Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 187

Revenge Has Interest – Side Story 7

Side Story 7

2024.02.03.

Sarah couldn’t believe her eyes. She questioned if the person she was seeing was truly Allen McDowell.

The Allen she remembered was like a bright, shining light bulb.

But the man before her… His once-glossy golden hair was now a dull, ashen color, and his clear skin was marred with scars.

He was battered and bruised, as if he had been beaten down by harsh trials.

Like a broken filament, he was a burnt-out bulb that could no longer emit light.

“Sarah, do you know him?”

Charles, who was walking ahead, came closer and asked. Soon, his gaze shifted to Allen, who was looking intently at Sarah.

“Yes, I knew him a long time ago.”

“I’m sorry, Sarah.”

Charles gently hugged Sarah, comforting her.

He felt sorry for his wife, knowing how much it must hurt her to encounter an old acquaintance in a place like this.

“Thank you for your comfort, Charles.”

Sarah smiled faintly and turned her head away from Allen.

Seeing Allen stirred feelings of sympathy within her, but that wasn’t the primary reason she had come to Reef Island.

Sarah quickly followed Charles to the clinic.

The administrator guided them to a community center near the village entrance, which boasted a terrace with a stunning view of the blue sea.

“This is a communal building where village events are held. You can set up the clinic here.”

“The scenery is so beautiful.”

It was intended to be a hospital, but the space was so charming it could easily be mistaken for a cafe.

“Charles, there are several rooms, so we can set up temporary sickbeds. We’ll need an inpatient room, too.”

“That’s right; it will be very useful.”

“Just tell me what you need. Her Majesty has issued an edict [official order] that the Imperial Family will spare no support.”

Sarah immediately understood what the administrator meant.

Terran must have requested assistance from the Emperor of Galdenia.

Perhaps because Leia had grown close to Theresa while creating cosmetics for her, the Emperor rarely refused a request from the Courtois family.

When Ilena and Killian were born, Vivian and Theresa even playfully argued over who would be the godmother, giving Leia and her husband a happy dilemma.

“The rest of the doctors and nurses will arrive tomorrow.”

The administrator’s face brightened at Charles’s words.

It was exciting simply to have outsiders visit this isolated island.

“Once the clinic is set up, we will treat the villagers first. Then we will treat the prisoners.”

“Excuse me? You mean you’re going to take care of those heinous criminals?”

The administrator’s face, which had been bright, quickly contorted.

He launched into a lengthy explanation to Charles and Sarah.

The prisoners incarcerated on Reef Island were serving life sentences, and it was common knowledge that they could die from hard labor without raising eyebrows.

“It’s a waste of treatment. There’s no need to look after them.”

The administrator was clearly reluctant, but Charles remained firm.

“Prisoners also have human rights.”

“Huh! Human rights?”

The administrator reacted as if he had never encountered such a concept before.

He dismissed it as an idealistic notion, the excessive ambition of young doctors who were still naive.

“Take a good look at the edict issued by His Majesty.”

Sarah felt that arguing with the administrator was a waste of time. She also drove a wedge in, implying that he should know the exact purpose of this treatment.

Then the administrator retrieved the edict sent by the Emperor from his pocket and began to read it.

However, his presbyopia [age-related farsightedness] made it difficult to see the letters clearly, so he squinted at the paper, holding it at arm’s length.

“Look closely. There will definitely be a clause stating that you should also take care of the prisoners’ health.”

Sarah spoke confidently.

Because Leia and Terran were the ones who knew best why she and Charles had come here.

“Ah, yes! It’s written here. I don’t think I read it all the way through.”

Only then did the administrator appear embarrassed.

* * *

Several days later, full-scale treatment began.

The people of Reef Island flocked to the clinic, and the doctors and nurses were extremely busy.

Of course, there was a hospital on this island, but the doctors rarely stayed long and quickly departed, so people didn’t receive proper medical support.

“It doesn’t seem like there are any patients with serious illnesses.”

Charles nodded at Sarah’s words.

If they were on the continent, there would be many pneumonia patients due to the smoke billowing from factory chimneys, and many people would be dying from hard labor and infectious diseases.

Reef Island mainly had elderly patients.

“Most of them have geriatric diseases [diseases associated with old age].”

Perhaps it was due to the positive energy of the environment. The people’s faces were almost always full of smiles.

The medical staff gave all the villagers vaccinations as planned and provided meticulous treatment.

“Charles, I’m glad there aren’t any people with serious illnesses.”

“I’m relieved too. But there’s still a hidden danger.”

“That’s true.”

Charles and his friend’s eyes turned toward the prison in the distance. It was a place where many people who truly needed treatment were gathered.

“Still, I should suggest to His Majesty that he provide fundamental measures so that the people here can also receive medical support.”

Sarah was concerned that the clinic here was operating autonomously.

According to the administrator, doctors often immigrated to the island, and at first, they were happy with the beautiful scenery.

But after a year at most, or a few months at the shortest, they left. Quiet peace makes people feel bored and lethargic.

“Sarah, we can report to the Imperial Family before we leave this place.”

“Okay, Charles.”

She was thinking of suggesting that the country provide medical support as a matter of policy.

She wanted to stay here with Charles, but their skills were still lacking. They still had much to learn and needed to gain various experiences.

Above all, Charles was working with several scientists on penicillin research, so he couldn’t stay on Reef Island for long.

“If penicillin is successful, it will mark a milestone in history, Sarah.”

“Yes, developing antibiotics is very important.”

The medical staff treated the islanders for a few more days.

Once the treatment of the residents was completed to some extent, it was decided that one person would stay at the clinic, and the rest would go to the prison.

According to the original plan, they were going to have the prisoners come to the clinic, but the residents’ opposition was so great that it didn’t work out.

Well, how great would the residents’ fear be?

It wasn’t appropriate to bring prisoners to a place where there were women and children. So the medical staff decided to move.

But as soon as they entered the clinic inside the prison, it was as if they had entered a completely different world.

Outside was paradise, but inside was a dark, damp cave with a musty smell of mold.

In particular, the prisoners’ sharp eyes staring at the doctors were frightening.

It was the complete opposite of the islanders’ clear eyes. They were severely wary of outsiders.

“Did you come to kill us?”

“Are you going to end it with one shot?”

“Maybe you’re going to use us like lab rats.”

“Or use us for dissection.”

The words coming out of the prisoners’ mouths were all gruesome.

There were many people who clearly needed treatment, but they were severely wary of the doctors.

Loud coughs could be heard here and there, and some people had festering wounds or skin conditions.

Some of them coughed up blood, perhaps suffering from tuberculosis. But it was strange that they were hostile to the doctors.

Sarah, Charles, and the doctors steadfastly set up the clinic. They thought it would be more effective to demonstrate their intentions through actions than to explain them with words.

“We will start treatment tomorrow. Bring the seriously ill patients first.”

Charles said to the warden.

“They all wish they were dead anyway. Is there really a need to do this?”

The warden echoed the administrator’s sentiment.

But Charles interpreted it as, ‘It would be easier if the prisoners I have to manage die of illness, so why are you stopping me?’

“Tuberculosis and pneumonia can be contagious. That would put the guards at risk, as well as the villagers.”

Charles spoke sternly, emphasizing the coughing sounds coming from all over the place, and only then did the warden nod as if he understood.

* * *

Treatment in the prison began in earnest.

But it was completely different from the treatment in the village, and the doctors were quite nervous.

Malnutrition was widespread, and there were many people suffering from pneumonia, tuberculosis, and skin diseases. Among them, the most serious case was Allen.

“He has pneumonia and malnutrition. He needs to be hospitalized in the village clinic.”

Sarah hesitated at Charles’s diagnosis. Then Charles noticed something strange.

Sarah and Allen were facing each other, unable to break eye contact.

Sarah had never shown personal feelings toward patients before. She was a woman who thoroughly fulfilled her duty as a nurse.

That’s how she could work as a nurse for so long. But Sarah’s eyes were full of pity when she looked at Allen.

“Sarah?”

“Yes……? Did you call me?”

“It would be better to hospitalize that patient in the village clinic.”

He must have been concerned because Sarah mentioned she knew him.

“Yes, I will.”

Charles was suspicious of Sarah’s actions, but he didn’t inquire further.

“Guard, please move that patient to the village clinic.”

Sarah took Allen out of the prison. But the more she reflected on it, the more absurd it seemed.

That she, of all people, would feel sorry for Allen. He had once shone like a chandelier. She couldn’t believe his tragic state, even as she witnessed it with her own eyes.

“You became a nurse, Sarah?”

As soon as Allen was laid down in the clinic’s inpatient room, he opened his mouth to Sarah with difficulty.

“Yes, I became a nurse.”

“I didn’t think it was Sarah.”

At first, Allen thought Sarah was just a woman who resembled her.

The Sarah he knew before had no dreams and was desperately grasping at anything to escape the tragedy she had caused.

But she had become a completely different person.