Gun of Ashes

The Witchers... they are all Witchers, from the Witchers of Florence.

The heart began to race, muscles tensed, Lorenzo maintained surface calm, but inside, waves surged like a storm.

He had envisioned facing these Witchers from Florence, perhaps on a blazing battlefield or in dark alleys, but never imagined meeting this way, so suddenly, unprepared.

Adrenaline rushed, breathing grew heavier, the rhythm subtly quicker, focus heightened, staring intently at the guy named Anthony.

Lorenzo recognized this reaction, it was the experience back in the Valley of Horror, a response called fear, though sometimes the extreme of fear is not madness, but hysterical rage.

He was furious, a nameless fury.

Yet shortly after, Lorenzo relaxed, concealing all emotional changes, cold as iron, lightly scanning the surroundings, pondering next strategies.

Clearly this was a trap, as Bola collected his weapon, he should have been cautious.

The atmosphere in the conference room grew heavy and solidified with Anthony’s introduction, until Arthur spoke.

”Don’t be nervous, Lorenzo, it’s just a regular conversation today.”

Arthur rested his hands on his chin, perhaps due to exhaustion from recent days or the current grim situation, his gaze was extremely somber and cold.

”Conversation?”

Lorenzo clearly didn’t buy it but also refrained from rash actions.

”Just a regular conversation; we, the Evangelical Church, wish to verify some things with the Purification Mechanism.”

Anthony spoke slowly then, cold like Arthur, as if he was not made of flesh and blood, but merely an iron shell.

”Isn’t it about hunting me? I recall that Number Thirteen Prohibition that’s yet to be terminated.”

Lorenzo remained on guard but didn’t dare act rashly.

The Evangelical Church never gave up chasing the surviving Witchers to reclaim the Secret Blood and find the lost Pseudo Holy Grail; Lorenzo couldn’t believe they’d let him off so easily.

The current feeling wasn’t good; a few dozen minutes ago, Lorenzo hadn’t imagined that today, originally planned for rest, might end up being his last day.

Knowing this, Lorenzo should have eaten a few more bites... or no, he should have killed Joey, that jinx, on the spot.

But thinking about it now was futile, Lorenzo didn’t dare make reckless moves; previously, he was invincible because he was a Witcher, but now, there’s more than just one Witcher here.

Looking at the attendants beside Anthony, without exception, though their Secret Blood hadn’t awakened, Lorenzo could still sense that familiar scent from them.

It’s known that the Witchers’ adversary isn’t Witchers, but Demons; the Demon Hunting Order never taught them how to hunt another Witcher; they only have a vague outline of different authorities, and during actual combat, no one is clear about the extent of these bizarre powers.

Lorenzo glanced at Arthur and others sitting calmly to the side; this was different from confronting Lawrence, now it seemed the Purification Mechanism and Evangelical Church have temporarily united, even if not united, a brief peace was achieved for this so-called conversation.

A single person’s power is so fragile, so insignificant in the face of this massive group’s will.

”Number Thirteen Prohibition hasn’t ceased, but now you’re part of the Purification Mechanism, we’ve preliminarily reached an agreement with the Evangelical Church, willing to compromise for smooth cooperation, so you’re currently safe, Lorenzo.”

Arthur spoke timely, seemingly to reassure Lorenzo.

”The old Demon Hunting Order is disbanded, what I’m leading now is the new Order,” Anthony said.

”So I’m laid off and reemployed by the Purification Mechanism, not considered a traitor, right?”

Lorenzo said sarcastically.

”More or less.”

Anthony remained indifferent, unaffected by Lorenzo, as if devoid of any emotions.

”And what do you mean, Arthur?”

Lorenzo continued looking towards Arthur on the other side.

Arthur and Merlin, along with Gawain and Percival, the important management from the old Dunling, all present; they wouldn’t sit here idly, perhaps several airships are already directly above this building, with the Mechanical Institute’s productivity, an armed Sword Dancer isn’t limited to just one.

Perhaps these people have all prepared, steam engines preheated, ready to descend at any moment.

”We just want to have a good talk, to determine some answers.”

Arthur looked at Lorenzo, now he abandoned personal feelings, became the decision maker of the group’s will, Arthur now representing more than just himself.

”No need to worry too much, I know it’s hard for you to accept, so we’ve chosen a venue that feels safer to you as much as possible.”

”You think this place feels safe?” Lorenzo asked.

”Old Dunling’s city center, neither we nor the Evangelical Church would want to start a big fight here, right,” Arthur showed his sincerity.

”Lorenzo, although you might not believe it, I still have to say, you still belong to our Purification Mechanism, we still stand with you; as long as you haven’t deviated from us, we’re still your backing.”