Gun of Ashes-Chapter 506 - 101: Thunder
When the rain is fierce enough, raising your head and facing the rain curtain, you feel an indescribable suffocation, the endless rain washing over your body until you’re completely enveloped.
The sound in your ears is all howling winds and thunder, as if it’s the end of the world. Yet, even in such a life-threatening situation, people still occasionally curse; for fragile mortals, it’s the only rebellion.
Nikola, clad in a striking yellow raincoat, clutched the rope beside him firmly. He usually appeared as a cool and slightly mad scientist, but now he was no different from a street tramp, in a state of disarray, muttering incessantly and cursing this damned weather along with others.
This might be the most intense rainy season in Old Dunling in recent years, continuous downpour accompanied by lightning and thunder.
By rights, people should be huddled in their warm homes now, warming themselves by the fire, telling interesting stories. Yet Nikola is on Dunling Tower, accompanied by the roaring thunder.
There are many more like him, wearing raincoats, donning insulating gear, welcoming the storm and thunder, trying to harness the storm and thunder.
This is Dunling Tower, once the core of the Dunling Plan, and although everything has become part of the past, from its remains, magnificent technology still rises.
"Truly spectacular!"
A voice sounded from the communicator; it was Maxwell’s voice. They were standing atop this iron tower, overlooking the entire Old Dunling. The torrential rain poured over the whole city, with the Thames River overflowing its banks and rushing towards the sea.
His voice was obscured by the thunder and gusting winds; perhaps it was the damned storm interfering with the signal. Maxwell’s voice came with a piercing electrical noise, but fortunately, Nikola barely made it out. In the biting cold wind, he nodded vigorously toward Maxwell not far away, showing his agreement.
Yes, truly spectacular, such a scene is rare. Typically, the whole of Old Dunling is shrouded in fog, with a gloomy sky descending like an iron curtain. Even if you looked from this height then, you would not clearly see the city below, it was like a veiled woman, mysterious and compelling in her true nature.
Nikola turned his head back, the spotlight’s pallid beam brightening the dim night sky, allowing him to observe.
They were on one of the large platforms of Dunling Tower; there are four such platforms, each situated at one corner of the tower. In the original plan, it was not only Dunling’s core but was also intended to become the core of the Midcourt Serpent. Like the world tree in Northern European mythology, this high tower would penetrate Ingwig’s land like an iron tree.
The underground "roots" are the Furnace Pillar and Perpetual Motion Pump, providing massive energy and continuous new technology to the entire city. The place where they connect with the earth would become the core of the railroads, with countless trains departing from here, traversing Ingwig’s territory.
Nikola’s position was even more crucial; if Dunling Tower was the trunk, these platforms were its iron branches. According to the original plan, this would be an airborne supply station. The "leaves" wandering the sky, the War Airships, wouldn’t need to dive back to the ground, but instead could resupply directly from here, allowing for long-term missions.
Everything was envisioned so well, but unfortunately, it ultimately ended in failure.
Thankfully, it didn’t fail completely, and the remnants of the kindling still flicker gently, evolving into the current state.
"You all seem quite busy..."
In the noisy chaos, Arthur came treading through the accumulated water, wearing the same striking raincoat. Like Nikola, he had a rope tied around his waist, and his hand held the railing, considering this was still several hundred meters high and amidst such harsh weather; a careless misstep would send one tumbling under the forceful wind.
It seemed absurd to think that the mighty Arthur might meet his end this way.
"It’s fine, though — this is a rare opportunity, such suitable weather, and it’s rare that you agree to let us conduct experiments here." Nikola shouted aloud, striving to make his voice heard over the gale winds.
The machinery began to roar; on the mechanical platform, a small tower had unbeknownst to them already piled up, numerous cables stretching out from it. Similarly clad workers surrounded it, conducting operations in such dire conditions.
"Maxwell, I’ll leave this to you for now!"
Nikola spoke into the communicator, only able to see Maxwell’s conspicuous yellow figure give him a thumbs-up, after which Nikola walked toward Arthur.
The two moved laboriously off the platform and entered the steel-enclosed interior, straining to close the iron door, sealing off the wind and rain outside. Everything seemed to quiet down, and they both let out a long sigh of relief.
Nikola was a researcher who usually lived in the safety of underground laboratories, with security teams stepping in during emergencies, incredibly delicate. But now, even the security team was useless — the current harsh operating environment was pure hell for him.
"Is there something you needed? It’s a critical moment — we might just achieve a breakthrough in our electricity research here." Nikola shook his raincoat, shedding copious rainwater from his clothes.
"Just wanted to inform you that you all should rest now — Merlin is in charge of the next round, and he is on his way." Arthur leaned against the side.
He too didn’t wish to face this tumultuous weather, but because of Dunling Tower’s significance, he had to come supervise.
