Chapter 695: Hometown
Under the cold moonlight, a chilly night breeze swept across the vast desert wasteland. The dark night revealed a desolate and barren landscape, but amidst this boundless darkness, there were a few flickering lights that hinted at a glimmer of life.
This was one of the major cities in Northern Ufeiga, Adus, known as Mente. Mente was the most important transportation hub in the northern region of Adus, where almost all railways from the north converged. The railway from Kankdar to Adus inevitably passed through here, making it a must-visit location for any church mission entering Adus.
As night fell and Mente gradually sank into silence, the train station was bustling with activity. Uniformed soldiers lined up, and civilians in various attire celebrated. Amidst the anticipation of many, the massive steel train slowly came to a halt after decelerating.
With the opening of the carriage doors, the guards lined up and saluted in unison upon command. Amidst cheers, Sister Vania, dressed in white, stepped out under the protection of her attendants and walked onto a carpet laid out beforehand. She proceeded step by step through the steam rising from the ground.
Maintaining her customary smile, Vania responded to the crowds welcoming her on both sides while she continued forward. During this time, she observed the station, which she had visited just over half a year ago. Compared to her memories, it seemed entirely transformed. Broken floors had been replaced, b*llet holes vanished, and various damages caused by war had been largely repaired. The ordinary civilian platform now bustled with activity, and even ragged revolutionary army soldiers looked neat and tidy.
In the ceremony conducted by two rows of guards, Vania stepped through the steam and cheers, reaching the end of the carpet. There, she saw a familiar figure—a young man in high-ranking officer uniform smiling and waiting for her. He then extended his hand and said:
“Long time no see, Sister Vania. Welcome back to Adus.”
“Thank you for personally welcoming me, Lord Shadi.” Vania replied, extending her hand to shake hands with him amid flashes of light.
…
After arriving in Mente again, Sister Vania’s delegation received a warm welcome from Adus’ actual ruler, General Shadi of the Adus Revolutionary Army. Upon learning of the church mission’s itinerary, he arranged everything in advance and personally traveled from Adis to Mente to greet them with the highest level of respect.
After the Rebellion of Judgment, Shadi had spent several months stabilizing the country, effectively taking control of the entire nation. This brought long-awaited peace to a war-torn land. In the stable half-year period, Adus had started its steady reconstruction process, achieving tangible results visible to the n*ked eye.
During this period of reconstruction, other countries began to engage with the current government of Adus, attempting to re-establish diplomatic relations. Some sent envoys, but their ranks were not high and efforts were not substantial. Vania’s visit was considered the highest-level diplomatic engagement since Adus stabilized.
Back then, her status was not as high as it is now. Although Vania has not fully advanced to the Red Tier, her ceremonial rank within the church is close to that of an Archbishop, so Shadi dared not be negligent and personally greeted her in Mente.
After welcoming Vania at the station, Shadi led the main members of the delegation to a hotel where a banquet had been prepared. At the end of this brief but solemn banquet, both parties finally began discussing practical matters.
“So, Sister Vania, you don’t plan to stay in Adus for long?”
In a grand hall, Shadi sat in a finely crafted chair and curiously asked Vania seated opposite him at a small table. Vania nodded slightly in response.
“Yes, although we have plans to conduct a pilgrimage in Adus, it will have to wait until we return from Busairite. Therefore, after resting in Mente, we will head directly to Busairite and then proceed to Adis upon our return. It is said that there are no usable railways in Busairite, so please prepare transportation supplies for us, General.”
“Hmm, I understand. I’ll arrange it,” Shadi responded after nodding. After a slight pause, he continued.
“I’m truly glad to see someone like you, Sister Vania, who cares about the people of Northern Ufeiga. Your actions last year brought peace to this war-ravaged country. This year, you aim to bring relief to Busairite, which has suffered from chaos for a long time. We, the peripheral countries outside the Main Continent, have rarely received enough attention from the international community. You are one of the few who genuinely think about us and take action. On behalf of the people of Northern Ufeiga, I thank you.”
“You flatter me… By the grace of the Lord, these are things I should do. This gratitude belongs to ‘the Lord.’ I am merely His executor. Along my journey, I’ve seen Adus actively rebuilding. I believe the Lord must also be pleased to see this renewed vitality in the country…” Vania said with a devout and courteous tone, placing her hand on her chest. Shadi nodded in agreement.
“We will certainly not disappoint the Lord’s expectations and continue to strive for the revival of the country…” Shadi continued, then shifted his tone.
“Sister Vania, going to Busairite to provide relief is certainly good, but I must remind you that Busairite is not a safe place. It has always been chaotic and fraught with danger. Recently, the situation has worsened due to the plague, becoming even more dangerous and perilous. You must be extremely cautious if you go there.”
Shadi warned earnestly. Listening to this, Vania turned and asked curiously.
“I’ve heard about the plague in Busairite recently, though I don’t know the details. Since Busairite is close to Adus, I assume you might be better informed. Could you provide a detailed explanation?”
Vania asked Shadi. After pondering for a moment, Shadi spoke seriously.
“As far as I know, the plague in Busairite has been ongoing for some time, and the situation is quite grim.
“Due to the chaotic situation in Busairite, numerous bandit groups use it as a base to raid neighboring North Ufeiga countries. Adus has long been troubled by these bandits, especially during the civil war. After initially stabilizing the domestic situation, I immediately addressed the bandit problem from Busairite, organizing patrols along the border to prevent their incursions.
“At first, my patrol teams frequently clashed with bandits infiltrating from Busairite. These ruthless bandits were formidable, and our forces struggled to suppress them completely. We planned to send more reinforcements, but before they could arrive, the bandit activities suddenly subsided. Instead, countless refugees poured in from Busairite.
“They say Busairite is ravaged by a severe plague, infecting many tribes and settlements. Even the rampant bandits fell ill and could no longer hold their guns. I never imagined that such border bandits would be dealt with by a plague.” Shadi earnestly recounted his experiences to Vania, who furrowed her brows slightly in response.
“Do you know when this plague started?”
“The exact time is unclear, but it hasn’t been too long. Refugees began appearing in the Adus border regions about half a month ago, and a week ago, refugees with clear symptoms of illness appeared. I have been trying to intercept and accommodate refugees coming from Busairite to prevent the spread of the plague into Adus. However, the spread of this plague seems strong, and signs of infection have already appeared among my troops and in some border villages. I am doing my best to prevent the scale of infection from expanding.”
Shadi spoke with a serious expression, and Vania continued to ask seriously.
“What are the symptoms of this plague?”
“According to reports from the border, those infected exhibit symptoms such as fatigue, pain, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Initially, the symptoms are mild, but they become increasingly severe over time, eventually leading to complete immobility, where they can only lie in agony and unable to do anything. Many of the initial refugees have reached this stage.”
Shadi continued describing the current situation at the Adus border. As he spoke, Vania’s frown deepened. She then asked further.
“Have you been able to confirm the transmission routes of this plague?”
“We’ve only been dealing with this plague for less than half a month, and there are still many unknowns. We are currently investigating the transmission routes. Adus lacks experienced medical personnel, let alone seasoned epidemiologists. Clarifying this disease requires time…”
Shadi spread his hands helplessly and paused slightly, then added thoughtfully.
“While our understanding of this plague is limited, we can confirm that it spreads quickly and suddenly, which feels somewhat strange.
“By the way, according to some intelligence… We can confirm that the Savior’s Incarnation Sect likely has considerable influence in Busairite. They also have some Extraordinary Beings practicing the Path of the Holy Mother. If the actions were swift, the plague wouldn’t have spread so rapidly. Generally, members of the Savior’s Incarnation Sect wouldn’t miss such a good opportunity to spread their faith, but surprisingly, the plague continues to spread on such a large scale.”
Shadi continued explaining to Vania. Listening to this, Vania pondered deeply and responded.
“Indeed… If it were a common epidemic, the Path of the Holy Mother would be able to suppress and eliminate it relatively quickly. It shouldn’t have spread to this extent… Is it because the heretics lack manpower, or is there another reason?”
Vania said with a worried look, seemingly contemplating some unfavorable possibilities. Listening to her words, Shadi paused slightly and then responded seriously.
“Regardless of the reasons, the situation in Busairite is now more dangerous and chaotic than ever. Although I know you are well-prepared, you must be even more cautious… I feel that there might be significant forces involved in Busairite now.
“If possible, you might consider choosing another place for your relief mission instead of Busairite…”
Shadi reminded earnestly. Hearing this, Vania paused slightly and responded seriously.
“I understand. Thank you for your reminder. But I won’t change my mind. Despite the increased dangers in Busairite compared to the past, it needs relief more than ever. At this moment, the Lord would not allow me to retreat.”
Vania concluded solemnly. Hearing her words, Shadi sighed deeply and nodded silently.
…
Time passed swiftly. Soon, the banquet arranged by Shadi to welcome the church mission ended amidst meaningless pleasantries. After a meaningful conversation with Vania, Shadi sent the delegates, including Vania, back to their accommodations. Then he returned to his residence in Mente.
Upon returning home, Shadi did not immediately go to sleep but stayed in his room reading until late at night. Only when the city sank into true darkness and silence did he put down his book and leave his room alone.
Without any guards, Shadi left his residence and walked quietly through the empty streets of Mente. This young ruler of Adus moved stealthily through the streets of his own city, finally reaching a tall bell tower. Without hesitation, he entered and climbed steadily, eventually reaching the top of the tower. There, he saw a familiar figure waiting for him.
“You finally arrived, General Shadi. It’s been a while since we last met in Karnak. You seem more commanding now.”
A man with deep-set eyes, high nose, wearing a trench coat and hat, with slightly pale skin, stood atop the bell tower and smiled, removing his hat in greeting. Shadi looked at him and responded.
“It’s you, Nei. Do you always have to be the one to meet with me?”
“Not really, sir… We value this meeting greatly, so we specifically sent me here.
“After all… the information you possess about Heoperis is very important to us.” The man named Nei said to Shadi, and the ancient ghost within him listened silently.
