The meeting with Liones Ashford was held in the quarters assigned to Jin and his group.
Jin and Elsa sat across from Prince Arthur and Liones Ashford at a table for four. Jin faced Liones, while Elsa sat opposite Prince Arthur. Princess Lieschen had a separate chair brought in to observe.
"First, thank you for indulging my whim. You have my gratitude," Liones began in a casual tone. "My specialty is, well, 'everything.' I became a scholar because I wanted to learn about all the various things scattered across this world."
"I see. So you are what one might call a naturalist," Jin said, using the word that came to mind.
Natural history was essentially the study of objects existing in the natural world, such as animals, plants, and minerals. Toa, a member of the Jin Family, could also be considered a naturalist, though the term didn't seem to exist in this world.
"Ooh, a naturalist?...I see, I see. Jin-dono, you use such interesting expressions. A 'naturalist,' is it? That has quite a nice ring to it."
Liones seemed to take a great liking to the term.
"Now then, I am from the neighboring Celuroa Kingdom, but I understand you two come from the Shouro Empire?"
"That is... correct," Elsa replied.
"What I wanted to ask you about is none other than ships."
Jin was somewhat impressed, wondering if Liones was interested in engineering as well as natural history. He mused that perhaps this greed for knowledge was characteristic of the ancient culture of the Celuroa Kingdom.
"Ships? It’s true that many different kinds are built in the Shouro Empire," Elsa answered while Jin was lost in thought.
Shipbuilding was a specialty for Elsa’s cousin and Jin’s close friend, Reinhard. It was, of course, one of Jin’s specialties as well.
"There is a rumor that a merchant is building large-scale ships in the southern part of the Celuroa Kingdom..."
Jin wondered if he was referring to Eckart Techles. If so, this man Liones was remarkably well-informed. At this point, Jin decided to leave the lead of the conversation to Elsa while he kept a close eye on Liones.
"Large ships must be effective for transport."
"Yes. In the Shouro Empire, we use lakes, rivers, and artificial waterways to transport cargo."
"But when you consider the power required and the costs involved, surely it isn't always advantageous?"
"No, because they can carry far greater loads than horses or wagons, those factors are offset."
"And if you consider safety between land and water..."
"Since we are not on the sea, we primarily use waters with few waves. We use wide, shallow-bottomed boats for that reason. Therefore, their stability is high..."
"If one were to go out to sea—especially the open ocean—I believe the rigidity of the hull must be considered. In that case, for structural materials..."
"But if you use metal structural materials, wouldn't the weight become an issue?"
"That is a valid point. When considering metal and wood, and their specific strength—the ratio of strength to weight—one must..."
Elsa and Liones continued their technical exchange. Jin watched closely, but he still couldn't quite grasp Liones’s true intention. Prince Arthur also simply listened in silence. Jin occasionally joined the conversation, and the discussion flowed without pause.
The talk lasted for an hour, and just as it approached ten o'clock, they finally reached a stopping point.
"Well now, Miss Elsa, Jin-dono, that was a most meaningful time. You have my thanks."
Liones expressed his gratitude in his casual tone and departed.
"I don't get it," Jin voiced his doubt once Prince Arthur and Liones were gone.
"Did he just come here for small talk?" Elsa seemed unable to fully grasp his intention either.
"As for me, I find it curious that Arthur-anii hardly opened his mouth at all," Lieschen added.
None of the three understood the purpose behind Liones’s visit. Perhaps, Jin thought, he really did just want a pure academic discussion.
"Well, Rio? What’s your take?"
Upon returning to his room, Prince Arthur questioned his tutor, Liones.
"They are not to be underestimated. Those two possess knowledge that surpasses even my own."
"What?! That much...? It seems Lieschen has found herself some formidable friends."
"The prognosis of the patients they treated yesterday also seems excellent. Most likely, His Majesty’s surgery will be performed this afternoon."
"Do you think it will succeed?"
"Yes, likely so."
"I see..."
Prince Arthur said nothing more, simply staring out the window. The sky was finally beginning to turn from gray to blue.
After they finished lunch, the Chancellor visited Jin and Elsa’s room. Prince Edmond and Prince Arthur accompanied him.
"Elsa-dono! A conclusion has been reached. We would like you to treat His Majesty immediately!" the Chancellor announced.
"Miss Elsa, I beg of you. Please save my father," Prince Arthur said, bowing his head.
"I’m not one for complexities," Prince Edmond added, also bowing his head. "But the three patients you treated yesterday are all recovering. The Chancellor and Arthur trust you. So I’m asking you as well. Please cure my father."
"Of course. That is why I am here."
"We will do our absolute best," Jin promised.
The group moved to the King’s bedroom. The King’s condition remained unchanged. Elsa performed another diagnosis with Edgar’s assistance.
This was the first time Jin had seen Alois III in his sickbed, and he was startled by how emaciated the King looked.
So this is what liver disease does to a person...
For Lieschen’s sake, Jin resolved once more to make the treatment a success.
"Jin-nii, the diagnosis is finished. We will proceed as discussed."
"Right, I understand."
Jin deployed a barrier that enveloped himself, Elsa, Edgar, and Alois III. It was an indestructible barrier designed to block both physical and magical attacks. Since this had been explained beforehand, no one voiced any objections.
"Schmerzmittel. Paralyze."
She began with the anesthesia.
"Sterilization. Sterilization. Sterilization."
She sterilized the area inside the barrier, the surface of Alois III’s body, and the Mini-Smiths who would be performing the procedure. Now the real work began.
"Edgar, X-ray Vision, please. Mini-Smiths, Visual Sharing."
It was similar to performing surgery using an endoscope or following an ultrasound image. Through the visual data sent from Edgar, the Mini-Smiths could clearly see Alois III’s bile duct.
"Now, I will begin the countdown. Three, two, one, zero."
At Elsa's command, the Mini-Smiths thrust their small frames and arms into the King's bile duct. Princess Lieschen, watching from outside the barrier, let out a small shriek. But in the next moment, the Mini-Smiths were already pulling out the parasites.
"Heilung. Heilung. Heilung."
Compared to the previous patients, the damage to the bile duct was slightly more extensive, so Elsa applied Heilung three times. There was very little bleeding, and after the area was disinfected, the remaining blood was cleared away with Cleanup magic.
"Next is the ascites."
A significant amount of fluid had accumulated in the King’s abdomen, which she treated based on her experience with the previous trial patients.
"Heilverfahren."
Elsa activated the functions of the internal organs.
"He is also suffering from some liver cirrhosis. Heilverfahren."
With two applications of high-level internal-medicine-type healing magic, a considerable amount of organ tissue was revitalized.
"Entgiften."
Jaundice was caused by an excess of bilirubin, which turned the skin, eyes, and body fluids yellow. By decomposing that excess substance, the yellowed eyes and skin returned to their original color. This was a new procedure Elsa had devised after treating the patients the day before.
"It is... finished."
"Whoops."
Released from the extreme tension, Elsa tottered as her internal mana was depleted. Jin, having learned from her previous collapse, stepped in to support her before Edgar could.
"Jin-nii, thank... you."
"Here, have some Persica juice."
Elsa drank the mana-restoring juice.
"The surgery was a success."
Looking at Alois III, his complexion had already begun to improve dramatically.