CHAPTER 559: CHAPTER 524: A MORE APPROPRIATE TREATMENT

The incident of the plague contamination alarmed Perfikot, and even Eldest Princess Annie expressed her concern over it.

For the Victor Empire, this was certainly not the first time handling such matters.

In the Empire’s long history, there have been many records of activities concerning the Evil God Sect, but the usual approach was to hand the matters over to the church for handling.

Because of this, the church was allowed to retain a large armed force and even form paramilitary organizations.

However, the approach in the Northern Territory is different; Perfikot chose to handle it themselves.

Handling it themselves certainly has its benefits, but the key issue is that the Northern Territory lacks experience in dealing with similar incidents.

The monitoring department set up by Perfikot, although supported by relevant Empire departments and aided by the church, cannot cover up the fact that the entire department from leadership to the grassroots is composed of novices.

This made it possible for even a matter of this scale to alarm Perfikot, the highest ruler of the Northern Territory.

Nevertheless, Perfikot showed great tolerance for her newly established department not knowing how to handle such matters on their first encounter.

After all, the Northern Territory was established only three years ago, and from top to bottom, it lacks many things.

Perfikot could understand why her knights hesitated on this matter, and why they were reluctant to act based on the judgment of the adjudicating knights.

In her position, Perfikot could not guarantee that she would have no hesitation at all.

From a rational perspective, the best course of action at this time would be to follow the adjudicating knights’ suggestions to "deal" with the entire settlement, which would be the most appropriate measure.

However, undeniably, to the knights of the Northern Territory, it was difficult to accept for them to slaughter the civilians they were supposed to protect.

This is not to say that these knights lack discernment or are overly benevolent, but rather that humans would naturally have compassion and empathy in such situations.

One might ask, if the infected were simply "dealt" with, what would happen if these frontline knights fighting the Evil God Sect got infected?

Would they also be simply "dealt" with?

Perhaps nobles and knights indeed differ from ordinary civilians, and most rulers of this era could decisively "deal" with commoners, but neither Perfikot nor her knights could exhibit such coldness and rationality.

Furthermore, from Perfikot’s perspective, directly "dealing" with those infected, while efficiently controlling the plague’s spread, would still lead to various subsequent issues.

How she should decide was essentially about weighing the follow-up troubles against treating these civilians with human compassion, determining which would be more convenient or have lesser consequences.

After weighing the pros and cons, Perfikot decided to handle this matter in a relatively more cost-effective manner.

"Aunt Annie, could I trouble you to make a trip?" Perfikot turned her gaze to Eldest Princess Annie, knowing her presence as a royal successor was crucial at this moment, and her personal visit would have excellent effects.

Upon hearing Perfikot’s request, Eldest Princess Annie nodded without hesitation: "You can rest assured and leave it to me, little Perfikot. If there are things you’re reluctant to do, I can arrange them."

Although Eldest Princess Annie is a kind-hearted and compassionate person, she doesn’t lack boundaries and logic in her kindness.

Such matters she had already consulted the Royal Family’s advisors, knowing the optimal way to handle them.

If Perfikot lacked suitable personnel for the dirty work, Eldest Princess Annie didn’t mind deploying royal resources to take over.

Of course, if Perfikot didn’t have such intentions, Eldest Princess Annie wouldn’t mind solving the subsequent troubles for her.

However, Perfikot shook her head and said, "That’s not the optimal solution. Aunt Annie, going there only represents the Royal Family’s concern on this matter, don’t worry about the rest, I will handle it properly."

"How do you plan to handle it? Are you really planning to send doctors to treat them? Those people are infected with the plague, and it’s almost impossible to cure them, this you should understand." Eldest Princess Annie advised Perfikot, while also doubting Perfikot would act so irrationally.

"I understand, so I don’t plan to send doctors, at least not many." Perfikot shook her head, clearly not intending to be blindly compassionate: "Aunt Annie, you will represent the Royal Family’s concern, and personally visit to express the Empire’s stance of not abandoning any citizen.

Meanwhile, I will send Northern Territory officials to accompany you, alongside a medical team and a squad of alchemy puppets.

Their nominal task is to treat and care for those infected with the plague, but in reality, they are to study the plague and seek methods of cure and prevention.

Should they be able to cure these infected individuals, naturally that would be best; but if there’s no hope of cure, they will also gather enough plague samples to understand what this plague is and whether there are methods to prevent and cure it."

In simple terms, Perfikot’s intention is to provide humane care to the infected, but the fundamental aim remains the plague itself.

After all, this time it’s just a few hundred people in a settlement, and it would be simple for Perfikot to decide to sacrifice their lives, but what if this plague breaks out in Chernobyl?

This city now houses tens of thousands; she doesn’t wish for it to become Stratholme, nor is she an Arthas led into a trap.

"I understand your meaning." Eldest Princess Annie knowingly nodded; indeed, this was more suitable than direct "handling": "The Empire does indeed need to research the plague, it’s fortunate we discovered it in time, but no one can guarantee next time it will be discovered before spreading.

Besides, the issue of plague-contaminated food also needs thorough investigation, to prevent similar incidents.

Regarding this point, little Perfikot, do you have any thoughts or arrangements? If needed, I can have the Intelligence Department cooperate with you."

"The Intelligence Department? Forget it, their efficiency is far from satisfactory." Perfikot shook her head, having had enough of their inefficiency in Langton.