Chapter 84 The Price of Moving Forward

Hughes' eyes brightened, then dimmed.

Monica was indeed right, Banshees were the most suitable race for scientific research.

With his purification ability, they are not afraid of pollution, and the consequences of cognitive interference in this world pose no threat to them at all.

He has a symbiotic contract and a strong body. He can also perform dangerous experiments, and can recover quickly when injured thanks to the contract.

But "Monica, your idea is good, but it is not the real solution to the problem." Hughes looked at the Type II aircraft in the distance. Hughes filled some fuel into it every once in a while, and it was still roaring.

"If my territory was only Castel and my people were only the people on the island, then there would probably be no problem."

"But what if, I mean what if, we have an entire country in the future, or even establish a regime that encompasses the entire civilization?"

"By that time, only the Banshees will be able to do scientific research, and this won't be such a beautiful thing."

"If the Banshees become powerful, you will form an academic clique and monopolize knowledge. You will eventually part ways with humans - even if you have similar ideas."

"If you are weak, you will be controlled and forced to study science - perhaps by brainwashing with justice, or by coercion with force, which is essentially another form of slavery."

"Either way, it will hinder the development of civilization and bring suffering to everyone."

Monica's emerald eyes widened.

She looked at her six arms.

"Is this because we are not human?"

"No, it's because knowledge is monopolized."

Hughes looked up into the distance, as if recalling something, as if mourning.

“Whether it is active monopoly or passive monopoly, it stops the circulation of knowledge.”

"Exchange, communication, and sharing will not lead to knowledge leakage. Technology cannot be blocked. The more it is blocked, the more backward it will be. The more it is monopolized, the more ignorant it will be. In the end, knowledge will be placed on a pedestal and regarded as a criterion that cannot be changed."

The church on Blue Star was once the representative of progress and knowledge, and the monks were once the most literate group of people, but they were eventually abandoned by the times, and their remaining corpses are still hindering the development of civilization.

Knowledge itself is not important. The Type II machine that is like a god at this moment will be just a toy placed in a museum in the 21st century. But the things behind the knowledge are very important.

If knowledge can only be monopolized by a few people, if scientific research can only be enjoyed by a few people, it will inevitably bring tragedy.

but--

"Of course, Monica, you're actually right."

Xius shook his head and smiled with a hint of pain and powerlessness.

"If in this world, people without extraordinary powers have to sacrifice their lives to pursue knowledge and science."

"If only the Banshee could conduct scientific research."

"Then do it."

"Why? Isn't it said that this will lead to tragedy?" Monica was a little surprised.

"Yes, yes, yes, it is a tragedy, a great price, a great sacrifice, and a painful scar that will tear civilization apart."

"But even so, it's worth it."

“Truth is worth pursuing at all costs. For the sake of progress, no sacrifice is too great to be accepted. For the sake of the future, any pain can be endured.”

"But isn't the purpose of technological progress to bring happiness to people? Progress is achieved at the expense of happiness."

"No!"

Xiusi uttered the word in a firm tone, his voice was so low that it was almost a roar, as if a ball of fire was burning his body.

Monica was startled and looked at her lord, only to find that his eyes were brighter than ever before.

He looked at the frightened Monica, at the banshees standing not far away, at the factories and people in the distance, and at the endless ocean of storms.

He retracted his gaze, paused for a moment, and said without hesitation, "No."

“It’s not a question of should or should not.”

“If a race loses the courage to move forward, it will slide into the abyss; if a civilization chooses to escape, it will never be able to take another step forward.”

“The biggest problem for the capitulationists is never surrendering, but choosing to surrender.”

Xius's eyes softened, and he lowered his voice: "So, do you understand, Monica? What you want to choose is not something as simple as research. What you want to bear is a fate that is too heavy - you are free, but in front of you is a pair of shackles that cannot be taken off."

"Now, do you still like science?"

Until it got dark, there was no unusual change. The Type II machine was working normally and there was no pollution nearby.

Everything was at peace inside Hughes.

After repeatedly confirming safety with the banshees underground in the manor, Zeus lifted the state of emergency.

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Due to the dangers of research and experiments, he specifically stipulated several emergency states, with different levels of mobilization depending on the situation, so as to minimize the harm caused by pollution.

The students also left. Connor found a few carriages and specially transferred some patrol members over. After all, it was dark now and there were wolves on the island.

The banshees gradually dispersed, and Una glared at Zeus. This banshee, who had been a little timid, was the first to come over and hold Monica aside after Zeus finished his long speech.

"Don't scare the children!"

Xius didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He was indeed so absorbed in what he was saying that he forgot that Monica was still young.

He wanted to apologize, but Una protected Monica tightly, like a mother cat holding her kittens.

Forget it, let’s talk about it later when we have the chance.

Commanding the banshees to move the steam engine aside, Hughes was thinking about how to use it.

He was planning to put the Type II machine into production, but there was no rush for this one.

The most important task now is to train qualified engineers, and let them practice on this steam engine.

You need to become familiar with disassembly and assembly, maintenance, operating procedures, troubleshooting of problems, which are minor problems and which require immediate shutdown.

He plans to work with these students to compile a set of special operating manuals, and the future teaching tasks will be handed over to them.

And then there is——

"Connor, I plan to expand the experimental base in the east. It's still too crude now, and the means to deal with danger are not enough. Let Alexi come over tomorrow and I'll tell him in detail."

"Yes, sir."

At this time, Xius had returned to the manor and was yawning and preparing to go back to bed to sleep. He didn't sleep well after tossing and turning for so long last night.

Although the new way the pollution came cast a haze in his eyes, it did not prevent him from revealing a tired smile.

This is a steam engine. This is the farthest he has traveled since he traveled through time. Although the road is rough and bumpy, he has finally successfully taken the first step towards industrialization.

The old butler seemed to be hesitant to speak, and Hughes glanced at him.

"What's wrong, Connor, anything else?"

Connor hesitated and handed over a few sheets of paper.

"Master Hughes, the Candlelight Society's ship will arrive tomorrow. Would you like to take a look at Miss Beatrice's information first?"

(End of this chapter)