Chapter 126

The Alchemy Tower is a rather iconic building in Visas.

The tower has nine floors and is fully equipped, including numerous well-equipped alchemy laboratories, as well as conference rooms, reading rooms, studies, lounges, restaurants, and more...

Cyrus went to great lengths to ensure that the alchemists could stay and conduct their experiments without worry.

Some alchemists who came in didn't want to leave.

One of the geniuses, Feilifu Kiel, moved directly into the Alchemy Tower and privately told his fellow genius Yinke Ken, that he should have come sooner.

Feilifu Kiel thought to himself, if only he had arrived in the Desinia Territory sooner, he could not only live in such a well-equipped Alchemy Tower, but also see the Desinia lord at any time...

After entering the Alchemy Tower, Feilifu wanted to continue his research on his "alchemy" theory and further improve the shape and size of the thermometer.

First, outdoor temperature measurement should be separated from body temperature measurement; body temperature measurement should be appropriate for the human body.

Second, accuracy.

But before he could conduct his research, the Black Death broke out—it came on fiercely, catching everyone off guard.

Feilifu was extremely grateful that he had come to the Desinia Territory.

He believed that other alchemists did the same.

After all, compared to the Desinia Territory, the Saint Airo Empire is now in complete chaos, as if the devil has descended... no, the devil has already destroyed the Yami Kingdom.

I heard that the king of the Yami Kingdom had already lost his life to the Black Death, and that the eldest prince, Kuntat, had also recently contracted the disease and died after indiscriminately slaughtering all the sick.

The second prince has disappeared without a trace...

One can roughly guess the current state of the Yami Kingdom: desolate, deathly silent, littered with corpses...

After the Lord of Desinia confirmed that the disease occurring in the Yami Kingdom was a very dangerous infectious disease, they were summoned to the Alchemy Tower to begin researching antibiotics that could cure the Black Death.

Even Feilifu, an alchemist whose main research focused on metals, was asked to temporarily set aside his ongoing alchemical research, put aside his prejudices, and work with the other alchemists to develop a life-saving elixir.

The Lord of Desinia moved into the Alchemy Tower and lived there, eating and drinking his fill.

This meant that Feilifu could see the lord not only every day, but also His Holiness the Pope, Archduke Achiyoli, and His Highness Prince Cavendish from time to time.

These three remained within the Desinia Territory and did not leave.

If any relevant decisions need to be made, they will be delivered by the lord's magnificent eagle to the Holy See, the Achiyoli Territory, or the Anas Kingdom...

Feilifu was very unhappy to see these three people on top of meeting the lord, as it prevented him from even saying a word to the lord...

Because he dared not.

Today, Feilifu got up early.

He had gotten used to waking up early and going to bed late, or even not sleeping at all. The alchemists in the Alchemy Tower, including the lord, had been doing the same for some time.

Just as the lord said, they must race against time to develop a cure for the Black Death.

The sooner the disease is researched and solved, the sooner the death and despair brought by the Black Death can be ended, and people can be stopped from dying one after another.

Feilifu felt that perhaps the Creator God had truly heard people's daily, devout, and urgent prayers, which was why He was protecting them and allowing the research into a cure for the Black Death to progress so smoothly.

This stems from what the lord mentioned at the previous exchange meeting about things like fermentation, bacteria, and microorganisms.

Feilifu didn't really understand.

He wasn't an alchemist who primarily studied this area; after getting involved, he usually worked as an assistant to people like Yinke Ken.

This research on a cure for the Black Death was led and overseen entirely by the Lord of Desinia.

Feilifu had witnessed firsthand the lord's diligence and ability.

He blushed at the shallow words he had spoken before.

Some of the research ideas are so ingenious that ordinary people would never think of them.

Feilifu had heard Master Chipman Norton praise the lord more than once.

How did you come up with those ideas, my lord?

After getting dressed, Feilifu walked out of the room, sighing with emotion.

He met Yinke Ken in the hallway and greeted him, "Going to the bacterial culture room again?"

Yinke Ken had an excited and fanatical expression on his face.

He had been stopped by Feilifu in his haste, but now he grabbed Feilifu's arm and exclaimed, "It's a success! The fermentation of the bacteria is a success!"

"What?!"

Feilifu was startled.

He couldn't stay awake any longer and went to sleep in the middle of the night. How did he wake up to find the bacteria culture had been successfully cultivated?!

--It feels like a dream!

Feilifu also got excited. "Really?!"

Yinke Ken nodded repeatedly. "Of course it's true!"

"Last night, Lord, Master Norton, and I stayed up all night to make sure the fermentation was successful before we finally urged Lord to go and rest for a while."

"After the fermentation of the bacteria is successful, as the lord instructed, the process involves extraction and refining... filtering and collecting the high-concentration extract..."

Yinke Ken kept talking.

He clenched his fist and waved it, his entire body language conveying an expression of intense excitement and exhilaration.

"I believe that a cure can definitely be developed!"

Feilifu was a little disappointed; he hadn't participated in the discovery of the successful fermentation of the bacteria last night, and had actually missed it!

But he was even happier about it, a genuine joy welling up from the bottom of his heart. "Come on! I'll go with you to the bacterial culture room... What do we do next?"

"What are your orders, my lord... Oh, I see. Then I may..."

The two figures gradually disappeared around the corner of the corridor.

After consulting the books he had exchanged in the library, Cyrus discovered Streptomycin, an antibiotic specifically for treating Plague that was relatively easy to develop at the level of technology available in that era.

The production method of Streptomycin consists of only two main steps: fermentation of the microbial strain and extraction and purification.

Although the steps are few, it is still not easy to make.

The key issue is the lack of some equipment, and further research is needed based on the specific requirements... Fortunately, all difficulties can be overcome.

While researching antibiotics that could treat the Plague, Cyrus also ordered the creation of protective suits that could be worn deep within quarantine zones.

He envisioned creating a modern white protective suit.

But then I thought about it again, and things that emerge in response to the times naturally have some merit. The image of the bird-beaked doctor can, to some extent, not only soothe patients but also deter chaos.

After all, this era was not very safe, especially during the Black Death, when chaos and danger lurked everywhere.

Finally, as they reached the final stage of the second major step, Cyrus walked out of the laboratory, yawning and sporting dark circles under her eyes.

He hadn't slept all night.

To be precise, I didn't sleep much yesterday or the day before...

Because this is a critical moment, he cannot afford to relax even for a moment.

Everyone was working with great effort, making the most of every minute to manufacture equipment and research antibiotics.

Almost everyone sprang into action.

--Ferdinand has already stationed himself at the border, leading his soldiers to guard the area, while Walker is responsible for the security of the port area and restrictions on ships docking.

The others also have important matters to be responsible for and carry out at all times...

As Cyrus pondered the antibiotics and other miscellaneous matters, she walked upstairs with slightly unsteady steps.

The ninth floor of the Alchemy Tower was a place he reserved specifically for his experiments and rest.

Cyrus hadn't had much rest for several days in a row.

This caused his head to feel as if it had been stuffed with a large wad of Cotton, swollen all over, and as if it were tightly bound, making him extremely uncomfortable.

He patted his head with both hands as he climbed to the ninth floor. The sunlight in the corridor was bright and dazzling, yet it made him feel drowsy...

A person was sitting on the wide windowsill of the corridor.

Cyrus squinted as she looked over—it was His Holiness the Pope.

Seeing him clutching his head with both hands, Segalot asked, "Does your head hurt?"

"Um."

Cyrus nodded somewhat listlessly.

Segalot sat sideways on the windowsill, leaning against the wall.

He was reading a book, one long leg bent, the other extended, his posture still incredibly elegant, and his golden eyes were absolutely stunning in the sunlight.

His Holiness the Pope then turned to look at Cyrus, the book loosely held in one hand on his lap, the other outstretched, and said, "Come here."

Cyrus lowered her hand in confusion, walked over, and was then pulled by His Holiness the Pope and suddenly sat down... There was a slightly soft touch under her buttocks.

He sat directly on His Holiness the Pope's lap!

Cyrus was startled and immediately tried to stand up and leave.

But the Pope held his shoulders down, preventing him from moving—not with much force, but with an air of absolute authority.

Segalot: "Let me rub your head."

As he spoke, his long, slender fingers gently massaged Cyrus's temples on either side of her head...

It's definitely much more comfortable now.

Cyrus wondered to herself, why would His Holiness the Pope suddenly want to give him a massage?

He turned his head to look and happened to meet Segalot's eyes.

His golden eyes seemed to be filled with the brilliance of the sun, and he felt as if he were suddenly immersed in warm sunlight, a slight tingling sensation rising all over his body.

Cyrus was stunned, then blushed slightly and quickly turned her head back.

Meanwhile, the fingers on her head were gently massaging her head with just the right amount of pressure.

Cyrus began to relax and become more drowsy.

At that moment, a hand moved down from Cyrus's head, then wrapped around her waist and pulled her backward, where a broad, warm chest lay.

"Lean on me."

His Holiness the Pope's deep, pleasant voice also rang out.

Cyrus yawned, probably because she was really tired and her mind wasn't quite clear.

So he leaned back, following the force, his eyes half-open and half-closed, feeling the blockage in his mind slowly being cleared...

[This book-reading app was recommended to me by a book-loving friend of ten years! It's incredibly useful; I use it to read aloud and listen to books while driving or before bed to pass the time. You can download it here.]

Plus, it feels so nice to be bathed in sunlight...

Cyrus then slowly fell asleep.

But his consciousness hadn't completely succumbed to sleep; his body was vaguely sensing...

He felt the fingers rubbing his head gradually stop, then they held him even more comfortably, patting his back. Cyrus's consciousness couldn't resist, and he sank into a deep sleep again.

He turned his head to the side, resting it on the Pope's chest. A few strands of hair on his forehead seemed to have been brushed aside, as the ends of his hair brushed against his eyebrows, causing a slight tickling sensation.

The next moment, a warm, soft touch seemed to come from my forehead...

What is it?

Cyrus couldn't remember, and her consciousness completely sank into sleep.

Segalot gazed at the rosy cheeks of the person in his arms, a smile playing on his lips. He leaned in and gently kissed their forehead, whispering, "... You've worked hard."