I'll Cut Off Their Funding First.
He glanced sideways at Walter and Kellogg, but even they had nothing to say. It seemed the Sky Tower's official decree really was the Dungeon Zone Special Law itself, just as Tower Master Servius had claimed.
This is... bad.
His mind raced through a dozen variables. Even if Jeff and Ollie could be forcibly extracted with Walter's help, complying with the Sky Tower's decree would spell bigger problems ahead. It took over thirty minutes on foot from the Beauty Tower to the dungeon. Meanwhile, the Wind Tower was a mere ten-minute walk away at a leisurely pace—or less than three if the mages sprinted.
And they're hopelessly outnumbered. There are way too many mages in that tower...
Numerically and geographically, the Beauty Tower was at a massive disadvantage compared to the Wind Tower.
"Heh, I see from your expression that you understand. Well then, carry on. What are you waiting for? Treat these patients already."
"Yes, Tower Master!"
"Maaaaner!"
"Big bro!"
The gravelly, cave-like bellows of Jeff and Ollie as they were dragged toward the magic tower snapped him back to reality.
"Walter."
At his low murmur, Walter instantly drew his sword. The Wind Tower mages followed suit, pulling saws, knives, axes, and other tools from beneath their robes—the same ones he'd seen in what they called the "operating room" but was really a torture chamber.
Wait... aren't you guys mages?
The standoff unfolded in seconds. Servius clicked his tongue as if the situation genuinely pained him.
"Tsk, I don't like using medical instruments for anything but treatment. Gold Baron, do you really intend to see blood spilled?"
Walter was a swordmaster on par with the Northern Duke. But facing mages gripping tools—or rather, instruments—with their burly arms exposed beneath their robes, this fight was bound to get bloody. Honestly, if these guys squared up and headed into the dungeon, they might conquer the deepest floors just based on looks alone.
And this is right in front of their tower. Plus, who knows how strong Tower Master Servius really is...
He had to avoid violence at all costs. Even if Walter could handle them all, it would turn every mage in the Wind Tower—and every magic tower under the Sky Tower—into enemies.
"See blood? Doctors save lives, not take them like some butchers."
"Goodness, anyone hearing that might think we run a slaughterhouse. Heh, so why are you drawing a sword and blocking a patient transfer?"
"It's impolite, but given the circumstances, I'll be frank. I believe the treatments at our Beauty Tower surpass anything done at the Wind Tower."
"How dare you before the Tower Master!"
"Such insolence!"
The Wind Tower "doctors'" tools, aimed at Walter, all swiveled toward him. But Servius seemed utterly unperturbed by his words.
"Besides, the Sky Tower's decree only says patients with potentially infectious wounds must be treated at a magic tower. How do you know Jeff and Ollie's injuries are infectious enough to justify dragging them away by force?"
"Heh, your medical insight still seems lacking. Just bring them to the tower and cut them open—we'll know then. Debating this in front of patients who need urgent care is pointless, like arguing which came first, the chicken or the egg."
This was infuriating. Trading barbs on basic medicine with someone whose knowledge wouldn't pass a med school freshman.
He couldn't keep approaching this from a medical angle. Time to shift the conversation.
"Then let's give patients a choice from now on. Think about it—the decree only mandates treatment for infectious wounds at a magic tower. It doesn't specify which one."
"Heh, true. The Beauty Tower is registered with the territorial office as a magic tower. But why should we?"
"...?"
"Don't you understand what an 'infectious wound' means? Something that can spread."
Servius's crescent-moon eyes sharpened like daggers.
"In case you don't know, infectious diseases require immediate treatment. Yet you're suggesting patients go to the Beauty Tower, forty minutes from the dungeon?"
Servius flashed a sly grin and pressed on.
"Sure, a horse or carriage might shorten the trip, but how do you prevent the disease from spreading en route?"
"I'm saying it's wrong to drag patients to your tower without confirming if it's even infectious or offering them a choice."
Damn it... it's like talking to a brick wall.
Fine. He'd stoop to their level.
"Heh, didn't I say it's an emergency with infection risk—no time for choices—"
"So you're admitting it? That your Wind Tower's medical tech and facilities are so inferior to ours that you need to drag patients away just to diagnose them."
"What did you just say?"
Servius's eyes blazed with fury, and Walter stepped closer, sword at the ready.
"In my view, your Wind Tower isn't a hospital. It's a torture chamber."
"What blasphemy against the Tower Master!"
"Mind your manners, Gold Baron!"
"Such nonsense!"
Nonsense? That's your playbook, assholes.
Servius's lackeys trembled with rage, but he smirked and continued.
"I told you the first time I visited your tower, Servius. Your mages aren't doctors—they're undertakers."
"Un—undertakers?!"
"That lunatic!"
"Hey, you 1st and 2nd Circle mages! The baron's speaking—shut up and listen. This is advice that'll save your hides."
He barked at the flunkies twitching with outrage. Sure, he had no mana to speak of, but he was a baron. Titles came in handy sometimes.
"My apologies, Servius. The flies kept buzzing."
"You've gotten quite the mouth since last time."
"A sharp tongue beats the butcher's hands your mages wield. Anyway, unless you and your tower admit inferiority to ours—which you'd never do—respect the patients' choices. Let them pick their tower."
Servius closed his eyes briefly, as if in deep thought, then opened them.
"Fine. Though it's absurd, I can't let it stand that our tower—with its ancient history and traditions—lags behind yours."
"Excellent. Jeff, Ollie—which tower do you want treatment from?"
"Beauty Tower, obviously! We ain't dyin' today!"
"Let go, you quacks! I'm goin' to the Beauty Tower too!"
Despite limping from dungeon wounds, the massive duo hurried to his side, twisting the mages' faces in fury.
"Then we're done here. I have patients to treat."
As he turned to leave—
"Gold Baron, one thing before you go. From now on, if you or your Beauty Tower doctors try taking patients, it'll be the same."
"What? We just agreed to respect patient choice."
Servius chuckled.
"Oh, of course. If you or your people are there, we can ask. But abandon urgent patients because you're not at the dungeon or your tower's closed? Unacceptable."
"...So if we're not there, you'll haul them to your tower no questions asked?"
"Heh, 'haul'? We'll provide emergency care. Now that you've seen the decree, focus on saving lives."
Back at the Beauty Tower, he immediately treated Jeff and Ollie. After draining the pus-filled wounds, suturing them, and applying recovery magic, there'd be no further issues.
But the shock of nearly being dragged to the magic tower left them unsteady; they were resting in inpatient rooms.
Anyone learning the Wind Tower's true nature would react like them. In medieval times, some killed themselves upon hearing amputation was required.
But the real issue was solving this standoff.
Luckily, the first patients were Jeff and Ollie, Beauty Tower regulars. Strangers might choose the closer Wind Tower.
To tackle it, all Beauty Tower staff gathered in the first-floor cafe for solutions.
"Director, what's the plan?"
"...I'm thinking. Even if we're well-known, our fees are steep. No matter how superior our care, free treatment isn't sustainable."
"Right. And we can't just comp everyone."
"Hmm..."
Cache was spot on. Free care was the only fix, but they already did one free session weekly via story events. More would bankrupt them treating every dungeon injury.
"It's not just cost. As Servius said, they outnumber us. And they're much closer. We'll need someone waiting near their tower constantly."
"Manpower, distance, money..."
Walter summed up the three core problems.
Then Kellogg raised a hand tentatively.
"Distance? Use a magic carriage."
"Magic carriage?"
"Moves without horses or drivers. Needs steady mana via magic stones, but the witches can handle that, aye?"
Rebecca nodded.
"Mana-intensive, but with Hazel, Stella, the Jo family, and me rotating infusions, it's feasible."
"Great. Kellogg, build one ASAP. That leaves money and manpower..."
But those weren't quick fixes. Start with the easy win.
"Then let's cut off the Wind Tower's funding first. From now on, sell all our potions at half price."