"Patients?"
"Yes, many of the refugees coming in with this group are ill, and all of them have infectious diseases."
Conrad's voice was somewhat heavy. "To be precise, plague."
Elliot's expression was rather grim.
The Hearthfire District had not reported this to him. Conrad had sought him out.
Most of the Sterling Family's information channels were no longer usable, but even the few that remained provided more intelligence than the Communion had.
The Sterling Family was one of the Seven Holy Bloodlines, after all. The True God Church's power was simply too overwhelming.
Although the Communion was developing rapidly, it struggled to extend its reach beyond the Hearthfire District. Elliot had no good solution to this, either.
Fighting their way out would actually have been simpler.
And the news Conrad brought this time also alerted Elliot that something was wrong.
"When will this group arrive?"
"Very soon, and there will be a great many of them. Even with the Hearthfire District's hospital, there won't be enough room to take them all in."
The Old Butler paused, then spoke quietly. "They're planning to damage the Hearthfire District's reputation. Many in this group are coming specifically to cause trouble."
Elliot nodded slowly.
The Hearthfire District had earned quite a reputation in the Imperial Capital lately.
In truth, the believers had done nothing extra. Providing relief and helping refugees were things they had been doing all along.
But conditions in the Imperial Capital were deteriorating by the day, and the decline was rather too rapid.
The nobles no longer maintaining public security outside the noble district brought more than just chaos.
The Imperial Capital was so vast because the Royal Family provided work for so many people, sustaining this enormous Empire.
Now, however, the Royal Family itself had been dismembered. Public services were