Gun of Ashes

Chapter 507: Chapter 101 Thunder_2

”Really? Time passes so quickly.”

Perhaps he was too engrossed, Nikola hadn’t realized the passage of time at all. In fact, he felt it had to do with this damned environment; he couldn’t afford the slightest negligence, as just one careless move might trigger an experimental accident.

Arthur pressed a switch nearby, and the entire enclosed space began to slowly descend, much like a cabinet. The steel bore mottled rust marks, with light shining through the gaps, clearly showing that aesthetic concerns were never considered during its initial design, exuding a strong industrial vibe.

After waiting for a long time, the iron door opened again, revealing a lavishly decorated corridor where someone had been ready for a while to help Nikola change his clothes.

Nikola couldn’t help but glance around, even he wasn’t free to reach here at will, so he took the opportunity to look around more carefully when permitted.

He followed Arthur onward, eventually stopping in a conference room where a gigantic round table bore countless sword marks and indentations, unclear what it had been through.

”Let’s take a break here,” Arthur said.

”In the Round Table Conference Room? So extravagant?” Nikola couldn’t help but comment, knowing exactly where they were.

Looking up, the domed glass ceiling was currently being baptized by heavy rain, making Nikola feel as if he were submerged deep in the ocean. Yet once the rain ceased, and the gloomy iron curtain fell again, this would be the only place in Old Dunling where one could see a clear sky.

Broken Dome.

The upper half of Dunling Tower is the mysterious Broken Dome, constructed on the ruins of the Dunling Plan, serving as the command center of the Purification Mechanism.

”At the end of the day, it’s just a conference room; no need to overthink it.”

Arthur said calmly, showing no particular feelings towards this solemn place.

Nikola nodded, casually picking up the documents on the table. These were confidential, the reason he was allowed into the Broken Dome, and why using Dunling Tower for lightning experiments was permissible.

Initially, Arthur was very conflicted about permitting this experiment. To safeguard the command center from being compromised, the Broken Dome maintained a long-term closed state. However, for this experiment, large numbers of personnel entered, conducting perilous experiments on Dunling Tower. Despite Nikola’s repeated assurances, Arthur still feared a bolt of lightning could strike down, electrocuting all the elite within the command center.

”What’s the current progress?” Arthur asked.

”On schedule, the power of thunder is indeed formidable. There was a moment when I began to understand why those Vikings spoke of Odin.”

Nikola felt awe in his heart. Although he had been researching electricity all along, when encountering the thunderous roar of nature, he couldn’t help but feel afraid.

”Odin... Midcourt Serpent... I’ve never quite understood why we use those Viking myths as names. This is Ingwig, it seems out of place, doesn’t it?”

Like a chat after a busy spell, Arthur asked while reading the report.

”Hasn’t Merlin told you about this?”

Hearing Arthur say this, Nikola seemed surprised.

”What?”

”The myths... Actually, there’s a reason for it. Compared to myths, Viking legends resemble an origin more.”

”What origin?”

”The origin of Alchemy,” Nikola said.

The man before him sporting dark circles wasn’t knowledgeable about Alchemy, but as Merlin’s assistant, he had been greatly influenced by Alchemy.

”Merlin once suspected the origin of Alchemy was Vikings... or rather the North. He often tells me if one day he grows old and is on the brink of death, he wants to go North, farther North, to the ends of ice and sea, where it seems the so-called Truth lies.”

Nikola spoke casually. Conducting experiments is very monotonous and dreary, so Merlin frequently chatted with them. Merlin once recounted a story of wielding a sword to chop other Alchemists, earning the nickname ”Alchemy Sword Saint,” though no one knew the true depth of his Swordsmanship, since by the time Merlin needed to draw his sword, the Purification Mechanism would have likely been mostly overrun.

Arthur’s pupils slightly contracted; this subtle change went unnoticed by Nikola, who had just returned from the stormy thunder and was earnestly enjoying this brief warmth.

”The North...”

Mentioning that place, Arthur naturally thought of those ancient existences, yet hadn’t expected they seemed related to Alchemy as well.

”But... thank you, Arthur.”

Nikola looked at Arthur; beneath his dark eye sockets were bright eyes, staring at Arthur, who was taken aback.

”What’s the matter?” Arthur asked.

”Thank you for supporting us, given that after the Dunling Plan failed, few people focused on electricity anymore.” Nikola sighed, remembering that painful failure, though at that time he hadn’t yet joined the Purification Mechanism. The records left behind still conveyed the despair scholars felt then.

He believed the world had entered a fallacy and should explore more powerful energy, whereas another group claimed those scholars were mistaken, stating steam technology was the future direction, not this peculiar electricity.

Steam had already established a solid foundation; no one had the courage to destroy these foundations and start anew.

”It’s just having plenty of funds; the royal family barely consumes anything, so our dear Queen allocates those riches to us.” Arthur said.

The mysterious Queen Victoria, the actual ruler of the Purification Mechanism. She trusted Arthur greatly, rarely took command directly, perpetually recluse within the soldier-guarded Platinum Palace, seldom appearing unless necessary, so even Nikola had never seen the Queen in person, only in a painting glimpsed the noble figure.

”Sounds alright.” Nikola said.

The conference room door opened again, Maxwell dripped with rain, laboriously crawled in, slumping into a chair like a worn-out old dog.

”This table has been around for hundreds of years.”

Maxwell lay sprawled across the round table, raindrops attached to it as Arthur sternly stopped him.

”It’s been hundreds of years already, it won’t be damaged by a bit of moisture.”

The old man breathed heavily. Unlike the young Nikola, Maxwell looked as old as Arthur and had worked in the Purification Mechanism for many years; he was also part of the Dunling Plan. Back then, his youthful Maxwell was even younger than Nikola is now.

”Are you still alright physically?”

Nikola looked at the bedraggled senior. At Maxwell’s age, he should be by the fireplace telling stories to his granddaughter, yet headed into stormy lluvias, trying to grasp thunder. Beneath his aged body, the soul boiled and burned, as though he would heroically perish at any moment on duty.

”Fine, very fine, I feel as vigorous as those knights!”

He spoke excitedly, yet his head lay on the table like lead and wouldn’t lift.

That feeling was amazing. Maxwell had personally witnessed the failure of the Dunling Plan, and decades later also saw its revival. Nothing was better than this; remembering those scholars who had long ago passed away gave Maxwell a indescribable feeling, and sometimes he felt he was born for this and should die for it.

”The experiment is currently progressing well; after a few more tests, confirm the stability of the weapon, then it can be put into use. Though its limitations are vast and costs high, it’s perfect for combatting Demon Hunters.” Nikola said.

Despite appearing peaceful on the surface, with elusive cooperation tendencies, Arthur knew well the Purification Mechanism and Evangelical Church were still rivals, and Anthony’s army of Demon Hunters was unpredictable. Nobody knew what actions this army would take, and as long as both sides exist, there would inevitably be a day of confrontation, so it’s better to prepare now.

”Actually, if possible, I’d really want Lorenzo to test the weapon.”

Arthur said, not meaning to operate the weapon but act as a target; only when tested on Demon Hunters could they know for sure if the weapon was effective.