Ch 21: A Mad Man

Following the instructions, he began to carry out the steps of the system. After 5 to 10 minutes, he had successfully obtained his powdered medicine.

This newfound discovery filled him with excitement. "Thanks to the system, I'm now capable of devising combination recipes," he thought.

Several important insights came to his attention:

"Firstly, I'm limited to adding only two recipes to the alchemy pot. This is likely tied to my alchemy level. I'm willing to bet that by increasing my level, I'll gain the ability to add more."

"Secondly, the precise adherence to the system's instructions is crucial for achieving the correct product. Any deviation results in reduced effectiveness or even failure."

"Hmm, I wonder if there's a way to automate this process?" Zane began searching for a button to enable automation, but his hopes were dashed as he realized there was no such option.

Over the course of nearly 30 minutes, he conducted experiments and successfully created a number of products.

Although he wished he could continue, he reluctantly recognized the need to attend to his patients. Upon observing one of his patients, he noticed the man's mouth foaming. Clearly, the longer he had been absent, the worse the patient's condition had become.

He glanced at Horus and discovered that he was performing surgery on a patient strapped to the bed, their mouth and body tightly secured.

Ordinarily, surgeries are conducted when patients are asleep or sedated. However, in this case, the patient was shockingly awake, eyes wide and bulging, their inability to scream only adding to the distress.

Sensing the stare, Horus turned towards Zane with a smile and asked, "Do you have any questions, Zane? If you're feeling tired, feel free to take a break. Don't worry about a thing."

Zane realized that Horus hadn't even noticed his absence for nearly an hour. He shifted his gaze to Horus's patient, observing the weak attempts the man made to reach for the scissors on the nearby table. Zane understood that the man couldn't endure the torment any longer and seemed almost desperate enough to resort to suicide.

"Sir... your patient."

"Oh, this? Don't concern yourself with it. He complained of stomach pain, so I decided to investigate. There's a chance a demon might be residing in his abdominal region. I'm conducting a thorough examination. Would you like to join me?" Horus's smile seemed oddly sinister.

Zane gulped and hastily replied, "Thank you, but I'm quite busy at the moment. Perhaps another time." Inwardly, he added, 'Or perhaps never.'

Horus grinned and resumed his work, saying, "Feel free to reach out if you encounter any issues. Humans are incredibly delicate beings. Every time you open them up, you discover something new."

'Why in the world did they assign this guy here? He's a danger to these patients.'

Meanwhile, as he tended to his patient, he noticed the man's gaze fixed on him. It was evident that the man's life was hanging by a thread. Struggling weakly, the patient attempted to reach into his pocket, presumably to retrieve his written last will and testament.

At that moment, Zane's hands appeared, holding a vial of purple powder that he promptly introduced into the patient's mouth. The patient's initial instinct was to resist, fearing it might be poison. However, he quickly realized the futility of such resistance; he was already succumbing to poison, and ingesting more would be redundant. Grudgingly, he swallowed the powder and soon drifted into a slumber.

Over time, Zane observed the patient's condition stabilize, prompting him to commence the process of cleaning and dressing the wounds. After approximately 10 minutes of meticulous care, he successfully tended to the wound and sealed it.

Proceeding to the next patient, Zane initiated the process of prioritizing the most critical cases. Thanks to the healing powders he had prepared, he managed to stabilize the patients' conditions.

As the afternoon wore on, Zane diligently attended to the patients assigned to him by Horus. During moments of respite, he returned to the medicinal chamber at his home to craft various medications.

Before departing for the day, Zane stumbled upon a novel recipe—a combination of plants capable of inducing a potent poisonous effect.

Looking at the green liquid in his hands. He used identification.

Tier 1 Green Viper Ivy

Uses: Cause a strong poison status. Poison resistance can negate effects.

Even Zane was afraid of this effect. He knew that it will kill him in two minutes. He was extremely careful handling the liquid. After staring at it, he stored it in his inventory.

He also formulated multiple healing medications, some in liquid form and others as powders. Through experimentation, he discovered that liquid formulas exhibited faster-acting properties compared to their powdered counterparts—this conclusion had been confirmed through a patient he had treated.

As the afternoon arrived, Zane's effectiveness surprised even Horus. Almost involuntarily, Horus remarked, "You're a quick learner, Zane!"

"Thank you, doctor. Your methods and practices have provided me with invaluable insights," Zane replied. In truth, Zane hadn't truly learned from Horus and remained baffled by how this individual had come to be the physician.

Hearing Zane's words, Horus chuckled with a touch of madness and recognized Zane's brilliance and the quality of his guidance.

"You're free to go! Don't worry about your compensation; it'll be ready for you next time you return."

Before departing, Zane cast his gaze over the surroundings. He noticed Horus still engrossed in his work and was certain that this doctor's motives went beyond mere points—he seemed to derive entertainment from it.

'A man mad!' Zane thought.

With that, Zane swiftly left and made his way to secure transportation back to his home.