?Stacy watches the rare scene unfold in front of her. Both the former prime minister and former viscount give in to this young king's offer. At this point, the word 'offer' has become far from its original meaning.
'There's no way that's an offer. I think it is more like coercion. Since I can't reject him, it's better to make a bunch of requests possible. If I was invited to this dinner, it must be because I have a value from the king's perspective.' She said to herself.
Stacy resolves to request anything possible from the king. By taking into account the numerous rumours about the king, she must be related to his educational plan.
After Riz finishes settling his business with Wendall, his eyes shift to the old woman at the table.
At the first glance, he figures out that this old lady must be the scholars' unanimous leader. Other scholars tend to look in her direction subconsciously from time to time.
According to the list given to him, this group of people contain anatomists, physicians, agronomists, alchemists, astronomists, mathematicians and cartographers. Riz seems to have struck a gold mine this time around. He has made a good decision by cooperating with the count.
Under normal circumstances, it is hard to get this amount of scholars in one fell swoop.
These people are the key for this kingdom to a new height.
At present, he will put his focus on the medical and healthcare first.
It took years for a person to group up and become an adult. At least, eighteen years in his kingdom. He can't let his people die from common illnesses or curable diseases.
"You're Madam Stacy, right?" Riz courteously asks.
Stacy Starlion, a lady from a minor yet well-respected noble family. This baron family is prominent among the nobles despite not having a land fief. Their source of income mainly comes from trading raw herbs and medicine ingredients. In short, they dominate the medicine business in Bagyarosia and Cerdeauxia.
Among the siblings of Starlion, this one particular lady is a peculiar person. She loves to experiment with her newly invented medicine using the human body.
The epithet of 'Mad Scholar' was not given to her because it sounds cool. In fact, it is because she disregards any value of humanity and compassion in the pursuit of results. She would test her drug on anyone regardless of their age or consent.
She would be long in jail if she were on modern Earth. Her method is cruel but it proves to be effective and efficient.
"Yes, Your Majesty. My name is Stacy. May I know what you need us for?"
He hummed, "Straight to the point, I see. I like it."
"T-Thank you."
"I want you to develop the medical industry in my kingdom. Your expertise in researching and inventing new medicine would play a key role in this plan. I also like you to include your students, Alex and Stella. I heard their experts in fields that are related to you. Alex is an anatomist and Stella is a physician like you."
"With all respect, I assume Your Majesty is aware of my nickname, right?" She asks warily.
Riz raised his eyebrows. "Yes, you're called a 'Mad Scholar'. Why do you ask?"
"Then, you must know the way I conduct my experiment. Are you okay with that?"
Stacy wants confirmation from him. Many people don't want to be associated with her, fearing that their reputation will plummet.
Most of them cut their ties halfway through, causing her to have an incalculable amount of losses. She had many bad memories of having to bear the expenses on her own.
"Of course, I know. In regard to this topic, I'll supply you with a lot of criminals as materials to be used. After all, I can't let you go around kidnapping people. Tell me what else you need?"
"I need a place to conduct my research, preferably somewhere secluded. If Your Majesty has academic materials, send them my way. I also required many raw ingredients, some helpers and finally a place for me to teach people."
Stella was dumbfounded by her teacher. Although her teacher cares less about etiquette, making requests as if the king is her servant is out of line.
Clearly, other scholars think the same. She was truly mad, and all of them silently agreed to her title befitting her well. Riz himself is able to see this.
Their panicked face was so priceless. As much as he wanted to laugh, he had to maintain the serious atmosphere of this meeting.
"Consider it done. Anything else?" He finds this old medicine practitioner's request to be perfectly reasonable.
Stacy thinks for a while, "It'll be helpful if your majesty tells me what the research direction is. Less time we spent on moving aimlessly."
"Hmm..." Like Stacy, he also intends to exploit her to the fullest extent. "Prevention medicine for smallpox, measles and polio, dissection method, description of allergies consist of causes, symptoms and prevention, a cure for a common illness, list production of ointments you have, surgery procedure and the precaution before and after, the importance of hygiene, holistic approach in treating patients, human psychology and its effect on one's behaviour, various diseases and its symptoms, detection of pregnancy, healthy diet and routine for pregnant women, birth technique, finally, make a comprehensive structure of the medical education system. I think that's all for now."
The jaws of everyone in the room dropped. The worst affected person here is surely Stacy.
Somehow, she had a pang of regret for requesting too much. To think the king knows more about medical stuff than her do is out of her calculation. Despite her wanting to complain, all she can do is nod her head. The same goes for her students.
"Do you have anything to say?" Riz sees the dissatisfaction on Stacy's face. It was better to ask now rather than letting that feeling fester in her heart.
Hesitantly, Stacy opens her mouth. "With all due respect, your majesty, I don't think we are able to complete all your requests in a short period of time."
The young king waved his hand, dismissing the old lady's thought, "Calm down, I'm not an unreasonable person. Of course, I'm aware of my request. This shouldn't be possible to complete in one or two years. How about this...Let's set up a dateline five years from now. By the year 306 Paign Era, at least half of my requests must be fulfilled."
"Alright, your majesty. I find the timeline is reasonable." Stacy agreed with him.
Riz then assigns them to their workplaces, "I'll place other physicians, anatomists and some alchemists in the same place with Stacy and her students."
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