Gun of Ashes

Chapter 723: Chapter 9 Golden Dawn_2

Arthur then turned his gaze towards the queen at the other end of the long table. She maintained that composed demeanor, as if everything was under her control.

”The former Merlin, that is, William, secretly conducted some sort of experiment. Through Mordred’s intelligence, William said he found the ’Truth’. ”

Everything fell silent. Lorenzo’s expression gradually turned solemn. He understood the importance of the term ’Truth’. It was something all alchemists pursued for a lifetime, something worth sacrificing everything for.

”And then came the eruption of the Red Signal incident... wait, it’s so similar, Lorenzo, it’s all so alike...”

Arthur seemed to have recalled something. He looked at Lorenzo, and the message in his eyes also stirred Lorenzo’s thoughts. He opened his mouth slightly, almost against his will, and said,

”Night of the Holy Arrival.”

They were so similar: conducting some research on the unknown, followed by a disaster erupting, all the informed parties dying, burying the secret forever.

”And this is what I want to say, Arthur. The ’Pseudo Holy Grail’ is the intelligence concerning the cause of these matters. Once our cognition crosses the ’Boundary’, it triggers disaster. The Red Signal incident was this way, and so was the Night of the Holy Arrival.”

Lorenzo’s voice carried a slight tremor. The contents of Shermans’s notes had been verified. Just as he said, there are always people better than oneself. If he could discover these things, why couldn’t those people?

In fact, they had discovered it, but died because of the ’Silencer’.

For how long had this been the case? How long had this force called the ’Boundary’ limited human cognition?

Lorenzo suddenly dared not think further. The ’Silencer’ seemed to want to do something. If they were conscious, what secrets were they guarding? And moreover...

What connection did Gabriel have with them?

”Is that so... It seems that our future research needs to be more cautious. However, doesn’t the new Order know that what they’ve been pursuing isn’t some weapon, but these hidden secrets?” Arthur asked.

”Naturally. Like I said, all the informed died... Regarding these, I also have some notes that can serve as proof. I will give them to you later, but be careful. The power of the ’Boundary’ is like a sword hanging over our heads, ready to fall at any moment... they monitor everyone.”

Lorenzo sighed deeply, sitting down a bit exhausted.

He wasn’t sure whether what he was doing was right or wrong. This indeed protected Watson’s existence, but likewise, he was also worried. Even if Arthur received this information, no one knew where the ’Boundary’s’ limits lay. Perhaps some research into demons would once again bring about those nightmares.

No... not just that.

Lorenzo suddenly felt a winter-like chill. As long as the ’Boundary’ exists, humanity is destined never to fully understand the demons, to find the root source of this plague. Likewise, it’s a dead end. The closer they get to the truth, the closer they are to death.

It’s an incredibly perfect protection measure, isolating this root source from the cognition of mankind.

Why?

Why is the world distorted in this manner?

Thinking this, Lorenzo looked towards the end of the long table, but it was an even more terrifying sight for him.

There were no monsters, no bizarre scenes. Queen Victoria still sat there quietly, listening to the conversation between Lorenzo and Arthur.

Regarding the ’Boundary’, this is a terrifying fact. Perhaps from this intelligence, one could understand the fundamental unresolved mysteries of history, those nations that vanished suddenly, the groups that died suddenly...

This intelligence is enough to drive many people mad. Even though Lorenzo was already aware, returning to it, he would feel terror because of its cursed nature, let alone Arthur, who just learned about these things.

They all trembled due to the unknown before them. But Queen Victoria was different. She still bore that gentle smile and composed demeanor, as if nothing Lorenzo said could stir her heart or mind. To her, it was no different from ordinary intelligence.

Like a cold, stern sculpture, Lorenzo initially thought she was trying to maintain her majesty as a queen, controlling her emotions. But that wasn’t it. Lorenzo could sense it; there was no fluctuation in her emotions at all, as if... as if she already knew everything.

Queen Victoria also knew of the ’Boundary’s’ existence.

Yes, that would make sense. After all, the Purification Mechanism was established by them. And given the bizarre nature of the ’Silencer’, she had a reason to deliberately hide this intelligence.

The ’Silencer’ is so strange. Once you become aware of their existence, they also become aware of yours. Lorenzo was certain he was already exposed to the ’Silencer’s’ sight, or even said he had already been attacked by them, only unaware due to various factors.

What in the world is going on?

The thoughts raced in his mind, but on the surface, Lorenzo maintained the slightly surprised expression. He hid it well, very perfectly.

The pieces of intelligence gradually integrated together, and the mystery of Ingwig was close at hand.

”So I’ve explained, Your Majesty. Correspondingly, I also have many questions I wish to ask you.”

Despite addressing her as ’Your Majesty’, Lorenzo’s words were blunt. He looked at the queen at the end of the long table, revisiting the events in his mind one by one.

”What would you like to ask, Mr. Holmes?”

The queen’s voice was calm.

”Regarding the King’s Curse, what exactly is it, and where does it come from?”

Lorenzo’s expression was serious. The Secret Blood within him was restless. Suddenly, he had a new idea. He wanted to do it, but he wasn’t sure what doing so would trigger.

The atmosphere fell silent again. Arthur’s understanding of the King’s Curse wasn’t much more than Lorenzo’s. After all, it was a plague of the royal family, concerning the rule of royal power.

The queen’s silence didn’t last long. She still wore that damned smile.

”The King’s Curse.

It’s going to be a long story, and a very hidden one. If possible, I hope this secret is forever buried within the Platinum Palace...”

Lorenzo felt a slight tension. He could sense a threat from within.

”But now it’s not like it used to be. It’s a new era now, with the roar of machines, and human civilization strides forward. These decaying relics should also be discarded and forgotten.”

The queen raised her hand again, looking at her pale skin with the blood vessels beneath like a crimson web, covered over flesh.

”It’s a blessing and a curse.”

She let out a burst of joyful laughter.

”Mr. Lorenzo Holmes, have you ever thought about how Ingwig rose?”

Lorenzo was stunned for a moment. He knew this well, and many people knew it. These things were written in history books, and weren’t really a question. But after a brief daze, Lorenzo realized something.

History is written by the victors. Beneath a history shown to everyone must lurk another history in the shadows.

What does Ingwig’s shadow hide?

”It’s... a somewhat complicated story, but fortunately, I have plenty of time today, and it’s just us here.”

The queen continued.

”Do you know? In fact, the Victoria Clan was an alchemy family. Of course, this was a very long time ago.”

For a moment, all breathing stopped, not just Lorenzo’s, but also Arthur’s.

”Moreover, long, long ago, alchemists weren’t like what you know now, killing each other, each pursuing ’Truth.’ Initially, we also had a cohesive group. But unfortunately, it later split.

And that is the story of the earliest alchemists, about...

The story of the Golden Dawn.”

The broken sunlight pierced through the gloomy clouds, falling into this splendid Platinum Palace. In the reflection of gold, the three of them were enveloped in radiance.