An influenza outbreak erupted in Lungmen.
Symptoms included chest tightness, shortness of breath, full-body weakness, and mental fog.
No one knew where this wave of influenza had come from. In an instant, it had swept across all of Lungmen. The only thing those infected had in common was... that they had visited the shrine.
Of course, most people in Lungmen had been to the shrine, so that could not be considered a common factor.
"It's an allergic reaction!"
Lungmen Hospital was packed to capacity. People filled the beds and hallways alike. The relevant data had long since been handed over to the research institute, and the doctors were merely repeating the conclusions the institute had reached through sample comparisons.
"Among the three hundred sampled patients, every single one is suffering from an allergic reaction!"
The messenger waved a printout as the news swept through the hospital like a blizzard, passing from one department to the next.
"What's the allergen?"
"Everything!"
The institute's conclusion was perfectly clear. From a certain point onward, people had begun developing allergic reactions to some ubiquitous substance.
What was the trigger?
There was no conclusion for the time being.
The official authoritative report was immediately sent to Lungmen's military-government joint body, the Lungmen Guard Department.
One department after another reviewed it. The printed reports fluttered through the building like butterflies, and Ch'en naturally received her own copy.
"Any thoughts?"
Something strange suddenly crossed Ch'en's face, and Swire, seated beside her at the conference table, caught it keenly. She patiently waited until the meeting ended before hurrying over to ask.
"It's a little strange."
After a long pause, Ch'en managed only four words.
"Yeah, it really is strange. Could it be some bizarre Originium Art?"
Swire began reasoning to herself as well.
"It feels like Leithanien witchcraft.