When Han Dong looked up at the "Pillar of Steam", whose energy supply was comparable to that of a large nuclear power plant, he found a circle of large outbuildings erected in the air.

It is located in the middle of the cylinder, at an altitude of about 400 meters above the ground.

With the steam pillar as the center, there is a 10.2 m diameter "connecting pipe" (which can be used by vehicles and living creatures) to extend outward.

A total of 12 connecting pipes are arranged in a spiral shape in the middle of the section, connecting and carrying a "Ring Fortress" that surrounds a pillar of steam, as an annex.

The surface of the Ring Fortress is stamped with dark brass and a rather conspicuous "Gear Cross" pattern.

There are also a number of 'whale flats' attached to the perimeter of the Ring Fortress, where rusty whales of various sizes can land.

"Everything here is managed by the [Gold Master]?"

"Although it is also controlled by the Parliament, there is no doubt that the real rulers are the financiers.

The [power] of the gold lord can be said to be the largest among the thirteen knights, and the economic system of the holy city is inseparable from the gold lord due to a certain relationship, and the operation of the entire steam city cannot be separated from the gold lord.

If this is the heart of the Holy City, then the Gold Lord is also the heart of the Steam City...... The appearance of the gold lord officially ushered in the "heyday" of this steam city, which was designed and built by the ancestors.

But.

Although the ruler is the lord of money.

However, the person who is really secretly managing and monitoring [Steam City] is another person, who is also the most trusted lieutenant of the gold lord, the deputy head of the Steam Knights.

The founder of the Cult of the Mechanicus - Congreve. Newton.

The Cult of the Mechanics is a special group organization submitted to the council and approved by the many associations attached to [Steam City] by the gold lords, and the religion of the owner has its own religious teachings.

However, the development of the Mechanism and all kinds of missions are absolutely limited to the inside of the Steam City, and the development of external development is prohibited. ”

"What about the church's gathering place?"

Han Dong looked around, although he saw many mechanical churches in the streets full of pipes, they were all small and medium-sized, and he did not see the kind of large churches that could carry the entire mechanical god cult.

"Didn't you see it in the first place?"

Charlie pointed to the top of his head, the Ring Fortress attached to the Pillar of Steam.

"The Sacred Ring, the heart sanctuary of the Cult of the Mechanicus.

At the same time, it is also the air fortress and monitoring center of the Steam Knights, and Newton, who has supreme control, can monitor everything in Steam City through the Holy Ring. ”

"Space Fortress? Mr. Newton is really generous, it seems...... The place that invited me to go should also be the Holy Ring. ”

As for what Han Dong was going to do, which involved privacy issues, Charlie Knight didn't ask much.

"When dealing with these mechanical bastards, remember to keep an eye on them.

If you're not in a hurry, you can follow me to a friend's factory first...... It will take you to familiarize yourself with the real Steam City in advance, not a fake city under the influence of the Order. ”

"Okay, I'm sorry for Senior Charlie."

Follow the side wall stairs to the ground street of Steam City.

Immediately, a reconnaissance plane the size of a head, flying in a jet-powered manner, came up to the trio and left as Charlie showed his temporary pass.

On the all-metal paved streets, the residents of Steam City are not idle people.

Anyone who can work in the Steam City workshop, in the factory, or in the research institute.

At the very least, they are all those who have obtained the certificate of senior engineer or senior researcher, or who have worked in a mechanical workshop recognized by the Holy City for more than five years.

As for the ordinary residents living in Steam City, it is also very special.

Some of the residents here are just ordinary people, and some are veteran knights, and they have a common characteristic - [half-body transformation].

All humans who are not mechanics or engineers who wish to gain long-term residency in Steam City will need to sign an agreement called "Donate Their Body" upon entering the city.

You need to donate 50% of your body to Steam City for human body transformation.

In addition to conventional metal prosthetic grafting, a micro-gear sensor is needed in the brain.

The large sensor terminal equipped with the [Sacred Ring] can conduct irregular checks on the consciousness of the individual's brain through sensors, and once the individual's mind is found to be degenerate, it will immediately give "steam purification".

The question here is that the monitoring of the mind means that the privacy of the individual will no longer exist, and who wants to sign such a pact?

The answer is simple.

Some ordinary people who can't live in the civilian area, or some veteran knights who can't survive for a few years after being hit hard, will usher in their second life in Steam City.

Even some mechanics have "mechanical appendages" grafted on their bodies, which can greatly improve their work efficiency.

Walking on such a city street, Han Dong and his party have become outliers here.

Charlie led the two around a few streets.

Stop in front of a larger factory.

This large-scale factory has a complete set of manufacturing and production processes for "robot dolls".

Semi-mechanized humans are performing inspections and critical assembly work on the assembly line, or debugging parameters in front of the differential machine, and the brain remains absolutely intact.

None of the all-bots are involved in the generation process.

Everyone is also talking and laughing at work, and the overall atmosphere is very good.

With the group entering the factory.

The workers immediately bowed their heads in respect of Charlie.

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

"It's really boring to follow the old man, and it just so happens that a friend is coming to Steam City, so I stopped by to see you...... Frankie, how have you been doing? ”

"What else can you do, get a stipend...... How is Mr. Lindbergh in health? The Great Expedition is approaching, and I am also very busy here, and I haven't visited my teacher for a long time. ”

"This old man is very tough, and he is very energetic when he scolds me."

"The teacher's personality is like that, come up and talk."

This man named Frankie is an uncle of the same age as Charles Knight and the director of this factory.

The difference is that Frankie maintains a 100% human body, has not undergone any modifications, and has obtained permanent residency in Steam City through his own advanced mechanical engineer certificate.

"This is Nicholas and his girlfriend Mia, Nicholas is with me in the Knights of the Secret Language, and has helped me a lot in private."

"Frankie. Kande, my childhood friend, used to be an apprentice under my adoptive father for a long time. ”

With the introduction of Charles Knight, the two sides are naturally familiar.

Just when the two uncles sat down and were about to talk about some things that had happened recently.

A nerve in Charlie's head was pulled, and he stood up with a solemn face.

"What's wrong with the Mechanics guys?"

"Hey...... Charlie, don't get excited, because of some things about the Great Expedition, the Cult of the Mechanicus has been quite active recently, and has been carrying out various forms of missionary activities in residential areas.

I'll just deal with it, wait a minute! ”