Yamafu Military Affairs

Chapter 214 Giant Bronze Gate
Late at night, a convoy of Stein heavy motorcycles and steam tanks headed westward along the edge of the Turan Plain.

Samargan is thousands of miles away from Bailaomen. It is a big challenge to get there within half a month, even for the Stein heavy machinery driven by red mercury.

Taking into account the injuries of César and Jose, the white robed medical officer Haytham had to stop from time to time for follow-up visits along the way, which delayed them a little. Fortunately, after meeting with Prometheus who arrived at the Turan Lowlands, the team's safety and speed were greatly improved, and they finally arrived at the Hundred Prison Gate on the last day of the agreed deadline.

Peron stood in front of the city gate, snowflakes hitting the brim of his hat and then melting, the wind blowing his woolen coat. He looked at the black metal giant and the uninflated Leviathan skeleton lying quietly on the heavy loader, and took the initiative to step forward to greet them.

Next to the steam chariot emitting white smoke, Haytham pushed open the iron door and stretched out his right hand to shake hands tightly with Peron.

"The Pope's Office, divinely appointed physician, is responsible for providing medical support."

"Major Veron of the Inquisition, in charge of the logistics of this operation."

"Former Knight?"

The white-robed medical officer Haytham looked Veron up and down.

"Seraph Knight."

Belon nodded, raised his hand and showed the honorary emblem of the Papal States' Seraphic Knights, an iron ring with a flame pattern wrapped around it.

Only elite soldiers who have served in the Blazing Knights are qualified to wear this ring. Each ring is different, and the name of the holder is engraved on the inner circle. If they die on the battlefield, the iron ring will not be handed over to others, but will be enshrined in the Hall of Heroes in Florence with a sacred ceremony.

"I heard from Director Spencer that you and the Scarlet Death are close friends, and the Holy See specifically asked me to give this to you."

Haytham solemnly took out a small sandalwood box from the carriage, his tone unable to conceal his admiration: "Deputy Director Licinius died heroically in the war with the Orientals. His remains were scattered in the sky, and his body returned to the Holy Land. Only this ring is left. I hope Major Peron can take it back to Florence and place it in Valhalla."

The wooden box was opened, and an iron ring with one third missing lay quietly inside.

"I will."

Veron took a deep breath and put the iron ring on his index finger, side by side with his own.

"How about [Red Dragon]? Can I proceed with the mission?"

"Yes, but it's best not to do any strenuous activities, otherwise there's a risk of the wound bursting open."

Haytham patted the frame of the car, looking somewhat serious.

"Time is running out. Since the Red Dragon is fine, follow me. You will never imagine what we have discovered this time."

Veron shook off the snow on his cloak, started the Stein motorcycle, and led the convoy to the back mountain.

The flying snowflakes were melted by the rising heat, and the black-clad soldiers were scooping up and storing the red mercury bubbling out of the boreholes on the hillside of Damavand.

Wei Ruolan looked at the pool of blood that was sealed by transparent glass and put away the cigarette between her slender jade fingers.

Red mercury is flammable and explosive, so avoid open flames.

The roar of the steam boiler came from the foot of the mountain. Wei Ruolan brushed her wet hair and picked up a pen to add a few strokes to the long map on the table in front of her.

This map was drawn by her based on topographic information, combining Khorasan legends, Parthian Dynasty and Hun Empire historical materials. There was nothing else on the scroll except a settlement extending along the Rasht Mountains, lying in the mountains like a black dragon.

blah blah~
There were footsteps. Verola's beautiful eyes lit up as she looked at the thin young man sandwiched between the white-robed medical officer and the black-robed sergeant. Her high-heeled shoes landed on the ground, and her pretty little face almost touched the tip of César's nose.

"Haha, isn't this my dear little Caesar? I heard that you encountered some tough enemies on the front line this time?"

The woman's breath was as sweet as orchid, and the hot air brushed across the boy's face, making him feel itchy.

"Professor Verolaine"

Césaire's voice was trembling, and his body leaned back unconsciously, supported by Jose, who was wrapped in bandages from his chin to his neck.

Xizel and Verola have known each other for many years. They both entered the Minerva Agency at almost the same time and helped each other grow over the past seven years. Their friendship is far beyond what ordinary people can compare to.

"Okay, time is running out, let's stop reminiscing about the past. Come on, let the Red Dragon roar again!"

Verola clapped her hands, and several black-clad mechanics carrying heavy iron boxes rushed in from outside the tent. They skillfully put tights on César and pressed the boy onto the [Hercules Rack].

"Focus, little César, this time is different!"

Wei Ruolan took a step forward, and her bright silver high heels kicked the switch next to the iron chair.

Purple snake-like current flowed from the battery box to the [Knight's Bones], and the crimson armor quickly covered the thin body. The [Red Dragon] descended again, but it was not over yet. The mechanical arm took out more and heavier parts from the iron box and installed them one by one on the Seraph's armor.

"Super Heavy Armor Red Dragon Modification, the latest enhanced version of Seraph, its performance and power have reached the extreme of what the Minerva Agency can do."

A look of pride emerged on Verola's beautiful features as she stroked the giant red-copper shield that was brought in by the mechanical cart and introduced it to Jose.

Unlike César, the nominal captain appointed by the Pope's Office, Jose, the third most powerful figure in the Seraph Knights, is the actual commander of this top-secret operation.

"General Franco is thoughtful."

Jose's voice was hoarse. After the polite words, he and Veron walked to the empty [Hercules Frame] and put on the Seraph armor.

The electric arc dissipated, the sparks disappeared, and the crimson giant lifted up the giant shield without any instruction, carried the weapon rack full of weapons on his back, and walked out of the tent with the silver-gold knight and entered the narrow mine cave where they had to bend slightly to move forward.

Dozens of meters underground, the [Red Dragon Modification] reached the end of the mine. After the black-clad soldiers dug and developed it day and night, the bronze plate wall, which was originally only half visible, finally revealed its true appearance.

Xizel sat in the [Red Dragon Modification], and the intricate patterns of the huge bronze gate in front of him were reflected in his gorgeous purple eyes.

White steam filled the air. Wearing a full set of exoskeleton, Wei Ruolan stretched out her finger and pointed at the endless bronze gate that seemed to grow in the soil and rocks. Her voice trembled slightly, "We have dug around for a long time, but we have not found the boundary of this bronze gate."

Jose nodded. He also saw that this bronze door was indeed extraordinary. After being excavated and shaped by the Inquisition, this passage that drilled into the mountain was like a trumpet. The previous narrow mine tunnel was a copper pipe, and the flat space they were in now was the trumpet mouth. The huge bronze door blocked the trumpet mouth tightly. No one knew how big the bronze outside was.

“The bronze gates are incredible.”

"Yeah, who would have known that such a big door would be buried dozens of meters underground?"

Belon shrugged and turned to look at Veronika: "How do we open it?"

"The reason why this door is called a door instead of a wall is because it has something that a door should have. In Oriental terms, it is called a copper door knocker."

The metal rod under Wei Ruolan's forearm extended and pointed at the top of the huge gate. There, in the copper rust, there were two mottled and ferocious animal heads.

"There's no door knocker. Does it open by tilting inwards? Or by pulling from the side?"

Looking at the crack in the door that was dead due to rust, the ferocious iron fingers of the Faceless Man made a harsh sound as they scratched on the bronze.

"The cardinal's instructions are to use blood, Césaire's blood."

Haytham took out a tube of bright red blood that just covered the bottom from his white robe and handed it to Verolaine.

Blood? Why does my blood need to open this strange door?

Xizel was slightly startled, somewhat puzzled.

"Little Xizel, take me upstairs." Wei Ruolan patted the side of the [Red Dragon Modification] and pulled the boy out of his thoughts.

The graceful beauty sat on the cold steel hands and approached the two rusty animal heads.

Verola frowned and glanced at the metal whose original appearance could not be seen clearly. The nozzle extended from the exoskeleton arm armor, spewing out a continuous stream of high-pressure steam. Large chunks of copper rust were peeled off, revealing a brand new metal surface.

Looking at the two animal heads that looked similar, Wei Ruolan just unscrewed the cork and dripped blood into one animal's mouth. Before she could feed the next one, the bronze door began to vibrate with gradually increasing amplitude.

"careful!"

Xizel was quick-witted and quick-handed. He pulled Verola back and held a large red copper shield in front of him to protect everyone.

The sound of gear transmission came from deep within the bronze door, and the complex mechanical mechanism began to operate. Half of the huge bronze door was pulled open horizontally, revealing a dark corridor.

The north wind blew out from the end of the corridor. César, who was wrapped in several layers of armor and covered with scalding steam, actually felt the cold, a kind of cold that was enough to destroy people and was at the edge of the world.

"Want to go in?"

The young man asked softly, loosening the Red Dragon Modified's loose hand.

“It’s fate.”

Haytham performed the sacrament, put on the heavy medical helmet, and said nothing more.

"Brother Jose, are we ready?"

Cesare communicated with José via the built-in radio and seemed to have made a decision.

"Food, weapons, energy. Everything is ready. These supplies are enough to sustain us for a week."

Torres' voice was calm and steady, as reliable as ever.

"Sister Wei Ruolan."

Cesar extended an index finger and hovered it beside the beauty.

"Little Cesar, I'm here."

Wei Ruolan reached out her hand and grasped the crimson iron finger, without any fear in her eyes.

"Operation [Relic] begins!"

Xizel took a deep breath, raised the huge shield, and walked in front.

After the Red Dragon team entered the tunnel, the black-clad sergeant in charge of finishing the job put a few dense metal blocks mixed with refined gold into the bronze door slot. This way, there was no need to worry about the huge bronze door suddenly popping up and closing, suffocating the humans who entered the tunnel to explore.

But not long after the black-clad soldier left, the block of metal weighing tons began to soften strangely, and finally turned into golden liquid and disappeared through the crack in the door.

The huge bronze door closed quietly, returning to its rusted state with perfect seams.
-
Nisa, east of the Caspian Sea and south of Turan.

"Brother, where do you think these Parthians can hide? We have almost razed these settlements to the ground, right?"

Ge Shujing reached out to wipe away the sand covering the glass eyepiece, and the Kuilong horse under his crotch snorted listlessly.

"Persia, Bailaomen, Mulu. These big cities are all possible."

Qin Huai studied the map provided by Yanfu, and had no idea about the movements of the Parthians.

"After all, this is the territory of the Arabs. In order to avoid trouble, the general will inevitably be cautious in his actions."

Xiao Gui held in his hand an extremely simple map of Parthia's topography, and did not seem to be worried about the temporary difficulties.

"We have already checked the southeast and northeast, and Wu Ying didn't find anything unusual. Perhaps we should go west."

Fu Mengmaojie stroked the feathers of the majestic eagle that was caught on the arm armor and told Qin Huai what his next plan was.

“First, go to the North Sea to refill your water tank. There aren’t many people in Khorasan there. Then, go west along the Rasht Mountains.”

Qin Huai has always been decisive and swift. When he saw Ge Shujing and others nodded to indicate that there was no problem, Xiao Gui immediately blew the horn, and the Shenwu Tianqi immediately set off to the north.

The southern coast of the Caspian Sea is rich in moisture and covered with green plants, which is completely different from the plateau desert south of the Rasht Mountains.

The horses' hooves as big as basins stepped on the soft soil, leaving deep depressions. The Shenwu Tianqi took out their water bags and filled them with purified water from Qinhuai.

Several large pots were placed on the fire, stewing fragrant broth. Qin Huai was holding a lot of spices collected from the [Universal Seasoning Jar] and sprinkling them one by one for seasoning.

Seeing the mutton in the pot becoming soft and tender, Qin Huai scooped two pieces and sat on the bluestone, drinking happily while admiring the sparkling lake in the distance.

Although it is winter now, the Caspian Sea is not frozen at all and is still a vibrant and prosperous scene.

“The world is vast, and it is time to realize your ambitions.”

Qin Huai thought about the unclear decree from the Heavenly Palace, and suddenly he wanted to go to the Black Arabs for a visit.

"If you really can't find the Tianrui Mine, it would be a good idea to take a look at the Jade Records of the Arabs."

"General, we found several wheel tracks along the coast of the North Sea. They were probably left by the Western Barbarians!"

Xiao Gui had walked behind Qin Huai without him noticing. He bowed slightly and delivered a piece of fresh news to Qin Huai's ears.

"Oh? Western Yi car prints? Take me to see them."

Seeing that Tianqi had made some discovery, Qin Huai raised his eyebrows, stood up and motioned Xiao Gui to lead the way.

After walking for about two minutes, Qin Huai saw two huge crimson figures and several rows of wheel tracks under their feet.

Single-line prints, double-line prints, and track prints are indeed the caravans of the Western barbarians.

"General, we saw that there was abundant grass and water here, so we wanted to hunt some game to satisfy our hunger, but we didn't expect to find these wheel tracks while we were hunting."

After squatting down to check the type of wheel tracks and listening to the two celestial riders tell the whole story, Qin Huai nodded.

"If we find the Tianrui Mine in the end, you two will be credited with a great achievement!"

The wheel tracks headed westward, exactly coinciding with the direction that the Shenwu Tianqi expected to move.

To the west, Bailaomen? Or Batana?

Qin Huai called up the map of Yanfu around the Caspian Sea and had an idea in mind.

This is my first 1000 monthly votes, thank you for your support. Don't worry, there will be more. But something happened on 6.2, so the update may be late, don't worry.

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(End of this chapter)