An Understated Dominance (Dustin Rhys)

“What? There’s an outbreak in Reedcrest?”

Grace’s expression hardened at the report. “That’s impossible. Weren’t we told it was contained last night?”

When the contagion began, she immediately ordered the entire village sealed off and placed all infected individuals under strict quarantine.

Anyone who’d had contact with the infected was put under close surveillance.

Given all these precautions, how had the outbreak spread across Reedcrest overnight?

“The outbreak in Ashwillow Village has indeed been contained,” her aide reported grimly. “But a new source of infection has emerged in Windham, and there was no way to see it coming. Over 100 people are showing symptoms, and the numbers keep climbing.”

“Seal off every entrance and exit to Windham immediately,” Grace ordered decisively. “We cannot allow this outbreak to spread beyond the town. Place all infected individuals under strict surveillance and thoroughly screen everyone else. Go now.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Her aide left immediately to execute the orders.

As a precautionary measure, military forces were deployed to blockade every access point into and out of Windham so that residents couldn’t leave and outsiders couldn’t enter.

While the strict containment protocols would undoubtedly cause considerable inconvenience, the gravity of the situation left no room for half-measures.

“Things are more complicated than I thought. The Skull Covenant is spreading outbreaks everywhere,” Dustin said, narrowing his eyes slightly.

If Ashwillow Village was just their opening move, then the real battle was about to begin.

enemies work from the shadows while we operate in plain sight. Until we can locate the Skull Covenant’s stronghold, we’ll have to proceed cautiously and try to minimize casualties,” Grace

spreading faster than I can handle alone. We need to bring in reinforcements from

show them how to draw out the toxins. That way, if we encounter more outbreaks, we won’t

the arrangements,” Grace agreed without

immediately mobilized all the forces to recruit

exhaust Dustin by having him race from crisis to crisis. Despite his exceptional abilities, she knew he would feel overwhelmed by the scope of the epidemic. So,

finding someone with his extraordinary abilities would be nearly impossible, Oakvale had many

techniques and be better prepared

the governor’s mansion. As

our investigation shows over 100 plague cases

have slipped our cordon.

carefully before responding

are still manageable. We don’t need a full lockdown yet. Gather all the infected in one central location, then immediately dispatch troops to hunt down those who have escaped. We must capture and bring them back to prevent

politically and

out in the succession struggle and gain the upper hand, he needed to contain the outbreak with minimal disruption and maximum efficiency. Only by demonstrating such efficient crisis management could

If all hundred victims die

They should be arriving any moment. With their expertise, creating an antidote

out Your Highness was already three steps ahead. I should have known better than

a guard hurried in and dropped to one knee. “Your Highness, the two skilled

them

face lit up. The doctors’ arrival couldn’t have been more perfectly timed to solve

the guard acknowledged and

appeared to be in their late 60s with silver-streaked hair,