When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

Chapter 1168 Is there really an organic soul?

Where is that wind-up horse?

After removing his hat and hanging it on the coat rack next to him, Horn stepped into the ordnance research institute surrounded by high walls.

"Your Majesty, this way." A technical priest in a white coat led the way.

Similar to the engineers' uniforms, this kind of attire didn't exist locally in the Holy Alliance; it was Horn who proposed it.

Even though he is now a citizen of this world, it can be considered a way of commemorating his hometown.

After walking a few steps, you can see a female engineer walking towards you. She is also Leonardo's student - Kuswania.

However, unlike the delicate Kuswania before, the current Kuswania not only has more muscle in her arms, but even her eyes are much brighter.

"Your Majesty." Kuswania's voice trembled slightly, after all, the Holy Grandson was her idol in her teenage years.

"Tell me, what exactly is wrong with this wind-up mechanism?"

"Okay, okay."

Despite being delighted to see her idol, Kuswania dutifully explained the situation.

"This clockwork mechanism, registration number 1454-11-11, belongs to the medium to large-sized clockwork mechanism and has been approved."

The review results showed that there was no high risk, but also no possibility of application.

His engineers used this clockwork mechanism solely to promote the robustness of his parts and to showcase the manufacturing capabilities of his workshop.

Their workshop's main product is actually a glass molding machine.

Despite the lack of high risk, the review committee still modified its design to prevent it from running…

Walking down the long corridor, Horn stopped in his tracks: "But it did run, I saw it with my own eyes."

"...This is also where our doubts lie..."

The rampaging wind-up horse, after destroying several stalls, had to stop recharging because its clockwork had run out of power.

At that moment, the Night's Watch, who were maintaining order, rushed forward, pulled out the wind-up key, and subdued him.

Although the wind-up key is decorative, it also serves as a switch and a safety device.

Even so, the wind-up mechanical horse miraculously kicked out, sending the two men flying before it lost its strength.

After clearly losing its clock tuner, the wind-up horse was still able to move instead of completely stopping.

Most outrageous of all, according to Kuswania's report, those gears and springs seemed to form his very being.

It can sense anything that is touched, to the point that it will develop a conditioned reflex.

“Besides that, this wind-up horse has another characteristic.” Standing outside the gate of a small courtyard, Kuswania opened the door for Horn as she spoke, “It seems to have an extremely strong desire to attack other creatures.”

As the leather boots stepped into the courtyard, the previously noisy yard instantly fell silent.

All the engineers and technical priests stared intently as the saint's grandson walked in through the doorway.

"Your Majesty..."

"What are you looking at me for? Go do your own thing."

It was as if time had just begun to flow, and the technical priests and engineers had gone about their own business.

Only then did the wind-up mechanical horse, imprisoned in a huge iron cage, come into view behind the crowd.

Horn simply stretched out his hand, and the supervisor next to him immediately handed him a report.

The more he read the report, the deeper the wrinkles between his brows became.

According to this joint investigation report from the Cheka and engineers, it is clear that this wind-up mechanical horse was not capable of running.

Because of its joint design, it is simply not capable of supporting running; at most, it can only perform short, brisk walking like race walking.

The amazing thing is that the mechanical horse, which was working perfectly fine before, suddenly malfunctioned internally and inexplicably got several gears stuck in the leg joints.

These few gears reduced the strength of the wind-up horse's outer shell, causing the outer metal plate to fall off.

But it is precisely these gears that strengthen the leg joints.

This was supposed to be a malfunction, but somehow the mechanical horse started running based on this malfunction. Most absurdly, the clock tuner, which required manual charging, actually started charging automatically.

That is, the key that was inserted into the lock suddenly started moving on its own!
It may seem like a coincidence, but it is by no means a coincidence.

According to the on-site engineers' analysis, the mechanical horse was not running around randomly after a malfunction, but rather it was doing so purposefully.

It was trying to escape the Crystal Palace, and even actively attacked and rammed into passersby.

Today, even Alexei, the only son of the former Grand Duke Petrov of Fatty Beef Burger, was almost sent to another world.

This clearly suggests the existence of intelligent life, yet the entire clockwork horse has no nervous system or anything like a brain!

Not to mention that current technology simply cannot simulate a brain-like machine.

Is this really a case of the machine spirit going out of control?

Although many soldiers and workers believed, out of superstition, that the Holy Spirit existed within the clockwork mechanism.

Especially after the secret faction of mechanical spirits entered the field of engineering, a large number of engineers believed in the existence of mechanical spirits.

However, Horn and other high-ranking officials believed this was pure superstition and there was no evidence to prove it.

He put down the report in his hand, put his hands behind his back, and began to walk slowly around the iron cage.

This mechanical horse is about the same size as a real miniature horse, and its shoulder height is about the same as a human's shoulder height.

It has a streamlined body, and the steel gears and brass parts move with the body as if breathing.

The mechanical horse seemed to be aware of His Holiness the Pope's arrival.

Its bent legs slowly straightened, the wind-up key on its back spun rapidly, and its fluorite glass eyes stared intently at Horn.

When Horn was halfway there, he heard a defiant, ticking sound coming from its internal mechanism, like a wild dog growling.

As soon as Horn turned his head to the side of the mechanical horse, it raised its iron hooves and charged forward.

"Den-"

Sparks flew from the iron cage, and several parts of the wind-up horse clattered to the ground.

The Cheka military police nearby were so frightened that they quickly stepped in front of Horn, ready to draw their guns and finish him off at any moment.

"Don't rush, play with it a bit." Horn pressed down on the muzzle of the gun, his gaze fixed on the wind-up horse shaking its head in the iron cage.

For some reason, he always felt a sense of familiarity with this mechanical horse.

Especially those ravenous eyes.

Horn felt the sacred tree seed gem in his chest seemed to be getting slightly warm. He was startled at first, then remembered something.

"Find someone to get some holy water and moon mercury."

Before long, two Chekas entered the courtyard carrying buckets filled with holy water and moon mercury.

The holy water splashed against the barrel wall, scattering specks of silver light, while the moon mercury emitted a streak of white light.

The wind-up horse in the cage moved, facing the two Cheka officers with a mixture of apprehension and longing.

The various parts and gears on his body vibrated, as if trembling or shaking with fear.
Horn couldn't tell for the time being, but he didn't need to. He simply ordered, "Sprinkle a ladle of holy water on it."

As if the wind-up mechanical horse could understand, it immediately rammed its head against the iron cage and struggled frantically.

Staring at the swaying iron cage, the technical priests' faces changed: "Damn it, its spring is completely loose, how can it still move like this?"

"Never mind, keep splashing!"

The gleaming holy water fell, sprinkling onto the brass and mithril.

In an instant, the wind-up mechanical horse collapsed to its knees in agony.

The holy water turned into wisps of white steam, which slowly rose from his iron body.

Seeing the appearance of this wind-up mechanical horse, everyone present was intelligent and immediately understood.

The idea was just too absurd. They exchanged a glance, and finally, Kuswania murmured:
"A monster! This wind-up horse is a monster!"

(End of this chapter)