The Divine Armor of the Old Century（Book 1）

Chapter 11

In the outskirts of Old Dunling, within the territory of the Phoenix family, a prestigious noble clan renowned for their achievements during the Glorious War, lay a magnificent castle granted to them by the queen of the time. Across generations, this area had flourished into a secluded grandeur.

Facilitating travel was a rail line directly connecting to the heart of Old Dunling, where armed trains, modified by the Mechanical Institute, sped through. This express train belonged exclusively to the Phoenix family, covering vast distances in just half an hour.

A man stood at the edge of the balcony, sighing faintly as he gazed towards the horizon. He was a typical Invergian, with hair now flecked with gray, meticulously groomed, and sporting a classic but somewhat outdated sheriff's mustache. Once, he might have been a charmer, but time had etched wrinkles upon his once-handsome face.

Initially, the Phoenix family acquired this land for retirement. The duke of the time, aged and weary from the war's toll on his body, sought not to stray from Invergian power centers while also longing for a tranquil haven, hence this choice.

Indeed, this place was ideal. Unlike the perpetual gloom of Old Dunling, here, one could bask in precious sunlight, free from the fumes of charcoal burning. The air was crisp, making it a veritable paradise compared to the grim reality of Old Dunling.

However, over the years, with Old Dunling's expansion, the man could now see the towering steam towers at the horizon from his balcony. It wasn't a good sign. Perhaps, in a few decades, the cursed clouds of Old Dunling would cast their shadow over this land.

The man cherished sunlight. The longer he stayed in Old Dunling, the more precious those moments of sunshine became. And due to his old age, he wished his descendants could also revel in its warmth.

To the Duke of Phoenix, prolonged stays in Old Dunling seemed to breed dampness and decay, merging one with the gray city.

"What a worrisome affair..." muttered the current head of the Phoenix family, Duke Everla Phoenix.

"And Eve? Has she finally relented?" he inquired.

"Miss Eve is still in her room. Perhaps, this incident has truly shaken her," the steward replied timely.

"I rather hope the shock is profound enough to dissuade her. Why forsake a fine education to become a detective? If this incident can make her give up, all the better," the father expressed vehemently against Eve's detective aspirations.

"Perhaps Miss Eve merely admires you, wishing to tread the path you did?" The steward, taken aback by the Duke's strong reaction, instinctively defended Eve due to her years of affection.

"My path? You mean becoming a soldier? The Glorious War is over. Too many of the Phoenix family perished for that war. War, soldiers, detectives... anything associated with weapons is not good. She should embrace being a Phoenix princess, marry someone who loves her, and live a lifetime. I've even saved money to buy her an island as dowry. She can put her children to sleep by the sea at sunset, free from the thundering steam engines, deadly diseases, and smoky air. There, it would be as beautiful as paradise."

Though vehemently opposed to his daughter's dreams, his words were steeped in evident fondness.

"This is Eve's life path, not mingling with the riffraff of Old Dunling," Everla stated fiercely.

"Why do you think we're called the Phoenixes? It's only because we survived the Glorious War. Those who survived have glory; the dead are just that—dead, with nothing." The Glorious War had claimed the lives of many, from Everla's siblings to his father and grandfather. The entire family's sacrifices had built the Phoenix family of today, a fact that fueled Everla's anger whenever he recalled it.