Gun of Ashes

”Begin the first awakening attempt.”

Merlin’s voice resonated from the communicator. At the very top of the dome, behind thick blast-proof glass, Galahad quietly observed everything. Ever since he lost control while piloting the Black Angel, many believed him to be dead, but in reality, not only did Galahad survive, he became a shadow of the Purification Mechanism due to his existing state.

”This time, we may uncover the root source of the demons. Are you excited?”

Galahad asked, and a steady voice emerged from the darkness behind him.

”How could I not be excited? If I wasn’t afraid of losing my composure, I’d want to shout with excitement right now.”

Arthur spoke as he approached Galahad and sat down on the chair beside him. The view from here was nice; it was the highest point of the workshop, allowing them to oversee everything. However, it was also too high to observe the details below, but that was enough for them. They didn’t care about the process; they only yearned for the result of it all.

”I’m not young anymore. Otherwise, you’d find me piloting the Armor of Original Sin right now, becoming one of them.”

Arthur crossed his arms and furrowed his brows.

The communicator emitted a burst of static noise, and soon another voice joined the channel.

”Arthur, an order from the Platinum Palace. The Queen requests us to stop ’pursuing the signal.’

The voice came from the Broken Dome. In Arthur’s absence from the Broken Dome, Knight Commander Gareth was responsible for all affairs.

”The experiment has already started, Gareth. We can’t stop now,” Arthur responded coldly.

”But... what about the Queen?”

Gareth was in a dilemma. The Purification Mechanism was directly under the Victorian Royal Family, and within the Royal Family, only Queen Victoria’s voice mattered. Her orders were absolute to everyone. Yet, Arthur’s actions were undoubtedly defying her orders.

”Just say it has started. The workshop is completely locked down, and unless the experiment ends, no one can interfere with its progress... Don’t be so tense, Gareth. The Queen is not a monster; she can’t even leave the Platinum Palace.”

Arthur had always respected the Queen, but now his attitude was extremely contemptuous.

”Alright, see you at the Broken Dome, Gareth.”

Arthur said as he pressed the switch, and Gareth’s voice vanished into the static noise.

”What are you doing, Arthur? This isn’t something you’re capable of doing.”

Galahad finally spoke slowly. He looked at Arthur’s profile. The old man’s gaze was reserved, and no one could guess what he was thinking.

”The Queen... is hiding something from us, Galahad.”

Arthur suddenly said in the silence, turning his head with a serious expression.

”You know, in fact, I was also deceived by the Queen.”

”What are you saying?” Galahad couldn’t understand his words.

”Ivar’s rescue plan. Indeed, this operation involved the purposes of many people. For example, I secretly dispatched Lorenzo to eradicate the Choir, but all our purposes were just smokescreens. Letting Ivar die in Gaulunaro to ignite a war was the real objective, and I was completely unaware of this. I only found out after the events unfolded.”

Arthur felt as if dark clouds were covering the skies over Old Dunling.

”The Queen hid the plan from all of us, collaborating with the Viking countries to provoke a war.”

”Is there a problem with that?” Galahad couldn’t see the issue.

”There’s certainly nothing wrong with suppressing enemy nations and assisting the Viking countries to raid, while also opening up the northern shipping routes for us, but... I don’t know how to describe it, Galahad, I feel like something invisible is lurking around us, subtly influencing the direction of the world, and the Queen is one of them.”

Arthur said as he flung a document across.

”What is this?” Galahad took the document and asked.

”The previous Perpetual Motion Pump Chief’s experimental application records. While re-investigating the Red Signal incident, we combed through the archives and found this document in a dusty corner. It’s not important; it was placed alongside other experimental application records. Perhaps it was its inherent insignificance that allowed this document to survive instead of being destroyed by some unknown force.”

Arthur took a deep breath. Knowing too much could become a burden for a person. You would harbor this secret alone, feeling fear because of the knowledge.

”William applied for deeper research into demons multiple times. According to reports, he obtained a lot of useful information. It’s fair to say that the Purification Mechanism’s current understanding of demons largely stems from his research.

But all these applications were rejected. From the stamps, it can be discerned that these applications were approved within the Purification Mechanism, yet they were vetoed by a higher authority.”

Galahad flipped through the document with a solemn gaze, seeing familiar stamps. The red lacquer on them had dulled with time, but the patterns they illustrated remained clear.

”This is the stamp of the Victorian Royal Family... The Queen rejected these applications.”

”Yes, only she has such authority. William is not some madman; he is a rational scholar. He must have found something but was rejected by the Queen... The Queen is hiding something, preventing him from further pursuit, which led to him conducting that unauthorized experiment.”

Arthur sighed.

”If it were me, I might have done the same.”