Gun of Ashes

Chapter 404: Chapter 53: Who is he? _2

”Stay calm, Mr. Holmes, I am certainly aware.”

Gawain nodded slightly, looking at Lorenzo, as if pondering something, while Percival was equally quiet, not appearing her usual neurotic self.

”We will carefully consider and convey all of this to Arthur.”

”Is that all?”

Gawain’s indifferent reaction displeased Lorenzo. Since entering here, he couldn’t shake a strange feeling, as if an unnamed anger was continually rising.

”We can’t reveal more.”

”Am I supposed to get out of here next?”

”Of course not, Merlin is waiting for you, he has some matters to discuss.” Gawain remained extremely calm and serious. He pointed towards the door.

Lorenzo gave Gawain a deep look, but ultimately he didn’t lose his temper. Instead of wasting words with these people, he might as well head straight to the Phoenix Manor to face Arthur directly.

Watching him slam the door and leave, Percival frowned slightly. He seemed like a cheerful person, but couldn’t help but feel puzzled by Gawain’s attitude.

”How pitiful, coming all the way from Florence to Old Dunling, determined to fight endlessly against the demons, yet now ensnared by dirty interests... Just like Bola said, Mr. Lorenzo Holmes is a pure individual, his eyes set only on eradicating demons, unconcerned with other interests.”

Percival said, glancing at Gawain, ”You could have been more polite. Why provoke him?”

Gawain paused for a long time, then sighed deeply.

”That was Arthur’s instruction.”

He continued speaking.

”I have warned Mr. Holmes as much as possible without betraying the Purification Mechanism, hoping he seizes the opportunity to leave Old Dunling as soon as possible.”

Reflecting on Lorenzo’s intelligence, Lorenzo was actually right; what he could think of, the Purification Mechanism could certainly think of as well, and the intelligence the Rat King collected became easy to obtain given the vast manpower and resources of the Purification Mechanism.

Lorenzo knew the complexity of the situation, but he still underestimated these disputes of interest.

...

”Is your name Galahad?”

In the dim room, Shermans looked at the man in front of him. His entire body was hidden beneath clothing, even his face shrouded by a hood, but from the partially visible areas, those twisted scars could be seen.

”It’s just a codename.”

Galahad’s voice was somewhat hoarse, his survival could be considered a miracle. The Armor of Original Sin had corroded him, leading him to death, but the power of the demon also saved him, leaving him in the agony between life and death.

”Derived from legend, is it? That’s quite interesting.”

Feigning depth with his words, Shermans actually felt a bit at a loss.

He hadn’t sat at a negotiation table for decades. Unlike the energetic young ones who could fight for interests within these confines, he was not young anymore, not filled with vitality.

Shermans had grown old, as had his rage. In his later years within the Evangelical Church, he merely voted, never making any decisions, but today was different; he had to sit here and negotiate with the Purification Mechanism.

”You have an odious scent... but it’s very familiar, reminds me of the holy Seven Hills.” Shermans looked at Galahad’s thin body and said.

”Can demon corruption really remind you of that ’holy’ place? Members of your Church seem to have a serious issue with their thinking.”

”Not quite; it’s like an old soldier recalling the battlefield at the sight of a corpse—albeit grim memories, it’s nice to recollect those distant pasts.”

Shermans spoke slowly, looking at Galahad with some puzzlement.

”How did you manage this? Normally, you’d have morphed into a demon in your condition.”

”I can only say that our Purification Mechanism’s technological prowess is sufficient, as is my strong will... Of course, this is a greedy organization. They invested heavily in me, and before I’ve repaid these, they won’t let me die so easily.”

Galahad no longer wished to continue the small talk. Within such a short time, he roughly figured out Shermans’ character; apart from the red robe, he was just an ordinary old man.

”Let me see... Truly unexpected, you actually hooked up with Duke Salicardo, using him as a bridge to connect with us...”

Galahad quickly skimmed through the papers on the table; then a stern gaze emerged from the shadows, followed by a hoarse laugh as he asked.

”Initially, you didn’t plan to cooperate with us, right? Let me guess, you secretly infiltrated Old Dunling, planning to find the ’Revelation,’ and at that point, no matter who the Pope is, you wouldn’t care anymore. As long as you possess it, you could establish a new Church at any time, and with enough time, even we, the Purification Mechanism, wouldn’t be your match, correct?”

The silence around was profound, as if only he and Shermans existed. Listening to Galahad’s words, Shermans was silent for a long time, then nodded, surprising Galahad.

”I thought you’d argue a bit.”

”I am old, very old now, child. Someone my age should be preparing for the end, yet I have no family, no heirs. I have dedicated my life to my God, but in the end, I have seen the holy occupied by evil, led to exile overseas.”