A Core Ship From The Start

Chapter 344: Chapter 268: Believe it or Not?_2

However, once he returned to the clinic, the doctor immediately regretted it.

“This thing… Are really sure it’s okay???”

Looking at the holy statue in front of him, the doctor was at a loss for words.

Before him was a statue delivered by the soldiers from the Star Realm Army. It had an iron cast base that looked significantly heavy. Positioned atop the base was a massive War Hammer with its hammer head grounded, handle upright and a human skull pattern accompanied by three horizontal bars etched on it.

This was the Tribunal’s holy statue.

Why did it have to be a Skull Head…?

Gazing at the statue, the doctor complained wordlessly. He noticed that almost all members of the Tribunal had a skull symbol on them. Whether they were the Star Realm Army warriors, their commanders, or even the base, skulls were everywhere. Naturally, the doctor asked about this. The answer he got was that an unmutated human skull represents the sanctity, purity, and essence of humans—it signified the meaning of their fight for humanity.

Though the reasoning was clear, this decoration still looked like something a villain would have, didn’t it?

The doctor had been hoping they would send a Statue of a Beautiful Lady or a Cross or something, but this… Could it really soothe the patients?

They’d walk in, probably thinking they were in a morgue.

What if someone with a weak heart got scared right into a seizure?

“Doctor, what’s this?”

The nurse, observing the statue with a puzzled expression, had walked over by now.

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“Um… This is something the Tribunal sent, supposedly to help patients feel more at ease…”

“…Won’t this terrify them?”

“Don’t ask, this isn’t our place to discuss.”

The doctor, reluctantly, advised the nurse not to pry. Considered as a military-ruled area, the Tribunal’s commands were supreme here, and they were nothing like the weak COG government. At the start, some of the nomads who came here tried to incite people to confront the Tribunal. And the result?

Well, the bodies hanging outside the gates were testimony to that.

The Tribunal did not negotiate, and they certainly did not accept threats.

Although the Tribunal was extremely oppressive, the nomads felt their living conditions were not inconvenient. Besides maintaining law and order, the Star Realm Army did not pose much of a nuisance for the nomads. Initially, the nomads worried that the Star Realm soldiers would bully them like the Wei’an Government soldiers. They later found that as long as they didn’t break the law, the Army could not care less about what they did. They didn’t even demand anything from them. Thus, the people felt relieved.

If the nurse did jest about this issue, it didn’t matter. She wasn’t afraid someone might arrest her either. However, out of politeness, the doctor still stopped her from gossiping.

He was in their territory after all, isn’t it?

Soon after, the clinic opened, and the doctor returned to his office to start the day’s work.

For the doctor, this was not a stress-relieving job. The main reason being—insufficient medical supplies.

Yes, medicine.

If it was an external injury, the doctor could manage it. But if it was a disease requiring medication, it became a problem. The Tribunal had imported a batch of remedies from Manaria for treating diseases, but they were just basic anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, disinfectants, and analgesics. They were ineffective for most chronic diseases.

So, many a time, the doctor was capable of diagnosing a disease but had no means of treating it… After all, all the pharmaceutical factories were bombed.

Nevertheless, he still had to attend to the patients.

“Huff… Huff…”

As the doctor was attending to patients, suddenly an old man walked in. He was a frequent visitor to the clinic. This vet was a soldier who had been injured during the Beast Race war. He had difficulty breathing and would wheeze like a bellows every time he spoke. So, as soon as he heard this bellows-like sound, the doctor knew who it was.

“Uncle Hank, you’re here again?”

“Yes, doctor…huff…Do you have any good medicine?”

“Err… sorry, but I really don’t have any particularly useful medicines at the moment.”

Facing the old man’s query, the doctor helplessly spread his hands. The man’s lung infection is severe; it’s not an issue of a day or two. In peaceful times, perhaps a large amount of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs would be beneficial. Unfortunately, during these times, such drugs are more precious than gold, and even his clinic doesn’t have any in stock. All he can do is prescribe the medicine – the actual drugs are guarded by the Star Realm Army, and ordinary people can’t obtain them.

“Is that so…sigh…By the way, what’s that strange object outside?”

“Oh, that’s the Tribunal’s holy statue…if you’re willing, Uncle Hank, you can pray to it. Maybe it’ll help.”

“Alright…hehe, I understand.”

Hearing the doctor’s recommendation, the old man chuckled, then turned and left, while the doctor shook his head and turned to the next patient.

“Huff……….”

Upon leaving the clinic, the old man took a deep breath. He didn’t necessarily dislike the doctor. After all, he knew he was a difficult case given his long-term illness. If it were another disease, perhaps the old man would grit his teeth and endure. After all, his age was catching up with him, and he understood very well that he could die any day.

However, the current illness was unbearable. Each breath felt as if his lung was a heated bellows, expelling hot air. This sensation was torturous…

“Sigh….”

With a sigh, the old man dragged his body and walked towards the statue. Standing in front of it, he inspected the holy statue, then clasped his hands together and closed his eyes. Although he didn’t believe in the idea that prayer could cure illnesses, he was genuinely grateful to the Tribunal. Most nomadic tribes, out of survival instincts, only wanted young men, women, and children. To them, elderly people like him, who had no productive ability and only consumed resources, were rejected. The Tribunal, however, allowed him to live here, even providing a dedicated living area for the elderly and serving them free meals every day…For the old man, this was already a great level of care.

“Thank you, old chap…huff…I have no way to repay this kindness, so I’ll have to see if I get a chance in my next life…to repay the kindness of the Tribunal…”

With his eyes still closed, the old man murmured a prayer. At that moment, he suddenly felt a cool sensation rise within his body. In the blink of an eye, he felt as if his limbs were soaked in a clear spring, radiating with a refreshing cool sensation. Even his muddled mind, at that moment, became clear.

“Huff…..”

Opening his eyes, the old man exhaled. He then turned around and walked out of the clinic….But at that moment, he seemed to notice something. Instinctively, he reached out and touched his chest, only to widen his eyes in surprise.

The very next moment, he turned around and rushed back into the clinic.

“Doctor! Doctor!”

“Whoa, what’s the matter, Uncle Hank?”

The doctor treating the patient was startled as the old man rushed into his office. The latter, however, was so excited that his face turned red, and he gesticulated wildly.

“I’m cured!”

“What? What’s cured?”

“My illness! My illness is cured! Look, I’m cured!”

The old man was now wildly gesticulating with excitement. The doctor and nurses looked at each other in confusion. It was then that they realized that the old man was acting unusually energetic. Usually, he would get tired even from taking a deep breath, speaking weakly. But now, he seemed so energetic…

“What happened?”

At this point, even the doctor was stunned. He couldn’t figure out what had cured the old man.

“It’s thanks to you, doctor. You told me to worship the holy statue outside. After I worshiped… I got better!”

“…Huh?!”

Upon hearing the old man’s reply, the doctor was rendered speechless.