Minoto's knife-sharp gaze settled on Maki.
Cool and reserved by nature, Minoto was not the type to voice her displeasure the moment she felt it. As always, she merely stood in silence behind Maki, her gaze fixed on the back of Maki's neck.
Maki, meanwhile, was wholly absorbed in her delight at the dramatic increase in her team's offensive power and failed to notice the crisis brewing on an entirely different front.
Standing across from Maki, Altaïr did notice the "danger" she was in.
For one thing, he agreed that Maki's revised lineup made more sense. In a team whose primary mission was to take the offensive and eliminate its targets, a Lance user was not essential, while an aggressive Long Sword user was a better fit for Senior Maki's fighting style.
For another, leaving the levelheaded Senior Minoto to defend the village would give Nymera more freedom in the field. Altaïr was closer to Nymera, after all, so Senior Minoto would just have to accept the short end of the stick this time.
The teams were assigned accordingly.
Maki and Kamura Village's other elite Hunters would continue pursuing the Shagaru Magala.
Altaïr's group of four would head to the Flooded Forest to Hunt infected Large Monsters while searching for traces of the Gore Magala.
Rosso's Cluster Heavy Bowgun Squad would hurry to the Citadel, where its mission would be much the same as Altaïr's.
Of course, the eight members of those two teams could not contain the outbreaks in both regions by themselves. A considerable number of Kamura Hunters and Guild Knights from the Elgado Outpost would support their operations.
According to the scholars' research, the smaller a creature was, the less susceptible it was to the Frenzy Virus. Small Lynians such as Felynes were already all but immune to its effects.
Of course, even if every Hunter and Guild Knight were mobilized, there was no way to "kill everything taller than a Felyne."
They would first eliminate direct sources of the virus, such as Shagaru Magala and Gore Magala. Next came infected Large Monsters over fifteen meters long that might give rise to new infection sources.
Other small infected creatures could be handled gradually, and nature itself would take care of many of them over time.
The overall strategy was blunt, but its objectives were clear, and the Hunters voiced their agreement one after another.
The meeting was not over yet. The director of the Frenzy Virus Research Institute spoke up. "There is one important matter."
She took out a small piece of black crystal that resembled a Talisman but looked far cruder, then placed it on the table.
"The strain of Frenzy Virus released by one Shagaru Magala differs somewhat from another's. Using samples from infected Monsters provided by Kamura Village, we have alchemically refined this new type of Wystone to help suppress the virus.
"You should understand that these Wystones can only suppress the virus's effects and prevent the disease from flaring up. They do not provide complete immunity or a cure.
"Moreover, our samples were limited, and some material was lost during trial production. So far, we have managed to refine only this... half-complete Wystone.
"We need enough infected samples, along with materials rich in highly concentrated Dragon Element, to refine more Wystones of a higher grade.
"Kamura Village can provide the Dragon Element materials. As for the infected samples, we can only obtain those by Hunting diseased Monsters."
Maki picked up the Wystone and examined it. "Kamura still has plenty of Wystones left from before. Can't we use those?"
"They will help to some extent, but they certainly won't work as well as purpose-made ones."
The director calmly met Maki's gaze. "When an uninfected person wears one of the new Wystones, the chance of infection falls below ten percent. If the wearer is already infected, it can suppress the virus and prevent the disease from flaring up.
"We have not yet conducted comparative trials on living subjects with the old Wystones, so we cannot confirm how effective they are."
Maki folded her arms and nodded firmly. "Understood. I'll find a way to bring back some materials first. Please refine a batch of the new Wystones as quickly as possible and distribute them to the Hunters on the front lines."
The director nodded slightly. "Of course. We have experienced Alchemists. As long as we have the materials, refining the Wystones will not take long.
"And don't drag back another Monster's head or anything like that. Those are only good for mounting on a wall as decoration.
"Bring back organs where the virus and spores are concentrated, such as the liver or heart. Those would make much better materials.
"If fortune favors you and you encounter a Monster that has overcome the Frenzy Virus, please Capture it if at all possible.
"That would be our finest possible research specimen. It could greatly accelerate our progress, allowing us to develop higher-grade Wystones and virus-inactivating potions, and ultimately eliminate the lingering threat within Hunters who contract the Frenzy Virus."
Maki gave a quick gesture of acknowledgment. "Hearts and livers, got it. I'll set out shortly. At a Palamute's full speed, I should reach the Flooded Forest by tomorrow afternoon. I can definitely bring back a batch of materials before nightfall the day after--"
"No." Minoto's cool voice cut her off. "You only returned to the village an hour ago. You need to rest."
Maki shrugged. "I can sleep on the Palamute's back."
"That hardly counts as rest. You need a warm bed," Hinoa added.
Although she usually wore a gentle smile, the elder twin could be oddly intimidating when she grew serious.
"That can wait until I get back." Maki shook her head, plainly unconvinced. "We need materials to refine the new Wystones, and everyone needs those Wystones before they can operate with any measure of safety.
"Every day I delay is another day everyone else's operations are delayed."
"Then why do you have to go?" Isis could not help interjecting. "There's only one small Wystone. It doesn't matter who wears it.
"If all we need is to Hunt one infected Monster and gather materials for refining Wystones, any one of us could go, couldn't we?"
Maki picked up the Wystone and tossed it lightly in one hand. "No. The red-eyed, lop-eared rabbit lady just told us that we don't have enough materials. This Wystone is incomplete; it might not provide even half the normal resistance to the Frenzy Virus.
"If you wear it while facing a Monster infected with the Frenzy Virus, you still have a very high chance of becoming infected."
"What about you? You won't get infected?" Isis shot back.
"Me?" Amusement, even a hint of pride, crept across Maki's face.
She tossed the Wystone back onto the table. "I don't need this thing. I've carried the Frenzy Virus for years. I learned long ago how to overcome it and turn its power to my own use.
"Forget an ordinary infected Monster. You could throw Shagaru Magala scale dust straight in my face and I'd be fine."
The director smiled. "Maki has a rather unusual constitution. Her body readily accepts all kinds of viruses and parasites, and her immune system mounts almost no defense against such foreign agents.
"Never mind this incomplete Wystone. Given her constitution, she would probably still become infected even if she wore a complete one.
"Though that isn't quite accurate, either. She has already been infected for years, and you can't kill a dead person twice."
...
Maki was left speechless. She knew the director was getting even for her "rabbit lady" remark.
"I see. So this is the sort of case that falls within that 'less than ten percent'?" Altaïr looked from Maki to the incomplete Wystone on the table, deep in thought.
A bad feeling came over Isis. She opened her mouth to speak, but Altaïr beat her to it.
"Director, Mr. Alva mentioned earlier that my constitution closely resembles Senior Maki's. I assume that includes susceptibility to the Frenzy Virus."
Altaïr grinned. "If infection is inevitable, a few days sooner or later won't make any difference.
"Let me make the trip."