Unable to repay my student loans, I had no choice but to work part-time as a demon hunter.

During Gordon's absence, Winslow continued to enthusiastically advance research on the treatment of Blackwater Syndrome.

"Thanks to everyone's concerted efforts these past few days, we have gradually turned the ideas you described in your letter into reality." Winslow placed a set of medicinal herbs on the table.

Gordon's proposed treatment was very clear.

First, apply the light-phase spiritual crystal powder externally to counteract the supernatural. Then, have the patient drink a modified precipitate oral solution to deposit the toxins into the intestines. Next, use sweating agents and diuretics to promote metabolism and send the curse down the drain. Finally, use a restorative supplement to offer a lemon-flavored sense of security.

After confirming that the relevant combination therapy and dosing procedures were correct, Gordon signed the relevant application and commercialization process documents, endorsing the plan.

However, Gordon was still dissatisfied when he looked at the names of the medicines on the paper.

"There are too many technical terms, Professor. If we just say 'light-phase spiritual crystal powder,' ordinary people won't understand. They'll just think it's scary and doesn't seem like something that can cure diseases. It's not even as good as holy water or magic oil," Gordon pointed out.

"Hmm? But it's true. The light aspect signifies brightness, truth, and the dispelling of falsehood, and it has a certain power to remove curses."

"The facts are the facts, of course, but if we want to make money, we need to make things that ordinary people will want to buy at first glance. For example, a kidney tonic is called 'Shenbao,' a heart tonic is called 'Huxincha,' and Lianhua... uh. In short, it has to be catchy."

"So how do you want to get up?"

"For example, this light-phase spiritual crystal should be called a potent scale-removing essence, the precipitate salt should be called a potent scale-removing oral liquid, the diuretic should be called a black water purifier, and the supplement should be called a master recovery agent."

The obscure alchemical materials, through Gordon's naming, instantly became products that ordinary people could easily identify and buy after hearing the name just once.

"Master's Recovery Potion..."

"I even think this is very important. It's not only an essential supplement for our treatment, but it can also be used as a recovery agent for cholera-induced dehydration or diarrhea, and it's worth a lot of money. This way, when people are dehydrated, they don't have to pray to St. Joshua; they can seek help from a wise person, reducing the number of deaths caused by dehydration!"

"You get really excited when you talk about this."

"Exactly! Because our product is both a public healthcare service and a commodity, we can enter the market first and capture all the market share. Sooner or later, the Fish King will be eliminated, the Blackwater River will be cleaned up, and the conditions for comprehensive treatment will no longer exist. These patients are actually a saturated market. It's just a matter of who can capture consumers' minds first, making them think of us whenever they want to get medical treatment!"

After hearing Gordon's words, Winslow couldn't deny that he was right.

Tell them the name of the drug directly and what it's for. Patients have no idea what photocrystalline solids are, and it's difficult for them to drink precipitated salts without any concerns.

But for those patients with scales on their bodies, the words "powerful descaling agent" are more effective than any other name.

Such clear drug names are also more user-friendly for patients.

Increasing sales is just one of its minor contributions.

"Okay." Winslow agreed. "Then it's time for the first actual test. We've done experiments on some infected animals before, and they were quite effective."

"Are there volunteers now?"

"Yesterday, an officer named Anthony FitzRoy brought in a number of patients with Blackwater Syndrome, some of whom have reached stage four and may completely turn into monsters in a while. Let's see if this formula really works."

"Okay," Gordon agreed.

:

Today, the Blackwater antidote is finally going to be used on humans for the first time.

"Are you worried that this experiment will fail?" Winslow couldn't help but ask.

"I'm worried that if I fail, I'll lose a lot of money."

"Money is important, of course, but what's more important is taking responsibility for human lives. This treatment is indeed a bit too violent." Winslow led Gordon out of the study and into the ward.

Many rooms in the professor's house have now been converted into temporary consultation rooms, with patients suffering from blackwater syndrome lying on the beds.

They have now also staged the symptoms.

Patients in stage one always have wet skin, are always thirsty, and have a strong craving for water.

Patients in stage II often have dark, deep nightmares, experience very low body temperature, and are afraid of high-frequency sounds.

Patients in stage III begin to develop gill slits, exhibit a strong fear of air and dry environments, have grayish skin, cloudy eyes, and webbed fingers.

Gordon looked at them; their breathing rose and fell, sounding heavy, damp, sticky, and cold.

Vera even sensed a faint danger; they were all slowly mutating water monkeys in reserve, and if their condition worsened, they might completely lose their minds.

Is it possible to save these critically ill patients?

If this therapy can truly reverse their alienation, then Gordon will genuinely save many broken families.

"This is... Private First Class Bert of the Logris Empire Navy." Winslow checked the report.

He is a stage IV patient, and his symptoms are more severe than those of the previous patients.

Bert's face was severely sunken, and he was ravaged by the disease to the point of being unrecognizable. There were very obvious gill slits on both sides of his neck, with gill filaments growing inside. His arms were covered with scales, his nails had grown long, and both of his hands were soaking in a basin of water.

"Are you alright, Bert?" Gordon asked.

"..." Bert looked at Gordon with difficulty, "Doctor...save...me."

"That's exactly why we're here, but let me examine you first." Gordon checked Bert's physical condition while keeping him engaged in conversation to maintain his composure. "How are you feeling now?"

"I'm scared... I can't become a monster..."

"The symptoms of Blackwater Syndrome are related to frequent contact with the Blackwater River. What kind of work did you do before?"

"Everyone else... made me go into the water. I didn't know before. I was underwater the whole time... checking the cracks in the boat... cleaning..." Bert's voice was broken.

He was a dull and honest man, and the other sailors in the army ostracized him.

Everyone knows that the bottom of the Blackwater River is dirty and smelly. Due to work requirements, people are often sent underwater for inspection and maintenance. Therefore, the person with the worst interpersonal relationships and who doesn't like to talk is usually sent there.

Bert is clearly that kind of person.

:

"I have a wife...I have children...Doctor..." Bert said with difficulty, "...I want...to live..."

"Don't worry." Gordon squeezed his hand. Although the hand was cold and stiff, it still had the strength of a husband and father.

After examining Bert's physical condition, it was found that although he was on the verge of death and his organs were being eroded, his vitality was still strong.

Bert wants to see his family, wants his wife and children to still see him as a human being. It is this simple wish that has sustained him in his fight against his illness until today.

Let him return to human form and start anew.

"Mr. Vic, it's been a long time." John was making his rounds in the wards when he saw Gordon and quickly came over.

"How's Bert's data?" Gordon walked aside to make a final check.

"We tried conservative treatment on him, including sun exposure and feeding him only with clean water. Some indicators did change, but the most obvious problem... his scales and gills... remains unresolved." John took a deep breath.

"Then we have no choice but to administer the medication. How confident are we in the outcome?"

"We've been repeatedly selecting active ingredients and testing the effects of different materials these past few days. All I can say is that the effects may be very aggressive. Based on my own assessment, it could produce a very strong metabolic boosting effect within a few hours."

"Novel Website" Hand-typed Update

"Severe cases require strong medicine," Gordon nodded slowly.

He walked toward Bert one last time.

"Our treatment may cause high fever, dehydration, and make you feel like your skin is being peeled off from the inside out. Bert, are you ready?"

"I...want...to...try..." Bert looked at Gordon pleadingly.

I want to live, I want to go home!

"Okay." Gordon took a deep breath. "Let's give the medicine."

They moved Bert's bed to a private room and began using the treatment Gordon had previously devised for him.

Bert was moved to a completely dry bed, and John applied a large amount of potent descaling essence to any areas on his body where abnormalities had occurred, and then had Bert drink a descaling oral liquid.

He immediately sensed something was wrong.

It felt like millions of insects were rapidly gnawing at his arms and face, especially the area around his neck where his gills grew, causing a numb, itchy, and excruciating pain.

Gordon observed carefully.

The blazing white spiritual energy seeped fiercely into the dark blue-black mutated tissue, and Bert's scales immediately deformed, even showing signs of carbonization, with a large amount of charred black deposits appearing beneath them.

He quickly struggled from the intense pain, arching his back and emitting painful cries.

The drugs have clearly begun to control pollution, but they have also caused great harm to the human body.

:

"Continue," Gordon ordered.

To return to human form, peel off this fish skin!

"Drink this." John carefully approached and gave Bert the black water purifier.

Over the next two hours, Bert defecated at least nine times, and the room quickly filled with a foul stench.

Gordon and his team were all professional medical personnel, and they handled the situation calmly, approaching all changes in the human body with an absolutely rigorous scientific attitude.

The medical students who were assisting them were overjoyed and immediately took the excrement to be tested.

The patients wished they could forget everything that had just happened, but the doctors were eager to number and record every single excrement sample, and write about it at length in their papers.

"A large amount of crystals were indeed excreted," a student reported.

"Alright, stop administering the medication and give him the Master's Recovery Agent," Gordon ordered.

He could sense that Bert's condition was extremely poor.

After enduring the initial excruciating pain and embarrassment, which felt like his internal organs were being expelled, Bert felt his body become lighter and he could no longer move.

This is because a large amount of excretion in a short period of time leads to the loss of water and salt, resulting in extreme weakness of the body.

John made Bert drink a large bottle of a specially prepared remedy.

Its prescription was entirely provided by Gordon, including salt, potassium bicarbonate, refined sucrose powder, and citric acid powder. When put into water, it immediately hisses and produces a large number of small bubbles.

Bert was extremely weak due to dehydration and salt loss. After drinking the cup of sweet and sour effervescent salt water, his thirst and weakness were immediately relieved, and his spirits were a little better than before. He slowly recovered.

But it still hurts!

I was in excruciating pain, inside and out.

"..." Bert lay on the bed, looking at his twisted and blackened body, gritting his teeth and enduring the excruciating pain, with only a fervent hope that something would happen and that he could transform from a fish back into a dignified human being.

Everyone watched nervously.

This relates to whether their research topic is even valid.

After all this effort, was it all in vain? Is the so-called "expert treatment" really just a form of torture for the patient?

Gordon had them take turns observing, and people lingered in the corridors, whispering among themselves, filled with uncertainty about the future.

Is this an irresponsible and excessive ordeal for the patient, or a truly significant medical event of our time?

A stage IV patient who has reversed Blackwater Syndrome.

It's unbelievable just to think about it. In this state, the person is almost unrecognizable. Can they really be saved?

:

……

As evening approached, Margaret, the housekeeper at Professor Winslow's house, began preparing dinner, while Gordon and Vera strolled outside.

Just then, a student ran over, shouting for Gordon to come and take a look.

Gordon returned to Bert's hospital room.

The scales on his body had now transformed into layers of hard shell, with cracks appearing on the surface.

Gordon stepped forward, examined it carefully, and after confirming that it was not connected to the human body, he gently peeled it off.

Beneath the black scales... swollen, red human skin was revealed!

Gordon paused for a moment; the skin looked so normal, even somewhat unfamiliar.

Beneath the water monkey's appearance, the human part is slowly growing out!

People craned their necks and, upon seeing this, were immediately filled with amazement.

Although the skin is congested, sensitive, and covered with red spots, it is clearly human flesh and blood.

"Continue checking the measurements and comparing them with the previous data, hurry up," Gordon urged.

John rushed over quickly to measure the gill slits on Bert's neck and the condition of the scales on his body.

The overall conclusion is...

The size of the gill slits has shrunk by 20%, and about a quarter of the scales on the body have shrunk or withered.

Gordon could even detect that Bert's mutation had partially reversed; his lungs, which had been distorted by the erosion, were showing signs of functional recovery.

Although he is currently in a stage where both his gills and lungs are affected, he is experiencing difficulty breathing, and the atrophy of his lungs is almost permanent, meaning he may only be able to do light physical labor from now on.

But as long as he gets through this period, he won't be seen as a monster in terms of appearance.

"What do you mean, Mr. Vic?" John asked, somewhat agitated. "Should we continue administering the medication?"

"No, at least a week should pass before treatment begins, once his body has recovered." Gordon breathed a sigh of relief.

As the first patient to receive black water therapy, Bert certainly suffered a great deal and endured a great deal.

Bert lay in bed, feeling a wonderful sensation all over his body.

"I...this doesn't look like me anymore." Bert raised his hand, looking at the back of his hand.

The webbed membranes appeared smaller, the twisted claws retracted, and the skin reappeared after the scales on the back of the hand peeled off.

"You will go down in medical history, Bert," Gordon said, sitting in a chair by the bed. "Then medical students will be studying their textbooks and reading our names."

:

"I just want to see... if you can help me write a letter to my family, saying that I'm still alive..." Bert smiled bitterly.

“Sure, I’ll tell them.” Gordon stood up. “Tell them you’re a true warrior.”

: