A Hospital in Another World?-Chapter 867: Garrett Finally Looks Like a Nature Priest!

Garrett's little piece of news was indeed correct. The task assigned to him was border quarantine.

Garrett, along with Cirilla, Bernard, and Appa, sprinted northeast along the Lochy River at the end of Nevis Bay.

The end of the Lochy River led to a canal, and beyond the canal, over the lock, was the narrow Lochy Lake. At the end of the lake, a little further along the river, was the main castle of the Earl of Inverness.

Garrett did not visit the Earl but took a left turn with the map, entering a bay. Standing on a high cliff, looking down, he saw the river gradually narrow; toward the coast, it was a large trumpet mouth...

"This place looks so familiar! It looks just like where I met Senior Brother Carlisle!"

The sea breeze blew in. Garrett's soft hair was a mess. He tugged at his hood and nostalgically told Cirilla, "This is it!"

"Back then, we were being hunted by the church's people. After crossing this river, we were cornered on a cliff... Bernard was seriously injured protecting me. I was just a Level 1 novice mage, exhausted all my spells, and almost died!"

"Back then, he even killed a Level 9 knight," Bernard said softly. "A Level 1 killing a Level 9, that was probably his peak combat ability... After all these years, I doubt he could beat even me now!"

"How can direct combat be the same as a surprise attack!" Garrett argued with wide eyes. "When the opponent isn't prepared and has no defense, surprising them with magic is different from being ambushed in the forest with no defense! If I had all my defenses up and you came charging at me with a big stick, you wouldn't be able to touch me!"

Cirilla couldn't stop laughing. After a long laugh, she waved her hand to comfort Garrett, "Oh dear, oh dear. Anyway, you're just a healer, not meant to fight head-on. If you can fight, fight; if not, isn't that what I'm here for!"

Garrett: "..."

Why did it feel like he wasn't comforted at all...

After surveying the overall layout, Garrett led Cirilla and the others down the mountain to the quarantine camp by the bay. From a distance, they saw a group of soldiers with long spears, standing alert in a row. Upon seeing them, the soldiers bowed deeply from afar. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"Master Mage! Are you here for an inspection?"

Garrett sighed softly.

The soldiers in front of him mostly wore coarse woolen coats, with bare heads or woolen hats; only the captain wore leather armor. Their spears were crooked, their combat effectiveness highly questionable...

Their attire and equipment were no different from the lowest city guards when he first arrived in this world.

"I was sent by the council to inspect the quarantine area." He jumped off Appa and handed over a document. The captain, leaning on his spear, did not take it but bowed deeply again, "Master Mage, please wait while we call for the presiding mage. Sorry, we can't read—"

"It's fine, go ahead," Garrett waved good-naturedly. A young soldier behind the captain sprinted off. Garrett, with nothing better to do, casually asked, "Are you council soldiers or the Earl's?"

"We are the Earl's soldiers, sir. Ordered by the Earl to guard this place; no one is allowed in or out without permission."

"Oh? And was this place built by the Earl as well?"

"Yes!" The captain's chest swelled with pride. "It was built by our villagers! This year was tough, but building this camp fed the workers and gave them half a pound of wheat to take home! Women and children helped with water and food, weaving mats and baskets, and they were fed too!"

Garrett couldn't help but smile. As he continued chatting, he learned that the quarantine camp was a collaboration between the council and the Earl of Inverness.

The council designated an area in the Earl's territory for the quarantine camp. The Earl conscripted nearby residents to build shelters or huts for the quarantined to live in.

A group of soldiers was dispatched to surround several quarantine points, especially blocking roads to prevent escape.

The port was dredged, the shipyard repaired, and additional soldiers stationed there to transport food and water; no outsiders were allowed in...

As they chatted, the presiding mage of the quarantine camp, a thirty-something Level 2 mage who looked more like an accountant than a mage, arrived. Even low-level mages could handle accounting tasks effortlessly.

He had been working there for over a month, planning and directing the villagers to build shelters, dig ditches, and arrange food and water according to the overall quarantine requirements. Over the month, he had lost a considerable amount of weight.

Garrett walked around the quarantine point. It was evident that the quarantine area was designed for the poor, with longhouses for about twenty people each, spaced at least two meters apart.

Apart from the clustered housing, there were a few small houses far on the other side of the quarantine point, seemingly to separate the sick from the healthy.

The toilets were specially dug out and cemented to prevent seepage—Garrett secretly praised himself for the idea of using cement.

From the port, two large houses stood on either side. According to the presiding mage, these were for refugees to bathe and change clothes, removing lice and fleas...

Garrett listened with a smile. Behind him, Cirilla whispered to Bernard and Appa, "Garrett designed all this! Isn't it great! I copied all his plans!"

Without turning his head, Garrett gave Cirilla a thumbs-up behind his back.

The quarantine arrangements were indeed impressive. Of course, Garrett learned from his conversation with the presiding mage that the Earl of Inverness was well-compensated for his efforts.

First, a large fleet of council ships and Netherland ships docked and repaired in the Earl's port, bringing in substantial income.

Second, although most magical items could be carried by council members, they still needed food, drink, and basic supplies, providing additional income to the Earl's territory.

Third, the quarantined people's food, water, and firewood had to be locally sourced, further boosting the local economy.

Lastly, the commoners, farmers, and craftsmen quarantined here could be shared between the council and the Earl, adding to his workforce.

In comparison, designating a piece of land and providing labor to build the camp was a huge profit for the Earl.

Garrett's design was incomplete, at least not accounting for security—he left that to the council, claiming it was a job for professionals.

And it turned out professionals did fill in the gaps. In each corner of the village, small towers were built to oversee the entire area. The presiding mage explained:

"I live in the west tower... The east tower is the largest, where the guards stay, also responsible for lighting the beacons to guide ships... The south tower is for storing, transporting, and distributing supplies, managed by the Earl's men, and the north tower is for the herbalists..."

"Where do we stay?"

Cirilla whispered from behind. The presiding mage hesitated, "Well... I'll move downstairs and vacate the upper floor..."

Oh no, oh no!

They said inspectors would come, but not this many!

A Level 8 mage, a barbarian, and an elven beauty! The upper floor only has two rooms. Will the elf lady get angry?

"Oh, we won't trouble you."

Garrett smiled and looked at Cirilla, "We'll stay in the mage huts. They're more comfortable and secure than these small houses."

Cirilla thought for a moment and agreed. Garrett continued walking, "Can you show me the defenses around here? Mainly, this area must ensure that people can enter but not leave, no one can escape..."

"No problem, no problem!" The presiding mage led him away.

"The village is fenced off, and every entrance is guarded, allowing entry but no exit. The refugees arriving here don't know the terrain, the nearby towns, or anyone. Without food or water, they wouldn't dare escape!"

Not necessarily... Garrett thought silently. Especially when groups are locked in rooms for days, especially when someone catches the plague, one after another falling ill.

Especially when the sick are dragged out, their destination unknown, their fate uncertain...

Under such circumstances, the quarantined refugees, in their anxiety and fear, could easily be incited to riot, break out of their rooms, or even escape the camp!

In the past, why did medical staff in makeshift hospitals try so hard to comfort patients, engaging them in Tai Chi and exercises? Patient riots were terrifying, let alone a group of healthy people!

"We need more protection," he murmured. Without waiting for the presiding mage to ask, he knelt by the fence.

Grow taller. If you still have vitality, if you can hear my prayer—grow thicker, root deeper, and grow taller.

Yes, grow to head height, then higher. And thorny vines, please entwine the fence, adding a layer of defense, preventing anyone from climbing over.

Inside the camp, the scattered wild grasses...

He closed his eyes, sifting through the skills he had learned from the Oak Staff, from the memories of his predecessors, and from the legacy of the oaks on Aeolan Island.

The wild grasses in the camp, especially those growing around the houses. Hear my prayer, adjust your growth pattern, and emit a faint, soothing fragrance:

Calm the minds of those who smell it, making them peaceful and free from fear and anxiety...

"Wow... Garrett, you finally look like a nature priest!"

In the swaying grass scent, Cirilla softly praised.