"It shouldn't be too late, go and inform your army to quickly mobilize the people to help me find someone," Rhodes said.
"This..." Forbas looked away in shame, then gestured toward the door, saying, "My lord, please follow me. I will show you our current situation, and you will understand."
Rhodes and Sig followed Forbas to an open area deep within the building.
On the ground lay a group of people covered by thin white cloth. Their complexions were gray, and festering wounds were visible on their skin.
Blood from their necks spread out like a black spider web, contrasting sharply with their pale, grayish skin, sending shivers down one's spine.
They groaned feebly, their chests rising and falling ever so slightly, indicating that they were still alive.
Large patches of rotting flesh dangled from their limbs, with flies buzzing around, occasionally landing on the wounds to feast.
"A crow above," Rhodes observed, "stared at the people with its empty, dark eyes, its caws mocking our helplessness."
Physicians from Athens moved busily, applying green herbs to the festering skin of the patients.
"Ahem...this isn't working either," the leading doctor, wearing a yellow robe, coughed intermittently. He scratched his already red throat, trying to relieve the itching.
His colorful attire indicated his elevated status.
"As you can see," Forbas said, worry etching his face as he glanced at the patients on the ground, "my soldiers have fallen victim to this vile plague, and we have no extra troops to aid you."
Rhodes studied the guards around the open area, their heads bowed and foreheads beaded with cold sweat, clearly exhausted. Worse still, Rhodes observed them coughing violently from time to time.
"There are no protective measures against this plague, which allows it to continue spreading," Rhodes noted.
Rhodes picked up a dirty rag from the ground, found a jar of water, and soaked it.
"What are you doing? That's drinking water for the patients. Using a dirty cloth will contaminate it," Forbas objected, reaching out to stop him but hesitating.
"This water has been polluted for some time. The water source can't be clean with such a widespread plague," Rhodes explained as he picked up a few stones from the ground and tossed them into the water tank.
"Do you have any salt?" he asked the white-robed assistants gathered around the yellow-robed doctor.
"Eh..." They looked at Forbas hesitantly, unwilling to answer. Salt was a precious commodity, and despite this stranger's apparent high status, they were reluctant to give it away.
Forbas asked, "Why do you need salt?"
"I'm going to make a high-strength saline solution. The surface rocks here aren't salty enough, so I need a good amount of coarse salt."
"Saline solution?" Forbas was puzzled, not understanding Rhodes' words, but as he thought of Rhodes being a magical warrior from Asgard, he decided to take a gamble.
"In any case, I trust you, and we'll find the salt for you," Forbas said.
After Forbas left, Rhodes called Sig over.
"Asgard's medical technology should be more than capable of treating them," Sig noted.
Rhodes nodded but expressed his helplessness. "Although treating them is straightforward, the plague has already spread too widely. We can't treat the entire population of Athens."
Sig observed the doctors, who were now coughing due to their close contact with the patients. He felt powerless, knowing that these doctors would likely carry the plague back to their families.
"To fully heal the people of Athens and eliminate the plague, we'll need to call upon the Asgardian army to descend to Earth. The two of us can treat those on the ground at most," Sig explained.
"That will be enough," Rhodes affirmed.
Forbas returned with people holding large pieces of light yellow salt. This salt, in its refined form, was of the highest purity due to the advanced purification technology of the era.
"My lord, this is all the fine salt available in Athens. Please use it as you see fit," Forbas said as he presented the salt block to Rhodes.
Rhodes tossed the salt block into the water tank without hesitation, then stirred it with his spear.
As he stirred, the salt block collided with the spear, breaking into pieces that slowly dissolved in the water's spiral flow.
After some time, Rhodes noticed some undissolved solids at the bottom of the tank. He knew that the water in the tank was now a highly concentrated saltwater solution, unable to dissolve more salt.
He retrieved a previously soaked cloth from the ground, wrung it half-dry, and tore it into strips that could cover a person's mouth and nose.
"What are you doing? That's drinking water for the patients. Using a dirty cloth will contaminate it," Forbas protested, still concerned.
Rhodes calmly replied, "This water has been polluted for a while due to the widespread plague. The cloth will filter out some impurities."
Rhodes handed out the cloth strips to those present, and while some were dubious, one individual even attempted to eat the cloth, retching at the salty taste.
Rhodes shook his head. "It's not for eating. Place these cloth strips over your noses and mouths."
Forbas, the first to receive the cloth, quickly put it on, setting an example. Others soon followed suit, and even those who had questioned Rhodes initially complied.
"Some failed to receive cloth strips. Forbas, please have them made and distributed," Rhodes instructed.
Rhodes and Sig focused their attention on the patients. The doctors, however, were skeptical and remained hesitant.
"I've never heard of such a treatment method. What can saltwater do?" one young doctor with yellow hair scoffed.
"Lord Hippocrates never mentioned how bodily fluids maintain the balance of the human body," another doctor chimed in.
Rhodes rolled his eyes, recalling Hippocrates, an ancient Greek medical scientist who believed that the body's balance relied on the four elements of blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile.
"Don't you use herbal mixtures to treat wounds?" Rhodes inquired.
"We use herbs to stimulate blood flow, aiding the body's self-restoration. Your saltwater is just... um... diluted kitchen seasoning. How can it cure disease?" the yellow-robed doctor retorted confidently.
Seeing the doctors' stubbornness, Rhodes sighed and gave them no further explanations. Instead, he ordered, "Everyone, wrap these cloth strips around your faces to cover your noses and mouths."
Forbas distributed the cloth strips, and despite initial doubts, everyone complied, covering their faces.
Rhodes explained, "This is a highly concentrated saltwater solution. It won't provide complete protection, but it can slow the spread of the plague to some extent."
Some were skeptical, with one person attempting to eat the cloth strip and reacting to the salty taste with retching.
"It's not for eating," Rhodes clarified, "but for wearing to cover your noses and mouths."
Forbas, who had received the first cloth strip, set an example by putting it on, and soon others followed suit, even those who had initially questioned the treatment.
"Some still need cloth strips. Forbas, please arrange to have more made and distributed," Rhodes instructed.
With the cloth strips in place, Rhodes and Sig turned their attention to the patients. The doctors, though skeptical, continued to observe.
"I've never heard of such a treatment method. What can saltwater do?" one young doctor with yellow hair scoffed.
"Lord Hippocrates never mentioned how bodily fluids maintain the balance of the human body," another doctor chimed in.
Rhodes rolled his eyes, recalling Hippocrates, an ancient Greek medical scientist who believed that the body's balance relied on the four elements of blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile.
"Don't you use herbal mixtures to treat wounds?" Rhodes inquired.
"We use herbs to stimulate blood flow, aiding the body's self-restoration. Your saltwater is just... um... diluted kitchen seasoning. How can it cure disease?" the yellow-robed doctor retorted confidently.
Seeing the doctors' stubbornness, Rhodes sighed and gave them no further explanations. Instead, he ordered, "Everyone, wrap these cloth strips around your faces to cover your noses and mouths."
Forbas distributed the cloth strips, and despite initial doubts, everyone complied, covering their faces.
"Don't worry! Don't make a mess!" Rhodes commanded when some people rushed to grab multiple cloth strips.
"Each person needs only one; wearing more won't provide extra protection."
His words calmed the crowd, who then formed lines to receive the cloth strips.
Those who had already received them safeguarded the strips as if they were sacred, fearing they might be taken away.
"Master Rhodes!" Forbas hurried over. "The citizens have gathered. Do you have any new instructions?"
"Ah? Divine Soldier!" The doctors trembled, realizing their earlier arrogance in speaking to Rhodes. Fear washed over them as they knelt on the ground.
They hastily bowed before Rhodes, filled with terror.
"I'm sorry, Lord Rhodes. We were blind and failed to recognize your noble status."
One person even tried to hold up Rhodes' shoe to kiss it, but Rhodes kicked him away, then walked away without a second glance.
"Take me there," Rhodes instructed, ignoring the pleas of the doctors trailing behind him.
Once Rhodes departed, the doctors were filled with anxiety. Fortunately, Rhodes was a magnanimous Protoss and didn't vent his anger on them. Otherwise, if a Protoss sought to harm a mortal, they would face dire consequences.
Forbas led Rhodes to the Athenian Civic Stand, where citizens convened for discussions and voting on bills.
The venue, resembling an arena, could accommodate thousands of people, featuring rows of tiered seats and a podium below where the consul presided.
As the crowd entered the arena, they took their seats and stared impatiently at Rhodes and Forbas on the podium.
Since it wasn't a regular monthly meeting, they weren't obligated to attend, but Forbas had compelled them to come with the aid of soldiers.
Rhodes scanned the crowd. Some were already coughing, and others had festering wounds on their bodies.
To provide antibodies to all these people, a wide-spread spray was required. Before that, they needed to wear saltwater-soaked cloth strips to prevent the plague from worsening.
"Why are we all gathered here?"
"Adjourn the meeting if there's nothing to discuss! Didn't we already finish this month's session?"
"I have the right to be free!"
Rhodes and Forbas remained on the podium, seemingly unmoving. The crowd grew restless.
Several soldiers entered the arena, carrying a few corpses that emitted a foul stench, with flies and insects buzzing around them.
The citizens covered their noses, becoming even more agitated.
"What's going on?"
"Get those out of here! It reeks!"
"If they die from the plague, why wait to bury them?"