Gun of Ashes

Gareth didn’t mind; under these circumstances, the survival of the Platinum Palace became unimportant.

”But can this really work? Treating the entire Old Dunling as a battlefield?”

Percival was very worried. The city was filled with the power of the Purification Mechanism, but at the same time, innumerable citizens lived here. Once a battle broke out, they would find it hard to escape unscathed.

”There is no other way. Old Dunling is the city where the Purification Mechanism is most deeply rooted. Only here do we have a highly perfected system of power, and only here can such a significant cost lure the enemy deeper.

Purification Mechanism, Platinum Palace... We will live and die with Old Dunling.”

A bloody battle painted itself in Gareth’s mind, Old Dunling engulfed in flames of war, the blood-stained Peacekeepers rushing through the city, one Iron Whale after another plummeting down, burning thousands of Demons to nothing but husks.

He could already smell the stench of blood in the air, as if countless bodies were falling around him.

Unlike others, Gareth was a native of Old Dunling. His feelings for this place were deep, not to mention that he had been stationed at the Broken Dome for a long time, watching over the city as it evolved from the highest point.

”Ah... you really seem busy. Have you considered going down to the ground to take a look?”

Percival quipped; she was the least serious among the Knight Commanders, always saying strange things. Fortunately, she wasn’t as prone to illness as Lorenzo, and others were quite tolerant of her, including Gareth.

”Ground? What would I do on the ground?” Gareth’s mind was only filled with work; he didn’t understand what Percival meant.

Percival gave him a strange look, then couldn’t help but ask.

”How long has it been since you last went to the ground? A year? Or two?”

”Four years,” Gareth replied, ”I became a Knight Commander four years ago, stationed long-term at the Broken Dome.”

”Four years!”

Percival’s voice rose, ”Have you been living here this whole time?”

”What else can I do? You know the rules, the secrecy level of the Broken Dome is the highest, commuting to the ground requires approval.”

”So you couldn’t be bothered to leave? For four years out of laziness?”

Gareth sighed and said, ”Directing and controlling the entirety of Old Dunling isn’t an easy job. What if something goes wrong while I’m away?”

”You really are a workaholic.” Percival patted him forcefully on the shoulder.

”Just conscientious and dedicated to duty.”

Gareth slowed his steps, and as he passed by a window, he looked out at the city shrouded in mist.

”What’s wrong?” Percival asked.

”What a beautiful city,”

Gareth looked at the bustling scene and couldn’t help but sigh, ”And all of it will soon be engulfed in war.”

Percival did not voice out, she didn’t have much love for this city, or rather, to Percival, it was just a city; if anything was special about it, it was merely that her company’s headquarters was here, nothing more.

But for Gareth, it was different, and she knew this very well. Gareth loved Old Dunling, perhaps a bit obsessively; in the past, she often teased Gareth about this.

Gareth came from an ordinary background. His family had lived in Old Dunling for generations, witnessing the city’s rise. Unfortunately, Gareth’s family wasn’t noble; otherwise, they could have proclaimed themselves as a century-old noble lineage.

He loved the city, having grown up alongside it. After graduation, Gareth applied for a city administrative job, his résumé was excellent, and he met all requirements perfectly. However, he was lacking in something.

For example, luck.

Gareth’s spot was taken by someone who got in through connections.

That happened a long time ago, but thinking of it now, Percival couldn’t help but laugh aloud.

”What’s so funny?”

Gareth turned back, bewildered.

”Nothing.”

Percival waved her hand, continuing her recollection.

The result was simple: Gareth lost his job. He waited outside City Hall for a week, finally catching the damn guy, dragging him into an alley, where he ”educated” him with a stick, breaking his leg in the process.

After three days on the run, Gareth got caught and was thrown into jail. The night before the trial, he joined the Purification Mechanism.

”Do you remember our first meeting?” Percival asked.

Gareth recalled those unpleasant events, his face clouding over. Seeing his expression made Percival’s smile grow broader.

”Wow, you got beaten pretty badly back then.”

The guy Gareth beat up had some connections; of course, without such connections, he wouldn’t have been able to get in through the backdoor. In jail, Gareth was almost beaten to death, and the day before his trial, he met the woman who wasn’t yet known as ”Percival.”

”We reviewed your records, quite perfect, very clean, except for this newfound offense.”

Percival told the bruised and battered man.

”Remaining silent? You’re about to be sentenced, and that guy has some connections. You might get a heavy sentence. Though it’s not a death sentence, when you’re free again, it could be years later.”

Still silent, Gareth knew well that he was just an ordinary person. At that moment, he could do nothing but regret – regret not having killed that guy.

”Hmm... we could offer you a new job, though it’s high-risk, requiring you to sign a substantial amount of confidentiality agreements and cover things like accidental death.

In short, as long as you’re willing to join us, you can avoid the trial.”

Gareth raised his head, studying the woman before him. He had indeed heard of such things — people awaiting trial receiving an offer the night before, to take on some high-risk job.

They said it was Old Dunling’s way of giving ”scum” a second chance. Gareth thought it was just an urban legend, but now, here it was, happening to him.

”What job.”

He was somewhat tempted, after all, who wanted to spend years in jail?

”Something you’re very familiar with, ’city administration related,’” Percival smiled.

After a short silence, Gareth broke out swearing again.

”City administration! Again with the damn city administration!”

If not for his hands being shackled, Gareth might have actually gotten up and fought Percival.

”We could add some extra perks.”

Percival opened a briefcase, producing several documents, waiting for Gareth’s signature.

”Like?”

”For instance, you can beat that guy up again, break his other leg; don’t worry, there won’t be any issue. Once you sign, you’ll have ’connections’ too.”

Gareth paused for a few seconds, then asked.

”Where do I sign?”

Gareth joined the Purification Mechanism, and on the night he left prison, some thug invaded that unfortunate guy’s house. The thug didn’t steal anything or kill anyone, just gave that poor guy a beating. When he was discharged from the hospital, it was in a wheelchair.

Afterward, he demonstrated his value, completing dangerous tasks one after another. Upon promotion to Knight Commander, he showcased his ”city management” abilities within the Broken Dome.

Under Gareth’s command, the complex systems of Old Dunling functioned in an orderly manner, bringing every inch of the city under control.

”You sure are optimistic,” Gareth couldn’t help but say, his eyes full of repression and sadness.

”Soon, this city will be covered in flames of war, many will die, and these are merely necessary sacrifices.”

Unlike the carefree Percival, Gareth was filled with emotion for the city and always felt there must be a better way.

A better... solution...

Suddenly, Gareth stopped, a whirlwind of thoughts exploding in his mind. He slowly turned, his eyes dark as he looked at Percival.

Percival involuntarily stepped back; truthfully, she was frightened by Gareth’s gaze. Perhaps due to exhaustion, his eye sockets had sunk deeply, shadows revealing bloodshot eyes within, resembling a lone wolf relentlessly pursuing its prey.

”Wh... what’s wrong?” Percival asked.

”Do you think this Death Row plan is perfect?”

Gareth questioned Percival, emitting an oppressive aura.

”Is this plan truly as flawless as we think it is?”