Gun of Ashes

The lead-gray clouds covered the city, a gloomy iron curtain blocking most of the light, plunging the alleyway at the corner into deep darkness.

Lorenzo leaned against the side of the street, holding the folding blade openly in his hand. Rain fell, but since the alley was narrow, it was barely a drizzle compared to the street.

”Hig, you’ve been corroded.”

Lorenzo said indifferently. He had intended to deal with this trouble with Hig at home but thought of various matters with Mrs. Van Rudd. In the end, Lorenzo gave up on all that.

She had said she would not bring trouble home, so Lorenzo wouldn’t kill anyone at home.

”What is corrosion?”

Hig had lost the strength to stand, his body and mind tortured by strange pains, but the visions before his eyes became clearer with the pain. The closer to death, the more intense the beauty.

”It’s complicated to explain... You’re about to die and turn into a monster,” Lorenzo said.

Hig was not surprised by this outcome; he still remembered everything Moriarty had told him back then. It was a deal with the devil, and whatever he gained, he would have to pay the price.

”So, Lorenzo, have you been hunting monsters all this time?”

”More or less...”

At this point, there was no need to hide anything from Hig, so Lorenzo spoke directly.

Hig glanced at the unfamiliar figure, his tone light yet so heavy.

”Then you seem to be a hero...”

Nobody could have imagined that such a heartfelt conversation would happen between two people so different at such a moment. Hig was also somewhat surprised; he always thought his neighbor was a gangster saint but turned out to be an urban hero.

Damn scene, damn conversation.

Lorenzo suddenly laughed. He thought this would be a painful and sad combat, but it turned into a conversation under the rain. He lit a cigarette, sheltering it from the wind and rain, letting the faint smoke rise.

”It’s not your fault, Hig. Because of me, you were noticed by the darkness. Due to some so-called ’phototropic’ trait, you were targeted too. Actually, I’ve always been avoiding all this from happening...”

Lorenzo suddenly fell silent. He didn’t look at Hig, knowing with his rich experience, Hig couldn’t escape his hunt. But at this moment, Lorenzo felt a bit sad and guilty.

During the long life in Old Dunling, Lorenzo knew well what he was. He was neither purely human nor purely monster, someone walking between dusk and dawn.

During this time, he always avoided contact with others, so he had no friends, rarely talked with Mrs. Van Rudd, and was cold towards his roommate, Hig.

Because Lorenzo knew well, he carried Secret Blood inside him, this Forbidden Blood burning a blazing light in the darkness, illuminating not only himself but also those around him, exposing their existence to those strange demons.

Long ago, when Selyu was targeted by Lawrence, Lorenzo knew this. Selyu was too close to him, illuminated by that sinful light, but fortunately, Lorenzo finally saved all this, preventing the tragedy from happening. But this time he failed; he couldn’t save Hig, who was corroded by Moriarty.

Actually, without Moriarty, Hig would still be targeted by another madman, maybe a demon, or possibly Mrs. Van Rudd would face all this...

Yes... they were too close to him, originally protected by that unknown darkness, but illuminated by his light.

”Was I too complacent?”

Lorenzo looked at the white expanse of the street, questioning himself.

He killed Lawrence, gained new life in that blaze. It was quite a good new beginning. Lorenzo spent a relatively perfect Divine Birthday, and normally aggressive landlord became gentle, cold roommate would chat with him. Met some unreliable yet interesting people, although their codenames were a bunch of strange bird names.

It was a good new start, a fresh life, just like 047 used to say to him, to go to Old Dunling, choose a name, and begin a new life.

Lorenzo thought he was living that new life, but he was too complacent. Those dark demons found him again.

Just like this, all efforts were in vain, and everything returned to the start, such a life, day after day.

”So Hig, what does Moriarty want to do?”

Lorenzo’s heart gradually hardened, cold as that iron stone. He looked at the fallen Hig, whose veins began to turn blue, resembling tree-like tattoos, crawling along his neck.

The game had started, it was also part of the game, a level. Moriarty did not enjoy tormenting ordinary people because he found that uninteresting, so his attack on Hig had a certain purpose, and that purpose ultimately pointed towards himself.

Lorenzo walked gloomily towards Hig, but as he approached, he seemed to realize something, stepping into the white rain curtain on the street.

Quiet, too quiet.

At some point, all the chaotic sounds disappeared. No other pedestrians or Iron Serpents and carriages passed by on the street.

Lorenzo couldn’t see the buildings behind the rain curtain; all windows and doors were shut, like gray-black city walls trapping him here. Lights lit up behind the rain curtain, blurred by the glow, as if a huge monster was watching him behind this downpour.