Chapter 17: New Ideas

Ace already had an idea. He no longer planned to continue studying with Telos. Based on his understanding of the current medical skill and his experience in hospitals in his past life, he had ideas for improvement.

Ace subsequently thanked Telos for his instruction over the half-month, telling him that he had learned a lot and intended to take some time to process it—in short, he would not be coming back.

Telos did not say much more. If it weren’t for Peter’s influence, he certainly wouldn’t have accepted a student in this format.

At Peter’s villa, inside the study.

“What? You’re not studying medicine with Telos anymore? Do you know how much effort I expended to secure that arrangement, that opportunity?” Peter’s goatee was bristling with anger. His large white robe flapped loudly, and for the first time, Peter, who was usually gentle toward Ace, roared like this.

“Teacher, I studied seriously for over half a month and believe that Telos’s medical skill does not align with my philosophy. I have understood the existing medical practice and have some ideas of my own,” Ace replied calmly, his face showing no change as he endured Peter’s spittle.

“First, Telos’s main approach is to eliminate the sickness, which is not wrong. But it is too simple and crude: cut off a hand for a hand-ache, cut off a leg for a leg-ache—what if the head hurts? The correct philosophy is to maintain the body’s integrity as much as possible, distinguish and treat different types of diseases, and be patient-centered.

Second, be objective and neutral. Medical practice should be based on objective and neutral research, not treatment based on a priori knowledge and conjecture. You might as well throw stones at a tree and see how many birds you hit. If one doesn’t fundamentally understand the human body, how can one treat people?

It is necessary to dissect corpses, and at the same time, base treatment on a large amount of clinical data to achieve symptomatic treatment.

Third, establish several systems. Systems such as the resident physician system, the clinical teaching system, the classification of internal and external medicine, and full-course sterilization, to truly put patients at ease.

Fourth, there are too few existing medicinal formulas, and the research on medicinal materials is not deep enough. My goal is to collect, research, and analyze the effects of various medicinal materials, and the indications of various medicinal formulas, and write a complete guide to medication and compounding.”

Peter listened quietly to Ace’s points. His goatee slowly smoothed out. He thought for a long time. “Many of your ideas are very creative. Perhaps you are right. If you can implement your ideas consistently for decades, perhaps you will bring people a new kind of medicine.”

“But your path will be very difficult. Exclusion from peers, distrust from patients—these will restrict you. Are you prepared?”

“Teacher, just as you said, the path is very difficult. I have an immature idea. Since there are too many difficulties in the initial stage, I can first practice my ideas on my own ‘experimental field.’ ”

“Experiment? Is that a newly coined word formed by combining the root of ‘operation’ and the suffix of ‘verification’?”

“Yes, it is a new word I coined. The definition is a certain operation or activity conducted to verify a certain viewpoint or hypothesis. You know I bought an estate in Buku Town. I want to purchase 400 slaves to staff the estate.”

“But you are not a Citizen yet. Only Nobles and Citizens are qualified to own slaves.”

“Yes, I want to purchase them using your status, and I hope to sign an agreement with you. You will lease the 400 slaves you purchase to me for three years. I will pay you 5% of the total purchase price of the 400 slaves in Gold Thales. After three years, when I gain Citizenship, you will automatically transfer these 400 slaves to me without compensation.”

“Helping you is not a problem, and I will gladly accept the compensation, but what does this have to do with an ‘experimental field’?”

“The city-state is composed of a group of people; it is a society. Although slaves are legally classified as property, they are also a group of people, and they are also a society. They labor, they eat and drink, they get sick, and they die. The estate they form can be used to test many of my ideas, not just medicine.” And the supernatural, Ace added mentally.

Peter had always considered Ace very creative, but even the dictionary did not shock him as much as this idea did today. “Using a small society to test your ideas—that is a grand and genius concept. I will provide as much help as possible. I hope you can forge a new path.”

After Ace returned home, he wrote down three words on parchment: New Medicine. This would be his guiding philosophy for medical practice, with the four main points above. He would slowly refine it over the next few years.

Ace planned to go to Buku Town tomorrow. He was impatient to research and dissect the Corrosion Jackals, and the noisy environment of the city-state was very unfavorable for his meditation.

Ace entrusted Romon with the task of purchasing 300 able-bodied Slaves and 100 young Slaves to staff the estate. The city-state had recently conquered a batch of barbarian tribes, and the slave market was well-stocked with supplies at favorable prices, making it a good time to stock up.

This world is a slave society. He would become a Citizen in three more years. Nobles and Citizens have the right to own slaves , and slaves are the private property of their owners. This provided him with the conditions to become self-sufficient and self-contained in three years.

He could buy a lot of barren land, buy slaves, and construct his own closed, authoritarian society in his estate with himself at the top of the pyramid.

Of course, Heroes would not care about such things. Supernatural power can suppress everything. No matter how self-contained a society is, without supernatural power, it must still bow down and obey.

As the sky was just getting light, Ace packed his things, loaded the five cages containing the Corrosion Jackals onto two large flatbed carriages. He, Marina, and the two veterans boarded a carriage and were about to exit the city gate.

“Wait a moment, wait a moment!” A somewhat anxious, breathless shout came. Ace heard that it sounded familiar and stopped the carriage.

Morton was seen running madly, having almost run out of breath, as he caught up.

“A-A-Ace, listen to me…”

“Don’t talk yet. Get your breath back first.”

Morton gasped heavily, then recovered a moment later. “I almost ran myself to death. Quickly pack up your things and follow me to Teacher Peter’s house. The King is hosting a banquet for you today.”

“What? What is going on? Explain clearly first.” Ace was greatly surprised. Why would the King host a banquet for him out of the blue?

“We can talk on the way. You send this carriage train back. You won’t be leaving today.”

On the way, Morton told Ace that every year on the birthday of the Goddess of Elegance, the Royal Family hosts a banquet for all the Nobles, some meritorious Citizens, and outstanding individuals from all sectors of the city-state. Ace was recommended by the Ministry of Culture and Education to be invited because of the dictionary he compiled. The invitation was only approved yesterday and Peter was informed early this morning.

That is why Morton had rushed over in a hurry, stopping Ace from returning to Buku Town.

“This is a rare honor. I heard that they initially thought you were too young, and the regent didn’t approve it. It was Crown Prince Talon Medea who saw your dictionary and praised it greatly, allowing you to be invited to attend. You are probably the youngest guest,” Morton said with a hint of envy.

“By the way, did you bring all your badges?”

“No, they are at home.”

“Then we must go to your house first. You must bring all your honors.”

By the time they reached Peter’s house, the sun had already risen. Peter had prepared a black robe for Ace. “You are not a Citizen yet, so you can only wear the black robe representing public office. Let us not waste any more time; let’s hurry to the Royal Palace.”