Clang—clang—clang—the bells rang out over Castel. The islanders raised their heads and all looked toward the towering structure at the center of the island.
It was Castel Cathedral, designed by Theus himself. Its main structure was a massive square castle, with huge towering turrets at each of its four corners.
Observation decks had been installed atop the towers. Unlike other fortresses of this era, the towers Theus designed were almost completely enclosed, leaving only a few narrow firing slits.
Several empty platforms stood at the tops of the towers. Because the construction schedule had been tight, work there had been temporarily halted. Perhaps some anti-air firepower would be deployed there in the future—though warfare in this world did not yet require air defense.
Since leaving them empty would be a waste, Theus had simply built a bell tower, allowing the great bell to convey messages to the people on the island.
Castel was not large. With the cathedral at its center, the bell could be heard nearly everywhere on the island once it rang.
According to Theus's plans, if the battle situation ever became extremely unfavorable, everyone might be brought into the cathedral to defend it. It was the largest structure on the entire island, with more than ten levels above and below ground. The Central Furnace would continuously supply protective inscriptions and steam power, while the basic necessities of life and industrial production lines were all available here.
This was Castel's final line of defense, as well as a sanctuary that would never fall.
And today, the great bell in the cathedral dome's bell tower had rung. The islanders exchanged glances, their faces filled with confusion and unease.
The new clergy of Empire Truth—though people preferred to call them patrol teams—had specifically explained this before.
When the great bell