Run A Medical Clinic In The Abyssal World

Chapter 234: I have no way to repay such kindness (1)

Louise's deep blue eyes shimmered like a crystal-clear spring atop a snowy mountain, gazing curiously at Charlotte.

"You had acute appendicitis, and I have removed your inflamed appendix," Charlotte nodded slightly.

"Removed the inflamed appendix?"

Louise's eyes widened in surprise. She lowered her gaze and noticed the mended seam on her skirt, precisely where she had felt the pain earlier. However, the skillful stitching was so impeccable that she hadn't noticed it until now.

So, this doctor had opened her Abmen and cut out a portion of her intestine? Fear flashed across Louise's face as she contemplated this unfamiliar treatment method.

"Is there any discomfort?" Charlotte sensed Louise's anxiety and asked in a gentle voice.

"N-No," Louise shook her head, snapping out of her thoughts.

Indeed, she couldn't feel any discomfort in her body now. There was no pain or the sensation of missing any organ.

When she left the tower of the Physicians' Association, she was almost in agonizing agony, on the verge of fainting and even contemplating death to escape the unbearable pain.

Charlotte saved her. After drinking the mysterious potion and falling into a deep slumber, she woke up to find that the treatment was already over, and all her pain had vanished.

Stepping down from the operating table, Louise bowed slightly to Charlotte and sincerely said, "Thank you for saving me."

Yes, Charlotte saved her.

Not just her life, but her soul as well.

In the nine levels of that tower, when Hayward coldly declared her as abandoned by the gods, she felt like the whole world had forsaken her.

She had always devoutly believed in the gods of nature and the goddess of life, willing to give everything for her faith in the deities.

From childhood, everyone called her the favorite of the gods of nature, the elf closest to the gods in nearly a thousand years.

However, Hayward, due to her illness, deemed her abandoned by the gods as if shackling her soul to the gallows.

At that moment, Charlotte appeared.

He assured her that she was not abandoned by the gods but simply suffering from a disease called "acute appendicitis," which was cured by removing the affected area.

He was like a hand reaching out in the endless darkness, pulling her back into the sunlight.

"You're welcome," Charlotte nodded slightly. It seemed that this saint was quite adaptable, at least not dwelling on the process of treatment.

Betty, who had heard the voices outside the door, couldn't hold back any longer and pushed open the door of the operating room. She looked at Louise, standing relaxed next to the operating table, and her eyes lit up. She walked in excitedly and said, "Saint, are you... are you healed?"

"Yes, Betty. Doctor Charlotte has cured me," Louise smiled and nodded. "I no longer feel any discomfort now."

"That's wonderful," tears shimmered in Betty's eyes. As Louise's guardian, she had watched her suffer in various agonies for the past few days, her heart dripping with blood, and even mentally prepared for the worst.

"I apologize, Doctor, for my rash behavior earlier. Thank you for saving the Saint," Betty bowed and apologized to Charlotte.

"It's alright. You were just anxious," Charlotte waved generously.

Behind the counter, Vivian and Kasha finally got a clear view of the situation in the operating room.

Louise looked at Charlotte seriously and said, "Master said that we elves must repay kindness, and you saved me. I am indebted to you, and there is only one way to repay..."

"Hold on!"

"Saint!"

Adolf and Betty almost interrupted Louise simultaneously, their expressions showing signs of anxiety.

Even Charlotte was taken aback. After all, she was the elven Saint, not someone who couldn't afford medical expenses. It couldn't be that she would offer herself up just for an appendectomy, right?

Even if she dared to ask, he wouldn't dare to agree.

What's going on? Do you still want to freeload in the Elven Forest?

In addition, the hermit leader is also an elf. Although his position in the elven community is unknown, he won't let others take advantage of it so easily.

Betty was about to cover Louise's mouth. As Louise's first personal guard, she knew exactly what Louise was about to say. If Louise said it out loud, it would be a blow to the face of the Saint.

Although Charlotte saved Louise, it was a great kindness but not to the extent of offering herself.

If this news reaches the Elven Forest, there will probably be assassins rushing over tonight to eliminate this human who is trying to meddle in the future of the elven queen.

Adolf was also a little panicked. Louise was Benjamin's beloved disciple and the elven Saint, and she was recognized by many as the future queen of the elves.

If he casually betrothed himself to Charlotte here, Benjamin would personally come to kill him tomorrow. He couldn't escape responsibility.

"Only with a generous thank-you, how much medical fee do we need to pay for such a complex condition?" Adolf took over the conversation and looked at Charlotte.

Betty and Jacques also looked at Charlotte.

Louise was the elven Saint, with a noble identity and more than enough money. And this condition, even the president of the Physician Association and the Elder Council had no cure for it, but he managed to treat it. Even if he asked for more, it would be completely reasonable.

Louise moved her mouth, but she resisted speaking under Betty's warning gaze.

"Ten thousand copper coins for the consultation fee," Charlotte said.

"Ten thousand copper coins?"

The three of them looked at Charlotte in surprise.

At the level of Adolf and Jacques, the general treatment fee started at one hundred thousand copper coins. Depending on the difficulty of the condition, there could be a significant range.

After all, it required doctors of their level to take action, and they were usually wealthy enough to afford the fee.

Of course, Adolf offered free treatment to some poor patients one day a week, and Jacques usually accompanied him.

So the treatment fee proposed by Charlotte was quite unexpected for them.

After the surprise, Betty became somewhat wary of Charlotte.

She accompanied Louise to seek medical advice, and the High Priest gave her a sum of money as the consultation fee, roughly a thousand gold coins.

If Hayward cured Louise, this money would be given to the Physician Association, and the elves would owe him a favor.

But if Charlotte cured Louise, it would only cost ten thousand copper coins, which was equivalent to just one gold coin.

This made her deeply suspect that Charlotte had other motives. Charge less, make Louise feel guilty and grateful, and then ask for a favor in return.

This man, his thoughts were indeed deep. In the future, the Saint should have less contact with him. Otherwise, sooner or later, she would be drained dry.

[What's with that expression? Ten thousand copper coins are still expensive? Didn't you say you wanted to express your gratitude with a generous amount? ]

Charlotte felt uncomfortable under the gaze of the three people and had to explain, "The previous patient also paid a ten thousand copper coin fee. Of course, it's a bit more expensive compared to other routine surgeries."

"That's still expensive? Then how much do you usually charge for treating patients from the Abyss?" Jacques couldn't help but ask.

Charlotte pondered for a moment and said, "It's hard to say. It depends on the illness or the severity of the injury, and how much medicine is consumed. The fees generally range from 300 to 5,000 copper coins."

Adolf: ...

Jacques: ...

Treating a patient for 300 copper coins, how is that any different from a free clinic?

The two elders, who only accepted gold coins, were at a loss for words.

"Such a cheap price, Doctor Charlotte, you are completely different from those physicians I know." Louise also looked at Charlotte in surprise, her eyes filled with great interest.

Charlotte calmly said, "With higher prices, the ordinary people in the Abyss wouldn't be able to afford it. I just want to give more poor patients a chance to be treated."

After this statement, everyone's attitude toward Charlotte became respectful.

Even Betty looked at him with a slightly different gaze. Perhaps...this man wasn't as bad as she had thought.

Adolf's gaze at Charlotte transformed from confusion to admiration.

Indeed, this young man once possessed all the talents and bright prospects that everyone envied, but he chose to explore another path filled with difficulties and dangers.

He spoke simple yet powerful words, aiming to provide more opportunities for impoverished patients to receive treatment.

The starting price of ten thousand copper coins at the clinic left many lives stranded outside its doors.