Chapter 2691
The night passed quickly, and by morning, Callan had finally regained consciousness. A whole night's rest had restored color to his face, though he was still physically weak.
Grace had kept watch outside his room all night. As soon as she learned that he was awake, she immediately walked in.
"Callan, I'm the official in charge of handling this outbreak. I need to ask you several questions, and I kindly request that you answer them truthfully. Understood?" Grace said, getting straight to the point.
"Yes," he replied, nodding with visible apprehension.
"When did you first get infected?" "I'm not sure how long I was unconscious, but from what I remember, it started about three days ago. I suddenly felt dizzy and weak, with chills running through my entire body," Callan said weakly.
He went on, "At first, I assumed it was just a common cold, so I took smedicine. But the symptoms kept worsening, and by the tI realized something was seriously wrong, it was already too late." "Before you fell ill, did you cinto contact with any strangers?" Grace pressed.
"I hardly ever leave the house, but a few days ago I met up with this woman I'd been chatting with online. We'd known each other for two years, and this was our first tmeeting in person," he explained.
He continued, "She was gorgeous and even said she wanted to be my girlfriend. I was thrilled at the tand had a meal with her. Afterward, she said she was going to Harbortown to see her best friend, so she left for a while." "You started showing symptoms after that meeting?" Grace asked.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"You can say that," Callan replied.
"Do you know who she was planning to see in Harbortown?” "I'm not sure. Even though we'd been chatting online for two years, we rarely asked about each other's personal details." "Surely you know her name, right?" she asked again.
"She toldher nwas Lauren Stephan, though I have no idea whether or not that was her real name," Callan replied.
"I need you to describe Lauren's appearance in detail," Grace requested.
She turned and snapped her fingers at Sadie, signaling for paper and a pen.
Grace began sketching based on Callan's description. After nearly an hour of adjustments and corrections, she finally captured Lauren's general appearance on paper.
When he saw the finished portrait, his eyes lit up and he nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, that's her. No doubt about it-you've captured her almost perfectly, about 80 to 90 percent." Grace nodded and handed the sketch to Sadie. "Find out who she is, and make it a priority," she ordered. "Got it," Sadie responded before hurrying away.
"Besides Lauren, did you notice anything else unusual around you recently?" Grace asked.
"Nothing else comes to mind," Collan replied, shaking his head. “I spend most of my tat hgaming and seldom go out. Anyone in the village can vouch for me. 11 "That's all I need for now. Get srest." With that, she stood to leave.
She'd already reviewed his background file and found nothing suspicious. He was a classic shut-in whose parents had died in a car accident a few years back.
He survived by doing gboosting services for other players, rarely left his house, and had virtually no social skills. He was passive and indecisive, which was precisely the type who'd believe whatever someone told him without question.
If Callan was telling the truth, then Lauren had to be the source of the outbreak. Her trip to Harbortown meant the epidemic would spread there next. This was turning into a serious problem.
"Ms. Linsor, I found Lauren's details!" Sadie exclaimed.
A few moments later, she had compiled everything she could find using the nand sketch.
"What have you got on her?" Grace asked.
"The woman Callan described checks out. Her nwas indeed Lauren Stephan. She returned to the country three years ago and got into Nexology. She spends a lot of tonline spreading their teachings and appears to be a devout believer," Sadie reported.
"What about her family and friends?" "Her parents died when she was young, and we can't trace her foreign identity right now. However, she does have several close relatives and friends here in the country, whom she still keeps in touch with." "Did you run background checks on all of them?" "I did. They're all into Nexology, just like Lauren. She's the one who recruited every single one of them into it. I suspect this Nexology is just the Skull Covenant operating under a new identity," Sadie said with a serious expression.
Grace wasn't surprised upon hearing that.
"For the Skull Covenant to rise from the ashes and cause trouble again, they must have been planning this for years. They'd need a front organization to stay hidden. Otherwise, how else could they have survived this long?" she said.
"What should we do now, Ms. Linsor?" Sadie asked.
Grace said indifferently, "I don't care if they call themselves the Skull Covenant or this Nexology. If they're harming people, we're taking down their entire operation.
"Start digging into everything about this Nexology, especially Lauren. Find m her and bring her in as soon as possible. request authorization from headquarters to seal off the Ashen Coast and put an end to the Skull Covenant's comeback.” "Got it." Sadie acknowledged the orders and left.
Since Lauren didn't know many people in Harbortown, a thorough investigation of her contacts would quickly reveal her whereabouts.
"So, how are things progressing? Any leads yet?" Dustin asked as he walked through the door, stifling a yawn. After staying up all night and expending so much energy, he was feeling drowsy.
"We've uncovered promising clues," Grace replied. “I'm confident we'll catch whoever is behind this outbreak." "Glad to hear that." Dustin breathed a sigh of relief. "Once we eliminate the source of the outbreak, everything else should becmuch more manageable." "When things go this smoothly, it usually means we're walking into a trap," she said thoughtfully.
She continued, "The Skull Covenant has risen from the ashes to spread this disease. But if their only goal is for the blood ritual, they're being remarkably conspicuous about it. I can't shake the feeling they have other ulterior motive." "Whatever they're plotting, we'll get our answers once we capture them," Dustin said.
Grace nodded. "Then, I guess all we can do is wait."
Just as they were talking, one of her trusted aides rushed inside with urgent news. "Your Highness, we же have a serious problem. Word just in that there's an outbreak in Reedcrest. Right now, there are over 100 infected and counting."
Chapter 2692
"What? There's an outbreak in Reedcrest?" Grace's expression hardened at the report. “That's impossible. Weren't we told it was contained last night?" When the contagion began, she immediately ordered the entire village sealed off and placed all infected individuals under strict quarantine.
Anyone who'd had contact with the infected was put under close surveillance.
Given all these precautions, how had the outbreak spread across Reedcrest overnight? "The outbreak in Ashwillow Village has indeed been contained," her aide reported grimly. "But a new source of infection has emerged in Windham, and there was no way to see it coming. Over 100 people are showing symptoms, and the numbers keep climbing." "Seal off every entrance and exit to Windham immediately," Grace ordered decisively. "We cannot allow this outbreak to spread beyond the town. Place all infected individuals under strict surveillance and thoroughly screen everyone else. Go now." "Yes, Your Highness." Her aide left immediately to execute the orders.
As a precautionary measure, military forces were deployed to blockade every access point into and out of Windham so that residents couldn't leave and outsiders couldn't enter.
While the strict containment protocols would undoubtedly cause considerable inconvenience, the gravity of the situation left no room for half-measures.
"Things are more complicated than I thought. The Skull Covenant is spreading outbreaks everywhere," Dustin said, narrowing his eyes slightly.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtIf Ashwillow Village was just their opening move, then the real battle was about to begin.
"Our enemies work from the shadows while we operate in plain sight. Until we can locate the Skull Covenant's stronghold, we'll have to proceed cautiously and try to minimize casualties," Grace said with a frown.
"The outbreak is spreading faster than I can handle alone. We need to bring in reinforcements from Oakvale," he suggested.
"We should summon every doctor skilled in acupuncture. I'll show them how to draw out the toxins. That way, if we encounter more outbreaks, we won't be caught unprepared." "Good call. I'll make the arrangements," Grace agreed without hesitation.
Without saying anything else, she immediately mobilized all the forces to recruit qualified doctors.
It was better to train a dozen physicians than exhaust Dustin by having him race from crisis to crisis. Despite his exceptional abilities, she knew he would feel overwhelmed by the scope of the epidemic. So, they desperately needed skilled backup to share the load.
While finding someone with his extraordinary abilities would be nearly impossible, Oakvale had many accomplished doctors well-versed in acupuncture techniques.
With more hands available, they could learn his techniques and be better prepared for the next crisis.
In Harbortown, Tristan was overseeing operations from the governor's mansion. As he listened to his subordinate's report, his expression grew increasingly grave.
"Your Highness, our investigation shows over 100 plague cases in Harbortown," his trusted aide reported. "We've quarantined most of the infected, but shave slipped our cordon. Should we implement a full city lockdown?" Tristan pondered the situation carefully before responding with decisive authority.
"100 cases are still manageable. We don't need a full lockdown yet. Gather all the infected in one central location, then immediately dispatch troops to hunt down those who have escaped. We must capture and bring them back to prevent further outbreaks," he said.
A complete city lockdown would be too costly politically and create a bad impression, which would make him appear incompetent.
To stand out in the succession struggle and gain the upper hand, he needed to contain the outbreak with minimal disruption and maximum efficiency. Only by demonstrating such efficient crisis management could he prove his superiority over Matthias and Nathaniel.
Milton reminded him, “Your Highness, besides containing the outbreak, we urgently need to develop an antidote. If all hundred victims die on our watch, it won't look good when word reaches the King.” "I've already summoned two skilled doctors from Oakvale. They should be arriving any moment. With their expertise, creating an antidote won't be much of a challenge," Tristan replied confidently.
Milton broke into a relieved smile. "It turns out Your Highness was already three steps ahead. I should have known better than to worry." Just as they were talking, a guard hurried in and dropped to one knee. "Your Highness, the two skilled doctors have arrived and are waiting outside," he said.
"Quick! Bring them in immediately." Tristan's face lit up. The doctors' arrival couldn't have been more perfectly timed to solve his pressing crisis. "Yes, Your Highness," the guard acknowledged and departed quickly.
Soon after, the guard escorted two people into the room-an elderly man and woman. Both appeared to be in their late 60s with silver-streaked hair, yet they still looked very energetic.
The elderly man was Icarus Carmel, a skilled doctor from Oakvale known for his exceptional acupuncture skills.
The elderly woman was Lenora Strum, whose reputation matched his. She had studied pharmacology extensively and was an expert in toxicology. Upon entering, both doctors straightened up and addressed Tristan formally," Greetings, Your Highness." Tristan stood up to greet them and said enthusiastically, "Dr. Strum, Dr. Carmel, you're finally here." "We have an outbreak in Harbortown, which started two days ago, and the contagion is spreading rapidly. You two are our only hope." "An outbreak?" Icarus was taken aback." How could such a calamity strike without warning? Could someone be behind this?"
Unlike common ailments, plagues were catastrophic diseases capable of wiping out entire populations. They were classified as the most severe category of epidemic and always caused widespread panic whenever they emerged.
"We're still investigating the exact cause," Tristan replied. "Right now, Ο ΠΥ our immediate priority must be treating those who have been infected and developing an antidote as quickly as possible." Lenora nodded. "Saving lives is an urgent business. Of course, we'll help." "Your Highness, where are the patients? Could you take us to them?" Icarus asked.
"Of course. Please follow me." Without further delay, Tristan led them quickly out the door.
Chapter 2693
Tristan, Icarus, and Lenora left the mansion and hopped into the car. They soon arrived at a hospital that was under lockdown.
It wasn't just the facility, but several surrounding streets had also been cordoned off, with soldiers standing guard, forcing all traffic to detour around the area.
Access to the hospital required special clearance, and even Tristan wasn't exempt.
"Dr. Strum and Dr. Carmel, we've got many plague patients quarantined inside this facility. For your safety, I strongly recommend wearing these medical masks, "Tristan said as they approached the checkpoint.
He thoughtfully handed out the masks to Icarus and Lenora. In addition to wearing a mask himself, he'd also suited up in full protective gear. He was taking every possible precaution since he'd been frail and sickly since childhood. If he caught the plague, it would likely be the end of him.
Icarus and Lenora accepted the medical masks without protest. They put on the masks and followed Tristan into the hospital.
All non-essential personnel had been removed from the facility. Only stationed soldiers and a few masked medical staff remained inside.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThe patients had been sorted by symptom severity and placed on different floors in separate wards.
Tristan led Icarus and Lenora to the elevator, and they rode directly to the 18th floor. This floor had several critical patients who were barely clinging to life.
Apart from two guards stationed at the entrance, only one nurse remained to tend the dying patients. Her “care" consisted mostly of periodic injections to ease their suffering.
"Dr. Strum, Dr. Carmel, I'll wait out here while you two examine the patients," Tristan said as he stopped at the doorway.
He gestured for the nurse to escort Icarus and Lenora into the ward while he waited outside.
Given Tristan's status, bringing these two doctors there already demonstrated considerable respect. He bet neither Matthias nor Nathaniel would have done the same.
Icarus and Lenora disappeared into the ward and remained inside for an extended period. Tristan paced restlessly outside the door while occasionally peering through the window.
Nearly half an hour passed before the two doctors finally emerged.
"Dr. Carmel, Dr. Strum, how is the patient? “Tristan asked urgently. “Can anything be done?" He'd never cared this much about a commoner's fate, but the patient's survival could determine whether they could contain the epidemic quickly.
"Your Highness, the situation is far worse than we anticipated," Icarus said. "This isn't your typical plague outbreak. The pathogen is incredibly virulent and unlike anything we've dealt with before. At this rate, the patient probably won't make it through the night." Tristan turned to Lenora, still looking hopeful. "What about you, Dr. Strum? You're our expert in pharmacology and toxicology. Surely there's something you can do?" "I must be honest with Your Highness. My current abilities are insufficient to cure this either," she said, shaking her head with a grave expression.
She went on, "But I know for a fact that this outbreak wasn't the result of natural causes. It was man-made." Tristan raised an eyebrow. "What makes you say that?" "I've already examined the patients thoroughly. Whatever's infected them is extremely contagious and appears to be a combination of multiple viruses. I've never seen anything like this before. Unless someone deliberately created it, I can't think of any other explanation," Lenora explained.
"I'll dispatch my men to investigate your theory, but right now we need to focus on developing an antidote. Without it, every infected patient will die. I'm counting on both of you," he said earnestly.
Icarus said, "Please give us time, Your Highness. We'll find a way to stop this and save as many lives as we can.
"Very well," Tristan replied. "Don't hesitate to ask for whatever resources you need. You'll have my full support." "Your compassion is truly admirable, Your Highness. We won't let you down," Lenora assured him.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two doctors wasted no getting to work. One checked the ancient medical texts while the other began experimenting with herb combinations.
The critically ill patients in the ward had now bectheir test subjects. Under normal circumstances, they would never resort to such a method.
But with lives hanging in the balance and turnning out, they had no choice but to take extraordinary measures to develop the antidotes.
In Thornwick, Matthias faced an equally dire situation.
After arriving in the city the previous evening, he discovered that dozens of residents had already contracted the plague. But after just one night, the number of patients had increased to nearly 300.
However, the local doctors proved utterly useless against the outbreak.
Matthias had no choice but to call in specialists from Oakvale, but even flying them in would take half a day. So now, all he could do was wait.
If only he had anticipated this crisis, he'd have brought a medical team with him the night before. At least then he might have been able to contain the situation before it spiraled out of control.
"Your Highness!" Neville approached him and reported in a low voice, “The infection count continues to rise, and word of the plague has spread to the neighboring towns. People are fleeing Thornwick in droves, and panic is consuming half the population." Matthias scowled. "Didn't I tell you to keep this under wraps? How did it end up like this?" Neville explained, "We arrived too hastily and lacked reliable personnel on the ground. The local officials have been paying lip service to our orders while remaining fundamentally lazy and dismissive.
"They treated this outbreak like common influenza rather than the serious threat it represents, which allowed the situation to deteriorate rapidly."
"Those worthless parasites! They're quick enough to line their pockets with bribes, but now now m nothing when they're doing a C a crisis strikes. Once I've contained this outbreak, I'll make an example of every last one of them," Matthias snapped. "Your Highness, pursuing accountability must wait," Neville said urgently. "Our immediate priority is stopping the outbreak before the consequences be catastrophic." "There's no other choice left. If we want to contain this outbreak, there's only one option-put the entire city on lockdown," Matthias said with a gloomy expression.
He had hoped to avoid such drastic measures. But now that word of the outbreak was out, chaos inc Thornwick was inevitable. So, a full lockdown was their last chance to stop things from spiraling out of control.
Chapter 2694
"Put the city on lockdown?" Neville was momentarily stunned, then quickly nodded. “I understand, Your Highness. I'll handle it right away." As a soldier, following orders was his sacred duty. Whatever command Matthias issued, he would carry it out without hesitation.
"Hold on." Just as Neville prepared to leave, Matthias stopped him.
He said, "This outbreak is no ordinary crisis. All information must be completely contained, and we can't have any more leaks.
"If any officials in Thornwick refuse to cooperate or act like they're following orders while secretly disobeying them, they'll be removed from their positions immediately and investigated. Anyone who stirs up trouble will be thrown straight into prison." "Yes, Your Highness," Neville responded, then hurried off.
With direct orders from Matthias, he could finally act without restraint. He'd long been fed up with Thornwick's officials-backstabbing their superiors, misleading their underlings, and playing everyone with phony politeness When there were benefits to grab, they were the first in line. But when trouble arose, they made excuses and did nothing.
If it weren't for these people getting in the way, the outbreak in Thornwick wouldn't have gotten this bad. Previously, Neville had restrained himself out of concern for disrupting Matthias' plans. But now things were different. Anyone who dared to obstruct military orders or play games behind the scenes would face immediate consequences.
At best, they'd be stripped of their position. At worst, they'd end up in prison. There would be no room for negotiation.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtWhile the outbreak in Thornwick was spiraling out of control, Sommer town, where Nathaniel had been dispatched, wasn't faring any better.
He'd been working tirelessly since arriving the night before. Unlike Matthias' reckless approach, Nathaniel was much more strategic.
Since he knew his mission involved containing the outbreak, he had assembled a medical team in advance. He immediately ordered them to collect samples of the pathogen for research and antidote development.
Nathaniel was even willing to use live test subjects to speed up the process. In addition to having his medical team work on an antidote, he had also clamped down on all information flow. The goal was to prevent panic that could cause people to flee and spread the plague further.
Despite doing everything right, he'd underestimated how quickly the plague would spread. In just one night, the number of infected had jumped from around 30 to over 100. Unfortunately, several infected individuals had escaped and were now spreading the virus.
Left with no choice, Nathaniel ordered lock downs of all surrounding towns and sealed off every major entry and exit point.
Inside a hastily commandeered hospital, he sat in the director's office listening to status reports from his subordinates. The news filled him with mounting rage.
"What the hell is wrong with you people? How hard can it be to catch a few plague carriers? It's been a whole day and still nothing?" he shouted at his subordinate.
The subordinate lowered his head and explained, "Your Highness, those people seem to know our every move. It's like they're playing cat and mouse with us. They're so cunning that every twe arrive at a location, they've already cleared out." "Wait... Are you telling we have a mole in our ranks?" Nathaniel caught on immediately.
"It's the only explanation, Your Highness. Otherwise, we would've caught them by now. But there's something else. I believe this outbreak wasn't the result of natural causes. It was man-made." The subordinate dropped the bombshell.
"Man-made?" Nathaniel narrowed his eyes slightly. "Are you suggesting foreign operatives are behind this?” "Whoever they are, they know how to stay hidden. We haven't been able to track them down yet." The subordinate shook his head.
"Then stop wasting my with theories. Get out there and find them!" Nathaniel barked.
"Yes, Your Highness." The subordinate didn't dare to linger and bolted from the room.
"I had a feeling this outbreak was too convenient to be natural. So, someone was really behind it." Nathaniel rested his crossed arms on the table, frowning in deep thought.
He wasn't the only one tasked with handling the crisis. Even Tristan and Matthias had received similar missions. Though they were in different cities, the circumstances were remarkably similar across all three regions.
This outbreak response wasn't just about saving lives, but a test. It was about proving who had the capabilities and who had the connections.
At first, Nathaniel hadn't given it much thought. He just focused solely on completing the mission quickly. But his subordinate's report revealed layers of complexity he hadn't considered. If the plague was man-made, then treating the symptoms would never end the crisis. Now, that was the real mission he needed to focus on.
With that realization, he reached for his phone and dialed an encrypted number.
"Gather your team and get to Sommer town immediately. I have an important mission for you," he said.
As evening fell over Ashwillow Village in Reedcrest, Sadie delivered her comprehensive report to Grace. "Ms. Linsor, we've quarantined all the new plague cases. The news is still under wraps, and we've got the situation under control for now.
"The renowned doctors from Oakvale have arrived, and they're working with Mr. Rhys to learn his treatment methods. We should start seeing results soon.
"Given the current situation, as long as no new sources of infection appear, we should be able to fully contain the outbreak in Reedcrest."
Though the morning had brought over 100 new cases, their swift off response had paid off Thanks to timely intervention and excellent intelligence work, they'd managed to isolate every new case within half a day.
With Dustin's expertise combined with the assistance of more than a dozen skilled doctors, treating the hundred plus infected patients seemed well within their capabilities.
At least for now, they could finally catch their breath.
Chapter 2695
"Excellent work. Reedcrest managed to contain this outbreak so quickly thanks to everyone's dedicated efforts,” Grace said after listening to Sadie's report.
She felt the weight lift off her shoulders. The infected patients had been quarantined, and having additional skilled doctors to treat them took a huge burden off her plate.
All that remained was to hunt down the remnants of Skull Covenant operatives, and their mission would be complete.
"It's all because of your excellent leadership, Your Highness. Anyone else wouldn't have been able to pull this off," Sadie replied with a smile.
"Let's not pat ourselves on the back just yet. There's still work to do," Grace replied, her tone shifting to business. "What's the update on Lauren, the woman I asked you to investigate?" "We've finally got an update on that," Sadie reported. "Our investigation confirmed that Lauren did go to Harbortown and has been in close contact with several Nexology members there. I've already sent a team to make the arrest. We should have news soon." "That's great." Grace nodded, then suddenly asked, "By the way, how many cities in Ashen Coast are dealing with the outbreak now? How bad is it?" Sadie reported, "Four out of seven cities have reported outbreaks, namely Reedcrest, Harbortown, Thornwick, and Sommer town.
"As for Reedcrest, well, we've already got that under control, but the situation in the other three cities is getting worse.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtAccording to the reports we've received, the three princes have each arrived in one of the cities. With proper handling, there shouldn't be any major problems." "My three brothers are here at the Ashen Coast?" Grace seemed surprised.
As soon as she heard about the outbreak in the Ashen Coast, she rushed over without knowing anything else that was going on. She hadn't expected that by the next morning, her three brothers would be gathered in the region.
"It was the King's orders," Sadie explained. "Right after you left Oakvale, all three princes received royal decrees and rushed over right away. Looks like they're here to compete for merit and recognition.
"It seems my father intends to use this outbreak as a test to evaluate their crisis management abilities." Grace quickly pieced it together.
If the goal were simply to contain the outbreak, such elaborate arrangements wouldn't be necessary, nor would they require deploying all three princes at once. The only reason for this approach was to test them.
This meant Valon's health must be declining faster than expected, and he was feeling the pressure to choose an heir.
"The three princes are certainly accomplished, but they still fall short compared to you, Your Highness. It's just a shthat..." Sadie's words trailed off, leaving the thought unfinished.
"Don't talk nonsense!" Grace glared at her. "Just focus on your duties. The three princes are not for you to judge, unless you want to bring trouble upon yourself.” "Forgive me, Your Highness. I spoke out of turn." Sadie quickly apologized, lowering her head.
"Sadie, you're my most capable assistant. I don't want anything to happen to you, and I certainly don't want you getting involved in the power struggle for the throne. Do you understand?" Grace said sternly.
In the palace, loose lips could sink ships. What passed for harmless gossip today could beca death sentence tomorrow.
"You're right, Your Highness. I'll keep that in mind." Sadie held her tongue and said nothing more.
"Good. Let's put this matter behind us. Regardless of what others may do, our immediate priority is controlling the outbreak and minimizing casualties," Grace said.
She then ordered, "Send a few people right now with the prescription Mr. Rhys wrote for treating the plague. Have them deliver it to the three princes so they can administer it accordingly and stop the outbreak from spreading." "Yes, Your Highness," Sadie responded before hurrying off.
"I overheard that your three beloved brothers have also arrived at the Ashen Coast?" Dustin asked as he walked through the door, yawning.
He had spent the entire day training the so-called renowned doctors and finally gotten them to a decent level of competency. Their treatment methods remained somewhat sluggish, but that would improve with practice.
"My father sent them here because he wants to test them,” Grace replied without hiding anything. “He's using this outbreak to decide who will be his final heir. In the end, it all comes down to how capable my three brothers are."
She had done everything she could and was helping to the best of her capacity. Besides, she had no m intention of interfering with their trial. Right now, her only concern was seeing the outbreak contained as quickly as possible. "Using this outbreak to test someone's capabilities? The King certainly has a unique approach," Dustin said with a wry smile.
Grace shook her head. "Perhaps Father doesn't have much left, so he's been forced to resort to such desperate measures," When charity becmere performance and saving lives got entangled with personal interests, everything be ccorrupted.
"I won't comment on what the King chooses to do, but I don't trust your three brothers," he said bluntly. "If ve. they're treating this outbreak as a competition, then given their hunger for power, there's no telling what unexpected actions they might take." "Unexpected actions?" Grace raised an eyebrow. "What exactly do you mean by that?”
"You're smart, so you know exactly what I'm referring to," Dustin replied calmly." As a precaution, you should have your people keep watch over those three. That way, if something does happen, there might still be room for damage control." "I will." Grace nodded without elaborating further.
She understood what he was implying, but she didn't dare let her thoughts venture in that direction. For now, she could only hope that everything would develop in a positive direction. That was all she could do
Chapter 2696
Grace's messengers quickly delivered the plague prevention prescription to Tristan, Matthias, and Nathaniel, though each reacted quite differently.
Tristan was naturally overjoyed. He immediately consulted with Icarus and Lenora to review the prescription. When both praised its effectiveness, he put it into action without delay.
His team began preparing the tonic and distributing it to patients. While it wasn't a complete cure, it helped alleviate the symptoms and kept conditions from worsening. In a race against time, even this level of relief was a tremendous help in his eyes.
Matthias, on the other hand, couldn't tell whether the prescription was genuine or not when he first received it. None of the people around him could make sense of it, either.
Given the circumstances, he decided to give it a shot. To his surprise, the prescription proved remarkably effective. He quickly ordered it to be distributed across the city and arranged large-scale purchases of the necessary medicinal herbs.
To his surprise, the herbs he had intended to distribute for free ended up in the hands of Thornwick's bureaucratic officials, who quickly turned them into a means of personal profit.
Instead of handing them out, the corrupt officials began selling them at inflated prices. The outbreak in Thornwick was already spiraling out of control, and their profiteering only fueled the chaos.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtAs news spread, panic buying broke out across the city. Wealthy merchants and capitalists began hoarding the herbs and reselling them at outrageous prices.
Under these circumstances, ordinary people couldn't afford even basic preventative medicine. Even those already infected were unable to access timely treatment.
Anyone looking to buy medicinal herbs faced prices dozens-sometimes hundreds of times higher than the regular price. Those who couldn't afford them were left with no choice but to wait for death at home.
In this climate of fear and greed, Matthias not only failed to contain the plague but also inadvertently fueled widespread panic and suffering throughout the city. By the reports reached him, Thornwick was already in turmoil.
Furious, he ordered the execution of over a dozen corrupt officials who had profited from the crisis. Even the wealthy merchants who had inflated prices and taken advantage of the national emergency were arrested and imprisoned.
The harsh punishments finally put an end to the corruption, but they created a new set of problems.
With so many officials arrested, Thornwick's government could barely function. The administrative breakdown only accelerated the outbreak's spread, leaving Matthias scrambling to restore order amid the chaos.
In contrast, Nathaniel handled the crisis far more effectively. He had not only brought his own medical team but had also assigned his most trusted aides across Sommer town on the day of his arrival.
Their task was to monitor local officials and issue stern warnings against corruption. As a result, when the outbreak began spreading, most of Sommer town's officials cooperated fully.
Unlike Tristan and Matthias, Nathaniel didn't rush to use the prescription.
Instead, he had his medical team begin developing their own antidote. His decision wasn't driven purely by distrust but by deeper strategic reasons behind it.
As Grace was checking on the patients in the warehouse the following morning, Sadie suddenly walked in. "Ms. Linsor, we've captured Lauren. Do you want to interrogate her?" she asked.
Grace nodded approvingly. "Well done.
Take to her." Since the outbreak in Reed crest had originated from Lauren, Grace intended to interrogate her thoroughly. "Right this way, Ms. Linsor." Without saying much, Sadie led Grace out of the building and through several security checkpoints. Eventually, they arrived at a sealed-off, secluded cabin. Several squads of soldiers stood guard around it to prevent anyone from getting close.
Sadie pushed open the heavy iron door. It creaked loudly, and sunlight streamed into the dim space.
Grace stepped inside to find Lauren bound tightly to a chair.
She was beautiful, slim, and looked completely harmless. Anyone unaware of her background would've easily let their guard down around her.
"Remove her blindfold," Grace ordered.
Sadie motioned to a soldier wearing a bio hazard suit and respirator. He forward and yanked away Lauren's blindfold. The sudden brightness made her squint reflexively until her vision adjusted to the light. "You're Lauren Stephan?" Grace asked coolly.
"Who are you?” Laura asked, terrified and anxious. "Why did you bring here? I didn't do anything."
Grace's expression remained stone-cold as she replied, "We're with law enforcement, and we've already investigated your background thoroughly. I suggest you drop the act." "Law enforcement? Why did you arrest me? I didn't commit any crime. You must have the wrong person," Lauren said, stunned.
"Enough with the act!" Sadie snapped. "You think we dragged you here just to let you cry your way out of it?" "I don't understand what you're talking about. Are you abducting me? Look, I'm broke. You're not going to get any ransom money out of me." Lauren's voice trembled.
"Still pretending, huh? Fine. Looks like we'll have to do this the hard way before you'll tell the truth." Sadie had heard enough. She turned and ordered," Someone get in here and make her talk.”
Chapter 2697
At Sadie's signal, two soldiers stepped forward to carry out her orders.
"W-Wait..." Lauren stammered. She quickly raised her hands and put on a placating smile. “Let's talk this through like civilized people. No need to get physical." "What? Now you want to talk?" Sadie scoffed. "Done with your pretense?" "I was just messing around earlier. Don't take it personally. Ask anything, and I'll tell you everything I know." Lauren immediately chose to give in.
"Don't even think about playing games with me," Sadie warned. "If you lie to me, I swear you'll regret it." "Relax. I won't lie," Lauren said with an ingratiating smile. "I'm as straight as an arrow." Sadie frowned slightly but didn't press further. Something about Lauren's behavior didn't sit right with her. One moment she was acting clueless, the next she was oddly cooperative. It was hard to tell what she was up to. "Alright then. Tell me. Do you know Callan Banks?" Grace asked coolly.
"Do I know him? Of course, I do." Lauren nodded eagerly. "We met online and hung out just a few days ago. Why?" "He contracted the plague and nearly died, "Grace said flatly. "He claims you were the one who infected him. Care to explain?" "What? I infected him with the plague?" Lauren looked stunned.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThen, she quickly denied it, "Don't listen to his nonsense! Why would I do something like that? I don't even know anything about the plague. He's trying to frame." "For you?" Grace frowned slightly. " Even now, you still won't tell the truth? You think you can get away with this?" "I swear on my life that every word I'm telling you is the truth," Lauren said earnestly. "Don't let Callan fool you. Sure, he looks like sharmless guy, but he's got a dark side to him.
"After we met in person, I knew something was off about him, so I tried to break things off clean. But the creep kept pestering and refused to leave alone. I got so fed up that I beat him up. That's why he's holding a grudge and trying to smear my name." "You seriously expect us to believe a woman like you could take down a grown man?" Sadie asked coldly. "I've practiced martial arts before. Beating up Callan was child's play. I could even take on several men his size without breaking a sweat,” Lauren replied confidently.
"I don't care if you could beat Callan in a fight, but your story doesn't add up," Grace said coolly.
She continued, "We tracked Callan's movements before he got infected. You were the only person he cinto contact with during that period.
"He started showing symptoms the very next day after meeting you. And you're tellingyou had no idea what was happening? "Second, we looked into your background. You joined Nexology and have been actively working with them. Everywhere you've been, an outbreak followed. Don't try to tellthat's just a coincidence.
"And finally, you've been so calm since we brought you in. You don't look panicked, as if you've already cto terms with whatever is coming. Most women would be scared out of their minds right now, but not you.
"I know you're stalling, but it won't get you anywhere. Keep playing dumb if you want, but I've got other ways to get answers from you. I don't like threatening other women, but innocent lives are on the line. If that means I have to be the bad guy, then so be it." Grace didn't raise her voice, but the calm in her tone made it more intimidating than any outburst.
"You've got a lot of theories, but no proof, "Lauren shot back. "Look, if I'm the one spreading this plague, then why am I perfectly fine while everyone else is dying? Look at me. Do I look sick to you?" "That's exactly what bothers me," Grace said. "Either you have the antidote, or you've developed immunity to whatever this plague is." Lauren frowned. "Look, if you're going to accuse of spreading this plague, you need evidence. You can't just throw around claims like that based on your own assumptions." "In the past, I would have been patient enough to gather evidence before bringing you to justice. But things are different now. I don't have to waste on games.
"I'm running out of patience, so I suggest you start cooperating. Otherwise, things are going to get unpleasant," Grace replied as her expression hardened.
"There's no use trying to talk sense into her, Ms. Linsor,” Sadie said.
m "Remnants of the Skul Covenant like her are as stubborn as rocks. If you want answers, you'll have to use force." She had had enough. Every word Lauren spoke sounded like a lie to her.
"Fine. No need to get violent. You think someone as fragile as can handle that?" Laurex said, with a sour look "You Suspect of spreading the plague, right? Fine. I admit it.
Take to who ever's in charge, and I'll confess everything." "She is in charge," Sadie snapped. "Whatever you have to say, say it to her." "No way! You're actually the one in charge here?" Lauren gave Grace a slow once-over, then suddenly broke into a wicked smile.
She continued, "I've been turning over every stone looking for you, and here you are, right in front of me. I was ready to put on quite the performance, but it turns out I don't need to." As soon as the words left her mouth, the chains binding her snapped loose on their own. Then, a scarlet mist suddenly erupted from within her body.
