"The problem is the loss of evidence that may occur during the transfer process. Seafood residue, traces of plankton cultivation, the micro-coating on the surface of the medium. All of these are highly likely to be contaminated or altered during transport."
"Dr. Kang! This is an order from the state. A single hospital cannot unilaterally refuse it."
Professor Renaud furrowed his brow.
Taeho nodded and said,
"Of course. I fully understand that point as well."
He paused for a moment and slowly looked around at everyone in the conference room. Professor Durand, Professor Renaud and the hospital medical staff, the WHO investigators including Team Leader Thompson, and even the officials from the French Ministry of Health.
"That is why I would like to propose the following alternative."
Taeho walked to the whiteboard and picked up a marker.
"What about a divided transfer?"
He began drawing a simple diagram.
"We divide all the samples equally into three parts. The first will be transferred to the Paris laboratory in accordance with the order..."
He drew the first arrow.
"The second will be stored by the hospital under strict seal."
A second arrow.
"The third will be sent to a neutral third-party institution that both sides can agree on."
"Oh. That is an interesting idea."
Professor Durand's eyes flashed.
WHO Team Leader Thompson leaned forward.
"In what specific manner?"
Taeho clicked the marker cap shut and explained.
"We create digital backups of all the samples right now. Microscope images, component analysis data, even the culture status—all of it recorded in high resolution, with hash values generated and made public. In addition, the entire process of dividing and sealing the samples will be filmed in real time with timestamped cameras. We guarantee complete transparency."
Professor Renaud tilted his head askew, still wearing a skeptical expression.
"Even so, the legal binding force..."
"Wait a moment."
Team Leader Thompson raised his hand and cut him off. He took out his phone and stood up.
"This proposal is quite reasonable. I need to make an urgent report to headquarters in Geneva."
He walked to the corner of the conference room and began making a call.
Professor Durand also rubbed his chin with a troubled expression, then took out his own phone.
"I will contact our hospital’s legal team immediately. We need to confirm whether divided storage is legal in this situation."
Twenty-five minutes later.
Team Leader Thompson ended the call and returned. His expression had brightened considerably.
"Geneva headquarters has responded positively. The WHO Director-General reviewed it personally and assessed it as an excellent measure that satisfies both scientific transparency and evidence preservation."
Taeho's face lit up.
"However, there is a condition: Dr. Kang will be appointed as a temporary special investigator for only twenty-four hours, and all procedures must be carried out in the presence of French government officials."
Thompson approached Taeho.
"Dr. Kang, congratulations. Though it is limited to twenty-four hours, please direct this work as a temporary special investigator of the WHO."
"Thank you."
Taeho shook hands with Thompson, his shoulders heavier now with the authority that had been granted to him.
Almost at the same time, Professor Durand also finished his call.
"Our legal team has given its opinion as well. They have judged that divided storage under a three-party agreement is legal. However, the conditions are that a government official must be present throughout the entire process, and the sealing procedure must be conducted in the presence of a notary."
Professor Renaud still looked displeased, but he no longer seemed to have any grounds to object.
Taeho nodded.
"Then may we proceed?"
"Let us execute it immediately!"
Professor Durand stood up, calling for the head nurse.
"Marie, contact a notary and prepare the filming equipment. And summon every member of the laboratory staff!"
The atmosphere in the conference room, which had been steeped in helplessness just moments before, changed completely. The doctors and nurses began moving busily to carry out their assigned roles.
Just then, the conference room door opened carefully, and a nurse peeked in.
"Dr. Kang, Professor Yamada has just regained consciousness. He is asking for you."
When Taeho stood up, Professor Durand and the WHO investigators went with him to Yamada’s hospital room.
Yamada was half-sitting up in bed. His face was still pale, but his eyes had become clear.
Professor Durand approached and said,
"Professor Yamada! How are you feeling?"
"It is strange to be alive. I owe it to you, Professor Durand, and to Dr. Kang."
Yamada gave a faint smile.
Taeho asked,
"Professor, do you remember what you said yesterday about the 'test subject' and the 'project'?"
"..."
Yamada’s expression darkened. He sighed and nodded.
"Could you tell us about that?"
With trembling hands, Yamada took a smartphone out of the drawer beside his bed. He adjusted his glasses and scrolled with his finger for quite some time before handing over the phone.
"There is an email I received several years ago. At the time, I thought it was merely a research proposal..."
Taeho took the smartphone and checked the email.
Subject: Project Prometheus—Proposal to Participate in Research on Brain Function Amplification in DRD4-7R Carriers
"It’s an email from Global Pharmaco."
At the words Global Pharmaco, the other medical staff in the room pricked up their ears.
Taeho began reading the contents of the email.
"Professor Yamada,
We are contacting you because we hold your achievements in dopamine receptor research in high regard. We are currently conducting innovative research on improving the cognitive abilities of individuals with the DRD4-7R variant.
This project aims to safely amplify the brain functions of carriers of specific genotypes using viral vectors. Your expertise is needed, and we are prepared to provide substantial research funding.
Please refer to the attached project overview for details.
Dr. Marcos Vale"
Taeho opened the attachment. A project overview appeared.
"Project Name: Prometheus (Project PROMETHEUS)
Objective: Viral vector amplification of cognitive ability in DRD4-7R carriers
Subjects: Researchers and artists in the top 1% creativity index
Method: Activation of the brain dopamine system using a modified coronavirus
Expected Effects: 200% increase in creativity, 150% increase in concentration, 180% increase in memory"
As the document was read, sounds of shock came from the medical staff. All of them remembered passing their exams after memorizing an enormous amount of study material. A drug that could artificially increase concentration and memory—every one of them had dreamed of such a drug at least once.
Dr. Helena said in a trembling voice,
"This is a clear violation of the Declaration of Helsinki. It is unauthorized biological experimentation on human subjects. Moreover, the fact that they used a viral vector..."
She paused for a moment, calmed her agitation, and continued.
"Attempting to manipulate the nervous system without informed consent is directly contrary to the Nuremberg Code as well. This is not treatment. It is human enhancement experimentation."
Yamada shook his head.
"But the experiment failed. Instead of activating the intended dopamine pathway, the virus caused acute encephalitis. So the project was halted."
Taeho looked closely again at the document on the phone and said,
"No. According to this data, the correlation between viral load and neuroinflammatory response was higher than expected, but the project was not terminated."
Taeho's voice grew colder and colder.
"It continued despite severe adverse reactions occurring in the Phase I clinical trial. This conference was, in reality, the site of an uncontrolled human experiment."
He turned a page in the document with his finger and added,
"Look at the subject selection criteria here. They selected only researchers with a high creativity index and the DRD4-7R genotype. The scholars who attended the conference were all unknowing test subjects."
Pierre, the WHO investigator who had been listening, clenched his fist and said,
"Isn’t this blatant biochemical terrorism?"
"Everyone, we have a choice."
At Taeho’s words, Professor Durand leaned forward in his chair and asked,
"What choice do you mean?"
"We can expose this."
"But Global Pharmaco is a giant corporation that supplies thirty percent of the world’s essential medicines. If they retaliate by cutting off the supply of pharmaceuticals, countless patients around the world could be harmed."
Pierre cried out with an anxious expression.
Yamada clenched his fists tightly and said in a trembling voice,
"But that doesn’t mean we can just let this go. We were lab rats! I almost died!"
The atmosphere in the conference room grew heavier and heavier. Everyone was angry, but their opponent was a global pharmaceutical company with immense influence. One wrong move, and each of them could lose their livelihood.
They were furious at what the company had done, but afraid to step forward themselves.
Taeho slowly looked around at them and said,
"Everyone. We are already in the perfect position."
"The perfect position?"
Pierre asked in surprise.
Taeho looked at WHO Team Leader Thompson and said,
"Team Leader Thompson witnessed the entire process as an official WHO investigator. From the patients’ treatment process to the discovery of this document just now—everything."
"That is correct. Everything remains as an official WHO record. A detailed report has already been submitted to headquarters."
Thompson nodded in confirmation.
Taeho continued explaining.
"Second, Professor Durand is an authority in the French medical community. And this is a French national hospital."
Professor Durand wore an expression of understanding.
"You mean all the medical records are stored in our official system."
"Exactly."
Taeho smiled as he spoke.
"No matter how much Global Pharmaco tries to eliminate documents, what can they do about the data already backed up in the French national hospital system?"
Professor Durand suddenly stood up and said,
"I will connect directly with the Ethics Committee of the French Medical Association. Chairman Leclerc has been my colleague for twenty years. The French medical community is absolutely not lenient when it comes to illegal human experimentation."
Taeho pointed to the CCTV camera installed on the hospital wall and said,
"Third, even at this very moment, everything is being recorded."
He looked at Dr. Helena and explained.
"Dr. Helena’s analysis process, the discovery of the documents, even our conversation. Everything is being stored in the hospital’s official system with timestamps."
Helena widened her eyes and said,
"Digital forensic evidence is being generated in real time!"
"That is correct. Most importantly, we have patients who are in the process of recovery. And once the WHO moves, health authorities in each country will have no choice but to follow. No matter how powerful Global Pharmaco is, it cannot take on the entire international medical community."
Pierre, still looking worried, asked,
"But what if they really do cut off the supply of essential medicines?"
Taeho looked Pierre straight in the eye and replied,
"Then we should be grateful."
"What?"
"That would mean they are threatening the world by taking human lives hostage while everyone is watching. That is no different from an act of terrorism. They would go straight to the International Court of Justice."
Professor Durand slowly shook his head in admiration.
‘Even when I first saw him in Gambia, every medical worker thought that boy was insane after hearing his treatment method. But it was true then, and it is true now. No matter what wall he runs into, he is someone who never backs down.’