Gun of Ashes

Dunling Tower, Broken Dome.

Over years of effort and countless predecessors’ struggles, the entire Old Dunling has been shaped into a vast and invisible fortress, layered with systems, protected like the branches of a tree.

Growing wildly over long ages.

Spreading through Old Dunling and even all of Ingwig, the Midcourt Serpent system, the railways, and the Iron Serpent, along with the war airships gliding across the sky, have reached both land and sky, forming lush branches.

The large Geiger counters of the Peeping Tom System filled the city, mournful and responsive like flocks of crows, while the Furnace Pillar transformed into roots deeply embedded in the dark underground, sprawling in the shadows, supported by the Perpetual Motion Pump, keeping the great tree upright.

The Dunling Tower transformed into the trunk of this tree, the central hub, the core of the Purification Mechanism.

At this moment, Bola found himself in this meticulously protected core, his mood somewhat subtle. Although he was an Upper-Rank Knight, due to the various rules of the Purification Mechanism, the Broken Dome of Dunling Tower seemed as mysterious to him as legend. Despite being a member of the Purification Mechanism for so long, Bola had visited here only a handful of times.

”Truly magnificent...”

Bola sighed in awe.

He stood before a massive floor-to-ceiling window, and as the tallest building in Old Dunling, the Dunling Tower offered a complete view of all Old Dunling. The tall buildings appeared like a forest of steel, spreading outward from the Dunling Tower, extending to the hazy boundary of sky and earth.

Countless chimneys spewed dense smoke, the gray trails rising, brushing against the firmament, while the lead-gray clouds roiled violently, with the Iron Whale breaking through the cloud barriers, slowly cruising above Old Dunling.

This was Old Dunling, the core of Ingwig, the steam and steel city of the West.

Bola’s emotions surged, seeing such scenes; it was difficult for one’s heart not to stir, until the sound of footsteps broke the tranquility, bringing Bola back to his senses, as he turned to look behind him.

”Alright, it’s your turn.”

Knight Commander Gareth approached, his appearance hardly pleasant, his face filled with worry, showing no interest in appreciating the scene behind Bola.

”Hmm.”

Bola nodded, without questioning further, proceeding to where Gareth had just departed.

He received a notification on short notice, an emergency summoning, which led him into this mysterious Broken Dome, and now he was walking towards that sacred conference room, soon to sit before that round table, weathered by time.

Bola was not attending a round table meeting for the first time; the most memorable one in his mind occurred about eight years ago, when in the conference room, Arthur decided to appoint Bola as the controller of the Lower City District, and from then on, Bola temporarily left the Purification Mechanism, caught up in the stormy Lower City District.

Coming back here again after so long, Bola couldn’t help but feel a bit excited, but more so, he anticipated the upcoming dire circumstances.

It’s known that participants of such meetings are generally at the level of the Knight Commander, and although Bola had an impressive resume, without exceptional circumstances, he had no right to attend such a meeting... But now he was here, suggesting something special required his presence.

”Ah... it’s over.”

Bola’s face turned grim.

Special circumstances within the Purification Mechanism rarely indicate good things; they are mostly life-threatening situations, and just a few days ago, Bola had barely escaped with his life from a workshop incident.

Even with unwavering loyalty to the Purification Mechanism, under such relentless life-threatening missions, even Bola was finding it hard to cope.

He pondered whether something like the ’Labor Law’ would apply to someone in his profession.

”Bola’s here; ask him first.”

As Bola walked through the door, Gawain saw him and directly suggested, leaving Bola, uninformed of the situation, in a moment of confusion, unable to grasp what was going on.

”Oh, Bola is here, just take a seat there.”

At the end of the long table, Arthur gestured for Bola to sit down nearby.

Bola swallowed, thinking it was all over.

This round table meeting was different from the previous ones; the earlier meetings had only a few attendees, but this time there were notably more people, with almost all the seats around the round table being occupied upon a quick glance.

Bola recognized some, like those Knight Commanders, while other individuals lurked in the shadows, obscured from view. There were those whom he knew who they were, yet it was strange that they should appear here at all.

”What are they doing here?”

Bola asked in confusion, considering the rules of the Purification Mechanism, these individuals should not have had a chance to appear within the Broken Dome.

”Merlin was injured and is currently lying in Black Mountain Hospital receiving treatment. I am attending this meeting on his behalf, representing the Perpetual Motion Pump.”

In the seat beside Arthur, Nikola raised his hand, speaking calmly. He was the representative from the Perpetual Motion Pump.

”As part of the Purification Mechanism, I am attending as the representative of Black Mountain Hospital.”

On Arthur’s other side, Dean Abigail slowly lowered her raised hand.

This was no longer just a matter of dire circumstances; Bola realized that he might soon be entrusted with a great responsibility, perhaps being part of an assassination squad sent to Gaulunaro to assassinate the new King.

”I am attending on behalf of the Victoria Royal Family, but will not participate in discussions. You don’t need to mind me.”

Anakin smiled, then merged into the shadows.