Gun of Ashes

During the underground meeting at the Platinum Palace, the Queen had a lot left unsaid due to time constraints, naturally these were trivial matters with little impact on the overall progression.

”After years of research by the Nation-Builders, it was discovered that the intensity and frequency of erosion in the Western world far exceeded those in the Eastern world. Jiuxia built a wall to keep itself isolated, rejecting the power of Evil Anomalies.”

”A wall?”

In Arthur’s mind appeared a Great Wall capable of blocking sea routes, towering like a mountain, standing in the ocean like a divine miracle.

This notion seemed rather absurd, making Arthur ponder if the Queen was jesting.

”An inexistent wall; more accurately, a system of ’Forgotten Great Wall’ Anti-Memes. They cover the entire Eastern world. As you sail eastward, entering the range of those Anti-Memes, you will be influenced by the Forgotten Great Wall.”

The Queen explained, showing that Jiuxia’s Anti-Meme technology has developed to a remarkable degree.

”You will get lost within, forget your purpose, even forget your identity, until you abandon all and choose to turn back. Jiuxia relies on this Forgotten Great Wall to isolate itself completely, combined with the low erosion intensity and frequency within their borders, their knowledge and technology integrity are significantly higher than ours, but this is limited to the Anti-Meme aspect only. As you know, when they reached Ingwig, their ships still used wood.”

”So the meeting decades ago was ostensibly a technology exchange between two nations, but actually an internal technology share among Nation-Builders?” Arthur belatedly realized.

”More or less, facing meme contamination from erosion, Anti-Meme technology is currently the only solution. After several years of internal exchanges among Nation-Builders, we viewed Jiuxia’s Nation-Builders as researchers, provided technical assistance to them for deeper Anti-Meme research, and supported their blockade, bearing most of the pressure here.”

Perhaps due to exhaustion, the Queen coughed a few times, showing slight discomfort.

”And another reason is the sharing of Secret Keeper’s knowledge.”

”Secret Keeper’s knowledge?”

”Yes, Nation-Builders originally split from the Golden Dawn, spread worldwide. But because of Jiuxia’s Forgotten Great Wall, many people overlooked Jiuxia’s existence,” the Queen continued, ”To be honest, I too often forgot the presence of Nation-Builders in the East.”

”The Secret Keeper’s knowledge led us to an industrial revolution, containing not only industrial knowledge but aspects of Anti-Memes, though we lacked fundamental Anti-Meme research, possessing treasures yet unable to use them.

Until the Kui Dragon Fleet arrived, their main goal was to take away the advanced Anti-Meme technology to complete theirs, leaving us fundamental technology in return, and you’ve seen the results: the Cleaner Squad performed well, making many forget some awful memories of Demons, hiding their existence behind the scenes.”

”Like this...”

Listening to all this, Arthur couldn’t utter a word, only weakly sighed.

”Your Majesty, Lorenzo once said to me.”

”What?”

”He said the world is shrouded in one lie after another, one veil after another.

Unveiling a lie or lifting a veil, you might still be within a larger lie, covered by a bigger veil.”

Arthur picked up a cigarette, lit it idly, taking a few puffs before remembering to ask.

”Do you mind?”

Thinking carefully, he had never smoked to relieve stress before the Queen.

”Go ahead.”

The Queen replied calmly.

”Thinking of that now, I understand much more. I still remember joining the Purification Mechanism my first day; learning about Demons and these mysterious alchemy and violent mechanisms, feeling like a hero ready to save the world.

But later I found the world not simple; after meeting Lorenzo, the feeling intensified. Unknown puzzles had answers; one after another lie was uncovered, breaking through veils continuously, leading me here.”

Arthur smiled, turning his head to look at the Queen.

”I wonder how many veils still cover over me; will this struggle truly end?”

”We will soon find the answer.”

The Queen smiled back at Arthur.

During their conversation, the wind turned more fierce, dispersing fog, extending visibility, revealing surging sea waves as if an invisible hand split open heavens and earth.

A melodious steam whistle sounded, and behind the mist a crimson banner slowly rose.

The heart was ready, but when the moment came, every heart felt a slight shift as something seemed to stir, grotesque monsters emerged on the sea, striding toward them.

Only near a hundred meters did they see the grotesque faces weren’t, but ship decorations unlike expected Iron Armor ships; although still steel cast, its decor maintained a strong style, adorned with curved cloud patterns all over, raising a flag at the front.