Gunmage
Chapter 184: Unnatural ignorance

Chapter 184: Chapter 184: Unnatural ignorance

"Emrys is dead?"

"How is that possible?"

"How did he die?"

"Who killed him?"

The questions spilled forth like an avalanche, threatening to smother Lugh beneath their icy weight.

He stood still, contemplative. Answering the next part wouldn’t be easy.

"I was the one who landed the final blow,"

Je said quietly.

"But by then, he was already weakened from the collapse."

"The collapse?"

They all paused, the word hanging like smoke in the air.

"And what caused this collapse?"

Selaphiel pressed, her gaze sharp and unrelenting.

"I... don’t know,"

Lugh admitted. His voice was calm, but there was a flicker of something deeper—guilt, maybe, or something colder.

"All I know is that everything was normal one moment, and the next, the whole city sank. I lost consciousness. I don’t remember much of what happened after that."

He exhaled slowly.

"Survival was based on pure luck. I got lucky. Emrys didn’t."

They all fell silent. Looking at the state Lugh was in, they were unwilling to dredge up more painful memories.

At least, some were. The others, more impatient, clenched their jaws but said nothing in Selaphiel’s presence.

Lugh snapped out of it, straightening his back slightly.

"Well then, I’ve told you all you need to know. Now it’s your turn to answer my questions."

They grew wary.

"What questions?"

"There are quite a lot,"

Lugh replied, his tone distant.

"I don’t think I can remember them all right now. It’ll probably take more than a day or two. When I’m ready, I’ll ask."

Jahira crossed her arms.

"I probably won’t be around for long, so hurry it up."

"Okay then."

This was the plan Lugh had eventually settled on—drag it out, buy time. Using this method, he could ask a near-unlimited number of questions and still receive answers.

More importantly, he wouldn’t fall for Selaphiel’s traps and start blabbering too early.

Some of the things he wanted to ask were sensitive, too tied to his plans. It wouldn’t do for the others to catch wind of them.

The door creaked open.

Another Lugh stepped inside—his clone. Its hair was blackened with soot, patches of ash clinging to it. Numerous scuffs, cuts, and scratches marked its frame.

This was the duplicate he’d sent to retrieve Lyra’s sword from Selaphiel’s quarters.

Now, everything was in place.

Well... almost everything.

He turned his gaze to Isolde.

"Is there still a need for me to remain hidden?"

"Yes,"

She blurted out almost immediately.

"Okay then,"

He said with a nod, moving forward.

"Let’s start with our leads. How many families in this city would have access to gunpowder, despite the strict regulations?"

He paused, eyes narrowing.

"Not only that—how many of them would know just how much more vulnerable mages are to non-mystical ambushes?"

"Well, when you put it like that..."

Isolde folded her arms, frowning.

"There aren’t a lot of them, I guess."

Lugh nodded again.

"I’ll also need a report detailing the mass shooting terrorist attacks. And comprehensive information on the lawmakers responsible for pushing the overly strict firearm regulations."

"All this talk about firearms again?"

Jahira said. Her expression was a mix of frustration and growing concern.

"From your story, I can imagine how terrifying they are. And I agree we have to do something to contain this threat."

Lugh remained silent, letting her finish.

"But doesn’t it make sense for the laws to be as strict as they are?"

She went on.

"Since it’s such a dangerous weapon, why should people have easy access to it?"

Everyone glanced at Lugh. Jahira’s words carried weight. The tall lady was making sense.

He tilted his head slightly. Then he spoke.

"Why yes. These weapons should definitely be regulated. There is nothing more important than safety. Nothing wrong with what you said... under normal circumstances, that is."

Jahira frowned.

"And what do you mean by that?"

"Think about it,"

Lugh said, voice level.

"Before today, how much did you know about firearms?"

"Well... not much."

"And now?"

She hesitated but remained silent, trying to think up a counterpoint.

"This isn’t a debate,"

He continued.

"I’m not arguing with you. There’s no benefit to refuting my statement. All I want is to paint a picture."

He leaned forward slightly, words deliberate.

"Yes, firearms should be regulated. But if we take a wider view—has this regulation, or rather will this regulation, do more harm than good?"

"In a country full of magicians, where secret societies thrive and highborns attend balls, print humorous newspapers, and dine on gold-laced pastries... thousands of people who know the truth are dying on the front lines every single day."

From Lugh’s tone, it might have seemed like he despised the noble class. But anyone who assumed that would be mistaken.

Most of the audience were elves. Beings who had lived long enough to understand that catastrophic events could stem from the smallest misunderstanding.

And so, they let him finish.

"It’s not that the nobles are callous or unfeeling,"

Lugh said.

"This is their homeland. The soldiers dying are their kinsmen. They care. They’re not cold—they’re ignorant. Ignorant of how bad the situation really is. They believe that, if things get dire, their magic will be enough to stop the invaders."

Silence followed.

Lugh nodded, pleased. They were beginning to see the broader picture.

"But this ignorance isn’t natural,"

He added.

Isolde leaned forward, her eyes lighting up.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean... this situation was intentionally created by our enemies. Whether they’re from Heieg or any other nation backing them."

Selaphiel’s gaze sharpened. The pieces were beginning to fall into place. None of the implications were good.

Lugh went on.

"I suspect the mass shooting ’terrorist’ attack was planned. As for the ministers who pushed for the weapons ban, I believe they’re spies from Heieg. Their goal is to keep as many mages in Ophris as ignorant as possible about what firearms can do."

"It might sound far-fetched,"

He admitted.

"But Ophris has been peaceful for centuries—no wars since its independence from Jazeer. Most of our weapons were adopted from neighboring states. What we’ve focused on... is magic. The legacy left by our colonial masters."

"Most citizens have never even seen a gun. And the war reports are filtered. It’s easy to believe that whatever success firearms had on the battlefield wouldn’t matter much against magic."

He looked around the room.

"That’s what most people believe, isn’t it?"

"Yes..."

Jahira finally answered, her voice quiet.

"It’s deeply engraved into our minds. Even now, I’m not fully convinced of their power."

Lugh gave a slow nod.

"And that’s exactly how even someone like Auren, someone who had seen the frontlines—ended up a corpse."

He turned his gaze toward Selaphiel.

"Now... about your conversation with the Queen..."