Gun of Ashes

Chapter 401: Chapter 52: Double Knights

Following the familiar route, Joey quickly returned to the base. There are many such places in Old Dunling, some of which are unguarded, generally serving as safehouses with medical supplies, food, and some weapons, enough to sustain those seeking refuge for a while.

After greeting the gatekeeper, Joey was allowed entry. Sometimes the Purification Mechanism’s protocols are just this rigid; even if you’re familiar, to prevent any accidents, Joey still has to follow the formal procedures. The only advantage of being familiar is that if he breaks the rules, the gatekeeper will shoot his leg rather than straight to the head.

This is how the Purification Mechanism operates: only by adhering to absolute rules can they ensure that the darkness has no chance whatsoever to erode order.

Sighing long, pushing away all the ill omens he faced in the White Church, Joey adjusted his mindset and pushed open the door, ready to continue working.

”You’re back?”

As soon as the door opened, an unpleasant and discordant voice sounded, as if mocking Joey, deliberately stretching the final tone.

Lorenzo had moved the sofa to the entrance, sitting casually, who knows how long he had been waiting for Joey.

”Lorenzo?”

Joey never expected Lorenzo to find his way here; of course, this guy showing up meant no good.

Just as he thought, Lorenzo didn’t give Joey time to think, directly bouncing up from the sofa, hurriedly pulling him away before he could step inside.

”What are you going to do?” Joey couldn’t quite understand what Lorenzo was up to.

”Urgent matters, take me to see Arthur, this is related to the Revelation.” Lorenzo said directly.

The footsteps echoed in the stairwell, and the gatekeeper opened his sleepy eyes—it’s not usual to have this many people entering and leaving this building.

Lorenzo signaled to the gatekeeper, truly appearing anxious, talking to Joey as they walked.

”Joey, because of your... privacy issues, I’ve been delayed for a long time, can you hurry up, please.”

Standing at the busy street corner, Lorenzo stopped, then looked at Joey expectantly.

”What are you waiting for?”

Upon hearing Revelation, Joey understood the gravity of the situation but was puzzled why Lorenzo was looking at him like this.

After waiting a few seconds, Lorenzo shouted.

”Car! Carriage! We aren’t going to walk all the way to the Broken Dome, right!”

This guy was as quick as a gust of wind, stirring Joey’s thoughts. He finally reacted, then headed back towards the building, entering the grounds where pitch-black carriages were parked.

”If you ask me, you should just give me the address of that Broken Dome—to avoid all this trouble each time.”

Inside the speeding carriage, Lorenzo complained this way.

Joey shook his head, as he had denied this request from Lorenzo many times before.

”Impossible, Lorenzo, it’s our core, our brain. It must remain in a state of absolute purification, allowing no potential danger.”

”Am I a potential danger?”

Though Lorenzo seemed happy-go-lucky, there was a hint of vigilance in his light-heartedness; originally it sounded like a joke, but given the current situation, it became more serious.

Joey didn’t notice these shifts in Lorenzo; despite being an Upper-Rank Knight, to the Purification Mechanism, and to all of Ingwig, he was just a soldier... maybe a slightly bigger soldier—or perhaps cannon fodder.

In the Purification Mechanism, the security level of information is extremely strict; some things Joey couldn’t have known aren’t necessarily his fault.

”Probably, do you not consider yourself dangerous?”

After seriously thinking about it, Joey replied.

”Think about it, Lorenzo, you’re a monster that came back to life. If it weren’t for your Geiger index stabilizing back then, we were truly ready to bomb it all over again!”

At that time, the situation had everyone’s nerves taut, as if at a doomsday stand-off.

Listening to Joey’s somewhat playful tone, Lorenzo was stunned for a moment, then resumed his usual ranting.

The carriage had been moving for a while, but this time no one blindfolded him or guided him, and Lorenzo felt something off.

”We’re not heading to the Broken Dome, are we?” Lorenzo asked.

”I never said we were, did I?” Joey replied, ”You’re aware of the situation now, to ensure safety, the Broken Dome has been sealed off, to prevent any threats.”

”What about Arthur?”

”He’s not always in the Broken Dome. For meetings, all you need is a room with a table and chairs, right?”

Outside the window, the sky turned increasingly gloomy and gray, and the wind stirred up ancient dust. The desolate land started to unveil before them; Lorenzo understood where they were headed.

”Actually, you came just at the right time, Merlin has been wanting to meet you, but never had the chance, so it’s good timing.”

Joey said, then a gray silhouette arose on the rugged landscape; it seemed like a gigantic heart made of steel and machinery, standing firmly on the ground. With its powerful beating, the space between the machinery resounded with a metallic roar, with crimson and scorching blood flowing.

”Mechanical Institute...”

For a fleeting moment, many thoughts crossed Lorenzo’s mind. But for some reason, a fuzzy shadow flickered in his vision, with something spreading its wings, enveloping the sky.