321 Departure (1/2)
The Upper East District was soon bustling with activity. Earth-users could be seen moving loads of rubbles and into carts, while sturdy labor workers transport them.
The supervising palace guard pulled over by another palace guard before the person said, ”Hey, are you sure you should be telling them that? Are you not afraid of starting a panic?”
”It's fine, it's fine. The King will be making this news public soon anyway. Besides, if I don't give them a heads-up now, wouldn't they starting rioting and refusing to work when they suddenly stop getting meat later? At least, they will find it more acceptable and not complain if they knew in advance.”
”Eh? Is that the case? I guess what you say makes sense.”
The palace guard agreed.
”En. Alright, if that is all you are asking, then hurry up and move it.”
”Huh?” The palace guard was taken aback before asking, ”What do you mean?”
”Don't huh me and get to work! Do you think you can have it easy before we know each other?” The supervising palace guard grinned evilly.
”Motherfucker! I am your older brother! You seem to have grown some guts just because you got lucky enough to be placed in charge of this operation, huh?!”
”My mother is your mother!”
”Eh? Oh yeah… You right, you right.”
”Hmph! I am just trying to do my job faithfully! There'll be no special treatment from me, so hurry up and beat it! No work, no meat!”
”Y-Y-You… Fine! I will remember this, my dear little brother!” The palace guard scoffed with an embarrassed look before scurrying off to help clear the rubbles.
…
Western Frontier, Great Wall.
These past few days, the frequency of berserk beast sightings and attacks has increased with each passing day.
Usually, this would have been a good source of income for the military. Beast carcasses had always been in high demand by merchant beast buyers.
But ever since the first soldier got infected with the same berserk beast symptoms from eating their beast meat, they no longer dared to sell the beast carcasses to the merchants.
In fact, the chances of the berserk beast problem posing a severe threat to the kingdom were very likely. As such, the consumption of beast meat was strictly prohibited after General Marquis Hendrick returned to the Western Frontier with his son.
Anyone caught selling the beast carcasses outside of the Western Frontier would be meet with capital punishment, death.
General Marquis Hendrick had the foreboding feeling that the berserk beast symptoms were highly infectious and should be treated with all due seriousness like the Black Death.
Black Death was a terrible plague in human history that once wiped out half the population before the Cataclysm occurred.
They must not let the madness spread to the rest of the kingdom!
Without a doubt, these captive soldiers are the soldiers infected by the berserk beast symptom.
Whitecoat researchers were seen gathered around said cages. They studied the infected soldier's behaviors and jotted down notes with their pens.
”Alright, don't stick too close to the cages now. If you let them scratch or bite you, we will have no choice but to lock you behind a cage as well.” A researcher reminded.
”Yeah, yeah, we know. Who would want to become like this?”
After Hendrick arrived at the facility, the whitecoat researchers all paused their work and saluted.
”General Marquis!”
”Carry on with your tasks.” Hendrick acknowledged and waved them off before strolling over to the head researcher. ”How's the study going? What have you found?”
”Have a look, General.”
The head researcher passed Hendrick a sealed vial of glass. Inside the glass vial, a cluster of red mist twirled like an inverted cyclone trying to drill out of the sealed vial.
”This should have been extracted from the berserk beast, and should also be the root cause of their berserk state, right? Have you found out why?” Hendrick Graham asked.
”Yes, that is correct, General. This is the red energy extracted from the berserk beast. However, it might not be the root cause of the berserk state.” The head researcher stated.
”In our studies, we have found that infected people with mild effects share similar traits to the berserk beast state. However, the more extreme cases showed loss of intelligence and a strong thirst for blood.”
”This red energy does have the effect of aggravating one's emotions and stimulating the body's potential... but I feel like we are still missing something important. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it shouldn't be this simple...”
Hendrick's brows furrowed at the head researcher's explanation for a moment with a pondering look, but he soon shook his head.