Gun of Ashes

”It seems that Erin, under the pursuit of the Vikings, is somewhat desperate, and only a place like this can temporarily shelter her, but it’s only temporary...”

”They seem unlikely to search us for weapons.”

Eve’s gaze was always focused on the security guards at the door. Some of them briefly glanced at the two of them but took no further action. Even after entering the lobby, no one came to search them for weapons.

”Naturally, this place is a mix of black and white, and not every day is filled with violence. People need some normal customers to make a living.”

Lorenzo said with a laugh.

”It might shatter your illusions, but during my time working for others, there weren’t assassination contracts every day. After all, it’s a harmonious society now; people prefer to tear each other apart at the negotiating table rather than using real knives and guns. This line of work has somewhat declined; it’s basically one job followed by a month’s rest.”

Eve found it intriguing as she had never encountered that world and naturally didn’t understand these things.

”Hello, we’d like to book a room.”

Lorenzo spoke at the front desk, while Eve kept herself busy, using her peripheral vision to observe the surroundings.

Under the guidance of a staff member, Lorenzo and Eve checked into room B521, one room away from Erin’s, not too close but not too far either, a position Lorenzo liked.

”Are we unlikely to be exposed?”

Once inside the room, Eve couldn’t help but ask.

She had wanted to bring up the issue since earlier; the two checked into the hotel without any luggage. Wouldn’t this arouse suspicion?

”I know what you’re concerned about, so I only booked for one night; we’re staying here just one night.”

”So?”

Eve was a bit perplexed.

Lorenzo sighed; some things were really hard to explain to Eve. After all, in Old Dunling, she probably owned several properties—being the Duke’s daughter, right?

”For instance, we’re having a great time at the casino next door, meet, and neither wants to go home. We decide to stay here for one night, only to realize in the morning we’re not suitable for each other and go our separate ways... This kind of thing is quite common. I often encountered it when catching infidelity; some people even booked for just a few hours. I once arrived late, and they had already left.

Anything can happen, and it’s quite reasonable if it does, especially in a place as chaotic as this.”

Seeing Eve gradually fall silent, Lorenzo walked to the door and sat down, showing no intention of moving.

”The main thing is, we didn’t bring anything, so those guys won’t pay too much attention to us.”

Eve walked to face Lorenzo. She unbuttoned her cuffs, which felt too tight and hindered her movement.

”What are you doing?”

She looked suspiciously at Lorenzo sitting on the floor, leaning closely against the door with a perfectly straight back, which seemed unlike him. Given this guy’s character, he should be sprawled on the sofa.

”Meditating.”

Lorenzo spoke nonsense, and Eve, already accustomed to his antics, continued to ask.

”What next?”

”Wait.”

Lorenzo appeared serene, and just thinking about Red Falcon waiting alone in the cold wind while he enjoyed warmth and comfort here filled him with a wicked pleasure.

”Wait?”

”Yes, patience is key, Eve. As a Hunter, patience is our greatest asset.”

Lorenzo slowly closed his eyes, as invisible tides surged from his body, gradually filling the entire room. He could hear Eve’s steady heartbeat and breathing.

The tide continued to expand outward, seeping through door cracks, surging back and forth in the corridor, gradually clarifying the vague footsteps.

...

”A package, requiring the personal signature of Miss Erin Adler.”

Hebdo stood at the front desk and said.

”Please hand it to us; we’ll pass it on to her.”

”Really? This item is quite ’expensive.’

Hebdo slightly raised his head, his face obscured by the hat he wore. Despite his large figure, no one could see his face.

The man saw now; under the brim’s shadow, Hebdo’s expression was incredibly fierce, like a creature that devours others. As a Viking, putting on a vicious act was child’s play for him.

The man’s heart went cold in an instant. The Blue Whale Hotel catered to many questionable businesses, and many of their guests were of the same variety. With years of experience in the industry, he directly categorized Hebdo as ’questionable.’

He pulled out a stiff smile, deciding to say no more to such a person, and tacitly approved Hebdo’s actions.

Hebdo said nothing more, carrying the package directly upstairs. Only after he left, the man’s face became somber, and he gestured for several security guards to draw their guns and follow.

The man dialed a phone, pausing for a long time, but no one answered. He didn’t make any extra efforts; from the moment he dialed, he and Erin were no longer indebted to each other.

B521.

In the prolonged silence, a faint ringing broke the calm, and Lorenzo, deep in thought, smiled slightly.

From the timing, Hebdo had already entered the hotel. According to the ”script” Lorenzo gave him, he would shout Erin’s name loudly like a fool. Lorenzo was certain he was already exposed to all concerned parties.

If Erin was as cunning as Hebdo claimed, she must have some means of warning, rather than sleeping openly here. As a woman wanted by the Vikings, Lorenzo didn’t believe she would make such a rookie mistake.

But Lorenzo wasn’t sure what this ”warning” might be, so he could only try to get close to the corridor to sense any disruptions.

The corridor remained harmonious until that ”warning” shattered the harmony.

Such as... a phone ringing.

B524.

The woman had regained some awareness, but due to the medication, her body wasn’t under her control. She heard the phone ringing, didn’t understand why it rang or who called, but felt an unease, as if Death God was softly knocking at her door.

Her eyes were blindfolded, seeing nothing. She tried to move but couldn’t, unclear of her location, feeling only like a thinking corpse, awaiting the unfolding events.

B523.

Erin removed her ear from the wall, confirmed the ringing, dressed, and grabbed her gun.

Just like Lorenzo, she stood by the door, pressed her body tightly against it, and used her hearing to monitor outside movement, with one hand on the doorknob, ready to spring out at any moment.

Corridor.

Hebdo stepped on one stair after another, and as he ascended, he had already dismantled the package.

His broad physique shielded his movements. Somehow, he had retrieved a handgun from the package, the barrel gleaming coldly.

The door to B524 was just around the corner, almost within reach... until it was right before him.

Hebdo placed the package at his feet, stood before B524’s door, and with the gun held in one hand, pointed it at the door.

He remembered Erin’s appearance, recalling her figure. If Erin was hiding behind the door, ready to ambush, this shot would pierce her abdomen.

With the other hand, he gripped the doorknob, gradually twisting it open.

Time ticked forward, reaching a precise moment, like a song reaching its climax, all notes rising high like the sunrise.

The door to B524 pushed open, gunfire shattered the calm, simultaneous thundering heartbeats sounded.

Lorenzo’s eyes snapped open, and chaotic noise came from outside the door.