Book 4: Chapter 10: Why Treat? That’s the Question
“Huh? You can’t treat this degree of injury? Don’t you have those Originium Arts or something?” Chen Heng felt a little shocked. When he discovered the existence of Originium Arts and mobile cities, he had thought that this world was very advanced in every aspect. At the very least, his world did not have mobile cities.
Now, it looked like Terra’s technology tree was slightly skewed.
“Originium Arts are not omnipotent.” The normally laconic Nightingale actually said a few words to Chen Heng.
“From your tone, it sounds like you can treat such injuries? Or do you know someone who can?”
Most people would not react to what Chen Heng said. However, Shining was different. She was concerned about Liz’s leg injury, so she would not let any possibility of treating it slip by, even if it were just misspoken or an issue of tone.
Furthermore, Shining suddenly recalled Chen Heng’s health report from the morning, which induced even more anticipation for this matter.
“It’s not impossible, just that…” In fact, treating Liz’s leg would be easy. It was just a matter of the price.
On the high end, one could purchase an SCP-500 from the association’s store. It was an absolute panacea. Besides leg injuries, it could cure all other illnesses. Using it would be overkill.
On the lower end, one could purchase from the association’s store one little red pill that might cure her. Rather, Chen Heng might not even need to use the association’s store. A low-grade treatment-type medicinal pill he carried in his portable spatial storage might even work.
[TL Note: SCP-500 is an object from the SCP Foundation. It is a bottle containing 47 red pills; each pill is individually designated as SCP-500-01 through SCP-500-47. When taken orally, it effectively cures all diseases. The little red pill mentioned above likely refers to just one pill, while the previous paragraph talks about purchasing the entire bottle. Here is more information on SCP-500: /scp-500.]
“Just that what? What do you need? LMD? Medical equipment? Herbs?” When Shining heard Chen Heng say it was possible, she became even more excited than Liz. She took two steps over and grabbed his collar.
“Let go first. Don’t get too excited. It’s all wrong.” Chen Heng patted Shining’s hands, which were holding his collar, urging her to calm down.
“Sorry. I got too excited. What exactly do you need?” Shining realized she had lost self-control, so she let go and stepped back.
“I’m looking for a reason—a reason to convince myself. I need a reason to do things, be it for others or myself.”
“That is to say, you are looking for a reason to convince yourself to treat Liz?” Shining contemplated this answer. Indeed. Why should he treat Liz? However, she would not let go of this chance.
“That’s right, so calm down. Let me think. Erm…how about this? I’m going on a mission two days later. How about you come along and help me? Also, work for Kal’tsit for free for a few days. As for how long, you determine that.”
“The first condition is fine. It will be my turn to rest in two days, so I can help you. However, the latter condition…” Shining seemed to have some difficulties.
“What’s wrong? Do you lack money? Never mind the latter condition, then.”
“It’s not that. Actually, it is because—”
“Actually, it is because part of Miss Shining’s remuneration for working here is Oripathy treatment for Miss Nightingale.” A chilly voice interrupted Shining’s explanation.
Chen Heng turned his head back and noticed Kal’tsit walking over.
“Hey! It’s you, Kal’tsit! Are you here for lunch too?”
“What else? Otherwise, is someone going to deliver food to me? I can still spare time for food. He Who Knows Fate, I’ll accept your kind intentions. Shining accompanying you on the mission will do. As for working for free, never mind that. Rhodes Island is not so poor that it needs to dock its staff’s pay. I should also mention Miss Nightingale’s problem is not limited to her leg. You should be prepared.”
“Oh! There are other problems besides the leg?” Chen Heng looked at the silent Nightingale in shock. However, Nightingale did not react, as though the topic of discussion had nothing to do with her.
“Indeed. However, I’m satisfied with just treating her legs.” Shining was quite optimistic. Just treating her legs would be a good start. If this kept up, Nightingale would slowly recover.
“Since you put it that way, I’m starting to lose confidence. How about this? I have nothing to do this afternoon; bring me to Nightingale’s dorm room or ward during the afternoon. Nightingale has a ward, right?”
“She does. Liz has her own intensive care ward.”
“Then let’s go after eating. I have to check Miss Nightingale’s overall condition first to verify how much I can treat. By the way, Kal’tsit, when is the mission starting?”
“About two days later.”
“Ok.”
“I have Liz’s recent health report and other data.”
“They are useless. I don’t know how to read those. I have my own treatment methods.” Chen Heng was not a doctor, after all. How could he know how to read professional data?
Thus, the group ate together, with Kal’tsit appearing calm and composed, Chen Heng indifferent, and Nightingale expressionless. Only Shining seemed anxious and restless during lunch.
Speaking of which, the two’s relationship was quite interesting. Despite being the patient, Nightingale showed little concern about her treatment. Instead, Shining was much more anxious. Rather than being friends, they seemed more like mother and daughter, or guardian and ward.
During the meal, Chen Heng noticed the male-to-female ratio of Rhodes Island’s operators was imbalanced. There were many more females, something he had not expected.
The leader is female, the regent is female, and most of the operators are female. Is Rhodes Island a matriarchal organization?
Furthermore, these female operators are all beautiful. Could this be the doing of Doctor, the person we’re going to save? Chen Heng only had one thing to say about this: Well done! After all, everyone loved pretty women.
[TL Note: Here is Doctor’s profile: /wiki/Doctor.]
Of course, Chen Heng did not focus on female operators during the meal. He pondered how far to take Nightingale’s treatment.
Truth be told, Chen Heng could cure Nightingale’s illness no matter how severe. However, he was not a saint and would not pay a high price for someone he had just met.
If it were something a small red pill could solve, Chen Heng was willing to help in exchange for a Medic of Shining’s ability. However, if the price were too great…
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