CHAPTER 510: CHAPTER 463: THE NEXT TARGET AND EXPLORING MAGNETIC ORE

"Treasure Tree Bay" Tetadis Fortress, Wounded Soldier Camp.

At this moment, twenty days have passed since Aiven arrived on the Southern Continent.

As time progressed and the battle turned grueling, more and more wounded soldiers were sent here.

Besides ordinary injuries such as sword and gun wounds, a series of complications and prevalent tropical diseases also afflicted them, once putting unprecedented pressure on the wounded soldier camp.

Coupled with Hilus’s blockade of the sea routes, medical supplies including potions, holy water, gauze, and high-proof alcohol, as well as manpower resources like priests and doctors, were already stretched to their limits.

Even the potassium salt of penicillin G that Aiven left before he departed is also running out.

Now, any application to use penicillin requires the approval of the chief medical officer.

Because.

This divine medicine has already proven its value by saving one vivid life after another!

And the inventor of this medicine, Aiven, has almost been revered as a demigod by the wounded soldiers and doctors. It was under their witness that soldiers, who were on the brink of death, came back to life after injections of this new drug.

It was simply like a miracle!

But, by looking at the faces of several priests, it’s clear that this is not a miracle, but rather a wondrous creation by medicine.

Even after penicillin achieved what could be called miraculous treatment effects, some irresponsible military doctors even spread exaggerated tales about Aiven, giving him a nickname "The Living Hippocrates."

For the wounded soldiers, this significance was, in fact, not an exaggeration.

Just like a lighthouse exists amidst darkness, the hope that they might not die was a tremendous encouragement to them.

Even though due to the crisis of inventory it could only be used for patients whose lives absolutely depended on it, it truly stabilized morale here and prevented any turmoil.

But persisting until now truly seems to be reaching its limit.

A middle-aged doctor strictly followed the procedures left by Aiven, diligently gave an injection to a critically infected and suppurating wounded soldier, and then carefully stored the remaining medication and injection equipment.

Looking at the young assistant beside him, who was watching with full concentration, he sighed slightly with a furrowed brow:

"Alas, I wonder when will the General return?"

When the supply of medicine was ample, these doctors, excited as if they discovered a new continent, conducted quite a few pharmacological experiments on it.

In subsequent clinical practices, they were thrilled to find that penicillin not only cured purulent infections from external injuries, but also proved nearly omnipotent against once very troublesome tropical diseases such as scarlet fever.

At this moment, they looked forward to Aiven’s quick return not only to secure subsequent medical replenishments but also to consult him on the many accumulated medical issues.

All because of the "divine medicine" penicillin!

And this victory belonged not only to penicillin and Aiven, but also to the profession of doctors as a whole. By mastering this "divine medicine" and its usage, this group of people turned their fate around, with their status at the base escalating rapidly.

Now, no one, neither patients nor doctors, was willing to give it up.

"Dr. Jiawen, I heard General Galliot has already set sail to cause trouble for the Hilus people.

Many people are saying that he’s actually going to find that Great Knight who attacked the base, to avenge Colonel Gel and the alliance. Do you think he could succeed?"

The assistant behind the doctor was none other than Sandi, the first cavalry from the Tulip Duchy who used penicillin. In times of manpower shortage, some patients with not-so-serious injuries at the wounded soldier camp had automatically taken up the responsibility of caring for their comrades.

Sandi, the first beneficiary of penicillin, was among them. After so many days, apart from issues with wound healing, he was almost completely recovered.

Though Sandi was already in a high fever coma when Aiven came to treat him, he learned from the doctors who saved him after recovering consciousness.

Likewise, he also heard of a series of meritorious achievements by this General, unsurprisingly becoming a new admirer of General Aiven, paying close attention to news about him.

"I am just a doctor; how would I know matters of high-tier Transcendents? However, a Great Knight is akin to a stationed army commander or deputy commander-level personage.

Anyway, during my time in the Southern Continent, I never heard of any stationed army commander dying unnaturally.

Don’t overthink it, Great Knights are monsters averaging a lifespan of up to 150 years; by the time your grandchildren die of old age, they might still be alive. It truly makes one envious!"

Of course, Dr. Jiawen hoped Aiven would bring back the head of Hilus Navy’s deputy commander on his excursion, but he also knew how slim the chances for such things were.

Moreover, while they knew about Aiven’s wizard identity, they entirely didn’t know Aiven’s true Extraordinary level.

So, this matter was merely gossip material.

"Alright, assist me, and let’s rebandage the wounds of the injured and apply new topical medication..."

Suddenly.

The enormous commotion outside the wounded soldier camp interrupted their actions.

Only a young soldier’s voice was faintly heard:

"General Galliot has returned, and... and the Hilus are back with the Steel Dragon that attacked us last time!"

"What, have the Hilus come to attack again?"

Many of the wounded soldiers struggled to get up.

"No, no it’s not that. The General has captured it! Even brought back the head of the Steel Knight, go see it, the head of a Great Knight!"

In the tent ward, an old and a young face both froze and then simultaneously jumped up.

At the port at this moment.

Major General Phaletis Marshall, staying at the base, personally welcomed the two battleships as they slowly docked.

One belonged to Phaletis, the "May Wind", while the other was a Level 3 battleship of Hilus design.

But this Level 3 ship had its open deck charred black and almost entirely destroyed, with only three sooty masts standing; the work of the resisting Hilus Navy soldiers and Dean Clapson.

No matter how they tried to burn the jade and stone together, they couldn’t change the fate of the Level 3 battleship "Steel Dragon" becoming Aiven’s spoils of war.

Before they disembarked, the base was already in a frenzy.

And it would spread far and wide, stirring waves of great influence across the entire Southern Continent battlefield.

....

Not bothering with the commotion in the base.

After broadly reporting the mission’s events to Major General Marshall, Aiven presented the head of the Steel Knight to Gel as a grand gift to wish him well in his recovery.

He also casually tossed him a finely detailed depiction of the "Life Tree Pattern," which, even if one doesn’t believe, one cannot reject, in preparation for the subsequent "Life Tree Totem Warrior" promotion ceremony.

Then, Aiven, accompanied by Olivia, returned to their respective rooms.

"The most unfortunate part is that in the haste of the battle, I didn’t get to ask what they were planning to transport with the three cargo ships."

Though he learned from the crew that they were retrieving some secret treasure, he didn’t know what it was or where it was located. Only the three leaders knew the details; possibly only the Steel Knight himself knew the exact hiding place of that treasure batch.

However...

Using the Steel Knight, whose very name suggests a cutting-worthy target, as a sacrifice both avenged Uncle Gel’s near-death and successfully broke through a long-stagnant swordsmanship realm.

Also, he obtained a Level 3 ship.

Aiven was satisfied enough, with no feelings of regret or loss.

Moreover, Major General Marshall and the alliance senior members have acknowledged the divine efficacy of "Penicillin," with a substantial order waiting for him. The allure of the unknown treasure was no longer as strong for Aiven.

Besides, taking down the Steel Knight was just the beginning of this war; he didn’t think he could rest easy from now on.

The other target still needed to be addressed.

As a Peak Grand Knight, Griffith himself couldn’t be dealt with for now; approaching him would be pure folly. But he did have a weakness—under his command is the Hilus Invincible Fleet!

Both sides gather intelligence mutually; just as Hilus had a clear picture of the alliance’s forces, the Tulip side also thoroughly understood this Vice Admiral, recognizing the role he played in Hilus’s internal church-state disputes.

This Invincible Fleet coming from the Hilus Mainland comprised thirty-one ships, led by a Quasi-Legendary battleship "Red Maple," with others being Level 3 and Level 4, the lowest being Level 5 cruisers for escorting and scouting the fleet.

If they could deal this fleet a heavy blow, without moving personally, the Royal Faction would probably be happy to use this chance to knock him down. Losing the Great Treasure Fleet and causing a war defeat is a responsibility even a Peak Grand Knight cannot bear.

From arriving at the Southern Continent to heal Gel and ambushing the Steel Knight back to "Treasure Tree Bay," over twenty days had quietly passed. Although he hadn’t communicated with Milan, calculating the time, his "Storm Horn" should be arriving soon.

Aiven planned to confirm the docking time before executing the next plan.

What’s so-called invincible is all relative, much of its reputation stems from the world’s foremost great nation’s prestige. Aiven himself had captured enemy ships consecutively, even using them to build his success step by step.

He wasn’t the least bit intimidated by this Invincible Fleet.

Additionally...

Aiven discovered that after advancing to Tier 3, the Alchemy Firearm’s power was barely keeping up with him; its only advantage was convenience and long range.

And his own [Swordsmanship Secret Technique: Coil Cannon] took too long to charge, unless it’s an ambush or the target is enormous, its practical combat application was limited.

So he decided to create an [Alchemy Electromagnetic Cannon] that surpassed the Alchemy Firearm.

Electromagnetic weapons mainly take two forms: electromagnetic railguns and coilguns; he hadn’t decided which to choose.

Because the principles weren’t too difficult, achievable through witchcraft and his control power. The hardest part was indeed integrating the power supply into the electromagnetic cannon.

Although he possessed an ultimate energy treasure: "Magnetic Ore," due to limited knowledge levels, he hadn’t been able to fully understand the knowledge within and replicate it in the real world.

Returning this time while awaiting the "Storm Horn," he would bring along Olivia, adept at Gem Witchcraft, to see if they could solve the issue of this exotic gemstone, the Magnetic Ore.

Otherwise, even if the electromagnetic cannon was built, it would only be usable in "human-powered" manual mode, not meeting the desired effect.

Nighttime.

Aiven and Olivia lay in their respective rooms separated by a single wall.

"Uncle Gel’s problem has been roughly resolved. But, why do I feel like I’ve forgotten something?"

Before entering the Spirit Realm, a vague thought popped up. Aiven scratched his head, yet couldn’t fathom it.