Securing the Doctors
The Crescent Moon Triangle.
In the western continent, where most lands were desert or grassland, this was the only fertile region where crops could be grown year-round.
Whoever controlled it could dominate the entire western continent, and Sultan Saladin of this generation had done exactly that.
It was also the source of most spices loved across both the western and eastern continents.
"Hahaha! My brother Landor! Come quickly!"
Even though my visit had been sudden, Sultan Saladin had readily granted permission and prepared a grand welcoming ceremony.
He happily accepted the gifts we brought and hosted a lavish festival for three days, making us eat and drink without pause.
Only after those three chaotic days could I finally sit down with Sultan Saladin for a serious conversation.
"The gold you gave me is still proving useful, brother. Cities are desperate for the grain imported through the trading city of Dagamba. With that alone in hand, the rebellious mood across the continent has vanished completely. Hahaha!"
While sipping the extremely sweet tea that was a specialty of the western continent, the interpreters translated the sultan’s words for me.
Unlike last time, the atmosphere was not tense, so the interpreters looked noticeably more relaxed.
"Except for this Crescent Moon Triangle, most regions raise livestock for food. But the soil in many places lacks enough nutrients, so grass often fails to grow properly. Eating one’s fill was never a familiar phrase to the people here—until you appeared! Hahaha!"
"You flatter me, Sultan."
"No, no. You solved my biggest headache. Anyone who defeats me without drawing a sword deserves my respect! Absolutely!"
The sultan laughed heartily.
"I doubt you came just to drink tea. What brings you here this time, brother? I hope it is something that will please me again."
"Great Sultan Saladin, I have come to ask a favor."
"A request from my brother? I would like to hear it."
"Would it be possible to take some healers to my territory?"
At my words, Sultan Saladin held up two fingers.
"In the Karamba Empire there are two kinds of people who save others. One is the shamans. They are skilled in many fields. A single shamanic ritual can cure even the gravest illness. They treat kings and nobles."
The sultan burst into laughter.
"But their numbers are very small, because few are born with the talent for shamanism. If you wish to borrow them, you will have to pay a hefty price."
This was similar to the priests of the Ailam Empire. The blessed few born with holy power were likewise few in number. That was the hidden reason the Healing Sect could charge exorbitant fees.
"What about the other group?"
"Doctors. Ordinary commoners go to them for treatment. Even though some are commoners or even slaves, kings and nobles dare not touch them, because they are responsible for the health of the common people."
This was new to me. After all, the original novel’s main setting had been the Ailam Empire, not the western continent, so it was natural that I would not know.
"They develop various tools to examine patients and use knives and instruments to open the body and remove the source of illness. They call this surgery."
My eyes lit up.
Surgery. And doctors.
"Are there many of them?"
"Far more than shamans. They treat commoners, after all."
"Could I take them to my territory, Sultan?"
The sultan laughed again.
"As many as you like. I would actually be grateful if you took them. Right now the Crescent Moon Triangle has more doctors than it needs. New doctors are fighting with the old ones over patients and jobs."
"What? Why?"
"During my conquests, countless cities and nations fell to my army. I brought back anyone useful to the Crescent Moon Triangle. As a result, we now have far too many doctors. So take as many as you want."
The sultan smiled at me. I was about to thank him when he continued.
"Provided you grant me a small favor in return."
"What favor?"
"You are cultivating the Golden Plains, are you not? I hear the amount of grain produced there is beyond imagination."
"That is correct."
"I heard you began growing crops by supplying nutrients with something called fertilizer. Is that true?"
"Yes, Sultan. Do you wish to import fertilizer?"
The sultan smiled.
"The Golden Plains were so nutrient-poor that even weeds struggled to grow. If fertilizer can produce food there, I can only imagine how much more fertile the rich soil of the Crescent Moon Triangle would become with it. What do you say? Can you grant my request? If you do, I will grant yours."
This was something I had wanted to offer anyway.
Sultan Saladin was an ambitious and ruthless conqueror, yet he clearly possessed vision.
"Gladly. I will build an additional fertilizer factory for the sultan and deliver all extra production to you."
The sultan rose with a smile, approached me, and embraced me.
"Excellent, brother! Haha! If fertilizer increases spice production, I promise to sell it only through you! Hahaha!"
I gave a wry smile at his words.
Who would have guessed that the man who had been one of Crown Prince Adran’s worst trials in the original novel would become such a helpful ally?
"For the sultan, anytime."
I politely thanked him for his generosity.
"This is the sultan’s brother and the great merchant of the eastern continent, Lord Landor. Kneel, doctors!"
When the eunuch sent by the sultan introduced me in a booming voice, the doctors in the hospital bowed deeply.
"We greet the great sultan’s brother!"
Everyone was visibly tense. I smiled at them and gestured for them to rise, then distributed the snacks I had prepared in advance.
As I had been told, food was scarce in the western continent. Especially in an environment unsuitable for sugarcane, sweet treats were almost impossible to find.
To them, cookies and meringues developed in the eastern continent were shockingly delicious.
"G-Good heavens! Such flavor!"
Every doctor devoured the snacks hungrily. That single gesture seemed to raise their favor toward me to its peak.
"Hahaha! This way, Lord Landor! I am Dean Samir, head of this hospital."
The group of doctors the sultan had directed me to was the Maldina School.
It had been formed by gathering doctors from many fallen cities and nations and was said to be the largest school in the Crescent Moon Triangle.
"I am overwhelmed that the sultan’s noble brother has brought such a precious gift. What brings you to this humble hospital?"
Dean Samir asked cautiously, watching my expression. Though they bore the important duty of protecting the common people’s health, their low status showed in the hospital’s shabby appearance.
Even the dean’s clothes were worn.
"I came because I have a few questions, Dean Samir. How many doctors belong to your school?"
"I do not know the exact number. Doctors from every fallen city gathered together. We thought uniting into one organization would help our research, so we joined forces. Haha."
"Could you give me a rough estimate?"
"Roughly around ten thousand. We have surgeons, dentists, orthopedists, neurologists, and doctors from many other fields. That is why people say doctors are more common than stones in the Crescent Moon Triangle. Haha."
"Excellent. Are there any experts in infectious diseases?"
"Of course. As you can see, the Crescent Moon Triangle has a very high population density. Because epidemics spread easily here, most medical schools keep specialists in infectious diseases."
"I also heard you are skilled at making medicine from plants and animals."
"Haha. With doctors from every city bringing their specialties, that was inevitable. But why do you ask?"
Seeing Dean Samir ask cautiously, I gave him a broad smile.
I grabbed his hand firmly.
"Dean Samir, would your school’s doctors consider moving to the eastern continent with us?"
"...Pardon?"
"The sultan has given me permission to take doctors. I need doctors in my territory, Dean Samir."
Dean Samir looked flustered.
"All ten thousand of them?"
"Yes, that is correct."
"Th-That is difficult. It would mean parting with our families..."
"You may bring your families as well."
"We can bring our families too?!"
"Yes. I will send thousands of the finest carriages to escort everyone. Pack all your belongings."
"Our research facilities and materials..."
"We will move those as well. Quickly and safely."
"W-We do not have the funds..."
"I will cover all relocation costs. If the Maldina School moves to my territory, every doctor and their families will receive homes equipped with running water, sewage, and magic-stone heating. In fact, I will build an entire district just for doctors!"
"What about the patients we are currently treating..."
"There are already too many doctors in the Crescent Moon Triangle. I will give you plenty of time to hand over your patients to other schools. If any costs arise during the handover, we will pay those as well."
"Our hospitals and research facilities..."
"We will build new ones in my territory—much larger, more advanced, and more luxurious than what you have now. The eastern continent’s finest architects are gathered there. I am not exaggerating."
Dean Samir looked bewildered, yet his expression was gradually turning tempted. I kept speaking so he would not have time to regain his composure.
"The Crescent Moon Triangle already has too many medical schools. Not only doctors—there are too many people, too much crowding. I have heard that doctors brought here by force often clash with the established schools."
"That... is true."
"My territory has not a single doctor, so you need not worry about competitors. Moreover, we will pay treatment fees differentiated by the severity of each patient’s condition—through our merchant guild! You will earn far more and live far wealthier lives than now!"
"Uh... th-that..."
"And that is not all! We will provide unlimited research funds for developing new medicines and treatments! Tell me what research you wish to pursue, and I will support you to the fullest! You could even meet the Tower’s masters, the highest authorities in magic and alchemy, and combine eastern and western wisdom to create greater medicines and treatments! You could become the greatest doctor in history!"
"L-Lord Landor... that..."
"Just come! Moving costs, settlement costs, construction of new hospitals and research facilities—everything will be handled by our merchant guild! If you wish, I am even willing to establish a medical academy to train new doctors! What do you say?!"
I seized Dean Samir’s hand tightly as he reeled from the barrage of offers.
"Will you still refuse?!"
"I-I will go!"
Seeing Dean Samir cry out as though threatened, I finally released his hand.
I gave him a bright smile and patted his shoulder.
"Welcome to the Ailam Empire, Dean Samir."
I had secured the medical personnel.
Now I would nurture these doctors so that commoners could receive quality treatment without paying exorbitant fees.
That way I can give Ronald II a taste of his own medicine.
The bastard who exploited the people with outrageous medical fees.
The son of a bitch who made the empire’s citizens weep.
I had no intention of forgiving those who had harmed my people.