The next morning, the king asks if anyone has any suggestions on how to deal with the plague in the capital. The king says that it's within the Prime Minister's purview, but that the crown prince should step forward. He says that dealing with a plague will be "a formidable task" , and that whoever takes the crown will have to be "exceedingly competent" . He adds that the candidate must be loyal to the king and gain the king's trust, so that he won't be tempted by the plague's "personal gain." The king worries that if the plague doesn't go away, the people will start to panic.