Chapter 1330 - 1248: Happiness Potion
As expected by the Staff Department, by the end of October in the fall, with shorter days and weakened sunlight, Serafe tore up the treaty and landed at Golden Horn Bay.
The news sent shockwaves throughout the entire empire.
Despite the long buildup by the Truth Newspaper, when news of the war spread, even the Holy Alliance was in chaos.
Serafe’s breach of the treaty was almost an expression of this attitude—"We will not abide by any treaty."
The vampires will continue to wage war until either you die or I perish.
Not only within Leia’s borders, but all coastal areas of Falan and Norn experienced widespread panic.
Residents, taking their families along, continually migrated inland or simply fled to the Holy Alliance’s Thousand River Valley.
That region is relatively inland, at least allowing a delay before encountering the ravages of war.
Thus, the gradually slowing migration rate into the Holy Alliance once again surged dramatically in the fall of 1460.
Unfortunately, even the residents within the Holy Alliance were not very stable.
Faithful believers in rural areas were better off, possessing what city dwellers called "ignorant confidence."
As for the citizens, they almost unreasonably believed the war would be resolved outside their homeland, that it absolutely could not reach their shores.
Yet still, a large number of citizens chose to relocate to Mountain County, or secretly purchased ship tickets.
Some even attempted to secretly collude with vampires to change sides should anything happen in the future.
Especially those emerging workshop masters and company managers!
Horn was both angry and amused by the information gathered by Cheka from the populace.
It’s true that interests dictate one’s mindset; the hearts of the Holy Alliance’s people are not as strong and resolute as imagined.
Don’t they understand the principle of "hair cannot attach without skin"?
Twenty years have changed much, but some fundamental things can only change after one or two generations have passed.
But the good news is, thanks to the Holy Alliance’s dozen high schools and nearly a thousand primary schools, they’ve increased by two to three hundred thousand students in ten years.
These students are mostly in primary and secondary schools; their education includes an essential lesson in the doctrines of the Holy Sect.
Although this has cultivated a large group of radical zealots in the Holy Sect, at least it can be confirmed they are sufficiently steadfast.
Deploying them as priests and officers in the army, they can quickly support a large battle team.
In this scene of military preparation, Horn certainly wasn’t idle; after handing over most of his duties to the Cardinal Group, he was to embark on an inspection tour.
As the saying goes, one must do one’s own tasks; a lazy person can’t be a good general.
Without investigation or firsthand observation, how can one ascertain geographic positioning and war conditions?
Horn wouldn’t meticulously inspect every corner, but would at least cover the most critical areas to rectify the barracks and negligent officers.
The Holy Alliance doesn’t have a mind-control tower; raising the banner of the Holy Sect cannot turn all officers and soldiers into selfless robots.
The aim isn’t to identify issues—that’s Cheka’s responsibility.
Horn’s task is to get things back on track with minimal cost.
Moreover, communicating with battle commanders along the way and in various war zones is an important and irreplaceable role.
Finally, he could delegate the matters at hand.
But three days before departure, Horn encountered an issue that Madlan also could not resolve.
"What is the happiness potion?"
Wiping sweat with a hot towel, Horn walked from the door to his desk.
He had just returned from rehabilitation at the school field; after years of not practicing, his swordsmanship and riding skills had noticeably declined.
"It’s a special potion, extremely popular in coastal areas, recently sold to the Holy Alliance by merchants."
Horn picked up the potion from the table and shook it, leaving a pink water film on the walls of the glass tube sealed with a wooden stopper.
"Why did you give me this?"
"The Cheka’s six-member committee unanimously agreed there’s a problem with this potion, so they specifically reported it to you."
"What does it do?"
"As its name suggests, it can numb the nerves and make a person feel happy."
Horn thought of something, his breathing quickened: "Will it be addictive after drinking, causing spasms like a lunatic..."
"No, not quite." René shook his head, "After drinking, people show smiles, are very peaceful, but it’s definitely addictive."
With that, René presented a test report conducted using a death row inmate to Horn.
The report showed the previously ferocious criminal became calm and peaceful after drinking the potion.
He was so joyful and serene, even smiling lightly and humming, as if completely forgetting the upcoming public execution.
Moreover, regardless of provocation or insults, even whipping or outright letting him go, he remained unmoved.
Only reflexively eating, excreting, and sleeping until the medicine’s effects wore off the next day.
Afterwards, he almost begged on his knees, pleading with the pharmacist for another vial, even if it meant execution later.
Asked about his feelings, he only described it as tranquility and happiness.
After execution, dissecting his body revealed no pathological changes.
Horn blinked several times, momentarily speechless: such a potion has no after-effects, hardly harms the body, yet makes people happy.
"Does it have hallucinatory properties? Does it induce illusions..."
The alchemist scholars, pharmacists, and doctors in the room engaged in low discussions.
"Does making people optimistic count as an illusion?"
"Probably not."
"He can react to external stimuli, just seems to lack negative emotions."
They finally drew a conclusion.
"No, it just makes people happy, apart from addiction and aversion to greasy meat, it has no side effects." Sessi, the reporting pharmacist, pushed his glasses.
"Many pharmacies package it as apples from the Holy Tree for sale."
"Is it just happiness?" Horn could sense something strange, but couldn’t articulate it.
The room remained silent; everyone sensed something was wrong yet couldn’t express it.
Finally, Jia Li, sitting in the corner, spoke: "Happiness makes one content; contentment prevents the desire for change."
Horn immediately understood: "If everyone is rushing to drink this potion and becomes peaceful, who will resist?"
People work for both material and spiritual satisfaction, yet all pleasure ultimately stems from the senses.
If sensory happiness can be deceived, a false sense of happiness can be achieved.
This essentially is akin to shaking oneself in a stationary carriage, pretending it’s moving.
The Royal Court’s pharmacists are quite skilled to create something like this.
In terms of biological marvels, the Royal Court far surpasses the Holy Alliance.
But in mechanical or alchemical wonders, it is the Holy Alliance that excels.
"This substance absolutely cannot appear within the Holy Alliance; classify it as a banned item, selling 5 milliliters can lead to a death sentence."
"Such severe punishment?"
"You don’t understand its threat." Horn suddenly realized something.
If the Holy Alliance’s scholar-monks just now recognize the potion’s danger, then what about outside the Holy Alliance?
What about those oblivious lords, manor lords, and bishops?
After a moment of silence, Horn suddenly sighed: "I’m afraid the vampires will conquer Golden Horn Bay much sooner than we imagined."
In late November, having finally handed over all his duties, Horn embarked on his border inspection.
Just upon arriving at Joan of Arc Castle, he received the latest news.
On November 19th, after three weeks, the Royal Court broke through more than ten thousand border knights and temple knights in Golden Horn Bay and maneuvered to defeat the reinforcements led by Duke Omes.
The day after recapturing Holy Seat City, Eagle’s Claw Bay announced its surrender, and the Royal Court’s north, south, and central armies successfully united in Holy Seat City.