Chapter 78

"The Kingdom of Rauen is also a member of the State Union. Therefore, if we resist this matter, we will not only turn the three empires into enemies but also the states of the State Union. Moreover, we could be branded as traitors to our own country."

In simpler terms, if we provoke them, it could be like setting off a nuclear bomb.

"But the people in the territory are afraid."

"Since they have not been here for long, for now, we can only wait... Prince David?"

Suddenly, noticing my silence, Yulius called out to me with a puzzled expression.

"Ah. Yes."

Nodding, I was lost in thought, and he burst into a hearty laugh.

"Furthermore, the knights guarding this place are the Order of the Annihilation, and the knight commander dispatched is Baron Colio."

"Baron Colio? That... the... strongest empire of the Eastern Continent, the Empire of Lindis..."

"Yes, one of the royal knights. I heard he retired a few years ago, but it seems he was here."

Saying this, he let out a short sigh.

"For now... it doesn't seem like a bad idea to entrust them... but..."

Although he entrusted them to the highest medical organization, it seems he couldn't shake off his unease.

"If I had known it would come to this, I wouldn't have brought you two to this dangerous place..."

Seeing Winry blaming herself, I silently hugged her and patted her back.

"Oh... Bernie?"

"Don't worry, it will be fine."

"Yes..."

At least, the first step is taken. Explaining the process would be meaningless, so what matters from now on is clear.

Her trembling seemed to subside as she found some relief in my voice.

I will keep my promise. Winry is a precious younger sister to me, and I don't want to see her sad.

"Anyway, I might be a bother, but I'm sure I've caused a lot of trouble for Yulius 5th."

At my words, he waved his hand and laughed.

"No, I forgot to mention, but the magician Portna actually belongs to the Red Tower."

"Ah... Yes."

"Since one of our Red Tower magicians is suffering from such a serious illness, it's natural for the elders to monitor the situation."

He seems to be a diligent man. Even when I use the ability to confirm information, it says he genuinely wants to help.

However, it seems there might be other reasons.

- Don't put too much faith in the power of information confirmation.

Even if it's a power derived from the divine, it can't be perfect.

* * *

- Why didn't you stay there and treat them?

"Staying there wouldn't have helped at all."

At my cool response, Perserk tilted his head.

Indeed, there are patients, and I know their illness.

However, I left them without hesitation, which must have puzzled her.

- And you only brought back some strange fluid.

"This is the key point."

I smiled wryly while gently shaking the liquid in the test tube.

"You said it was a virus. We can treat it immediately by directly cutting into the body and removing the source of the disease."

- Then if you do that...

"The chances are fifty-fifty, either you survive or you die on the spot. Acupuncture can help to some extent, but only in other cases."

Such an extreme choice is not right for now.

"At least, if the disease control team is doing their best to contain the dying people, we need to use this time to create something."

What I intend to do is simple.

An antiviral.

In other words, creating an antibody for the virus.

This is a disease that doesn't exist in this world.

It's not a virus that can be naturally cured by the human body.

So, this is the only way to create a drug.

The god Hypocrisy, who treated this disease, also had to witness many sacrifices during the process of creating the antibody.

A severe disease has a very difficult process until a treatment is developed.

The history of medicine, in short, is stained with blood.

Therefore, a doctor must understand the weight of life during their training.

Even though I haven't seen the blood-stained history firsthand, I can feel its weight.

- An antibody...

"The human body secretes a substance to expel harmful substances. And it creates an antibody by remembering the information of the substance it once blocked."

She nodded, understanding my meaning.

Antigen and antibody. The human body is truly mysterious.

"It's a common story in medicine, isn't it?"

The disease control team must have tried various methods to create an antibody.

Of course, their attempts to create an antibody in a way that goes beyond common sense didn't succeed.

- But... how do you plan to create an antibody with just that?

At her words, I, who had been silently looking at the test tube, raised my head.

"If you're here, come in. Stop being so cautious."

Clearly, only I and Perserk, floating in the air, were inside, but the words I just said were directed at someone else.

Swoosh...

And, as if my words were a signal, the air changed.

The empty space that was just a moment ago began to distort, and the shape of someone slowly appeared.

"..."

He looked at me with a strangely surprised face, still wearing a black uniform and a mask that only revealed his eyes, but it wasn't hard to guess his expression.

Eyes can reveal half of one's expression.

This time, he seemed to have hidden himself with some tension, but as an assassin, my depth is at least twice as much.

A thousand years is almost an impossible realm for most beings.

Even the heroes who didn't reach the end of the corridor were shown the end because of time.

"You found me again."

"I can see you, so I find you."

"That's... what you mean..."

"Exactly."

You have to read the situation and act accordingly.

My physical body doesn't have much accumulated karma, but my inner self is different.

Interrupting my words, he gave me a sharp look, as if to say, "What kind of guy are you?"

Then he slowly approached.

"Here is the information you were looking for."

"Thanks. Still thinking about payment?"

"Not yet. And, please take this."

Jack, calmly handing me a capsule containing two types of documents, whose real name is Aina Helisha, a dark elf.

"What is this?"

"I thought you might need this information."

"Doing charity like this, you might get cut."

"It doesn't matter. I'll settle everything."

It seems it wasn't the intention of the giant information guild, Echo.

Since it was given, I took it and started reading the documents, narrowing my eyes.

"Hmm... Is this information reliable?"

At my question, he quietly nodded. For an information provider, credibility is life. There should be no lies.

"Then it's settled. Sorry, but I have one more favor to ask."

At my words, he quietly nodded.

"I need to buy a large quantity of the items listed here. The payment... charge it to the Central Disease Control Team."

"Is that acceptable?"

"Since they know there's a disease control team here, what's the problem? Say it was ordered by Baron Gorneo. I need it as soon as possible. The more time passes, the more people will die."

"That's... true."

"Even if you belong to the dark underworld, where human lives are cheap, you're not a psychopath who enjoys seeing healthy people die. Think of it as doing a good deed and move as quickly as possible."

At my words, he tilted his head in puzzlement but understood that it would be mutually beneficial.

"The quantity of herbs should be at least one cart per item. I think it will be more accurate and faster to get them than entrusting them to mercenaries."

"Try to get them as soon as possible..."

After a brief bow, he disappeared. I silently shook the test tube in my hand.

* * *

As soon as it was light, I headed to the headquarters where the disease control team's doctors and managers were holding a meeting.

Originally, the knights should have blocked my entry, but they didn't, as if they had received some instructions.

"Ah! You're here, Prince David."

"Thank you for your hard work."

At my words, Baron Lington laughed.

"Hehe, what hard work? On the contrary, you did all the hard work, Prince David."

"Hmm..."

"I heard you saved a patient in a critical condition at the treatment center the other day."

"It happened unintentionally."

"Ha-ha-ha! I was really surprised. I didn't know Prince David had such expertise in medicine."

"I can't boast about it."

At my words, he shook his head vigorously.

"How can you not boast! The method Prince David used yesterday was new and bold to all of us. Isn't that right, Baron Gorneo?"

"..."

At Lington's words, Baron Gorneo bowed his head in silence.

"I appreciate your help the other day. However..."

"Let's stop the formalities."

Interrupting him, I looked at Lington.

"I appreciate your efforts to prevent the situation from worsening. It was a great help."

At my words, Lington waved his hand.

"It's a given."

"However, I can't afford to waste time, even though I don't doubt your abilities."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I will treat the patients. So, please transfer the authority to participate in the treatment activities to me."

Bam!!

At my words, Baron Gorneo jumped up from his seat.

"No way!"

"No way?"

"Does this situation look like a joke to you! If you hand it over to someone else, even for 5 or 6 days, do you think they will be fine?!"

His outburst made my eyes narrow.

"Do you know that if that patient had been 2-3 minutes late, they would have died?"

At my question, he flinched.

Normally, I would use a mix of carrot and stick, but there's no time or room for that in the current situation.

We need to start treating as soon as possible.

"Let me ask again. Do you have a way to treat this disease?"

"Th-then! Are you saying, Prince, that you have a way to treat it?!"

"Even if there's just a possibility, you should seize it."

"..."

"I'm not here to fight over a bowl of rice with you. This is the territory of my kingdom, and this is the territory of my younger sister."

Seeing him clench his trembling fists and glare at me, the atmosphere around us became extremely hostile.

"Is it not okay?"

However, Lington, seemingly unconcerned with the atmosphere, calmly wiped his cold sweat and adjusted his glasses, which accentuated his sharp eyes.

"Baron Lington!"

"We need to face reality. The outbreak of the Devil's Blood in the Ordem territory hasn't been long. Fortunately, the response was quick, so not all the people in the territory were infected. However..."

Trailing off, he quietly asked.