A Hospital in Another World?

The carriage carrying Baron Hopman deliberately took a detour, brushing past the southeastern corner of the city. The baron, with a sullen expression, silently observed the scenery outside the window until the carriage rounded a mountain foot and suddenly came to a halt due to the traffic ahead. It was then that he raised his gaze, peering through the carriage window to the right front:

"What’s going on? Why is it so jammed?"

"Ah, this is the newly constructed infectious disease hospital," replied the mage who had been sent to "invite" him over, not even bothering to look as he responded. While answering, he casually pointed towards the left window, where the crests of temples adorned several carriages:

"The congestion is likely due to the priests who came to help treat patients at the hospital, now finishing their work and preparing to return."

Following the direction pointed by the mage, Baron Hopman’s eyelids twitched rapidly. The mage, as if oblivious, continued:

"All the victims of this epidemic are being treated inside. So far, 1,352 people have been admitted, and—at the time I left—I heard there were 79 deaths. By now, there must be more."

The baron remained silent. Over a thousand patients and 79 deaths—if this had happened in his domain, it would have been bearable, albeit painful. However, the location of this tragedy being Nevis City, where the deceased were all freemen, put a different complexion on the matter:

Every freeman is property to the city’s rulers!

The baron cursed inwardly, blaming the old witch for all the trouble. After a brief wait, allowing the oncoming carriages and horses to pass, the carriage moved on. As they turned another mountain foot, leaving the infectious disease hospital far behind, the mage suddenly leaned vigorously to the right, peering out the window beside the baron:

"Ah, that’s the new mage tower..." He couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration: "Only a level three mage and already possesses a high-level mage tower, how envious. When will I also have my own tower, even a regular one would do..."

Only level three? Baron Hopman’s heart skipped a beat. Trying to keep his tone casual, he feigned curiosity:

"Oh? Which mage is so formidable? A legendary mage’s son?"

"If that were the case, I’d have given up hope already." The companion sighed:

"But no, he made it on his own. Arriving in Nevis City not long ago, he has already published several papers in ’Magic’ and ’Arcane’. He was the first to identify this epidemic and took charge of the treatment—oh right, his name is Garrett Nordmark, have you heard of him?"

"…"

Baron Hopman ground his teeth silently, turning his head away, refusing to speak further. The two continued in silence, alighting from the carriage in front of the White Tower and entering the Emergency Management Department. Johnny Colin personally received His Lordship, the baron, and after the formalities, laid a stack of confessions and two magical crystals before him.

"…And this proves what?" Baron Hopman flipped through the servants’ statements while listening to his wife and sister-in-law’s confessions, eventually scoffing:

"A necromancer spreading plague, what does that have to do with my wife? Since when can a few servants’ words be used to accuse a noble?!"

"The validity of servants’ testimonies is indeed lower," Johnny Colin calmly regarded him:

"However, the testimonies of the servants, Slynn’s confession, and your lady’s prior actions are sufficient for the Emergency Management Department to harbor reasonable suspicions. Given the severity of the epidemic, we are considering requesting the review committee for permission to use magical means to seek the truth."

Baron Hopman’s gaze flickered. After decades of marriage, he knew his wife’s temperament better than anyone. Having her sister unleash a plague as revenge was indeed something she would do—during their quarrels over the years, she had more than once threatened "I’ll have my sister curse you to death"...

And the truth, as long as it exists, cannot hide from magic.

"I disagree," he responded coolly. "We are nobility; there’s no reason to subject my wife to magical interrogation just based on a few servants’ testimonies!"

"Are you sure you disagree?"

"Positive."

"Very well, please sign here," Johnny Colin smoothly slid a form across the table along with an ink-dipped quill, prepared in advance:

"Since you insist, we will convene a hearing at the city hall to request compulsory permission for a magical interrogation."

Baron Hopman’s hand froze mid-air. The convening of a hearing, regardless of its outcome, would instantly spread his wife’s deeds throughout the noble circles. Those nobles wouldn’t care about the truth; they would convict his family in their hearts on the spot!

"The review committee won’t agree," he quickly thought, seeking angles to argue in his favor:

"If a hearing makes the truth public, the council’s reputation would also suffer. Neither the review committee nor Black Crow Swamp would want the public to know a necromancer was behind the poisoning, right?"

"That’s not necessarily the case," Johnny Colin confidently replied. "The council’s reputation stems from fair trials and promptly bringing criminals to justice. By the way, Slynn’s sentence has already been determined—death."

The baron breathed rapidly. If the council didn’t mind going public, he had nothing left to leverage—wait—

"You won’t get the approval!" His voice suddenly rose: "No noble would agree to use magical interrogation on a baroness over such a trivial matter!"

"Oh, but that’s not certain," Johnny Colin shrugged. "For example, Viscount Calrend, who suffered significant losses due to the epidemic breaking out in his rented buildings, is furious. If he knew the epidemic might be man-made, he would definitely do his utmost to ensure the application is approved."

Baron Hopman tensed. The Calrend family, rooted in Nevis City long before the Magic Council was established, held deep and extensive influence, whereas his own domain was 200 miles away. He couldn’t compete in terms of power or connections—wait—losses?

What did the Emergency Management Department really want? Quietly bringing him here, instead of ostentatiously convening a hearing, what was their aim?

A lightbulb went off in his head. The next moment, Baron Hopman’s voice softened:

"Is there another way to resolve this matter?" he quickly and gently said:

"After all, causing a stir that alarms the review committee and the entire city would be a lose-lose situation for both parties…"

Minister Colin smirked inwardly. He relaxed his grip on the form, leaning back, his demeanor softening:

"What resolution do you propose?"

That evening, the Magic Council’s carriage whisked the baron and his wife back to their domain at full speed. Three days later, the baroness passed away in the castle of their domain. In accordance with her wishes, the knight’s domain, part of her dowry, was donated by the baron to the Magic Council for city charitable causes.

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