When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

#391 - Theodora and the Hospital

His back collided with the carriage walls as Haljin sat somewhat awkwardly at the rear of the covered wagon, jostled by the uneven dirt road rushing past.

After his pony had diarrhea, Haljin had to borrow a horse from the nearby Hundred Households District.

Unfortunately, even their smallest horse or donkey was difficult for Haljin to ride.

Fortunately, a group of travelers from North County happened to be in the Hundred Households District and were heading to Jeanneburg.

At the request of the Hundred Households Chief, these travelers reluctantly agreed to give Haljin a ride.

As for the pony, it would have to be temporarily boarded at the Chief's house until Haljin could bring a veterinarian to pick it up in a couple of days.

Looking around the carriage, including the driver in front, there were five people inside the teak wood carriage, four of whom were particularly tall travelers.

The traveler surrounded in the middle appeared quite small, only slightly taller than Haljin.

Most of them wore hooded black robes made of fine linen, which were quite breathable and cool.

Judging by their distinctive attire, Haljin assumed they were at least middle-class citizens.

"Are you from North County?" Haljin asked, breaking the awkward silence, turning to the side to inquire.

They remained silent for about three or four seconds, without answering.

However, Haljin's expression remained unchanged, as if he would continue to smile and inquire until they answered.

One of the tall men said with a heavy Northian accent, "We are Northians. Mound County and North County are at war, blocking the road home, so we came to Thousand River Valley."

The Northian man's Layan was poor, with strange grammar.

But Haljin was a natural socializer, and he immediately switched to Northian: "Then why did you run back? Even if Mound County and North County are at war, you should wait there, not run to Langsand County."

Hearing Haljin's familiar accent, the Northians in the carriage relaxed a bit.

After all, dwarves and Northians, though they fought and loved each other, trusted each other's character, such as the dwarves' stubbornness, vindictiveness, and honesty, and the Northians' cruelty, rudeness, and simplicity.

"Our companion is sick and is going to Kasha County for treatment," the Northian giant took off his hood, revealing a crescent-shaped mustache and reddish-brown hair cascading down his shoulders.

Haljin immediately focused his attention on the small person, guessing from the curled-up posture and special figure that it was likely a female.

"I have to tell you some bad news," Haljin frowned, slightly embarrassed, and turned his body. "Kasha County has declared support for the Rapid Falls City uprising and is currently under martial law…"

"What?"

"Is this news accurate?"

Haljin could clearly feel that even the coachman's whip movements had become gentler, and the Northian giants visibly tensed up.

"My name is Haljin. I am a member of the Savior Army government; you can think of me as a city council member. I am willing to vouch for what I say."

If someone else had said it, they might have questioned it, but coming from a dwarf, they had to believe it.

They immediately ignored Haljin's presence and began discussing in their thicker dialect, completely disregarding Haljin next to them.

"What should we do?"

"What's going on in Thousand River Valley? We can't even find a cleric to treat the illness."

"Are there any black markets nearby?"

Haljin coughed, and to their shock, spoke in a Iron Sword Territory accent almost as thick as theirs: "Everyone, the black markets in Langsand County have been completely wiped out."

"The black market has been wiped out?" A younger Northian youth took off his hood. "Are you kidding me, dwarf?"

"I swear in the name of my father, Brock, that the black market in Langsand County has indeed been cleaned up," Haljin said solemnly.

The Northians' expressions changed. Swearing in the name of one's father was a serious oath for dwarves, not to be taken lightly.

So the black market in Langsand County was really wiped out?

"You've said so much; you must have an idea in mind."

A weak female voice spoke. Surrounded by the four giants, the small figure took off her hood, revealing a pale, freckled face: "Sir, why don't you tell us."

"Langsand County has not eliminated all the black market witch doctors…" Haljin chuckled.

"Are you toying with us, dwarf?" The Northian youth's face darkened immediately.

"Let me finish," Haljin said slowly. "The process is rather complicated. You can understand it as—the black market has been legalized.

Now, alchemical potions with baptismal stamps can be sold normally in Langsand County pharmacies.

The baptismal stamp means that His Holiness the Pope has blessed it, washing away its sins, so believers who drink it will not be condemned by the Holy Lord and the Holy Father.

So, if you really need treatment, I can take you to a place, as a thank you for giving me a ride."

Black market? Legalized? The black market can be legalized?

That's the market of the Secret Party, the mortal enemy of the Messianic Church!

The Northian youths exchanged glances. This kind of thing usually only happened in the border regions of the Empire, and it was only a verbal legalization, not a real one.

Aren't you Saviors heretics of the Messianic Church? Is this heresy a bit too heretical?

It seems a bit heretical even among heretics.

Seeing their silence, Haljin shrugged. "It's not far from here. I can take you there now if you're willing to trust me."

"What should we do? My lady."

After a long silence, the small woman clutched her stomach: "Treat a dead cow as a live one. Mr. Haljin, please lead the way."

"My honor, esteemed lady," Haljin smiled slyly, as if he had seen something. "May I know your beautiful name?"

"My name is Theodora," the small woman replied briefly.

"If you dare to deceive us, we guarantee you will earn the eternal hatred of the Golden Gate family and Great Khan Papani," the unyielding Northian youth threatened in a low voice.

"Bonato!" the small woman scolded, then nodded politely to Haljin. "Mr. Haljin, please take us there."

…………

"Well, because there are too many patients and too few internal medicine doctors, the hospital is still quite busy," Haljin handed a piece of paper to Theodora. "Look at the hospital clock tomorrow, and arrive on time."

To be honest, in this huge hospital, there were only three reliable witch doctors who could treat internal medicine, and although there were unreliable ones, Haljin dared not make an appointment for this noble lady.

Theodora looked down at the white paper in her hand, her eyes staring straight ahead in a daze: "So fast?"

Even when looking for a witch doctor in the black market, they had to first use pharmacists to exchange passwords, then test each other's identities to make sure they weren't demon hunters before taking the order.

And often, witch doctors didn't take orders from outsiders, for fear of demon hunters being involved.

"Don't worry, if you have any problems, come to Jeanneburg to find me. I live in the Colton district. You can find out where I live by asking around," Haljin took off his hat and bowed, smiling as he said goodbye to these noble youths.

After making a favor, Haljin changed to another pony near the hospital and trotted towards Jeanneburg.

The fields were full of burned fattening straw. During this rare agricultural off-season, the villagers mostly drank cheap potato root wine and stood by the threshing floor, bragging.

More ambitious people or those with less land at home went to nearby towns to work as construction workers.

Where could you see such a scene in the past? At this time, it was usually tax collection time, and the fields were full of stewards and knights collecting grain.

He still remembered when he walked this road two years ago, it was full of farmers' and farmwives' cries, the serfs with their gaunt faces pouring the wheat they had made with their blood and sweat into sacks.

There were not many paradises in the entire Empire where farmers could still smile at this time of year.

As Haljin was sighing, he felt that there were more and more people hurrying around him.

He immediately stood up alertly, looked around, and saw that the military police, Cheka, and Protectorate soldiers were visibly more numerous than before.

Seeming to realize that something big had happened, Haljin's expression gradually changed, and he suddenly yanked on the horse.

The pony neighed and walked quickly with its short legs towards Jeanneburg city.