A Hospital in Another World?-Chapter 789: When the Council and the Temple Come Together to Deliver Money

Chapter 789: When the Council and the Temple Come Together to Deliver Money

The arrival of visitors from the temple had to be met with a proper welcome.

Especially since MOSS had already projected the image. The visitors from the temple were arriving in a sturdy, all-black carriage adorned with a shield and sword emblem. Clearly, this was an official visit representing the Temple of the God of War.

If it weren’t a formal visit, they would likely have ridden horses, given the usual style of the God of War’s temple.

Given the formality, Garrett had to meet them with equal propriety. He apologized to Archmage Sam and his senior brother Carlisle and hurried downstairs. Watching the open door of the reception room, the two archmages chatted quietly:

“Shouldn’t Nordmark have apprentices by now?”

“You’re overthinking it. Even if he had apprentices, he would still have to go down himself,” Archmage Carlisle said with a cold expression.

“Unless he has apprentices or followers close to level 10, they can’t greet the guests on his behalf.” 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

But he didn’t. Aurora, that unfortunate child, was only at level six, far from reaching level seven... Speaking of which, it made one even angrier.

“So, is he taking in apprentices or not? He’s level 7 now; he should be able to, right?”

“Who knows?” Archmage Carlisle shrugged.

To be honest, in a place like Nevis, low-level mages generally don’t get good apprentices. If they are too high level, the council will send someone to talk to you:

“Can you take in a few apprentices? After taking so many resources from the council, you should at least fulfill some duty in training young mages, right?”

For someone like Garrett, a level 7 mage, he wasn’t so low as to have no appeal, nor high enough for the council to push him. Young, rapidly advancing, and under the protection of a legendary mage, obviously highly valued—

Now forcing him to take in apprentices? Distracting him, slowing down his advancement?

Dream on!

“Besides, from which school should he take apprentices?”

“Uh…”

The two archmages from the School of Evocation looked at each other. Technically, Garrett was an evocation mage, so he should take apprentices from the Evocation School; however, his level in evocation magic was truly unspeakable…

Any apprentice with some connections wouldn’t think of joining him;

Even without connections, anyone with some sense would check Garrett’s papers and see his research direction and achievements.

What?

Neither connections nor sense?

Why would a legendary mage take you in then?

The banner of being the Thunder Lord’s grand-disciple isn’t so easy to uphold!

“Those who want to be his apprentices now are from the necromancy school or the nature religion. The medical branch has also inquired… but…”

But if he doesn’t take in evocation apprentices and goes for another school, it would be awkward for the entire Thunder Horn.

—In such a large evocation school, you can’t find a suitable apprentice?

Garrett didn’t know the two archmages were mocking him behind his back. He stood in the descending elevator, thinking about how to talk with the guests and chatting with MOSS:

“Boss, I think you should place this guest in the meeting room next door.”

“Why?”

“Boss, you once said, placing two groups of guests next door, they can hear each other’s offers and start bidding higher.”

“When did I say that… uh… MOSS! That was a joke!”

“Understood, boss. I’ll serve refreshments in the reception room, not place them next door.”

“…”

#When did my Tower Spirit become like this#

Bishop Seiren stepped out of the carriage with a heavy heart. For the past seven days, under the orders of the archbishop, all war god priests above the bishop level had focused their free time on learning the spells [Defibrillation] and [Cardioversion]—

Unfortunately, the fastest progress was by Archbishop Nogla himself, who barely mastered it, achieving a 50% success rate in animal experiments.

It couldn’t compare to what was claimed in the paper or to Nordmark Mage’s personal success rate that they had inquired about.

The slowest progress made no progress at all. Not only did they fail to learn [Defibrillation] and [Cardioversion], but half of them couldn’t even master the prerequisite [Electrocardiogram] spell.

It was too hard!

It was really too hard!

The method of relying on prayers, work, and treatment to gain divine favor and understanding was completely different from this spell!

Why did this spell involve electricity, light, vest positioning, and adjusting the current?

Their divine spells and evocation magic were completely different thought processes. Suddenly switching was extremely difficult for them…

After a grueling exam, the results were dismal.

If Garrett had graded the exams, the highest score would probably be below 60, and the average score might not even be 20.

“We must learn this spell.” Surveying the dejected faces, all showing expressions of “stop torturing us, please,” the archbishop issued the order sternly:

“This spell concerns the reputation and foundation of the Temple of the God of War. At the very least, do you want warriors to seek the protection of the God of War when advancing, or would they go to various mage towers?”

No one wanted that.

If low-level warriors were the foundation of the Temple of the God of War, knights were its backbone. Especially non-noble warriors without family support, they were the most important group of supporters for the temple!

If the temple helped warriors advance with a 10% success rate and a 5% death rate, while the mage tower offered a 10% success rate with a 1% death rate…

Any warrior with some connections would find a way to lean towards the council!

“Someone needs to talk to Nordmark Mage,” Archbishop Nogla instructed, “Ask him to agree to teach this spell at the temple. If he can authorize us to convert this spell into a divine spell, that would be even better.”

“So, what’s the offer, Archbishop?”

“Hmm…”

Archbishop Nogla stroked his beard, pondering. If it were just exchanging spells and learning by themselves, the White Tower’s exchange area had clear prices. Garrett’s spell was priced at 20 contribution points, quite reasonable—

For a newly created, yet to be perfected second-level spell, it was a fair price. If perfected, it would be at least 50 contribution points according to the council’s average price.

The temple could afford 20 contribution points per person. But inviting someone to teach was another matter.

Authorizing the temple to convert the spell into a divine spell, publishing it under the name of the God of War, was yet another matter. Such matters affecting the influence of the council and the temple required a hefty price…

“You go talk first.” He steeled himself, pulling out two strands of his beard. Ignoring the pain, he decisively ordered:

“You have authority within half of the temple’s annual income. Beyond that, report back, and I will personally negotiate.”

Thus, Bishop Seiren, responsible for external relations, negotiations, and cooperation, was reluctantly sent out. To appear formal, he had to ride a carriage, with a driver and knight escort…

It was frustrating. He could have reached there quickly by galloping.

Halfway there, he saw city guards excitedly discussing something and retreating from the path leading to the mage tower. Bishop Seiren squinted, leaning out the carriage window:

“Hmm… seems like it went smoothly, at least no one died? Ah, this Nordmark Mage…”

Their archbishop, a level 17 war god priest, could only achieve a 50% success rate with experimental pigs!

Fortunately, Nordmark Mage didn’t intend to put on airs. As the carriage arrived at the mage tower, he stood at the entrance with a welcoming smile.

“Please, please—”

Bishop Seiren breathed a sigh of relief and followed him inside, taking the elevator up. The knights and others were naturally attended to by Nordmark Mage’s followers, even if they were barbarians, they were level 8 warriors, which was respectable enough.

However, Bishop Seiren’s good mood ended when the elevator stopped and the door opened.

Directly facing the elevator was a modest yet elegant reception room. At this moment, two archmages were standing shoulder to shoulder, looking out, and happened to meet his gaze…

Damn.

The council was here.

Bishop Seiren’s stomach churned. If it were just a high-level mage, they might be here to discuss some academic project; but one of the two was someone he recognized, a member of the review committee!

The review committee members never travel without a significant reason! Coming at this time, if not for the [Defibrillation] spell, then for what?

Nordmark Mage hadn’t had any other major achievements recently!

“Bishop Seiren, a pleasure to see you.” Before he could finish his thoughts, old Sam approached, laughing, and extended both hands for a quick shake:

“It’s rare to see you here! Come in, come in. Though Nordmark Mage’s tower is newly built, the refreshments here are quite good!”

…Why did you retract your hand so quickly!

Were you afraid I would crush your hand?

Well, crushing it might not be possible, but squeezing it hard was quite likely…

Bishop Seiren silently entered and sat down, taking the tea offered by the invisible servant, drinking it without tasting anything. Then, he heard Archmage Carlisle laugh:

“Bishop, what brings you here? My junior brother and the Temple of the God of War haven’t had much interaction, have they?”

“I’m not in a hurry; you talk first.” Bishop Seiren waved slightly, leaning back to appear relaxed.