[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-notes-on-kraft-anomalous-studies":3,"chapter-notes-on-kraft-anomalous-studies-notes-on-kraft-anomalous-studies-chapter-324":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Notes on Kraft Anomalous Studies",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2283802,4467,"Chapter 324: A Letter with Elaborate Embellishments","notes-on-kraft-anomalous-studies-chapter-324",324,"\u003Cp>A Letter with Elaborate Embellishments\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the Venerable Grand Master of the Holy Hospital Knights, the Merciful and Devout, the Future Baron Wood, the Honored Knight, Professor at the Medical Academies of Rivers University and Dunling University, Pioneer in Pulmonary, Cardiac, and Anesthetic Surgery, Chairman of the Society for Tuberculosis and Rare Diseases, the Exemplary Physician, Intimate Ally of the Heigo Family—My Dear Friend:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most Esteemed Friend, may this letter find you as you journey through the radiant, unreachable reaches of the Mother Cathedral. May the Father bless you and your family, granting wisdom and insight to the lands He has consecrated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should the delivery convoy proceed without incident, what lies before you is the full complement of goods scheduled for dispatch: thirty-five types of custom metal and leather tools with their variant sets, over twenty fine pure silver needles, and five crates of custom white glass containers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given the large quantity and the likelihood of unavoidable losses, please verify the types and specifications in person against the detailed inventory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should unavoidable transport damage or dimensional discrepancies occur, please note them in your reply; we will expedite replacements and deliver them within two months at the latest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regarding our joint pharmaceutical and medical equipment business, profits have been substantial thanks to the introduction of new therapies and devices. This quarter’s share has been partially converted into Westmin gold coins as requested, with the remainder carried in silver; details are attached to this letter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Approximately one-quarter of the profits stem from sales of the “Cardiac Tonic” at Dr. Dai Wei’s clinic and its accompanying regular usage consultation services; documented patient cases continue to grow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I must say, Dr. Dai Wei’s innate talent in commerce and management is remarkable; his assistance to us rivals even that of Professor Weilen. Your decision to admit him as a member of the Society was profoundly foresighted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though many are attempting to replicate the formula, I am certain their blind experimentation poses no threat within your six-month confidentiality window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, Treasurer Barber believes delaying public disclosure could transform it into a sustained revenue stream for years. I suggest we release it only after minor, unreliable counterfeits emerge, to strike a balanced equilibrium between economic and reputational gain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, whether and when to disclose the formula rests entirely with your judgment; the Heigo Family will never violate the sacred covenant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In contrast, “Ether,” as a preparation demanding greater technical expertise, is more likely to provide a broad and stable future income stream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though you have published the full preparation process, private surgical clinics lack both the capability and the courage to produce this dangerous substance themselves. Some may have attempted it, but ceased after several severe burn incidents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the inventor’s direct guidance, the Heigo Family will maintain this advantage for years, until the first cohort of physicians trained in these skills at the Medical Academy receive their degrees and licenses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most will likely continue purchasing rather than risking massive fire hazards in their own clinics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once prices are held just below the cost of self-production, this business will never end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet for now, eager buyers are willing to pay multiples of the price just to obtain the drug and its accompanying nebulizer inhalation device as soon as possible. After all, who wishes to remain conscious while watching a doctor saw off their own leg?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Church also regards anesthetic surgery as a “relatively merciful” treatment, and the Hospital Knights are undoubtedly inspired by the Father’s grace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We stand in a unique era of breakthroughs in surgical technology—an uncharted domain where opportunities far exceed the wildest dreams of those clinging to ancestral wealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking of the Church, I hear the bishops have, unusually, shown generosity, promising an entire monastery and its surrounding lands as reward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its location and climate resemble Westmin Castle, even being called “that place north of Westmin.” The forests and mountains abound in resources, making it an ideal hunting ground for those who enjoy securing their own prey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You may have noticed that traveling from the northern kingdom to Westmin Castle and Dunling requires a long detour south along the coast, then inland through the Tem River; no one recommends the overland route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is, of course, because the intervening mountains are impassable for any large caravan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I must emphasize: these are “mountains,” not the gentle hills you see in Wenden Port or the southern lowlands. The difference is as vast as that between Dunling’s sewers and those of other cities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, according to our family’s suppliers, road conditions there have seen no real improvement in decades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Settlements are fragmented into isolated, small, flat river valleys and basins, self-sufficient and stagnant, with neighboring villages often going months without contact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least eighty percent of local lords have no clear idea how many taxable souls hide in the corners of their maps; the remaining twenty percent neither know nor care. The cost of sending tax officials would exceed any possible revenue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, even such places have not been neglected by the Father’s light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Decades ago, missionaries had already penetrated the farthest reaches of this complex terrain, linking scattered hamlets into a network under the Church’s guidance, integrating them into the kingdom in practical terms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In some areas, the Church’s influence far outweighs that of the nominal rulers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The monastery you are about to visit is one such achievement; the monks, through diligence, wisdom, faith, and minimal financial support from Church headquarters, accomplished this miracle amid towering peaks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those with even modest engineering knowledge would recognize its extraordinary scale. It was meant to become a vital ecclesiastical hub, serving a vast region—a role it fulfilled faithfully for over a decade after completion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet this important structure has lain abandoned for over twenty years, sealed and entrusted to the care of the local lord. Indeed, no monks remain to perform even basic maintenance; it has been fully sealed and handed over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the Priyel family has long maintained close ties with the Church—even the current Baron Priyel’s younger brother serves within it—they are clearly not figures of your stature, and entrusting them with a large monastery seems inappropriate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I have no doubt of your ability to resolve any issue, nor do I presume to guess the Holy See’s intentions; I merely suggest you strengthen ties with the Priyel family before taking possession. As locals, their insights are invaluable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, please extend my sincere greetings to your family, all Society members, and your disciples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>May the Father’s grace forever protect you and the Knights. Whether in your personal affairs or our shared endeavors, the Heigo Family stands ever ready to assist. I hope we continue to maintain close ties in the days ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your faithful friend,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frances Heigo\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I knew it.” Kraft slipped the parchment back into the envelope, aligning the blue-green seal, and muttered under his breath, “There’s no such thing as a gift without cost.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was no small feat for Frances to assemble the goods in such a tight timeframe, rush them along a shortcut to catch the convoy, and deliver fresh rumors besides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some things need no elaboration: valuable land has long been claimed; since the generation of Old Wood, new nobles have had to head to the northern frontier to deal with brown bears—there are no pristine, fully built-out lands waiting for the Knights to move in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s merely a matter of scale. Since no major news has surfaced and the surrounding area is habitable, the problem can’t be too severe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if there is something unusual…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grand Master.” A coarse voice interrupted his thoughts, pulling the professor back to the bustling camp. “The cargo has been counted. No major issues. A few glass items were damaged in transit, but we have spares of identical specifications.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for the metal instruments’ quality, I can only confirm the materials and craftsmanship are sound. You’ll need to inspect them yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Brother Raymond. I’ve said before: no need for formal titles. Under the Father’s gaze, all are equal—only our duties differ.” Kraft took the charcoal-marked inventory, scanned it quickly, and tucked it away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This seasoned monk’s first impression was his unmistakable voice and equally coarse, rugged appearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wore a short beard, uncommon among clergy, but meticulously trimmed—even during the grueling journey—exactly matching Kraft’s impression of him over the past weeks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Methodical, rule-bound, frankly hard to understand how such a man ended up leaving Dunling with the Knights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you are indeed the Grand Master.” The expected reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perhaps we could adopt a less distant form of address.” Kraft disliked his new title, especially when standing before the roadside wagons—it felt strangely alien.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mentor?” That made sense too; in theory, the Grand Master does bear the duty of guiding others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A girl who had just hammered a tent peg into the ground with a single blow paused her chores and glanced over. Her work stretched from one end of the camp to the other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Professor Kraft.” Raymond suddenly understood the correct form of address.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s more natural. As companions who’ve faced those things together, we can use each other’s names.” Kraft smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The smile was warm yet hazy, like the forested ridge behind him sinking into twilight, its sunlit edge gilded in vivid orange-red as if blazing, its shadowed side obscure, forming no clear shape yet radiating a persuasive power beyond words or expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The jagged edge of night peeled the warm light from every ridge and cliff face, revealing a subtle, hidden tension invisible by day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raymond nodded, before he even realized he had agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One more favor: ask the Heigo family’s convoy leader to see me before departing tomorrow. I have a letter they can carry back to Dunling.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shall I list the missing items separately?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, go relieve Kup first. Those few items aren’t worth a special trip. The letter is for our old friend Green.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you need to consult the priest about something?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed. I’ll have to trouble him again to dig through old archives. I hope his skill at sifting through library piles hasn’t dulled.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1681,"2026-06-20T02:15:56.940Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","87a7737510afc708a2d519cb9246757a72136ba815cbe8304561b9e4693975fa","notes-on-kraft-anomalous-studies-chapter-325","notes-on-kraft-anomalous-studies-chapter-323",406,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fnotes-on-kraft-anomalous-studies-cover.jpg"]