Gun of Ashes

Cork Street 121A, Winchester Law Firm.

With Arthur’s arrival, the originally joyful atmosphere dropped to freezing point.

Arthur carefully examined Lorenzo’s face. After a month and a half apart, this guy hadn’t changed much, still looking as punchable as ever.

”I think? You’ve opened a shop brazenly, so I assume you’re not planning to hide anymore. Next, you should be enjoying retirement, being a proper detective?”

Before Arthur came in, he stood outside for a long time. Despite the comical decorations, it seemed Lorenzo was seriously preparing for a better life, though the interior was still messily appalling.

”Winchester Law Firm? Doesn’t sound bad at all.”

He looked up, and the familiar Winchester hung over everyone’s head, with a clearly visible engraved poem on it.

Yet despite this, Arthur remained skeptical about all of it.

”I think we’re the same kind of person, and for us, there’s no such thing as retirement. Our only fate is

—to die in a corner of the battlefield.”

Lorenzo stayed silent, seemingly in no hurry to answer Arthur, merely looking at him with a playful smile. Under that gaze, Arthur couldn’t help feeling like an animal being observed.

”Is that so? Then you must have prepared a reason for seeing me that I can’t refuse even if I want to retire,” Lorenzo asked.

”Our research on the Demon is about to make a major breakthrough.”

”How so?”

”In the local war at Black Mountain Hospital, Mordred, who was influenced by the erosion, briefly regained clarity. He spoke a lot about the feelings of being eroded, and even more secretive parts. The Perpetual Motion Pump and Black Mountain Hospital have now joined forces to research the information on him.”

Arthur was referring to the previous Merlin, that is, William. He personally experienced the Red Signal incident, and perhaps from him, we can find that story that could be concealed.

Lorenzo squinted his eyes, increasingly like a fox, and after a long time, he slowly said.

”Did I ever say I was going to retire?”

Lorenzo suddenly stood up, stepping on the messy debris, and walked over to Arthur.

”But this law firm...”

Arthur was caught off guard by Lorenzo’s sudden change. He had prepared many words to rope Lorenzo back into his ranks, but he never expected him to throw out such an answer.

”Arthur, that’s just your inherent bias. What necessary connection is there between opening a law firm and continuing to slay demons?” Lorenzo patted Arthur’s shoulder in a seemingly intimate manner.

”Besides, is there a contradiction between me being a heinous villain and being a kind orphanage director?”

Arthur was bewildered by Lorenzo’s continuous words, but then Lorenzo sat down on the mahogany table, crushing the nameplate with his name on it, and looked at Arthur with a mischievous grin.

He wore ridiculous pajamas but at that moment resembled a great man about to announce a grand invention.

Pointing a finger to a blackboard on the side, it was filled with messy writing, scrawled and crooked.

It was openly displayed here. Just now Selyu and Oscar passed by it, but no one paid attention to the headache-inducing text on it.

”Lorenzo... you...”

Arthur looked at the writing on the blackboard, his gaze gradually stiffening.

It was full of analysis on the Demon, with sloppy handwriting listing a simple timetable, along with details of some events. From the glimpse revealed by the text, Arthur felt immense fear.

Lorenzo had been preparing these things here all along. He had been researching the root source of the Demon, and at that moment, a cold voice sounded.

”Arthur, how could I possibly retire? This is a blood feud, the kind that doesn’t stop until one of us is dead.”

Lorenzo lifted his loose pajamas, and two sharp Armor-Piercing Hammers were strapped to his body. He was more vigilant than ever.

”But, a good life should be enjoyed too, don’t you think?”

The cold expression melted away the next moment, and Lorenzo, full of that annoying smile, fetched a wine glass from the kitchen, bringing one for Arthur as well.

”Besides, I’m sure you, the Victoria behind you, after this incident, have changed her mind somewhat, don’t you think? As she saw, the New Order is far less reliable than me. So in the end, your most suitable partner for the Purification Mechanism is me, isn’t it?”

Lorenzo said as he handed the glass filled with cheap red wine to Arthur.

”But you still hide too many secrets, like the part about the Pseudo Holy Grail.”

Arthur took the wine glass, still with vigilance in his eyes.

”I know, the reason for hiding that part is actually because I don’t quite understand what it’s about myself,” Lorenzo sat back in his seat, ”but I’ve now figured it out.”

”So you will explain all of this?”

”Of course, the premise of cooperation is that the other party can feel at ease, isn’t it?”

During this break, based on the gradually recovering memory and the information given by Watson when he left, Lorenzo gradually understood everything.

”Would you still trust us?”

Arthur was suspicious of Lorenzo’s overly friendly attitude. During the previous New Order incident, forced by the Queen’s orders, they eventually stood on the opposing side.