Gun of Ashes

He gently caressed his chest, beneath it was the distorted, hateful flesh.

The Plague Doctor seemed to calm down, appearing much happier.

”I’ve started to like you, Dean Lawrence, indeed, we’re of the same kind.”

Looking at Dean Lawrence, he continued.

”Then let’s proceed with the surgery quickly, implant the remaining flesh into your body... To be honest, I thought you wouldn’t survive the surgery, after all, it’s the flesh of the Holy Grail.”

To a fanatic scholar, truth is the most perfect temptation.

To this, Dean Lawrence shook his head.

”It’s not the right time yet, I need time to adapt to it.”

As if he held all matters in his hands, Dean Lawrence always gave off a composed aura, as if no matter how dangerous the situation, he could easily resolve it.

For some reason, the image of Horner suddenly flashed in his mind, and it must be said, this mediocre child indeed made a deep impression on Dean Lawrence.

However, his purpose had been achieved, and Horner’s life or death was no longer of importance.

Dean Lawrence had successfully determined the location of the Perpetual Motion Pump through Horner, not to mention he had also implanted a new ”Beacon” within.

Owes... or rather Lancelot, he suffered great erosion on the night he fought with Dean Lawrence, and that erosion still lingered, providing a beacon for Dean Lawrence’s traversal of the [Gap].

”Ah... it’s truly delightful.”

The Plague Doctor seemed still immersed in his happiness.

”Dean Lawrence, I hope you can live a little longer, don’t die so easily. There aren’t many test subjects like you for my research.”

”Rest assured, I know very well when I will die, and now is not the time.”

The Plague Doctor was stunned for a moment, then laughed even more joyfully.

”Yes, before we reach our goals, none of us will die... how does that saying go.”

The Plague Doctor suddenly turned serious, the saying was like a creed to him.

”Idealists are incurable, if he is cast out of heaven, he will create an ideal hell.”

Dean Lawrence listened quietly, as if recalling something in his eyes.

They were all incurable idealists, fearless for their ideal country.

”Do you remember you asked me why I’m not afraid to die?”

Dean Lawrence suddenly asked.

Implanting the flesh of the Holy Grail is an extremely dangerous thing, even when the Plague Doctor implanted the flesh into Dean Lawrence’s body, he would be corroded into a demon by that terrible power, yet he survived, it was nothing short of a medical miracle.

”Plague Doctor, my authority is Shangdafeng, the Shangdafeng that foresees the future.”

He spoke somewhat thoughtfully.

”I can see the short future, very short, but even so it allows me to remain invincible.”

The Plague Doctor listened silently, looking at Dean Lawrence, that old face wore a kindly smile, a heartfelt smile.

”About... a few decades ago? Or a hundred years ago... I have lived for too long, so long that memory is not very reliable... Secret Blood completely turned me into a monster.”

He recounted his past.

”At that time, I didn’t have my own name, just a short code, the Holy Evangelical Pope Kingdom still dominated the Western world back then, and the Radiant War had just begun...”

It was such a long-ago past, so long that even the recollections were tinged with old colors, everything became so blurry, like paper soaked in water, the words all blurred and illegible.

”It was an accident that changed my life, my authority was activated to the fullest... I saw the future, the very distant future.”

Dean Lawrence looked at the Plague Doctor, with the same look as under the mask, a fervent gaze.

”What... did you see?”

The Plague Doctor seemed extremely curious.

”The future, the distant future, the future of the Demon Hunting Order, the future of the Evangelical Church, the future of the world... even my own future.”

As if realizing something, the Plague Doctor softly asked.

”Did you foresee your own death?”

Dean Lawrence nodded lightly, such a heavy matter seemed trivial, and he continued.

”Yes, my own death... Since then, I’ve become fearless because I am very clear on the date of my death, as long as that day hasn’t arrived, I won’t die, no matter what dangers I face.”

”Was it that which gave you the courage to implant the Holy Grail?”

As long as that day hasn’t arrived, Dean Lawrence won’t die, but when that day comes, no matter what efforts he makes, he can’t alter the day of his death.

It’s truly a marvelous feeling.

He replied.

”Probably.”

Sudden silence enveloped the conversation, both men falling into an eerie muteness, sometimes glancing at each other only to look away quickly, while the carriage continued forward, this lasted until the Plague Doctor asked again.

”How do you die?”

Realizing his question was inappropriate, the Plague Doctor quickly recomposed his words and asked again.

”Did you... die for your ideal?”

Dean Lawrence seemed surprised, as if not expecting him to ask that, and after some thought, he answered.

”Yes.”

The Plague Doctor suddenly grasped Dean Lawrence’s hand, his body twitching under his garment, he looked extremely delighted.

”I envy you, Lawrence!”

This enthusiasm left Dean Lawrence momentarily stunned, the Plague Doctor before him was extremely excited.

He exclaimed.

”To die for one’s ideals, that’s truly splendid!”

The carriage slowly stopped, outside was Old Dunling’s central train station, a train bound for Reindona’s port awaited them. Dean Lawrence gazed at the Plague Doctor in front of him dazedly, as if wanting to pierce through the beaked mask to observe the flesh beneath.

After an unknown length of time, Dean Lawrence offered a smile.

”Indeed, it truly is splendid.”