Witch, Fireball and the Evil God of Steam
Chapter 114 - 113: The Red Death

Chapter 114: Chapter 113: The Red Death

Before interrogating the rioters, Ethan went to the branch office to register two bottles of truth serum in the accounts and then reported his investigation results from these days to the branch manager.

The manager’s code name was ’Gravedigger,’ a man with a square face akin to Steve’s.

Upon hearing Ethan’s report, his expression turned bleak.

"Are you saying Kane is a type of disease?"

Gravedigger looked solemn. Ximu Town’s base station regarded Ethan as a young and bold investigator, with a mindset that was wild and hard to follow, yet those intriguing ideas often proved greatly effective.

However, the new theory proposed by this young investigator seemed a bit too advanced.

Even though many people have witnessed Kane firsthand and he was accused of being the mastermind behind the Haywood Mine uprising, Ethan suggested Kane wasn’t actually a real human but some kind of disease they had never encountered before.

"Those infected with this disease will witness Kane’s existence. At the same time, their descriptions of Kane are precise and similar. According to my investigation, before Kane was taken to Haywood Mine by the consortium, he was involved in an attack targeting loan sharks at a casino in Gear City."

Ethan said, "It is said that many who owed high-interest loans were influenced by the loan sharks, lured to the casino through coercion. Personally, I’m skeptical about this claim, but the focus is on the infected individuals’ thoughts. The more resentment they harbor towards life, the more likely they are to hear Kane’s speeches.

"Everyone who hears Kane’s speech becomes irritable, prone to emotional outbursts, and more inclined to resolve problems through violent or extreme methods. This is the reason why gamblers stabbed the loan sharks and why the workers at Haywood Mine initiated a riot. This disease can somewhat eliminate fear and other negative emotions, making the infected reckless and ignoring consequences."

This report made Gravedigger increasingly anxious. He vaguely felt that the situation had exceeded his control, and mishandling it could likely evolve into a plague sweeping across the entire Empire.

Moreover, the harm it caused would be far more severe than a plague because the infected would not naturally die, and according to Ethan, they were highly likely to riot before dying.

Haywood Mine was the perfect example.

"However, what I mentioned is merely the first stage of the disease."

With a single sentence, Ethan completely shattered Gravedigger’s psychological defenses, leaving him incredulous — the plague possibly affecting the entire Empire was just the first stage?

"So, what are the symptoms in the second stage?"

Gravedigger always felt as if he were a lower-level investigator in front of Ethan. In terms of case judgment or mystical knowledge reserves, Ethan did not appear to be a novice.

He found it hard to imagine how a talent like this could emerge from a border town like Ximu Town.

"Once a host is infected and interacts with others, the Kane virus will rapidly spread among the crowd. Listening to Kane’s speech will become an indispensable part of their lives. When the infection reaches a critical level, their bodies will become nutrients, and after death, their blood will solidify into unknown substances forming Red Ice. This special ice layer will melt objects and human bodies, twisting them into creations of the Evil God."

Ethan paused slightly, then said, "I currently name this disease Red Death Disease. Haywood Mine has already been occupied by the red ice layer."

Cat had been sitting distractedly on Ethan’s shoulder, but the more she listened to this story, the more frightened she became, until Ethan, without batting an eye, combined Red Ice and Red Death Disease and attributed it all to Kane, making her and Gravedigger widen their eyes in disbelief.

How incredible Ethan was at fabricating stories!

This storytelling ability was far superior to those in the Judicial Court and the Church who falsely accused others of being Evil God’s followers. If Ethan served in the Judicial Court, he would undoubtedly become the greatest master of labeling of this era!

"I need to report to the headquarters as soon as possible."

Gravedigger paced back and forth urgently, but Ethan stopped him, "Right now, we have more pressing matters to handle."

"What could be more urgent than reporting to headquarters?"

"Earlier today, another suspect infected appeared inside Gear City. Earlier, a thug broke into the casino and attacked Young Master Aisoke with a crossbow. His actions perfectly matched the early symptom identification criteria of Red Death Disease."

"Where is he? How can this disease be cured?"

"The thug has been detained by the casino. Currently, the cure is unknown. My suggestion is to isolate the infected individuals for study. There’s about half a month between the casino attack and the Haywood Mine riot. We still have enough time to investigate."

"Do as you say, ’Boy’!"

Gravedigger was somewhat excited, placing his hands on Ethan’s shoulders, "I will include your contribution in the report to headquarters!"

However, Cat’s greatest concern finally surfaced.

Due to the cumbersome nature of calling out the title "Boy Who Escaped Great Danger," his code name was naturally shortened to "Boy."

If you found it a tongue twister, you shouldn’t have given such a long title to begin with!

Nevertheless, Ethan’s objective for this trip was achieved; next, the Reception Bureau would take over the thug and isolate him as an important research subject, so the interrogation would be handled internally within the branch.

It wouldn’t be long before this matter reached the ears of Young Master Aisoke.

Being shot by a thug in public, yet the thug faced no punishment and was instead protectively sheltered by the Reception Bureau, could our Young Master Aisoke swallow this bitter pill?

Hardly, right?

Ethan could already imagine Young Master Aisoke being furious upon hearing this news. Having never suffered a loss, such a young master obviously wouldn’t consider the Reception Bureau. Since the death of the previous director, the headquarters had essentially become a manipulated puppet. Would Aisoke heed the advice of a subordinate puppet agency?

But, whether he listens or not is up to Young Master Aisoke. Nonetheless, they had already anticipated the risks and sought to prevent them.

"To be safe, we should strive to prevent the thug from contacting his intended target. We can’t yet determine the nature of the disease, and if they were inadvertently exposed together, there’s a chance of infectious mutation."

Just hearing Aisoke’s name made Gravedigger’s Steve-like face look as if it was melting in a lava layer. He understood Ethan’s concern but knew Aisoke’s personality even better.

Letting a thug who attacked him live?

Is Aisoke that kind of forgiving person?

"I’ll do my best."