Industrial Cthulhu, starting from the island lord

Chapter 494 Don't show him the newspaper!

Although Hunter was a scholar, his research focused on engineering machinery, the practical application of which was mainly in the use of various giant machines for sieges.

Therefore, he has actually done a lot of research on city walls.

The sight of the city wall before him made him frown.

Who was in charge of the engineering design for Castells? Their skill level is appalling!
The direction in which these city walls were built was wrong; they were built vertically. What could they possibly defend against?
Keep in mind that Castel is an island, and the enemy came from outside; such walls were not even in front of the enemy.

Moreover, the design of these city walls is incorrect.

Generally speaking, city walls are trapezoidal structures that are narrow at the top and wide at the bottom.

This structure has natural stability, making it more robust and resilient in the face of enemy attacks. Even if it is breached, it is much easier to repair temporarily.

But the walls of Castel were all the same width from top to bottom, and the tops were covered with trees—that's something else entirely.
Ok?
Hunter suddenly paused for a moment.

Why plant trees on top of the city wall?

Upon closer inspection, the width of these city walls seems absurd; several carriages can easily pass side by side on top. Although it's not clearly visible from the train below, they are indeed somewhat different from ordinary city walls.

There were no battlements, firing ports, or towers; instead, it was lush and green, like a hanging garden described in a book.

Hunter's doubts didn't last long; soon he saw people picking wheat grains from the trees.

Hunter rubbed his eyes, looking somewhat confused.

Trees of rye, each several meters tall, were being cut down with long poles. The people were keeping a safe distance, carefully avoiding the black substance flowing from the cut ends.

Then he picked a fist-sized grain of wheat and threw it off the city wall.

Large canvases were laid out beneath the city walls. When enough wheat grains were thrown down, machines would grab the four corners of the canvas and roll them into a huge cart.

Hunter leaned out the window and, sure enough, saw a similar cargo bed on the train.

I see. This must be a harvesting operation at some kind of agricultural estate. The plantation is built on a high platform. Although the infrastructure investment is high, once it is completed, harvesting will be very convenient.

Look at those workers, they pick the fruit and throw it down the train for transport, it's definitely an efficient method.

In other words, those were not actually city walls, but rather raised agricultural parks, which makes sense in terms of their form and construction.

This is what architecture should look like.

Hunter nodded in satisfaction, leaned back in his chair, and continued to enjoy the scenery.

After a long while, he finally jumped up from his chair.

"wrong!"

It took the two friars some time to get Hunter back down.

Although he stopped struggling, he kept talking.

Why are those wheat stalks so big?

The friars replied somewhat irritably, "For no reason, it's just that big!"

What is the black stuff flowing out of it?

"I don't know, go ask the one in the stellar reactor."

"That"

"Stop wasting your breath on him, why don't we just give him a tranquilizer injection!"

"Makes sense."

Two guards took a box from their waists and were about to open it when Hunter suddenly calmed down.

He continued to gaze at the city walls outside the window, but his expression gradually relaxed, no longer so tense. The two exchanged a glance, scratched their heads somewhat bewildered, and slowly loosened their grip on him.

Hunter naturally recited that name in his heart again.

This time, the feeling was even stronger. Everything that was indescribable, incomprehensible, and made reason waver quickly faded away, as if these terrifying and bizarre beings also feared this name.

What magic does this name possess that can stabilize his cognition and rationality?

Hunter didn't understand, but scholars are actually quite experienced in this kind of thing—there are many things in this world that are incomprehensible, and you can use them as a tool.

If the name is useful, then he will just recite it in his heart. He has not been bewitched, nor does he intend to join a cult; he is just using it for his own purposes.

no problem.

However, Castel's creations are indeed miraculous, and even he couldn't help but admire this lord from the bottom of his heart, let alone others.

He could understand to some extent why people regarded the local lord as a god.

But he was a scholar, armed and empowered by knowledge, unlike those ignorant commoners, so of course he wouldn't have such a mistaken understanding.

but
Hunter suddenly remembered what the doctor had said: the deeper one's knowledge, the easier it is to go mad. Why is that?
A shadow fell over his heart.

"Newspapers! Anyone want a newspaper? Peanuts, melon seeds, sweet fruit wine, and special fried horse mackerel—everyone, watch out and move your feet!"

A train conductor was pushing a cart through the carriage while calling out to passengers, which immediately caught Hunter's attention.

Hunter wasn't much of a fan of snacks, but newspapers?

The Rhineland has always published newspapers, which Hunter specially arranged to be delivered to the North regularly. He enjoys reading these current affairs news.

Unfortunately, the North, despite its vast territory, doesn't have this kind of trendy stuff. I never expected to see it in Castells.

Before coming here, Hunter thought it was just a desolate island, but now it seems it might not be any worse than Ryan.

"Give me one." He instinctively reached out and said, then realized he didn't have any money, and paused awkwardly, unsure of what to do.

Before he could even react, the guards on both sides jumped up from their chairs.

"no!"

"We can't give it to him!"

The two men grabbed Hunter's hand and looked at the train conductor as if facing a formidable enemy: "We are the Guardians of the Church, on a mission to escort this man. This is his first time in Castel. You, you take that newspaper away from us, and make sure he doesn't read it!"

The train conductor quickly explained, "This is an officially published, legal newspaper, not written by a war correspondent group. It's highly unlikely to contain any ulterior motives, so it's very safe!"

"No, he's already gone mad several times already! Take it away, take it away! This thing is too dangerous!"

Hunter was a little confused. It was just a newspaper, why were these two people reacting so strongly?

It's just a newspaper; he's read them before. It's ridiculous.

The two guards escorting the train conductor watched her warily until she left the carriage, at which point they breathed a sigh of relief.

The train gradually slowed down, and a sound came from a hidden pipe opening above the carriage:
"The next stop is Castel Cathedral. Passengers, please take your luggage and disembark!"

Hunter looked up with some interest, about to examine the sound transmission structure, when he felt someone tap him on the shoulder.

Two guardsmen were looking at him with serious expressions, their eyes revealing a hint of tension.

"Well, we're going to the main church soon, and you'll definitely see the Stellar Furnace later."

"Don't be afraid of what I'm about to tell you."

(End of this chapter)