Gun of Ashes

Is the Death Row Plan really perfect? Or rather, is there really a need for the so-called Death Row Plan?

Gareth contemplated the future of Old Dunling, but suddenly realized the envisioned future had long strayed onto the wrong path, advancing triumphantly down a dark road, and he no longer had the chance to save it.

”Probably... you know, I’m not very good at planning things,” Percival said earnestly, as she was only good at executing commands, ”Whatever you say, I’ll do it.”

”Can you execute my orders absolutely loyally?”

Gareth looked at her, he wasn’t Arthur, but as the guardian of the Broken Dome, he also had the authority to command the Knight Commanders.

”Of course,” Percival couldn’t understand why Gareth was suddenly asking this, ”Isn’t it obvious?”

”Absolutely loyal, without a shred of doubt, even to the point of blind loyalty?”

Gareth continued to press, his eyes burning, eagerly wanting something from Percival.

At this point, Percival realized something was off with Gareth; she put away her smile and solemnly countered.

”What are you questioning, Gareth?”

This familiar colleague had always been steady, which is why he could rationally control the entire Old Dunling through the Broken Dome, ensuring all departments of the Purification Mechanism operated at full speed.

”Something’s wrong, not quite right, Percival.”

Gareth muttered repeatedly, feeling he was about to find it, find the loophole he had never noticed.

”Death Row, Old Dunling, Peacekeeper, Demon...”

The evolution of the battle scenario kept unfolding in his mind, and finally, Gareth rejected everything.

”There’s simply no need for this.”

As time went on, Gareth, like Lorenzo, felt increasingly uneasy. But unlike Lorenzo, who privately devised a new plan, Gareth felt anxious in the face of the unknown.

”No matter how you think about it, ’Death Row’ seems a bit off. Why are we building a shelter in Old Dunling? Is it merely because it’s at our core? There are obviously more suitable and hidden places.”

Upon hearing Gareth’s words, it was as if lightning flashed through Percival’s mind; she had seemingly always been walking in a small circle, and with Gareth’s words, a crack appeared in the circle, allowing Percival to escape the mental pitfall.

She felt a chill and couldn’t help but shiver.

”I can understand starting a battle in Old Dunling, where we can quickly deploy troops; as long as important departments don’t fall, we can battle Demons in this city for months, but... but...”

Gareth could hear the subtle sound of cracking; the obstruction preventing him was about to shatter.

”The proposer of the Death Row Plan is Lorenzo Holmes.”

With a solemn expression, Percival’s eyes were filled with tension. The bizarre origin of it all stemmed from this plan, and the one who devised it was Lorenzo.

”Are you suspecting Lorenzo?” she asked.

”Lorenzo...”

Gareth recalled this guy named Lorenzo Holmes. Due to his position in the Broken Dome, Gareth almost never had close interaction with Lorenzo. The longest exchange between them, as Gareth remembered, was when this madman piloted an airship away from Old Dunling.

He began to suspect Lorenzo, but recalling Lorenzo’s deeds, Gareth felt he shouldn’t doubt.

”I’m not sure, but the more I implement, the more wrong it seems, and the crucial thing is, it seems no one else noticed,” Gareth walked towards his office, ”Even you, didn’t you also not realize the existence of these loopholes before?”

”The Death Row Plan looks flawless, but if you think carefully, it has too many loopholes. How could there be loopholes in the Purification Mechanism?”

Gareth grew more terrified the more he thought.

”The most important thing is, Percival, do you remember participating in the plan discussions?”

Percival was stunned in place.

Yes, the Death Row Plan involved the entire Old Dunling; such an important matter should go through a lengthy planning process. Yet, in Percival’s memory, the Death Row Plan appeared suddenly without warning, and everyone believed in it blindly.

”What’s... going on?”

Percival murmured.

Gareth reached out, his hand on the doorknob. He was about to twist it open but then thought of something and murmured.

”Left Garrison...”

The image of an old man appeared in his mind, a somewhat odd Jiuxia person who always wore a faint smile regardless of the situation, as if wearing a false mask.

Gareth sensed the key to everything, and at this moment, he opened the door to his office.

A cold wind blew through.

Shattered glass lay scattered on the ground, and amidst the debris, a stranger sat in Gareth’s chair, with a crooked iron-gray blade resembling a long spike placed beside him on the table.

No words were needed, no prompts necessary. Upon seeing this man, Gareth’s instinct from the depths of his soul screamed harshly, warning Arthur and urging him to flee.

”Who!”

Percival also saw the intruding stranger; she drew a pistol, aiming it at the stranger, ready to pull the trigger at any moment.

”So... that’s how it is...”

Gareth stood in place, murmuring.

The instant he saw the stranger, Gareth felt not only fear but also an explosive burst of pure white in his mind.