Creating an Industrial Empire in 19th Century Parallel World



On their way to Pennsylvania Hospital, Sara broke the silence that had enveloped the vehicle with a  question.

"So, how's work been, Poul?"

Poul hummed, taking a moment to think before responding. "It's good, busy but manageable. My daily routine mostly involves reviewing reports from each department and putting my stamp and signature on them. But what really keeps us on our toes is the World's Fair project. We've been entrusted with lighting up the entire event, and with around thirty million people expected to attend from all corners of the world, there's no room for error."

"I see, but what about the legal side? The congressional hearing. It's been a month, and you haven't updated me on that yet."

Poul's expression grew more serious, and he reached for her hand. "About that... I'm taking an aggressive stance."

"What do you mean?"

"What I mean is, we can't afford to let others undermine us any longer," Poul explained. "I'm still waiting to hear from Mr. Morgan, but once I get the response I'm hoping for, we can start taking control of the situation without worrying too much about the consequences."

"And you won't share the details with me, will you?" Sara asked. 

"I will, but not yet," Poul grinned, his gaze shifting towards the large sign that read 'Pennsylvania Hospital' as they pulled into the street. "And I believe we are here…" 

Poul exited the vehicle and walked around to the passenger side. He opened the door for Sara with a warm smile, offering her a hand to help her out.

"Thank you," Sara said, accepting his hand and stepping out of the car. She couldn't help but notice the curious looks they received from the locals. In this era, automobiles were not yet commonplace, and many people hadn't seen one up close.

Poul closed the car door gently and stood by Sara's side protectively. 

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"I made a call to the hospital director yesterday," Poul said in a hushed tone as they walked towards the main entrance of Pennsylvania Hospital. "He's expecting us, and he'll guide us to a suitable patient for your penicillin trial." 

"It's going to be easy then," Sara said.

As they reached the reception hall, they were greeted by the hospital director, a distinguished-looking man in a white coat. He extended a warm hand to Poul and Sara.

"Mr. Nielsen and Ms. Olsen, welcome to Pennsylvania Hospital," the director said with a polite smile. 

Poul and Sara exchanged pleasantries and followed the director to a more private area where they could discuss the details of their proposal. As they settled into a meeting room, the director spoke. 

"Before we start, I would like to introduce myself. I am Dr. Harrison Whitman, the hospital director," Dr. Whitman said, taking a seat at the head of the table. "So, I had a talk yesterday with Mr. Nielsen about you, miss, creating a cure for bacterial infections," Dr. Whitman began, addressing Sara directly. 

"Yes, Dr. Whitman, that's correct," Sara nodded in confirmation. 

"And what is your line of work again?" 

"I'm a doctor, at Axelsen and Nielsen Corporation headquarters." 

"And she is a genius and remarkable director," Poul added. "As an engineer and the CEO of the United States' largest corporation, I can attest to the incredible potential of her work." 

"No doubt about that, Mr. Nielsen. I heard that she was a great doctor during her tenure in London." 

Hearing that, Sara's brows creased as if it resurfaced some of the bitter memories. 

Poul noticed it and interceded. "Let's not talk about that, director. Let's just focus on the task at hand." 

"Uhm…Ms. Olsen, about this drug of yours, I'm sure you have conducted numerous experiments and tests to ensure its safety and efficacy," Dr. Whitman inquired, steering the conversation back to the matter at hand. 

"Yes, though I haven't brought the papers with me if you'd like a copy, I can deliver it to you." 

"No need," Whitman waved his hand dismissively. "If Mr. Nielsen said he trusts in the effectiveness of your drug, then we can proceed with that understanding for now. Now, for the patient, I have a twelve-year-old kid who has pneumonia. His condition is nearing, and our standard treatments haven't been effective in improving his health." 

"What were your standard treatments, if I may ask," Poul asked. 

Sara, unable to contain her medical expertise, chimed in before Dr. Whitman could respond. "Treating pneumonia often involves bed rest, warm compresses, and medication like digitalis and opium to manage symptoms. But as you mentioned, standard treatments have their limitations, especially in severe cases."

Dr. Whitman nodded, impressed by Sara's knowledge. "You're absolutely correct, Ms. Olsen. We've been following those practices, but with the boy's condition deteriorating, we're running out of options. The best thing we can do is to make the patient feel as comfortable as possible." 

"Okay, show us to the patient, director," Poul said.

Dr. Whitman rose from his seat, gesturing for them to follow. "Of course, let's proceed to the patient's room. I'll introduce you to the young boy and his family."

Sara and Poul followed Dr. Whitman through the corridors of Pennsylvania Hospital.

They arrived at a quiet room with a wooden door. Dr. Whitman knocked gently before entering, and the sight inside was heart-wrenching. A young boy, pale and frail, lay in a narrow bed, covered with thick blankets. His parents, anxious and tired, sat nearby, their eyes reflecting the despair of not being able to help their child.

"Mr. and Mrs. Cooper, these are the individuals I mentioned earlier," Dr. Whitman said, introducing Sara and Poul. "They have a potential treatment that might help your son."

The parents looked at Sara and Poul. 

"Wait…you are the founder of the Axelsen and Nielsen Corporation!" Mr. Cooper said. 

Poul wasn't surprised anymore, given his popularity skyrocketing across the states. 

"How long since the patient had pneumonia?" Sara asked.

Mr. Cooper glanced at his wife, and they exchanged worried looks. "It's been over a month now. Andrew developed a persistent cough, and we initially thought it was just a cold. But his condition worsened, and he started having difficulty breathing."

"Okay, we can still intervene," Sara said. "Let me introduce myself, I'm Sara Olsen, a doctor who has developed a cure for bacterial infections. And we would like to test it on your son, Andrew."

"Is it safe?" Mrs. Cooper asked.

Sara nodded reassuringly. "Yes." 

"It's the boy's greatest hope for surviving," Poul interjected. "We are going to need your consent of course. But if you give your consent, not only you see your son walking lively again, but you'll receive two thousand dollars." 

"Tha–that's a lot of money," Mr. Cooper exclaimed.

"It is," Poul replied. "But more importantly, it's a chance to save your son's life."

Mrs. Cooper looked at her son, who lay weak and pale in the bed. "We've tried everything we could, and nothing seems to work. If there's a chance, we'll take it. Please, do whatever you can to help our boy."

Sara pulled a vial and a syringe out from her bag. She then carefully drew the experimental penicillin solution into it. 

Sara swabbed a spot on Andrew's arm with an alcohol pad, and then she administered the penicillin injection. The boy flinched slightly, but he didn't cry out in pain. His parents held their breath, their eyes never leaving their son.

"Now, we wait," Sara said softly. "The penicillin will need some time to work. In the meantime, we'd like you to transfer to our company hospital so I can look over Andrew's progress closely and ensure he receives the best care possible."

The Coopers exchanged hopeful glances, and they nodded in agreement. 

"Mr. Whitman, please prepare a transfer for Andrew to our hospital," Poul added, addressing the hospital director. "We'll pay the fees that they haven't covered."

"Very well, Mr. Nielsen." 

Poul leaned over and whispered into Sara's ears. "How long will it take for the boy to show improvement?"

"It's difficult to say precisely, Poul. Penicillin can work quite quickly in some cases, but it depends on the severity of the infection and how well Andrew responds. We'll need to monitor him closely and make adjustments to his treatment plan as needed. But I'm hopeful that we'll start seeing positive changes within a few days."

"Okay, if it's a few days that can do," Poul said. "The World's Fair is on the 25th of April."