Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress-Chapter 708: Viral Plant Disease

"Yes, but it’s better to be careful. And maybe, we should begin preparing for it now. What if we end up suffering the same losses from back then? It would be terrible," Arabella countered.

"Right... It was too late when we heard about it. It had already caused too much damage. Still, it was better we heard about it before the diseases spread all over the empire. Me and most of my companions were busy eradicating monsters back then so we could not return immediately to help. The researchers from the Department of Agriculture succeeded in discovering how to manage the disease though so we did not have to interfere."

Alwin also recollected it since it was something he counted as a failure on his part since he was not able to go immediately.

If he and the other mages had been there, they could have succeeded in immediately stopping further losses by preventing the disease from further spreading to the neighboring territories.

"Yes. Ivan was my assistant back then and he volunteered to be my representative and went with the Department of Agriculture researchers who headed to help during those times. When he returned, he said he contributed a bit to the research. He is an experienced agricultural researcher in Cordelia so he might be able to help this time as well."

If Ivan could help, then Arabella was more than willing to send him where he would be most useful. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

After all, if Ivan successfully contributes something, it would help boost his confidence and likewise help prove his worth to the people around them so they would stop looking down on him because he was a commoner.

’This might be his chance to shine. I should send him there. Any help he could do would be great,’ Arabella was quick to grab the opportunity.

Likewise, it was better to find something against the disease as soon as possible before it spreads even further. It was better to minimize the losses and prevent more territories from suffering from it.

Further, any territory in Valeria suffering would create haters to the throne. Once they gather up, it could end up in a rebellion like in their past life.

’How many territories were afflicted back then’

"Can you show me a map of Valeria?" Arabella said when she recalled the ones she had heard from the reports.

[Did she recall something else? I was busy back then so I could not help much. Thus, what I recall from it was limited. It was the others who were sent there to assist His Majesty.]

Alwin obediently showed a map of Valeria to Arabella.

Arabella gulped nervously as she looked. She checked the territories in the map and realized something.

"Alwin, the disease in our past life, didn’t it begin from the same direction as Sibruh?"

"What?" Alwin glanced at the map. Before Arabella could reply, he realized why she was tense. "All the territories that suffered the most from the disease were the ones nearest to Sibruh!"

"Exactly. I recall from the reports that a lot of these territories close to Sibruh suffered the worst from the disease. Rather, Sibruh was even included in the list of the territories that suffered the most from the disease. Marquess Sibruh did not report what happened in his territory so he may have never admitted it. What if it was the same disease but did not spread quickly due to the winter? I recall Ivan reporting such but they could not find where it began exactly since no household admitted it. Moreover, several winters had passed so any evidence was gone," Arabella pointed out what she could recall from Ivan’s report in her past life.

"Hmm, that is indeed plausible," Alwin seriously pondered over it.

[If this was indeed the same disease, we have to prevent it from spreading at all cost. Should I go there myself to ensure everything is taken care of? His Majesty is already there though. He wanted to oversee it himself.]

"Ivan said that the disease was transmitted from pests. There was a certain pest that was mostly the carrier and was the one that spread it widely. They either lay eggs and hibernate or in winter. But they may also transfer to other locations that still have greenery. And as they feed, they spread the disease," Arabella added.

"That is indeed how plant diseases could be transmitted from one territory to another. At this rate, even messenger birds could be carriers if. Winter is nigh so migratory birds move to territories that could provide food for them. Other animals and insects do as well. It would be difficult to find the carriers since it could be all of them," Alwin shook his head.

Alarm was also written all over his face as he thought of the possibilities.

[They did report it was because time had passed that they could not identify the exact location where the disease began. None of the territories were willing to admit it came from them first since they knew it would result in a lot of hate and fury from other territories that got dragged into the mess because they did not deal with it immediately when it first happened. Could the two diseases really be related? Or is this another disease entirely?]

"Wait! Didn’t Sibruh also send us fruits and vegetables as gifts?! I heard flies and other insects have such small eggs they could lay it without getting noticed. What if it was already contaminated?!"

Arabella was wide-eyed when she realized she had some of Sibruh’s produce in her storage room.

If the produce Sibruh had brought to Riva was already contaminated or had the pests that ruined some of the crops and harvest there, then Riva might suffer from the same.

No. It might suffer from the same pest and diseases soon. After all, each ruling household usually gifted to the others who attended the Winter Preparation Court Sessions.

Moreover, if Sibruh sold some of their produce when they arrived, it may have already been sold out and distributed all over the city.

Riva might suffer from it soon if they do not prevent it! But how would they?