Chapter 235: I have no way to repay such kindness (2)
Over the years, he had treated numerous patients for free, fully understanding the exorbitant cost of medical treatment. For the underprivileged, it was an impassable barrier between them and their lives.
The development in the abyss lagged far behind Calva, causing even more hardship for the lower class. However, if one could visit Charlotte's clinic for a few hundred copper coins, at least there was some hope.
"Just like you said before if surgical treatment can form a system, ordinary people without healing magic can become physicians, and naturally, medical expenses will become more affordable, benefiting more impoverished individuals." Jacques looked at Charlotte with a profound sense of emotion.
"You have successfully made surgical treatment a separate system."
"I haven't done anything, don't make things up!" Charlotte glanced at Jacques, realizing that this guy understood him better than he expected.
Adolf, deep in thought after hearing their conversation, gently patted Charlotte's shoulder. "Young man, the future is promising."
Having said that, he took out a gold coin and a black pearl and handed them to Charlotte.
"What's this?" Charlotte took them but looked at him with confusion.
The gold coin was for the treatment fee, but what about the thumb-sized, smooth black pearl that resembled a jade stone?
"This is a little trinket I obtained in my early years. Wearing it allows you to conceal your cultivation level. Consider it my gratitude for saving Louise today." Adolf explained with a smile. The emphasis on the last two words carried a hint of admonishment.
Charlotte's eyes lit up.
This was indeed a precious treasure. He had been troubled recently about how to hide his strength and not appear too extraordinary.
Being a steady sixth-ranked individual would be ideal. He expressed his gratitude immediately, "Then I'll accept it."
He understood the meaning behind Adolf's words, but he didn't have any ulterior motives.
With a starting medical fee of ten thousand copper coins, another ten thousand copper coins as a system reward, and now receiving such a divine artifact, this operation was undeniably profitable.
Louise fixed her lively gaze on Charlotte.
After Adolf and Charlotte finished speaking, she took two steps forward and handed what she held to Charlotte.
"What's this?"
Charlotte looked at the thumb-sized crystal bottle in his hand, containing a small amount of white liquid.
"This is the Milk of Life. It's what my master had left for me. Consider it as a token of my gratitude for saving your life, Doctor." Louise explained.
"This..." Betty hesitated.
The Milk of Life was a treasure in the Elven Forest, and its production was strictly controlled. It was never allowed to leave.
After Louise fell ill, the High Priest had given her a small vial, but there were only ten drops inside, now three drops remaining.
But don't underestimate these three drops of Milk of Life; even with severe injuries, just one drop could save a life.
For a knight of Charlotte's caliber, as long as the injuries didn't lead to immediate death, three drops were equivalent to three extra lives.
"How can I accept something so precious?" Charlotte looked at the crystal bottle in his hand, deeply moved.
Charlotte, who was coming out of the operating room with Jacques, was also taken aback by this.
Seeing Adolf's serious expression, it seemed that he had discovered Vivian's talent and cherished her potential. He was considering taking her as his disciple.
Vivian's identity couldn't be exposed.
After all, she was a wanted person by the Duke of Cromwell, who even sent his son, Kappas, to capture her. It showed her importance.
If Vivian became Adolf's disciple, she would be directly exposed to public attention. Her little trick with the animal ears wouldn't escape the eyes of the strong in the city of Calva.
Not only would Vivian suffer, but Charlotte would likely be implicated as well.
"Boss," seeing Charlotte coming out, Vivian immediately dodged behind him, her face full of nervousness as she whispered, "What should we do?"
"Master Adolf, she is my assistant, Eileen," Charlotte looked at Adolf and said, "She has already signed a three-year labor contract with me. She cannot leave before the contract expires. I'm afraid you cannot take her as your disciple."
"Assistant?" Adolf looked at Vivian, then at Charlotte, somewhat impatiently, "Do you know what kind of talent she possesses? She's just as talented as you were back then. You're wasting her talent by making such a genius girl stay with you for three years. It's a waste!"
Jacques was also startled by Adolf's sudden act of taking in a disciple. After all, his master had only taken him as a disciple all these years. Hearing this, he couldn't help but carefully observe Vivian, revealing a hint of surprise.
Though this girl looked only fifteen or sixteen years old, she was already an intermediate-level mage in the healing department. Her talent was evident.
If she could break through to become a high-level mage before the age of twenty, her talent would be comparable to Charlotte's back then.
Such a genius couldn't be found on the entire Iso continent, yet she was just a young human girl.
No, the animal ears were a disguise. Judging from her aura, she should be a human girl.
A human girl with healing magic talent maxed out...
A name suddenly flashed through Jacques's mind.
Vivian Bernice, the genius girl from the Imperial Medical Academy, is acclaimed as a talent comparable to Charlotte.
If he remembered correctly, she should have just turned sixteen this year.
Two months ago, there was turmoil within the Lance Empire. Frank Bernice, the Minister of Finance, was executed and his family was arrested. His daughter, Vivian, is still missing.
But here, a sixteen-year-old genius girl, Eileen, suddenly appeared as an assistant in a small medical clinic.
Could there be any connection between these two?
A bold idea surfaced in Jacques's mind.
"I know she is a talented mage, but she is also an indispensable doctor and pharmacist in the clinic," Charlotte calmly looked at Adolf and said, "Moreover, she is willing to be your apprentice or stay in the clinic. We should respect her choice rather than impose our desires."
Upon hearing this, Adolf calmed down and looked at Vivian with a gentle smile, "Young lady, I am Adolf, the Grand Elder of the Medical Association. I hope my sudden action didn't scare you. Will you be willing to be my apprentice and come to Calva to study magic with me?"
He was confident that no healing mage could refuse him after hearing such an introduction.
After all, he was Adolf, the most experienced physician on the Iso continent.