Beauty and Sharp

This is the third day of the symposium, the enthusiasm of the participants never subsided. Guest seats in the ballroom of the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit hotel are filled with professors from around the world. Smart chatter aired between them.

Laura is fortunate that her close relationship with Prof. Daniel has made her many valuable new acquaintances, some of whom are also interested in the results of her research several years ago and want to publish them in scientific research journals that will be published next month.

Prof Daniel is always proud of Laura's achievements. He also learned that Laura had recently obtained her professorship at the University of Cambridge. Prof. Daniel really regrets the breakup of his eldest son Philip's relationship with Laura a few years ago. In his eyes, Laura is the ideal daughter-in-law.

"Laura, would you like to come again to my place in Aussie? I have some potential projects over this year," said Prof Daniel before they parted ways because the symposium had ended.

Laura looked at Prof Daniel with sparkling eyes, a mixture of happiness and pride. "If I have a time surely I shall come there, Prof Danny. It would be my pleasure to work with you. I will contact you later."

Professor Daniel was very happy to hear Laura's answer. He rubbed the top of Laura's head with affection and a hint of emotion. They were separated because Prof. Daniel had to catch a plane in the afternoon to return to Australia.

Meanwhile Laura still has a job in Thailand. Every afternoon Laura always made a video call with James to treat their longing for each other. Laura recounted her new experience of tasting strange Thai food and also how she started to learn a little Thai and interesting events when she attended a symposium.

James listened intently and sometimes laughed at Laura's cuteness when she told stories. He also commented that Laura has a talent for stand up comedy.

The distance of millions of kilometers did not make James and Laura far away, they actually became closer and got to know each other more personally. Longing to touch each other but can't, can only look at each other from the limited cellphone screen.

The morning arrived, after breakfast at the hotel Laura left for the University of Bangkok by being picked up by the campus facility's car. Laura admired the artistic architecture of the campus buildings. Prof. Tuyen Naa took the car from campus to the King's palace.

When they arrived at the king's palace, the royal administrator took them to the palace garden where there was a clear water pond that was very wide and beautiful, on the surface of the pond grew many lotus trees with colorful flowers blooming. It's an enchanting sight. Goldfish and koi fish swim beautifully among the lotus roots like a living painting.

Prof. Tuyen Naa cleared his throat to break Laura's thoughts. "Ehmm ... Miss Laura, what can we do now?"

Laura woke up from her daydream and answered. "Professor, we need to take samples of infected fishes, you can catch some of the sick one and the died one then we will do necropsy in the lab later."

Professor Tuyen Naa nodded his head in understanding and instructed the park staff to catch some fish that looked sick as well as some that died to be brought to the lab.

Laura circled the pool from end to end accompanied by Prof. Tuyen Naa, Laura said she wanted to see the level of morbidity and mortality of disease in the pool.

It seems almost 75% started showing symptoms of reddish nodules on the body and sores on the caudal and dorsal fins, difficulty breathing and abnormalities in the way of swimming.

Laura stated that her initial suspicion was the Koi Herpes Virus or KHV. In tropical countries this disease is very common and quite malignant in species of carp and koi fish.

After getting fish samples from the king's palace pond, the group returned to campus. Laura was already in the PA Lab FKH University of Bangkok, she led the necropsy (surgery of the carcass) of the fish, before euthanasia, Laura took a blood sample of the fish for analysis of the blood picture and ELISA test.

Laura explained in English the steps she did step by step. There are laboratory technicians who document all the processes in the form of videos. Laura explained the characteristic symptoms of KHV disease, she asked for histopathic samples from fish gills and kidneys to be made with IHC staining and PCR tests.

Prof. Tuyen Naa helps coordinate the delivery of PCR and ELISA test samples to the Biochemistry Lab and also samples for blood images to the Clinical Pathology Lab while he will do histopath staining himself in the PA Lab. He said that Laura would be contacted back when all the analysis was done, maybe in 3 days.

Laura also said goodbye to everyone who had accompanied her to perform the fish necropsy earlier. She wanted to tour the city of Bangkok. Prof. Tuyen Naa asked one of his staff to accompany Laura so as not to get lost, he lent his private car to Laura.

Looks like Laura has another big fan. Prof. Tuyen Naa contacted Prof. Charles and shared his experience during the necropsy with Laura. He asked for permission to hold a public lecture for his students at FKH University of Bangkok which would be delivered by Prof. Laura after the KHV case was diagnosed and treated.

Prof. Charles felt very proud of Laura and he also asked for the live streaming of the public lecture to be broadcast at the UGM FKH.

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After 3 days passed, Laura was invited back to the FKH University of Bangkok campus. It turned out that the results of PCR and ELISA did detect positive KHV infection with histopathic features that characterize the infiltration of monocyte lymphocytes in the interstitial bodies of kidney cells and gill lamellae.

Laura also gave advice on treatment for disinfection of the King's palace pond and quarantining healthy fish and conducting an ELISA test for fish blood samples that still have no symptoms of KHV. Furthermore, healthy fish are injected with the KHV vaccine which can be imported from China or Japan.

The King found out about Laura's work for the palace pool and he called her to thank her. He gave a plaque of appreciation made of elephant ivory carvings inscribed with thanks.

Laura was really honored to receive the plaque and she told The King that she would hand it over to the UGM FKH campus.

The King ordered his subordinates to make another similar plaque especially for Laura. The news immediately went viral on the internet because The King dubbed Laura as the beauty and sharp, a beautiful woman with sharp brains.

The King said that whenever Laura came to his country, she would always be the guest of honor. Laura is very grateful for The King's appreciation for her work and at the same time she wants to say goodbye to returning to Indonesia tomorrow.

The next morning Laura presented the KHV case in the pool of the King's palace as the title of her general lecture in front of hundreds of students and lecturers of FKH University of Bangkok who were present in the campus auditorium.

Without her knowing the live streaming broadcast of the public lecture was also attended by hundreds of FKH UGM students and lecturers including her lover, James who was watching it in the FKH UGM auditorium.

Prof. Charles and other senior lecturers from the PA FKH UGM Lab were amazed and proud of Laura's achievements in Thailand. They no longer considered Laura the child of yesterday afternoon, she was truly something of value.