The relentless cycle of bloodshed among the Lystein royalty had left them unable to collaborate effectively, as they were consumed by internal strife.
Even in the present, the royal faction, archduke faction, queen faction, and noble faction continued their power struggles.
'Marquis Langham identified himself as a Royalist. Does that mean Prince Rashid, the commander-in-chief of the reinforcements, is also aligned with the Royalists?'
"I am Baron Penin of the Kingdom of Houston. It is an honor to meet Your Highness, Prince Rashid of the great House of Lystein."
"An honor indeed, and I am even more honored to see the light of the renowned Huston Kingdom on the battlefield."
Prince Rashid smiled warmly.
"Anyway, it looks like things are not going well. The word has come through the communications crystal. You want me to transport your soldiers and the people of Droton to the rear?"
"Yes, please."
Then Prince Rashid gave an unexpected reply.
"I'm afraid I won't be able to grant that favor."
"...!"
Prince Rashid hastened to explain.
"There are circumstances. There's a terrible plague going around the fleet right now, and that's why it's so difficult to grant your request."
Everyone's faces grew serious.
A plague?
"What kind of plague is going around?"
"An epidemic called 'Great Sea Sailor's Disease'. Otherwise known as the 'Curse of the Great Sea.'"
Prince Rashid said with a puzzled look on his face.
'It's a disease that usually afflicts long-distance fleets sailing to distant continents, but for some reason it's been circulating during these wars. It's a big deal.'
Raymond was stumped.
'What do I do?'
Then a quest came to mind.
[Eradicate the Great Sea Sailor's Disease!]
(Medicine Quest)
[Medicine Rank: Two and a Half Scalpels
Difficulty: Low
Quest Description: The Great Sea Sailor's Sickness is a disease that has long claimed the lives of sailors. Eradicate the disease for the sake of the poor sailors!
Conditions: Eradicate the Great Sea Sailor's Disease
Reward: Bonus Level Up, 50 Skill Points
Perks: Salty extra income(?)]
'Eradicate? Not cure?'
Raymond noted the word 'eradicate' as a departure from the usual quest.
"Not just cure the plague, but eradicate it? On this spot? And the difficulty level is 'low'? What? Does that mean it's easy?'
Anyway, Raymond decided to take matters into his own hands.
Even if it wasn't a quest, it was a situation that needed to be resolved if he wanted to use the ship.
"What are their symptoms?"
"Severe fatigue and lethargy, bruise-like spots on their skin, and in some cases, bleeding."
Raymond thought.
'What kind of plague? Long voyages, fatigue, bleeding....'
Suddenly, a disease flashed through Raymond's mind.
'What?'
"Prince, by any chance, when was the last time the fleet docked in your harbor?"
"Four months ago. It has been at sea ever since it set sail from the Peninsula Kingdom, keeping watch over the ships of the Drottons."
Raymond flit his tongue.
Nine months at sea was unthinkable for any other kingdom.
It was only possible because of the Peninsula's unrivaled naval prowess.
'Isn't it the spirit of the Peninsula Navy to never set foot on water until they've sunk all the enemy ships?'
Raymond thought.
'But I suppose that's how they got this sickness.'
"And what about meals in the meantime?"
"We made do with the dried rations we'd prepared in advance, though we did get the occasional supply by boat."
"And those supplies were mostly dried food as well?"
"Apparently so. There was some fresh food, but not enough to feed the entire crew, so it was rationed to a select few."
Raymond's eyes deepened.
It seems his suspicions are correct.
He asked one last question to confirm.
"Are you sure most of your patients aren't regular sailors, and the officers are all fine?"
"Yes, sir, they are. None of the knights, officers, or high-ranking sailors are sick."
Prince Rashid asked how he knew, and Raymond was certain of the answer.
'It must be that disease!'
A terrible disease that has claimed the lives of countless sailors on modern Earth.
A disease that would be ridiculously simple to eradicate if only they knew what it was.
Raymond opened his mouth to speak.
"Don't worry. I will solve this plague for you."
"...!"
Prince Rashid's eyes widened.
"Is that really true, you can cure the Great Sea Sailor's Disease?"
The Great Sea Sailor's Disease was a dreadful ailment that had plagued maritime nations for over a century.
It was seldom encountered while sailing in the "inner continents," referring to the coastal regions of Leifentina.
However, once venturing into the treacherous Chaotic Sea en route to the Outer Continent, the disease became inevitable.
It was not uncommon for more than half of the crew to perish, leading some to refer to it as the Curse of the Sea.
It was considered a curse unleashed by the sea's wrath upon those daring to challenge its immense power.
And now, Raymond claimed to possess the ability to cure such a formidable disease.
Prince Rashid stared at Raymond in disbelief, yet Raymond reassured him with unwavering conviction.
"Yes, it can be cured."
"...!"
Prince Rashid was stunned, realizing that Raymond was telling the truth.
'No way! He's not lying?'
Prince Rashid swallowed hard: how many Peninsulans had died of the Great Sea Sailor's Disease?
No amount of high-end heals could save them, and what if there was a cure?
It would be a revolution for bPeninsula.
But then, the Peninsula healer next to him gave a tantrum.
He was a double-A, powerful healer, and he looked down on Raymond.
"Prince, don't listen to him. He practices a strange art of medicine. Our healers will do their best to treat them..."
The others chimed in.
"Do not allow the empty boasts of a Houstonian to sway you, Your Highness."
"It is utterly impossible to cure the Curse of the Sea, the Great Sea Sailor's Disease."
It wasn't just healers.
Officers, knights, mages, and more.
They all scoffed.
'A bastard from the Kingdom of Houston.'
That was the contemptuous expression etched on their faces. As one of the most powerful nations within the Empire of the Ten Nations, it was natural for them to look down upon the perceived weakness of the Kingdom of Houston.
Witnessing the Peninsulans' reaction, Raymond's disciples and Elmud grew increasingly impatient.
"Hold on, let me handle this."
Raymond waved them off and crossed his arms.
'Hmm. I don't want to give them a free cure when they're begging me to teach them a lesson, do I?'
Originally, Raymond was going to cure the Big Sea Sailor's Disease with no strings attached.
The solution was so simple that he didn't think he'd have to take anything in return.
But this changed his mind.
'They say the greediest people in the world are the people of the Peninsula Kingdom, so let's eat some of their backs.'
"Then why don't you guys make a bet with me?"
Raymond pointed to the men who had once laughed at him.
"If I cure the 'Great Sea Sailor's Disease,' you all pay me 100,000 pena each."
"...!"
"Conversely, if I fail to cure it, I will give you my entire fortune. How about that?"
The men who had laughed at Raymond stiffened.
One hundred thousand pena!
That was a lot of money.
Even though they were high ranking officers, knights, and wizards, it was a sum they could not come up with, even with their entire fortunes.
The only ones who could afford 100,000 pena were the double-A healers who earned money by treating patients.
When they stammered, Raymond scoffed.
"If you're not confident, you don't have to. I can't believe you Peninsulans are so cowardly. I just found out today."
"...!"
Their faces hardened at Raymond's taunt.
"Very well, Baron, be prepared to pay your entire fortune if you fail to cure them!"
For the record, Raymond's entire fortune was now negative, so he wouldn't lose anything if he lost the bet.
'I'm not going to lose, so it doesn't matter.'
This time he looked at Prince Rashid.
"I understand that the Great Sea Sailor's Disease has plagued your country for a long time. What reward will you offer me if I can cure it?"
Before Rashid could answer, Raymond stated his terms.
"Make sure that the herbs and samples that the Peninsula Kingdom supplies to our clinic are no more than a third of their current value."
"...!"
Rashid made a troubled face.
"That's the realm of the merchants..."
"I think it can be done."
Raymond said in a straightforward tone.
"After all, it would be the merchants of your country more than anyone else who would want to solve the Great Sea Sailor's Disease."
"...!"
"I don't think this will be a loss for you, Your Highness, as it will give you a chance to strengthen your influence with the merchants."
Prince Rashid swallowed hard. Raymond was right about everything.
'The light of the Houstonian army, so wise.'
Prince Rashid had heard of all that Raymond had done on the battlefield.
The light of the Houstonian army.
That's what he'd heard about Raymond.
But honestly, he thought it was half exaggerated.
His accomplishments were too great to be attributed to a single individual.
But now that he was face-to-face with him, he realized that the rumors weren't false.
Prince Rashid even felt this way about Raymond's straightforward gaze.
He had such a great hand for solving the great sea sailor's disease, but he couldn't even convince the merchants of that.
"Very well, I'll take charge and try to get the price of the herbs and samples down to no more than three percent."
Raymond smiled to himself at the assurance.
'Great, let's cut costs!'
He had cut costs once before, thanks to Marquis Langham, but the herbs and samples were still expensive, and now that he could cut the price by another third, he was relieved of a huge burden.
'The 500,000 pena I'll get from those lowlifes is a bonus, and I'll put it to good use paying off my debts.'
Then Prince Rashid said in a stern voice.
"Everything you just said is possible if you can solve the great sea sailor's disease. Do you really have a solution?"
"Of course."
Raymond nodded, then whispered something to Prince Rashid.
It would be best to keep it confidential for now, if only to use it as a bargaining chip with the merchants later.
'It's such a simple cure, it'll spread quickly anyway.'
"Just feed them fruit."
"...What?"
Prince Rashid looked dumbfounded. It was like, "Are you kidding me?" but he didn't seem to mind.
"Especially sour fruits, like lemons and oranges. We'll have to keep it a secret for now, so try mixing it in with other foods."
"..."
"Pretend to be deceived and do it right now. If it doesn't work, I'll give you my entire fortune."
'It can't possibly not work, given the nature of the big sea sailor's disease.'
Raymond thought smugly.