"Nikola, the evacuation of Death Row has begun, and someone will be here to pick you up soon."
Merlin's voice rang out over the communicator, and the noise of the electric current made the sound very fuzzy.
Nicholas did not respond. He sat behind his desk, head down, smoking, and wondering what he was thinking about.
He looked like this for a long time. The ashtray on the table was full of cigarette butts with a faint afterglow on it. Cigarette ashes were scattered all over the place and he had no intention of cleaning it up.
Looking up slightly, Nicholas' face was pale. After staying underground for so long, he looked like a sleeping corpse.
"Where are you, Merlin?"
Nicholas asked, and after a long while, a hoarse voice came back from the other end.
"Surface, Mechanical Institute, I just handed the 'Flame Bearer' to Lorenzo."
"Flame Bearer? So that's the name he decided on?"
"Um."
Nicholas took a deep puff of cigarette. He was already thin, and now he looked even older in the smoke.
"What's wrong? Nicholas?" Merlin asked.
"I'm thinking and feeling sad. After all, I'll be in death row soon. When I come out, the old Dunling, the cleansing agency... and even you, may become part of the ruins."
Nicholas threw away his cigarette butt with a melancholy look in his eyes.
"Merlin, do you think this is all correct?"
"What do you want to say?"
"Death Row, do you think such a refuge is really meaningful?" Nicholas said, "I would rather be with you than survive by chance."
"But someone has to keep the knowledge going, Nikolai."
"Then why not you?" Nicholas asked back.
"You know, this kind of entanglement is fruitless, Nicholas. Each of us needs to make a choice."
"Of course I do."
Nicholas stood up slowly. On his desk was a strangely shaped key and a pistol.
He took the gun and put it on his waist, then picked up the key and put it away.
"I have made my choice, Merlin, and I still doubt Death Row."
"What do you suspect?"
"I don't know, but it just feels like something's wrong."
Nicholas said as he glanced down at his feet. Behind the layers of steel and soil were the pillars of the furnace, and below that was the death cell.
"Don't do anything stupid."
After a short pause, Merlin said this.
Nicholas smiled and responded.
"No, I will live well, teacher. After all, I carry your knowledge."
"I'm sorry, I always feel that I should say goodbye to you in person." Merlin said.
"It's okay, don't think too badly, maybe we can meet again."
Nikolai said as he picked up the communicator, and just before pushing open the door, he asked Merlin one last question.
"By the way... Teacher, has your greed been satisfied?"
The alchemists' madness and greed for the truth constantly drive these crazy people forward and to obtain it by any means necessary.
"I guess so."
Merlin replied.
Nicholas seemed relieved after hearing this, and he said softly.