Noticing the doubt in Auren's face, the doctor immediately rationalises the pay of a measly 1000 to 2000 Jenny he just mentioned.
"It might be nothing in most rich countries, but where we are from, it's decent pay—especially if all our needs are already accounted for," the doctor says, patient as if he's had this conversation before. "For what do we need money? Food, clothing, shelter, health, education, and tools." He counts them off steadily. "We got them all. We don't lack anything. The payment is pure luxury, which we can spend at our discretion—on things most people in poorer countries would never even think of buying, because there is never enough food on the table."
He continues, his voice growing a little colder.
"Our houses are always broken and need repair. When we get sick, we need to borrow from family just to survive. Our children can't get an education, and even if they do, they are only taught for a single day a week, and they need to walk hours to reach a school. Despite these terrible conditions, we're charged a fortune to send them there."
"This... sounds tough," Auren admits. "Reminds me of my home. I was initially denied school as well. I guess if you put it like that, 1,000 Jenny, when every other need is covered, is decent pay. Even the minimum is around 30,000 Jenny a month—enough for a few books, sweets, and various other things."
The doctor replies, looking enthusiastic now. "Hehe, yes! And not only that—last week we all received coffee, while the kids received caramel toffees. The week before, we all got luxurious green tea from the Empire."
The man's eyes brighten, and for a second, he looks almost younger. "We not only get paid that meagre wage, but we receive many other luxurious things too, in addition to the basics."
"In addition to that, we're also receiving vouchers worth around 1,000 Jenny per day, which we can exchange for luxury goods. That doubles our wage already." He leans forward slightly, clearly proud of the system. "Even the kids, elderly, or sick people who are not able to work receive these, and nobody aside from the receivers is allowed to spend them. This is like a universal basic income. Every single person gets it. Can you imagine that? This is unheard of. A true Paradise! Everyone is immensely grateful, and despite the uncertainty, nobody even dreams of leaving and returning to our homes."
"Someone like me receives the full 2,000 Jenny—3,000 with the voucher—every single day. That's plenty, since all my needs are already met. I can spend it on special things." His voice turns almost cheerful again. "There are already a few luxury stores and special meal courses available at the ordinary restaurants where we can spend our pay for special occasions. I heard our own currency is at the final stage of completion, and once it's ready, the vouchers will be replaced by that currency."
He finishes with quiet certainty, as if this isn't hope anymore, but fact.
"You can trust me, Vice-leader. Every need is taken care of, we all have jobs, everyone gets treated fairly and with dignity. I couldn't imagine a better place for my family."
"It is? Indeed, it is," Auren wonders, sounding a little unsure.
I vaguely remember the Elders talking about it. Trying to separate our own economy from the V5.... I mean, this is in the middle of nowhere, so it makes sense to use a separate currency, as long as people know they can exchange Jenny into our own currency, it doesn't really matter, though I wonder what they'll do with the exchange rate. Well, I can care about the details later.
"Yes," the doctor says, looking excited. "Of course, we can still decide to receive Jenny, and we can freely exchange it. Do not be deceived, Vice-Leader. This is for the good of everyone. Everyone who's grown up in poverty would work even without any payment, just for food and shelter." He speaks with conviction, genuinely believing in the expedition, showing not even a hint of doubt. "If you add all the other things to our income, this is a true paradise. Anyone here was willing to accept the offer provided by Hollow Blade without being forced to. None of us felt this was a tough decision at all. It wasn't even worth pondering over. There is a risk, but it's infinitely lower than surviving on the streets of most countries."
"I see..." Auren replies. "Thank you for telling me. I've been a little too focused on my own progression and ... projects. Perhaps I've paid too little attention to the grand picture."
This is a little humiliating. I only skimmed through the documents provided by Rakshala. I was only focused on the things I'm interested in. I guess I really fail as the Vice-Leader... I should set aside a few hours to really get to know how this place runs. Maybe Elder Kirda can teach me. She'll sleep on the airship, so I can talk with her for an hour or two every day.
"I've wasted enough of your time. I'll take care of the patients now," Auren says, walking forward.
When he does, he spots multiple people, all looking rather lifeless. At first glance, nothing is wrong with them, but Auren soon discovers the issue. Every single one of them is crippled or heavily wounded—some missing limbs, eyes, or with their bodies mangled in other gruesome ways.
"Animal attacks?" Auren mutters.
"Animals is a cute term," a female patient says angrily, her eyes dull and full of frustration. "I'm so stupid. These fucking wolves bit off my foot... I stumbled and fell down, and that's how I lost it." Her voice shakes, caught between rage and shame. "Not only that—my comrades were forced to rescue me... now, thanks to my foolishness, my friend here lost his entire arm, while I cry over a foot."
She then begins to cry in frustration, whispering towards a man lying next to her, "I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry."
"Don't cry. We all knew the risks, and we'll be taken care of." The man tries to sound calm. "We can still work, and we can still enjoy life, don't ponder over past mistakes."
Both are traumatised, despite the man pretending to be alright. I guess that's normal after getting crippled like that. They probably feel guilty and ashamed as well.
"Well, good news," Auren says, stepping forward. "You don't have to worry about that any longer. That goes for everyone else, too."
Everyone stares at Auren in confusion before looking away again, obviously not believing him.
"Doctor, I need some privacy. Where do you operate patients here?" Auren asks him, looking around.
"At the side, behind the curtains," the doctor says, pointing towards a curtained-off section. "You can find tools there as well. Call me if you need help."
"I'm not sure I can take care of everyone today, but let me at least start," Auren says, walking behind them. "Send me patient after patient. Start with the most serious case." He pauses, then adds, "By the way, in the other shack... are there people with critical injuries as well?"
"Yes... some." The doctor hesitates for a moment, then answers plainly. "I suggest you only take care of a few people here. I'll send you three. After that, it's best you take care of the others... their injuries are of a different kind, and some are relatively urgent, though none of them is in danger of dying in the next few days."
I didn't absorb the Aura in Eternity, so my weapon grows, but I've still recovered a lot of Aura. Three patients should be fine.
"Send in the first patient," Auren orders as he is walking behind the curtains.
To Auren's surprise, the doctor pushes in the bed of the woman he saw earlier.
"Didn't she just lose her foot?" Auren asks. "This is a serious case?"
"It's her psyche," the doctor explains. "It's best to stop it from degrading any further."
Auren shrugs. "I'll trust your judgement, Doctor. Give us some privacy."
The doctor smiles and leaves Auren alone with the injured woman.
"Uhm, sorry boy, but are you some kind of doctor?" she asks, still sounding half-angry and half-hopeless. "As I said... I lost my foot... there is nothing you can do for me now. Or are you trying to give me therapy about loss? Look... I'll be fine... Take care of the others first, in whatever capacity you are capable of."
"Obviously, I'm going to heal you," Auren says. "Also, you fucked up, if I heard you correctly. You should get back to work and make up for your failures. So after I'll deal with your missing foot, you'd rather get a move on and get back to work. I heard the pay is bad, but the benefits are great around here."
"If I only could!" she yells angrily, obviously not in the mood to joke around.
Auren smiles, grabs a nearby clean blanket, and ties it around her eyes. It takes him only a second.
"What... what are you doing?!" she asks, confused, lifting her hands to remove the blanket.
"Lay still and shut up," Auren orders, his voice stern.
As the small space calms down, Auren activates Azure Restoration once again, dyeing the area behind the curtains in a bright Azure colour.
It might look bright to me, but only a Nen user can see the Aura. Anyone without opened Aura nodes in their eyes won't see it. So, for any non-Nen user, they shouldn't be able to see anything—maybe just feel something vague.
Now... let's restore her foot.
Auren works hard to restore the woman's foot. He first disinfects his hands and the area on her leg where the foot was amputated. Using a scalpel that he picks up from the table, he cuts open the part that's been closed up by the doctors, causing the woman to shake slightly, clenching her jaw tightly, obviously in pain.
"Just a second," Auren says, grabbing her leg tightly, so she can't move it.
Ten seconds later, with a fresh layer of meat cut off and her wound heavily bleeding, Auren surrounds the wound with his Aura.
Within seconds, he sees new flesh growing.
Minute by minute, more flesh grows, producing part of her lower leg, her ankle, her heel, her foot, and finally her toes.
"This... feels so good," the woman says, moaning loudly.
"Shut up, or others will think something weird is happening," Auren chastises her immediately.
"Something weird is happening indeed!" the woman yells loudly. "I can feel my foot! How?!"
"You remind me of a friend. I'm getting annoyed," Auren says, ripping the piece of cloth off her eyes.
No need for two Vanessas....
"Now stand up and get the fuck out. Send in the next patient. Use the rest of the day to rest up and then report for work tomorrow. No need to think about what happened or be all scared to mess up again. I'll patch you up as often as it takes; that's your punishment. You're not quitting your job."
"What?!" the woman yells in confusion, but Auren doesn't give her time to overthink. He pulls her up.
"I'm standing," she says, tears flowing down her cheeks.
"Good. Now try walking," Auren says, gently pushing her forward, outside the curtain. Step after step, she indeed manages to leave, Auren using his foot to kick the bed outside as well.
Good riddance.
However, a few seconds later, he hears her crying again. Instead of encountering a new patient, she re-enters the area behind the curtains and hugs Auren.
"Thank you..." she says, crying. "Are you a god? Like the Leader I've been told about? Like Rakshala?" she asks, her eyes filled with worship.
"I am not, and neither is Rakshala. You're welcome." Auren's voice turns firm again. "Now go home, rest, and then get back to work. I have more patients to deal with!"
"Thank you... god. I'll be forever grateful. I'll make you proud, believe me! I'll be praying to you every morning," the woman yells, blushing a little before rushing out.
She didn't understand a thing... how annoying. I don't want any rumours like that to spread.
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