Steel, Guns, and the Industrial Party in Another World - Chapter 460

Chapter 460: Hybrid Experiment

After dealing with the dwarven prince, Paul devoted most of his energy to the construction of the chemical plant and the formation of a new exploration fleet.

His busyness was interrupted by the visit of three clergy members.

Anderson, the current dean of the North Shore Monastery, was more a scholar than a clergyman.

Morrison, the current vice-dean of the North Shore Monastery, managed the monastery’s affairs as Anderson was always busy with research.

Vaollet, whom Paul had last seen at the church in Port Fran, was the presiding priest there.

Paul received them in the drawing room.

“Why do you have time to visit me, and all together at that?” Paul asked.

In his memory, Anderson was always holed up in the monastery tinkering with strange plants, Morrison was constantly busy managing the monastery’s affairs, and Vaollet’s church was far from Lakeheart Town, so he had little other interaction with the other two except for their shared clergy status.

“Lord Grayman!”

Morrison and the increasingly corpulent Father Vaollet bowed to him.

Vaollet spoke first, “I have just been nominated as the presiding priest of the Lakeheart Town church, so from now on, I can visit you anytime.”

This priest was finally transferred from Port Fran, but Vaollet was happy with this move. He had feared being sent to a remote location, but being assigned to Lakeheart Town was a real promotion. After all, Lakeheart Town was the power center of Alda, Baylding, and Emden.

Paul congratulated him, “Then congratulations to you.”

A shadow of gloom flashed across Morrison’s smiling face, as if he saw a rival.

The church in Lakeheart Town was originally managed by the monastery, and now a new priest was parachuted in.

“Cough cough!” Anderson, standing aside, cleared his throat, looking very serious.

“Lord Grayman…” he said hesitantly, “actually, we are here because of a book?”

“A book?”

Anderson signaled to the vice-dean: “Morrison!”

With a troubled look, Morrison said, “Ah, Lord Grayman, you see for yourself.”

He then took out a book and handed it to Paul with both hands.

“Record of Injustices” — this was the title that caught Paul’s eye.

He opened the first page.

“…Dear respected readers, and kind-hearted righteous people, considering the current grave situation in Horn Bay, I, holding onto the last shred of human conscience, have decided to reveal the unknown side of this land…”

“…The Church, it is not as people usually perceive it to be, an entity of absolute truth and goodness in this world. This organization, beneath its dazzling light, has an ugly and even terrifying core. It’s like the devil in the scriptures that masquerades as a loyal and honest person to deceive the hearts of people…”

“…I spent nearly a decade visiting every town and village in Horn Bay, collecting a vast amount of first-hand information…”

“…For centuries, the Church has been a massive shackle on the people of Horn Bay… It’s an exploiter, not a contributor; a bully, not a protector…”

“…Thus, under the guise of witch hunting, countless human tragedies have been created, which are essentially just means for the Church to amass wealth and power…”

After flipping through a few pages, Paul closed the book, “Wow! This content is explosive.”

Morrison and Vaollet laughed awkwardly.

Anderson was furious, “Lord Grayman, is this about how explosive the content is? This is heresy! Blatant heresy!”

“So what do you want?”

“Please order an immediate ban on this book before it spreads further.”

Morrison quickly pulled Anderson aside and carefully explained to Paul: “Lord Grayman, it’s like this. A week ago, people from Horn Bay came to us, saying that a blasphemous work was being widely circulated there. After investigating, they found it originated from the Northwestern Bay. We helped them trace it back… to your printing press.”

“Uh… I see.” Paul was slightly embarrassed.

“Not only that, but someone has translated this blasphemous work into the Ordo language, and it’s still being printed.”

“Now, the Church in Horn Bay is demanding we immediately ban this irreverent work.”

Paul said unhappily, “Isn’t the Church over there stretching its hands too far? Besides, the book criticizes the Horn Bay Church, not the Northwestern Bay Church.”

“Uh…” Morrison said awkwardly, “But we all serve the Lord of Light, so…”

He suddenly stopped talking, sensing a warning in Paul’s gaze.

Clarify your fucking position!

Morrison pleaded, “At least stop the distribution of the Ordo language version.”

Anderson looked surprised at his vice-dean, not understanding why his usually assertive deputy was so submissive in front of Paul. Before coming, he had been worried that Morrison would confront the lord like his stubborn and rigid teacher.

However, it seemed like the lord’s words hinted at some dissatisfaction with the Church.

Vaollet, rolling his eyes, looked back and forth between Paul and Morrison, pondering over something.

Before being transferred to Lakeheart Town, he had only met Morrison a few times and was envious of Morrison’s position as the vice-dean of the North Shore Monastery, a significant training ground for talents in the Northwestern Church. Now, with the actual dean being indifferent to daily affairs, Morrison was effectively in charge.

This key vice-dean was now humbling himself in front of the Lord of Alda…

A silence fell in the room.

“Alright! Three fathers,” Paul said somewhat reluctantly, spreading his hands. “I’ll talk to the person in charge of the printing press. You know, ever since the printing press was invented, books have become a low-margin, high-volume business. So, they take any order they can get that pays.”

“Thank you, Lord Grayman!”

Anderson, Morrison, and Vaollet stood up and bowed to Paul as if pardoned.

“Ah, right!” Paul turned to Anderson, “I heard the dean has been busy lately. Have you discovered any new knowledge?”

“Me?” Anderson, blushing slightly, pointed to himself, “Oh, it’s nothing much. Just some tinkering.”

“Ha ha, do tell.”

“Well, Lord Grayman. I’m trying to understand the relationship between certain characteristics of organisms and their reproduction.”

“Oh? Interesting, can you elaborate?”

As Anderson spoke about his hobby, he became animated and excitedly explained to Paul.

“You see, Lord, dogs always give birth to dogs, cats to cats, apple trees don’t bear peaches, and cherry trees don’t bear pears. Isn’t there some rule operating behind these common-sense facts?”

Morrison and Vaollet exchanged glances, wondering if this was even a question worth researching. If it weren’t so, wouldn’t the world be in chaos?

Paul nodded, “Indeed, this is a question worth exploring.”

Morrison and Vaollet mentally remarked on the lord’s oddity.

Seeing Paul’s agreement, Anderson became more excited, as others had previously looked at him with pity when he discussed these issues.

“For example, were wheat grains always able to produce full ears? Why are modern watermelons different from those in ancient paintings? What caused these changes? I believe there’s a great secret left by the Heavenly Father during creation.”

Paul asked seriously, “Have you made any progress in your research?”

Anderson looked dejected, shaking his head, “The varieties and traits of organisms are complex and confusing. I’m still in the dark.”

“Why not start with one type of organism—like a rapidly growing plant—to simplify things?”

“I was thinking the same, just haven’t decided on the plant yet.”

Paul laughed, “I suggest you experiment with peas.”

“Peas?”

Paul explained, “Firstly, peas self-pollinate before flowering, usually producing pure breeds. You can use this to control your experiments better. Take two pea plants, one male, one female, remove the male organs from the female, and manually pollinate with the male’s pollen to achieve hybridization.”

“Secondly, pea varieties have distinct and easily distinguishable traits, like tall or dwarf stems, making experimental results easier to observe and analyze.”

“Lastly, peas have a short growth cycle and produce many seeds, shortening the experimental period.”

Anderson had an epiphany, clapping his hands, “Exactly, exactly! Why didn’t I think of that? Peas are perfect for my research.”

Then, in disbelief, “Lord Grayman, I’m amazed by your knowledge. I deal with plants every day, and yet…”

You’re not as good as me? Paul guessed his thoughts.

Of course, because I didn’t sleep in biology class.

Paul humbly said, “It was just a lucky guess.”

Anderson sighed, “That guess is very important to me.”

Ten minutes later, the three priests left the lord’s mansion.

Morrison and Vaollet were satisfied, as the count didn’t seem to make things difficult for them.

Anderson was exceptionally excited, eager to return to the monastery to plant peas, the book’s matter completely forgotten.