A Treacherous Courtier Manages the Empire Well

19 – Securing Allies

Crescent Triangle.

The only fertile land in the western continent, where farming was possible all year round. Therefore, whoever controlled this place could dominate the entire western continent, and Sultan Saldin of this era did just that.

It was also the place where most of the spices loved in both the western and eastern continents were produced.

“Ha-ha-ha!! My brother Adran! Come quickly!!!”

Despite the sudden request for a visit, Sultan Saldin not only readily agreed but also held a grand welcoming ceremony. Sultan, who gladly accepted the gifts we had prepared, entertained us relentlessly for three days with a grand festival of eating and drinking.

It was only after the three days of madness that I could finally have a serious conversation with Sultan Saldin.

“The gold you gave is still being used well. Brothers, the cities are thriving on the grains imported from the trade city Dagamba. Holding onto that place alone made the rebellion’s energy disappear from the entire continent. Ha-ha-ha-ha!!!”

While enjoying the incredibly sweet tea, a specialty of the western continent, the interpreters translated Sultan’s words for me. Unlike last time, the atmosphere was not stern, and the interpreters seemed a bit more relaxed.

“Except for this Crescent Triangle, most areas raise livestock for food production. However, in most lands, nutrients are not sufficient, and grass does not grow well. Living well-fed was not a friendly word to the people here. Until you appeared, that is! Ha-ha-ha!!!”

“You exaggerate, Sultan.”

“No, no. You solved my biggest headache. Anyone who can defeat me without drawing a sword deserves my respect!! Cheers!!”

Sultan laughed heartily.

“It seems like you didn’t just come here to drink tea. What is the purpose of your visit this time, brother? I hope it’s something that will make me happy again.”

“Oh great Sultan Saladin. I have come to make a request.”

“A request from my brother. What is it? I’m curious to hear.”

“Is it possible to bring beings that can heal people to my territory?”

In response to my words, Sultan Saladin extends two fingers.

“In the Karamba Empire, there are two types of beings that can heal people. One is the sorcerers. They are skilled in various ways and a single sorcery ritual can heal even the most serious illness. They are the ones who treat kings and nobles.”

The Sultan bursts into laughter.

“But their numbers are very small. There are few who are born with the talent for sorcery. If you want to borrow them, you will have to pay a hefty price.”

This was similar to the priests of the Ayram Empire. Since there were only a few blessed individuals who were born with divine power, the healing sect conducted profitable business by raising their treatment fees.

“What about the other type?”

“Doctors. Commoners usually go to them for treatment. They are responsible for the health of the common people, even slaves, but they cannot be easily approached by kings and nobles.”

It was a story I had never heard before. Well, the main stage described in the original novel was the Ayram Empire, not the Western Continent, so it was natural that I didn’t know.

“They develop various tools and use knives and instruments to open the human body and remove the source of the disease. They call it ‘surgery.'”

The sound of my eyes opening wide.

Surgery, and doctors.

“Do they have a large number of them?”

“Compared to sorcerers, their numbers are very large. Since they have to treat common people, it’s only natural, isn’t it?”

“Can they be brought to my territory? Oh Sultan?”

The Sultan bursts into laughter at my words.

“Of course. If you bring them, I will be grateful. Currently, there are more doctors than necessary in the Crescent Triangle. Newly arrived doctors are competing with existing doctors for patients and jobs.”

“Really? Why is that?”

“During the conquest wars, many cities and countries in my army collapsed. I brought anyone with usefulness to the Crescent Triangle. As a result, there are too many doctors. So feel free to bring as many as you want.”

The Sultan looks at me with a smile. I tried to thank him, but he wasn’t finished yet.

“If you grant my small request.”

“What request is it?”

“I heard that you are cultivating the golden prairie. I have heard that the amount of crops produced there surpasses imagination.”

“That’s true.”

“I heard that you started growing the crops with something called ‘fertilizer’ to supply nutrients. Is that correct?”

“Yes, Sultan. Do you want to import fertilizer?”

Sultan Saladin laughs.

“The golden meadow was a land so barren that even weeds had difficulty growing. However, if the fertilizer could make crops grow in such a place, how much more fertile would the Okto of the Crescent Triangle become with the addition of fertilizer? What do you think? Can you grant my request? If you grant my request, I will grant yours.”

Ironically, it was something I wanted to ask for.

Sultan Saladin.

He was ambitious and a cruel conqueror, but he had a discerning eye.

“Willingly. I will build another fertilizer factory for the Sultan and dedicate all the additional production to him.”

The Sultan laughed at my words, stood up from his seat, and approached me, embracing me.

“Excellent! Brothers!!! hahahaha! I promise to sell all the spice through you if the production of spice increases with the use of fertilizer! hahahahaha!!”

I chuckled with a bitter smile at his words.

Who would have known that the person who had been one of the worst trials for the protagonist Adran in the original novel would become such a helpful existence?

“For the Sultan, anytime.”

I thanked the Sultan politely for his favor.

“I present to you the brother of the Sultan and the giant of the Eastern Continent, Lendor. Doctors, kneel!!!!”

As the Sultan introduced me with a proud voice, the doctors in the hospital lowered their heads.

“We greet the great brother of the Sultan!!!”

Everyone was visibly tense. I laughed at them and gestured for them to stand up before distributing the snacks I had brought.

As I mentioned, the Western Continent was a neighborhood where food was scarce. Especially, it was a place where it was hard to find snacks that tasted sweet because corn did not grow well there. For them, the snacks developed in the Eastern Continent, such as cookies and meringues, boasted a shocking taste.

“Amazing! This taste!!…”

All the doctors quickly devoured the snacks. And with just that, their goodwill towards me seemed to reach its peak.

“hahahahaha! Come this way! Mr. Lendor!!! I am Samir Hekjang, the head of this hospital.”

The doctors introduced me to Samir Hekjang, the head of the organization the Sultan had sent me to. It was called Hakpa, a gathering of doctors from various destroyed cities and countries, which was said to be the largest organization in the Crescent Triangle.

“I am truly grateful that the honorable brother of the Sultan has brought such a precious gift. Why have you come to this humble hospital?”

Samir Hekjang cautiously looked at me, inquiring about the matter. It was a profession with an important mission of taking care of the health of the common people, but because of their low status, the hospital had a humble appearance.

He himself had worn-out clothes.

“I came here because I have a few questions to ask. Mr. Samir. How many doctors are there in Hakpa?”

“I don’t know the exact number either. Hakpa was formed by doctors from various destroyed cities, gathered together as one organization, believing that interacting with each other would be helpful for research. hahahaha.”

“Can you give me a rough estimate of the number?”

“You can assume there are around 10,000 members. It includes doctors from various fields such as surgery, dentistry, orthopedics, and neurology. It is said that there are more doctors than stones in the Crescent Triangle. hahahaha.”

“Excellent. Are there any experts on infectious diseases?”

“Of course, there are. As you can see, the Crescent Triangle is an area with a very high population density. Since there is a high risk of epidemic outbreaks, most of the doctor organizations here have specialists in infectious diseases.”

“I heard that you are capable of making medicine using plants and animals.”

“hahahaha. It’s only natural that doctors with various specialties from all different cities would gather here. But why?”

I let out a dry laugh after carefully asking Samir dean.

I firmly grabbed his hand.

“Dean Samir? Do you not have any thoughts about all the doctors from our school moving together to the Eastern Continent?”

“……….Yes?”

“Well?”

“It’s difficult, isn’t it? It would be like saying goodbye to our families….”

“It’s fine to bring your families with you as well.”

“You’re saying it’s fine to bring all our families?!”

“Yes. I will send thousands of top-notch carriages to bring them all. Make sure to pack all your belongings.”

“What about our research facilities and materials…?”

“We will move all of that as well. We will move it quickly and safely.”

“We, we don’t have that kind of money…”

“I will cover all relocation costs. If the lunar pillar allows our school to move to their territory, I will provide all the doctors and their families with luxurious houses equipped with modern plumbing and stoves. No, I will even create a separate area for the doctors to live in!!”

“What about the patients we are currently treating…?”

“Well, there are already too many doctors crowding the crescent triangle, aren’t there? Is it only doctors? It’s a crowded place with lots of people. I will give enough time for other medical schools to take over. And if there is any cost involved in the transition process, we will cover it.”

“The hospitals and research facilities we have…”

“I will build new ones in my territory. They will be much larger, more advanced, and more sophisticated than the current ones. The best architects on the Eastern Continent are gathered there. What I’m saying is not an exaggeration. Definitely.”

Dean Samir had a bewildered expression. But gradually, his expression turned into disbelief as I continued speaking, not giving him a chance to regain his composure.

“There are already too many medical schools in the crescent triangle. Is it only doctors? It’s a crowded place with lots of people. I’ve heard that there is a lot of conflict between the doctors who were forced to come here from outside and the ones who were already established here.”

“That…yes, that’s true.”

“In my territory, there is not a single doctor, so you don’t need to worry about competitors. Furthermore, we will provide differential treatment fees for each patient depending on the severity of their condition. From our Merchant Guild!!! You can earn much more and live much more prosperous than now!!”

“Uh…uh…”

“And that’s not all!! We will provide unlimited research funding for the development of new medicines and treatment methods!!! Please tell me what research you want to pursue when you come to me! I will provide maximum support!! Moreover, in the Eastern Continent, magic, alchemy, and science are highly developed. You know that, right?”

“Yes, that’s true.”

“I can even arrange a meeting with the top authorities in those fields, the people of the Martop!! Meeting them and combining the wisdom of the East and the West, you can develop even greater medicine and treatment methods!! You can become the greatest doctor in history!!”

“Uh, Lord Rando…that…”

“Please come in!! The expenses for moving, residency, new hospital and research facility construction will all be covered by our Merchant Guild!! If you wish, we also have the intention of establishing a specialized academy for training new doctors!!! How about it!!!!!”

I tightly grasp Principal Samir’s hand, who is staggering and unable to regain his senses after being hit repeatedly.

“Are you still not coming!!!!!!”

“I, I will go!!!!”

I let go of his hand as he screams in terror as if being threatened.

With a bright smile, I pat his shoulder lightly.

“Welcome to the Aelum Empire, Principal Samir.”

The medical staff has been secured.

Now, we will raise these doctors so that the common people can receive quality treatment without paying exorbitant fees.

“That’s how we can give Ronald II a hard time, right?”

That bastard who inherited expensive medical fees and plundered the people.

That miserable bastard who made the empire’s people cry.

I had no intention of forgiving them for causing harm to my people.