novelraw Chapter 277: All Infected
Chapter 277: All Infected
The terms "contagion" and "source of contagion" are often used interchangeably, a generalization that reflects the difficulty in detecting, perceiving, and counteracting them.
Just as ghosts, vengeful spirits, and Evil Spirits are all broadly categorized as "Anomalies," the terms "contagion" and "source of contagion" are also used as one and the same, distinguished only when absolutely necessary.
A contagion usually has a source—an object, a body, a book, a text. The methods of transmission vary as well: through physical contact, reading, or even sight.
The forbidden power of a contagion corrupts everything it touches: the mind, the body. Exposure is typically accompanied by a drop in one's Mind Level.
These fluctuations are picked up by a Contamination Detector, the primary tool exorcists use to identify a contagion.
However, some contagions produce no fluctuations at all. They are like rats in the hold of a ship, slipping unnoticed into human settlements with the arriving vessel.
Exorcists have no effective methods for dealing with such contagions. The usual sequence of events is grimly predictable: a group of people in a certain area goes mad, dies, or falls ill. A contagion is suspected. An Investigator is dispatched. The Investigator goes mad, dies, or falls ill. The presence of a contagion is confirmed. The Night's Watch is sent in to eliminate the problem.
Fortunately, such contagions are rare, and their rate of spread is limited. For example, if the source is a book, only those who read it will have their minds warped by its influence, meaning its reach is contained.
But there are also extremely dangerous types of contagions, or sources of contagion.
They are like a disease, only far more terrifying and hopeless. Merely approaching the source, or even seeing it, might be enough to become infected. And then, others who approach or see the infected person will also fall victim.Like Lu Li's "Door"...
Having explained the secrets of contagion, Plis watched in silence as Lu Li mulled things over, his head lowered in thought. After a moment, however, he noticed that Lu Li's gaze had shifted to the group of ordinary people in the far corner of the shop.
The group had fallen silent for a while after Lu Li and the others returned, but now they were murmuring quietly amongst themselves again. Except for a child and two women who kept to themselves, the rest seemed to be on friendly terms.
Plis studied the civilians, then Lu Li's expression, and was surprised to see him pick up a pen and paper. He wrote down the name "Petra," followed by the number 1.
Next, he wrote the name of the café owner and the number 2, followed by the address "Elm Street, 3" and the number 3.
Lu Li wrote the remaining four names on the last line.
When Lu Li finished writing, Plis tore his eyes from the paper and remarked, "It seems you have an idea."
"A few thoughts," Lu Li capped the pen and pointed it at Petra's name. "Petra's case was the first, at least in this city. We can consider her the source."
The pen moved to the café owner's name, paused for a moment, and then shifted to "Elm Street, 3."
"The incidents at the café and at Elm Street, 3, were the second and third. They happened less than an hour apart, but a full week after Petra's. These can be considered the first wave of the contagion."
His pen moved to the third line. "The consciousness of the other four anomalies has yet to manifest. They can be considered the second wave."
Lu Li drew a circle around all three lines of names and said in a calm voice, "The consciousness of these anomalies awakens after about a week. To figure out how this is spreading, we need to investigate the cases involving Petra, the café owner, and Elm Street, 3."
"The consciousness of those three anomalies has already awakened. We won't be able to get inside," Plis pointed out.
"The houses might not hold all the clues," Lu Li replied, his dark eyes settling on the civilians. "The café owner seems to know everyone. That means he could have been in contact with each of them."
"So, if we ask him whether these people visited his café within the last week, everything should become clear."
"I'll go," said Metty. She had been standing behind Plis, listening to the entire conversation. She turned, her ponytail swaying.
"No need. I'll ask him myself," Plis stopped her and walked over to the group.
Noticing Plis's approach, they fell silent.
A few minutes later, Plis returned with an answer, his expression grim. "Your theory was correct. All of them visited the café this week; they're regulars. What's more, Petra used to come in for tea in the morning, and the owner of the house on Elm Street, 3, usually arrived about an hour after she did."
Lu Li lowered his head and drew several lines between the names—from Petra to the café owner and Elm Street, 3, and from the café owner to everyone else.
Petra had infected the two on the second line, and the café owner had infected all the others.
Plis's face grew even darker, his voice heavy with disbelief. "We've all been in contact with him..."
That meant everyone present, including Lu Li, had been infected by the café owner.
Suddenly, a suffocating aura emanated from the empty space beside Lu Li.
Plis and Metty, who were closest to him, froze.
"Anna, don't worry," Lu Li whispered, calming her. "The source of the contagion doesn't have to be a person. I don't sense anything unusual about him, or about us."
The grim aura gradually dissipated. Plis suppressed his surprise and quickly said to Metty, "Report to base. We've found the source of the contagion here. Lock down Elm Street. Don't let anyone out, and make no contact with anyone inside."
Then he looked at Lu Li. "Do whatever you think is necessary. Our seventy-eighth squad will give you our full support."
He didn't want his entire squad to be wiped out.
Lu Li nodded. "Bring me the café owner."
The café owner was brought over quickly. Plis started to place a chair for him next to Lu Li, but then, remembering his "assistant," he set it down opposite him instead.
The café owner sat in the chair Plis had occupied earlier.
"Mister Investigator..." the café owner began hesitantly.
Lu Li skipped the pleasantries and asked directly, "Tell me about Petra."
"What exactly do you want to know?"
"Everything about her recent visits to your café."
"She... she wasn't very talkative. Every time she came in with her cup, she'd order tea, sit by the window, and just look out at the street. Sometimes former students would visit her. They'd talk for a bit and then leave... I don't know what they talked about. Petra usually stayed for an hour or two, always in the morning. That's... that's all I know," the café owner answered with difficulty, struggling to recall any more details.
But Lu Li had caught a key detail. "You said 'her cup.'"
The café owner was taken aback. "...Yes. Petra had her own tea set. She liked to drink from it."