When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 807 - 758: Very Short

Even in late summer, the morning sun still prickled the scalp.

The central plaza of the Holy Machinery Court University was bustling with people.

Senius and other scholars, including Kerben, sat solemnly on the high stage, with hundreds of university students below.

With scrolls tucked under their arms, the students chattered noisily, laughing and joking.

Until the Ceremonial Officer loudly proclaimed: "Universal Shepherd of the Thousand River Valley, Honorary Chief Justice of Black Snake Bay, Saint Grandson Saint Pope of the Holy Axis Alliance, our great sun, His Majesty Horn Gallar, is arriving——"

The guards' boots clicked together, and the long trumpet sounded, instantly quieting the crowd.

Horn, dressed in ceremonial robes, stepped onto the podium, and the students below immediately beat their chests and waved.

The reverberating salute echoed like a landslide and tsunami: "Re-verent! Sincere!" 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

As Horn surveyed the hundreds of university students present, he couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion.

Since the beginning of the year, Horn had gradually supported compulsory education at the town level.

From the beginning of the year to June, sixty-two compulsory primary schools were established in various towns in the three southern counties of the Thousand River Valley—Lower Reif County, Kasha County, and Langsande County.

In urban areas, with investments by lottery magnate Brandon, twenty-two primary schools and five Frick Middle Schools were similarly built.

These primary and middle schools have already enrolled over 13,000 students.

Although the classrooms were just simple brick-and-tile buildings, and the desks and chairs were second-hand, they were sufficient.

Residents living in town districts who paid taxes to the town district were required to send their children to primary school.

As for rural areas, if they voluntarily sent their children, they too could attend primary school.

These primary schools offered three subjects: literature, mathematics, and history.

Currently, county seats in each county are also establishing middle schools to enroll students from various primary schools.

In the future, the universities of the Holy Machinery Court will recruit from the county middle schools.

As for teachers, they were summoned from across the Empire through connections with the Lakin Clan and the Crab Roe Clan.

In addition, literate disabled officers from wars were also appointed as teachers in primary schools.

Due to the shortage of personnel at the grassroots level, they often simultaneously served as Night Watch Commanders and Captains of the Church Protection Army.

At this opening ceremony of the Holy Machinery Court University, among the newly admitted university students, Horn saw many students from middle schools in various regions.

In addition to students advancing from middle schools, he also saw young wizards from Black Snake Bay and artisans in coarse robes.

The wizards naturally aimed for the Dragon Language Alchemy University, while the artisans headed for the newly established Metallurgy College and School of Engineering of the Holy Machinery Court University.

Among this batch of new students, Horn even saw university students in their thirties and fifties. Since talent is rare, he imposed no age limit.

"Oh eternal Lord, creator of the world, Thy holy name echoes between the wilderness and fortresses..."

Everyone present, even those from Black Snake Bay, lowered their heads: "Oh eternal Lord..."

In the Holy Machinery Court, where the religious atmosphere was thick, no matter how secular the activities, the Holy Father could not be absent from their lips.

Reciting the prayer poem to its end, Horn traced a "屮" symbol on his forehead with his finger.

"In the name of the Holy Father, the Saint Master, and the Holy Tree, Amen."

"Amen."

Only then did the university students raise their heads to look at Horn on the high stage.

"Four hundred years ago, Saint Shelley saw the civilization of the Thousand River Valley as primitive and sailed forth with knowledge and religion to the Kush people.

He always taught one person, whether they were a heretic or a bandit.

Some said he should keep his knowledge to himself, for if everyone learned his skills, he would starve.

But he said if he starved to death because of it, he would have no regrets."

In the opening speech of the ceremony, Horn began with a story about Saint Shelley.

Then he shifted focus to the present: "Therefore, I have decided to make it the founding principle of all universities under the Holy Machinery Court to provide education for all without discrimination, to teach tirelessly.

Whether you are a Leia person, a Falan, a Norn person, or even from Black Snake Bay, Snake-men, or Dwarves, all are welcome at the Holy Machinery Court.

Whether for study or exchange, what Holy Machinery Court University provides is not only a guarantee of knowledge but also the protection of interests.

Last year's 25 university graduates all entered the Holy Machinery Court and the Holy Alliance Government, earning the appreciation of their peers.

While in school, the scholars produced several patents, such as the foot-operated threshing machine, horse-drawn seeder, etc., bringing them plenty of honor and wealth.

Of course, I believe you came here for knowledge, so this year I will share part of the Holy Machinery Court's great library, reprinting and translating a large number of old-age works."

Horn hadn't finished his speech when the students below, and even the scholars nearby, burst into cheers of surprise and delight.

In the Empire, knowledge is extremely expensive.

Even to borrow a book, you need to either place your credibility as collateral or pay a hefty deposit.

But at the Holy Machinery Court, as long as you have the status of a university student or scholar,

you can borrow works from the old age, rare theological books, and formulas summarizing artisans' experiences.

You can freely access various engineering materials and government archives.

Not to mention the abundance of employment opportunities, where some university students even start working during second or third year, attending school in the morning and working in the afternoon.

Horn smiled and gestured for silence: "Everyone, calm down, calm down, I have even better news.

After negotiations with the Dwarves, some Dwarves have decided to share their knowledge and craftsmanship with us.

So this year, Holy Machinery Court University will establish a new college—the Metallurgy College.

Let us welcome the Dean of the Metallurgy College, Dwarf Master Torol Firetong."

Once again, cheers erupted from the audience. The Dwarf named Torol clearly had never seen such a scene.

His bronze face slowly turned copper-colored, and after a while, he finally spoke: "Dear students..."

Watching the Dwarf Master stumble over his words on stage, with Senius rushing to the rescue.

Horn turned to a black-robed elderly Dwarf beside him and asked: "What do you think?"

"I need to continue my observations."

The elderly Dwarf responded unceremoniously. If there had been a person from North Mangde County present, they would have exclaimed—Isn't this Grandmaster Dunak?

His waist-length beard gleamed with oil, and the ends were tied with a rope to avoid interfering with movement.

Yet here he was, appearing at the Holy Machinery Court?

It was known that Torol was one of the Reformed Dwarves, and their forming a college at the Holy Machinery Court was seen as a betrayal by the conservative Dwarves.

If someone discovered that Master Dunak, who had steadfastly refused to visit the Holy Machinery Court, was here, at the inauguration ceremony of the Metallurgy College, the conservative Dwarves' worlds would collapse.

Listening to Dunak, Horn still whispered temptingly, like a devil:

"You see, you are also trying to uncover the rules of metallurgy, which is a very complex field of study.

You need enough manpower to help with experiments and detailed research, don't you?

They need to have the necessary knowledge and sensitivity, not missing any crucial information.

At the same time, you see that alchemy hadn't broken through for a century, but under my direction, in less than three years, achievements have surged. Doesn't this speak for something?"

"I still need to observe." Dunak, with classic Dwarven stubbornness, wasn't giving in.

"How about this, you stay and I'll assign a few students to you; you can start a research project to see how it turns out?"

Dunak hesitated, looking at the excited Reformed Dwarves around him, he slowly nodded after a long pause: "Then I'll stay for now... Your Majesty Horn, could you prepare a room where discussions can be held?"

Receiving the old Dwarf's request for a private discussion, Horn was taken aback.

He knew a private discussion was expected, but isn't it too early?

However, Horn had no reason to refuse: "Of course, Cloud, arrange it."

"Yes."

Turning with a smile to Dunak, Horn was about to speak but unexpectedly sneezed.

"A-choo!"

For some reason, Horn instinctively looked northward.

Why would he sneeze suddenly in such a hot day?

"What's the matter?"

"Nothing, please."