Gun of Ashes

”You see, the author never explicitly said whether he died in the end, right? Just mentioned an extra gruesome corpse, which could be the criminal’s. Maybe he finished the job and retired? Perhaps in a few years, the author will release a new book, where the Hunting Falcon returns to the scene for some reason?”

Looking at the serious expression on Red Falcon’s face, Erin was taken aback, then couldn’t help but laugh.

”You’re really optimistic.”

”It’s not about being optimistic or not. It didn’t clearly say he died, right?” Red Falcon was getting stuck on some odd detail.

Erin thought for a moment, recalling what Lorenzo had told her before.

Many people are too smart, so smart they know the world’s suffering, thus willing to be deceived. But Red Falcon is different; his gullibility is entirely due to his stupidity.

He’s downright foolish.

”Reading comprehension! Reading comprehension! It was hinted so much!”

”So? Don’t bring that up, it didn’t explicitly say he’s dead, so he’s not dead!”

No one expected that Red Falcon would argue with Erin over this, acting like a child.

”Why do you think that?”

Erin started to feel a bit helpless.

Red Falcon thought for a moment, then said,

”Do you know about Lorenzo Holmes’s experiences?”

”Him? What about it?”

Mentioning Lorenzo changed Erin’s expression slightly. She was skilled at conquering other men, who were as transparent as water to her, easily manipulated.

But Lorenzo was different. Facing those gray-blue eyes, Erin felt she couldn’t see through anything. Even if she noticed something, she believed it was what Lorenzo deliberately showed her, a trap set by him.

The time spent with him wasn’t long, but from all Lorenzo displayed, sometimes Erin even felt Lorenzo wasn’t human, but some monstrous being with a human shape.

Under that skin, there was the same dark, sticky unknown substance.

”I also didn’t believe in that resurrection stuff before, but after meeting Lorenzo, everything changed.”

Red Falcon thought, although sometimes he disliked this somewhat scoundrel guy, he had to admit his strength.

”He’s someone who can break conventions, you could exaggerate and say he’s the embodiment of a miracle.”

”Embodiment of a miracle?”

”Yes, I’ve seen hundreds, thousands of demons swarm towards Lorenzo like a tide, but he single-handedly fought his way out. I’ve seen him fall into mortal danger more than once, his body blasted apart, yet he survived each time.”

Red Falcon whispered involuntarily.

”Like a monster.”

The atmosphere became tense for reasons unknown, but this only lasted for a few seconds before Red Falcon’s voice became cheerful again.

”So, Lorenzo is really reliable, yeah this job sounds deadly, but with Lorenzo around, there’s nothing to fear!”

Red Falcon said with no reservations. To a large extent, Lorenzo was the reason he didn’t ditch the mission; he just needed to be a pendant, leaving the rest to Lorenzo.

”Is that so?”

Erin hadn’t considered their high regard for Lorenzo before, but it made sense. Initially, she sought out Lorenzo due to the internal files from the Choir, which considered Lorenzo a significant threat.

Looking at Red Falcon now, she couldn’t tell if he was simple-minded or just carefree. He completely forgot his previous anger, like a goldfish with a ridiculously short memory.

”Are there any other books? Moon,” Erin asked, ”I’ve already finished this one.”

”Secrets of Victoria?”

Red Falcon, perhaps used to being called ”Moon,” picked up a book left for Hebdo.

”Never read it.”

Erin said, in fact, she got into knight novels during her infiltration in Ingwig, and had only read ”Hawk Under the Night.”

”Come to think of it, this one also has an open ending, I’m not clear what happens after.”

Picking up the book, Red Falcon thought of the story’s obviously problematic female protagonist, uncertain how their escape ended.

Looking at the book cover, there was no pen name; these authors were each more mysterious than the last. Sometimes Red Falcon wanted to visit them personally, but couldn’t find the source.

”Here.”

Red Falcon said, handing the book to Erin.

Erin took the book and asked something else.

”Red Falcon, has anyone ever said you’re not suited for this line of work?”

”Not suited?” Red Falcon became angry, ”What are you getting at? Doubting my professionalism?”

Red Falcon had to argue with her.

”Let me tell you, back in the Lower City District, I was quite the fighter, wielding a machete like no other, even Bola had to flee!”

To this day, Red Falcon hadn’t told anyone the precise details of his recruitment. All they knew was some reason he didn’t understand led him and Bola’s men into combat.

Despite his youthful bravery, he managed to chase Bola, although Bola’s reinforcements eventually caught him. Bola admired his reckless spirit and recruited him.

Bola once asked why, as a thug, he was so reckless, and Red Falcon sincerely replied,

Love the job you do.

”No, I’m not talking about that. I’m referring to your temperament; you’re naive and too easily deceived.”

Erin brought up what Red Falcon wanted to forget, but she reminded him again.

She put the book down and cupped Red Falcon’s face, an intimate gesture that caught him off guard. Deep down, he still missed that beautiful afternoon, even aware of Erin’s deceitfulness, instinctively drawn to the trap.

Erin’s initial impression was too perfect, like a beam of light, she was a perfect light, everyone’s light.

”Unlike many self-proclaimed clever people, you are pure in your simplicity.”

Erin looked at him like he was a puppy.

”What are you saying...”

Red Falcon couldn’t finish his sentence. Under his watch, Erin’s handcuffs fell off, and she opened her palm, revealing a thin piece of wire. Unshackling was a basic skill for someone from the Iron Law Bureau.

”You damn!”

Red Falcon cursed, but Erin, already prepared, was faster. She swiftly grabbed the thin wire, stabbing toward Red Falcon’s throat.

Probably many had fallen victim to Erin this way, thinking they had won, only to be under her control. Red Falcon turned his head, dodging the attack; the wire, though thin, would surely kill him if struck.

The intense movement tugged at his wound, making Red Falcon grimace. Unlike the Demon Hunter, his mortal body had yet to heal from previous injuries. He could only lift a hand to counterattack, but before he could punch, Erin delivered a swift elbow to his body.

This woman too was injured; her every move required full body effort, and she was far more ruthless than Red Falcon. Her elbow strike hit his shoulder wound mercilessly.

At this moment, Erin no longer had her previous gentleness, only a vicious and savage demeanor. This side of her was how she survived the Viking nations’ manhunt and escaped the Gaulunaro amidst the Iron Law Bureau’s chase.

From the beginning, Erin Adler was never a simple woman, but that afternoon was too perfect, so perfect that even aware, Red Falcon couldn’t stay alert.

The heavy blow split his wound open, blood dripping on the floor, the pain overwhelming but not hindering Red Falcon’s actions. He reached for the fruit knife on the table, full of vigor, reminiscent of his days chasing people in the Lower City District.

”Erin!”

Red Falcon growled, lifting the fruit knife.

”I’m here, what’s up?”

Erin stood nearby, opening Lorenzo’s violin case, lifting a Winchester with one hand, resting the barrel on the other arm. She took aim, compensating for the recoil due to her own injuries.

”Sorry, Moon, don’t dodge!”

She said as she pulled the trigger.