Chapter 37 – Legion-Scale Vaccination. Finally becoming a man?!

Later, I met with my father-in-law and discussed the situation.

"So you say that your method works... and it is just that the medics are sloppy and don't follow your instructions completely and improvise, so they made patients ill with tetanus?" Primanus asked to confirm.

"Yes. If we had a supervisor, this would likely not happen." I pursed my lips.

"Most of our experienced doctors were dispatched, and only the least experienced remained, including those from your recruitment batch. We only have two senior doctors, and the rest are inexperienced." Primanus sighed.

Shaking his head, Primanus looked at Apollox.

"Did you punish him?" He asked.

"150 denari for the damage caused to the servants, but mostly for not admitting to it initially. If someone dies, he will pay for it." I said.

"That's a light punishment," Primanus noted.

That was a fact. Gross negligence in the medical field was taboo. It was currently fine since it was used on the servants, which only counted as a financial loss, but if they caused a legionary to die... They would be put to the sword.

"It is medical negligence, and it can be corrected through correct example, clear explanations, and measured punishment. And we don't have the luxury to lose a medic right now." I shook my head.

Primanus nodded.

"That is also true. That means you will have to train them yourself."

Apollox tapped his arm in thought while looking at the ground.

"I already know that vaccination works, and that my method also works. The biggest obstacle is secondary infections, such as tetanus, which I believe is related to sanitation and perhaps bad luck. However, the greatest contributor is still the human factor. The patient does something foolish, or the doctor could commit malpractice. Additionally, there might be more room for improvement." Apollox spoke aloud.

And then, he looked at Primanus.

"Sir, I formally request to start vaccination on 2,000 nearby auxilia and volunteers before starting with the two stationed cohorts, doing it in 1-week cycles with 500 soldiers each time. I shall supervise and train these medics to become trained professionals who can train others in vaccination. By mid-summer, our entire fortress can become vaccinated. If it works, I can gather the results and send them to the legate and present them to Emperor Aulus in the capital before winter." I said with a serious look.

Primanus's eyes flickered.

"Oh? You even want to send it to the Emperor?"

To this, I nodded.

"Yes. It would take months to reach New Rome, and even more time to reach the Emperor due to all the bureaucracy..." I said while frowning.

The bureaucratic wall could often be a nightmare in New Rome, encountering stubborn censures and other nonsense before it reaches the Emperor's ears. Sometimes, they might even have the gall to block the news on a whim!

To this, Primanus shook his head.

"Actually, it isn't as difficult as you think. This is strategic-level research, and as long as I frame it as such, it would immediately reach the Emperor. Since the legate is not here, I have full authority over such matters." Primanus smiled and said.

Hearing this, my eyes lit up.

"Thank you, Sir!"

Primanus waved his hand.

"Don't mention it. In good conscience, I can't bury your work. I will also issue an order to the fabricae to mass-produce bifurcated steel needles, which will be used by you and sent to the legion and emperor when the time comes."

"Great!" I grinned.

"With this, if there is an epidemic, the Empire will suffer less, which means I can live in more safety and luxury." I thought.

And then, I remembered something.

"By the way, I will vaccinate myself and the medical staff to be an example and avoid accidentally infecting ourselves. I can't let the soldiers get vaccinated while thinking they are experimental subjects." I said.

Primanus thought about it before nodding.

"Since you said so, I will also vaccinate myself. And I also want you to vaccinate everyone in the house."

Hearing this, I frowned slightly.

"Sir, perhaps you should wait a bit for further testing..."

However, my father-in-law merely smiled.

"I have faith in you."

That made me feel touched.

"Okay, then I will help vaccinate everyone in the house in the evening."

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That evening-

Antia sat on a chair, showing her fair arm to her fiancé, curiously watching him as he used a new bifurcated needle, which even received Antia's cleaning spell, to dip into a tiny vaccination paste before getting it close to her arm.

"You will barely feel a thing," Apollox promised with a smile.

"Um." Antia lightly hummed.

And then, Apollox gently grabbed her arm and started pricking her forearm 15 times. Antia only felt tiny pricks on her skin.

"There." Apollox gently said, letting go of her arm. "Let the wound breathe for 15 minutes without touching it, and then I will apply a woolen dressing to it to prevent spreading it. Also, make sure not to touch it, and I will change it for you every three days until you heal."

"Thank you..." Antia softly said.

"Don't mention it. I now need to vaccinate the servants." Apollox smiled at her and stood up.

Antia quietly stared at him, looking at his arm, which was already covered in a linen bandage.

Apparently, after multiple cases of patients scratching or accidentally touching, which caused unnecessary spread or contamination, he decided to use this method, adding honey, wine, or vinegar to reduce itching and speed healing. She knew this since she secretly listened whenever he talked about new medical discoveries. While she couldn't bring herself to like studying medicine, she did find herself intrigued by these tidbits, especially when she saw him speak with such passion.

"He is amazing. All I can do is study magic, but he already creates miracles." Antia sighed in emotion.

And it wasn't just this.

"And his Magician Realm... is improving even faster after that divine boon. Although he isn't as fast as I was back then, he might reach my realm when he is in his early 30s."

Lightly sighing to herself, she then looked at her hands.

"Also, he was right about that Warrior Realm thing. I did feel a very minute increase in learning speed. And feeling a bit more energetic does feel nice and helps me study more comfortably. I should also be able to reach the Epic Warrior realm in two years, and my learning speed will get a bit faster again." She happily thought.

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Two days later-

Vilesinda returned to the fortress while riding a pony, having relocated her village to the land that Primanus had given. The land was unused and lacked pre-existing architecture, so they had to reclaim it themselves. However, it was at least safe and stable, having a nearby water source and enough land for grazing and growing food. Most of all, they no longer needed to fear getting pillaged by rival villages, and they still have their breathing technique with them, so they should be content.

However, the distant looks they gave her made her feel lukewarm and conflicted.

"They didn't join the Romans because they wanted to, but because they didn't have a choice. They think I sold myself to the Romans... perhaps, some of them even think I betrayed our gods, values, and culture. To them, I am a traitor."

Shunned by the very people who raised her and lived with her for two decades, she just shook her head.

She was never close to any of them. She just lived there because she was born there, never developing a sense of belonging. In turn, they also sensed her distance and aloofness, so they began excluding her. However, she was never an ungrateful person, so she decided to help them, despite knowing that they would likely not help her in turn.

But it was fine now... she wouldn't associate with them anymore, even if they begged her at the door. Their life and death were not her problem now.

"Hopefully, my relationship with my new husband would go well, or I might really end up alone." She thought.

Reaching the town gate, two guards saw her and immediately recognized the albino huntress, letting her through.

"Ma'am! Welcome back!" The two saluted, knowing her identity.

She was not only an Epic Warrior, but also the new daughter-in-law of the Camp Prefect, and would even join their legion as a mercenary.

Vilesinda curtly nodded while entering, passing through the affiliated town of the fortress.

Although the legion left, the town was still as bustling as ever, with the majority of the families and shops staying behind, just shifting their focus from catering to soldiers to preparing supplies and equipment for the campaigning legion.

This sort of busyness made the lone huntress, who was unused to urban life, feel both intrigued and uncomfortable. While she liked the new atmosphere, the noise disturbed her, and the smell was too mixed and thick. Her sharp hearing could even discern the sound of sex in a nearby brothel!

"It is fascinating... but also suffocating. Perhaps I should request lodging outside of town?" She thought.

While thinking that, she soon reached the fortress and entered after the guards recognized her. She then drove her pony to a stable, letting the servants care for it, before heading straight to the Camp Prefect's house unimpeded.

Soon, she entered his office and spoke with him.

"Ah, I see you returned. I hope that the land is to the liking of your village." Primanus said with a smile.

"They... are fine with it," Vilesinda said with weighed words.

Primanus's smile waned, understanding the subtle hint.

"I see. This will be your home now... And you won't be mistreated. If my son-in-law displeases you, I will discipline him myself." Primanus seriously said.

That put a smile on Vilesinda's lips.

"I can handle myself in that regard."

Primanus's smile returned.

"Now that you have finished settling your village, we can start handling your mercenary contract."

"I am not good with legal or financial stuff. I will leave it to my husband and big sister to help me manage it." Vilesinda said.

"I expected as much." Primanus warily thought.

"Apollox and Antia can easily do it, or you can hire a clerk. Money aside, you need to select a residence. However, as a mercenary, you can't live within the fortress... of course, unless you live together with Apollox as a concubine." Primanus explained.

"Can I have a house outside the town walls? The town life is... suffocating." Vilesinda said with an uncomfortable look.

Hearing this, Primanus smiled and nodded.

"Of course! It is called a suburban villa. Many elites who want to escape town life, particularly Decurions, Centurions, Tribunes, and visiting dignitaries, often rent these houses. Many also have live-in attached slaves, so you don't need to go out of your way to purchase. Such houses are not inferior to mine, potentially even larger."

"Oh... I want one, then." Vilesinda said.

Hearing this, Primanus's smile widened.

"Okay. It just happens that the legion has marched, so many of these villas have been vacated, and even rent prices have been halved, so you can basically rent anything you want, save for the most expensive ones. Tomorrow, you can select a house together with Apollox and Antia. After all, you will all be living together."

Hearing this, Vilesinda nodded and then spoke.

"Right, where are my husband and big sister?" Vilesinda curiously asked.

"You will almost always find my daughter in the house, usually in her study. If not there, she is usually checking an auction or merchant for magic scrolls. As for Apollox, he is now managing the legion vaccination efforts." Primanus said before lifting his sleeve. On his forearm was a bandage.

"Are you injured?" Vilesinda frowned.

"Not quite. It is more to prevent the spread of the localized infection. I don't understand the underlying principles, but I do understand results, and that lad brings them in droves." Primanus said with a satisfied look.

Vilesinda widened her eyes.

"Is it really necessary to do this?" She asked.

"It is to prove this method works. It takes time to adopt such a method, especially with how ultra-religious and conservative individuals would initially object. If we don't do a legion-scale test, where thousands of soldiers participated, it wouldn't be worthy enough for the Emperor to see." Primanus explained.

"That sounds troublesome..." Vilesinda said.

"Hah... You don't know even half of it," Primanus shook his head in resignation and sighed.

And then, he raised his head and looked at her.

"By the way, you are also getting vaccinated today, so be mentally prepared."

"Okay." Vilesinda nodded.

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The following day-

Antia, Vilensinda, and I, having bandaged forearms under our clothes, followed a broker as he introduced viable properties outside the town walls.

Finally, we decided on a domus that was about 15 minutes away from the town. Not only was it slightly larger than father-in-law's fortress house, but it also had ten servants of varying ages and many amenities. But most of all, it was quiet, which was the condition Antia requested.

As for safety... what safety? It was barely 15 minutes away from a legionary fortress! Moreover, even Antia was an Extraordinary Warrior and an Apprentice Magician with unknown powers, and Vilesinda and I were Epic Warriors. Unless a whole army specifically targeted us, I highly doubted that we would face any trouble.

Of course, Antia didn't move out immediately, as we were not married yet. After all, father-in-law's condition still stood. I needed to be a Centurion first.

However, Vilesinda was different. She was my concubine, or more aptly, my wealthy and strong mistress. There was no need for marriage, and we could start living together immediately... which Antia surprisingly insisted on.

And so, after a day of work and moving our belongings, and having dinner with our father-in-law, we went to our new home. After a bath, I found myself sitting at the edge of the bed, my waist covered in a towel, heart pounding, while looking at an albino beauty, her snow-white hair still wet, covered by a wet layer of cloth. Although she wasn't curvaceous like Antia, her athletic and slim build had its own charm.

"Holy shit... Am I finally becoming a man? And with such a beauty?" I excitedly thought.

"Husband, I am inexperienced, so please bear with me," Vilesinda said with a hint of a blush on her cheeks as she slowly approached me.

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