"Do you think I planned to recruit them into the expeditionary force as members of the Faithguard Army? No, I planned to recruit them as workers."
That caught Alexei somewhat by surprise. "But aren't they preparing to seek revenge?"
"Revenge is revenge, war is war. Laying railroad tracks is also a way to avenge Nora." Theus shifted the topic. "Besides, I believe that when training a new soldier, the first thing to do is make him into a worker."
Alexei thought for a moment before speaking thoughtfully. "...The Holy Scripture?"
"Yes. The Holy Scripture compiled for the Faithguard Army was based on the same idea. The scriptures carried by the Faithguard Army weren't written at random; that basic industrial knowledge was the foundation for stabilizing cognition."
Did mortals need stable cognition?
Theus had not worried too much about it before. After all, ever since the soap incident, Castel had never experienced Pollution descending again.
Part of the reason was the cautious precautions taken everywhere, while another was that Castel's level of education really had become quite high.
But just because Castel could manage it did not mean others could.
Two days ago, news came from Blood Port that the prince's newly formed army had encountered Cognitive Interference.
Theus had shipped a batch of stockpiled rifled muskets to Blood Port. This weapon was only marginally more advanced than Imperial muskets, with the only addition being the Minie ball. Both its operation and outward appearance differed little from a musket.
Then Pollution descended.
It began when a soldier, acting on a whim, shoved an improperly sealed Minie ball into the barrel—this saved a step, and since it had to be stuffed into the barrel anyway, it would probably still fire as long as the ramrod packed it down tightly.
The only consequences