Gun of Ashes

Everyone got along harmoniously, sharing Holy Communion and praising God. Hu ao felt he had completely integrated into them; he had never felt so happy, as if all the pain and suffering he had endured over the years were for this day.

On this otherwise unremarkable day, his God finally showed him goodwill.

”Yes, yes, that’s the melody.”

Liya directed Hu ao, teaching him to hum the tune.

Hu ao really had no musical talent. He once tried singing sea shanties with the sailors, but was warned they would throw him overboard if he continued.

At the time, Hu ao felt lost for quite a while.

”It’s like this.”

Liya said and started humming.

It was an ancient, long-forgotten melody, a nameless tune, but as if with magic power. Although Liya sang awkwardly, without any accompaniment by famous musicians, Hu ao, for some reason, inexplicably sensed a bit of holiness, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of reverence.

Even Heracles, who had been observing these people, was stirred by the melody. Truth be told, Heracles couldn’t find any useful information. If the action weren’t tied to this sect, solely based on Liya’s description, Heracles might not find this sect so unpleasant.

It’s a rather nice sect, with food and drink. Everyone felt like family. Recalling the decaying Evangelical Church, Heracles thought that perhaps in its earliest days, the Evangelical Church might have been like this too.

However... everything comes at a price. Heracles didn’t believe this Orthodoxy would ask for nothing, but thinking carefully, these people seemingly held no value. What cost could they bear, what benefits could be gained?

But just as he pondered, the familiar melody started, and Heracles slowly turned his head, looking at the girl.

”What is this song?”

Heracles asked with a serious expression.

”A hymn... a hymn.”

Liya answered directly, seeing Heracles’s serious look.

”A hymn?”

This wasn’t a name but a category. If this were the case, Heracles could fetch a large volume of hymns from the church.

”Maybe, I don’t know. Anyway, I learned this from the mouth of a Cardinal.”

Liya answered, feeling a bit afraid while looking at Heracles’s expression.

Heracles probably realized his demeanor and adjusted his mood before continuing.

”Don’t be afraid... It’s just that I have a friend who knows this melody too; I was surprised to hear it here.”

”Really?” Liya became lively again, ”Then your friend must also be a believer of the Orthodoxy, right? After all, it seems only the Cardinals know, and I learned it sneakily... wait, could your friend also be a Cardinal?”

Liya’s eyes upon Heracles changed instantly; Heracles couldn’t be bothered to answer this, continuing his questioning.

”You said Cardinal? From which Cardinal did you learn this?”

Liya suddenly fell silent, but Heracles wasn’t about to let this young girl off easily. He showed no expression, pressing the girl.

”Alright, alright, just don’t tell anyone. I often volunteer here. Once, I accidentally met a believer who was humming this song.”

In her memory, the Cardinal walked leisurely in the sunlight, humming the ancient melody.

”In fact, I’m not sure if he was a Cardinal, after all, those are big figures. How should I know, but he was wearing a red robe... Isn’t that what they say, only those in red are Cardinals? So, I think that person should be a Cardinal too.”

Liya spoke while stuffing things into her mouth.

”What did he look like?” Heracles continued to ask.

”Look like?”

Liya paused, thought for a moment, and shook her head.

”I didn’t see what he looked like, because the guy was wearing a mask, a black mask.”

At this point, Liya’s expression also changed slightly, recalling the black mask. Liya felt that it might not be just a mask but a writhing darkness, like facing the night.

”Is that so...”

Heracles was silent, pondering something.

He recognized the melody Liya hummed, this unnamed hymn.

It had also been sung by another person, and that person was named Lorenzo Holmes. Heracles remembered the moment he taught Lorenzo the Memory Palace; that madman, God knows what he found in his dark memories, woke up like an enraged beast.

After venting his anger, Lorenzo collapsed in the corner, his eyes empty. It was then that he hummed this melody.

”I should be leaving, the Holy Communion was quite nice.”

Heracles stood up, addressing Liya.

”Eh? So soon?”

Liya tried to persuade Heracles to stay.

”I will... definitely return. The Orthodoxy is quite nice.”

Heracles assured her and got up to leave.

Sure enough, the most reliable thing was himself. Just wandering around, he could find clues, and he had to use this to properly blackmail Lorenzo.

Although his heart was cheerful with these thoughts, the shadow of unease in Heracles’s eyes couldn’t be dispelled. This matter was connected to Lorenzo’s past, and after all he had been through, Heracles knew well that once this ghostly thing was linked to Lorenzo’s secretive past...