Gun of Ashes

Chapter 480: Chapter 88 Pure Human_2

It was a disturbing secret, yet Lawrence just shrugged it off with a smile and continued speaking.

”My feelings towards him are complicated, Plague Doctor. From a young age, he already bared his fangs. When I served him, I never felt the unease or constraint of a puppet; instead, I felt I was part of something great with him. I might even say that I was willing to die for him back then...”

”But in the end, you killed him,” the Plague Doctor said.

”Yes, humans are complex and can become enemies for all sorts of reasons.

But I didn’t kill him with my own hands; I just sent some underlings after him. After all, I was in the Static Holy Temple at the time, with more important matters to attend to.”

Lawrence sighed.

”Humans are ultimately human, bound by mortal flesh. Cardinal Medici was no exception. As he aged, his control over the Church weakened, and eventually, he seemed to grow tired and simply gave up all power, retreating into seclusion.

That was when I gained my freedom, and those who were controlled by him also gained theirs. But with his departure, a new wave of strife began, and I was caught up in it. After all, I am a Demon Hunter, a Demon Hunter with power who has lived for a long time; my existence made everyone uneasy.”

Lawrence let out a soft laugh, as if recounting a tale from long ago.

”Then came the cliché power struggle, but this story has a small twist at the end.”

The Plague Doctor hesitated before continuing.

”The future you saw?”

”Sort of. I re-examined the world—the Evangelical Church, the Demon Hunting Order, humanity, and the demons—and then I discovered something very interesting.”

In Lawrence’s words was reverence, describing a legendary past.

”It was only then I surprisingly found that even in seclusion, Cardinal Medici was still manipulating the entire Church. Explaining it like this makes it complicated, but in reality, with his seclusion, the Golden Era ended swiftly—so swiftly that no one could predict it.

Immediately followed was a struggle for internal power. I became a thorn in the Pope’s side, feared and respected due to the power of Demon Hunters. Thus, we initiated a round of conflicts in the dark, which lasted for many years, and only one person remained uninvolved.

I thought it was his revenge on humanity, but this was wrong. I accidentally discovered his movements; Cardinal Medici was still plotting something...”

The Plague Doctor suddenly felt an inexplicable oppression, as if a horrific secret was about to surface in front of him, exuding a nauseating stench.

”He truly lived up to his name... How could someone like that willingly die in an ever-aging body?”

Lawrence suddenly asked.

”Plague Doctor, you haven’t seen the Revelation, have you?”

The Plague Doctor nodded. Despite their long acquaintance, Lawrence had never shown him the Revelation, and he wasn’t even sure what kind of book it was or if it was a book at all.

”Would you like to see it then?”

With that, Lawrence took out a seemingly ordinary book from his coat and slapped it onto the table lightly.

For a moment, the Plague Doctor felt the air solidify. He stared intently at the ordinary book on the table. It was considerably larger than a normal book, with a dark green cover, plain without any extra lettering, seemingly repackaged.

”Revelation?”

The Plague Doctor’s mind went blank, followed by a flood of complicated emotions.

This was the Revelation that everyone sought, so commonplace, casually carried by Lawrence.

”Is... is it okay?”

Upon realizing this book was the Revelation, something demonic seemed to awaken. For a moment, he heard low and light voices by his ear, as if countless people were whispering.

It tempted the Plague Doctor, countless hands pulling him, guiding him to the forbidden book. He was about to touch it when his hand stopped in mid-action.

From under the bird-beaked mask came heavy breathing. After an intense struggle, the Plague Doctor turned away forcefully, no longer looking at the book.

”Truly bizarre, isn’t it? When you are unaware of what it is, it’s just an ordinary book. But once you know what it is, that terrifying power tempts your mind.”

Lawrence reached out, gently caressing the book’s surface.

”The most dangerous aspect of the Revelation is the cursed knowledge it contains. Many who have seen it went mad, and even if they didn’t, they found it hard to recount the knowledge they saw. For this reason, the Evangelical Church never worries about its safety.”

Those attempting to steal the Revelation, once they realized the book was the Revelation, their death sentence was sealed, just like the Plague Doctor just now, tempted to flip open the book, only to die under its terrifying power.

”Can you withstand that temptation?”

The Plague Doctor couldn’t believe it. He craved knowledge, but at that moment, the craving completely vanished. He couldn’t imagine what might have happened if he had opened the book just now.

”Barely, to face it you need an extremely determined will. As long as we are unaffected by the words, we can gain knowledge from it. But people with such will are rare, and many in the Evangelical Church have died trying to unearth its knowledge.”

Lawrence smiled as he looked at the Plague Doctor who had turned away, praising him.

”Your will is also strong, Plague Doctor. The first time I encountered it, I was much worse off than you. I was almost tempted to open it. To save me, Cardinal Medici slashed me with a sword, and the pain of death saved me from the temptation.”

The Plague Doctor struggled to calm his agitated mind. Only then did he understand what kind of monstrous things these people were after. He also realized why Lawrence was fearless. How many Demon Hunters would be able to resist turning the page under such temptation?

”No... wait, Cardinal Medici?”

The Plague Doctor suddenly realized another person, the one Lawrence had mentioned before.

Before betraying the Evangelical Church, Lawrence had seen the Revelation, and with Cardinal Medici.

”Lorenzo de’ Medici... he was the true-born Demon Hunter, but unfortunately, he lacked Secret Blood. He was a pure human with unwavering will.

Plague Doctor, I have never seen such a person. When he faced the Revelation, he felt nothing unusual. Under that iron will, the so-called temptation became nothingness. He just causally flipped through the pages, finding the knowledge he needed...”

Lawrence spoke with a hint of fear.

”His will was terrifyingly unlike that of a human...”

”But he still died, and it wasn’t even by your hand,” the Plague Doctor said.

Yet Lawrence laughed loudly as if he had heard a joke, stopping only when the laughter became painful, recounting the deception that had continued for an unknown period.

”Do you think such a monster would die so easily?”

A chill ran down the Plague Doctor’s spine.

”Cardinal Medici still influenced all of Florence after going into seclusion. He never left, but instead prepared for a return.”

Countless clues pieced together in his mind as the clouds lifted. The Plague Doctor suddenly understood everything.

”Lorenzo de’ Medici had read the Revelation...”

He looked at the young and newly reborn Lawrence, immediately feeling immense fear, a fear almost tearing and shattering his will.

”Indeed... if I could find the hidden Authority within it, how could he not? I even suspect my betrayal was part of his plan all along.”

Lawrence’s tone was filled with awe, realizing only years later that the real victor of the Night of the Holy Arrival wasn’t him, but the great Lorenzo de’ Medici.

”He is still alive, that man who resembles a demon is still alive...”