Gun of Ashes

Of course, the most important thing is, this lunatic really can do such a thing.

”Just as I said, pretend to sign an alliance, and when exchanging hostages, you will take action. This is not only a rescue but also a revenge mission,” Hebdo said.

”Then why choose me?” Lorenzo asked.

”Because of the Choir.”

”Choir?” Lorenzo was confused by this religious term.

”Do you know about Orthodoxy?” Hebdo asked again.

Lorenzo nodded, signaling him to continue.

”Gaulunaro has great ambitions. After forming the Rhine Alliance, they began religious reforms and supported Orthodoxy. But Orthodoxy is not just what it appears on the surface.”

”Another Evangelical Church... the so-called Choir is another Demon Hunting Order, right?”

Recalling what Heracles told him earlier, Lorenzo felt those fragmented pieces of information suddenly connected, and for some reason, an unnamed anger surged.

”That’s right, this is the main point. You can look at the documents in the box. There is a letter from Arthur for you, originally intended for you to see after arriving in Gaulunaro. But you’re more cautious than we imagined.”

Hebdo pointed at the box. Over the past few days of cooperation, Eve had become more adept. She leaned toward the box, flipped through the documents, and found the letter.

”What did he write?” Lorenzo asked.

”Wait a minute.”

Eve directly tore open the envelope and began to read the contents.

”It’s Arthur’s handwriting... this is...”

Eve appeared as if she had seen something terrifying, her hand trembling slightly.

”Lo... Lorenzo.”

She dared not speak the words inside, as if language had a magical power that would make these terrible stories real when uttered.

Trembling, she handed over the paper, and Lorenzo glanced at it. Like Eve, his gaze grew heavy.

Slowly, he released his grip, and Winchester fell to the ground.

”That’s why Arthur didn’t notify you in advance. He said that with your personality, you wouldn’t care about work at all; you’d arm yourself to the teeth, march into Gaulunaro, and eradicate the Orthodoxy in your rage. You would be consumed by anger and die in Gaulunaro. This time, no one would be able to save you.”

Hebdo took a few steps back, rubbed his neck, and then sat down.

”As you’ve seen, it’s not just what meets the eye. Miguel brought not only faith but also power. We can preliminarily confirm that Lawrence’s remnants have joined forces with Gaulunaro. They support Orthodoxy for the existence of the Choir.”

The Viking’s expression turned very somber, or more accurately, lifeless, as if he were already a dead man, and everything now was merely a journey to the grave.

”You should be aware of the power they possess: unstable inferior Secret Blood, mass-produced demons, the assembled Rhine Alliance, and the imminent war. This is the real situation behind the curtain,” Hebdo said, smiling as if there was no need to hide anything anymore, ”In the end, rescuing Ivar was just incidental.”

Lorenzo’s hand slowly clenched tighter until he crumpled the letter into a ball, tore it into shreds, his nails cutting into his flesh, and hot blood dripped.

White flames rose, burning the fragments into ashes.

”The alliance will be signed at Maruri port, and to spread Orthodoxy, the Pope of Orthodoxy will also be crowned that day, and the ships setting sail will carry their doctrines away.”

Hebdo looked out the window. The horizon of the sea was surging with a black iron curtain, slowly moving over. A storm was coming.

”This is the real content of the job. I’m responsible for rescuing Ivar, and you, Lorenzo Holmes, you are tasked with destroying this potential threat, go kill him.

The Pope of Orthodoxy.”

Lorenzo no longer spoke. He hung his head low, standing in place.

Slowly, he opened his hand, already stained with his own blood, and in the blood, he saw.

Past history, repeating history, cycles repeating over and over.

”This kind of work is interesting.”

Lorenzo whispered, with a normal smile on his face, as if the person who had just been furious wasn’t him, but some demon attached to him.