Gun of Ashes

Chapter 509: Chapter 102 Legacy_2

”But such a rapid advance quickly met with backlash.”

”They rejected new things, didn’t they?” Although just a researcher, Nikola was never lacking sensitivity in such matters.

”That’s right, Ingwig fully entered mechanization, steam boilers roared in every city and spread to other countries, yet even now, the entire Western world has not fully mechanized, those Vikings still rely on sails for voyages.”

Arthur explained these.

”Developing new energy at that time undoubtedly meant reforming, even overthrowing the existing foundation. They invested so much money, some were willing to accept and innovate together, some rejected, thinking it was unreliable. Indeed, it was just a concept existing only in the mind, compared to the now operational machinery, everyone would choose the more stable option.”

”It’s a difficult road,” Arthur laughed, ”but I should be retired by then, it’s not something I should worry about.”

Nikola didn’t have the mood for jokes, there were things he had long wanted to ask, and maybe it was better to say them today.

”Actually... I want to know who proposed the Dunling Plan.”

It was a grand, romantic plan, where amidst the rapid advance of steam technology, someone decisively opposed it, believing it was the wrong path, and wholeheartedly invested in the journey of pioneering a new path.

Nikola wanted to know who made such a decision, his vision was so far-reaching that although the Dunling Plan failed, it still influenced today’s world decades later.

Arthur recalled carefully, remembering when the Dunling Plan began, he hadn’t reached his current position, trying hard to recall the name, he then said.

”Several positions ago, the perpetual motion pump technical director, Michael Faraday.”

Arthur suddenly remembered the strange Stuart family, looked at Nikola, and said with some amusement.

”This odd thing seems like a legacy, he failed, Maxwell succeeded him, and now this task has been passed to you.”

Nikola said nothing, just slowly raised his head, above was a glass dome, countless raindrops washed over the surface, lightning flashed, reflecting a splendid scene.

...

Lorenzo laboriously got out of bed, this damn rainy season made the already scarce light in Old Dunling even dimmer, making it seem like dusk even though it was morning, the streetlights hadn’t gone out, like fallen stars.

Last night, he comforted Hig, for which Lorenzo personally cooked, made something simple and shared it with Hig, but nearly woke Mrs. Van Rudd in the process, if she saw them awake in the middle of the night making things, she’d surely unleash a tirade.

Walking to the table, his mind felt heavy, as if he hadn’t fully awoken.

Hig told him a lot, allowing him to deeply understand his roommate, in some ways, Lorenzo felt Hig was even more unfortunate than himself.

That beautiful past Lorenzo could no longer return to, but at least Florence was still there, Saint Nalos Cathedral was still there, the Static Holy Temple was still there. Although it was currently the enemy’s base, at least they still existed. If one day Lorenzo’s longing couldn’t be suppressed, he still had a chance to go back and take a look, though things had changed, at least some remnants remained.

But Hig was different, he could never go back, he couldn’t even clearly remember what his hometown looked like, only able to wander in this foggy Old Dunling.

Lorenzo thought about pulling out a cigarette from the tin box, considering whether to continue exploring the Memory Palace.

He hadn’t turned on the lights inside, it was a dull gray-blue scene, the rain had subsided, but occasionally fine strands still fell downward, the sky remained gloomy, gray-black clouds like gathered ravens hovered above, seemingly accumulating for the next downpour.

The contemplation didn’t last long, Lorenzo put the cigarette back into the tin box and tucked it away.

He wasn’t sure what would happen after entering the Memory Palace. He gave Heracles quite a scare then, luckily Heracles had seen the world and didn’t shoot him.

But now he was on Cork Street 121A, Lorenzo didn’t think Mrs. Van Rudd and Hig’s psychological endurance was that good, better to find a secret safe place to use it.

Where to go? Find Heracles? Or find a random sewer to crawl into, though given Old Dunling’s current rainfall, it’s probably a raging torrent.

After getting dressed, Lorenzo hesitated and equipped himself with some weapons, a folding blade and a short-handled shotgun at his waist, holding a sword-concealing cane, and donned a gray felt hat.

He left the room, quietly and gingerly went downstairs, and while avoiding waking anyone, slipped into the kitchen to eat something to fill his belly.

Though uncertain of where to go next, Lorenzo thought it was better to leave home first, but how to leave was the issue.

Earlier, Bola warned that the Purification Mechanism was monitoring him, and surely the new Order wouldn’t sit idly by, perhaps there was a Demon Hunter lying in wait for him in some corner of the street.

Once Lorenzo set off, he’d be monitored and followed, escaping was easy for him before, but due to the persistent rain, Old Dunling’s street pedestrians were few, making him conspicuous on the streets.

He stood at the door, casually grabbed an umbrella, hesitated, but then there were hoofbeats, splashing water as they trotted.

Lorenzo awoke early, the city was just waking at this time, he had a strange feeling, as if they were coming for him, then a black shadow halted before Cork Street 121A’s door, Lorenzo’s expression turned peculiar.

A man hurriedly got off the carriage, though vaguely familiar with this place, coming so early to disturb made him uneasy, let alone disturbing the madman Lorenzo.

A girl followed him, looking as if she hadn’t slept well, wobbly in her steps, clutching a black letter.

Oscar Wilde hesitated, extending his hand to knock, but then withdrew, glanced at the girl beside him, Selyu.

”He won’t have some damn waking rage, will he?”

Oscar clearly knew a lot, including what kind of monster Lorenzo was, kicking open Stuart’s front door before dawn, he knew at least normal people lived inside, while what lay beyond wasn’t normal.

Selyu sighed as she watched him, unsure whether Oscar was pretending, or if he was genuinely like this, becoming utterly serious during business like a strategist deep in thought, making Selyu and him wary, but once away from business he became entirely unreliable.

She directly pushed Oscar aside, marching up like she was ready to kick down the door.

Yet just as Selyu prepared to turn the knob, the door opened by itself, she didn’t react in time and was bumped open, but before falling, Lorenzo grabbed her, and swiftly pulled out the shotgun from his coat, aiming it at the jubilant Oscar’s head.

”So, coming to see me this early, surely you’re not inviting me for breakfast, right?”

Lorenzo glanced at the sneaky pair, questioned with a puzzling look, but it didn’t last long. Considering the ever-watchful eyes, Lorenzo stepped aside, indicating for them to enter the house.