Gun of Ashes

Chapter 402: Chapter 52 Two Knights_2

Effortfully pulling his gaze back, Lorenzo asked.

”Any new developments recently?”

Joey knew Lorenzo was referring to those in Florence, so he answered.

”No anomalies, the mission is quite obedient, spending their days either interacting with high officials or visiting various sites. In any case, they haven’t troubled us.”

”Hasn’t the main event begun yet?” Lorenzo asked.

”What main event?”

”Don’t play dumb, Joey. You know what I’m asking. Haven’t they started negotiating with the Purification Mechanism yet? About those demons.”

Joey shook his head. ”I’m just an upper-rank knight, practically a more useful fodder soldier. How could I know those things? If you want to know, you might as well ask them directly.”

”Arthur? That old fox probably doesn’t tell the truth.”

”Not Arthur, he’s not here now. According to the itinerary, he should be with Fr. Anthony.”

Lorenzo paused and asked, ”Then who do I meet now?”

”Another group of temporary managers, and Merlin. You know, it’s hectic now, so the work needs to be shared.”

Lorenzo evidently wasn’t aware of the internal workings of the Purification Mechanism, but thinking carefully, it made sense. The Purification Mechanism must have backup plans. Like, who takes over if Arthur, the leader, dies.

Though Arthur isn’t dead yet, clearly, he can’t handle everything alone anymore.

Entering the familiar factory interior, the heat blocks out the cold of Old Dunling. The red-hot molten iron falls like a waterfall. Looking from the platform, you can see them constructing a gigantic framework, like the remains of a dead monster.

”What are you building?”

Lorenzo was curious. The Mechanical Institute could be said to be the most advanced factory globally, and what is born here could change the course of the world.

”Airships, transport airships.”

Joey glanced before speaking. This wasn’t a secret, at least not to Lorenzo.

”Science should primarily serve the military. This is what we learned during the Radiant War, but since the war is over, war machines should be turned into productivity.”

Cranes pieced together the heavy framework like a giant construction toy. When fitted together, it revealed a grim appearance, and as the sparks flew and iron rang, the skeleton of a giant whale gradually formed before Lorenzo’s eyes.

”You remember the Midcourt Serpent System, right? To ensure transport capacity, Ingwig’s railways are saturated, and the maritime routes are managed by the Nordro company. Now...we should seize the sky.”

”Seize the sky? That’s quite a boast...”

Lorenzo watched all this, though he said as much. If the executor was Ingwig, it might just be possible. After all, airship technology has been around for many years, it’s just that it’s being used for civilian purposes for the first time.

”Airships aren’t particularly fast, but their advantage lies in crossing mountains and swamps, unaffected by terrain. Currently, this is the second batch of transport airships, while the trial of the first batch will begin soon.”

Joey explained to Lorenzo.

”Whether for cargo or passengers, even just sightseeing will make people pay for it. After all, no one can refuse their yearning for the sky. Moreover, it’s the first attempt to cooperate with private enterprises, and Duke Salicardo has put in a lot of effort.”

Lorenzo vaguely remembered that duke, but his only impression was of wealth.

The elevator began to descend slowly, veiling the steel creation and making it disappear.

The Mechanical Institute was just a facade. The Perpetual Motion Pump below was the most important place, built along the main structure of the Furnace Pillar, constructing an ecosystem of steel and machinery.

As they descended, the air grew even hotter, just like Lorenzo’s previous visit. The roaring flow of water echoed in his ears, followed by the sharp whistle of steam mixing with the high temperature, rising as heavy white mist flowed upward.

Every crevice was filled with this damp, sultry mist, dyed by the red glow until it reached the deep crimson bottom.

Inadvertently, Lorenzo saw something. Beyond the layers of steel, through the cracks, he saw something being transported on the rails. Familiar iron boxes sealed some forbidden thing, which Lorenzo could vaguely feel the strange corruption from.

”Is that the Armor of Original Sin?” Lorenzo asked.

”What?”

Joey, far from having the Demon Hunter’s sharp senses, couldn’t notice the cargo flashing through the gaps.

Lorenzo seemed somewhat resigned but didn’t continue to ask. Anyway, everything would get an answer soon.

Different from previous visits, Lorenzo could clearly see that there were many more guards at the Perpetual Motion Pump now, holding unfamiliar weapons that might explode unexpectedly.

Sometimes he could even see people in white uniforms printed with the eternal Ouroboros, though these ”research maniacs” now seemed to lack much freedom, each followed by security guards. It wasn’t clear if they were being monitored or protected.

As Lorenzo pondered these things, someone approached—a group of guards surrounded him without explanation, making Lorenzo feel quite insecure.

”Please cooperate.”

They said, beginning to check Lorenzo’s attire for any weapons he might be carrying inside.

”I recall this wasn’t part of the procedure before.”

Though Lorenzo found it odd, he still cooperated and raised his hands.

”Special...times.”

Joey also felt something was off but comforted himself with this explanation.

The atmosphere there turned more serious than usual. Those nutcases couldn’t bring out weird weapons for fun anymore. Now the place seemed like it was preparing for war, efficient and fully militarized.

”Mr. Lorenzo Holmes?”

Suddenly, someone called him. Lorenzo looked toward the voice, seeing a man approach from the edge of his vision. From the attitudes of those around him, he should be someone in management, but Lorenzo was unfamiliar with the man’s face—he had never seen him before.

But Joey seemed to recognize him, his expression changing slightly, understanding the situation’s developments.

The man wore a stern face, as if embodying an undoubted assertiveness, his eyes fixed on Lorenzo. It was more like looking at a hard sculpture than a person.

”Pleased to meet you. I’ve heard about your exploits.”

He extended his hand, and the tense atmosphere eased a bit.

”Who are you?”

Lorenzo hesitated a bit but still reached out his hand, and the man responded.

”One of the Knight Commanders, Gawain. I’m currently handling some of Arthur’s functions.”

The rumbling of metal resounded again, drawing Lorenzo’s gaze. Though his attention was generally not dispersed like this, things felt different this time; he sensed a peculiar force.

The cargo on the rails appeared again, transported forward along the aisle. Embossed on the iron boxes were carvings of the Ghost God. Previously, Lorenzo couldn’t determine what was inside, but now it seemed the answers were clear.

It should be the armor of this man before him, one of the Armor of Original Sin transported back from the outside for maintaining Old Dunling’s stability, and the knight wearing it.

”If there’s anything, please tell me. I’m currently overseeing part of this place.”

Arthur was fully focused on dealing with the difficult mission, handing over the Purification Mechanism’s operations to his subordinates, with the Knight Commanders taking over their ranks.

”You could actually speak to me, as well.”

Another voice arose, a woman stepped out from behind Gawain, grasping Lorenzo’s hand, still suspended in mid-air, with a firm grip.

”One of the Knight Commanders, Percival.”

Yet another Armor of Original Sin was transported into the deeper part of the Perpetual Motion Pump along the rail. The woman smiled at him.

”Pleased to meet you, Mr. Lorenzo Holmes.”