A Hospital in Another World?-Chapter 793: Build the Mage Tower Thicker, Thicker Still

A hearty meal replenished the energy of both parties and smoothed over the tension and irritability accumulated during the negotiations.

With renewed vigor, the talks continued until the late evening, just before the casters needed to meditate or sleep. Finally, the negotiations reached a conclusion.

The Temple of the War God and the Nevis Great Temple promised:

1. The temple will send 50 Level 5 knights, 30 Level 6 knights, and 20 knights each of Levels 7 and 8 to cooperate with Nordmark Mage in various research endeavors.

The research will primarily involve non-invasive methods such as electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, blood pressure measurements, CT scans, and observations by contracted spirits. Blood draws will not exceed 10 milliliters, and all blood samples must be tested on-site using spells, with any remaining blood destroyed under temple supervision.

Any invasive experiments must be approved with signatures from both the subject and the temple representative.

All data obtained during the research will be the unconditional property of Nordmark Mage.

2. The temple will provide Nordmark Mage with the opportunity to observe the advancement of at least five knights to the rank of Great Knight within one year. Any pre-inspections or interventions during these processes will require separate discussions.

3. The temple will pay Nordmark Mage 20,000 contribution points as a fee for learning the spell "Direct Current Defibrillation" and for adapting this spell into divine magic. The divine magic can be renamed and does not need to match the council-certified spell name.

4. The temple will pay Nordmark Mage 100,000 silver coins for providing in-person instruction on this spell.

Garrett Nordmark promised:

1. To authorize the Temple of the War God, the Nevis Great Temple, and its subsidiary temples to freely learn the spell "Direct Current Defibrillation" without additional fees beyond the agreement.

2. To personally give a lecture at the Nevis Great Temple, teaching the spell to the bishops. The lecture will last at least 10 hours, ensuring at least one person learns the spell.

If the spell cannot be learned within 10 hours, the archbishop may designate one person to follow Nordmark Mage until they have mastered it.

3. During the lecture period at the Nevis Great Temple, the temple will prepare 20 Level 4 warriors for advancement to knights. If any accidents occur during the advancement, he can provide on-site treatment without additional spell fees.

Meanwhile, the Magic Council promised to pay Nordmark Mage 10,000 contribution points as a fee for authorizing the creation of magical devices using the spell "Direct Current Defibrillation."

After the sale of 200 devices, further sales will continue to pay a commission.

Of course, Garrett Nordmark will not see a penny of these 30,000 contribution points. The money will transfer directly from the temple’s account in the council to his account in the council, and then be returned to the council for construction of his mage tower.

The council’s efficiency was impressive. The day after Garrett signed the magic contract, a department specializing in construction visited to finalize the mage tower’s construction plan:

Where to build it? The Oak Grove Clinic site is quite large, but a specific location is needed for construction.

How large should the mage tower be? The standard mage tower is seven stories above ground and two below, but the details can vary.

Some mages prefer tall and slender towers; others prefer shorter and stouter ones. Adjustments within material and magical limits are free; beyond that, additional fees apply.

What style should it be? Some prefer square, others round, or even hexagonal or octagonal. Years ago, a grand mage built a pentagonal hollow tower.

Garrett flipped through the provided designs, listening to the visitor’s chatter:

"The most important thing is what facilities and magic you want. Elemental pools, control rooms, two invisible servants, alchemy labs, and meditation rooms are standard. Other facilities are listed with prices..."

Garrett skimmed a page. Alchemy labs are standard, but a larger alchemy workshop starts at 2000 contribution points, with additional area costing 2000 points per unit.

Garrett: No, thank you. His current lab in the main mage tower is sufficient for his needs.

Next, a library costs only 500 contribution points and includes permanent waterproof, fireproof, dustproof, and insect-proof spells, plus an extra invisible servant to manage the books.

Garrett was tempted. A library would be useful as a medical record archive, and 500 points were affordable.

Further down, a planar exploration room for 1000 points: no. A containment room and summoning room for 2000 points each: no.

An arcane garden, a small ecosystem using magical energy to grow plants, costing 1500 points: not worth it compared to the Nature God priests. No.

Specialized facilities for the eight major schools of the Magic Council were also available but costly. Garrett decided to skip them, only considering two clean rooms for surgery.

Finally, he reviewed the magic enhancements. Basic protections like tower reinforcement, arcane locks, warding spells, and magical alarms were free.

Soundproofing cost 1 point per square meter, necessary for some rooms like surgery and imaging rooms.

Secret doors and traps ranged from 10 to 1000 points. Garrett skipped these: it’s a hospital, not a murder house.

Detection avoidance spells were also unnecessary for a medical research facility.

Garrett flipped through the catalog, not finding any desired spells. He began outlining his requirements:

"First, the mage tower should be centrally located in the hospital grounds to oversee the area. Any anomalies should be visible at a glance."

"That’s no problem," said the smiling old man, a Level 5 mage with extensive experience in meeting mages’ needs and managing budgets.

He spread out a map, marking a central area.

"The central space is large enough for a mage tower. After surveying the foundation, we can start construction if there are no major issues."

"Second, the tower should be rectangular, with the entrance centered on the long side." Garrett noticed the old man’s disappointment.

"Alright," he sighed. Mages’ towers are meant to be unique and grand, unlike mundane buildings.

Garrett understood the disappointment. The unique towers on Igor Peak were landmarks for any architect to aspire to.

But Garrett envisioned a medical building, not a mage tower. A rectangular building maximizes space use.

Moreover, the large size was crucial for another reason:

"What’s the maximum footprint for the tower? 30 by 30 meters? 40 by 50?"

At 40 by 60, the old man finally shook his head.

"Mage Nordmark, such a large size would lower the ceiling height below three meters, making it oppressive."

"But..."

Garrett hesitated. Lady Ophelia’s dragon nest was at least the size of a football field, comfortable for a dragon to move around.

If a dragon nest couldn’t accommodate a dragon’s wingspan or tail length, what was its value?

"Can’t it be larger? I want a 40 by 60 meter hall on the top floor, 15 meters high. No additional features, just the hall."

The old man calculated again, proposing two options:

"To build such a hall and keep the lower floors comfortable, you need an additional 5000 contribution points. Without this, the magic array won’t cover the entire tower."

Garrett reflexively wanted to refuse. 5000 points were a lot; he still had debts from moving the tower spirit.

"Second option," the old man cautiously observed Garrett’s reaction, "we can extend the top of a standard tower outward with magic to create the hall."

He sketched a rough design with light and shadow.

"Magic can stabilize the hall atop the tower without collapsing..."

Garrett shook his head. The safety and cost aside, the design looked awkward and unattractive.

However, inspired by the light sketch, Garrett had an idea. He used "Silent Illusion" to project his vision:

"Could the mage tower be two buildings, with a hall between them? This way, the hall can be 40 by 60."

"Let me consult with our team..."

The old man sighed. Nordmark Mage’s ideas were challenging for the council’s architects.