Chapter 56 The other side
Early the next morning, Duanmu Huai and Ogis left the church and headed to the location of the Mechanicus on the other side of the river under the leadership of Lorena. According to Lorena, the bishop allowed her to go as a representative of the church to avoid more conflicts.
Originally, Duanmu Huai thought he would see a cyberpunk-like scene of people being transformed everywhere on the other side. However, to his surprise, what he saw in front of him did not seem to be significantly different from what he had seen before. People coming and going, vibrant streets, noisy crowds and vendors.
Not only that, but unlike the areas controlled by the church, the people here seemed to be quite enthusiastic about Duanmu Huai and Ojisi.
"Hey, that steel guy, do you want to come and see my fruits?"
"This lovely young lady, do I have any accessories that are perfect for you?"
You must know that Duanmu Huai's outfit in other places will almost always make people shy away, which is normal. The two-and-a-half-meter steel knight, coupled with the skull and cross symbols on the power armor, gave people a cold aura that no strangers should enter. But here, people seem to be accustomed to such steel creations and don't care much about them.
Duanmu Huai walked to a fruit stall. When the boss saw Duanmu Huai's arrival, he also stepped forward to entertain him enthusiastically.
"Welcome, this Iron Knight, what do you want?"
"Let me just take a look... Speaking of which, don't you seem to be very afraid of me?"
Duanmuhuai looked at the boss and asked curiously. Of course, he didn't take off his helmet just to be on the safe side.
"Ah, Iron Knight, you may not know something. Unlike other places, we are not taboo about this. And the church saint here is a great Iron Angel. Although everyone was a little 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 and see it. Then I think you will understand it right away."
"Okay, thank you."
After a brief conversation, Duanmuhuai followed the direction directed by his boss and walked towards the location of the church in the city.
Without much effort, under the guidance of passers-by, Duanmu Huai and Ojisi found the Church of the Mechanicus. At this time, he finally understood why the people here were like this.
Because almost all the clergymen who appear in this church have prosthetic limbs whose bodies 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 an ordinary person, except that behind the nun there was a Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvara with several slender metal The arms are shaped like wings. These arms hold different utensils, including tin rods for prayer, as well as some work and daily utensils.
"Are you also here to join our church?"
Facing Duanmu Huai, this nun was also quite enthusiastic.
"Looking at how perfectly you blend with steel, you must have a deep understanding of our teachings...!"
"No, I just have something I want to talk to the person in charge here..."
"Then please come with me. The Holy Lady should be inside now."
The nun greeted the two of them very warmly, then took them into the church and walked deeper into the church.
Along the way, Duanmuhuai understood the teachings of this "Mechanic Cult" through conversations with the nuns. To put it simply, it is the same as what Lorena said. The Mechanicus believes that flesh and blood are bitter and weak, which is a burden that prevents people from feeling the will and power of the gods. Only by replacing it with pure steel can they feel the gods better...
The degree of transformation is equivalent to the status in the Mechanicus. Sisters who install external plug-ins are only the lowest-status prayer masters. If they are one level higher, they can transform their hands into steel fists, and then Promoted to an iron-fisted monk, and even higher up to a mechanical priest who transformed himself into a machine except his head...
Good guys, you want mechanical ascension, right? Then I'll simply introduce you to the machine soul and transform them all into machine servitors.
Hearing the nun's introduction, Duanmu Huai was speechless. He had always kept a respectful distance from this kind of mechanical transformation. If it was due to a physical disability or some kind of disease, it would be reasonable to install artificial objects. But if you give up your own flesh and blood just for the sake of convenience...well, as a human being, this is still not acceptable.
"Is this what the Mechanicum is like?"
Duanmu Huai also turned his head and asked in a low voice to Lorena, who looked confused. "Sorry...Actually, I'm not very clear either..."
Under the leadership of the nun, Duanmu Huai 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 has a serious face. Except for his head, everything else seems to have been replaced by machinery. He is wearing a thin coat, and the whole person looks like a robot with a human head - well, it is a fact. It seems to be similar.
"I came here to investigate the matter about the murderous doll."
Duanmuhuai stepped forward, told the whole story, and then stared at the mechanical priest.
"Those dolls escaped here before when we were chasing them, so we want to investigate here."
"Investigation?"
Hearing Duanmuhuai's request, Father Mechanical's expression was a bit unpleasant.
"What qualifications do you have to conduct an investigation 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 then attack. If the other party agrees to help, then naturally it will be the best. But if the other party doesn't agree, then Duanmu Huai will have no choice but to be tough.
"Woo......"
Looking at the tense atmosphere on both sides, Ogis was expressionless, while Lorena looked nervously at this and that, and finally raised her hands in a panic and came to the Father Mechanic.
"Father, we have no ill intentions, but this matter is indeed serious, and many innocent people have been killed. We just want to find the murderer, and we don't intend to do anything here..."
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"………………"
The mechanical priest was silent for a moment and nodded.
"Okay, I agree to your request, but we must also send someone to be present."
"As long as you don't cause trouble, I have no problem with it."
Duanmuhuai made concessions, and the looming conflict dissipated, which made Lorena breathe a sigh of relief. The mechanical priest didn't care about these small things. He just sent someone to convey the message. Soon, a young woman appeared in front of Duanmu Huai and others.
"She is Meludi, a priest of this church and an excellent exorcist. Next, she will work with you to find the murderous doll. So, I'll take my leave now."
After a brief introduction, the mechanical priest turned and left. At this time, the young woman also came to him.
"Meludi Hannah, hello."
Compared to Lorena, Meludi gave people the first impression of being more like a soldier. She wore a dark coat and stood upright. Meludi was also equipped with a pair of huge metal weapons. She has white wings, and in her hand is a finely crafted sniper rifle... Well, she does look like a soldier.
But...
Duanmuhuai looked at Meludi's bumpy figure, and then at Lorena's slender and flat figure.
Although they are both priests, the gap is a bit big...
(End of chapter)