Gun of Ashes

Gaulunaro, Maruri Port, Hearn Cathedral.

The explosion attack at Maruri Port was like the opening of a stage; as the night of suffering ended, everything marched in a mad direction, unprecedentedly severe for the entire Western world. Although both sides have yet to tear their faces, the heavy oppression has spread across every inch of land where humans live.

In today’s technological era, human information is no longer as closed as it was in old times. With railways and ships, letters and telegraphs, information related to the night of suffering spreads rapidly, circulating among various countries, and stirring others’ nerves.

When people look up at the sky, they feel that indescribable pressure, as if the horizon is covered by an invisible iron curtain, which could shatter completely at the slightest mishap, fiercely crashing down on the kingdom with sparks and residual heat.

However, some people’s moods are not the same; they feel no fear and instead are ecstatically happy about it.

The Plague Doctor is one of those who are ecstatic, and now he stands on the viewing platform of Hearn Cathedral.

Looking towards where the sky and sea meet, the iron-clad ships line up one by one, anchored at the still-repairing Maruri Port. Since the defeat in the Radiant War, Gaulunaro’s military has suffered greatly, and although rebuilt later, their military strength still lags behind Ingwig.

In such circumstances, facing the advanced steam technology of Ingwig, Gaulunaro’s odds are not great. Hence, they have rallied neighboring countries, most of which are in the Rhine River region, forming what is called the Rhine Alliance.

”War is coming ah!”

The Plague Doctor takes a deep breath, heavy panting emanates from beneath the beak mask, a sound with uncontrollable delight.

It’s a good moment; with war imminent, the old King cleared domestic discord before dying, as Cornel is crowned and Corey assists, all power in Gaulunaro is now highly concentrated.

At the same time, divine authority is also being seized. With Cornel’s support, Orthodoxy launched a series of conflicts with the Evangelical Church following Miguel’s death, most ended in Orthodoxy’s victory, now Lawrence, as Orthodox Pope, nearly controls faith across most lands.

Some regions still resist, Evangelical Church believers reject Orthodoxy’s spread, but their demise is destined. Days ago, the core of the Holy Evangelical Pope Kingdom, Seven Hills, went into lock-down, nobody knows what exactly happened, just rumors of Saint Nalos Cathedral being surrounded by the Holy Hall Knight Order, the new Pope within, maintaining absolute silence.

Relying on this, Orthodoxy had the opportunity to strike at Evangelical Church believers, under great cleansing they seized this sacred cathedral.

Hearn Cathedral is the largest, most prosperous cathedral in all of Maruri, with a long history, during the Evangelical Church’s strongest period it was the church’s frontier station, all ships entering and exiting Maruri Port were monitored by Hearn Cathedral, even though it wasn’t the Holy Evangelical Pope Kingdom.

Yet everything has changed; without interference from the Holy Evangelical Pope Kingdom, everything advances according to those in power’s plans, like an out-of-control train, it begins to accelerate madly until derailing, bringing everyone towards death.

Currently, this sacred cathedral belongs to Orthodoxy, expanded by Lawrence as a base, the cathedral remains but the faith within has long been unrecognizable.

Such frenzied actions would cause public panic; some feel terror, disgust towards war, such voices exist in Gaulunaro too, but with the King’s death, the Pope’s death, and Maruri Port’s attack, domestic war sentiments are stirred up, even anti-war voices are drowned by roaring rage.

”You rarely seem so happy, the last time I saw you like this was when I handed you the ’Revelation.’”

Lawrence came over, wearing that familiar pitch-black iron mask, hard to light up this gloom even facing sunlight.

”Of course, I’m finally setting sail again, truth seekers never stop moving forward.”

The Plague Doctor turned around, voice joyful, distorted into a blurry sound by the beak mask.

After so much, even Lawrence has changed countless bodies, but the Plague Doctor remains largely unchanged.

He’s still in that blood-stained outfit, some blood has solidified into a piece of black stain, like dyeing, hanging over the robe, though the beak mask has seen some change, he switched a few lenses, the new ones look much clearer, but looking from there, beneath still lies an abyss of darkness.

Lawrence’s gaze moved from the abyss under the lenses, somewhat dazed, remembering never having truly seen the Plague Doctor’s appearance since meeting him; he’s always worn a mask.

”Are you ready?”

Lawrence asked.

The Plague Doctor planned to sail far, this matter had long been told to Lawrence, it’s just unexpected this day came so quickly, even someone as cold-blooded as Lawrence had a trace of reluctance.

Of course, this so-called ”reluctance” isn’t any friendship, but rather feeling sad over losing an excellent tool.