Gun of Ashes

”The forgotten...”

Rod murmured softly, and the next second, a pale hand patted him on the back.

”What are you dazing about?”

Shao Liangxi suddenly slapped his shoulder, startling Rod. Only then did the distracted Rod realize he had fallen behind the group; everyone was waiting for him.

”N-no, it’s nothing.”

Rod stammered in response, unsure why he had drifted off. He usually didn’t do that.

Shao Liangxi didn’t ask further; she flashed her signature smile, still brimming with energy despite the gloomy skies.

”Let’s go, that... Merlin? He’s still waiting for us.”

Shao Liangxi said as she tugged at Rod’s coat, pulling him forward. Shao Liangye glanced around before turning his head to continue onward, while Mr. Cai remained silent, playing the role of an excellent caretaker for the group.

”Are you a translator?”

During the journey, Shao Liangxi asked.

”Yes.”

”So you’re here to translate for us?”

”Pretty much. If there’s any other requirement within my ability, I’ll help solve it for you.”

Rod replied, focusing to maintain his professional demeanor.

”Oh?”

Shao Liangxi showed a peculiar expression; she suddenly turned around, staring intently at Rod.

Their eyes met, making Rod slightly uncomfortable. He quickly diverted his gaze, and then the voice sounded.

”However, we all speak Western language, so are you basically out of a job now?”

”...”

Rod fell silent as Shao Liangxi struck precisely at his sore spot.

Shao Liangxi’s face displayed a mischievous smile, while the indifferent Shao Liangye finally spoke.

”Your Western language is terrible; probably only a translator can understand your speech.” Shao Liangye said in Jiuxia language, a language Rod understood.

Hearing Shao Liangye’s words, Shao Liangxi deflated.

Indeed, when listing names to leave the Forgotten Great Wall, everyone had to learn Western language to facilitate their activities in the West, a world unfamiliar to them requiring thorough preparation.

Shao Liangxi’s Western language was poor; she was nearly removed from the list. Fortunately, her overnight efforts barely met the standards, leading to today’s events.

Rod watched the downcast Shao Liangxi, his expression somewhat odd.

Actually, Shao Liangye was right; Shao Liangxi’s Western language had an unusual accent, there were lexical errors, issues with syntax, and occasional slips into Jiuxia vocabulary. If not for Rod’s expertise, most people indeed wouldn’t understand her.

Unconsciously, the atmosphere became slightly more harmonious, easing much of Rod’s inner burden. The Jiuxia and Ingwig people didn’t seem all that different, ordinary humans like anyone else.

Dark shadows enveloped them, momentarily followed by sparks flying everywhere. Heavy machinery struck down glowing hot iron stones with force.

The workers seemingly unnoticed the arrival of the group, they were engrossed in their tasks, plunging the heated metal into water, raising plentiful steam.

The hoist lifted high, suspending a jagged skeleton beneath, accompanied by resounding metal clashing, one by one, sturdy armor pieces were mounted, exposing visible cables within gaps.

Rod had seen such things, referred to as the Armor of Original Sin, a weapon reminiscent of Peacekeepers patrolling the streets of Old Dunling.

After simple assembly here, they slid down the tracks into the darkness below, destined for the Perpetual Motion Pump; certain crucial processing couldn’t be done within the Mechanical Institute, only the Perpetual Motion Pump possessed such expertise.

They sank one after another into the shadows, then more sparks flared, molten iron poured into molds along the channels, the mechanical roar persisting.

Even the aloof Shao Liangye couldn’t help but pause and glance sideward at the scene. Armor technology originated from Jiuxia, yet after Ingwig’s alterations, it had transformed into something unfamiliar to him.

Not to mention the foreign style inherent here, adding significantly to the shock.

”This place is so much more advanced than Jiuxia’s industrial development.” Shao Liangxi was wide-eyed; Rod guessed that if possible, this girl would definitely choose to climb up and touch it.

”After exchanges decades ago, Jiuxia only obtained systematic mechanical technology. Before that, we always combined demons’ flesh with metal armor... the principles should be similar.” Shao Liangye responded, feeling helpless toward Shao Liangxi’s casual attitude.

The girl trod lightly; Shao Liangxi didn’t care about Shao Liangye’s words, she glanced around, occasionally asking Rod what this or that was.

Suddenly, Rod felt more like a tour guide than a translator, thinking this travel group rather odd, likely the worst in all of Ingwig.

Rusty iron railings enclosed them; amidst shaking noises, the large elevator began functioning, the overhead lights flickered.

”Are we... descending?” Shao Liangxi asked, ”Is the Perpetual Motion Pump underground?”

”That’s right, the Mechanical Institute hollowed out the underground, establishing a complex of Furnace Pillars and the Perpetual Motion Pump.” Rod timely explained, starting to embrace the tour guide’s role.

The sound of rushing water arose in the darkness, visible dim lights below showed the Armor of Original Sin descending alongside them.

The temperature gradually rose, the dark iron-clanging sound also grew more distinct, as if right beside them.

...

Lorenzo lounged on the couch; he had sobered up, or rather, he was never really drunk. But the old fellow before him was a different case; he was still intoxicated, huddled nearby, tears and mucus streaming.

Selyu lied to Oscar about having signed a massive loan with terrifying interest rates, enough to repay until death given his financial situation.

Of course, these were nonsense deliberately said by Selyu, and after a brief daze, Oscar knew exactly what he had signed.

He first threw a tantrum, then sobbed and wailed. Lorenzo thought the guy regretted letting Selyu succeed, but upon closer inquiry, Lorenzo found out Oscar simply felt the succession ceremony wasn’t grand enough.

This was a somewhat silly guy.

Oscar said he had lived a wasteful life, hoping this succession ceremony would be one of the few highlights, yet it concluded in such a ridiculous manner.

As Selyu was his biggest financier, Oscar naturally dared not utter complaints, channeling his grievance onto Lorenzo instead. But Lorenzo, he couldn’t outfight nor outdrink.

Amid such gloomy bouts, Oscar’s mood worsened; anymore excess, and Lorenzo believed he’d cough up blood.

”So? Dragged me halfway up the car, is it just for this?”

Lorenzo asked Selyu. Without her intervention, Lorenzo guessed he should have reached the Perpetual Motion Pump by now.

Red Falcon said Merlin wanted to see him; Lorenzo grew increasingly impatient, he just wanted to find something to occupy his restless mind.

”Hmm, that’s all.” Selyu honestly replied. She thought for a moment before saying more.

”I just thought you should come witness... You didn’t attend when I became the Duke.”

Lorenzo stayed silent, pondering deeply; he couldn’t quite remember what he was busy with back then.

”There’s also something regarding the Jiuxia part, are you interested in joining me to welcome them?” Selyu added.

”Not as a soldier, Demon Hunter, or member of the Purification Mechanism.”

”But as a Nation-Builder.”

Lorenzo smiled, looking at the stern girl, as if she transformed upon signing her name, like metamorphosis.

”Eager to grasp power already?”

”Just fulfilling my duty.”

Selyu tugged at Oscar, preventing him from falling off the couch, then she asked again.

”Interested?”