Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks-Chapter 360 - 49: Source of the Plague

Crown Prince Henry returned to the city, intending to seek an audience with the Empress, but found that a well-trained Varangian Guard was marching in orderly steps to the city gate ahead.

"Her Majesty orders that the city gates be closed immediately, and no one is to enter or leave."

Looking at the imposing Count commanding them, Crown Prince Henry paused: "It seems we don’t need to do anything more, Her Majesty the Empress’s news is more timely than ours."

A knight with a full beard looked somewhat pale: "Your Highness, is there really going to be a plague?"

Crown Prince Henry laughed bitterly: "If it weren’t true, why would this Barcelona order the city gates closed?"

Fear involuntarily appeared on the faces of the knights.

When a plague strikes, no matter how brave and skilled the knights are, they will only become pitiful creatures lying on beds, withering away step by step.

Crown Prince Henry furrowed his brows: "Are you scared already? Isn’t it just a plague? You are all warriors who have drunk Wolf Blood Potion, are you less brave than a woman?"

As he spoke, he pointed to the back of a woman riding on horseback, heading towards the city without turning back.

"She is now rushing to protect her lord whom she serves. I now ask you, half of you immediately escort me back to the embassy, Knight Roland, take the other half to buy grain and cured meat in the market, for we might have quite a time ahead."

Awakened as if from a dream, the knights began kissing the Crown Prince’s fingers, repenting for their shaken resolve.

...

Brahna Palace.

The Empress looked at the renowned doctors "invited" by her subordinates, instinctively furrowing her brow.

The Eastern Empire did not have a Court Physician position; the members of the Imperial Family, if afflicted with disease, were treated by Anna and her apprentices.

Under such close exposure, the Empress had learned quite a bit of "medical knowledge."

Thus, when she heard the strange remedies from these renowned doctors, each trying to hint at her rewarding them with gold and gems, her face naturally became somewhat displeased.

Only to hear an elderly physician, with wrinkles across his face, speak: "Your Majesty, I have an amulet here that can ward off the plague—made from hazelnuts drilled and injected with mercury."

Seeing the Empress’s frown, he hurriedly added: "Besides this amulet, I also found a precious remedy in an ancient book, simply grind Dragon’s Tooth grass, tuber of arum, peony root, and turquoise into powder and ingest it to cure the plague."

The Empress finally spoke: "But my court wizard told me mercury is highly poisonous."

"No, absolutely not, Your Majesty, please trust me. I swear many have been cured by me; they are my witnesses, and I can bring them here to testify for me!"

The elderly physician shouted maniacally.

Empress Ragaya furrowed her brow: "Theseus, let these physicians try their remedies on themselves first. If they are still alive, then send these charlatans trying to deceive me to the gallows."

The court dressmaker named Theseus struggled to open his sinister little eyes, his voice cruel.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Ragaya watched as this trusted eunuch departed, sighing lightly.

Her usually dignified face showed a rare hint of weakness: "Has Heavenly Father truly stopped looking after the Empire? I just barely glimpsed the possibility of revitalizing the Empire, only to follow in Justinian’s footsteps?"

"Anna, Empire, this time we rely on you."

She lay somewhat helplessly on her throne, gazing bewilderedly at the shrines across the grand hall.

...

Losa drew the searing longsword in his hand, as though just taken from the forge, and thrust it into the chest of a Fear Demon sneaking up from behind—a sudden appearance, wailing immediately.

These demon creatures resemble upright black mountain goats, with capabilities to dwell within shadows.

Unless they choose to reveal themselves, they are virtually invincible.

This is likely why they haven’t been swallowed by swarming, seemingly endless hordes of rats.

"No injuries, right?"

Losa looked at Eve.

This disheveled witch accompanying him and Anna had been quite helpful, effectively illustrating the saying "never judge a book by its cover." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"No... no."

Eve shook her head, her blue eyes peeking from tangled hair at Losa, only to quickly withdraw.

They had still not found Li Yena.

The ground ravaged by the rat horde showed chaotic claw marks and dripping pus everywhere.

This made effective tracking methods nearly impossible for their group.

Moreover, finding Li Yena was not their primary objective.

Stopping this catastrophe was.

Anna casually tossed away an empty bottle, which contained the same "Blue Moon" Potion Losa drank, used for restoring Spiritual Power.

This indicated Anna almost depleted her Spiritual Power as well.

They faced far too many rat hordes—the deeper they moved, the denser it became.

Though Anna excelled in Swordsmanship, it proved unsuitable against such enemies like rat hordes.

Moreover, destructive magic of large scale requires substantial Magic Power.

Anna suddenly halted, faced with a sewage river,

"I sensed a trace of Magic Power. Eve, what do you think?"

Eve said quietly, a whisper like the tiniest of buzzes: "Perhaps it is a Sensing Array."

"Whatever it is, this further proves these rats are being controlled by someone behind the scenes."

Anna surveyed the surroundings.

Losa also tried utilizing Spiritual Vision, discovering faint traces of Magic Spiritual Light surrounding the foreground walls and corners.

"We have no choice, let’s keep going."

The group passed through the array without noticing anything unusual.

Soon enough, familiar rustling sounds echoed from ahead, a noise they were quite accustomed to.

"Restore your Spiritual Power first, it’s my turn now."

Losa moved in front of Anna, the red gem on the Cross Sword hilt suddenly shone brightly.

The cross sword in his hand banged, transforming into a blazing torch, illuminating the ground before him, slick with translucent pus.

Losa opened his mouth, abruptly spewing searing Dragon Breath.

The Dragon Core Treasure within the cross sword radiated brilliantly, the Power stored within it originating from Losa, like a tide surging into his body.

The squealing cries quickly subsided.

Losa gazed at the still lingering flames in the corridor, speaking softly: "Let’s continue."

Anna inquired: "How much Spiritual Power did you just expend?"

Losa shook his head: "Not much, the Dragon Core Treasure stored enough Power for one Half-Dragon Transformation of Dragon Breath, plus it mobilized extra Magic Power on my behalf, consuming only about one-fifth."

This time executing Dragon Breath was not prolonged.

If the rat horde was larger, the expenditure would not have been as minimal.

His Blue Bar was still somewhat shortened.

"At least."

After clearing this wave of rats, they proceeded much further without encountering new hordes.

Until reaching the depths of the narrow passage.

Here stood a spacious stone chamber.

Clear spring water flowed from a cave at the top, forming a pond in the center of the chamber.

Compared to outside, this place was extraordinarily clean.

The eyes beheld no filth, nor any pus seen before, dripping from rats everywhere.

A beautifully naked woman, with eyes closed, suspended above the pond.

Upon hearing movement.

The woman slowly opened her eyes: "You have arrived."

"Did you create those rats?"

Anna’s voice brimmed with anger.

"I did."

The woman’s lips curved slightly, as though delightedly caught in her proudest act.

"What exactly do you want to do?"

The woman smiled: "I want to conduct an experiment."

"Experiment what?"

"Experiment how many can survive such a severe plague."

Anna’s inner fury deepened: "Are you mad?"

The woman shook her head, pointing to her mind, a faint smile on her immaculate face.

"I am quite lucid, Anna of the Levant Wizard Association."