Gun of Ashes

So a lot of bloodshed occurred, the specifics of which Lorenzo isn’t clear about. After all, it was many years ago now, but it’s known that Lorenzo should be on Gaulunaro’s blacklist, and the kind with a bounty on his head.

Lorenzo isn’t afraid of these things; he simply has a straightforward dislike for that place.

Just like yesterday, the three of them took their usual seats, staring at each other.

”Why are you here again?”

Lorenzo looked at these two guys who showed up regularly, asking with some curiosity.

Oscar casually picked up a piece of clothing from the floor, wiped his face covered with Lorenzo’s saliva, and said,

”Do you think I wanted to see you?”

He spoke with some anger, indeed, who would be happy having their face smeared with a half-eaten apple early in the morning? Even more so, no matter how Oscar asked, Lorenzo just wouldn’t say why he threw an apple at him.

It was... a bit inexplicable.

”So what do you want to do?” Lorenzo asked.

”A job,” Selyu spoke at this moment.

”A very urgent job, issued directly by Nordro, the price is negotiable.”

Oscar echoed, looking quite eager, seemingly as if this job was hurriedly thrown at him overnight by Nordro as well.

”Are Stuarts also involved since you two are collaborating?”

Lorenzo looked suspiciously at Selyu, always feeling that this indifferent-looking girl might be selling him out.

Selyu looked helpless, as if she made these decisions out of desperation.

”I represent the entire Stuart group; I have to think about the interests of the whole group... this cooperation with Nordro has significant profits.”

”Wow! Wow! It’s only been a few days since you became a Duke! And you’re already so dutiful!”

Lorenzo exclaimed, shouting.

”Stop yelling, Lorenzo! This job is very beneficial for you too.” Oscar took the opportunity to say.

”For example?”

”For example...”

”You haven’t thought of a way to deceive me, have you?”

Lorenzo immediately raised the Nail Sword, looking like he was about to cut someone.

”You owe me a favor, Lorenzo!”

Oscar finally remembered the words to tame Lorenzo, shouting loudly.

The scene fell silent for a moment as Lorenzo paused, seeming to recall if he had indeed said such a thing, but thinking carefully, he remembered he might have said it just yesterday.

Is this karma? And isn’t it coming too fast?

Lorenzo was a bit unable to act up at the moment. After his gaze wandered over these two guys a few times, he obediently sat down.

”So, with you two so insistent, is this job specifically designated for me? No one else can do it?”

Oscar nodded and said to Lorenzo,

”Whether in terms of work experience or personal ability, you are the most professional, Lorenzo.”

”A true expert,” Selyu chimed in agreement.

Lorenzo looked at Selyu, his eyebrows gradually furrowing as he started to ponder how much Nordro had to offer to even sway Selyu.

”The importance of this job lies in the fact that, if successful, it will open a route to the north.”

Oscar became serious, speaking solemnly to Lorenzo.

”Although our Nordro routes cover the entire western world, there are still many places we cannot reach, for example, the somewhat sensitive White Tide Strait or deeper into the Viking nations, that desolate Ice Sea.”

”If this action succeeds, Nordro will engage in deeper trade exchanges with the Viking nations, who are internally just now unified, with immense material needs.” Selyu added.

”So, this time my employer is the Viking nations?” Lorenzo asked.

”Yes.”

Selyu nodded.

Lorenzo was puzzled anew.

”Viking nations entrusted you Nordro, and you Nordro then found me, right?”

”Yes, the detailed information requires you...”

Oscar continued to explain, looking really urgent about things. To convince Lorenzo, he specially brought Selyu along.

”This is... subcontracting!”

Lorenzo suddenly understood, shouting loudly.

Not only Oscar was stunned, but Selyu also froze, their expressions stiff for a long time, then Selyu stood up and grabbed Lorenzo.

”Be serious!”

Selyu suddenly felt somewhat exhausted; before, when this guy was anxious, it was quite worrying to see, but now that he is cheerful, they became the victims.

”Alright, alright, but, just an assignment, why do you seem so anxious? Does the other party have a deadline?”

It was apparent that Oscar was in earnest, even bringing up favors. Lorenzo didn’t want to help him, just mischievously wanted to tease him a bit.

”No, it’s just that there will be competitors; currently, this job is not only assigned to us, outside Ingwig, Nordro will assist you, and inside Ingwig, the Stuart family provides help.” Oscar spoke, pointing at himself, then at Selyu.

”All in all, this job is really a debt you owe; you blew up an airship with so many weapons, who do you think footed the bill for you!”

Oscar said angrily, after Selyu backed off, he came over and choked Lorenzo’s neck.

”It was me! I write books to earn just a bit!”

”And me... precisely the Stuart family.”

Selyu timely reminded.

Lorenzo listened to their accusations, having a hard time pulling any tricks for the moment, obediently sitting where he was.

”Alright, alright, then what’s the job content.”

”This is still confidential at the moment; I’ll take you to discuss with the Viking nations, but this thing really is urgent, otherwise, I wouldn’t have called you, the expert.”

Oscar glanced around at Lorenzo’s barely cozy office.

”So vacation’s over, Lorenzo.”

”What’s the work location, then?”

Lorenzo asked casually. He didn’t dislike work; an overextended rest period would only rust the body.

”Probably in... Gaulunaro, that’s my guess based on the existing information, but you don’t have to worry too much, you’ll know when you get there.”

It seemed a kind of contractual spirit, Oscar’s mouth was tight about clients’ privacy.

Lorenzo’s expression turned ugly hearing these words.

”What’s wrong?”

Selyu looked concerned, asking at Lorenzo’s awkward expression.

For the term ’Gaulunaro’, Selyu is full of nostalgia, after all, she grew up there. Of course, she’s not nostalgic for the dark growing experiences but for the peculiar escape with Lorenzo.

”You’re asking! Isn’t it you, the culprit!”

As thoughts connected, Lorenzo cried out.

Selyu looked bewildered, completely unsure of what Lorenzo was yelling about.

Alright, actually, Lorenzo isn’t that opposed to Gaulunaro, regardless of adversarial relationships or being wanted, he doesn’t care.

The main reason is that this time, there’s no one left to clean up after his actions.

Though he often speaks ill of the Purification Mechanism, there’s no denying that as long as it’s in Old Dunling, or anywhere inside Ingwig, Lorenzo just needs to act, and everything else is handled by the Purification Mechanism.

But this time, if indeed reaching Gaulunaro, such assistance won’t exist, and matters would become rather troublesome.

Lorenzo hates trouble, hates it intensely.

”Well then...”

Just as Lorenzo prepared to accept this job, the door of the Winchester Law Firm was kicked open, and Bola entered against the morning light.

”Wait!”

Before Bola could speak, Lorenzo interrupted him.

He started to feel something amiss, his gaze drifted from Selyu and Oscar’s faces, finally falling on Bola’s face, recalling the mysterious woman from last night, he began to feel uneasy.

”A damn job, right?”

Bola was somewhat clueless about what was going on but nodded nonetheless, affirming it all.

”A commission from the Viking nations?”

”Yes.”

”Location suspected to be Gaulunaro.”

”Yes.”

Lorenzo’s face crumbled, as if he had tasted something awful.