A Hospital in Another World? Chapter 997: Garrett's Tropical Virus Research Institute No. 3
Previously on A Hospital in Another World?...
Garrett needed to do research—strictly speaking, Garrett needed to establish something like a "Yellow Fever Research Institute" or a "Tropical Infectious Disease Research Institute." However, before the research work even began, he encountered his first difficulty:
Choosing a location.
He definitely couldn't place it next to the big market! Not to mention the potential for leaks, just having patients coming and going at all times could cause an explosion!
Garrett wanted to build a research institute, not to wipe out the entire Eagle God’s Kingdom in an instant!
Thus, following the principles of selecting a P4 laboratory site, he sought another location. Thanks to Senior Brother Byerbo, he could freely access and play with the airship. At this moment, Garrett was lying next to the airship's control panel, staring at the projected map, trying hard to find a suitable spot...
"Not here, not here, not here either, not here..."
"Little Garrett, have you chosen a place yet?"
Archmage Mansfield strode in, smiling as he inquired.
The largest mage tower near the capital of the Eagle God’s Kingdom, Tenocht, was already completed; the mage tower at the port was also finished.
Archmage Mansfield's most important tasks here were complete, leaving him with nothing to do. Next, he might just walk around or take on some side jobs—Little Garrett wanted to build a research institute? No problem! Even without extra payment, considering the wealth Garrett had helped them amass, casting a few spells was a trivial matter!
"No..." Garrett shook his head bitterly.
"Can't find anything?"
Archmage Mansfield was puzzled. He approached the map and looked down with Garrett, shoulder to shoulder.
"Such a large plateau, and you can't find a suitable spot? What are your requirements?"
"First, it needs to be away from people..."
"That's easy. The red areas on the map are populated areas; you can choose from anywhere else."
"Secondly, it should be downwind."
"Hmm..."
Archmage Mansfield scratched his head. When selecting the site for the mage tower, he had observed that the winds in the plateau basin, after crossing the surrounding mountain barriers, would continuously descend and blow into the basin's center.
So, finding a downwind area...
"Kid, your requirements are a bit high... What else?"
"Also, it should be far from water, preferably not connected to the residents' water sources... But... in this place, it's impossible to find a spot where water doesn't flow to the center!"
Garrett was frustrated. The plateau basin's waters all converged to one place: the volcanic lake at the center.
The citizens of the Eagle God’s Kingdom drank from it, used it for cooking, watering plants, washing clothes, and bathing—all from that lake...
If the research institute's wastewater leaked even a bit, or if rainwater washed the institute's walls and then flowed into the lake, the entire nation would be in a state of disaster!
"Don't worry, don't worry." Archmage Mansfield shook his head. Garrett was only looking at the map, but he had flown over the entire plain for the mage tower’s site. The archmage made a few gestures, the map slowly moved and enlarged:
"There’s nothing around the basin, but in the mountains, there is. Look at this sunken spot, does it meet your requirements?"
Garrett: "The place looks pretty good, big enough, flat enough, surrounded by cover, and wastewater won't flow elsewhere... But isn’t this a volcanic crater?! Archmage, have you guys surveyed this place—will it erupt?"
As for whether the volcano would erupt, wizards indeed had a set of exploration methods. After all, some high-level wizards, even legendary ones, liked to live in seclusion and build their towers on volcanic craters.
Being elevated for good views, difficult for others to climb, and most importantly, the flowing energy beneath could power the tower at all times. Crafting or smelting anything, or even destroying things, was convenient...
Early exploration techniques weren’t perfect, so accidents happened. With a loud bang, the entire mage tower would go sky-high, the wizard’s lifetime savings (possibly including disciples) turned to ashes, leaving them heavily injured or magically overloaded.
Rolling back with tails between legs, they might end up deeply in debt.
Over time, the Magic Council developed a complete set of exploration mechanisms. Archmage Mansfield recommended this place because it had been surveyed; in fact, it was one of the alternate sites for a mage tower:
"Rest assured, no problems. Just check if the terrain meets your requirements. If it does, we'll choose this spot."
"Then I'll trouble you! I'll start drawing the plans and—"
"Leave the construction to me! Just pay for it!"
"Uh..."
Garrett wanted to say "I have no money" or "Cirilla took all the gold, I don't have a single coin left." Well, he did have some coins, enough for pocket money, but definitely not enough to pay for an entire research institute.
As for contribution points, he had spent as much as possible before coming to the New World. This task might bring some rewards, but they hadn't been settled yet...
"Little Garrett, short on money?"
Outside the airship cabin, a black-robed figure floated in. Archmage Haines, with his bloated, pale face, unusually wore a smile:
"What if we let Black Crow Swamp take over this research institute? You cooperate with our research, leave your research ideas, plans, and records here. In the future, it will be taken over by Black Crow Swamp..."
His smile was like that of a wicked witch. To Garrett, it was better to have him stern-faced; when he smiled, it reminded Garrett of a frozen corpse or something from a giant’s grave.
"As long as you agree, we’ll cover all expenses. Plus, we'll give you an additional guidance fee."
"Hey, can’t Thunder Horn afford this?"
Archmage Byerbo protested. A mere research institute—just an empty shell, no need for many magic arrays, wouldn't cost much! And you think a single sentence would sway him?
Would Little Garrett's efforts just fall into Black Crow Swamp’s hands like that?
"Do you have the manpower to continue the research at Thunder Horn?" Archmage Haines countered.
"We do! The plague branch has many people eager to join! Does Thunder Horn have anyone interested? Anyone who has researched this? Keeping an institute just for a few paper signatures is pointless!"
Archmage Byerbo retreated. Garrett pondered; letting Black Crow Swamp take over the institute wasn’t out of the question.
He reckoned he wouldn’t stay long in the Eagle God’s Kingdom; once the yellow fever vaccine was developed, he’d probably leave. However, his time was limited, and tropical viruses were endless:
After yellow fever, there would be dengue fever, malaria, Ebola, hantavirus, hemorrhagic fever, psittacosis...
To conquer the jungle and allow safe passage through it, countless plague branch wizards would dedicate their lives.
But the premise was...
"Researchers from Black Crow Swamp must focus on disease treatment!" Garrett warned Archmage Haines:
"And on vaccines! They must not research how to spread the plague or how to kill!"
"Aren't you the Plague Lord..." Archmage Haines muttered. Then, under Garrett's fierce glare, he good-naturedly raised a hand:
"Alright, alright, I swear. All Black Crow Swamp wizards here must aim to cure diseases, not spread them. Is that okay?"
That was acceptable. Garrett was satisfied and went on to draw the plans and make arrangements:
The main laboratory, staff quarters, animal housing, animal caretakers' quarters, volunteer quarters, volunteer isolation rooms...
"This design won't work." At some point, Archmage Mansfield leaned over, pointing at the drawings. Garrett looked up, defiant:
What’s wrong with it?
No one knows P4 labs better than me!
No, no one knows better than me how to design a virus research institute! I already have two in Nevis!
The Oak Grove Research Institute has produced several results without any leakage incidents!
"The living quarters you designed aren't secure enough." Archmage Haines also shook his head:
"We’ve brought war captives from the natives; even if they are low-level, soldiers and pirates, they’re likely professionals—you can’t contain them with these cells!"
Huh...?
Garrett looked at him with shock and confusion. Poor Garrett, who had only dealt with lab animals like mice, rabbits, dogs, and pigs. Can lab animals escape?
Of course they can, but aren’t cages and fences enough?
"You need iron bars, iron doors, chains, and shackles on the walls." Archmage Haines offered experienced advice:
"Each captive should have a separate room, and if resources are limited, set up magic arrays to ensure you aren’t ambushed when checking or observing them... In extreme cases, there should be measures to eliminate them all..."
Garrett: "..."
He belatedly remembered that his experimental subjects, labeled as volunteers, were actually war captives.
Those who for a few coins would travel from the Storm Islands or farther, killing their way to the Eagle God’s Kingdom—most of them were ruthless, bloodstained individuals.
If they got out of control, they could indeed rebel. Moreover, having them live with patients, in patients’ vomit, with mosquitoes and drawing blood from them...
These actions were inherently hostile; expecting them to believe he had good intentions was unrealistic. Instead, absolute force was needed to suppress any rebellion!
Garrett understood this, and with a slightly embarrassed smile, nodded to the two archmages. Then, he couldn't help but lament as a doctor:
Archmage, why are you so experienced in this?
I
’m really setting up a legitimate research institute...
Using captives for experiments was an emergency measure, and I’m saving their lives...
In the future, animal experiments will be the main focus, and human subjects will be recruited properly when necessary...
"Have you finalized the plan? If so, I’ll start construction." Archmage Mansfield urged.
"And what will you name this research institute?"
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