Gun of Ashes

The crowd bustled about like a migrating colony of penguins, packed tight and teeming. Voices echoed under the arched spacious dome, magnifying every subtle sound in the continuous reverberation, the whispers eventually seemed as if they were murmuring directly into your ears.

Looking up, one could see the historical clock, with ticking sounds as its gears meshed together, rotating and slowly pushing time forward. The steel beams hung like the skeleton supporting the structure, spreading beneath the dome. The steam train slowly approached the station along the tracks, and you would see the mist rising with the whistle, as if it were the breath of this iron beast.

Old Dunling Central Station, one of the vital hubs of the entire city, where tracks sprawled like veins across Ingwig’s land, allowing access to any destination within Ingwig.

”I still think this trip isn’t very reliable.”

”Don’t worry, just think of it as accompanying me to gather creative inspiration.”

In the bustling crowd, someone spoke up.

Lorenzo walked with Selyu among the crowded sea of people. During the brief journey, they stopped by a clothing store and changed their outfits to appear more ordinary... Of course, they paid using Winchester, this ghostly thing was just as convenient as a credit card.

Lorenzo had a lit cigarette hanging from his mouth, wearing tea-colored sunglasses that concealed his sharp gaze, while Selyu donned a brown newsboy cap to hide her similarly pale golden hair.

Though aware that Lorenzo had strayed from the Purification Mechanism’s actions and had ”abducted” her, Selyu felt no sense of being kidnapped. When robbing the clothing store, she even bought some candies along the way, stuffing them into her pocket, occasionally taking one out.

She seemed incredibly leisurely, not caring about what would happen next, nor bothered by the previous anger, as if nothing had occurred, just like any ordinary girl, waiting at the platform for her train bound for an unknown journey.

”So where are we going next?”

Selyu looked up and asked, amidst the crowd so packed that she had to cling tightly to Lorenzo to avoid being separated.

”You’ll find out.”

Lorenzo didn’t look at her, instead glancing at the clock hanging in the waiting room hall. He seemed to be in a hurry.

The station’s dome was made of glass, allowing the sight of the setting sun, its gentle light falling down wearily, gracing the center of the hall, shining brightly on the bronze statue there.

It was a statue of a sword-wielding knight, seemingly sculpted based on a real person, and one could see traces of his past glory in the robust features of his face. The pedestal of the statue was inscribed with text about this figure.

This was a monument to the Radiant War, commemorating those warriors who died because of Ingwig. It stood amid the throng like a reef against the current.

”It’s our turn now.”

Lorenzo suddenly said.

Before Selyu could figure out the situation, Lorenzo quickly grabbed her hand and headed towards the platform.

At this moment, the Purification Mechanism must be searching for them worldwide. Given the Purification Mechanism’s level of control over Old Dunling, Selyu thought they couldn’t even escape the industrial zone, but now they were about to leave Old Dunling, and the so-called pursuers hadn’t yet arrived.

It was as if a web of conspiracy had spread around.

Travelers passed by, and Selyu thought of other things; perhaps the Purification Mechanism had already arrived but couldn’t act yet. This was Old Dunling Central Station, a place with immense daily traffic. Making a move here would not only result in terrifying civilian casualties but also risk exposing the Demon secret to the public.

”You are more and more like a terrorist.”

Selyu said softly.

”I only have my own thoughts and goals... but explaining it to them won’t make a difference. Yawei wouldn’t understand, Red Falcon wouldn’t either, and Arthur might kill me before I finish speaking.”

”Act first, report later?”

”I’ve already acted first, but we need to survive in order to report later.”

Their voices were light, yet speaking of unsettling things.

Street musicians played at the edge of the crowd, a past poet would have been reciting ancient tales there.

The steam train slowly arrived, its doors opened and somewhat hot steam gushed out, forming small droplets on the girl’s hair, her face flushed, chewing candy.

Lorenzo discarded the cigarette butt, looking at her, his cold face couldn’t help but smile faintly.

”You seem more like a normal kid now.”

”What do you mean, eating candy?”

Lorenzo nodded, continuing.

”Actually, I think your little act of sophistication is really boring.”

”Then what do you think ’mature’ means for a kid?”

”Hmm... probably doing things according to age.”

Lorenzo said seriously.

”Playing well at the age to play, studying well at the age to study, knowing your reality is the best form of maturity, no need to pretend to be savvy, acting profound. That gives me the feeling of an old monster living in a child’s body.”

Selyu kept her head down, hiding her expression from Lorenzo.

”Do you want some candy?”

She suddenly said, then raised her hand, offering a candy with colorful wrapping in her white palm.

Lorenzo hesitated for a moment and then took the candy, unwrapped it, and placed it in his mouth.

Watching him eat the candy, Selyu laughed cunningly, with an expression akin to a snow fox stealing a meal.

”It’s poisonous.”

Lorenzo’s expression changed immediately as a strange taste spread in his mouth, yet he didn’t show extra reactions, merely watching Selyu. Unable to withstand his gaze, Selyu waved her hand.

”It’s just a weird flavored candy.”

Chewing hard, Lorenzo forced the strange taste down, his gaze on Selyu became peculiar.

”You actually like this flavor.”

”No, this is specially prepared for you, in case you think it’s poison and pull out a knife to cut me.”

Selyu said casually.

Although she seemed cheerful, she was still very angry. Under the power of a Demon Hunter, she couldn’t even think about escaping. Even if someone came to save her, she didn’t believe they could defeat Lorenzo. So, she had this prankish idea.

If Lorenzo really thought it was poison and pulled out a knife against him, it would suit Selyu’s plan. Lorenzo needed her as bait to lure that damned big rat. This would ruin Lorenzo’s plans, serving as the only revenge she could muster.

”Poison can’t kill a Demon Hunter, after all, the Secret Blood is the most potent poison.”

Lorenzo responded blandly, unclear whether he was defending himself or something else.

”Wouldn’t you think I wouldn’t poison you?”

Selyu asked curiously, her eyes sparkling with gold.

Lorenzo found it hard to deal with Selyu like this, and he remained silent. A whistle sounded, urging passengers, and he hurriedly pulled Selyu onto the train.

The girl watched the figure towering over her, paused for a long time, and revealed a stealthy smile that Lorenzo couldn’t see.

The situation between them was a bit delicate. By normal logic, Selyu had already opposed Lorenzo, yet they both held extremely reliable trust in each other.

Lorenzo believed the damned candy wasn’t poison, and Selyu believed the path of destruction wouldn’t require her sacrifice... perhaps.

Everyone was hesitant and confused. The supposed trust was precarious, waiting for the moment of rupture.

But the more this happened, the wider Selyu’s smile grew. At this moment, there were no titles binding her.

Like a carefree final journey, after all, the outcome was already destined, so why not enjoy the ride and savor the moments?

”You even bought tickets in advance?”

The carriage wasn’t crowded. Everyone had their seats, and there was a dining car moving through the middle.

Selyu was a bit surprised. She thought they’d be fleeing with Lorenzo or using Winchester to gently persuade some lucky passenger to give up their seat.

But it appeared Lorenzo had prepared well in advance, and this operation wasn’t a last-minute decision but premeditated.

”Do you want to eat something? It’s going to be a long journey.”

Lorenzo asked.

Selyu sat by his side, and across from them was an empty seat. It seemed that there were still passengers who hadn’t arrived.

”Can I know where we’re going?”

Selyu was curious about the sudden trip’s destination.

”North.”

Lorenzo stretched out his arm to relax himself.

”But isn’t the North a wilderness?”

This bit of geography knowledge Selyu knew; the North of Ingwig was an endless wilderness and frozen seas, with untouched resources and harsh living conditions, barely frequented by humans.

”Actually, it hasn’t been for quite a while.”

Lorenzo recalled Merlin’s words to him. Back then, to ensure equivalent value, Lorenzo revealed much information about the Demon Hunting Order, and due to mutual trust issues, Merlin also disclosed many of their own affairs, although most of which Lorenzo hadn’t understood, feeling as if he’d been deceived.

”Ingwig’s industrial development has already reached a bottleneck.”

He started by saying this.

”The limit to development isn’t really a technical issue but a fuel one.”

”Fuel?”

”Yes, the Perpetual Motion Pump discovered some highly combustible liquids in the North, viscous black liquids. They release thermal energy far stronger than current fuels.”

”So, over ten years ago, this group started to develop the North. They dug underground and found more of such liquid. Once technology breaks through, it will be a world-changing fuel, thus they’ve been secretly developing until now, when it’s starting to take shape.”

Lorenzo gazed at the distant North, unable to slip into any classes related to mechanics, possibly his greatest regret in his class-slipping career.

”With scale comes the need for logistics and supply. To prevent others from noticing anything unusual, they devised a travel route, taking people to see the snow in cold winters.”

Lorenzo glanced at the carriage nearly full of people. Perhaps the planners hadn’t expected that so many madmen wouldn’t fear the cold.

”They say it’s tourism, but it’s actually transporting logistical supplies.”

Lorenzo said as his gaze returned to the inside of the carriage. As the train began to move gently, the last batch of passengers boarded. The end of the crowd was somewhat crowded.

”Sounds interesting.”

Selyu said.

”Of course.”

Lorenzo recalled Merlin’s excited expression at the time.

”They call that thing blood.”

”Blood?”

Lorenzo nodded.

”The blood of industry.”