Chapter 1448 Duty

On the desolate land, scattered with grayish-white rubble and yellow earth, it feels like a life-forbidden zone, where even weeds find it hard to grow. The wild winds lift mighty waves, smashing them ruthlessly on smooth rocks, breaking into countless foams, repeating endlessly.

This is a monotonous and lifeless land with few traces of life, filled only with endless desolation. Amidst the chilling atmosphere, cold buildings rise vigorously like wildly growing steel jungles, burning with eye-catching crimson amidst a mainstay of iron hues. Accompanied by the meshing of gears, heavy hammers constantly strike red-hot metal, sparking bursts of flames.

The Thunderous Cape Military Port, a secret military port established by the Purification Mechanism. At the same time, it is a huge industrial zone. After Old Dunling suffered severe damage, the production focus of both the Mechanical Institute and the Perpetual Motion Pump shifted here, continuing to fulfill their functions.

“You guys extracted lacquered antimony from such a damned place?”

Lorenzo stood among the grayish-white rubble. The strong light was scorching, and he squinted his eyes, struggling to observe the place.

“Desolate, but this place is a treasure trove,” Merlin followed Lorenzo, introducing the area to him, “The last time you came here, you didn’t properly survey this place, right?”

“Obviously, that time I can barely remember.”

Lorenzo muttered, during the formulation of the Mechanical Deity, he met with the Left Garrison here, but for the sake of the plan’s security, he later erased all memory of it.

Now everything is over, and many lost memories have been restored, but whenever he thinks of this place, it always carries a slightly blurry shadow, making it hard for Lorenzo to clearly discern its form.

Returning here again, looking at everything, Lorenzo felt a sense of the puzzle reassembling, peeling away disconnected details, constantly patching the gaps of memory.

“This is the Purification Mechanism’s second heart, speaking of origins, it ties back to the Radiant War period.”

Merlin stood beside him, speaking slowly.

“Why?”

Lorenzo didn’t expect this place to be connected to the Radiant War.

“Back then, the situation in Ingwig was critical, Gaulunaro’s army was about to reach Old Dunling. To continue the fight, if Old Dunling were to fall, this would serve as the new frontline… That’s what you know; we won, but the construction here didn’t halt, rather it accelerated considerably.”

Listening to the echoes of impacts resonating from the industrial zone, waves of black smoke rose from the chimneys, accumulating together, swirling in the sky, unwilling to disperse for a long time.

“There is abundant mineral resource here, it’s close to the coast, not to mention I also extracted crude oil from it and refined it into lacquered antimony.”

“So it’s called the second heart?” Lorenzo surveyed the area, “Then what’s here? Some kind of giant cannon? It can just send us all to the Seven Hills in one single strike?”

A hint of worry appeared on Lorenzo’s face. Throughout this journey, he found it difficult to sleep, troubled by too many things.

Putting aside peripheral issues, he is primarily concerned about the upcoming journey. The Well of Ascension is starting to stir, no one knows what conclusion the Seven Hills will finally reach, more crucially, Lawrence’s departure, he set off earlier than Lorenzo and others, and he’s afraid he might lag behind Lawrence.

Indeed, nobody knows what kind of insane move Lawrence will make, as he himself is a creature akin to The Inexpressible, inherently uncontrollable.

This kind of uncertain danger is the most unsettling.

“Technically, there is a giant cannon, but whether it can launch you over, I’m unsure,” replied Merlin, “But there are other things waiting for you folks.”

“What?” Lorenzo asked.

“Some old friends, you would like them.”

With a mysterious demeanor, Merlin briskly advanced, heading towards the murky and dull industrial zone, which seemed like it was built mirroring the Mechanical Institute. If not for the extreme desolation in the surroundings, Lorenzo might even fall into the illusion that the Mechanical Institute is still around.

“What was he just talking about?”

Red Falcon came over, patted Lorenzo’s shoulder, looking back, the train stopped at the platform, passengers disembarked, tidying clothes and luggage.

“‘Old friends,’ I’m also unsure what that amounts to, but we will find out eventually.”

Lorenzo looked at Merlin’s departing figure, then muttered.

“But I am genuinely curious, I, Lorenzo, have barely any old friends.”

Hearing him say this, the expression on Red Falcon’s face was rather complex.

Indeed, the great Holmes barely had any old friends—with them either dead, dying, or as enemies; ultimately, none had a good outcome.

Thinking about it, Lorenzo really seems cursed with misfortune…

Perhaps due to insufficient sleep, Red Falcon’s thoughts became chaotic and more absurd.

“So… do I count as an old friend of yours?”

Red Falcon asked with slight unease.

Lorenzo glanced at him, scrutinizing carefully, “You might count.”

“Ah… that’s truly an honor.”

Red Falcon found himself at a loss for words, uncertain what to say. Somehow being acknowledged by Lorenzo felt worth celebrating, yet recalling the prior line of thought left him feeling less excited by it.

Lorenzo is a downright jinx, with no pleasant encounters being together, yet after so many times Red Falcon survived several perilous instances. Now, he starts to suspect—is his ‘Lucky Red Falcon’ successfully suppressing the ‘Unlucky Lorenzo’?