Start a Core Pod

  Chapter 56 The Other Side

  Early the next morning, Duanmuhuai and Augis left the church, and led by Lorena to the location of the Mechanicus on the other side of the river. According to Lorena, the bishop allowed her to go as a representative of the church to avoid more conflicts.

Originally, Duanmuhuai thought that he would see cyberpunk-like scenes of transforming people everywhere on the other side, but to his surprise, everything in front of him didn't seem to be significantly different from what he saw before. People come and go, vibrant streets, noisy crowds and vendors.

   Not only that, but unlike the areas controlled by the church, the people here seem to be quite enthusiastic about Duanmu Huai and Augis.

   "Hey, that steel boy, do you want to come and see my fruit?"

   "My lovely lady, do I have accessories that suit you?"

   You must know that Duanmuhuai's outfit would make people shy away from him in other places, which is also normal. The two-meter-five steel knight, coupled with the skull and cross marks on the power armor, gave off a cold aura that no one should enter. But here, people seem to be used to this kind of steel creations, and they don't seem to care much.

   Duanmuhuai walked to a fruit stand, and the boss saw Duanmuhuai coming, and he came forward to entertain him very enthusiastically.

   "Welcome, this Iron Knight, what do you want?"

   "I'll just take a look... After all, don't you seem to be very afraid of me?"

   Duanmu Huai looked at the boss and asked curiously. Of course, to be on the safe side, he didn't take off his helmet.

"Ah, you Iron Knights may not know this. Our place is different from other places, and we don't feel taboo about it. And the church saint here is a great iron angel, although everyone was a bit confused at the beginning. Uneasy, but now we're used to it."

"is that so?"

   "Of course, if you don't understand, I recommend you to go to the church to have a look, then I think you will understand immediately."

"OK, thanks."

   After a brief conversation, Duanmuhuai walked towards the church in the city in the direction directed by the boss.

   It didn't take much effort. Under the guidance of passers-by, Duanmuhuai and Augis found the church of Mechanicus, and at this time, he finally understood why the people here are like this.

  Because almost all the priests who haunt this church have prosthetic limbs that have been modified by metal.

   "Welcome to the church, sir, what can I do for you?"

Just as Duanmuhuai was carefully looking at the church in front of him, a nun came over. She looked no different from ordinary people, but behind the nun was installed a thousand-armed Avalokitesvara with several slender metal Arms formed like wings. These arms hold different utensils respectively. It seems that there are pewter sticks for prayer, and some work and living utensils.

   "Are you also here to join our church?"

   Facing Duanmu Huai, this nun was also quite enthusiastic.

   "Seeing that you are so perfectly integrated with steel, you must have a deep understanding of our teachings...!"

   "No, I just want to talk to the person in charge here about something..."

   "Then please follow me, Lady Saint should be inside right now."

  The nun greeted the two of them very warmly, and then led them into the church and walked toward the depths.

   Along the way, Duanmuhuai understood the teachings of the "Mechanicus" through talking with the nuns. To put it simply, it is the same as what Lorena said. The Mechanicus believes that flesh and blood are weak and weak, which is a burden that hinders people from feeling the will and power of the gods. Only by replacing them with pure steel can they feel the gods better...

The degree of transformation is equivalent to the status in the Mechanicus. Those who install external plug-ins like nuns are only the lowest-status prayer masters. If they are higher, they can transform their hands into steel fists, and then Promoted to an iron-fisted monk, and then there is even a machine-installed priest who has transformed himself into a machine except for his head...

  My fellows, you want mechanical ascension, right? Then let me just introduce you to believe in machine souls, and forget about transforming them all into machine servants.

  Hearing the nun's introduction, Duanmu Huai was also speechless. He has always maintained a respectful attitude towards this kind of mechanical transformation. If it is because of a physical disability or some kind of disease, it is reasonable to install artificial objects. But if you just give up your own flesh and blood just for more convenient reasons... Well, as a human being, I still can't accept this approach.

   "Is this what Mechanicism is like?"

  Duanmu Huai also turned his head and asked in a low voice to Lorena, who looked confused.

   "Sorry...Actually, I don't know very well..."

  Led by the nun, Duanmuhuai and his party came to the church, and then they saw a... mechanical priest.

   "What's the matter with you?"

The priest in front of him looked serious, except for his head, everything else seemed to have been replaced by machines. He was wearing a thin coat, and he looked like a robot with a human head—well, in fact It seems to be similar.

   "I came here to investigate the murder doll."

   Duanmu Huai stepped forward, explained the whole story, and then stared at Father Mechanical.

   "Before we were chasing them, those puppets fled here, so we want to investigate here."

"investigation?"

  Hearing Duanmuhuai's request, the Mechanical Priest's expression was a bit ugly.

   "What qualifications do you have to investigate here?"

   "Of course we have our reasons."

   "What if I say no?"

   "Then I'm just here to inform you."

   Facing the mechanical priest in front of him, Duanmu Huai was not afraid at all. After all, no matter whether the other party agrees or not, what he should do will still not change. It's just that now it's courtesy first and soldiers later. If the other party agrees to help, then it would be great. But if the other party doesn't agree, then Duanmuhuai will have no choice but to be tough.

   "Woo..."

  Looking at the tense atmosphere on both sides, Augis remained expressionless, while Lorena nervously looked at this and that, and finally raised her hands in a panic, and came in front of the mechanical priest.

   "My lord priest, we don't have any malicious intentions. It's just that this matter is really serious. Many innocent people have been killed. We just want to find the murderer, and we don't intend to do anything here..."

  “………”

   The mechanical priest was silent for a moment, then nodded.

   "Okay, I agree to your request, but we must also send someone to be present."

   "As long as you don't make trouble, I have no problem."

  Duanmu Huai made a concession, and the simmering conflict dissipated, which made Lorena heave a sigh of relief. The mechanical priest didn't care about these trivial matters, he just sent someone to convey, and soon, a young woman appeared in front of Duanmuhuai and the others.

   "She is Melody, a priest of this church, and an excellent exorcist. Next, she will act with you to find the murder doll. Then, I will leave first."

   After a brief introduction, the mechanical priest turned and left, and at this time, the young woman also came in front of him.

   "Meruti Hannah, hello."

Compared to Lorena, Melody's first impression is more like a soldier. She is wearing a pitch-black coat and stands upright. There are also a pair of huge metal armors installed on Melody's body. In her hand is a beautifully crafted sniper rifle... Well, it does look like a soldier.

   But...

  Duanmu Huai looked at Melody's curvy figure, and then at Lorena's slender and flat figure.

  Although they are both priests, the gap is a bit bigger...

  (end of this chapter)