"Solen is the worst kind of loan shark, especially because he would approach patients who couldn't afford treatment and exploit them by lending them money at usurious rates."
It was called 'patient loan sharking'.
The worst kind of loan shark, taking advantage of desperate patients!
It was an open secret in the kingdom's healing circles that Solen had joined forces with Baron Canton of Maple Healing Center.
"The Master is just trying to figure out how best to use this opportunity to settle the score with those who have been wronged by Solen."
Hanson clenched his fists.
"The Master wants to go beyond the disease, beyond the broken hearts of his patients, and beyond that, to make their lives happy."
The atmosphere grew somber.
Rao reflected, suspicious of Raymond again, and Christine was once again in awe.
Meanwhile, Raymond,
'...It's none of those things, you idiots.'
He shuddered. It felt like the number of idiots in the clinic was growing.
Then, a timely message!
[Quest has occurred.]
[Wipe the Tears from the Patients' Eyes!]
(Humanities Quest)
[Prerequisite: Middle Physician
Difficulty: Medium
Quest Description: A wicked man has taken advantage of the patients' desperate situation and made them cry tears of blood. Punish the villain and wipe away the patients' tears of blood. Restore their happiness!
Clear Conditions: Solen'a bankruptcy. Cancel the Patients' Debts
Reward: Bonus Level Up x2, 30 Skill Points
Perks: Solen's fortune, high fame]
[You can temporarily raise the proficiency of one skill to A-grade to solve the quest.]
'...What kind of ridiculous quest is this?'
Raymond made a dumbfounded face.
He couldn't even pay his own debts!
Let alone Solen's bankruptcy.
It was impossible.
'Then why is the difficulty level 'Medium' if it's an impossible quest?'
In his experience, 'Easy' was a difficulty level that could be completed without much effort.
'Medium' was not easy, but still achievable.
'High' was jaw-droppingly difficult.
'Medium difficulty doesn't mean it's impossible, but is it really possible to do something like that, with an A in a single skill?'
Raymond pondered. It was another quest, but the perk was "Solen's Fortune," which meant it was a must-do, no matter how hard it was!
'How much is Solen's fortune? Aigoo. My heart is racing.'
It wasn't the level of a normal rich person, it was a 'huge fortune.'
'Huge. Fortune. Super rich!'
Thump! Thump!
Raymond's heart thundered in his chest as he envisioned himself as super rich, so loudly that he feared it might break.
'I have to do this quest, even if it means risking my life!'
Raymond's eyes blazed with tremendous determination, and the others nodded in agreement.
"You're right. You'll go to any lengths for your patients."
"Master is awesome!"
"Indeed, brother, you know the cause. Let me help you too."
"I can't help it... It's for the patients, so I'll help. If Mr. Solen tries anything, I, Christine Laverne, will protect you."
And so began the Operation to Take Down Solen.
***
The fateful day had arrived. Raymond climbed into a carriage headed to the casino of Solen, a suburb of the capital.
"Be careful out there. Solen is not to be trifled with."
It was Christine.
For some reason, she was wearing colorful makeup.
She was beautiful, to begin with, but her makeup made her seem to glow.
"If you get a bad feeling about something, don't talk anymore, just walk out, and don't sign any strange contracts!"
She reassured him several times.
As a side note, she had spent her life cleaning up the feces of her idiot brother and immature younger siblings, so she was basically used to looking out for others.
In other words, she was a nag.
"Yes, yes, yes, I understand, apprentice."
"You're only making me more nervous by answering that way! Remember, you're not signing anything! You don't get drunk and swear on a contract!"
"Yes, apprentice!"
Christine put her arms around her waist and glared.
"I wonder if you can pull off this plan? I'm nervous."
Of course, she recognized Raymond.
His healing skills, stemming from ancient knowledge, and his compassion for his patients was second to none.
But she wasn't sure he could handle a situation like this with aplomb.
But then.
Raymond cleared his throat and put on a steady face.
"Don't worry, I'm sure I'll do great."
'This is my chance to be Super Rich, and I'm going to do it.'
To be honest, he was nervous about the whole 'operation' thing.
He was naturally a timid person, but he was going to overcome this nervousness.
For the sake of Super Rich.
"Don't worry, princess,"
Rao said.
Rao was wearing his usual immaculate suit.
"My Academy Chief's gut tells me. My brother will do well."
With that, Raymond departed for the casino in Solen, leaving Rao and Christine to look at each other meaningfully.
They were part of something.
"What are we supposed to be doing, Senior Hanson?"
"Let's prepare a beef party as the Master ordered. The finest."
"Yes!"
And so the operation began.
***
The carriage soon reached its destination.
"Welcome! It gives me the utmost honor to meet Baronet Penin, the new ruler of the Kingdom of Houston!"
It was Solen.
He had the swagger of a successful rogue businessman.
"What business do you wish to see me about?"
Raymond asked.
"Haha, let's talk over a meal first. What am I doing, not escorting my honored guest?"
They were ushered into an opulent drawing room, and an equally opulent meal was served.
Lobsters from the far northern kingdom, the finest veal, sturgeon roe, goose liver.. and more.
Nothing was too expensive.
"Mmm, this is delicious."
Raymond swallowed hard; this was his dream diet.
'If I do a good job today, I won't be dreaming about eating like this. Let's get my act together and do a good job.'
Raymond steeled his resolve.
Luckily, a message popped up.
[You're on a quest to wipe away a patient's tears of blood!]
[Your Heart of Steel is manifesting!]
[You have a strong will and heart!]
It was not the heart of steel that was raised to grade A this time, but another skill.
This didn't completely reassure him, but it did bring another message to mind.
[The opponent is a 'jerk'!]
[The opponent's jerk power is 'very high'!]
[The Jerk Coping mechanism is manifested!]
(T/N: Changed for sake of accuracy and so that it makes sense. "Truth Coping is now "Jerk Coping.")
Is it because he is so secretive?
Solen was also categorized as a 'jerk.'
Raymond was much more relaxed.
"I'm sorry, sir, that I have such a distinguished guest, and that I've done nothing to prepare for him."
"No, it's excellent."
Raymond took a bite of the steak and looked deliberately overly impressed.
"I've never had such tender meat in my life. It's like it's melting in your mouth."
Solen smirked invisibly at his admiration.
'You're such a lowly bastard to have such shallow admiration. You've never learned.'
Of course, he didn't say anything of the sort, but he did squeeze his waist and catered to Raymond's tastes.
"I am so glad to hear that the food is agreeable to your palate. I have taken great pains to see you, Baronet, and here is some wine for you to try. Speaking of this wine..."
Drinks were exchanged in a friendly atmosphere, and after some time had passed, Solen spoke up.
"Actually, the reason I'm here is to make a suggestion."
"What is it?"
"You have many financial difficulties running the Penin Clinic, don't you?"
"I suppose so."
Raymond nodded crisply, and Solen spoke up, his voice booming.
"I'll loan you the money you're short, and at a much lower rate than the Healer's Loan guys, almost interest-free."
"Why? Of course, I am grateful."
"It is because I am moved by your noble intentions."
Solen spread his hands out to his sides.
"Isn't there a saying, earn like a dog, spend like a saint? My hard-earned money, I want to spend it on a good cause."
Of course, Raymond wasn't fooled.
It was a story the dog next door would laugh at.
'No saint. He's just trying to scam me somehow so I'll blow my money and become a debt slave.'
It was a common trope in Solen's repertoire.
He often played this trick on people he thought were pushovers.
'So, I looked like a pushover.'
Raymond clenched his fists.
"It's going to be hard to decide right now."
"I will."
"What?"
"Even if I didn't, I was in need of the money."
Solen narrowed his eyes.
"Could you lend me a hundred thousand pence for now?"
A hundred thousand pence!
That was a lot of money.
More than Raymond had ever owed to Devil Loans.
But Solen said cheerfully.
"Haha! All right, a hundred thousand pence, I'll accommodate you right now, and here's a toast to the Penin Clinic!"
"Cheers!"
Drinks were passed around, and the mood was many times more cheerful than earlier.
"Mmm. This liquor tastes so good."
"It's a very precious liquor. I serve it whenever I meet someone I respect."
Solen sneered as he poured Raymond another drink.
'You're drinking too much, child, and you don't know what you're getting yourself into.'
Solen thought grimly.
'I can't just lend you a hundred thousand pence. You'll be kicked out before you know it.'
When Raymond looked drunk enough, Solen spoke up.
"There's a lot of excitement today, and since you've come all this way, why don't you have a little fun at the casino?"
"The casino?"
"Yes, gaming is a nobleman's best pastime, and I know you're under a lot of stress from seeing your patients, so why don't you have some fun today?"
A genuine smile played across Solen's lips as he said this.
It was a trick he used on the best of them: get them into debt, then blow it all at the casino.
Alfred, the Little Duke of Laverne, also fell victim to this trick and lost a lot of money.
'Normally, I'm supposed to do it carefully, but it looks like I'm going to be able to eat it all in one sitting today. He's the best of the best, huh?'
Whether he knew or not, Raymond hiccupped and exclaimed.
"Casino? Let's go. Let's go!"
Solen sneered at the sight of Raymond.