Chapter 779: 779: Holy Ring

Chapter 779: Chapter 779: Holy Ring

As Han Dong was looking up at the “Steam Pillar”, a powerhouse that could rival a large nuclear power station, he spotted a circle of large auxiliary buildings set up in mid-air.

Located in the middle of the cylinder, about four hundred meters above the ground.

Starting from the Steam Pillar, there extended a kind of “connecting pipeline” with a diameter of 10.2 m (for vehicle and living things transit).

There were twelve connecting pipelines in total, arranged in a spiral formation around the midsection, supporting and linking a “Circular Fortress” that encircled the Steam Pillar, as an auxiliary building.

The surface of the Circular Fortress was engraved with a very conspicuous pattern of a “Gear Cross” in dark brass.

On the periphery of the Circular Fortress, there were also several “Whale Landing Spots”, capable of accommodating Rust Whales of various sizes.

“Everything here is managed by the [Gold Master]?”

“Although it is also under the control of the council here, it is undeniably true that the Gold Master is the real person in power.

It can be said that the [Gold Master’s] authority is the greatest among the Thirteen Knight Orders. The economic system of the Holy City is somehow tethered to the Gold Master, and the operation of the entire Steam City cannot be detached from the Gold Master.

If this place is the heart of the Holy City, then the Gold Master is equally the heart of Steam City. The Steam City, which was designed and built by our predecessors, entered its ‘golden age’ with the arrival of the Gold Master.”

“But, despite the Gold Master being the person in authority…”

The person truly managing and monitoring [Steam City] behind the scenes is, in fact, another one: the Gold Master’s most trusted deputy and the vice chairman of the Steam Knights.

Kongriff Newton, the founder of the Mechanical God Sect.

The Mechanical God Sect is a special group organization approved by the council, submitted by the Gold Master in conjunction with numerous associations affiliated with [Steam City], and they have their own religious beliefs and doctrines.

However, the development and all types of proselytizing of the Mechanical God Sect are strictly confined within Steam City, and external development is prohibited.”

“And where is the gathering place for the church?”

Han Dong looked around. Although he saw many Mechanical Churches amidst the streets filled with pipes, all of them were medium and small sized. He didn’t see a large church that could accommodate the entire Mechanical God Sect.

“Didn’t you see it right at the beginning?”

Charlie pointed to the top of his head, which was the Circular Fortress connected to the Steam Pillar.

“[Sacred Ring], the core sanctuary of the Mechanical God Sect.

It is also the Sky Fortress and monitoring centre of the Steam Knights. Newton, who has the highest control authority, can monitor everything in Steam City through the Sacred Ring.”

“A spatial fortress, huh? Mr. Newton is really lavish. It looks like… the place that invited me should also be the Sacred Ring.”

As for what Han Dong was going to do, this involved a matter of privacy, so Knight Charlie didn’t ask further.

“Be careful when dealing with these mechanical scum.

If you are not in hurry to go there, you can follow me to a friend’s factory first… It can give you a preview of the real Steam City, instead of the feigned city under the influence of the Sect.”

“Alright, thank you, senior Charlie.”

When they officially set foot on the ground streets of Steam City, along the wall stairs.

An observation drone about the size of a human’s head, jet-propelled, quickly came to the trio. After Charlie showed a temporary pass, the drone left.

On the streets paved entirely of metal, those walking around were certainly no ordinary residents of Steam City.

They were personnel either working in the workshops and factories of Steam City, or employed in the research institutes.

At least they were all talent who had passed high-level engineer or researcher certificates or were professional technicians who had worked in a mechanical workshop recognized by the Holy City for more than five years.

As for the ordinary residents living in Steam City, they too were quite special.

The residents here include some ordinary people and some retired knights, and they all share one common feature – [Half-body Reformation].

All humans who are not technicians or engineers and wish to get long-term residence in Steam City need to sign an agreement called [Body Donation] upon entering the city.

They need to donate 50% of their physical body to Steam City for body modification.

Beyond the typical grafting of metal prosthetics, a kind of miniature gear sensor also needs to be connected within the brain.

The large sensing terminal on the [Sacred Ring] can periodically check individual brain consciousness through the sensor; once a person’s thinking becomes corrupted, they will immediately be subject to “Steam Purification”.

Here arises a problem: the mind being monitored means there will be no existence of individuals’ privacy anymore. After all, who would be willing to sign such a contract?

The answer is rather simple.

Some ordinary people who couldn’t survive in the civilian sector, or some retired knights whose physical condition had been severely damaged and might not live for several more years, could have their second life in Steam City.

Even some technicians graft ‘mechanical extra limbs’ onto their bodies, which can greatly increase their work efficiency.

Walking down the streets of such a city, Han Dong’s group seemed quite out of place.

After Charlie led them around a few streets,

They stopped in front of a fairly large factory.

This large factory possessed a complete process of manufacturing and production for “mechanical dolls”.

Those conducting inspection and key assembly works on the production line, or testing parameters in front of the differential machine, were all semi-mechanized humans with absolutely intact brains.

Not a single full robot was involved in the production process.

People even chatted and laughed during work; the overall atmosphere was quite good.

As the group entered the factory,

The workers immediately bowed in respect to Charlie.

At the same time, a very enthusiastic voice came from the second floor: “Charlie, why are you here?”

“I got bored hanging around the old man and it just so happened that a friend wanted to come to Steam City, so I dropped by to see you… Franky, how have you been recently?”

“What else could I be doing but enjoying my pension… How is Professor Lindbergh’s health? With the Great Expedition coming, I’ve been so busy here that I haven’t visited the professor for a very long time.”

“That old man is pretty sturdy, especially spirited when scolding me.”

“That’s just how the professor is, come upstairs and talk.”

This person, called Franky, was a middle-aged man about the same age as Knight Charlie and was also the director of the factory.

The difference was that Franky maintained 100% of his human body, without any modifications and by acquiring a high-level mechanical engineer certificate on his own, secured permanent residence in Steam City.

“This is Nicholas and his girlfriend Mia, Nicholas is a member of the Secret Language Knight Order with me and he has helped me out a lot.”

“Franky Kande is a childhood playmate of mine and was an apprentice under my foster father for a long time.”

With Knight Charlie’s introduction, both sides naturally became familiar.

But just as the two middle-aged men began to sit down and chat about recent events,

A nerve in Charlie’s brain was tugged, and he rose to his feet with a solemn expression.

“Why have the guys from the Mechanical God Sect come?”

“Hey… Charlie, don’t get agitated, with the Big Expedition setting off soon, the Mechanical God Sect has been quite active recently, actively spreading their message in the residential areas in many forms.

I’ll deal with it, hold on for a bit!”