Witch, Fireball and the Evil God of Steam-Chapter 669 - 62: Visiting Dark Furnace City (Part 2)

Ave waited at the designated meeting place early in the morning, she also hadn't slept all night, drinking two large cans of wakefulness magic potion to stay alert. Following the clues in the letter, she visited both the Truth Society and the Judicial Court, checking all the commission records from a year ago. The more she investigated, the stronger the unease in her heart grew.

She couldn't find any records on the surface, only an outing record left at the Truth Society.

However, at that time, Julius had wreaked havoc on the Imperial Capital, and after the Violet Commune movement ended, most of the courses at the Truth Society were suspended, leaving only a formalized screening mechanism to give the children of the Judicial Court system's aristocrats a golden touch, going directly to the Judicial Court after graduation.

That was originally the plan her aunt had for her, but unfortunately in the Society, she couldn't get along with those people, so right after graduation, she went to Ximu Town, and thus she lost much contact with news from the Truth Society.

TeacherValerie took on something that seemed more like a private commission, which led her to wonder if this could be persecution from Julius? After all, she hadn't returned to the Imperial Capital at that time, yet TeacherValerie had been keeping in touch with her privately through correspondence. The Church's forces might have taken this opportunity to make trouble for her — at least while Julius was still alive, it wasn't surprising at all.

So she made a night visit to the Imperial Capital prison, interrogating some of Julius's remnants, but gained nothing from it.

Since Julius had launched the coup, families deeply entangled with the Church and the Judicial Court were consecutively sent to the gallows, leaving only some marginal figures in prison now.

Ave donned a khaki trench coat, a gift from TeacherValerie upon graduation.

"Let's go."

She steadied herself, put on a brown deerstalker hat and walked towards the teleportation node set by the Astrology Guild. Ave handed the prepared materials to Ethan, "Duke Bellamo, my uncle's old friend..."

Speaking of the man in the photo, Ave couldn't help but furrow her brows.

Starting a few years ago, Duke Bellamo's position became very delicate. Perhaps due to his distance from the Imperial Capital, he could always manage to navigate between various forces. Residents of Dark Furnace City believed that the approval of the "Amnesty Tax" back then couldn't be separated from Duke Bellamo. Yet within days of Pope Julius's overthrow, Duke Bellamo launched a "revolution" in Dark Furnace City.

He thoroughly purged the priests colluding with Julius, while sending all Dark Furnace City officials involved in pushing the Amnesty Tax to the gallows, seemingly responding positively to the call of the new cabinet, striking the vanguard of overthrowing Church forces.

Therefore, the subsequent reckoning naturally did not fall upon him.

"Do you suspect he is the real mastermind behind it all?"

Ethan could see Ave's thoughts, but she just kept her head down, saying nothing, while the Little Golden Hair on her head kept nodding non-stop.

Yet, Little Golden Hair's accusations do not hold legal effect; it cannot speak, nor can it debate Duke Bellamo in court.

As the Prime Minister of the new cabinet, Ave cannot easily make judgments on any suspect until having conclusive evidence in hand. She is fully aware of the weight her words carry nowadays — once any news leaks out, the Judicial Court would immediately establish an investigation unit, and some radical activists might even resort to torture to extract confessions.

This has also been another trouble perplexing Ave recently.

Though the new cabinet issued a ban on torture, ordering the Judicial Court to change the bad habits from Julius's reign, they always find a way to erode their target's mind while not physically harming the interrogated.

With the white halo fading away, the two appeared at the Astrology Guild square in Dark Furnace City.

The sky was dim and grey, the air filled with the smell of rust, though morning, the sunlight could not penetrate through the mist to illuminate the land of Dark Furnace City.

It used to be one of the most important production lines for the Imperial Military Industry, even as early as Henry I's founding period, Dark Furnace City was famed for weapon production, hence the name "Dark Furnace City". Numerous skilled blacksmiths were born here, and during Henry VI's era, those craftsmen also began to change with the times, investing in firearm production.

"Hey, Ave! It really is you!"

At almost the same time, Ethan saw a man with a sunny and bright smile, dressed in noble attire and sporting a fashionable noblemen's mustache. He was slightly plump but dressed quite smartly. Upon seeing Ave, he opened his arms warmly, "The last time I saw you, Queen Margaret was still worrying about the choice of path. The Truth Society is indeed a good place. How is it? Are your father and aunt doing well?"

A warm hug rendered Ave's expression rather uncomfortable.

In fact, she didn't have much of a lasting impression of Duke Bellamo from her childhood, all her understanding of him came from a night spent flipping through documents.

Thus she learnt more about Duke Bellamo.

For instance, whether it was Julius or Flor the Tycoon visiting Dark Furnace City, he always greeted them with the same passionate manner.

"They're fine, aunt sent her regards to you."

"And this must be Mr. Ethan, I'm Bellamo. I've heard about the Imperial Capital's affair, and I've longed to meet you."

Bellamo's enthusiasm soon shifted onto Ethan, vigorously shaking Ethan's right hand with both of his own, as if meeting a long-lost friend. His grip strong, with calluses at the tiger's mouth, connected to his profile stating he is a hunting enthusiast.

He loves hunting yet is not a believer of Cynthia or Argos; he purely enjoys archery and the thrill of tracking prey. But after firearm craftsmanship evolved, Duke Bellamo brought his talent to marksmanship.

Information also mentioned he raised an elite firearms team, accompanying him weekly leaving Dark Furnace City to hunt in suburban forests.

"Hello."

"I have arranged a welcome banquet for you, the guest rooms are already prepared. During your stay in Dark Furnace City, please reside at my manor."

Bellamo seems to be a happy, optimistic person, at least he pretends so, "Oh, Mr. Ethan, I very much applaud your Magic Technology Store's production of electromagnetic crossbows — a perfect fusion of forging craft and magic, truly a genius design. I have many questions to consult with you."

Duke Bellamo arranged a carriage, Ethan sat by the window, conversing casually. His gaze drifted out through the windows, where the carriage passed by a marketplace, catching quite a number of Dark Furnace City residents' attention. Compared to the "Amnesty Tax" days, their lives appear to have improved significantly, engaging in their work and creating wealth with their hands — actively responding to the new cabinet's call.

Ethan believes Duke Bellamo's merit cannot be overlooked. The sole issue in Dark Furnace City seems to only be the industrial overdevelopment resulting in excessive smog levels, which may impact residents' health if living here long-term.

However…

For people of this era, being able to eat enough each day, not worrying about being forcibly taken away by Church members suddenly breaking into their homes is already enough to satisfy them.

A city seemingly thriving and bustling.

This is Ethan's impression of present-day Dark Furnace City.

Duke Bellamo's manor is similarly shrouded in smog. Seeing the trio returning, the manor's servants immediately got busy. He invited the two to the banquet hall, where exquisite dishes were successively served on the table. Bellamo certainly seems skilled at this, the banquet hall had indeed welcomed numerous prominent figures before their arrival.

"Your Excellency Bellamo,"

Ave steadied herself, the ubiquitous smog constantly giving her a drowsy feeling, "You should have received the brief, concerning my mentor Miss Valerie."

"Certainly, the lovely Lady Valerie. Her fate deeply saddens me."

"Has she ever disclosed to you the case she was investigating at the time?"

"You know, Lady Valerie doesn't enjoy associating with people like me."

Bellamo seemed prepared for this, responding fluently, "However, back then some rumors did arise in the city, saying a Believer of the God of Truth was investigating a ghoul case."