Chapter 109: Clinic of the Cursed Witch (3)

Even though they were both barons, the Whitehall lord’s mansion was far more luxurious than that of Baron Arsen. Moreover, it was hard to count the number of dishes filling the long dining table.

“Are you the one being called the Saint of the Slums recently?”

If the younger brother looked like a goat, the older brother resembled a pig.

Kai smiled as he realized that a person’s neck could have five layers of folds. “It's an excessive title, but yes.”

“

Ahem

. The reason I called you here today isn't anything special...”

That meant he had a purpose. After all, why else would a busy person be called for no reason?

Kai leisurely waited for the conversation to continue.

He'll probably ask about my relationship with the Smile Clinic or something like that.

“I was curious about your relationship with the Smile Clinic. I heard you mention it during your treatment activities.”

Bingo.

The pig lord’s words were exactly as Kai predicted.

Of course, he had prepared a response beforehand. “There isn't much of a relationship. I happened to visit and found a girl with a tragic fate, so I'm offering a bit of help.”

“

Hm

.” The lord squinted his already small eyes further. He studied Kai’s expression before speaking again. “If it's fame you're after, it would be better to go to a bigger place than this rural city.”

“The Solarian God advocates for mercy, charity, and kindness, but warns against seeking fame. Besides, how could I, a cleric, overlook the suffering of those people?”

“Suffering? Oh, you must mean that illness that has been spreading lately,” the pig lord muttered while slicing his steak, seemingly indifferent to the suffering of his people.

“Aren't you concerned, my lord? Your people are suffering.”

“They’re the residents of the slums who pay little taxes, aren’t they? If they’re filthy, it’s only natural they get sick. They should just clean themselves. Wait, they’ve been sick for quite a while. Could it be an infectious disease? If so, I’ll need to drive them out of the city...”

Kai was at a loss for words. He asked incredulously, “...Winter is approaching. Where will they go if they’re driven out now?”

“Why ask me? If they were born into this world, they should find a place to stay themselves,” The pig lord, thinking his words were quite wise, grinned contentedly and stuffed a large piece of steak into his mouth.

“No wonder he’s so fat...”

“What did you just say?”

“Oh, nothing,” Kai shook his head innocently and pulled out a piece of paper, handing it to the lord.

At that, the pig lord frowned. “Ugh, you’re ruining my meal... What's this?”

“Please give it a read.”

The lord suspiciously grabbed the paper and read it quickly. Then, his face twisted with displeasure as he shook the paper.

“What’s the meaning of this?”

“It’s exactly what it says. It’s my proposal to you, my lord.”

“A proposal?

Ha

! To me, it looks like a scheme to extort a thousand gold.”

“It seems you’ve misunderstood... Even if you follow the proposal, I won’t receive a single coin.”

"What nonsense! Are you saying it costs a thousand gold to treat the infected residents and prevent the disease from spreading?"

Kai listened calmly to his outburst and then replied with an incredulous expression, "Isn't it obvious? There are thirty thousand residents in Whitehall. Of them, eight thousand in the slums are infected. The surest way is to give them all holy water and purify the land, but... you know how much that would cost, right?"

"Do I look like I can't do math? Holy water costs one gold per bottle, so that's thirty thousand gold, and purifying the land costs even more. But your calculation misses the most important point."

"And what is that?"

"That I have no desire to spend that money!"

Kai was genuinely stunned; his mouth dropped open at how the lord of Whitehall could say such trash with the most righteous expression.

Seeing this, the pig lord laughed, thinking he had scored a big win, "

Bahahaha

. Look at that foolish face of yours. This is why adventurers are useless. They're only good at theoretical discussions."

"...This money isn't for me, but for you and your city's residents."

"Thanks for your concern, but I'll handle it. You don't need to worry." The pig lord waved his hand dismissively and resumed his meal.

Kai suppressed the curses that threatened to burst out and tried to persuade him again, "Please reconsider. I will reduce the treatment cost to a thousand gold."

"Even a simple calculation shows it costs around fifty thousand gold to give residents holy water and purify the land, and you're offering to do it for a thousand? You're taking me for a fool," the pig lord remained consistently negative, having made up his mind.

This is troublesome...

Kai, wondering what to do, quickly scanned the dining room.

Luxurious swords, sculptures, and paintings on the walls... This guy loves luxury.

Kai briefly considered using the Friendly Brother skill, but shook his head.

No, I can't use it now.

The Friendly Brother skill had an incredible effect of permanently raising an NPC's affinity by 50 points but also had the disadvantage of being used only once per target.

I need to save it. Then what should I use instead...?

Kai's brain started working at double, even triple speed. When it came to giving someone a hard time, his brain excelled.

After a brief moment of thinking, Kai quietly put down his cutlery and said, "If you support the residents' treatment with just a thousand gold, the people's praises will echo day and night. That news might even reach His Majesty."

"His Majesty? No, how could such a trivial matter reach him?"

"Well... I shouldn't say this, but... I guess I have no choice." Kai's face suddenly turned pale as he revealed in a worried tone, "The truth is, the disease now spreading in Whitehall isn't an ordinary illness."

"What do you mean?"

"Have you heard the recent news from the Kingdom of Havier?"

The Lord blankly blinked and slightly nodded. "Well... yes, since my land is near the border, I hear rumors from merchants. They say the area is in turmoil."

"That's right. It's because of a terrible plague. Blue spots cover the body, and within a week, the infected die."

"It can’t be..." the pig lord's eyes widened.

"It is. You asked why I’m treating people in this small city, didn’t you? I'm a cleric on a special mission from the Church of Solaris."

"A special mission...?"

"To confirm whether the plague that swept through Havier might spread to Whitehall."

"Ridiculous!"

Thud!

The pig lord slammed the table, his plump legs shaking.

"W-why would the plague from Havier come to Whitehall?"

"I don't know either. But the symptoms the patients here are showing are exactly the same."

"

Ugh

..."

At the fear that a plague might sweep through his territory, the pig lord started sweating profusely.

"Why do you look so anxious all of a sudden?"

"How could I not be? There's a possibility that a plague could spread through my land!"

"That's why I'm here, aren’t I?" Kai smiled as if this were no big deal. "I'm offering to erase that worry for just a thousand gold. As you know, the reason it's so cheap is because the Church of Solaris is providing part of the cost."

The pig lord hastily clasped his hands together, calling upon the Solarian God, "O... Helik God..."

"This matter is also of great interest to His Majesty. Then, if you accept my proposal and eradicate the plague from this city?"

"E-eradicate it?"

Kai flashed a bright smile. "He might even raise your peerage."

"P-peerage...!"

Excited by the word "peerage," the pig lord's nostrils flared.

Kai barely resisted the urge to stuff a few banknotes into them[1] and nodded. "It’s totally possible. If Whitehall successfully handles a plague that even the Kingdom of Havier struggled to contain, what do you think His Majesty and other nations will think?"

"...They'll think highly of me, the lord of Whitehall, won't they?"

Kai clapped his hands. "Exactly. They'll believe it was your brilliant mind, sharp judgment, swift execution, and charisma that accomplished this feat."

"

Hmm

..." The pig lord's gaze wandered as he mentally calculated.

However, Kai didn't give him time to think. "Imagine this: after everything is over, you are summoned to the capital by His Majesty. Citizens of the capital fill the streets, chanting your name, showering you with flowers, and bards singing songs of your achievements. Then, as you pass through this parade and finally meet the king, he pats your shoulder and whispers..."

Kai tapped the pig lord's shoulder and whispered in his ear, "From this day forth, I elevate you to the rank of count.”

"C-count?!" the pig lord's mouth stretched into a wide grin. "I-I wouldn't dare hope for so much! I'd be satisfied with being promoted to viscount. Yes, even that would be satisfying!"

As if the peerage were already a fact, the pig lord's large face beamed with joy.

At the same time, a message window popped up in front of Kai.

Ding!

[You have skillfully manipulated Phigynia Tiburn, Lord of Whitehall, with your eloquent words.]

[Your speaking skills possess the ability to charm others.]

[Saying only what the other person wants to hear is mere flattery. The true art of persuasion lies in making the other person feel good while achieving your own goals.]

[Charisma skill level increased.]

[Charisma skill level increased.]

[Charisma skill reached Beginner Lv. 3.]

[You can now roughly identify the other party’s feelings during any discussion.]

Kai quickly scanned the message window with a smile, then complimented, "I've heard that the past deeds of Whitehall's lord are nothing but commendable. Meeting you in person today, I see those rumors are true."

"

Ha

, perhaps it's because you’re a cleric, but you're quite the speaker! Doesn't living like that tire you out?

Hahaha

!"

Kai realized for the first time that day that compliments not only made whales dance but also pigs.

1.

Stuffing money into pig's head

☜