"Professor Müller!"
Taeho found Dr. Müller of Germany’s Max Planck Institute collapsed on the corridor floor. He was drooling, his entire body twisting in agony.
"Une ambulance! Vite! (An ambulance! Quickly!)"
A hotel employee shouted in French and began making a call.
Taeho immediately knelt beside Dr. Müller and asked,
"Professor. Where does it hurt?"
"Ugh... My stomach... It hurts so much..."
Dr. Müller barely managed to speak. His face was pale, and cold sweat was running down his skin. Muscle spasms were occurring, and abnormal signals were also being detected in his optic nerves.
Taeho immediately activated Bio Vision.
A chilling sight unfolded before his eyes.
Rainbow-colored waves were flowing through Dr. Müller’s blood vessels.
A wave of light that began as green shifted to blue, then changed again to violet as it flowed along his arteries. In his veins, red light turned orange, then yellow as it returned toward the heart.
'What is this?'
It was a sight he had never seen before with Bio Vision.
Those lights were not merely flowing. Every time they encountered specific receptors on the vessel walls, they reacted with a flash like neon signs. Pink bursts of light exploded, followed by turquoise waves spreading outward.
The most terrifying thing was that those lights were consuming Dr. Müller’s immune cells one by one. The instant a white blood cell came into contact with the aurora, it stiffened as if electrocuted, then began emitting the same light itself.
'It’s the same as that strange structure I saw in the seafood last night.'
Taeho recalled the surface of the langoustine he had seen at the banquet. Back then, the very same aurora-like light had been writhing inside the shell.
Taeho raised Bio Vision’s resolution to the maximum. The true nature of the aurora gradually became clearer.
It was definitely a virus. But it was unlike any virus he had ever seen. Each viral particle was emitting light like an LED, and the pattern of that light was perfectly synchronized with the surrounding viruses.
'It’s as if they’re communicating with each other.'
A chill ran down Taeho’s spine.
"Professor, you ate seafood at last night’s banquet, didn’t you?"
"Yes..."
"Professor, sit down for now."
Professor Müller leaned against the wall and sank down with a groan.
"Ugh..."
Taeho immediately knelt and checked Professor Müller’s pulse.
"Pulse 110. Fast, but regular. You’re conscious and clear, right?"
"Yes. But I feel terribly nauseous."
"If you feel like you’re going to vomit, turn your head to the side. So your airway doesn’t get blocked."
Just as Taeho was about to lay Professor Müller down in the recovery position, another scream rang out.
"Mr. Gihwan. Stay with Professor Müller. Keep him lying on his side, and if he vomits, make sure his airway is clear."
"Yes, understood!"
Dr. Davis of the American Institute of Marine Research was standing in the corridor, vomiting.
"Help! Someone help me!"
Taeho checked Dr. Davis’s condition with Bio Vision as well. As expected, the same abnormal protein was drifting through his blood vessels.
Taeho grabbed his shoulder and steadied him.
"Breathe slowly. When you vomit, lower your head..."
Dr. Davis’s pulse was also fast but regular. When Taeho checked with Bio Vision, he saw the same turquoise luminescent particles as in Professor Müller.
After seating Dr. Davis on the floor, Taeho returned to Professor Müller.
"Professor, how are you feeling?"
"Not good."
"We’ve called an ambulance, so you’ll be able to go to the hospital soon. Professor, we’re going to move to the lobby. Can you stand?"
"I’ll try..."
Taeho placed Professor Müller’s arm over his shoulder and slowly helped him to his feet.
"Mr. Gihwan, support Dr. Davis."
"Yes!"
As they moved to the lobby, Taeho continued checking the condition of the two patients.
"Professor, tell me immediately if you feel dizzy."
"Thank you, Dr. Kang."
"Dr. Davis, are you all right too?"
"Yes. I think I’m feeling a little better."
When they arrived at the lobby, Taeho laid the two patients down on separate sofas and shouted to the staff.
"Please bring blankets, water, and towels here."
A hotel employee came running with towels and bottles of water.
"Wipe around Dr. Davis’s mouth."
Taeho examined the two patients in turn.
"Dr. Davis, do you have chest pain or shortness of breath?"
"No. I just feel terribly nauseous."
"Professor Müller, how about you?"
"About the same. I think I have a fever..."
Taeho placed a hand on his forehead and checked his temperature.
"You do have a slight fever."
Gihwan covered both patients with the blankets he had brought.
"Director, what should we do about the others?"
Taeho looked around the lobby. People showing similar symptoms were increasing everywhere.
"Aaagh! My stomach hurts!"
"I think I’m going to throw up!"
People in the lobby were sinking to the floor and vomiting. The front desk staff were running about in confusion.
"Director, over there!"
Where Gihwan pointed, Professor Yamada was sitting slumped against a sofa. His face had turned deathly blue, and his body was trembling violently.
Taeho ran over.
"Professor Yamada, are you all right?"
"Dr. Kang. Suddenly... suddenly I can’t breathe... urgh..."
Professor Yamada could not finish speaking and vomited violently. Blood could be seen mixed in with the vomit.
Taeho quickly checked his pulse. His expression hardened.
Pulse 140. Too fast. His temperature was also too high.
Professor Yamada’s eyes were losing focus.
"Professor, can you hear me?"
"Ugh..."
His consciousness was fading.
When Taeho looked with Bio Vision, far more turquoise luminescent particles than in the other patients were filling his blood vessels.
He remembered Professor Yamada eating langoustines ravenously the night before.
"Damn it..."
Taeho carefully laid Professor Yamada down in the recovery position.
"Professor, breathe slowly."
Professor Yamada’s breathing was growing shallow and rapid. His condition was worsening swiftly.
At that moment, the sound of sirens echoed through the lobby. The ambulance had arrived.
When the French paramedics rushed in, Taeho showed his name tag and explained the situation in French.
"Je suis le Dr. Kang. (I am Dr. Kang.) More than thirty people are showing the same symptoms. Vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. It appears to be mass food poisoning."
The rescue team leader asked in surprise,
"Thirty people? Where did they eat, and what did they eat?"
"They ate a seafood course meal at the hotel banquet seven hours ago."
"Mon Dieu! (My God!)"
The paramedics quickly began triaging the patients. The severe cases were loaded into the ambulances first.
The team leader asked Taeho,
"You said you were a doctor too, correct? Could you come with us? Please take care of the patient on the way to the hospital."
"Of course."
As the ambulance sped along with its siren blaring, Taeho watched Professor Yamada’s critical condition.
"Blood pressure 90 over 60, pulse 145."
The paramedic checked his vitals with a tense expression. His blood pressure had dropped, and his pulse had become even faster.
Taeho took Professor Yamada’s hand. It was cold and clammy.
"Professor, can you hear me?"
"Ugh... mm..."
Professor Yamada only let out a groan. His consciousness seemed to have faded further.
"Professor, say your name."
"Ya..."
He could not even say his name properly. Taeho’s expression hardened.
"How long to the hospital?"
"About five minutes. We’re heading to Brest University Hospital."
The paramedic also sensed the severity of the patient’s condition and grabbed the radio.
"Critical patient arriving at the emergency room. Suspected shock."
Suddenly, Professor Yamada began vomiting violently again. This time, too, blood was mixed in.
"Let’s turn him on his side. Securing the airway is important."
Taeho and the paramedic turned the patient on his side together so the vomit would not enter his airway. At the same time, he adjusted the oxygen mask.
"His breathing is getting shallow. Increase the oxygen concentration."
"Yes, Doctor."
When the ambulance arrived at Brest University Hospital, emergency room staff came running out with a stretcher.
Taeho handed the patient over to the emergency nurse and said,
"Male, fifty-seven years old. Vomiting began about three hours ago. Currently decreased consciousness and in shock. Blood pressure 90 over 60, pulse 145, continuous bloody vomiting."
"What did he eat?"
"He ate a seafood course meal last night. It appears to be mass food poisoning."
"Understood."
The nurse quickly took notes and wheeled the patient into the emergency room.
"Vomiting, diarrhea, and fever began about two hours ago. He is conscious and lucid, and his vitals are stable."
Then, from inside the emergency room, a familiar voice rang out.
"Good heavens... Dr. Kang!"
The middle-aged doctor who had been giving orders in the middle of the crowded emergency room widened his eyes when he saw Taeho.
"Professor Durand?"
"To think I would meet you again here!"
Professor Durand took Taeho’s hand with an emotional expression.
When he had been dispatched to Gambia by the WHO, he had personally watched from beside him as Taeho treated President Ibrahim. Back then, it had truly seemed like a miracle. To meet Dr. Kang Taeho again like this in a situation that felt like war—he could not help wondering if this was fate.
"But how are you in Brest?"
"I came for a marine biotechnology conference."
"I see."
Professor Durand’s expression rapidly turned grave.
"Dr. Kang, it is truly fortunate that we’ve met like this. This place is desperately in need of help right now. Please."
"Of course. Please explain the situation in detail."
Receiving Professor Durand’s earnest gaze, Taeho nodded.
"Before that... Please wait just a moment."
Professor Durand took out his cell phone and dialed a number.
"Hello, Director Denis? This is Durand. Yes, it’s an emergency. Dr. Kang Taeho, the WHO special advisor, happens to be here. Yes, that’s right. The one who treated President Ibrahim of Gambia."
A startled voice could be heard from the other end of the call.
"We currently have patients with mass food poisoning, but we haven’t been able to identify the cause. Yes, we would like to formally request his cooperation in his capacity as WHO special advisor."
After a moment, Professor Durand extended the phone toward Taeho.
"The director would like to speak with you personally."
Taeho took the phone.
-Hello, this is Director Denis of Brest University Hospital.
"Hello. This is Kang Taeho."
-It is an honor to have the WHO special advisor come to our hospital in person. I have heard the situation from Professor Durand. We are currently facing a mass illness of unknown cause, and we require your expert opinion, Special Advisor.
Desperation could be felt in Director Denis’s voice.
-We would like to formally request your cooperation in your capacity as WHO special advisor. We will provide all necessary medical staff and facilities.
Taeho looked at Professor Durand and replied,
"Of course. I will do my utmost to help."
-Thank you. I will grant Professor Durand all the authority he needs.
When the call ended, Professor Durand looked relieved.
"Now we can officially cooperate. Dr. Kang, you will have access to every department, including the laboratory, radiology, and pathology."
Taeho nodded.
Professor Durand brought over the test results and said,
"These are the blood test results. White blood cell count is 15,000, and CRP has risen to 12 mg/L. It is a clear inflammatory response."
"What about bacteria?"
"Blood cultures will require at least twenty-four hours, and the same goes for stool cultures. Only the emergency toxin panel results are out."
"What did they show?"
"Botulinum, staphylococcal enterotoxin, and clostridial toxin were all negative. Right now, we can’t identify the causative organism."
Professor Durand’s face twisted.
"But the problem is..."