Chapter 258 - 0258: Plague (Congratulations to reader 120226104604296, the Alliance Leader!)
Chapter 258: Plague (Congratulations to reader 120226104604296, the Alliance Leader!)
Translator: 549690339
Hua Nuo Town.
Su Lu is disguised as Howard, preparing to end this act of drama. At least he needs to give Howard a sudden reason to leave. He checks his surroundings one last time, altering the memories of anyone who seems strange.
‘This is the self-cultivation of an actor.’
Su Lu sarcastically thought to himself.
He pushed open the door to a room, handing his coat to a maid. He then saw the merchant’s wife – Rose. She greeted him with a smile, “Little Howard, welcome home.”
In her and her husband’s impression, Howard was a rich relative’s son, someone they had to work hard to please.
“Indeed.”
Su Lu smiled, ready to explain his reason for leaving.
At this moment, he heard Rose complaining, “Someone came by today, said he was a doctor, accompanied by people from the town hall. They said they were conducting a census on outsiders in our town, how strange… ”
She sat sluggishly on the sofa, petting a snow-white cat.
“Oh? Why?”
Su Lu subtly shifted his stance and casually asked.
“They said… there’s been a plague outbreak in several cities… They don’t want it to spread.” Rose’s fingers gently stroked the silky feline fur, causing the white cat in her arms to purr contentedly. “I think… they are the real source of the infection, huh! The attitude of these city folks, it stinks just like a manger… ”
‘Madam…were you severely despised by high society, is that why you’re so traumatized?’
Su Lu felt that he could completely qualify as a psychologist.
However, at this time, he was feeling a bit excited.
‘The Black Death Society really was lured here… the bait worked!’
‘Hua Nuo Town is very small. There’s only one inn that can accommodate lodgers, they must be staying there…’
Su Lu’s eyes shimmered slightly, knowing that he likely had a lead on the Black Death Society.
Of course, this might be a trap.
The other party may be trying to lure him out by sacrificing some peripheral members!
“So then…”
He took the white porcelain teacup filled with fragrant black tea from the maid, he refused her suggestion to add sugar, and continued asking.
“…Afterwards, I certainly sent them away… How could you, as healthy as you are, possibly get involved with the plague?”
Mrs. Rose responded without any reservation, then asked a bit anxiously, “Did the West Coast really have a plague outbreak?”
It was obvious that she was very fearful about this.
“I think… it’s unlikely…”
Although Su Lu said this, he wasn’t sure in his heart.
After all, the other party is the Black Death Society, an organization that worships death and the moon, and enjoys spreading plagues!
He didn’t say much more, changing his plan to make an excuse to leave. He stayed and shared a lavish dinner with Mrs. Rose and her husband.
Late at night.
A shadow darted out the window, it moved through Hua Nuo Town. In no time, it arrived outside the only shabby and dilapidated inn in the town center.
“Mental Observation!”
His soul enters a trance, all nearby structures dissolve into nothingness, all intelligent life forms reveal themselves in special mental secret realm forms.
“Sure enough… there are professionals in the inn, but their ranks are not high. Are they the bait?”
Su Lu sneered internally.
At the moment, their target is still Su Lu Pottery, and they don’t know that he possesses the ability to shape-shift, enabling him to stay hidden until the time is right.
After thinking for a while, he decided not to rashly enter the mental secret realms of these men, and slowly retreated instead.
“At least… I’m confident that they’re probably related to the Black Death Society!”
“If I rashly invade their minds, who knows what might happen… after all, they also worship an evil presence who seemingly masters the ‘Moon’ and ‘Death’…”
Two days later, a small cabin in the woods.
Rod returned, throwing a pile of documents on the wooden table, “I used the church’s connections to get the names of these people… but their backgrounds are all clean.”
“How has the West Coast been recently?”
Su Lu asked, “I think the Black Death Society might make a big move.”
Rod, having access to the church’s channels, had more reliable information than the “Federal Daily”, “West Coast Industrial News”, or “Business News”, and he could uncover more secrets.
“The West Coast… only Lore City’s church requested support once. They said that some kind of terrible beast had appeared, but nothing since then, it’s been quiet.”
Rod considered for a moment, confidently stating, “There are rumors of epidemics at some ports… but that’s normal, mostly trivial matters, easily quenched. The death toll is also minimal…”
In the age of sailing, ports often have a diverse and international crowd, making epidemics common. Furthermore, in this world, not only is there medical science, but there are also super-natural powers. Thus, Rod’s dismissive attitude is somewhat understandable.
“What I mean is… what if it’s more dangerous, like… the Black Death?”
Su Lu, who shared Beryl’s memory, suddenly brought up a question.
The Black Death!
Rod’s body involuntarily trembled as he heard this term.
It’s a violent contagious disease and the trump card of the Black Death Society; known for its high infectiousness and fatality rate.
There has been a historical outburst of the Black Death on the Old Continent where several countries didn’t respond in time, leading to almost half of their population dying off!
“That’s unlikely…”
Rod chuckled dryly, “If the Black Death Society even dares to do this… The Federation and the Church will definitely root them out, at any cost!”
“Well…that’s hard to say.”
Su Lu produced an ironic smile.
He knows Beryl’s nature all too well. Massive death would increase her strength!
Hence, the spread of the Black Death could be a part of a ritual, such as… assisting the breakthrough to the Legend rank or even higher.
This isn’t only pertinent to Beryl, but also to the upper echelons of the Black Death Society!
According to legends, the spread of the Black Death on the Old Continent was to elevate a high-ranking figure. Of course, there are rumors that it was a disaster brought by Lady Moon to increase her own status!
“Generally speaking, the more people who die, the more horrific the ritual… If it’s merely to assist in ascending to the Legend rank, perhaps spreading it in one city would suffice.”
Su Lu looked serious, “If I were the head of the Black Death Society, I certainly wouldn’t just do so for advancing to the Legend rank, but would keep a low profile and accumulate. Wait until I accumulate four or five ‘Semi-Legends’ and then stir up a wide-scale Black Death frenzy…”
Otherwise, if there were any signs in a single city, the Federation and the Church would surely take action and crush them!
“This is valuable intelligence.”
Rod looked solemn but did not ask Su Lu where he got it from, “Do you want me to tell the church about it?”