The vehicle sped down the road. After more than an hour's drive from the airport, Dustin and Grace finally arrived at the source of the outbreak—Ashwillow Village.

It was located on the outskirts of Reedcrest, bordering Harbortown, with a population of 300 residents.

Every road into the village had been barricaded. All residents were confined to their homes under orders to cooperate with the ongoing investigation. At the same time, the 23 people who had contracted the plague had been quarantined together under strict military supervision to avoid any mishaps.

When Dustin and Grace arrived at Ashwillow Village, it was already 9:30 pm. Their vehicle stopped in front of a two-story house with a courtyard.

Its perimeter bristling with hastily installed surveillance equipment and guarded by a full squad of soldiers who wore medical masks over their faces.

The security protocols demanded that every person entering or leaving the premises undergo thorough decontamination procedures. It w