His specialty lay in his exceptional healing skills.
This proved to be a considerable advantage, essentially a potent weapon, as he could attend to patients beyond the capabilities of ordinary healers.
Conducting thorough research beforehand, he anticipated that among the nine lords, there would be individuals in need of his expertise.
Assisting him in his research was Christine.
Currently occupied with ducal affairs in the capital, unlike Raymond, she held strong connections with the Healing Tower.
Leveraging her influence, he gathered crucial information.
'Two. There are lords who could benefit from my healing abilities, and they are notably influential.'
The borderlands of Thor and the mountainous Mefin, known for their mines!
The lords governing these vital territories were grappling with a mysterious illness, causing considerable distress.
Interestingly, both belonged to the Remerton faction.
'These ailments could jeopardize everything they've built, and it's improbable they would reject my assistance.'
Even more fortunately, the lords of these two territories were not stubbornly closed-minded.
'They're only against me because of Remerton - they're for their people, and we can talk.'
Just then, a message popped into his head.
[After forcing the lords to submit, fulfill the duties of a peacekeeper!]
(Medicine Quest)
[Prerequisite: Great Physician Rank
Difficulty: Medium
Quest Description: The Lords are refusing your help out of political self-interest! Browbeat the nasty Lords into submission and repair the war damage as a Peacekeeper!
Conditions to clear: Subjugate the Lords
Reward: x2 bonus level up, 90 skill points
Perks: Great prestige, strong support from the people]
Raymond clenched his fists.
"Rao, summon Lord Thor and Lord Mefin."
"They may not comply."
Rao voiced his concerns.
It was a plausible scenario.
But Raymond shook his head.
"No, they will come to me, for I have what they want most."
"...?"
"Just give them the word."
Raymond asserted.
"That I will prevent the future they fear most."
"...!"
Raymond clenched his fists.
His initial ambition to become a feudal lord had been driven by the desire for wealth.
But now, an additional motive fueled his aspirations.
After Remerton's threats, the need for power became imperative.
'I will not yield to anyone's threats. I will ascend to the position of a feudal lord, wield power, and lead a life untouched by anyone!'
***
To the southwest of the province of Rafalde.
This was the province of Thor.
Once an inland province, it had transformed into a borderland with the Kingdom of Droton.
The western extremity of the territory even bordered the Kingdom of Droton and the Kingdom of Sjorn to the south.
It stood as the paramount frontier territory of all!
Hence, Odin exercised great diligence in selecting its owner.
He opted for those with the most fitting skills.
The chosen one was Rothen, a high-ranking knight distinguished for his military prowess during the war.
As the third son of one of the capital's most esteemed earls, he aligned himself with the Remerton faction.
But, more significantly, he was a formidable knight of the Expert rank.
In his mid-thirties, he should be well on his way to reaching the next highest rank given his age.
In the future, there was even potential for him to ascend to the rank of Swordmaster, making him a fitting master of a border territory!
However, at present, a frown adorned his face.
'Prince Remerton has instructed me not to accept Count Penin's cooperation.'
His territories had suffered extensive damage in the war and were in dire need of repair. This directive was nothing short of outrageous.
Though he adhered to his family's support of Prince Remerton, frustration simmered within him.
Yet, one matter frustrated him even more.
'My hand. When will this hand finally heal?'
Gripping his sword, he scowled.
A sharp, slicing pain shot up his wrist.
'I've had this pain since I overexerted myself in the war.'
The issue was, it never improved.
He received healing, but that was the extent of it.
Whenever he wielded his sword again, the same pain flared up.
And recently, the pain had been intensifying.
'But I can't rely on healing every day.'
Rothen pondered.
Healing treatments were costly.
Especially when dealing with high-level healers.
As a newly appointed lord, he couldn't afford such pricey remedies on a daily basis.
'Damn it, this can't render me incapable of wielding a sword, can it?'
Rothen wore a grim expression.
As a third son, his sword was his utmost priority.
He had assumed the role of the lord of the borderlands due to his knightly prowess, but the thought that he might lose the ability to wield a sword was terrifying.
'No, it can't be, this pain!'
Gritting his teeth, he unsheathed his sword and swung.
But before it could cut through the air, he seized his wrist and let out a groan.
It felt as if his wrist were being torn apart.
'Ugh! Damn it.'
At that moment, a manor official approached him, eyes widened.
"My lord, I have a message from Count Penin of Luin Castle."
Rothen's eyes widened at the mention of the name.
It triggered a realization he hadn't considered.
'Perhaps Count Penin's medicine could alleviate my wrist pain?'
But he promptly shook his head.
At present, he was overlooking Count Penin.
Yet, a potential remedy?
That was worth considering.
"Pretend I'm busy."
"Well... he's not reaching out regarding territorial affairs."
"Then?"
"He mentions contacting you personally as a healer."
"...!"
Rothen's eyes widened.
"This is what Count Penin conveyed."
The official spoke in a cautious tone.
"I understand your lordship's concerns, and I'll personally take charge of addressing them..."
***
After much contemplation, Rothen made his way to the Luin Territory.
He contemplated that he might at least encounter Raymond.
Upon reaching Luin Castle, his eyes widened.
A surprising figure stood before him.
"No, Baron Krynn?"
Baron Krynn governed the neighboring territory of Mefin!
Both were nobles of the Remerton faction, and they had fought side by side during the war, establishing a strong camaraderie.
Baron Krynn was equally taken aback to see Rothen.
"Viscount Rothen, why are you here? Perhaps..."
The realization quickly dawned on the two men.
"Did Count Penin offer to heal your wrist?"
"And your leg?"
The two men shared a commonality.
As accomplished knights, they had both sustained injuries in battle and were grappling with considerable pain.
"What does he intend to do? I'm certain he'll leverage his healing skills to coerce us into cooperation."
"... I don't know."
Rothen bit his lip.
Just then, the door creaked open.
A ruggedly handsome figure.
Emerald eyes.
It was Raymond!
"Greetings, Count."
"Make yourselves comfortable. I've requested to see you both in my capacity as a healer."
The two lords exchanged wary glances.
There was skepticism; he couldn't genuinely be seeking them out solely as a healer.
Meanwhile, Raymond felt equally tense.
'Can I convince them?'
He clenched his fists.
'I have to make a move.'
With determination, Raymond spoke in a reassuring tone.
"Don't worry. I'm genuinely here to treat both of you. Let's start by identifying where it hurts."
"...!"
"Come on, aren't you two also here to be treated by me?"
Realizing Raymond's sincerity, they stammered.
Raymond spoke softly again, as if to reassure them.
"I don't think about anything else when I'm working as a healer; I only focus on healing my patients. So, you two shouldn't think about anything else either—just get well."
It was a lie, of course, but it appeared that way on the surface, and the two eventually offered their hands and legs.
Afterward, Raymond resumed his work(?).
"Baron Rothen, could you take your thumb and bend it like this?"
He complied, and a wave of pain washed over him.
"Hmph!"
Raymond appeared deeply concerned.
"Oh dear! That must be very painful."
Such a compassionate tone for the patient!
"I think it's De Quervain's tenosynovitis."
Raymond swiftly made a diagnosis.
"What is that?"
"It's swelling of the tendons, pressing against the membrane lining the wrist; it's a physical compression, so using heals won't be very effective."
"So it's not treatable?"
"No. We can inject the tendon with medication to reduce the inflammation. If that doesn't work, we can proceed with a simple surgery."
"...!"
Rothen stared in amazement.
'Even with A-rank healing, it kept recurring so quickly. Can it really be treated like that? With the power of medicine?'
Medicine!
Rothen understood what it meant.
It had saved countless soldiers during the war.
Even Duke Leif had been restored by its power.
"Baron Krynn has ligament damage to his knee, which can also be repaired by surgery."
Raymond stated confidently.
They both had structural problems that were not amenable to simple healing but could be cured if the root cause was addressed.
"...You mean you're genuinely going to cure us?"
Rothen inquired suspiciously.
"Yes, indeed, for a modest fee."
"A treatment fee?"
"Just 500,000 pena per person."
"...!"
They both jumped up in surprise.
Half a million pena!
That was absurd.
Even the wealthiest individuals at the Healing Tower wouldn't demand such an exorbitant sum.
"What kind of nonsense...!"
"Of course, that's the standard price. Naturally, I can't charge you that much. Given both of your significant contributions during the war, I'll provide you with a substantial discount."
Raymond stated this, but his heart raced.
He worried that the two lords might stand up and leave.
'I have to handle this carefully.'
Just coercing them by demanding payment for the treatment, would they comply?
Well, the likelihood was low.
He needed to address another aspect—appeal to their hearts.
In other words, he had to engage them emotionally.
Raymond assumed his best role, one of caring for patients and the people, and began to speak.