Extraordinary Voyage-Chapter 855 - 733: Milan Returns
Along with the complete eradication of the [Crawler] by Aiven, and the guidance of the duchy's administrative staff, the regional tumult caused by the reckless release of hormones has gradually subsided.
However, the mastermind hiding in the shadows is evidently experienced in stealth and ruthless in their methods, with even more sinister plans awaiting the national managers who have just passed the first hurdle.
In the White Swan Castle, entering its second phase of expansion according to royal specifications, the "Between the Thrones" is being urgently remodeled.
Hawkins, representing the duchy government, is reporting the current situation in the territory:
"Your Majesty, this time the cholera epidemic area is much larger than the initial range of the slave riot. Not only the Broken Star Sea Coast Zone but even the nearest East Coast Far Sails Territory has reported cases.
Although we discovered it promptly, the death toll in three days has already reached 342 people.
Apprentices have detected the relevant strains in the main water sources of large residential areas, while sparsely populated areas have none at all. This is undoubtedly a deliberate poisoning incident..."
Aiven, wearing a gold crown and dressed in formal attire, sits on the throne. Beside him is Olivia in a magnificent court dress and wearing a platinum crown.
Aiven has created three [Eternal Shells], indistinguishable in appearance and strength, remotely controlled through the Life Magnetic Field to stabilize spirits across various regions.
One resides at Beckler St. James's Palace on the kingdom mainland, another at the White Swan Castle in Saint Aiven City on the East Coast, and a third at Huarez on the West Coast, while the real body possesses full strength and is firefighting all over.
The current reality of dividing himself into four functions is a portrayal of his true situation, and the subjects and nationals, witnessing this almost god-like ability, increasingly revere him.
Even though they know a hostile Tier 4 enemy likely lurks in the shadows, there is no panic; they invest utmost confidence in their ruler.
Having listened to Hawkins' report, Aiven nodded and turned to the duchy's professional medical personnel on the other side:
"Dr. Taylor, have we made out our latest medical plan?"
Even within the entire scope of the Material World, few surpass Aiven in the biological sciences field. He is, of course, deeply knowledgeable about cholera, a common infectious disease.
It is a severe intestinal infectious disease caused by the "cholera bacillus," with rapid onset and transmission.
It primarily spreads through contaminated water and food, with patients and carriers being the main sources of infection. The "cholera bacillus" reaches the intestine via the stomach, proliferates abundantly in the small intestine, producing cholera toxin and triggering the disease.
Symptoms include severe diarrhea, vomiting, and consequent dehydration, muscle cramps; critically ill patients may also suffer from circulatory failure and acute renal failure.
If untreated promptly, critically ill patients can die within 12-24 hours, with a death rate possibly as high as 60%.
A widespread epidemic is a comprehensive test of a state's overall capability, where improper response may lead to total collapse, especially with strong enemies watching attentively.
Fortunately, although the epidemic is fierce throughout the duchy, Aiven is no longer in the solitary state as when battling the "Poison Plague School's" spread of the "Super Cystic Fungus."
"Chief Sir, cholera is not a novel ailment; Gods and their Beloved rely on inherent powers, which must conform to established development rules for affecting pathogens, making it easier to handle than the new pathogens developed by the 'Poison Plague School' back then.
Using the broad-spectrum oral antiseptic agent developed by Sekhmet Biomedical Company, along with appropriate rehydration, effectively treats this infectious disease. I assure you from today, the patient mortality rate will fall below 1%."
Saying this, Taylor handed Aiven a prescription personally formulated by him.
The "Oral Rehydration Salt Formula" consists of 3.5 grams of salt, 2.5 grams of baking soda, and 20 grams of glucose, diluted in 1000 milliliters of water. In the Golden Sea region, coconut juice can also be used as a substitute.
Although coconut trees only bear fruit in the warmest times of the year, they bear fruit all year round; finding plenty along the coast is easy.
Moreover, the core water sources must be purified, citizens should be instructed to wash hands diligently, maintain hygiene, avoid uncooked food and water, and keep raw and cooked foods separate.
This treatment scheme not only exhibits professionalism but also considers the actual conditions of affected areas, earning commendation.
"Very well, notify all local medical systems to execute accordingly."
At this moment, Kael and Angie stepped forward:
"Teacher, our oral cholera vaccine has been formulated, and post-oral administration guarantees protection for six months. Furthermore, through simple preparation by a bio-factory, we can ensure most people are vaccinated in the shortest time possible."
As the main research leader of the vaccine project, Kael, the most powerful in the School besides Aiven, Angie, Dr. Taylor, Master of Magic Potions Leon, three Peak Official Wizards from the "Mechanical Immortality School" are strong and promising. They live up to expectations.
With long-proposed basic vaccine theory guidance, they quickly presented a second result besides the smallpox vaccine.
By continuously culturing "cholera bacillus" at 39°C in the air, a attenuated live vaccine can be made. This, combined with recombinant cholera toxin and inactivated cholera bacillus body, forms the "oral cholera vaccine," with 90% effectiveness.
The project team worked tirelessly day and night, completing the entirety of the vaccine's finalization to mass preparation production plan in just three days, relying on witchcraft.
Armed with these tools, the group finally let out a huge sigh of relief. Regardless of cholera's rampage, its hazards are within controllable bounds.
Aiven was relatively satisfied with their work and connected with his ship spirit controlling the [Crown of Miracles]:
"Time is of the essence, commence execution immediately! Mei, open the teleportation channel."
Instantly, a large number of light butterflies whirled within "Between the Thrones," and stepping back as the ministers and students bowed, they vanished into the emerald light river.
For a country with a land area of ten million square kilometers, a large-scale plague like this is an incredibly daunting challenge.
A strong government, an effective medical system, sufficient material supplies, and highly conscious citizens are all vital assurances.
However, the Galliot Duchy has a Mind Network that spans the entire territory, possesses the most advanced medical system among the civilized countries of this world, has Dream Cruise for instant deployment of military and medical resources, and has a highly mobile Sky Knight Team...
Handling it is relatively calm, and after coming up with a solution, Aiven felt half his worries ease.
The only regret he had was that today marked the seventh day since the slave uprising, and whether or not those who were parasitized could be saved was becoming increasingly unlikely. The Tier 2 Crawlers had been completely wiped out, Tier 3 had not appeared, leaving at least Tier 4 beings.
Dr. Taylor knew the organization under the Rotting Fly God's banner, the Evangelical Sect, best and believed that the presence behind it was likely the core beloved of the Evil God Rotting Fly God—a Tier 4 Named Demon, the Corrupt Odorous Crawler.
This being excels at manipulating the human heart, controlling human desires, greed, love, and even benevolence. With its abilities, toppling a small country in a short time is not a problem, and it can even make it seem like a natural disaster or misfortune, making people unaware of its manipulation.
Even with the strict monitoring of the Mind Network, it could silently introduce sources of infection into the water supplies of major cities across the Duchy. This is not something a group of holy professionals under the Rotting Fly God FLY could have accomplished during Liweina's coronation.
But a Tier 4 high-level existence far exceeds the response limits of Leonara's innate magic-like techniques. Even with all the talent in the world, catching its tail without resources is like a clever housewife unable to cook without rice.
Seeing Aiven's agitation, Olivia gently held his hand and reassured him:
"I'll try to contact Apsuya later, to find out what's going on—it's been nearly a year since they left."
"Milan, that guy, really falters at critical moments. He always hems and haws every time I ask when he's coming back, even though I was thinking of granting him a good court title after the Duchy's founding.
He's had the Echoes of Space-Time for almost two years now. Surely he's not as clueless as in the past, unable to foresee such a big event? What a huge embarrassment, it's time to leave the group."
Just as Aiven was speaking, a sudden feeling stirred in his heart, and he looked toward the door between the thrones. The spatial perception ability of the Bloodline Plugin: Cosmic Dragon within him sensed a slight anomaly there.
Then, a sneaky voice sounded at the door:
"Hehe, I think I heard someone mentioning me, saying something about making me an Earl."
Bang—
The gold-embedded mahogany door slowly opened, and a man and a woman holding hands walked in. Wasn't it just Milan and Apsuya, who had been the topic of conversation?
Aiven, too, took Olivia's hand as he descended from the throne. Reuniting with his long-unseen close friend, he was about to embrace him in welcome, only for his gaze to freeze upon Apsuya, who was wearing a pure cotton lace-edged long dress beside him.
This Tier 2 Peak Transcendent's limbs remained thin and strong, yet her loose dress couldn't hide the noticeably protruding belly.
Though there was still a substantial problem unresolved, seeing this scene after the initial surprise couldn't help but bring a wide smile to his face: "No wonder you've been stammering in your communications! So... hahaha, congratulations! Congratulations!"
Then he went forward to give him a strong hug, sincerely saying, "Man, you're impressive, so efficient!"
Milan, feeling proud, accepted the praise without modesty:
"As your good brother for so many years, I ought to outdo you in something, don't I? Heheh..."
Apsuya blushed lightly, gave Milan a gentle punch from behind, before Olivia, who also felt happy for them, pulled her away, leaving the two men between the thrones.
After they left, Aiven, with a mischievous blink, nudged Milan with his elbow:
"Well then, on your way back, the Vice Admiral didn't trouble you, did he?"
"How could he? This is his first grandchild after all!"
Receiving the Vice Admiral's message some time ago, Milan didn't rush straight home. Instead, he took Apsuya on a tour of the Old Continent Countries and even paid a visit to the Prophetic School.
After inheriting the Clock Tower School's legacy and with the Space Jumpboard at his command, he's in no way inferior to Aiven's King's Rook Castle.
And so, as they kept delaying... it ended up like this.
Vice Admiral Snite himself was an ordinary person, with three children. Milan's elder brother had reached the cusp of becoming a Peak Official Knight, yet had no children after years of marriage. His sister had not married yet.
The child in Apsuya's womb was the third-generation's sole offspring of the Snite family, earning them immediate glory. Although destined to be a Mastizo of mixed blood, Apsuya received supreme love from the Snite family.
However.
Considering returning to the New Continent after birth, the child would be too young, making both travel by ship or Space Jumpboard quite unsafe. They could only return when Apsuya was about five months into her stable second trimester.
At least, in Aiven's territory on the New Continent, the societal environment is far more welcoming to a mixed-blood child than on the mainland.
"We've already registered with the Kingdom's department of household management. My father will soon personally come to discuss wedding details with Chief Hakaruto. Since you and Olivia have been engaged for years, perhaps you'll want to join in the festivities?"
Hearing this, Aiven's eyes... immediately lit up.
