Gun of Ashes

In the room, apart from the faint sound of breathing, there was no noise at all, a silence that was terrifyingly quiet.

Though both of them appeared to be reading, it was obvious that one person’s thoughts weren’t focused on the book. He leaned against the sofa, holding the book in his hands, his gaze drifting and distracted.

Erin Adler.

Red Falcon watched the woman. She was half-lying in a nearby corner, her hands cuffed together, placing the book flat on her legs. She seemed to be genuinely reading, occasionally turning the pages awkwardly.

No, it’s all a facade. This woman would never easily settle down.

Having lived for so long, Red Falcon had been deceived numerous times, just like how Bola initially told him it was merely a dangerous job, similar to the battles and chaos in Lower City District. Young Red Falcon believed it so and then served alongside those lovely demons in that hellish place of the Purification Mechanism ever since.

Of course, it wasn’t only those instances. Even Lorenzo had tricked him several times. Being deceived often, Red Falcon had become indifferent to it... But this time was different, Erin’s deception was unlike the others.

This time Erin had deceived his feelings.

Though it sounds somewhat childish and naive, from Red Falcon’s perspective, that’s how it was. He recalls holding that fish excitedly, also remembering the anger and embarrassment when Erin was brought back by Lorenzo. Luckily, this time Lorenzo didn’t continue to tease or mock him, or Red Falcon would be utterly humiliated.

Erin, however, seemed unaware of Red Falcon’s thoughts, acting as if nothing had happened as she looked at the story in the book.

”Have you finished this book?”

Erin asked suddenly.

Red Falcon shivered and set his book down, looking at Erin with a puzzled expression.

”Haven’t finished? I thought you had,” Erin glanced at Red Falcon opposite her, her eyes darting around, ”you were just like that earlier? I thought you were looking for mosquitoes.”

Finished, utterly finished.

Red Falcon thought he had disguised himself well, but from the start, Erin hadn’t missed his gaze, she had noticed it long ago.

”Finished.”

Red Falcon replied dryly, he couldn’t lose... at least not so straightforwardly.

”I see, what do you think about the story?”

Erin pointed at the book; they were both reading the same book, titled ”Hawk Under the Night.”

Red Falcon liked this book very much. It told the story of a protagonist who could be considered a dark hero, wearing a mask and venturing out at night to punish evil and promote good within the city.

”I remember we discussed these.”

Red Falcon recalled that nearly perfect afternoon, having completely forgotten about fishing, chatting with Erin... no, she should be called Gloria then. They had a good talk about this story.

Honestly, Red Falcon couldn’t quite recall what they discussed specifically, being utterly immersed in that bliss, he didn’t notice what was said.

Unfortunately, this bliss didn’t last long; it was all a deception.

”Yes, we talked about these before, it seemed back then you made considerable effort to get close to me, doing your homework overnight.”

The more Red Falcon thought about it, the angrier he became. Perhaps Erin had laughed at him while preparing at night, thinking how childish it was for someone so grown up to read such boring stuff.

”Getting close to you? What are you thinking?”

Erin asked in confusion, as if Red Falcon was being self-indulgent.

”Well, the story is quite nice, I like it, but the ending isn’t too great,” Erin continued, ”have you read the ending?”

Red Falcon felt stunned, looking at Erin’s indifferent attitude, he realized that even his anger was hard to vent, similar to cursing at someone who doesn’t understand why you’re mad.

Come to think of it, Erin was a member of the Iron Law Bureau, an extremely skilled spy, so adept that even that Ivar fellow fell for her tricks.

She wore one mask after another; Red Falcon thought he saw through her, but perhaps it was just one of her many masks.

What irked him entirely might just be routine business for her.

Suddenly, Red Falcon wasn’t as angry. He realized the difference between him and Erin, feeling disinclined to continue talking.

”Yes, seen it,” he replied somewhat perfunctorily, ”it’s alright, the ending’s just like that.”

”I don’t like this ending; I hate endings where good people don’t get good returns.”

Erin said quietly.

”In the end, the Hunting Falcon died.

In the final battle, he slew the vicious criminal, yet he himself collapsed, covered in blood. It rained heavily, washing everything away. By the next morning, there was one more horrifically dead body in the city, and many years later, no one remembered that a hero ever existed.”

Erin closed the book. She had already read the ending before, now reading a second time merely to pass the time.

”I like the story, I like the Hunting Falcon, but he deserved a better ending, not one that ends like this.”

Her gaze was somewhat lost, it seemed Erin genuinely read the story thoroughly, not just doing homework to get close to Red Falcon.

”He saved so many people, and yet fell in the rainy night, years later, with no one remembering him.”

”Not really an end, should be considered an open-ended conclusion, right?”

Despite disliking Erin, Red Falcon couldn’t help but become serious when discussing the story, he said.