Cyrus Hawthorne!
Ann Vaughn’s heart skipped a beat, but before she could react, the car vanished ghost-like at the junction of the crowded street, leaving only a trail of white exhaust.
Damn it...
Ann Vaughn pursed her red lips, her gaze filled with a hint of annoyance as she stared at the street ahead; she should have noted the license plate number immediately. Follow current novels on novel⸺fire.net
But the moment was lost, and regrets were futile. Ann Vaughn could only return to the hotel, switch on her phone that had been off, and send Kenny a message to assure her safety.
Before she could send the message, she received a call — it was Eland’s number.
Ann Vaughn’s eyes lit up, thinking it was Levi Lowell or Leo Lowell calling, she quickly answered the phone, "Hello?"
"Is this Doctor Aquarelle?" The man on the other end spoke rapidly with palpable excitement, "I saw your name on tonight’s flight passenger list, it’s wonderful!"
Surprised by the man’s enthusiasm, Ann Vaughn answered him in the same language, "Who are you?"
"I forgot to introduce myself, I’m Shrek Sade, the chief secretary to the President of Eland. I had the pleasure of meeting you once at Gothasen, during the new Easter gala."
Upon hearing the word Gothasen, Ann Vaughn’s expression turned a bit solemn. Ignoring that comment, she responded to Shrek, "Hello, Secretary Shrek. I’m here uninvited, I hope you won’t mind the intrusion."
"How could it be an intrusion? It’s truly an honor for all the residents of Eland for you to come." Shrek quickly said, "You’ve just gotten off the plane, I won’t disturb your rest, but I’ll send someone to pick you up later."
"Alright, thank you." Ann Vaughn said before hanging up. She then sent the previously unsent message, and when she returned to the main screen, she noticed nearly thirty missed calls.
They must have all been from the President’s secretary group, as the suffixes were consistent.
...
The night fell, and under the moonlight, Eland’s main city seemed to silently edge toward death, eerily quiet.
Ann Vaughn climbed into the vehicle sent by Shrek, and upon arriving at the central hospital, she headed not to the laboratory but to the ward.
"The epidemic has gradually spread into the air, where it’s easy to inhale the germs if one isn’t careful, and even physical contact should be minimized. Please put on protective clothing first." The bodyguard sent by Shrek hurriedly stopped Ann Vaughn as she was about to enter the ward.
"Wait outside for me, I’ll be out soon." Ann Vaughn refused the protective clothing the bodyguard handed to her, gently sucking on the detoxification pill in her mouth, before pushing the door open and entering the ward.
Unable to stop her, the bodyguards looked at one another and quickly reported the incident to Shrek to prevent any issues with this important guest.
In fact, all patients infected with the disease had been gathered in one place for monitoring, and the patients in this ward had voluntarily agreed to become experimental subjects, testing new drugs or receiving injections without compensation.
Ann Vaughn was unwilling to wear protective clothing because she needed to check the patients’ pulses, and the layers of protective clothing would affect her judgment.
After examining four patients in succession, Ann Vaughn wrote down the results, which were far more severe than Mr. Chambers’ previous situation.
Perhaps... it’s mutated.
Therefore, the original prescription needs to be revamped.
With this thought, Ann Vaughn left the ward and was semi-forced by the bodyguards to undergo a detailed physical examination. To assure them she was indeed okay, Ann Vaughn did not refuse.
The examination results were as Ann Vaughn anticipated; she was not infected.
The bodyguards looked at each other again, and after delivering Ann Vaughn to the laboratory, they skillfully took out their phones to report the findings.
"The experimental equipment here is the most advanced in all of Eland, and the President places great importance on this disease; we’ve already achieved some results." The head of the laboratory personally escorted Ann Vaughn inside, with a respectful attitude.
"What are the clinical trial results?" Ann Vaughn asked as she reviewed the Red Rat information handed to her, finding it identical to those experimentally obtained from Mr. Chambers, yet post-mutation much would need reconsideration.
The method of using poison to counteract poison certainly wouldn’t work.
"Originally effective, but after the plague suddenly mutated it’s like a painkiller, only temporarily easing patients’ suffering," the head admitted.
"What triggered the mutation, humans or something else?"
"Experts verified it was through disease passed by air, merging and mutating, but the source hasn’t been identified."
Ann Vaughn nodded slightly, setting down the information before addressing the administrator, "If it’s not too much trouble, perhaps investigate the Spring of Life’s fount; the escaped Red Rat might be lurking nearby."
The administrator’s expression changed, "Experts have proposed that too, yet as the retrieval teams near the Spring of Life’s vicinity were infected, thus we can’t purify the water source, and it’s now sealed off."
Could it be?
Ann Vaughn pursed her lips around the detox pill; she carried only three bottles with her, and one was given to that young man, leaving her two bottles.
"Could you help procure some supplies?"
The administrator was immediately energized, "Please feel free to ask, Secretary Shrek stated we must strive to meet your every need!"
However, upon Ann Vaughn listing a string of herb names, the administrator was bewildered: ???
Is this some kind of incantation?
Such a sizable amount of herbs isn’t easily acquired, but fortunately, Ann Vaughn came prepared herself, saving waiting time.
Meanwhile, outside the laboratory.
"Professor Vaughn!" An assistant in a lab coat ran excitedly towards the young man preparing to enter the lab, "Are there more of the candies you previously gave us?"
"Why?" Ian Vaughn halted, his gaze unclear as he looked at the assistant.
"It’s miraculous!" The assistant couldn’t contain his excitement, gesturing animatedly as he spoke, "Several doctors in Group Two accidentally got their hands scratched by patients, blood even flowed, we thought they’d be infected too, but upon checking, they’re perfectly fine!"
Ian Vaughn frowned, the bafflement in his light eyes slightly obscured behind gold-rimmed glasses, "What does it have to do with the candies?"
The assistant became anxious and stopped beating around the bush, "I asked them; they were too busy even to eat but just consumed those candies you shared before, so I made someone take a candy for testing!"