A Hospital in Another World?

"Enough!"

Viscount Joane Vaughn, observing coldly, finally spoke at this moment. He ignored Lady Deya, who was crying uncontrollably, surveyed the scene, and loudly concluded:

"This plague, instigated by the insane Roman Knight, blaspheming the gods, has attracted evil forces. The temple has worked tirelessly to purify and eliminate the majority of the evil, but a small portion leaked out, causing the epidemic—any objections?"

"Praise your fairness." High Priest Holna, the devotees of the Water Goddess, and others, including Baron Vaughn, who had hurried back upon hearing the news, responded in unison.

"The Temple of the Water Goddess, due to negligence in supervision and failure to completely purify the evil, will be responsible for all the expenses incurred in treating the plague and comforting the people!"

High Priest Holna reluctantly agreed—better than the temple facing divine punishment.

Viscount Joane Vaughn pondered for a moment, exchanged glances with the resentful High Priest Holna, and emphasized:

"Roman Knight blasphemed the gods, abandoned knightly virtues, committed a great crime. —Stripped of knighthood, confiscate his property!"

No one on the scene voiced objections.

The only one screaming and crying, Lady Deya, had her ability to speak stripped away by a divine spell from High Priest Holna, and temple guards dragged her out.

Viscount Joane Vaughn turned away, no longer looking at his aged and faded old lover. He turned to Elder Elwin Wilkinson and the bald Archbishop, speaking with a pleasant expression:

"This time, thanks to both of you. The people are still suffering from the plague, not a time for celebration. When the epidemic ends, I will personally host a banquet to thank you for your hard work."

Viscount Joane Vaughn kept his word. Seven days later, the patients in the Radiant Cathedral were completely clear, with only occasional cases in the city. He hosted a grand feast, inviting all the prominent figures in the city.

Garrett was also dragged along. Reluctantly sitting at the feast, he looked around and almost burst into laughter—

Except for the group of nobles who had run out together before, the guest list included all those people he had gathered on the day he discovered the epidemic. Everyone was invited!

Food merchants, dye merchants, guild leaders in construction, jewelers...

These businesses, neither too small nor too big, were usually not qualified to be invited by the city lord's mansion. Now they were sitting at the banquet, bewildered and even trembling.

Don't worry; I won't fleece you...

Garrett wanted to tell them that.

But his seat was relatively close to those businessmen and craftsmen, and he could only wink at them.

Doing evil, huh? The jeweler's eyes were all red. It seemed like he heard that the Water Temple had locked him up and asked him to make another microscope?

That was a huge project. He didn't understand magnification, focal length, or even how to align the eyepiece and objective on the same axis. He didn't know if he could produce something usable.

Lost in his thoughts, Viscount Joane Vaughn had already finished the toast and had raised his cup to the three leaders of the guilds. Turning around, he directly approached Garrett, holding the cup in his hand.

"Garrett Nordmark," he called Garrett's name with a smiling tone, the warmth in his voice a level above their last encounter during the Midsummer Festival:

"I remember you. Your father, Fred Nordmark, was a brave knight who sacrificed himself to defend against external enemies, and I deeply regret it. Fortunately, in these years, you have grown up safely and become a noble spellcaster—"

Lord Vaughn rambled on, and Garrett maintained a respectful smile, quite cooperative. Hey, upgrading really makes a difference. Before, when he was still an apprentice, he didn't see you recalling my father or anything...

"—By the way, last time you said you wanted to clean up the city's sludge and transport the sewage? At that time, you said that such a dirty situation would cause an epidemic?"

The lord suddenly changed the topic. Garrett suddenly brightened up:

"Yes!"

"That's a good suggestion. I approve! —Nolan, I'll leave this matter to you!"

Captain Nolan responded loudly. Viscount Joane Vaughn stroked his chin, looked up and down at Garrett, increasingly satisfied: This kid's progress is too fast. Three or four months ago, he was nothing, and now he's already a Level 1 Priest, plus a Level 1 Mage...

He coughed deliberately with a serious expression and said:

"This time, with the plague, you have again performed a great service, saving the lives of hundreds of citizens. Hmm... This time, what reward do you want?"

Is it time for reward settlement? Garrett was a bit excited. Happy as he was, he kept his sanity, knowing he couldn't ask for too much. He lowered his head modestly:

"Healing the wounded and saving lives is my duty as a healer, and I ask for nothing more. If my work has earned your approval, I hope to be rewarded with a microscope— that thing that can magnify very small objects—so I can better serve you."

"Is that even a reward!" Viscount Joane Vaughn laughed heartily. He extended his chubby right hand—this hand used to grip a knight's sword and fight on the battlefield, now it's so fat that the fingers can barely close—patted Garrett on the shoulder:

"That item was made by you; it was already yours. Think of something else!"

Huh?

Earning a microscope for free!

A microscope! When he called the jeweler, he asked. A single magnifying glass costs 100 gold coins, the eyepiece + objective lens is 200, plus various accessories and manual labor, it can't be done for less than 300 gold coins... and that's just the cost price.

Even though he's now a formal mage, with an empty wallet, he still can't afford it...

Success!

Big profit!

Lord Vaughn, you're really a good person!

Garrett was almost about to cheer. The corners of his mouth kept rising, still maintaining a humble posture, and he whispered:

"If possible, I would like to have the qualification to open a clinic in the city. Like my teacher, to diagnose and care for the health of the poor..."

Open a hospital!

Hire doctors!

Hire nurses!

Spread medical knowledge, treat patients, and pave the way for your own upgrade!

In the ears of Lord Vaughn, this request was entirely selfless, benefiting others. Viscount Joane Vaughn was deeply moved, once again patting Garrett's shoulder with force:

"Garrett Nordmark, you are a spellcaster with noble sentiments. I want people to sing your praises and reward your virtue. —Nolan!"

The captain of the city guard stepped forward again. Viscount Joane Vaughn rubbed his fingers:

"In Roman's private property, are there several estates? Take one out, and choose a house in the city. All of it will be transferred to Garrett Nordmark's name!

I want everyone to know that those who contribute, those with high moral character, I, Lord Joane Vaughn, will not mistreat them!"

Wow!

A place for a hospital!

Funds for operation are also available! A whole estate, enough to cover the daily expenses of the hospital. Next, it's just medicines, equipment, doctors, and nurses!

Garrett, go for it!

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