In the morning-
Primanus was dazed as he looked at his son-in-law.
Initially, he heard many promising things about his son-in-law. Although he didn't expect him to find a cure for a plague, his medical achievements during this time were enough to impress him. If not for his military talent, Primanus genuinely considered sponsoring him to become a professional doctor!
However, he was in shock when he heard from his son-in-law that he actually invented a valid method to combat a plague!
Everyone in the world, from the lowliest commoner to kings and emperors, feared plagues! Even he, a seasoned veteran, was afraid!
Initially skeptical, Primanus listened to his son-in-law's idea. But when Apollox told him of an insane idea, the result of merely three months of studying medical arts, Primanus was stunned.
"You want to make people sick... on purpose?!" Primanus exclaimed, not knowing whether to be shocked or angry.
It was a natural reaction. The idea was legitimately insane in his eyes.
It was like telling him, "Come get caned ahead of time for a punishment you didn't commit."
However, Apollox remained calm.
"Not the full disease, just a weakened variant. For example, exposing them to a dried sample by dabbing it on the skin or inhaling it. Through this, I believe they would develop immunity while experiencing weaker symptoms. If a highly contagious and deadly fast-acting plague strikes, this might actually save many lives." Apollox explained.
"And what makes you think that those you expose wouldn't die?" Primanus frowned.
Apollox shook his head.
"I never said they wouldn't die. Certainly, some will. But if I look at the overall picture, what would be preferable? For 10% of the people to randomly die, or only 1% in a controlled manner? And imagine over 90% of the population getting sick, suffering for weeks, or even months, paralyzing the economy." Apollox rhetorically asked.
Primanus's dissatisfaction and anger disappeared. Even an idiot would understand the answer. 1% was merely an inconvenience, while 10% was a catastrophic blow that would riddle an empire with gaping, bleeding holes. And this didn't even take into account the survivors, who suffered from the symptoms and potential aftereffects.
Naturally, this number was a bit extreme. Most epidemics had lower fatality rates and were limited to a province. Plagues that killed more than that were something that only happened every few centuries.
"How do you know this hypothesis of yours is correct?" Primanus calmly asked.
Apollox came prepared, presenting several scrolls he had written over the past three months.
"I recorded many details, and I am certain of my findings. At the very least, I already have several solid conclusions that support this hypothesis. It only lacks practical testing."
Hearing this, Primanus frowned.
"I can't let you test it on my soldiers. At least, not until it is proven safe enough."
That was his bottom line. If he allowed this and soldiers were harmed, it would not only affect morale but also his reputation.
"How about testing it on slaves? We can pay the owner 5 denari for each slave for participation, and compensate for damages. If we start with 20 slaves and a relatively mild disease, it would cost between 100 and 1,000 denari. If the test works, we can then move on to a larger crowd." Apollox made a suggestion.
"This... might actually work?" Primanus rubbed his chin in thought.
"He makes a valid point. If this fails, only a few hundred denari and perhaps a slave or two are lost. But if it succeeds..."
While several hundred denari was a significant wealth to a regular soldier, it wasn't much to him. Primanus was relatively frugal for his position, being paid 20,000 denari annually, but only spending several hundred a month. Even when including his daughter's prodigious spending on magical knowledge, he didn't pass the 1,000 denari per month. This led him to accumulate a significant fortune that he never used, having over 200,000 denari in life savings.
Those of equesitarian rank would usually use it to purchase large farming villas with hundreds of slaves, or invest it in some other way. But he wasn't business-savvy, was too old and busy for this, and didn't have sons or daughters interested in business, so he merely sat on his wealth, planning to pass it on to his daughter. At least it would give her a decent life while studying magic.
But since his son-in-law made such a reasonable request, he didn't mind sponsoring him with a fraction of his wealth.
"Okay, I will sponsor you. It just so happens that the ice has yet to thaw, meaning mining slaves are not working. I will help convince the legate to allow this test." Primanus solemnly said.
"Thank you, father-in-law!" Apollox smiled.
"However... you need to find a suitable disease to test it with first. Before that, I won't agree to these tests of yours." Primanus suddenly added.
"Ah..." Apollox looked embarrassed.
The selection of diseases he had at his disposal was small, and suitable candidates for vaccination purposes were even fewer.
"I need a disease that few people contract, yet isn't deadly, and can be recovered from within a reasonable time while showing obvious signs. At the same time, it should be something that they usually don't catch again, showing immunity. I really can't think about anything..." Apollox said to himself while scratching his head.
Hearing this, Primanus smiled and made a suggestion.
"Why not solve this with money? If someone can present a disease that meets your requirements, they will get a 50 denari bonus. These men came from all walks of life, including the countryside, so surely one of them knows something suitable."
"That's it!" Apollox excitedly smiled. "Please arrange it, father-in-law! I am willing to pay!"
And just like that, the message spread through the camp, stating Apollox's requirements and generous reward.
However, neither Apollox nor Primanus expected that, in under an hour, two men would arrive at the Camp Prefect's office!
One of them was from the main Legion, coming from a farming background, while another was a light cavalryman from the auxilia.
"My aunt was a milkmaid. There is a disease that only haunts milkmaids, causing disgusting, pus-filled blisters, especially on the arms, but sometimes on the body and face. When she was around 16, she noticed strange blisters growing on one of the family cow's teats. However, she still milked it, thinking it was nothing. She later caught this strange disease, and after being afflicted by blackish blisters for several weeks, they dried up and fell, leaving behind scars that she has to this day. The cow was also fine after that, but it also had some scars. I don't know of anyone dying from it, though..." The farmer legionnaire said.
"When I was a child, I noticed that my horse had strange blisters near its mouth and legs, so I curiously touched them, and they were filled with disgusting pus. A week later, my hands, body, and face were suddenly covered with painful blisters, which lasted for weeks before drying up and falling. I never caught it again, and neither did my horse. I don't know of anyone dying from it, but I am still scarred for life." The cavalryman said, showing his pockmarked arms and face.
After promising to pay the two soldiers if the cases were confirmed, Apollox and Primanus looked at one another, stunned for words. They didn't expect to find two similar diseases that fit the requirements so quickly.
"Is this a disease that transmits from animals to humans? And are they the same disease?" Primanus made an educated guess. Even if he wasn't a doctor, such an observation was too obvious to ignore.
It wasn't as if animal-transmitted diseases were unknown. There were mad dogs that bit people, and the people became madmen before dying. Some believed it was a curse, while others recognized it as a virus. Primanus, while a bit superstitious, still recognized that it was an actual animal-transmitted disease.
"I wouldn't say it is impossible... maybe even very likely. Or perhaps they are two variants of the same disease? Hmm..." Apollox muttered while rubbing his chin.
When this thought crossed his mind, he had a premonition and checked the system.
Sure enough, he obtained another medical class and ability!
Comparative Pathology Researcher: Cross-Species Disease Study.
And that confirmed it. Yes, animals transmit diseases across species, including humans!
"Father-in-law, we must gather samples! Can you give an order to search through the stables and large estates for sick horses or cows?" Apollox requested.
"It can be done. I will send our military vets, offering a reward for retrieving a horse or a cow with the described diseases. If what they said is true, then it would be easy to find within the cavalry cohorts and large estates. I will also go speak to the legate to round up some mining slaves." Primanus promised.
"Thank you, father-in-law!" Apollox excitedly said.
"No problem. Stay with me to help organize and brief the vets. Once done, we will meet the legate and talk about those test subjects." Primanus said.
With the Camp Prefect himself ordering everything, a team of two dozen vets was organised within an hour. After describing the two diseases, the vets dispersed, rushing to the stables and estates, fully motivated. Each afflicted horse or cow found would earn them 10 denari, up to 5 cows and horses!
After the vets left, Apollox and Primanus visited Fastidius in the central command room. Primanus didn't need a reason to visit the legate, so they got a meeting within minutes of entering the building.
The Camp Prefect and Legate then had a small chat before Primanus explained his reasoning for coming.
Initially, Fastidius listened to Primanus out of respect and courtesy, but when he heard that Apollox was testing for a method to counter epidemics and plagues, he was stunned. Just as he was about to voice his doubts, he was presented with a series of well-documented research and solid conclusions backed by proof.
By the end, he looked at Apollox, the young and unassuming 20-year-old, as if looking at some rare animal.
"I heard in passing about this guy joining the hospital, and that he was a rarely-seen genius... but I never imagined him to be this gifted. Is this some form of divine intervention? Or perhaps an omen of a coming calamity? If I don't support him, will the gods punish me, and will I die?"
Thinking about it, Fastidius couldn't help but shudder. Like Primanus, Fastidius was also superstitious, if not more.
"What kind of horrible disaster would prompt divine intervention like this? Would my army really suffer from a disastrous plague that would kill tens of thousands? No... perhaps more? Are the gods blessing this young man, or did they intentionally lead him to where he can fully display his talents? Is this fate?"
However, Fastidius didn't voice his thoughts, quietly listening to what Primanus and Apollox had to say. Finally, Primanus made the request.
"All that we ask is for you to lend us 20 mine slaves for the initial test. I am willing to pay 5 denari per slave and compensate for damages." Primanus said.
Fastidius deeply looked at Primanus before sighing.
"Since you are putting your trust in this research, even willing to fund it, who am I to say no? Okay, you have my approval. Unfortunately, I will march with the army in two weeks, so I won't be here to see the results. I will also tell my replacement to help you if your initial test is successful."
After saying that, Fastidius looked at Apollox with a complicated look. He didn't know whether to be appreciative or regretful about missing his chance to recruit him.
"Oh, well. He wouldn't grow properly in my hands anyway." Fastidius thought.
"Young man... Apollox. If your test succeeds, I would like you to send the result to me at the frontier. Who knows? It might save lives." Fastidius solemnly said.
Apollox nodded with a serious look.
"Of course, Sir. I won't let you down."
"I hope so..." Fastidius thought.
.
.
.
Wow, everything went so smoothly!
I wasn't surprised that my father-in-law agreed, but I was still afraid the legate wouldn't agree. It seems like the legate is a reasonable man after all.
With everything set, all I needed was to wait for a few days. Perhaps, as early as tomorrow, I will get some sick cows and horses! With the slaves the legate provides, I can start research immediately!
While happy, the evening soon arrived, and I went to see Antia. She promised to teach me her original technique!