Chapter 300

Chapter 300

Garrett unleashed a torrential rebuke, speaking rapidly and with a high pitch, full of vigor. Master Norwood initially tried to resist but was quickly overwhelmed, managing only a faint protest:

"...I was just too tired! I’ve been working day and night on this thing for the past month, even cutting back on my meditation time! Of course, I’d feel unwell from overexertion..."

Garrett raised an eyebrow. Still not convinced, huh? Won’t shed tears until you see the coffin, right?

"Archmage Carlisle!" He leaned out from behind the patient and called:

"Do you have a mirror here? —And yes, stop the generator! Stop it first! When someone is in the room, don’t use it to generate power! I’ll explain why later!"

He just remembered! Running electricity through mercury vapor produces ultraviolet light! This, in excess, is harmful to both the skin and eyes! Think of conditions like solar dermatitis, keratitis; these troubles are bound to happen!

Cough, although acquiring a UV lamp was an unexpected bonus — adding a sterilization tool to the laboratory — now, it couldn’t continue shining!

Archmage Carlisle reluctantly ceased. A small glass vessel capable of converting AC to DC, the changes in current involved were indeed worth savoring for this Energy Shaping magician.

But, Garrett rarely speaks to him in such a tone, and when he does, it’s always about life-threatening matters, like the previous plague seed leak...

Better to heed his advice.

The electric motor handle stopped turning, the mercury arc rectifier’s blue light went out, and Garrett finally breathed a sigh of relief. He withdrew his head, facing Master Norwood:

"Need proof, right? —Stand still, pull down your lower lip, let me see your gums!"

The alchemist, skeptical, pinched the center of his lower lip and pulled it down. Garrett scanned quickly, his eyebrows lifting:

See, I knew it.

"Take a look in a mirror. At the junction of your teeth and gums, is there a thin blue-black line? That’s mercury poisoning, deposited in your body, harming your health! Do you need more proof?"

Actually, there were other evidences. For instance, the skin scratch test positive, which could be done on the spot;

Or mercury levels in urine and blood, ah, but without the reagents or instruments, it’s not possible now;

Or symptoms like palpitations, insomnia, hysteria, tremors, oral ulcers, loose teeth, dizziness, headaches, nausea — the patient’s recent behavior has already proven these...

But, all these symptoms need to be differentiated from other diseases. Only the blue-black line on the gums, or the mercury line, with a clear history of mercury exposure, seeing this line almost certainly diagnoses it!

Master Norwood’s complexion changed. He shakily took out a small mirror, held it up to his face, and looked. After a long while, his hand loosened, and the mirror fell silently.

Garrett caught it in time. Master Norwood was no longer concerned about the mirror, staring blankly at Garrett, pale:

"...Will I die?"

Master Norwood was rendered speechless, nodding rapidly. Behind him, Aurora rolled her eyes and muttered:

"There he goes, recruiting again..."

That’s how he was recruited too! All sorts of innovative ideas, never lacking topics, providing research conditions, offering methodological guidance! Originally agreed to work for three years, now it seems like he’ll keep working for the boss indefinitely...

And then there’s Mage Lynn, who seems to have been half-recruited too! But it’s nice, getting to pet a cat now and then, feels like happiness levels have risen ^_^

Regardless, Garrett ended up taking Master Norwood, his mercury arc rectifier, and the hand-cranked generator connected to the rectifier, back to the Mage Tower. Without taking a breath, he started guiding Master Norwood up and down, inspecting the pre-laid electrical conduits:

"Here I need to install a rectifier! And here! And here! And here!

—Oh, and make me a steam engine too! Use the fire elemental pool of the Mage Tower for heating and the water elemental pool for water supply. I’ll draw you the blueprint!"

UV sterilization, ah!

A staple for operating rooms and bacteriology labs! Running it for 30 minutes a day, along with disinfectant, feels like the safety index has risen again!

Master Norwood diligently studied the blueprints. The rectifier was one thing, but the steam-driven generator, propelled by steam to turn the axle, was merely an idea for Garrett. Asking a few more questions, Garrett suddenly pulled out a set of breathing machine pumps, showing the water-driven transmission mechanism:

"Why don’t you consult with the dwarves?"

Master Norwood: "..."

Dare this young master of the Mage Tower be any more unreliable?!

If it weren’t for the lifesaving grace, he’d leave the Mage Tower tomorrow!

Despite saying this, Master Norwood remained grateful for Garrett’s lifesaving grace. On the third evening, seeing Garrett listlessly emerge from the laboratory and collapse on the dining table like a deflated balloon, he proactively inquired:

"What’s wrong? Research not going well?"

"Penicillin extraction... still can’t be purified..."

Garrett sighed heavily. Without chemicals, without solvents, the road to purifying and extracting penicillin seemed endless...

"Can’t be purified?"

Master Norwood’s knife slipped, making a grating noise on the plate. He leaned forward, concerned:

"Why don’t I give it a try?"

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