Lian made cuts on all ten of Ansel's fingers to draw blood. Of course, this wasn't for treatment but rather to conceal his true abilities.
He had to do something that fit the era's context. According to Lian's memories, medicine in this age was not advanced; it was the dark ages of Medical Skill. Trepanation, bloodletting, and enemas were a doctor's three primary tools. A minor illness could easily prove fatal under their care, so many people chose to go to a church rather than a hospital when they fell ill.
Holy Water cured all illnesses.
'If this weren't the Extraordinary World, I would never believe Holy Water had any real effect. But unfortunately, this world truly has gods, so the properties of Holy Water are on another level. It's more than just silver-laced water for disinfection.'
Looking at Ansel's pained expression, Lian said in a deliberately profound tone,
"Once this bad blood is out, remember to eat plenty to replenish your Physical Strength. You'll be back to your normal self."
"I... Can I really recover?"
"Haven't you noticed? Now that the blood is out, you're not as afraid of the light anymore. Is my voice clearer? And is your body no longer itching?"
Lian asked.
"Yes! Thank you, thank you! You're a miraculous doctor! You're incredible, Lord!"
Ansel said excitedly, "How can I ever thank you?"
"Tell me where Giovanni Keegan lives."
Lian got the exact address from Ansel, left his cabin, and instructed the bartender, "He's fine now, but all of you must go to the church immediately."
"He's... really fine?"
the bartender said in disbelief.
Riel nodded emphatically. "My teacher, Lord Lian, is the greatest doctor there is. If he says it's fine, then it's fine."
Riel had clearly become Lian's biggest admirer; her gaze was filled with adoration whenever she looked at him.
Lian took the sword back from her and handed her a dagger.
"At your age, this sword is too much for you to handle. Take this instead."
"Yes, Teacher."
Riel accepted the lightweight dagger, clutching it as if it were a priceless treasure.
"Let's go. We need to find the source of the infection."
Lian boarded the carriage, and Anna, Annie, and Riel followed him.
The arriving Guards split into two groups. One went to the church to find Holy Water for those at the inn, while the other set out with Lian's carriage to find Giovanni Keegan.
Giovanni Keegan was staying at the Fogen Inn in the outer city.
This meant that everyone in the Fogen Inn was already showing signs of the illness; they were all curled up in their rooms, wrapped in blankets and afraid of the sunlight.
"Lord Lian, there are 33 people in total, all infected. Should we have them all buried alive?"
Guard Captain Cobb said, covering his mouth and nose. Burying the infected alive was their standard procedure for plague incidents.
"Captain, please don't do that. My father and mother are still inside,"
a Guard named Andre pleaded.
He was a handsome young man who stood out among the Guards. With his fair skin and slender build, he was often the target of everyone's teasing and ridicule.
To prove himself, he was always training in the barracks and rarely returned home.
And his parents were the owners of this inn.
When he saw the carriage drive into his neighborhood, he had an ominous feeling.
'I never thought it would come to this. The Fogen Inn has become the epicenter of the Plague.'
"Andre, you should know what this Plague means. I can only promise to let you see them one last time."
Cobb said grimly, as if this was his final act of mercy.
Andre dropped to his knees with a thud. He grabbed at Cobb's uniform, his eyes red as he said, "At least... at least let me get my little sister out. She's... she's only eight years old."
Cobb shook his head. "Andre, if you're going to be like this, you'll be removed from this operation."
Despair filled Andre's eyes, and he let his hands fall away.
"Seal off the inn. No one is to enter or exit without my command,"
Lian suddenly commanded.
Cobb and Andre both turned to look at the luxurious carriage.
The young Lord, dressed in magnificent attire, stepped down from the carriage. With a nimble stride and a determined gaze, he walked toward the inn.
"What are you going to do?"
Cobb asked in confusion.
'Is he going to personally drag them out to be buried alive? That's completely beneath a Lord's station, isn't it?'
"To save them, of course."
Lian seemed not to notice Andre kneeling on the ground, nor did he pay any mind to the shocked expression on Cobb's face.
"You can't go in! It's too dangerous, this is the heart of the outbreak. If you go in and get infected, what will become of Green Shade Territory?"
Cobb urged anxiously, already moving to keep pace with Lian.
Lian looked back at him, his expression stern.
"Did you not hear me? Without my permission, none of you are to come inside. I alone am enough."
"You can't risk your life for a group of commoners! You are the Lord!"
Cobb shouted.
"Are you telling me what to do?"
'200 Points per person... 33 people means 6,600 Points! And that's not even counting the bonus Points for dealing with the source of the infection!'
Lian shot Captain Cobb a look of displeasure for obstructing his effort to accumulate Points.
Cobb swallowed hard and stopped in his tracks.
"Captain Cobb, don't worry. My teacher is a miraculous doctor. He'll cure everyone."
Riel also stepped down from the carriage, supported by Annie. She wanted to enter the inn with Lian, but he stopped her.
"Riel, you should go home now. If Romayada gets back and you're not there, he'll suspect I took you off to be buried alive. You need to make a small sacrifice for my reputation—namely, curb your curiosity, hurry home to your parents, and tell them the good news of your recovery. Also, have them prepare your tuition. My lessons aren't cheap."
"I understand."
Riel lowered her head, disappointed. She wanted to learn how to heal the sick and save lives, even though she had already set her heart on becoming a Knight.
"Anna, you go with Riel. We wouldn't want Romayada to be unsure how much tuition to pay."
"Yes, Lord Lian."
Anna and Riel left in the carriage. Lian had Annie and Cobb stand guard at the entrance to the inn, then turned and went inside by himself.
Seeing this, all the Guards wore expressions of utter shock.
Never before had a lord treated commoners this way—and sick commoners at that.
In the eyes of the nobility, the lives of commoners were worthless. They would only deign to curry favor with them when they needed votes for an election.
Yet here was Lian, knowing full well they were all infected with the Plague, fearlessly entering the epicenter to treat the patients without a thought for his own safety.
Although they didn't agree with his methods, they were moved by his character.
"Lord Lian really went in? For those commoners?"
"Lord Lian is different from the others. Even though he's only an Illegitimate Child, he possesses such a noble character."
"You think Lord Lian will be alright?"
Andre finally snapped back to his senses, but by the time he tried to follow, the main gate had already closed.
He clenched his fists nervously, swearing to himself that if Lord Lian could save his parents and sister, he would repay him with everything he had. Even if the Lord asked him to bend over, he wouldn't so much as whimper.