Lord Ashgra and his soldiers stopped in their tracks at the entrance to the quarantine zone, and even the three centaurs that Locke had hired were now anxious and uneasy.
This was because ahead lay the quarantine zone surrounded by barbed wire.
At the entrance to the quarantine zone was a group of patients with mobility difficulties, severe physical deformities, and disordered facial muscles that could frighten people to death.
This group of sick civilians was clinging to the barbed wire, looking longingly at the outside world, like drowning people futilely grasping at straws.
Since they didn't know whether this was a contagious disease, neither Ashgra City and his soldiers nor the three centaurs dared to continue forward after seeing this scene.
They were afraid they too would become .
Locke stepped down from the carriage with an unchanged expression and briefly examined the surroundings. "There are no hidden spores or parasites in the air, and the magical fluctuations aren't particularly special. It's just that these civilians have abnormally active wood element particles on them. From this perspective, it's very likely that some magical plant is indeed causing trouble."
"I just don't know which specific type."
Locke walked to the barbed wire and leaned close to observe a little girl's face. The little girl also looked at Locke innocently.
"Speaking of which, it's indeed not contagious."
Locke said impatiently to Lord Ashgra and the others, "You can leave now. My centaurs should also follow you into the city first." Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on novel⚑fire.net
Although these sick civilians weren't contagious, convincing this group of mortal lords to believe this would be too troublesome.
Rather than waste this effort, he might as well start investigating immediately. Anyway, this group of mortals would only add to the chaos here.
Lord Ashgra looked fearfully at the patients at the quarantine zone entrance. For a moment, he seemed to really want to leave this place.
But soon his reason overcame his cowardice.
Lord Ashgra bowed to Locke, "Lord Wizard, as the lord of Ashgra... not being able to help my people is already my fault."
"At least I must lead the soldiers to wait at the entrance for your results. If you need my help, we can also lend a hand..."
Lord Ashgra earnestly requested, "Lord Wizard, please help us. We really have no other options."
"Only you can help us."
"Please save Ashgra City."
Locke indifferently said "Mm."
He snapped his fingers, and the iron lock on the quarantine zone gate automatically fell to the ground. He pushed open the quarantine zone gate and walked into this quarantine area.
Perhaps because of his wizard status, although these civilians saw Locke open the wire gate, they didn't dare rush over.
Locke swept his gaze over these disaster victims, confirming that their symptoms were all similar.
At the same time, Locke looked up toward the distance and saw a second-class witch apprentice walking out from a small grove not far away.
Seeing Locke arrive, Gabby Montoya immediately breathed a sigh of relief, "Great, the academy finally sent someone."
"I have no idea what happened here."
"Senior, I'm Gabby Montoya, a wizard apprentice who accepted the academy's commission to conduct the initial investigation here."
Locke nodded slightly. "Locke Augustine."
The academy wasn't initially clear about what exactly had happened here, so they would definitely send ordinary second-class wizard apprentices to investigate first. Only after confirming it was at least magical plant trouble would they send someone like him, a breeder assistant, to investigate the situation.
During this time, Gabby Montoya seemed to have made many discoveries. "Senior, I think it's very likely that Rotface Fern is causing trouble. Look, this quarantine area has many fern plants."
"A major characteristic of Rotface Fern is that when it grows next to other fern plants, it automatically mimics those plants and disguises itself as their shape, making it extremely difficult to discover. Moreover, Rotface Fern causes disfiguring characteristics in mortals."
Gabby Montoya said, "So during this time, I've been investigating in this direction, but I lack the relevant academic foundation, so my efficiency is very low. There are at least hundreds of different fern species in this area."
"Senior, these are my investigation records so far. You can take a look, and I hope they can help you."
Locke glanced at her but didn't take them. Instead, he said, "Junior Montoya, your investigation direction is completely wrong."
"Rotface Fern's characteristics aren't like that, and I've observed that these people don't have the typical feature of Rotface Fern parasitism on their faces: microscopic facial spores."
Gabby Montoya's face turned slightly red. Looking at the overly young Locke, she stuttered slightly, "Senior Locke, is... is that so? No wonder my investigation over the past few days has made no progress at all."
"Then you'd better not look at my investigation records. First, it would waste time, and second, I'm afraid my thinking might mislead you."
"But it's really strange right now. I've investigated these residents, and they don't live together at all, nor are they from the same age group. Their dietary habits and beliefs are completely different."
"They seem to have no common points between them, and sometimes I can't even be sure whether they actually have active wood element particles on them."
Gabby Montoya sighed.
Locke nodded slightly. "It's perfectly normal that you can't determine the situation without relevant knowledge. Junior Montoya, your task has basically been completed."
Gabby Montoya tentatively asked, "Senior, could I continue to complete this academy task?"
"It's not for the magic stones and academy rewards. I'm just very curious why I still can't find the pathogenic cause after searching for so long."
"You know, for wizards, this situation is really intriguing."
Locke said, "As you wish."
Unlike her, as a breeder assistant, Locke could keenly perceive the active wood element particles on these patients.
These people were definitely affected by some kind of magical plant.
Locke began thinking. These people must have some common point. Since Gabby Montoya had investigated them once but didn't discover this common point among them.
Then either her investigation results were unreliable, or the common point among these people wasn't on these... people themselves.
Perhaps the common point among these people wasn't on the people themselves, but in their residences.
Locke turned back to Gabby Montoya, "Did you personally visit their residences?"
Gabby Montoya was stunned. "I haven't done that, Senior."
Locke said, "Then let's investigate together. Perhaps we can make some discoveries."