Chapter 124

“Torres Mountains?”

“I went skiing in Torres two years ago. The glaciers really have melted a lot.”

“There are viruses inside glaciers?”

…

As soon as the Will Government made the announcement, netizens around the world erupted into heated discussion.

“Could it be anthrax?”

“Anthrax spores from ten thousand years ago?”

“Anthrax is zoonotic, right? Doesn’t transmit between humans…”

…

Although the Will Government had yet to release any detailed information about the illness, based on keywords like “glacial melt” and “bacterial substance,” many speculated that the outbreak might be related to anthrax.

Anthrax is an acute bacterial infection, commonly found in cattle, sheep, horses, and soil. The bacteria produce spores that can cling to animals and humans, causing acute gastritis, skin infections, respiratory illnesses, and other serious symptoms. These infections can be highly dangerous, even life-threatening.

“Reminds me of the Cockroach Disease in Pisent.”

“Terrifying.”

People began recalling the Pisent disaster from eight centuries ago.

Pisent, located at 23°E and 55°N, is one of the northernmost Arctic nations. In 2152, it experienced an outbreak of an unknown influenza virus that spread to seventy-seven countries across the Northern Hemisphere, resulting in thirty million deaths.

The outbreak was triggered by a cockroach infestation. At the time, Pisent’s capital was overrun by cockroaches that looked ordinary but carried an unidentified pathogen. With underdeveloped medical infrastructure, no country could identify or contain the virus. Since the disease was first discovered in cockroaches, it was dubbed the “Cockroach Disease.”

The epidemic lasted thirteen years, finally fading away in 2165. In 2823, biologist Mode from Guding proposed a theory in his research that the origin of the Cockroach Disease lay in glacial bacteria from the polar regions.

According to Mode’s hypothesis, the years 2150 to 2153 marked a brief global warming period. During that time, global temperatures rose significantly, and glaciers near Pisent receded by a total of 7 centimeters. As the ice melted, locals discovered numerous unidentified corpses trapped within. Lacking awareness of proper hygiene and disease prevention, they simply dumped the bodies into rivers and mountain streams.

These corpses reacted with the local environment, and the bacteria they carried spread through flora and fauna, eventually contaminating the air and land. The cockroaches became carriers, sparking the outbreak of the Cockroach Disease…

Mode’s paper sent shockwaves through the global scientific community.

Due to technological limitations, scientists around the world had spent the past two centuries studying the permafrost beneath the polar glaciers.

In July 3002, scientists from ten nations, including Longxia and Natal, conducted a joint expedition to the polar regions. Their investigation confirmed that beneath the glaciers lay vast quantities of ancient bacteria, preserved in the frozen remains of animals. Thanks to the low temperatures and lack of oxygen, the bacteria had survived for millennia. As the glaciers melt, these dormant pathogens could potentially mutate and reawaken.

“Absolutely terrifying.”

“Twelve years, thirty million dead…”

“Are we about to face another Cockroach Disease?”

…

Netizens were getting chills just thinking about it.

“We’re only talking about twenty-three strange cases. It can’t be that bad, right?”

“Medical technology has come a long way. Cockroach Disease should be treatable now.”

“That was eight hundred years ago. We must have the means to handle it by now.”

…

As the discussion grew, people tried to stay optimistic.

On June 16, the Will Government released an official statement:

[The twenty-three patients in Weir are no longer in critical condition. Tests confirm they were infected with Bacillus anthracis (anthrax). The source of the anthrax was traced to smelt fish caught in Borman Town. Borman Town is now under temporary lockdown, and Weir has suspended all marine product exports.]

“So it really was anthrax.”

“Props to the bio experts.”

“Anthrax isn’t contagious between humans.”

…

The moment the announcement dropped, netizens around the world let out a collective sigh of relief. Although anthrax is a serious bacterial infection, it isn’t transmitted from person to person, which greatly reduces the risk of an outbreak.

“Still, better to practice good hygiene and cut back on seafood for now.”

Even as the panic subsided, people weren’t taking any chances with their health.

That same afternoon, the Will Government issued another statement:

[On June 16, Weir, Longxia, Natal, and twelve other nations formed a joint pathogen investigation team. Scientists from fifteen countries will conduct a collaborative investigation in Borman Town.]

Just as people were starting to relax, the second announcement left them stunned.

A fifteen-nation task force, a joint investigation in Borman Town…

In the past, sudden outbreaks were usually handled domestically. Even when the Shuilan Alliance got involved, it was mostly for technical assistance. But now, with fifteen countries converging on Borman, the gravity of the situation was impossible to ignore.

“Wait… could it really be another Cockroach Disease?”

One user typed in a daze. The virus from eight hundred years ago remained a mystery even today. No one had ever fully deciphered its structure. Now, with this unprecedented international response, people couldn’t help but think back to that nightmare.

“God, I’m not sleeping tonight.”

Netizens felt like their hearts were riding a rollercoaster—up one moment, plummeting the next.

…

“Be careful out there. Keep your masks on at all times,” Liu Wensheng instructed Xiang Qingchuan and the others at Longxia’s Jinghe Airport.

Just a day earlier, Weir had issued a global alert about a strange new illness. The moment the news broke, countries around the world contacted the Will Government.

The Torres Mountains span 300,000 square kilometers, crossing through Weir, Pisent, Canpesheng, and forty-seven other nations. It’s one of the largest glacial mountain ranges on Earth. Borman Town lies on the southern slope of the Torres Mountains. According to the Will Government, the twenty-three infected individuals were villagers from the area near Torres.

With global temperatures rising, some inland lakes had begun to thaw. A week ago, these twenty-three villagers had gone ice fishing beneath the southern ice sheet of Borman and caught smelt. The fish had firm flesh and a delicious flavor, and the villagers enjoyed their meal as they always had—completely unaware of the danger.

Everyone had assumed these were just ordinary smelt. But starting June 12th, a wave of acute fever and diarrhea swept through the people who had eaten them. Hospital tests revealed they were infected with an unknown bacterium. After a thorough investigation by the national research team, it was identified as a rare strain of anthrax bacillus. Due to the sudden nature of the outbreak, the Will Government deliberated carefully before issuing a global alert.

The polar glaciers are a matter of global concern. After a series of international calls, multiple countries agreed to send a joint team of biologists and medical experts for investigation.

Xiang Qingchuan, the nation’s most renowned biologist, was appointed to lead the Biology Group, while the Medical Group would be headed by its team leader, Wu Yunshu. The expedition to Weir comprised thirty experts and thirty security personnel.

After briefing the team, Liu Wensheng turned to Qin Yun. “Be careful when you get there.”

Qin Yun wasn’t officially part of either group, but due to the unpredictable nature of his “farm achievements,” the Longxia Team had speculated that if Qin Yun participated in major global events, it might trigger “random achievements” or “random missions.” Though it was only a theory, with Xiang Qingchuan heading abroad for this investigation, it was the perfect opportunity to test it out.

At Liu Wensheng’s reminder, Qin Yun made a reassuring gesture. “I’ll be careful.”

Liu Wensheng turned to Xiang Qingchuan.

“I guarantee Comrade Qin’s safety,” Xiang Qingchuan replied firmly.

Qin Yun’s name and background had been encrypted; he would be traveling under the identity of an accompanying secretary. Though the team was small, Longxia had already contacted the embassy in Weir. Upon arrival, they would coordinate with the embassy, after which the Will Government would provide escort.

With the current international situation stable and Longxia’s growing global influence, the team’s safety was well assured.

“Don’t forget your mask,” Liu Wensheng reminded Qin Yun. While he wasn’t overly concerned about physical threats, if Borman truly harbored unknown pathogens, he worried about the safety of Qin Yun and the entire research team.

“Don’t worry,” Qin Yun said with a smile, signaling Liu Wensheng to relax.

At 3:20 PM, the connecting flight to Weir arrived. Qin Yun boarded with Xiang Qingchuan and the rest of the team.

“Sigh…” Liu Wensheng watched Qin Yun’s back as he walked away, letting out a long breath. He worried about Qin Yun, but he also knew that Qin Yun wasn’t just some accessory to the farm—he had his own missions to fulfill. Longxia was grateful for the system Qin Yun had provided; the best they could do now was ensure his safety.

“Still a bit worried about you,” Xiang Qingchuan said on the plane, glancing toward the airport.

Qin Yun smiled.

Liu Wensheng was sixty this year. They had worked together for three years. In that time, Qin Yun had watched Liu Wensheng go from energetic and sharp to having streaks of white at his temples. Though he looked stern, Liu Wensheng was attentive and genuinely cared about the farm staff and disaster situations.

After chatting for a while, Xiang Qingchuan handed Qin Yun a stack of documents. “Here’s the information on Borman.”

The documents mainly covered the geography of Borman Town. The flight from Longxia to Borman would take ten hours. During that time, aside from a bit of rest, Qin Yun focused entirely on analyzing the terrain of Borman.

At 9:00 AM Weir time, the Longxia plane finally landed at the special airport in Weir’s Barse region.

“Academician Xiang.”

“Professor Wu.”

…

As soon as the team disembarked, staff from the Longxia embassy and Weir’s reception team were already waiting at the airport.

“Consul Zhou,” Xiang Qingchuan greeted the embassy staff with a handshake.

The investigation itinerary was as follows: all participating countries would convene for a meeting—then proceed to Borman Town for field research—followed by a final debriefing.

Due to differing research methods, the fifteen participating countries only met before and after the investigation. During the Borman Town phase, each national team would operate independently.

At 2:00 PM, after a brief rest, the initial meeting began.

The meeting ran from 2:00 to 5:00 PM, focusing on each country’s assessment of the Weir pathogen and potential global risks. Only team leaders like Xiang Qingchuan attended. Qin Yun, lacking the necessary clearance, waited at the hotel with others.

At 7:00 PM, Xiang Qingchuan returned from the meeting.

“Nothing conclusive yet,” he said.

That afternoon, they had reviewed the case files of the twenty-three infected individuals. All were gradually recovering. Several countries speculated that it was merely a treatable and non-threatening virus with no global impact.

Though Xiang Qingchuan was cautious by nature, the case data suggested the virus might be more bark than bite.

“Get some rest. We head to Borman Town tomorrow,” he instructed.

Borman was 700 kilometers from Barse and lacked a dedicated airport. Early the next morning, the team boarded Weir’s official vehicles for the journey.

Weir sat at a high latitude. As the convoy moved forward, Qin Yun saw towering glaciers along the way. These ice formations weren’t as stark and lifeless as those in geography magazines. Due to global warming, they were steadily melting.

At 9:00 AM, the team arrived in Borman Town.

Qin Yun stepped off the vehicle. All around him, the various national teams were surveying the area with serious expressions. Qin Yun stood among them like a grain of sand—small and unremarkable. Since this was a state-level investigation, all teams had declined media interviews. Everyone had one goal: investigate the virus.

“There’s Borman Lake up ahead,” Xiang Qingchuan said, pointing toward the lake. It had been frozen year-round until last month, when it began to thaw. The smelt had been caught from this very lake.

After a short break, the team set off for Borman Lake.

Though global temperatures were rising, Borman’s climate remained around freezing. A cold wind blew from the direction of the Torres Mountains. Qin Yun tightened his jacket, but thanks to the Constant Temperature Jacket he wore, he didn’t feel cold.

Half an hour later, the team reached Borman Lake.

Lake Borman stretched across three square kilometers, once a vast, flat glacial lake connected to the Torres Mountains. Just three years ago, the lake remained frozen year-round, with ice at least ninety centimeters thick. But now, much of the ice had melted, and residents had to paddle small boats just to move across the remaining ice sheets.

The moment Qin Yun stepped onto Lake Borman, the system updated—

“Congratulations, Host. You’ve unlocked a special scenario: The Beginning of a Disaster.”

Qin Yun tapped to open it.

The Beginning of a Disaster: The Beginning of a Disaster. (Special Scenario)

There was no elaborate description—just the stark, ominous title: The Beginning of a Disaster.