Steel, Guns, and the Industrial Party in Another World

Upon hearing Libett's words, Antony showed an expression of regret and pain.

"My lord, it's all my fault. When evaluating candidates for the new Archbishop of Horn Bay, I supported Elvis. I never imagined that after he became the Archbishop, he would bring Horn Bay to such a state."

Libett, who had been maintaining a stern face, showed a slight smile, comforting the young Cardinal.

"Oh, my dear Antony, there's no need for such self-reproach. The appointment of the Archbishop of Horn Bay was the result of comprehensive deliberation by the church. Didn't you hear that Elvis was chosen because he was the most sane among a bunch of lunatics? If someone else had been appointed, who knows what state Horn Bay would be in now!"

Libett sighed softly.

"Alas, this is probably the inevitability of history. Even though we supported a relatively sane bishop, the situation still developed into what we didn't want to see. It can only be said that Horn Bay is a place with complex and interwoven contradictions that catalyze each other, eventually breeding the monstrosity of war. Look, the poverty of inland countries and the wealth of coastal nations, the power demands of the church and secular rulers, the openness brought by commercial development and the conservatism naturally supported by religion, and so forth – none of these are easy to resolve. Elvis, he just happened to become the Archbishop at this time. Whether it was Elvis or someone else in the position, it would only hasten or delay the current situation. No one could resolve all the contradictions, and war is the explosion of these contradictions."

Just as he finished speaking, the papal emissary saw a hint of doubt flash in Antony's eyes.

"What's the matter, my dear Antony?"

Libett, now over fifty, valued the young man in front of him highly – the youngest Cardinal with limitless potential.

"Oh, nothing."

Antony shook his head slightly and said, "It's just that I find it hard to immediately grasp your profound insights due to my own foolishness."

Libett laughed heartily, "It's not some profound insight, merely the experience gained over decades. When you are old enough, you will naturally understand these things."

Antony then asked, "If you think the situation is so pessimistic and its development has a certain inevitability, then why take the risk of confronting it?"

"I…"

Libett did not answer immediately. He gazed towards the horizon, where the sky was now a dull yellow, the sun half-set, with night approaching quickly.

After a long pause, Libett finally said, "Perhaps it's because I always believe that deep down, everyone has a last shred of rationality."

Then both fell into silence. They walked side by side for a while, and at the corner of the corridor, they parted ways.

Watching Libett's departing figure, Antony murmured in an almost inaudible voice, "Emissary, my purpose in coming to Horn Bay with you was to shatter that so-called last shred of rationality."

…

In the office of the chairman of the highest council of Fort Ness, Chairman Marcus and several influential council members were discussing a letter, including the head of the Foster family, Joe Foster.

The Chairman asked, "My friends, what do you think of the sincerity behind Lord Libett's visit?"

Foster replied, "Marcus, even if he comes with great sincerity, I don't think it will make any difference. Unless…"

Chairman: "Unless?"

"Unless the Church in Horn Bay is directly ordered by the Papacy to stop its witch-hunting campaign and to cease interfering in the internal affairs of the riverine countries. The fire has already been lit; throwing handfuls of soil on it won't do much."

"This… seems unlikely!" the Chairman sighed.

"Let's not harbor any illusions! Prepare for war!"

Council member Horace, who advocated a tough stance against the Church, was eager for action.

"Now is our last moment, our position is like standing on the edge of a cliff. Even one step back will plunge us into the abyss, along with the glory of the Horn Bay Alliance, and the wealth inherited from our ancestors and accumulated by ourselves, will be lost in an instant."

Horace's excitement stemmed from his family's involvement in the slave trade, and war was the most effective way to acquire a large number of slaves quickly.

The rapid rise of anti-Church sentiment among the populace was something the council members had not anticipated.

After much consideration, the mysterious book "Record of Injustices," authored by an unknown person, was identified as a significant catalyst.

This book, which would anger any conscientious person against the Church, was cleverly composed.

It didn't oppose the Lord of Light, the deity widely worshipped by humanity – that might have turned away many readers – but instead separated the Lord of Light from the Church and its jurisdictional churches, treating them as distinct entities.

While criticizing the Church, the book extensively quoted classic passages from the "Holy Scriptures." The author's theological knowledge was astounding, making it seem like the Church's actions consistently contradicted the very "Holy Scriptures" they fervently preached.

The book boldly raised several questions:

– By what right does the Church represent the Lord of Light?

– Why should the Church monopolize the interpretation of the "Holy Scriptures"?

– Is the Church acting against the "Holy Scriptures" while claiming to act under the banner of the Lord of Light?

These questions had a significant impact on the believers.

For centuries, the Church and the Lord of Light were almost synonymous in people's minds, with the Church seen as the earthly embodiment of the Father's power and authority.

No one had ever doubted the Church's legitimacy to represent the Lord of Light.

Now, this well-researched and profound book planted seeds of doubt in people's minds.

The recent actions of the Horn Bay Church nurtured these seeds, which quickly grew and flourished.

The result was the emergence of a new sect, with many former Church members publicly breaking away from the Horn Bay Church to form a new organization.

The council sought to uncover the author of the book but only learned that it originated from the Northwest Bay. When they inquired at the printing press that produced it, they were refused answers due to a confidentiality agreement with the client.

Later, the book was banned by the lords of Alda, but its numbers in Horn Bay continued to grow rapidly.

Perhaps someone had purchased a printing press from the Aldans and started their own production.