The Guardian gods-Chapter 241

As they stood there, enveloped in their shared grief, Jonas returned Informing him of the gathered council members. Erik released his wife, his face a mask of resolve as he walked out of the office with Jonas.

Getting to the palace room, Erik sat down "let me first start by apologizing of my absence on the court, the last time we left off was when we learnt of the possible danger in our home"

"I am sure you all have noticed, a few missing members are not available. This is only because of two things which is, they have been killed Under Silas attack or because we recently learned of them being compromised".

Seeing the court surprised faces, Erik spoke to make it clearer "They weren’t comprised willingly, a lot of them don’t even know they are comprised and has become Silas puppet"

"For the past month, I have been looking for a way to solve our current problem and I finally did after a few sleepless night with my son"

Erik paused, letting his words sink in. The council members looked at each other, a mix of shock and concern etched on their faces. He could see the worry in their eyes, the dawning realization of the gravity of the situation.

"I understand this is difficult to accept," Erik continued, his voice steady. "But we must face this reality head-on. The parasites have infiltrated our ranks, and we have no choice but to take drastic measures to protect our kingdom."

One of the council members, a middle-aged woman with a determined expression, stood up. "Your Majesty, what exactly is the plan? How do we root out those compromised, without causing panic or harm to the innocents?"

Erik nodded, appreciating her directness. "We have developed a series of magical sensors that can detect the unique energy signature of the parasite. These sensors have been strategically placed throughout the kingdom. When activated, they will reveal the locations of the infected."

A murmur of apprehension spread through the room. Erik raised a hand to silence it. "I know this sounds invasive, but it’s the only way to ensure our safety. Once we identify the infected, we will isolate them to prevent further spread. Our priority is to protect those who are still free from the parasite."

Another council member, an elderly man with a long white beard, leaned forward. "And what of the infected, Your Majesty? What will become of them?"

Erik took a deep breath. This was the hardest part. "The parasite is so deeply integrated into its hosts that removal or destruction of the parasite would result in the death of the host. We are working tirelessly to find a way to neutralize the parasite without harming those it has infected, but as of now, we have not found a viable solution."

The room fell into a heavy silence. Erik could see the pain and fear in their eyes, reflecting his own inner turmoil. "I do not make these decisions lightly," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "But we must do what is necessary to protect our kingdom and our people."

The woman who had spoken earlier stood again, her expression resolute. "We trust in your leadership, Your Majesty. We will do whatever it takes to protect our home."

One young member spoke up "Can we see the affected area?" ERik nodded as he waved his hand, and a huge hologram appeared in the courtroom.

"By the gods," the young man whispered, his voice filled with horror. "There are so many."

The room fell into a stunned silence as the council members stared at the hologram, the red pings spreading across the map like a plague. Erik allowed them a moment to absorb the gravity of the situation before addressing them again.

"Now that we understand the scope of the infestation," Erik began, his voice steady, "we need to discuss how we can isolate those who are compromised without alerting Silas or causing mass panic."

The elderly man with the white beard, whose name was Lord Greystone, spoke up first. "Your Majesty, we could use routine health checks as a cover. We’ve done them before to prevent the spread of disease. It wouldn’t be suspicious if we initiated them again."

Erik nodded thoughtfully. "A good suggestion, Lord Greystone. We can use the pretext of a new health protocol to begin identifying the infected. But we need to ensure that our methods are discreet and that the results are communicated securely."

Lady Althea, the woman who had spoken earlier, added, "We should also consider the logistics of quarantine. If we suddenly start isolating people without a clear reason, it will raise suspicion. We need a cover story, perhaps an outbreak of a rare illness that requires immediate isolation and treatment."

"Yes," Erik agreed. "We can use the story of a rare, non-lethal illness that requires quarantine to prevent it from spreading. This way, we can isolate the infected without causing alarm. However, we must ensure that the quarantined areas are secure and monitored closely."

Jonas spoke up "Not to alarm anyone or demean the solution brought up, but will our people believe and listen to our words right now when it matters"

"We haven’t been competent in our leadership for the past month, they all have question running through their mind that needs to be answered by us, question we can’t really answer right now because of the situation"

"While the solution brought by lord Greystone and lady Althea sounds good, I find it hardly applicable because of our current relationship with our people" Jonas said as he slightly bowed his head to show his respect. freёwebnoѵel.com

The council fell silent, the weight of Jonas’s words settling over them. Erik looked at his son, appreciating his honesty and insight. He knew Jonas was right; their relationship with the people had been strained, and any drastic action might be met with suspicion and resistance.

Erik took a deep breath and addressed the council. "Jonas brings up a valid point. Our people need to trust us if we are to implement such measures. We must rebuild that trust quickly and effectively."

Lord Greystone nodded slowly. "Indeed, Your Majesty. Perhaps we should consider a more transparent approach, one that includes the people’s cooperation rather than imposing measures upon them."

Lady Althea added, "We could start by holding public forums, explaining the situation to the extent that we can without revealing the true nature of the threat. If the people feel they are part of the solution, they might be more willing to cooperate."

Erik nodded. "Transparency and inclusion. We need to involve community leaders in these discussions. They hold sway over their respective communities and can help us spread the word and maintain order."

Jonas spoke again, his voice steady. "We could also use this opportunity to demonstrate our competence and dedication. If we show the people that we are taking decisive action to protect them, it might help restore their faith in our leadership."

Lady Althea suggested, "We could organize a series of public health initiatives, starting with a kingdom-wide health check campaign. This would not only serve our purpose of identifying the infected but also show that we are committed to the well-being of our citizens."

Erik turned to Sir Roland, the seasoned warrior. "Sir Roland, we will need increased security to manage these public gatherings and ensure they proceed smoothly without causing undue alarm. Can your men handle this?"

Sir Roland nodded. "Absolutely, Your Majesty. We can deploy discreet security teams to maintain order and protect both the public and the healers."

Erik addressed the entire council. "We must also prepare for the possibility that Silas will try to disrupt our efforts. We need to strengthen our intelligence network to monitor any signs of interference and be ready to respond swiftly."

Lord Greystone leaned forward. "And what of the infected who are identified during these health checks? How do we isolate them without causing panic or alerting Silas?"

Erik paused, thinking carefully. "We will need to establish quarantine zones under the guise of specialized treatment centres. These centres must be secure and equipped to handle the infected without revealing their true condition. We will also need to develop a communication strategy to reassure the families of those quarantined."

Lady Althea spoke up "Is communication between us and the family of those infected really needed in such a situation. No matter how we try to sugar coat what we plan on doing, it does not change the fact that we are planning to kill all those quarantined. Communication with family members will sure make this harder to do"

"I believe we should instead start thinking about how to break the news to the people that those quarantined aren’t going to make it" Lady Althea said, looking around the palace room.

Erik felt a heaviness settle in his chest at Lady Althea’s words. The stark reality of their situation weighed on everyone present. He knew that honesty and transparency were crucial, but the brutal truth could lead to chaos and despair.

"You bring up a valid point, Lady Althea," Erik acknowledged. "However, I believe we need to balance transparency with hope. We cannot allow panic to spread uncontrollably. Our people need to believe that we are doing everything in our power to save their loved ones, even if the reality is grim."