Gun of Ashes

”Is the Death Row construction complete?”

”Currently, the framework is already set up, the Holy Silver layer will fully cover the entire area,” Merlin said.

Lorenzo nodded, but the more he listened, the more uneasy he felt, as if something wasn’t right.

This eerie feeling was so familiar, previously while contemplating in the office, Lorenzo repeatedly sensed such anomalies, and as time passed, this feeling became increasingly apparent.

”I want to check on the progress of the Death Row,” Lorenzo made such a request.

”No.”

Unexpectedly, Merlin directly rejected Lorenzo.

Lorenzo was taken aback, then pressed on, ”Why?”

He couldn’t understand, as the proposer of the Death Row plan, he didn’t even have the right to check the progress.

”This plan was set up to deal with Roger, and other than you, all participants are people who have never come into contact with Roger. Furthermore, after they were selected, they remained isolated from the outside world, in complete silence.

If an outsider joins, it is very likely Roger would find an entry point. You have to know, Lorenzo, such a monster exists everywhere.”

Merlin stared into Lorenzo’s eyes, then glanced at the others.

”He might be here, listening to our conversation, don’t you think?”

”So you don’t know the specific situation either, right?” Lorenzo asked.

”Mm,” Merlin responded, ”If possible, I wish I could use the Anti-Meme to erase our memories, completely forgetting about the existence of Death Row.”

”Anti-Meme...”

Upon hearing this, Lorenzo stiffened, he vaguely realized something, his eyes filled with a hint of terror, as if he had discovered an earth-shattering secret.

”What’s wrong?”

Merlin noticed his expression and inquired with concern.

”Nothing... nothing.”

His mind trembled slightly, Lorenzo was plagued by doubt and distortion.

”Once we all hide in the Death Row, we can finally go to war with peace of mind, fighting to the death,” Merlin said.

”Aren’t you going? After all, you’re the chief of the Perpetual Motion Pump’s technology?” Lorenzo asked.

Merlin shook his head, ”There’s no need, when the war begins, someone has to stay at the Perpetual Motion Pump.”

”Aren’t you afraid of dying?”

”Since we’re bound to die anyway, I’ve lived long enough, might as well leave the future to the young ones.”

A strange and twisted grin appeared on the expressionless face, Lorenzo knew this was Merlin smiling, but every time he saw this expression, Lorenzo always felt a chill.

”Have the evacuations begun in an orderly manner?”

Lorenzo muttered, slowly raising his head, gazing at the ominous cloud that was hard to disperse.

...

”The notice from the Purification Mechanism has arrived, we need to be the first to enter the Death Row for refuge.”

The old steward pushed open the door, addressing Selyu who was still dealing with paperwork.

Selyu seemed not to hear him, still with her head bowed, constantly writing and drawing.

Seeing this, the old steward coughed forcefully a few times, trying hard to break the silence and awaken Selyu.

”Ah... what is it?”

Selyu put down the pen, looking at the old steward, her delicate face filled with weariness.

With war about to erupt in the shadows, yet life under the sun had to continue, Selyu had to busy herself with various family proposals before Old Dunling was completely razed to the ground.

”The notice has arrived, the war will break out soon, you’re on the first list, they will come shortly to escort you to the Death Row.”

Listening to the old steward’s words, Selyu responded affirmatively, she knew it was because of her status as a Nation-Builder.

Every ticket was extremely precious, representing countless people dying to protect them, and they would also be the first to see the sun after the ruins.

”Are you sure you don’t want to deal with our assets? After the war, they might all be destroyed,”

the old steward suggested.

The Stuart family had many industries in Old Dunling, not to mention the funds stored in the bank. He originally hoped Selyu could transfer these assets out before the war erupted, or deal with those properties, so that post-ruins, the Stuart family’s interests could be as preserved as possible.

They were among the few, the aristocracy who knew the news, the old steward found it hard not to be tempted.

”No need, there’s no necessity.”

Selyu once again rejected the suggestion.

”Why?”

”If Old Dunling is destroyed, it means the core strength of the Purification Mechanism is annihilated, after all, only this way would Roger truly ’destroy Old Dunling,’ wouldn’t he?”

Selyu gathered the documents, speaking slowly.

”This is Ingwig’s capital, the headquarters of the Purification Mechanism. If it’s completely destroyed here, what hope do we have?”

”This...” the old steward didn’t know what to say.

”Actually, I think they must have realized that once defeated, the survivors in the Death Row can’t change anything, rather than ’preserving strength,’ it’s more about... leaving some hope, to make them feel better inside.”

For everything, Selyu saw very clearly, clearer than many, yet she didn’t feel joy or sorrow for it, besides silent prayers, she had done everything she could.

”Think about it, when the land is shattered and full of devastation, what value does wealth have by then?”

Selyu looked at things with unexpected openness, perhaps because wealth never held much weight in her heart.

She stood up, then asked.

”When do we leave?”

”Very soon, they said they would come for you.”

”What about you?”

”Not sure,” the old steward was uncertain as well, he smiled wryly, ”I might be traveling with you, or watching till the end here.”

”Think positively, maybe when you return, you’ll just see me sitting on the ruins waiting for you.”

Selyu expressionlessly extended a hand to embrace the old steward.

”You can still leave Old Dunling now, there’s time,” she whispered, ”There’s no need for you to stay here with us, this doesn’t concern you.”

The old steward patted Selyu’s back, thought for a moment, then responded.

”Like you said, if the Stuart family disappears, what meaning do I have?”

His peripheral vision observed the room’s scenery, his voice carried the weariness of years.

”I’ve stayed here too long, asking me to leave is like asking a rat to leave its dark sewer, facing the bustling city it only feels panic and fear.”

The old steward noticed something, looking outside the window, in a murky world, a black carriage unbeknownst to him had stopped there, several soldiers disembarked, their faces pale like the dead.

”Time to leave.”

The old steward released her, collected his emotions, and then smiled.

”Don’t worry too much, while you’re away I’ll probably take a vacation, take a stroll, have a drink or two.”

Selyu didn’t say anything, seeming to have no time left to say anything, the old steward picked up the luggage prepared long ago for her, accompanying Selyu to leave.

As the door opened, under the gloomy sky, a continuous drizzle fell, carrying a chilling melancholy.

The soldiers remained nonverbal, opening the carriage door, the interior was pitch-black, only waiting for Selyu to board.

At this time, there was no need for words, farewells were often silent, Selyu took one last look at the old steward, then her vision was blocked by the closing carriage doors.

The carriage gradually moved away, no one expected the parting to be so sudden, Selyu hugged her luggage, sitting inside the swaying carriage. She always remained rational, but this consecutive upheaval left her a bit confused.

What should become of all this?

She wanted to take another look at this city, thinking it might be the last, Selyu attempted to open the window, but found that the carriage was completely sealed, the window supposedly there was covered with iron plates.

Something was off.

Selyu tried hard to pry, but it didn’t budge, she attempted to call the driver, but found herself in a completely enclosed environment.

This wasn’t a Purification Mechanism carriage.

Such a thought flashed in Selyu’s mind, her pounding actions slowed, she felt as if all her strength had left her, her consciousness becoming clouded, before falling into a faint.

She slumped inside the carriage, all her cries faded into blurriness, silence.

Joey drove the carriage madly forward.