A Treacherous Courtier Manages the Empire Well

20 – The Parasites That Hurt My People Will Not Be Forgiven

The great migration of my people has begun.

“Bring the carriages!!! Now!!!!”

10,000 doctors. And the families of the doctors and various research assistants, the number of people who needed to be relocated reached as high as 50,000. It was a task that required a large number of transportation means to move all their belongings, research materials, and entire research labs.

The Merchant Guild’s carriages were mobilized, and the dragons guarding the trade routes were also mobilized to start carrying the luggage.

“I will also help my brothers’ migration.”

Moreover, even the sultan provided assistance. Hundreds of well-trained camels were supported and began to be loaded with luggage, thus the doctors’ migration started with the help of everyone.

“Now!! Let’s move!!”

The large-scale migration involving dragons, camels, and carriages proceeded smoothly. The 50,000 people were divided into thousands of carriages, and their belongings were loaded onto camels and dragons to be moved to the Eastern Continent.

“Those who are used to the warm southern climate may think Eldond Viscount and Porto Commerce City are cold! Ensure thorough heating!!!!”

I provided the doctors with thick fur coats and kept the carriages warm by placing heating stones inside. Thanks to this, the doctors were able to settle in Porto Commerce City and Eldond Viscount after a journey of a whopping three weeks without falling ill due to the change in climate.

Dragons crossed the Crescent Moon Triangular Point and shuttled between my territory and the trading route over ten times, and thousands of carriages went back and forth three times, and hundreds of camels went back and forth between the Crescent Moon Triangular Point and the vicinity of the trading route several times. The massive relocation project, which consumed a tremendous amount of money, labor, and time, was fortunately completed without any unfortunate incidents or accidents.

“This is actually our home. How do you like it? Does it suit your taste?”

The doctors opened their mouths wide at the sight of the typical Aelum Empire-style multi-unit houses made of bricks, wooden columns, and mud insulation. To them, who used to live tightly packed in narrow houses, this was nothing less than a significant expansion of living space.

But what surprised them wasn’t just that.

“The plumbing system is fully equipped, and there is a magical stone stove inside as well. If the house is cold, you can light the magical stone stove to make it warm, and turn it off when it gets too hot. If you run out of magical stones, you can recharge them at the nearby charging station.”

“T, thank you.”

“Do not worry. Ah! The construction of the hospital and research institute for treatment is already underway. We have received approval from Director Samir and several doctors, and have completed the design plans accordingly to build the hospital and research institute. It won’t be long before we can start receiving patients.”

Several hectic months passed. Samir, myself, and several doctors from the Medina faction met every day to discuss various matters.

The location for building the hospital, how many doctors should be allocated to each region, how much should the medical fees be, how much of the medical fees should be borne by the patients’ families and the merchant guild, and so on.

It was a busy and chaotic time, but also a very meaningful and enjoyable time.

“We should build a large hospital as the central axis and place smaller clinics in various parts of the city.”

“I understand.”

“The medical fees will be determined according to the duration and difficulty of treating the illness. In this case, 80% of the medical fees will be covered by the merchant guild, while the remaining 20% will be borne by the patients’ families and guardians.”

“I agree.”

“The doctors’ salaries will be set at 60 gold per month. The auxiliary nurses and researchers will receive 20 gold each per month. In addition, we will provide housing free of charge.”

“…Thank you.”

Five months flew by like bullets.

It was a busy and chaotic time, with a lot of money spent and many people working hard.

But I endured all of it and finally pushed through. The hospitals in the commercial city of Porto and the Elond domain were officially opened.

And the medical services provided by these hospitals…

“Thank you, thank you so much!”

“hahahaha! Please translate for them so they don’t get sick again.”

It created a tremendous response.

As I mentioned before, individuals with special abilities such as magic, sorcery, and divine power were rare. So if peasants wanted medical treatment for their ailments, they had to be prepared to sacrifice their entire household for it, seek out priests, or simply suffer and eventually die.

In that regard, the Karamba Empire in the western continent definitely paid much more attention to public healthcare than the Ailam Empire. Don’t you want to learn from their advantages?

“Everyone of the territory. The hospitals are now open. If you are sick or have chronic illnesses, please visit the hospitals. You can receive treatment at a low price. Lord Randor’s merchant guild will cover 80% of the treatment costs, and you will only need to pay 20%.”

I didn’t have much to do with the hospitals, so I took on the role of guarding the Elond domain and the commercial city of Porto, and spread the word about the hospitals in busy areas such as the downtown, movie theaters, and restaurants.

Upon hearing these words, people began to visit the hospitals out of curiosity.

And here is what happened there.

“Oh gosh! Cough!… I’m not going! It’s obvious that it’s going to be expensive, and our pockets can’t afford it!… Cough!”

“Father! You’ve been coughing for a month! Let’s go and check it out. Lord Randor is willing to cover 80% of the treatment costs for us. We can receive treatment at a very affordable price.”

“….Really?”

People who couldn’t afford expensive medical treatment started flocking to the hospitals one by one. And there, they experienced a whole new world.

“Please come in. Are you here for treatment?”

A clean and white-toned building. Inside, well-dressed receptionists politely welcomed the patients. For those who could communicate through interpreters, they first confirmed the areas of pain and symptoms, and assigned them a waiting number.

“When your number is called, a hospital staff member will guide you to the appropriate doctor. Please follow them for your examination.”

“Ah, I understand.”

The clean and spacious hospital waiting room was warm, with a blazing fire in the marble fireplace, and the sofa placed for sitting and waiting was not as comfortable as it seemed. While sitting comfortably and waiting, the hospital staff would come and call the waiting number, leading the patient to the doctor.

“Hmm……… Hmm.”

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With an interpreter by his side, the doctor carefully examined the patient’s condition using various self-developed medical tools, such as a stethoscope, before providing an accurate prescription.

“Fortunately, it seems to be just a simple flu. Since you are older and your immune system may have weakened, you can take the medicine that we prepare. The pharmacy is located in the basement of the hospital. Here. This is the prescription.”

“…….Uh, th-thank you.”

When you take the prescription and go downstairs, the pharmacy will prepare and provide the medication. The patient just needed to go back to the reception desk, pay the money, and collect the medicine.

“Let’s see……. including the consultation fee and the cost of the medicine, it will be 5 silver. However, since the Merchant Guild covers 80%, you only need to pay 1 silver.”

In the commercial city of Porto or the Elond Marquisate, where there are many well-paying jobs, this much money was affordable even for commoners. Compared to the fact that just to receive treatment for a cold at a healing sect, they would start by extracting at least 50 gold, this was shockingly inexpensive.

“T-Thank you.”

By taking the medicine, the body would quickly recover.

And those who experienced this shockingly advanced medical service would spread the word to others.

“The receptionist is kind, and the hospital staff are kind too. And how exceptional is the doctor! After taking the medicine, my illness, which had been persisting for a month, vanished at once!”

“Really?”

“Yes, really!! And on top of that, the consultation fee was only 1 silver! 1 silver!! Can you believe it? hahahahaha!! I cured my illness with the money for two meals!!!!”

Upon hearing these stories at taverns, workplaces, and movie theaters, people would bring their own illnesses and long-standing patients to the hospital. The doctors would excellently treat them, of course.

And the people who had visited the logistics city of Porto, which saw the passing and distribution of goods throughout the entire Ailam Empire, would start spreading the story throughout the empire.

Inexpensive fees, well-organized hospital systems, excellent quality medical care.

“Let’s go to Porto, the commercial city!”

“Let’s go to the Elond Marquisate!!”

This had two effects.

First, it attracted poor patients from all over the country to my territory.

And second, it attracted the attention of Adran and Seline.

“Randor.”

“Princess Kalia. What can I do for you?”

“That…don’t be surprised. Prince Adran and Princess Seline contacted me saying they want to meet Randor.”

Car Hanssen, who was busy working beside me, burst into laughter at those words.

“hahahahaha!! Prince Adran?!”

“It’s not just a simple meeting. Prince Adran formally invited Randor and Headmaster Sameer to the Golden Palace Conference, and Princess Seline invited Randor and Headmaster Sameer to the scholarly conference held at Matap. By the way, they also asked me and Car Hanssen to come along.”

“M-Me too?”

I felt like I knew why they were calling for me.

“Of course, we must go!”

And so, I, Karen Hanson, Karia, and Prime Minister Samir boarded the dragon once again and flew to the capital.

“Orololo!”

As soon as Prince Samir, who was riding a dragon for the first time, arrived, I immediately looked for Adran.

“Count Randor, please come in.”

If this were an original novel, Adran would have never greeted me with such a soft voice. He quickly led me to his palace, the Golden Palace.

Due to the Emperor’s old age and weakness, Adran, in fact, handled most of the empire’s major administrative tasks. It was not an exaggeration to say that the meetings held here determined the empire’s administration.

“Please come in, Count Randor.”

As I entered the Golden Palace, to my surprise, I witnessed the people who would normally despise me or avoid me rise from their seats and greet me politely.

“It has been a while. I’m glad everyone seems to be in good health.”

“Thanks to Count Randor.”

Well, the treasury is full because of me. I was able to implement the education policies for the commoners that I had always wanted. It was no wonder that his anger had subsided.

“I can guess why you called me. Because of the hospital in my territory, right?”

Prince Adran laughs at my straightforward question.

“You’re right. As you know, Randor, I’m someone who has a great interest in public healthcare. Thanks to you, I was able to revise the public healthcare system in the capital using the funds that were filled. However… it is still only limited to the capital.”

In addition to the Healing Sect, there were buildings for various sects in the capital. As a result, they were able to compete and provide treatment to the citizens of the capital at lower prices. But in the provinces, there were no such buildings for various sects, so it was impossible to do the same.

“We needed to pay attention to the healthcare of the people in the provinces, but there was no alternative because of the expensive treatment fees of the Healing Priests. But now, you have provided a wonderful solution.”

“What do you want, Your Highness?”

“The high treatment fees of the Healing Sect were destroying the finances of the common people. So far, other than them, there was no alternative, but… not anymore. I want to establish an academy to train doctors with government support.”

“Your judgment is excellent. Of course, that is what should be done.”

“But I want the empire to pay for it, not you. If you do everything for us, it undermines our dignity. So, I want to form a faculty of doctors from the ones you brought here and assign them as professors at the Academy of Medicine. Is that possible, Chancellor Samir?”

Chancellor Samir, who received the story from the interpreter, was very pleased.

“I can do that! Although it is difficult for me to be present at the site due to my illness, there are many experienced doctors. They would be perfect as professors.”

“I agree. Prince Adran, having more doctors can only benefit us.”

Upon hearing my and Chancellor Samir’s words, Adran’s face brightens.

“I didn’t expect you to refuse. Thank you, Randor…”

“Of course, it’s not for free, Your Highness. I hope you can grant me a favor.”

At my request, Adran’s expression changes subtly. He seemed hesitant for a moment, but Adran cautiously asks me.

“What is it? Tell me.”

They say that the revenge of a gentleman is never too late, even if it takes ten years.

Both Kale Hansen and I still vividly remember the sight of Prince Ronald II mocking us a few months ago.

“Do you know why I flew all the way to the Kamaba Empire to borrow doctors?”

“I don’t know. What’s the reason?”

“Originally, I was planning to summon the priests from the Healing Sect. But they demanded 30% of my trade route income as compensation for building the church. It was about five months ago.”

“….Is that so?”

“Yes. They seemed like individuals with excessive greed. If they would treat me like that, I wonder what they would do to the common citizens. They appeared to be very….very corrupt individuals.”

The expressions of all the officials who attended the meeting with Adran and the Golden Palace turned grim. They seemed to have accumulated a lot within the Healing Sect, even though they had been quiet until now.

I shrugged my shoulders at them.

“Now, in the field of treating the illnesses of the common people, they are no longer the only answer. So, wouldn’t it be good to lend a helping hand at this opportunity? Leaving the problem unattended for too long will only make it worse.”

Adran nodded without saying a word.

“They were already planning to make some improvements in that area someday. The problem is….to carry out such a thing, we need the Emperor’s permission, right?”

“I have brought numerous gifts that His Majesty would surely appreciate. You don’t have to worry about the permission issue.”

“Then there should be no problem. We can be a bit rough if necessary.”

Adran and I exchanged meaningful smiles.

I will not forgive anyone who harms me and my people.