Revive Rome: Wait! Why not make the empress fall in love with me first?-Chapter 315 - 113: Mandatory Conscription

"How’s the progress?" Aske asked.

"Almost there," Peggy replied. "We’ve collected nearly thirty thousand samples, over fifty strains of Plague Bacteria, and have identified three with the most potent toxicity."

"The genes that can enhance the virulence of Plague Bacteria," Nora interjected. "Based on the genomic samples we’ve currently gathered, combined with an analysis of related literature, the main components on the chromosome include the pH6 antigen, Strong virulence island, LPS, Ail, and other adhesin and invasin molecules, as well as factors carried on the three plasmids pCD1, pMT1, and pPCP1."

"These three highly virulent strains chiefly display a more complete set of virulence genes and a relatively well-developed and tight regulatory network, allowing them to more effectively adapt to the internal environment of the host, evade the host’s immune mechanisms, reproduce in large numbers, and secrete toxins."

Aske: ..........

"So, you mean to say you’ve found three strains of Plague Bacteria with the strongest virulence, right?"

Although he didn’t understand it all, Aske was, after all, a person who had served as a Squad Leader, so he decisively used his leadership Talent Skill: focus on the key points.

"Yes," Nora said. "To correct you, the virulence of these three strains is not yet the strongest because Plague Bacteria inherently acquire new genes from the external environment, what’s referred to as evolution."

"Therefore, once Peggy upgrades to ’Plague II’ and acquires the ability to synthetically regulate the genetic material of pathogens, if we collect more pathogenic Yersinia, it’s highly likely that we can cultivate strains with even stronger toxicity."

As she spoke, she couldn’t help revealing a worried expression, feeling as if Peggy was racing down the path of the Lord of Filth, and that the first push had been her own doing.

A Transcendent with the ability "Plague" is essentially a terrifying biological weaponry factory, and the longer they live, the more diverse and potent the pathogens they cultivate and possess.

If one day she becomes irrational, like wanting to take revenge on society after a heartbreak, and so she chooses a densely populated area to unleash the toxin...

Nora dared not think further, but being a kind girl, she preferred to think of Peggy in a positive light.

Peggy couldn’t be that kind of person, right? Yes, she knew Peggy’s character well. She wasn’t heartless or mad; besides, the Squad Leader was keeping an eye on her, and he wouldn’t just watch her descend into such inhumanity.

The ancestors of Eleanor the Demigod said that the "Lord of Filth" was a wicked Bloodline, but that should be just a prejudice. It’s not like choosing a certain Bloodline meant you were destined to fall into evil, right? A person’s Fate should be their own choice.

She pondered gloomily, then watched as Peggy talked with Aske, her face animated with delight, clearly displaying a "please praise me" expression.

I’m overthinking it. Nora finally settled down and showed a gentle smile.

I believe, Peggy will always be Peggy.

----------------

Around 3 p.m., the temporary medical station, for the first time, had no line.

Could it mean that all the patients in the Quarantine Zone had been treated?

After waiting another ten minutes, only two women came in holding children, suspecting they had contracted the Plague because of persistent coughing and fever.

It turned out, after Peggy and Nora’s examination, to be just a common cold.

Everyone was both laughing and crying.

So they packed up, prepared to leave the Quarantine Zone. Initially, they had sneaked in, gone through phases of suspicion, being surrounded, becoming idolized and worshipped, and now things had come full circle back to being ignored.

Healers unemployed might well be regarded as an immeasurable merit, fully satisfied.

Just after they had left one street block, the group saw a commotion brewing ahead: Alfred was directing the City Guard, knocking door to door, searching, and then leading the dejected male homeowners out.

Children were crying, women were pleading, and the crowd of onlookers whispered curses. The callous Guards ignored these scenes and simply continued to knock on the next door and drag people out.

"What are you doing?" Eleanor, frowning, stepped forward to question Alfred.

Had it been before, she would have rushed up fiercely to demand answers. However, after spending so much time with the squad and having taken the "Tactics I" Magic Potion, her impulsive nature had been greatly subdued.

Therefore, she restrained her temper and first calmly asked the other party.

"Princess Eleanor." Alfred responded with a faint smile, "We are executing Count’s orders." frёeweɓηovel_coɱ

"What orders?" Eleanor asked subconsciously, "These people... they are no longer infected, there’s no need to quarantine them again, right?"

"Of course, I haven’t thanked you all yet." Alfred bowed to the group, "You all provided unpaid medical services in the Quarantine Zone, cured the vast majority of the infected, and replenished Innsbruck with quality troops. For this, the Count will remember your merits, and he will express the due gratitude to the Weisbach family."

"Quality... troops?" Eleanor lost her voice in shock, taking a half step back, instinctively resting her hand on the hilt of her sword.

The sense of accomplishment from successfully treating the patients ebbed away from her heart like a receding tide, replaced by a sense of deeper, more helpless dread.

"Yes." Alfred didn’t want to offend the princess and had to continue seriously, "In recent days, the Wolf Family’s army officially invaded Tirol’s border territory, and three border defense squads collapsed at the first encounter. The leading fleeing soldiers have already reached the city."

"The Count also had no choice; the plague killed too many, and the active-duty soldiers were in short supply due to the illness, so he had to recruit troops from the civilians. If we don’t conduct forcible conscription, who will protect Innsbruck?"

"But..." Eleanor took a deep breath, "These people... they just escaped the clutches of the plague, and now you will send them to battlefields full of death?"

"You shouldn’t be telling me this, Your Highness," Alfred argued, "You should tell the Wolf Family. Innsbruck has just experienced a pandemic, life is hard for everyone. Can you not invade us? If the Wolf Family agrees to withdraw their troops, of course, we will not forcibly conscript."

"If the Wolf Family does not withdraw, You should be clear in your heart what our defeat would entail. The Emperor’s Alliance will always come down from the south to attack. The Wolf family cannot permanently annex Bavaria. Thus, destroying our living strength and leaving a devastated Bavaria for Your Majesty the Emperor would be their optimal strategy before withdrawal."

Eleanor’s face turned ashen. "Tactics I" rationality told her Alfred’s analysis was correct, but her emotions made her refuse to admit the reality of having to forcefully conscript.

"Please consider it, Your Highness," sighed Alfred, continuing to persuade, "If we don’t resist, it ends in death, so why not seek life amidst death? Once Innsbruck falls, the Count could redeem himself with his noble title, we nobles, too, could switch sides without fear for our lives, but the civilians..."

"To the Wolf Family, they are not just civilians; they are living power in an enemy-held region, continuously providing wealth, productivity, and population for Your Majesty the Emperor’s camp. The Wolf family won’t let them survive; their fate would only be massacre. In comparison, we’re merely sending them to battle, which is quite merciful already."

"Hmm," Eleanor fell silent, somber. Seeing that the princess had no more words to say, Alfred tactfully hastened away to the next street block with his men.

"Ellie..." Noticing that Eleanor was somewhat upset, Nora said worriedly.

"Aske." Eleanor hung her head, her voice filled with despair, "He’s right, isn’t he? We... have no choice but to do this?"

"Sending these, these civilians who have received no military training at all, to the cruel battlefield as cannon fodder?"

Aske: ..........

How am I supposed to answer that?

He simply patted Eleanor’s shoulder, saying nothing more.

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