New Ideas

Ace already had an idea. He no longer planned to continue studying under Tailos. Combining his experience from hospitals in his previous life with the medicine of this age, he had some ideas for improvement as well.

Ace then thanked Tailos for his half month of instruction, telling him that he had already learned a great deal and intended to spend some time consolidating it. In short, he would not be coming back.

Tailos did not say much. If not for Peter's sake, he certainly would not have accepted a student in this manner.

Inside the study at Peter's villa.

"What? You're not studying medicine under Tailos anymore? Do you know how much effort I spent to secure an opportunity like this for you?" Peter's goatee bristled with rage. His broad white robe flapped loudly as he waved it about. Peter, who had always been gentle with Ace, was roaring at him like this for the first time.

"Teacher, I studied earnestly for more than half a month. I believe Tailos's medicine does not align with my principles. I already understand the existing medical arts, and I have some ideas of my own." Ace's expression did not change. Even under Peter's spray of spittle, he answered calmly.

"First, Tailos's main approach is to remove the diseased part. That is not wrong. But it is far too simple and brutal—if the hand hurts, chop off the hand; if the foot hurts, chop off the foot. Then what if the head hurts? Preserving the patient's body as intact as possible, treating different illnesses differently, and putting the patient first—that is the correct principle.

"Second, objectivity and neutrality. Medicine must be founded on objective, neutral research. You cannot treat people based on preconceived assumptions and wild imaginings; you might as well throw stones into a tree and see how many birds you can knock down. How can you treat people when you do not even understand the human body?

"Corpses must be dissected, and extensive clinical data must be used as the standard. Only through a detailed understanding of the human body can one prescribe treatment suited to the illness.

"Third, several systems must be established: a resident physician system and a clinical teaching system, classifications between internal medicine and surgery, comprehensive disinfection throughout the entire course of treatment, and so on. Only then can patients truly feel at ease.

"Fourth, there are too few existing medicinal formulas, and research into medicinal materials is too shallow. My goal is to collect, study, and analyze the effects of all kinds of medicinal materials and the conditions suited to various formulas, then write a comprehensive guide to using and compounding medicines."

Peter quietly listened to Ace's views. His goatee slowly settled, and after thinking for a long while, he said, "Many of your ideas are highly original. Perhaps you are right. If you can carry out your ideas day after day, decade after decade, perhaps you will bring people a new medicine."

"But your road will be difficult. Rejection from your peers and distrust from patients—these things will all constrain you. Are you prepared?"

"Teacher, as you said, the road is difficult. I have an immature idea. Since there are too many difficulties in the early stages, I can first paint on my own experimental field."

"Experiment? Is that a coined word formed from the root for operation and the suffix for verification?"

"Yes. It is a new word I coined. It means an operation or activity conducted to verify a particular viewpoint or hypothesis. You know I bought a manor in Buku Town. I want to purchase four hundred slaves to fill it."

"But you are not yet a citizen. Only nobles and citizens are qualified to own slaves."

"Yes. I want to make the purchase using your status, Teacher, and hope to sign an agreement with you. You will lease the four hundred slaves you purchase to me for three years. I will pay you Gold Taler equal to five percent of the total purchase price of the four hundred slaves. After three years, once I obtain citizenship, you will automatically transfer all four hundred slaves to me without charge."

"Helping you is no problem, and I will gladly accept the payment. But what does this have to do with an experimental field?"

"A city-state is made up of people; it is a society. Though slaves are objects in the legal sense, they are also a group of people, also a society. They labor, eat, fall ill, and die. The manor they form can verify many of my ideas—not merely medical ones." And the supernatural as well, Ace added inwardly.

Peter had always believed Ace was highly creative, but not even the dictionary had shaken him as deeply as he was today. "Using a small society to verify ideas—what a grand, genius conception. I will provide as much help as I can. I hope you can carve out a new road."

After returning home, Ace wrote three words on a sheet of parchment: "New Medicine." This would become the guiding philosophy of his medical practice. Its main principles were the four points above, which he would gradually refine over the coming years.

Ace planned to head for Buku Town the next day. He could hardly wait to research and dissect the Corrosive Jackal, and the noisy environment of the city-state was also extremely unfavorable for meditation.

Ace entrusted Romon with purchasing three hundred young, able-bodied slaves and one hundred adolescent slaves to fill the manor. The city-state had recently conquered a number of Barbarian Tribes, so the slave market was well stocked and prices were favorable. It was an excellent time to stock up.

This world was a slaveholding society, and he had only three years left before becoming a citizen. Nobles and citizens had the right to own slaves, who were their masters' private property. This gave him the conditions to become self-contained and self-sufficient in three years.

He could purchase vast tracts of wasteland and slaves, constructing within his own manor a closed authoritarian society with himself at the pinnacle of its pyramid.

Of course, heroes would not care about any of that. Supernatural power could suppress everything. No matter how self-contained one became, without supernatural power, one would still have to lie down and obey.

At daybreak, after Ace packed his things, several cages containing Corrosive Jackals were loaded onto two large flatbed horse-drawn carts. He, Marina, and two old soldiers climbed aboard, preparing to leave through the city gates.

"Wait, wait!" An anxious, breathless shout came from behind. It sounded somewhat familiar to Ace, so he stopped the carts.

Morton came sprinting over, nearly running himself out of breath.

"A-A-Ace, y-you listen to me..."

"Don't talk yet. Catch your breath first."

Morton panted heavily, then recovered after a while. "I nearly ran myself to death. Hurry and pack your things, then come with me to Teacher Peter's house. The king is holding a banquet for you today."

"What? What is this about? Explain it clearly first." Ace was stunned. Why would the king host a banquet for him for no reason at all?

"I'll explain as we walk. Have this convoy go back first. You won't be leaving today."

On the way, Morton told Ace what had happened. It turned out that every year on Elegant Goddess's birthday, the royal family hosted a banquet for all nobles in the city-state, certain meritorious citizens, and outstanding figures from all walks of life. Because Ace had compiled the dictionary, the Ministry of Culture and Education had recommended inviting him. It had only been approved yesterday, and Peter had been informed early this morning.

That was why Morton had rushed over to stop Ace from returning to Buku Town.

"This is a rare honor. I heard they originally thought you were too young, and the regent did not approve it. But His Highness Crown Prince Talon Media read your dictionary and praised it greatly, which was why you were invited. You are probably the youngest guest." Morton spoke with undisguised envy.

"Oh, right. Did you bring all your medals?"

"No, they're at home."

"Then we need to go to your house first. You must wear every honor you have."

By the time they reached Peter's place, the sun had already risen. Peter had prepared a black robe for Ace. "You are not yet a citizen, so you can only wear a black robe representing public office. We must not delay. Let's hurry to the royal palace."

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