Gun of Ashes-Chapter 549 - 122: The Game Begins
The city under the rain was divided into different shapes by various desires. Lorenzo walked down the street with an umbrella taken from Buscalo’s house.
Shop doors were open along the street, and sounds from radio stations played inside. There were singing, political commentary, and weather forecasts; these sounds blended into an exquisite melody, echoing amidst the raindrops.
Looking at the pedestrians, their faces were veiled by the rain into hazy images. Everyone seemed like a shadow moving forward, isolated by the heavy rain. The mellow tune continued, and someone speculated that the rainy season would soon end, followed by the joyful beat of drums.
In the cool air, Lorenzo managed to relax a little. The radio host had the voice of a charming lady. She said that according to Old Dunling’s seasonal calendar, the rainy season should end within the week. After that, civilian airships would begin their first trial run, and people could book tickets to ride into the sky.
As Lorenzo advanced, the lady’s voice gradually faded until the downpour drowned it out. Next, another man’s voice emerged from a nearby restaurant.
The man was analyzing recent political affairs; the Viking nations’ mission chatted amiably with Queen Victoria. There was speculation that after this visit, a safe new route for trade would open between Ingwig and the Viking nations.
This felt odd; Lorenzo somewhat understood Oscar’s words.
With the communication’s advancement, starting from Old Dunling, advanced communication technology continued to expand. People could receive news from another city or even another country through newspapers and radios. Places once unreachable became present in everyone’s view through words.
But the world exists outside doors and at the borders, not within this city, nor should it be limited to paper.
For a moment, Lorenzo was moved, wanting to see beyond Old Dunling. Not because of potential danger ahead, just a simple and pure desire from the heart.
The Iron Serpent slowly stopped by the signpost, and Lorenzo entered the carriage with the other pedestrians. Old Dunling was vast, and through years of continuous expansion, the Iron Serpent became the city’s primary mode of transportation.
A faint sound arose, akin to a finger snap, but was quickly submerged by the Iron Serpent’s rumbling noise. Lorenzo held onto the handrail, crowded together with the other passengers.
The raindrops falling again covered the windows with tiny beads, blurring the view outside from the inside. The people inside the carriage swayed gently along the tracks.
As the Iron Serpent running through the city, it has no fixed tracks. If desired, it can go onto different tracks via the controls inside.
"Old Dunling is really great..."
A clear voice sounded, as if talking to itself, or maybe speaking to Lorenzo.
Lorenzo turned his head, seeing a passenger standing beside him; he had a unique temperament, like a warm morning sun, bringing a feeling of comfort when faced.
The man smiled while looking at Lorenzo, with Lorenzo’s somewhat stern face reflected in his glasses.
"I haven’t been in Old Dunling for long; aside from necessary work, I enjoy riding the Iron Serpent around the city... This is a view I couldn’t see in my hometown."
The man talked with Lorenzo on his own initiative. Surprisingly, Lorenzo wasn’t opposed to this interaction, and even felt inclined to chat with this guy before getting off.
"Pretty much the same when I first arrived in Old Dunling, feeling like the city is an endless maze, with Dunling Tower reaching the sky, Furnace Pillar buried underground, countless tunnels and steam pipes covering the land... really beyond ordinary imagination."
Lorenzo held onto the handrail, faintly recalling the freshness of everything when he first came.
"Have you lived in Old Dunling for a long time?" The man asked, like a visiting traveler, inquiring about everything from Lorenzo.
"Sort of."
"Indeed nice, but unfortunately, I can’t stay here long." The man said.
"Are you here for tourism?"
Such travelers are destined to leave; they never reside in one place for long.
"Not really, I came for work and some personal interests; once things are done, I will have to leave." The man gazed at every corner of the city, with a lingering emotion in his eyes.
"This place is so good, no matter what kind of person can fit perfectly into this city; even I am no exception.
Good people, bad people, strangers... we can all find our place within."
"We are alike, yet different."
The man continued, "Compared to here, our hometown is really too outdated and backward, only accommodating ignorant believers."
"We?"
Lorenzo realized something, his gaze hesitantly fixed on the man.
"Florence, isn’t it?"
The man casually remarked.
The crowded, sweltering carriage chilled suddenly, one of Lorenzo’s hands gripped the Folding Blade’s handle out of the man’s line of sight.
The great detective’s peripheral vision observed the situation within the carriage; there were many passengers, crowded so tightly that it would be difficult for Lorenzo to quickly draw the blade, and drawing the blade might injure others.
