CHAPTER 881: CHAPTER 881: IVAN’S LETTER

"Zion and the others are not well-versed in agriculture and plant diseases, but at least they had removed the magic spell so Ivan and the others could do further research."

Ferdinand said that in case Ivan and the other researchers were still not able to find what they needed to be able to control or eradicate the disease completely, they would have to wait for Alwin, who had also studied it, to further look into it.

There were other experts among the elves they could ask to study it in Estrella but the risk was too high to transport it there.

They do not fully know the goal of the creator of the disease, so they could not risk the flora in Estrella getting infected either.

After all, Ferdinand said, depending on the creator’s goal, the pathogens might grow further with the abundant mana in Estrella.

Even if they used protective equipment and barriers, the pathogens might also die upon exposure to the more concentrated mana in Estrella, which meant there would be no chance to study it.

Likewise, there was a rule for the long-lived races to not get too involved in the affairs of the human realm.

This happened in Valeria so they must take action since they maintain this territory.

However, if they could not put Estrella, the safe-haven of the long-lived races, in danger.

Arabella felt bad for Alwin who already had a task to do upon waking up. However, she knew Alwin had also been waiting for his cue to be part of the research.

"I’ll be heading to my study then. There are documents I must review and sign," Ferdinand bade her goodbyes.

"Alright. Take care. I’ll do my work too," Arabella nodded.

Ferdinand gave a peck at the back of her hand before he finally headed to his study.

While Arabella was working in her study...

Knock. Knock.

"Your Majesty, I came to deliver a letter from your assistant."

It was Zion.

"Please come in," Arabella was waiting for this.

She knew Ivan would write a letter to her to inform her about his findings.

"Your Majesty’s assistant, Ivan said to deliver this to you in person as soon as possible," Zion said as he handed her a letter.

"Thank you! Do you have other work to do here after this?" Arabella inquired since she would reply immediately.

"None, Your Majesty. I’ll head back there and continue my post," Zion replied.

"I see. Then, please have a seat. I will reply promptly. My maids will serve you some tea and refreshments in the meantime."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Zion did as she said.

Arabella glanced at Eunice and the latter bowed and headed out to fetch tea and refreshments for Zion.

Arabella then opened the letter from Ivan and was speechless at the contents.

The first part of the letter was about what Ferdinand already told her.

However, the latter part informed her about something Ferdinand did not tell her.

Ivan informed her about the unrest and the growing fear and unrest of the people in the locations affected by plant disease.

Ferdinand told her everything was going as usual and that there was only a little problem which they were already working on.

However, from Ivan’s letter, it was not at all a little problem.

The people were disrespecting knights and a revolt has even already occurred in Count Morbal’s territory.

Ivan said that further revolts may happen if the people continue to feel too restricted, imprisoned, voiceless, and fearful.

Ivan informed her that he had asked permission to look around all the locations affected by the plant disease while gathering his own samples to study.

While Ivan gathered samples for his research, he also spoke with the locals and listened to their plights.

Ivan there were growing rumors that the empire would abandon them once there were no longer enough supplies.

Thus, the people grew more fearful the more crops and flora were cut down and burned.

The families whose work were related to farming or those who work in packaging, processing, transporting, or selling the harvest were the most fearful that they had no more job left to do when the winter might start anytime soon.

They feared they would have no food for their family and no one else to seek help from in case the Empire ran out of supplies for them.

A lot of people were panicking when they had no job to do this winter after all the crops were cut down and burned.

It was intensified as even the alternatives were gone when even the whole forests were getting cut down and burned day by day.

The repeated reassurance from the ruling households, or even from Ferdinand and his knights were no longer working.

’What should we do?!’

Ivan pointed out that this is a major dilemma since even if a permanent solution to the plant disease was found soon, the people’s morale was already too low to even completely appreciate it since it would not change their immediate situation.

Simply receiving supplies from the Empire was scaring them that the instant it was cut, they would have no food to eat to survive the winter and they had no work to replace their lost source of income.

’What are we going to do about this?’

Arabella ended up asking Zion about more details of what the situation was and his responses verified the concern Ivan presented.

The people in the plant disease afflicted territories needed some kind of assurance that the Empire had ample supplies.

Aside from this, they also needed something to divert their attention from all the burning and the dire situation they have — a temporary escape and distraction while they lay the groundwork for a more stable solution.

In the meantime, Arabella wrote a reply for Ivan so Zion could return.

She thanked Ivan for his report and congratulated him for the breakthrough he had pushed through with the results of his efforts.

Since there was no concrete plan yet, she simply thanked him for informing her about the plight of the people.

Arabella promised she would do her best to see what they could do about it.