CHAPTER 624: CIRELLA: NONSENSE! GARRETT IS NOT SUCH A PERSON!

A Hospital in Another World?

Three witnesses were present; two were relatives and friends of the parturient, and one was an entirely independent third party with no vested interests.

Under the supervision of a "Lie Detection" spell, the two female magicians each recounted the circumstances. Nurse Sally, as a clergywoman, was exempt from the spell but swore by her faith to ensure that all she stated was true.

The testimonies were impeccably effective.

Garrett expressed his gratitude to them and then turned to the judge, bowing slightly as he continued:

"Given the nature of childbirth care, which inevitably involves contact with the patient’s body, the Oak Grove Clinic has always been extremely cautious in this regard."

He gestured over his spatial bag, pouring out a pile of record books. Thick and thin, new and old, they covered the table:

"From the outset, we established specific guidelines, ensuring that no male healer examines a female’s private parts alone—this must be done in the presence of a family member or a female nurse."

He slapped a booklet, "This is the staff conduct manual of our clinic, with relevant regulations found in Chapter Three, Article Fififteen."

The judge nodded slightly. With a gesture, the booklet adorned with a white and red cross floated up and flew towards his desk. The judge adjusted his glasses, flipping through the pages before sending the booklet upwards.

The booklet floated in the air, turning direction towards a box behind the judge where, apparently, the jurors were seated.

Sighing silently, Garrett thought to himself that being a judge in the Tower of Heaven demanded proficiency in magic. The invisible servant was directed so smoothly, utterly seamless.

To command an invisible servant to this extent, acting anytime as a surgical nurse, was still a long way off for him...

He gathered his thoughts and pulled out a second stack of booklets:

"Every parturient coming to the Oak Grove Clinic communicates with us before admission. They and their families agree that the healers are to observe and touch the parturient’s body solely for medical purposes. Here are the pre-admission consent forms, one for each."

Another stack of booklets floated over. In the jury and audience, a buzzing of discussion ensued:

"They all signed the consent; now to complain and slander the healer is just wrong. As noble magicians, how can you be so fickle?"

Mage Bradley’s face darkened further. He slammed the table and shouted:

"My son didn’t consent! Who knows who you had sign these!"

"Bang!"

The judge struck a small gavel on a copper bell:

"Defendant, please remain silent! It is the plaintiff’s time to speak!"

"Wait till I’m finished," Garrett thought, not even glancing at the red-eyed old man as he released the third and fourth stacks of evidence:

"When examining pregnant women, there are always more than two people present. Here are the inspection records of the last two months, showing each check signed by at least two individuals."

"Caesarean operations have separate consent forms, signed. These are the surgical records, always with at least two individuals present, at least one being a female healer or midwife, nurse..."

Stack by stack, the invisible servant carried the booklets, floating like snowflakes, passing back and forth between the judge and jury. Midway through, the judge turned to look at the defendant’s side and sighed deeply:

"Conduct manuals are from a year ago, consent forms and records from at least two months back; the handwriting, arcane marks, and fingerprints are all different, the ink varies in density, and even the dirt marks on the paper corners vary in color;"

"Even the poorest of parturients, who can’t write their names, have thumbprints on the record books, and signatures of at least two individuals. Dates and conditions all vary..."

"What kind of preparations must one make to fend off trouble to keep such meticulous records? Mage Nordmark, as a legendary disciple, you need not be paranoid all the time?"

Once all the record books had made a round and returned, the look everyone in the room gave Garrett had completely changed. Archmage Carlisle, who came specifically to support his junior brother, even smiled and gave him a thumbs up:

Garrett had always seemed kind and amiable, easy to speak to, and even fiercely protective of the poor’s rights when necessary. He was indeed a character from the lawful good alignment, and you’d never worry about him biting you.

But now, seeing all these records, everyone realized that Garrett had always been prepared. He wasn’t one to cause trouble, nor was he afraid of it. If you provoked him, he could pull out a heap of evidence to metaphorically slap your face, making you cry your eyes out.

Garrett gave his senior brother a slight smile. He stacked all the record books, pressed his hand on top of them

, feeling a sense of peace and fulfillment. Ah, a seasoned warrior of the emergency department, experienced through countless trials...

"About why I assist parturients in childbirth. The Oak Grove Clinic’s mission is to alleviate physical suffering—I’ve always believed that the right to life supersedes all else."

He nodded to the several witnesses, including the female magicians in the audience. Something flashed in his view, but when he tried to look closely, it seemed like nothing unusual. Garrett blinked and, not having time to investigate further, turned to the defendant’s side:

"Ensuring that parturients can deliver safely, free from pain, is much more important than mundane rules, such as a woman’s body not being touched by a stranger. Of course, considering women’s feelings, the clinic also strives to train female healers."

Applause erupted from the audience. The concentrated seats of female magicians cheered loudly, voices crisp and resonant:

"Well said!"

"That’s how it should be!"

"Bearing children through life and death, and still fussing about this? Shameless!"

Someone threw a handkerchief. Soon, the courtroom was fragrant with flying handkerchiefs, scarves, hair ribbons, and folding fans...

Falling like rain, creating a colorful display on the ground near Garrett.

Thankfully they retained their sanity and didn’t throw hairpins, rings, bracelets, and various other jewelry along with them.

Garrett: "..."

We seem to be in a courtroom, not a theater...

His face began to darken. The defendant’s face was even darker. Hair tousled, eyes red as if bleeding, he stared venomously at the colorful ground for a while, then fixed his gaze on Garrett:

"That’s your aim, isn’t it! With this method, winning women’s favor! Once they stop suspecting you, you can choose any target at will—to do whatever you desire—"

The courtroom fell silent. The female magicians, just cheering moments ago, blushed deeply, grinding their teeth. But these words swept them all in, and now, speaking up for Garrett felt like admitting to something untoward,

Garrett was also stunned. Such shameless words left him at a loss for words momentarily—

"You’re spouting nonsense!"

Suddenly, a female voice exploded from the audience. Everyone turned to look, only to see a silver figure rushing forward, stepping over the handkerchiefs and scarves, charging straight to the plaintiff’s bench:

"Garrett is not that kind of person!"