Lord: Starting with Biological Modification

He shifted his attack from Leman as a person to the potion itself.

This was his last line of defense, and the one he believed to be the most impregnable.

Because it was based on the fundamental doctrines of the church—a sacred and inviolable domain.

"According to the Act, any attempt to influence bloodline succession through unnatural means is considered blasphemy!"

Brian’s voice turned harsh, and he stared daggers at Leman.

"As the first person to attempt to publicly produce and sell this item in the Royal Capital, Count Leman, even if he didn’t organize an auction, has committed the grave crime of ’creating a blasphemous object’!"

His words struck everyone in the courtroom like a heavy hammer.

Even the hearts of the nobles in the gallery who secretly supported Leman sank.

The authority of the church, in the end, was an immovable mountain.

However, Brian failed to notice that as he tried to drag everyone onto the church’s war chariot, the expressions of the nobles on the jury were quietly changing.

Their brows were furrowed, and their eyes betrayed a sense of unease and resistance.

The "facts" that Lilia had spread at the salon were continuing to ferment.

’That’s right... if they accepted the church’s designation for this potion today...’

’...then tomorrow, wouldn’t the heirs of their own families also be called into question?’

’Wouldn’t their own property be seized by the church in the name of "purification"?’

’The tragic fate of Mrs. Ferrier and her unborn child was the most likely destiny awaiting them!’

They could be indifferent to Leman’s fate, but they could not be indifferent to the foundations of their own families!

Brian keenly sensed the subtle shift in the atmosphere, and his heart sank.

’Why?’

He didn’t understand. Why, when he clearly held the high ground in both law and doctrine, had he instead provoked the hostility of these nobles?

Just as the court reached a stalemate and the judge was about to ask the jury for their opinion,

a calm voice broke the silence.

"Your Honor, I request permission to speak."

All eyes instantly focused on the speaker.

It was Velin, who had remained silent since the trial began.

He stood up and bowed slightly toward the judge’s bench, his posture humble.

"I am not speaking as a family member of the defendant."

"But rather as an ordinary nobleman and, more importantly, as a devout follower of the Lord of Eternal Radiance. I wish to offer a small clarification on the doctrinal origins of the Bloodline Purity Act."

Brian immediately objected in a loud voice, "I object! On what grounds? He has no right!"

However, the judge was intrigued by Velin’s proposal.

He glanced at the jury, who also looked curious, then at the confident Velin, and spoke slowly.

"Objection overruled."

"Baron Velin Klein, the court grants you permission to speak."

A look of approval flashed in Count Leman’s eyes.

He walked to the center of the courtroom with a dignified air, his gaze falling on Brian, who was glaring at him with venomous eyes.

Velin ignored the other’s malice and asked humbly.

"Your Excellency, Judge, you just said that our potion ’interfered’ with the sacred process of procreation."

"So, I would like to ask, what is ’interference’?"

Brian was taken aback and replied instinctively, "Using unnatural means to alter the outcome ordained by the divine is interference!"

"Well said. Then let me ask you this: what is this Magic Potion made from?"

This question made Brian feel a little uneasy.

But he still forced himself to answer, "It is extracted from various Magic Potion Plants, but that doesn’t change its blasphemous nature!"

"And were the Magic Potion Plants not created by the divine and bestowed upon this land?" Velin pressed.

"Of course they were!"

"And is the alchemical process used to extract it not a fruit of human wisdom, developed under divine inspiration?"

"It is... but that..."

"Then, allow me to ask, Your Excellency, Judge." Velin’s voice suddenly grew clearer. "When we are hungry, we use the wheat gifted by the divine, mill it into flour with human wisdom, and bake it into bread to fill our stomachs. Is that not ’unnatural’?"

"When we are sick, we use the herbs gifted by the divine, brew them into medicinal soups with human wisdom to cure our ailments. Is that not ’unnatural’?"

"If even eating and taking medicine are considered ’unnatural,’ and if they are ’interfering’ with the divinely ordained fates of hunger and death, then are we not all, at this very moment, sitting in the seats of sinners?"

Brian scoffed as if he had heard the most ridiculous joke in the world.

"Absurd! Procreation is a sacred duty bestowed by the divine. How could it be altered by mortals? You are twisting the concept! This is utter heresy!"

Velin was completely unaffected by his anger, maintaining a calm tone.

"Your Excellency, Judge, please allow me to quote the original text from the Holy Scripture, Book of Genesis, Chapter Three, Verse Eleven."

He did not open a book, yet he recited the passage word for word.

"’The Divine said, I bestow the fertile soils and the mountains upon my people. You shall till them with diligence and husband their strength, so that barren lands may regain their life, and dry springs may once again flow with sweet rain. This is your glory and duty as stewards.’"

Velin’s voice echoed in the solemn courtroom, every word crystal clear.

After he finished his recitation, he turned his gaze to the pensive nobles on the jury.

"My lords, allow me to ask: is the human body not a form of ’land’ that the divine has bestowed upon us?"

Everyone was stunned by this question.

Before they could answer, Velin continued, "Our body is the first and most precious land gifted to us by the divine."

"And the continuation of a bloodline is the most important form of ’cultivation’ on this land."

"When this land becomes ’barren’ due to illness or age, unable to bring forth new life, should we, as the stewards of this land, not follow the teachings of the Holy Scripture? Should we not use all the divinely gifted wisdom at our disposal—whether herbs, Magic, or Alchemy—to ’restore’ it and allow it to ’regain its life’?"

With his powerful logic, Velin guided them step-by-step toward the conclusion everyone hoped for, and the one Brian resisted.

"Our potion does not create life from nothing. It cannot make a stone blossom."

"All it does is repair those aging bodily functions, allowing the ’barren land’ to recover its original fertility."

"Is this not fulfilling the divine will for us to ’husband its strength’?"

"Conversely..."

Velin’s tone suddenly sharpened.

"If a nobleman has the means to restore his own body and continue his sacred bloodline, but instead allows his family line to be extinguished by clinging to rigid dogmas..."

"Then that is the greatest betrayal of divine grace!"

"That is the most thorough betrayal of the ’steward’s’ duty!"

"That is true blasphemy!"