His voice was quite loud, and the guard approached with quick steps.

Steve also extended his hand as if to grab Joo-hyuk and drag him away.

[The analysis shows that this person's emotion is fear, not anger.]

But thanks to Baruda, Joo-hyuk could understand the situation to some extent.

So, he waved his hand and continued.

"It is important. Your illness might be related to your job."

"What...? What... I'm the only one around who coughs!"

"Not everyone who smokes gets lung cancer. But smoking is a cause of lung cancer, right? The same could be true for you."

"Um..."

Jesse seemed to want to say something but sighed deeply, looking exasperated.

Through his open mouth, Joo-hyuk could see Jesse's teeth, which were in a terrible state.

Actually, "terrible" might be an understatement.

He had never seen such a condition in Korea.

[So, he's not a convenience store employee, right?]

'It's because of drugs, isn't it?'

Jesse's teeth were black in places, but it wasn't just cavities.

They looked as if they had been burned.

[Yes. According to case reports, this happens when methamphetamine is smoked.]

'Methamphetamine... That's heroin, right?'

[Yes.]

'Even in America, they wouldn't hire a heroin user at a convenience store, would they?'

[Of course not.]

Thanks to this, Joo-hyuk was confident that the patient's real job was not at a convenience store.

Naturally, his tone became even more deliberate.

He was brimming with confidence.

Anyway, that's how it was.

"So, tell me exactly what you do at the convenience store."

"Um..."

In contrast, Jesse's eyes darted around, but he couldn't bring himself to speak.

He would only be able to say what he did if he had actually worked at a convenience store.

So, as he hesitated, Joo-hyuk spoke again.

"Then, when do you usually work? That's not a difficult question, right?"

"Ah..."

It seemed to be true.

Jesse's face, which had been tense, relaxed slightly.

"Um... Yeah. Usually Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Friday, Saturday, Sunday."

"Hmm. That's unusual?"

"Wh, what's unusual about it?"

"Anyway, I understand. Friday, Saturday, Sunday."

Joo-hyuk repeated "Friday, Saturday, Sunday" a few times and closed his eyes.

To others, it might seem like he was deep in thought.

But he was actually talking to Baruda.

[It fits, doesn't it?]

'Yeah, but is it safe?'

[Well... He's not likely to cause a disturbance in the hospital, and he can't escape past the guard.]

'Yeah.'

The guard had already entered through the glass door.

He didn't rush in because Joo-hyuk had waved his hand.

But just standing there at the door was a great comfort.

It would likely put pressure on Jesse.

So, Joo-hyuk could speak with a more relaxed face.

"Then, is your condition worst on Fridays?"

"Hmm?"

"Does your cough get worse on Fridays?"

"Ah... Hmm. Now that you mention it..."

Jesse scratched his chin, falling into thought.

His unruly beard was stained with something like ketchup.

He didn't look like someone who could afford the expensive medical bills of a prestigious university hospital.

Yet, the fact that he was here so confidently suggested that he was suffering greatly from his cough and shortness of breath, and that he might have more money than he appeared to.

"It seems that way..."

"Does your chest feel tight or painful at that time?"

"Um... Hmm. Yeah. Is that written down too?"

Now Jesse looked quite surprised.

It was natural.

During the year he had visited other hospitals, he had never been asked such questions, and each one was spot-on.

"No."

"But how did you know?"

"The symptoms of the disease I'm thinking of are exactly like that."

"What... What's my disease?"

Thanks to this, Jesse's face was more desperate than before.

Steve, standing beside him, was also looking at Joo-hyuk with wide eyes.

'Just from looking at an X-ray... and a few conversations, he's making a diagnosis?'

He himself couldn't even get a sense of it.

No, even if Professor Epps had come, the result would have been the same.

Even with MRI and CT scans, it was common for an accurate diagnosis to be impossible.

It wasn't a matter of skill; interstitial pneumonia was just like that.

It wasn't called a difficult-to-treat pneumonia for nothing.

'He... can diagnose it so easily? No way...'

Naturally, Steve thought Joo-hyuk was delusional.

Of course, the impression he had made yesterday was quite impressive.

But this seemed to be going too far.

However, there was not a trace of doubt on Joo-hyuk's face.

He just looked confident.

"Before I give you the diagnosis, I have one more question. Can you answer it?"

"Of course. Anything."

"What exactly do you do on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday?"

"I already told you! I work at a convenience store!"

"If you lie, I can't treat you."

"Lie... Hmm."

Jesse, who had been about to shout, closed his mouth.

The doctor in front of him seemed capable of treating his disease.

And he had just said that if he lied, he couldn't be treated.

'Ha...'

How much he had suffered from this disease.

Coughing uncontrollably, shortness of breath.

Even when he tried to work, his chest felt constricted.

Now, even when giving orders to his subordinates, he felt a cough rising, making him feel like he was dying.

'They're even considering... whether to make me retire.'

Retirement?

That was out of the question.

After all, he didn't know if he could even make it out of this alive.

"The... doctors..."

After a long deliberation, Jesse finally spoke.

His gaze was directed at the guard, but his eyes were filled with fear rather than hostility.

"Yes. Speak."

"The... patient confidentiality, right? It's in the oath."

His tone had changed.

"Yes, it's only shared for treatment purposes."

"Okay, then... Can you ask that person to step out for a moment? I promise I won't cause any trouble. I swear on this."

He even added a "please."

[Is that a cross on his arm?]

'Yes. He must go to church.'

Moreover, he had sworn on the cross.

It wasn't a particularly convincing oath.

But according to Baruda's analysis, the probability of him causing trouble was almost zero.

"Is it okay?"

So, Joo-hyuk asked the guard to step out for a moment.

Steve's expression wavered more than the guard's, but he was a doctor, after all.

A young and enthusiastic one at that.

If the price wasn't too harsh, he wanted to hear the diagnosis of this patient.

To be honest, he was dying of curiosity.

"I'll call you back."

So, Steve also pushed the guard out.

"Okay. But I'll come in if anything seems off."

"Sure. Thank you."

The guard's role was to ensure the smooth progress of the treatment.

Now that the attending doctor, Steve, had spoken, he couldn't stay inside.

So, the guard quickly searched the patient's body and left.

Jesse also demonstrated that he had no weapons.

"Okay, now tell me. What do you do on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday?"

In the examination room, now with only the three of them, Joo-hyuk asked again.

Jesse sighed deeply, as if making a confession.

"Phew."

"It's okay. Your confidentiality is guaranteed. I'll only share it for treatment."

"Okay. But you have to treat me."

"Of course."

"Got it. Hmm."

Jesse tapped his fingers a few times and finally nodded.

"I... I'm a marijuana dealer."

"Huh? Marijuana?"

"Shh! Don't shout!"

"Ah, sorry."

Surprised by the unexpected answer, Steve pointed at Joo-hyuk.

It was a gesture to be quiet, and with the tattoos, it was quite convincing.

Thanks to this, Steve became as quiet as a mouse.

In contrast, Joo-hyuk was overflowing with confidence.

'As I thought, that X-ray pattern...'

[If the cough doesn't respond well to medication, this diagnosis should be considered.]

He was already certain.

"Okay, now that you've told me, give me the diagnosis. And treat me."

"Sure. Of course. Your disease is 'byssinosis.'"

"Byssinosis... What?"

"Byssinosis. It's common among people who work in poorly ventilated textile factories... But that doesn't happen much these days. Approved factories have the necessary equipment."

It meant it was a forgotten disease.

However, in certain occupations, it was actually on the rise.

"But marijuana is one of the causes. Since places that handle marijuana aren't licensed, it often occurs here."