Gun of Ashes

”That’s a possibility...” Lorenzo thought for a moment and said softly.

”Are you aware of the situation in Florence? Those people want to make a deal with the Purification Mechanism,” Lorenzo said.

”You should ask Arthur about that, it’s a matter of diplomacy, I’m not sure about it,” Bola replied.

This is a transaction between two giant entities, they are merely cogs in the machine.

”However, for the upcoming visit of this mission, the Purification Mechanism will also be part of the security forces.”

”Why?”

”Because ’Revelation’ is highly likely to be on Ingwig’s land,” Bola said gravely.

Lorenzo appeared somewhat surprised, ”You’ve also realized this?”

”Don’t think everyone else is a fool, Lorenzo. If you can think of it, why wouldn’t we?” Bola continued, ”The Purification Mechanism has had several discussions internally, and based on the information you provided before, the Demon Hunting Order has a mysterious entity known as the Static Holy Temple, correct?”

”To be precise, that place is the residence of the Demon Hunting Order, located deep beneath Saint Nalos Cathedral,” Lorenzo recalled that eerily silent hall, where demon hunters were trained and implanted with Secret Blood.

”You mentioned that if the Secret Blood awakening level of the demon hunters is too high, the Static Holy Temple would detect your location. The Purification Mechanism suspects that it might have been triggered during your fight with Lawrence, perhaps their goal is not just to make a trade alliance...

Their objective might also be the ’Revelation.’”

Lorenzo hadn’t expected the Purification Mechanism to see things so clearly, perhaps due to the long cooperation, Bola understood what Lorenzo wanted to say before he could speak.

”The Purification Mechanism was established under the shadow of the Demon Hunting Order. At that time, your Demon Hunting Order was even more terrifying than the Demons. Regarding the Evangelical Church, we might have been the most vigilant.”

The Evangelical Church monopolized the power against Demons. To escape this control, the Purification Mechanism was secretly established and developed. If the existence of the Purification Mechanism had been discovered by the Evangelical Church at that time, according to the procedure Lorenzo was familiar with, demon hunters would infiltrate Ingwig and eradicate it with extraordinary power.

”Well then, are you aware of the stowaways from Florence? I’ve been investigating a group of stowaways from Florence recently, and I suspect there’s something up with them.”

”Lorenzo, there are too many stowaways, too many. Even with increased efforts and inspections, there will still be some who slip through the cracks,” Bola said.

”And even if Florence’s side truly has power to secretly infiltrate, with their capabilities, we probably wouldn’t be able to find them.”

Those who get caught are simply not skilled stowaways.

”Are you admitting your shortcomings?”

”It’s just really difficult to stop those who are determined, after all, if you crawl through the sewers, you can even crawl into Old Dunling. Think about yourself, Lorenzo, back then, even after being injured that badly, you crawled into Old Dunling, let alone those who are well-prepared,” Bola said helplessly. It’s one of the unavoidable flaws of Old Dunling. They can stop the majority, but small elite forces are ultimately hard to resist, and that’s when the Midcourt Serpent System comes into play, with complex railway networks spanning the entire city, they have enough power to swiftly deploy elites onto the battlefield.

It seems the Purification Mechanism doesn’t have time to deal with these matters anymore.

”However, there’s another piece of news from Florence recently that you might find interesting,” Bola seemed to recall something.

”What’s the news?”

”Do you know Cardinal Miguel?”

The name sounded familiar, countless faces flashed through Lorenzo’s mind as he vaguely remembered the identity and deeds associated with this person.

”One of the cardinals from the Evangelical Church, what’s the matter?”

A bishop clad in red, the powerful cardinal, they are esteemed figures second only to the Pope, and such a figure was one Lorenzo had recently killed.

”According to internal sources from Florence, the new Pope hastily took office, his power was held by the cardinals. Their intention was to marginalize this new Pope, turning him into a puppet of power. But who would have expected that the new Pope was secretly amassing power, one night he violently purged all dissenters.”

The mere narration conveyed the scent of blood.

”Cardinal Miguel was one of the dissenters of the new Pope. He didn’t die in the purge but fled with a large portion of fellow dissenting cardinals. While escaping, they took a significant amount of assets with them, which was a severe blow to the Evangelical Church, but at the same time, the new Pope seized all power of the Evangelical Church, reaching the pinnacle of his position.”

Bola couldn’t help but admire the new Pope’s methods, swift and lethal, with no pretense of righteousness, instead employing extreme violence for suppression. Though bloody, it was effective. Now, only one voice remains in the church, his voice.

”The new Pope’s methods are excessively forceful and intimidating, but some believe that his methods might incite the first church civil war in history.”

”Church civil war?”

Lorenzo almost laughed upon hearing this.

”What will they use to fight? Blessed iron swords?”

The Evangelical Church hasn’t kept up with the times. Compared to Ingwig, they are far too technologically behind.

”So this might be another reason for the mission’s visit, to purchase arms, after all, we are considered the largest arms exporting nation.”

”This serious?” Lorenzo didn’t expect this.

”That’s the difference between you and Arthur, Lorenzo. You’re a lone wolf, for you a single person or a thousand coming to kill you doesn’t matter, you can only die once anyway, but Arthur and we are different, the Purification Mechanism has the responsibility for all of Ingwig, and so does the new Pope.”

Bola explained seriously.

”We represent not individuals but groups in the form of organizations or even nations. Although brutal, that’s how it is. Think about what the Evangelical Church fears the most? More than technological lag and declining status, their greatest fear is the collapse of faith.”

”Cardinal Miguel fled with more than half the cardinals, and they represent faith. If they declare rebellion...”

”A few hundred years ago this would be heresy, of course it still is today.” Church-affiliated Lorenzo realized the seriousness of the issue.

”Michael’s demon hunters would carry out the fire execution personally, though nearly all demon hunters are dead by now.”

”Exactly, it’s like that. The situation is becoming more complex, and if Cardinal Miguel finds forces willing to support him, it could be the first church civil war in history... or even a split in faith,” Bola said with a frown.

”Of course none of this has happened yet, there’s still uncertainty, and this adds to the stress we’re facing. No one knows what the mission’s visit will actually entail.”

Lorenzo was also feeling a headache, but then he remembered someone, someone long forgotten.

He hadn’t had much contact with cardinals, after all, the duty of Medanzo’s demon hunters was to guard Saint Nalos Cathedral. The only time he dealt with them was when acting as their bodyguard. Though it sounds absurd, that’s indeed the case. Of course, guarding Saint Nalos Cathedral could be seen as stationing guards.

Anyway, stripping away those mystical religious colors, the church is essentially just a roaring machine.

Lorenzo once protected a cardinal named Lorenzo, which may sound confusing, but that was Lorenzo de’ Medici. Calling him Cardinal Medici might be better.

He was an interesting old man, at least among the cardinals Lorenzo had met, he was the most comforting one.

”So, putting that aside, I have one more question,” Lorenzo suddenly remembered his intention for coming here after Bola’s words occupied his thoughts.

”Bola, are you familiar with the Rat King?”