Gun of Ashes

Gaulunaro, Geli.

As the capital of Gaulunaro, Geli is the most prosperous place in all of Gaulunaro. Although its steam technology cannot compare with Old Dunling, the towering and continuous buildings still showcase the strength of this nation.

Countless spires, like lances piercing the sky, converge together to form peaks as sharp as blades, resembling mountains rising from flat ground.

The residence of the Garel Royal Family is located at the center of these mountains, on the tallest peak, from where their King can easily overlook the entire Geli and even farther places, as if everything were in his hand, like a sand table.

After the Night of Suffering, Cornel didn’t linger long at Maruri port. He simply bandaged his wound and returned to Geli. In the following days, he moved back and forth and couldn’t sleep at night, painfully contemplating certain matters.

Many ministers who saw Cornel had the same consensus: Cornel had changed. Specifically where he changed, they couldn’t say. They just felt that this heir to the kingdom had become much more complex than before. Previously, Cornel couldn’t conceal his inner thoughts; he was like a naive child, whose ideas and actions could be easily seen through. But now, the ministers couldn’t see through him.

Cornel seemed shrouded in an unknown mist. With his head lowered, his eyes were cold, like the indifferent Death God, looking at this world that had nothing to do with him.

”Has my father’s illness not improved at all?”

Standing in the dim corridor, Cornel asked the doctor beside him.

The doctor swallowed. Cornel had always seemed easy-going, but now he was like a cold, sharp sword, making the doctor feel stifled.

”No, it’s even worsened.”

”Is that so?”

Cornel rubbed his head painfully. His father became King after the defeat in the Radiant War. At that time, Gaulunaro was severely weakened, and the people were furious with the Royal Family. To calm everything down and revive Gaulunaro, his father worked tirelessly.

Fortunately, in the end, he succeeded. This nation was revived, but he was left bedridden for years due to early hidden diseases and exhaustion, like a breathing corpse.

”Is he still awake now?” Cornel asked.

”He has some awareness...” the doctor said.

”Alright, noted.”

Cornel waved his hand, signaling the doctor to leave.

Now, only he was left in the dim corridor, and at the corridor’s end, behind that big door, lay his father, now the King of Gaulunaro.

Cornel thought for a long time, seemingly having made some decision. He walked towards the door with firm and heavy steps.

Slowly pushing open the door, the room was not very bright, with curtains tightly shut, not letting in a hint of light, only with a few slight glows in the corner to ensure the room wasn’t entirely swallowed by darkness.

In the middle of the large bed lay a person, his breathing very steady, his body rising and falling slowly with his breaths.

Cornel walked to the bedside and sat on a low chair. After a long time, the person on the bed finally seemed to realize someone was there. He turned his head with difficulty, his old face showing signs of death.

”Father.”

Cornel reached out his hand, grasping the King’s aged and withered hand, feeling its coldness, devoid of a living person’s warmth.

”Cornel?”

The King blinked forcefully, trying to see Cornel’s face clearly, reaching out to try to touch his face but encountered that yet-to-heal scar.

”Starting to look like a man.”

The King caressed the scar on Cornel’s face, the last mark left by Ivar, feeling a faint pain, Cornel softly said.

”A lot has happened, and I think there are things I should talk to you about.”

The silhouette of the Evil Ghost once again appeared in his mind, that deformed, dying figure, wielding twisted steel attacking him. Such scenes always emerged in Cornel’s mind, dominating his dreams.

”Oh? Is it about Maruri? I’ve already heard about it.”

The King tried to sit up, but his tired body lacked strength long ago. He attempted a few times but finally gave up, lying in bed looking at the darkness above.

”How do you think the situation will develop, Cornel?” the King asked.

”War is inevitable. Ingwig needs to destroy us to ensure its supremacy. The Viking nations need plunder to surpass other countries. It’s a war impossible to refuse. I guess their fleet has long been assembled and might appear in our waters tomorrow.”

Cornel frowned. War was imminent, and no one could stop its arrival.

”Then how do you think we should respond?” the King asked again.

”The Rhine Alliance—once Gaulunaro falls, the neighboring countries like Leiber will be completely exposed to Ingwig’s sight, especially Leiber. If they can, they absolutely won’t let go of Leiber’s production of Pine Iron, a vital resource that could significantly advance Ingwig’s steam technology. With these, our alliance will only become more solid.”

The King looked at Cornel approvingly.

”Isn’t this good? They have their spear, and we have our shield.”

”But... all this is too idealistic. The human mind is unfathomable. We may trust our allies, but we cannot absolutely believe in them. Besides... Gaulunaro itself isn’t entirely united.”