Gun of Ashes

The new Pope analyzed the intelligence and made no effort to disguise it, narrating it directly in front of Watson.

”Your reaction is quite indifferent... so, did he succeed after all?”

His gaze fell on Watson once again, capturing her precisely in the darkness.

”Successor? I never expected that, such a person would ultimately choose to give up. No, this fits the style of Lorenzo de’ Medici—achieving his goals by any means necessary, even if it means sacrificing himself.”

To the new Pope, Watson appeared transparent—he could easily find what he wanted from those fragmented words, piecing together the existing intelligence into a brand new story that unfolded before him.

”You know Lorenzo de’ Medici, and you know about his death. So, you’re part of his faction, aren’t you? You’re his crystallization, possessing this inhuman power... are you his successor?”

The new Pope continued to probe.

Watson shook her head. She could have chosen not to answer the Pope’s question, but she spoke up, her voice carrying a sense of desolation and expectation.

”I’m not that successor.”

”Then where is the successor? I feel this scenario should involve the successor coming to see me, not you,” the new Pope said.

”It doesn’t matter; anyone can handle this sort of thing.”

As she spoke, Watson envisioned the face of the former 042, and whether it was him, herself, or 047, everyone had become unrecognizable over the passage of time.

”He’s a pitiful guy, destined for a path of destruction,” Watson hesitated, ”He’s an evil ghost yet to be crushed by the world’s malice. I only hope he can feel more of the world’s beauty before he completely loses his sanity.”

”So you are bearing this responsibility for him? How interesting...”

The new Pope analyzed Watson’s psyche. Despite the enemy before him being so bizarre, he acted as if he grasped the entire situation, with casual indifference.

”It seems I don’t need to explain anything else; you’ve already guessed everything.”

Watson looked toward the other side of the darkness; the new Pope was far more cunning than she had imagined.

”More or less, I’ve been preparing for so long. To uncover the [Truth], I’ve combed through the Church’s history books, yet I still can’t see the full picture... I imagine you’re the same.”

”Is that why you’re not afraid of me?” Watson asked.

”Of course, the moment you appeared before me, I clearly understood what you wanted.”

The new Pope took a deep drag on his cigarette, and the faint light in the darkness flared up briefly.

He bore the name ”Raphael,” the Demon Hunter, wielding the chaotic power of illusions; the new Pope was keenly aware of human filth and knew how to wield it.

”If you’re not the Silencer, then you’re its enemy. No one would willingly let such a ghostly thing go, and since you’ve found me, I assume you have two objectives left.”

In the darkness, he raised two fingers.

”One, to form an alliance with me to oppose the Silencer and seek the [Truth].”

”And the other?”

Laughter erupted, and the new Pope spoke.

”The other? With some unknown purpose to kill me, but I’m not afraid. I’m not afraid of anyone, so I’m not concerned with what motives you might hold.”

”Is this what they call a ’strong one’?” Watson said.

”Perhaps.”

Before the words were finished, wild corrosion erupted in the small space, and at the same time, the Nail Sword burst forth with dazzling sword light.

From the start, neither of them let down their guard. The seemingly calm conversation before was merely a means to extract more information.

This time, the attack was initiated by Watson. The mottled blade and [Gap] invasion launched simultaneously. To Watson, this was the most deadly ambush she currently could muster,

an attack that was both mental and physical.

The screech of swords rang out, metal clashing deafeningly, accompanied by a thunderous explosion. A burning figure crashed through the elevator, broke through a sealed passage, and fell from above the Static Holy Temple.

During the rapid descent, as the dust cleared, the figure below was revealed, and it was Watson.

She fell from mid-air, then landed steadily on the ground, her hand gripping the sword slightly trembling from the heaviness of the blow she had just dealt. She almost couldn’t feel her arm.

Looking up, on the high wall, a blurry figure stood at the crack formed by the attack. He jumped down leisurely, landing in front of Watson.

A roaring sound echoed, accompanied by the falling elevator, which had been shredded and destroyed during their brief encounter, crashing in the shaft and sending dust everywhere.

”You’re strong...”

Watson panted, whispering.

She tried to invade with [Gap], but this time, she failed to penetrate the new Pope’s will, as though something blocked her, like a city wall.

Her sword strike was also deflected and countered. It seemed the new Pope had some concerns about Anthony’s body and did not retaliate with full force.

”I just know God Gabriel’s authority well enough. Once you understand it, you can counter it.”

Footsteps sounded through the smoke as the new Pope approached.

”So, have I proven my strength?”

”Who exactly are you!”

Watson suddenly got up, attempting to take action, but her movements were suddenly halted. She stared blankly ahead, as the dust cleared, revealing the face of the new Pope.