I opened a clinic in the Abyss World

"Joining forces to open a clinic?" Charlotte asked, somewhat surprised.

He knew that Diana had initially been attracted to his talent, but he hadn't expected her to have such a plan.

"There are four large medical clinics in the Abyss, but only our Harriman family doesn't have one," Diana explained with a smile. "The abilities you've displayed have convinced me that you have the capacity to support a large medical clinic, and we have the ability to protect you in the Abyss."

"I know that running a clinic is very profitable, 10,000 copper coins per person..." Charlotte smiled bitterly, "But that's someone else's clinic. I run a small private clinic, charging 200 copper coins per patient. Even if I see 100 patients a day, my turnover is only 20000 copper coins. And I often encounter patients who can't pay and have to pawn their things."

"That was before. As long as you used my Harriman family's name, you could charge 10000 copper coins per patient, and I can guarantee you'd receive the full amount," Diana said confidently. "More importantly, we'll use your reputation to recruit healing mages to join the clinic, increasing the number of doctors and expanding its scale."

Charlotte's face did not show the joy she expected. Instead, she became extremely calm. "Back then, I just couldn't swallow the thought of 10000 copper coins of magic. That's why I was framed by those idiots in the Medical Association and had my magical essence destroyed while researching surgery, which led me to this place."

Shouldn't there be a clinic for the poor in this abyss? Should those poor people who can't even afford 10000 copper coins just accept their fate and die? I don't think so, so I charge 200 copper coins and allow them to use something of equal value as collateral.

You may think I'm being unreasonable, but I will not accept charging 10000 copper coins for stitching up a wound in my clinic.

"I opened this clinic so that even poor people could afford medical care."

Diana's red lips parted slightly as she looked at Charlotte with some surprise.

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From their interactions over the past few days, her impression of him was that of a down-on-his-luck, talented but unlucky, opportunistic, unambitious, and lustful but lacking in courage.

He should be thrilled and grateful when she extends an olive branch, willing to cooperate with him under the Harriman family name.

But he... actually refused!

His words, spoken with righteous indignation, had a profound and awakening effect on her.

Looking at the man before her, Diana felt she had gained a new understanding of him.

It turns out there really are fools in this world who don't love money.

But this kind of fool is inexplicably kind of...handsome.

"I understand what you mean." Diana nodded slightly and continued, "I respect your ideals. Even if we open a clinic together, you can still provide treatment and charge according to your own standards. But at the same time, we can recruit healing mages. If patients need magical treatment, then we'll use the market rate."

"You want to use my reputation to recruit healing mages, but do you know how bad my reputation is in the industry?" Charlotte's expression was somewhat strange.

"The light of Calva Medical School, a gifted pharmacist, a prodigy admired by all," Diana said, listing them one by one.

"Your information is three years out of date." Charlotte laughed, then pointed to herself and said, "The disgrace of Calva Medical School, the fallen potion master, the despicable medical butcher! That is me."

"That's just dirty water the Medical Association splashed on you," Diana shook her head.

Charlotte chuckled self-deprecatingly, "The Physicians' Association is the most prestigious and authoritative institution in the Aesop Continent for managing physicians. All the dirty water they throw at you represents absolute authority; they can even revoke your license to practice medicine."

Diana remained silent, looking at the man before her, and for some reason, she felt a pang of heartache.

Her intelligence was not outdated; she had read Charlotte's entire life story.

Born into a wealthy family, he lost his parents at a young age. He graduated from Calva Academy with genius and became the youngest fourth-tier advanced magician, hailed as the light of Calva Medical College.

As a result, he was persecuted and imprisoned by the Medical Association for performing surgery on a person abandoned by the gods without authorization, which led to the patient's death. He was stripped of his magical power, his engagement was broken off by the city lord's daughter, he was banished from Kalva, and forced to enter the abyss, where he opened a small clinic.

His short first half of life was a mix of tragedy and glory, as if the god of fate was always playing tricks on him.

Yet this very person stood there refusing her offer of employment, still determined to work for the well-being of the poor.

"That's fine. The clinic is operating normally for now. When I have enough resources to support a large medical center, I might come to you." Charlotte smiled slightly and got up to walk towards her room.

Tick-tock, tick-tock!

Charlotte heard it, and her heart bled.

He... actually rejected an invitation from a rich woman to live off him.

That's a bowl of rice that could feed you comfortably for the rest of your life.

Why is that damn mouth so stubborn?

Thousands of years later, if someone digs up his grave, they should still be able to find a mouth that hasn't decayed.

As Charlotte closed the door, she almost couldn't resist slapping herself twice.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Charlotte quickly calmed down.

Diana's invitation was indeed very tempting, and it was certainly a good opportunity for him to rise in rank.

But if he were to actually charge 10000 copper coins, he wouldn't be able to earn that money.

He had seen minotaurs who were cheated on by their wives and then hacked to pieces over a hundred times; he had seen tailor father and daughter tormented by magic potions; he had seen kobolds who used white cats as collateral for debts...

If the clinic were to display Harriman's name and have fox guards standing at the door, would they... still dare to come in?

Money can be earned slowly, but once conscience is lost, it will never return.

I'd rather not eat this gigolo's rice!

Charlotte opened her attribute panel and used the wealth points she had earned that day to exchange for two bottles of Powerful Happy Water to calm her nerves.

Soaking in the bathtub, Charlotte also began to seriously consider the future development of the clinic.

Today's business made Charlotte realize a stark truth: the clinic's capacity to treat patients is extremely limited on his own.

He was already working at full capacity this morning, but he still only managed to treat twenty-five patients.

Even as his fame increased, the number of patients also surged.

Even though he treated patients day and night, he could still see fewer than a hundred people.

He saw a new direction in Vivian.

If he trains Vivian well enough to work independently, the clinic's patient volume could double.

If he can train 100 qualified surgeons, the number of emergency room visits at his clinic can increase 100 times.

Of course, this is a very idealized situation.

Geniuses like Vivian, with their solid medical foundation and quick learning ability, are ultimately few and far between.

In professional medical schools, it takes five years to train a qualified medical student, and after entering the hospital, there is another three years of standardized residency training before one can be considered a preliminary qualified doctor.

What qualifications does a veterinarian have...?

Forget it, given the limited resources, let's not worry about being professional or not.

In this world where medical resources are extremely scarce and dangerous, a good doctor is one who can keep a patient alive.

So, he set himself a goal: to learn how to become a qualified surgeon while simultaneously training Vivian to become a qualified surgeon.

It doesn't seem very reliable.

"But if she continues to practice magic, she can become a very promising healing mage. Wouldn't that be a waste of her talent?" Charlotte pondered.

"No, did anyone say she should give up magic? A real doctor should wield magic in one hand and a scalpel in the other." Charlotte quickly convinced herself. "After get off work, I need to urge her to practice magic diligently and not let her talent go to waste."

……

The next morning, Vivian was still waiting for him outside the villa to go to work together.

Buddy drove the two to a makeshift clinic.

"Vivian, have you been neglecting your magic training lately?" Charlotte asked Vivian earnestly before the store opened for business.

"I..." Vivian looked at Charlotte, and for a moment felt as if she were facing her strict magic teacher. She whispered, "I haven't dared to cultivate these past few days because I was afraid of being discovered while staying in the manor."

"Let it go for the next few days, but remember, you were born to do this. To waste such magical talent would be the greatest blasphemy against the Goddess of Life," Charlotte advised.

Vivian watched as Charlotte's gaze widened, swallowed hard, and asked softly, "Boss, is this what your teacher said to you back then?"

"How did you know?" Charlotte asked in surprise.

"I'm so tired of hearing that," Vivian rolled her eyes.

Charlotte: ...

I never expected that teachers would use the same routine when disciplining geniuses; it's so unoriginal.

"Boss, you said you'd teach me how to sew yesterday, but you disappeared this afternoon. When are you finally going to teach me how to sew?" Vivian stepped forward, tugging at his sleeve, her eyes full of anticipation.

"I was researching anesthetics yesterday afternoon and forgot about it," Charlotte said apologetically, quickly promising, "I'll teach you how to suture this afternoon."

"Okay, you have to keep your word." Vivian nodded, then asked curiously, "Has the anesthetic been made yet? Is the prescription genuine?"

Charlotte opened the medical kit she carried with her and took out a bottle of colorless and transparent medicine.

"This is the anesthetic? It looks just like water." Vivian opened the cap, gently waved her hand around the bottle opening, and smelled it. "It even has a pleasant fragrance. Does this really have an anesthetic effect?"

"I tested it with Jerry No. 1 and No. 2, and it should be somewhat effective," Charlotte nodded.

Boom!

"Doctor! Doctor! Help, doctor!"

Suddenly, there was a loud knocking on the door, accompanied by anxious shouts.

Outside the door, a young girl with wheat-colored skin, dressed in an animal skin tube top and short skirt, stood in front of the clinic, dragging a wooden plank and banging on the door.

A robust young man lay on the wooden plank, with four arrows stuck in his body: two in his legs, one in his abdomen, and one in his arm. His feet were also covered in blood, as if they had been pierced by sharp weapons, and he was groaning in pain.