Gun of Ashes

”What are you trying to do?”

Lorenzo wasn’t worried; instead, he asked curiously. It felt like a cage, locking them inside layer by layer.

”Protective measures. This is the largest and most secure experiment field within the Perpetual Motion Pump, after all. The things we are about to experiment with are very dangerous.”

Tesla answered while countless tiny protrusions emerged from the edges of the well wall. They were Geiger Counters, completely covering the surroundings, using this cumbersome method to enhance sensitivity to erosion.

”Then let’s start with the appetizer.”

The goods on the rail began to descend, finally landing slowly at the center of the field. As the wrapping framework opened, Lorenzo clearly saw what was inside.

His hand involuntarily clenched, his voice somewhat icy.

”Are you trying to anger me?”

”No, merely science.”

Tesla’s voice was incredibly calm, not caring about Lorenzo’s thoughts at all. He walked over and presented his work comprehensively to Lorenzo.

It was an unrecognizable corpse, flesh and silver-white metal mixed together, but its insides had been hollowed out. The metal spine was placed on the other side of the corpse, with twisted, branch-like iron sprouts growing on it.

”Mr. Holmes, before participating in the experiment, I have many questions I want confirmed from your mouth.”

Tesla put on gloves and twisted the metal spine with tongs. It was full of eerie patterns as if countless lines interweaved.

”This thing you call... the Silver Binding Bolt, what exactly is it?”

Lorenzo looked at Ed’s corpse, the spine completely encased in Holy Silver, seeing clearly that there were things on it that didn’t originally belong to this body.

”What do you mean?”

”I mean, are you really aware of what the Evangelical Church installed in you?”

Tesla said as he picked out something with countless small neural wires from another heap of parts using tongs.

”Look at this, such exquisite... technology.”

Under the high magnification microscope, Lorenzo could clearly see the complex mechanical structure inside, far surpassing the ultimate level achievable by modern craftsmanship.

”It was completely destroyed by the melted Holy Silver; we’ve only been able to deduce that the precision of this thing is beyond what humanity can currently achieve. Don’t show that incredulous look; you’re now in the Perpetual Motion Pump, the birthplace of the entire mechanical civilization. Yet even here, our factories can’t produce such a thing, not even imitate it.”

Tesla returned it to its place, eyes full of both admiration and puzzlement.

”Mr. Holmes, do you know what this implies?”

”What?”

Lorenzo vaguely sensed Tesla’s implication but didn’t know how to explain it. Recalling his experience in the Order, a Demon Hunter undergoes the Divine Favor Baptism after training, and the implantation of the Silver Binding Bolt and Secret Blood occurs simultaneously. They say only the vitality given by Secret Blood can allow the Demon Hunter to survive the implantation surgery.

The Silver Binding Bolt implantation surgery.

Only then did Lorenzo realize he had never seen the Silver Binding Bolt with his own eyes; he was unaware of what lay inside his body.

”It’s not a craftsmanship achievable by modern technology. Can you explain what this thing is used for?”

Tesla asked earnestly. This mechanical technology, exceeding Ingwig, was enough to make the entire nation reconsider its stance towards the Evangelical Church.

”...A device to control Demon Hunters. When our Secret Blood Awakening level surpasses the threshold, it will self-destruct to kill Demon Hunters who have fully undergone Demonization.”

”So this thing can automatically detect the purity of the Secret Blood in your body? That’s amazing. We have a similar device for detecting erosion levels, but it’s the size of a cart, and the probe needle has to be inserted into the brain.”

Tesla couldn’t stop his praise and continued questioning. In his eyes, Lorenzo was a huge treasure, waiting to be excavated.

”What else?”

As if on the brink of uncovering a huge truth, Lorenzo felt a slight fear, not of simple death or demons, but of the unknown. It was like walking in deep mist, never knowing what lies beyond it.

”And the connection to the Static Holy Temple.”

Perhaps because of trust in allies or pressure from Dean Lawrence, Lorenzo didn’t conceal anything this time.

”You can think of it as a kind of communicator, our internal ’communicator’ as Demon Hunters. More than that, I don’t know, as I can’t return to the Static Holy Temple anymore.”

Tesla seemed unsurprised at everything; he continued speaking.

”Hmm... technology for long-range wireless communication without needing signal bases? I’m beginning to feel fortunate that the Evangelical Church brought about its own downfall; otherwise, we might truly not win in a war.”

Tesla explained with his understanding of the technology, his gaze towards Lorenzo slightly changed but quickly shifted away.

”What do you actually want to ask?”

Although Lorenzo hadn’t attended mechanical science courses, his experience from attending sporadic university lectures made him sense something amiss.

”Nothing, just confirming many thoughts, so let’s change the subject.”