Gun of Ashes

”One, two, three, four...”

Ande sat behind his desk, meticulously counting the Butcher Coins Watson had brought, his fingers rubbing harshly against the surface of the gold coins, feeling the cold metal and the value it represented.

What’s precious isn’t the gold itself, but the value it symbolizes.

The smile on his face grew increasingly sinister; Ande could barely contain the joy surging in his heart.

These Butcher Coins amounted to a fortune. After killing Watson, the Seahorse could change course to return to Reindona Port, and Ande would take all the money on board to Old Dunling. These riches would be enough to buy a house in the wealthiest part of Old Dunling, ensuring a comfortable life for him.

The ecstasy of gold didn’t last long. Ande struggled to control his emotions, calming himself down, as he stuffed the Butcher Coins back into the secret compartment under the drawer.

”Fewer people means fewer people to share with.”

He muttered under his breath, picking up the handgun. That gun had been with him a long time, and since becoming the captain, Ande rarely fired it. It served more as a symbol of power than a weapon now.

”So, she probably deserves to die too.”

With that thought, Ande stood up. He had dispatched a sailor to kill Watson. She was just a weak, exhausted woman, and he didn’t expect any problems. But now the sailor hadn’t returned, which struck him as odd.

Ande’s expression changed slightly, the ecstasy replaced with cold realization.

He remembered, when Watson revealed the Butcher Coins, many sailors were present. They saw the coins too. Ande wasn’t sure if they knew about the Lower City District, but if someone did, then they would also understand the value these Coins held far exceeded what was apparent.

What if a sailor decided to betray him? The way he had once betrayed his own captain? It was entirely possible; Ande knew too well the allure of gold for a person, since he himself had become a villain because of it.

Who could it be?

Ande’s eyes were bloodshot as he walked down the corridor, passing door after door, recalling his men. Who among them would betray him?

His body twitched slightly without him realizing it. Even Ande didn’t notice he was growing increasingly paranoid, suspicious of every possible traitor.

No... there was another possibility.

The sailor tasked with the assassination hadn’t returned yet. Perhaps he had reached an agreement with Watson? The silver crown, along with this woman’s identity, perhaps she had even more Butcher Coins to bribe the sailor?

Ande reached into his pocket, where it was also filled with Butcher Coins, and he rubbed the gold forcefully, as if it would bring him peace.

Who could have betrayed me?

The Butcher Coins clinked against each other as Ande lowered his head, seeing his face reflected on the gleaming metal surface, twisted into the visage of an Evil Ghost by the gold.

There’s no need to think about who betrayed him. Yes, no need.

Ande came to a realization.

This Seahorse freighter, those gray businesses, all the gold — none of it mattered. It was all Ande’s own doing. He killed the previous captain, he built the present, acquiring the gold endlessly. The crew were mere parasites feeding off him, sharing his gold.

He didn’t need to share the gold with anyone; it all belonged to Ande himself.

”Yes, that’s right.”

Ande continued to stroke the gold in his pocket, convincing himself of his own madness, checking the bullets in his gun, then picking up a short knife. His bloated, swaying figure slowly pushed open a cabin door.

”Captain?”

A sailor looked at the captain in surprise; Ande hardly ever came to the cabin to see the sailors. Yet before he could say anything more, Ande raised his gun and pulled the trigger.

”No one can share my gold!”

Ande cursed as he shot holes into the sailor’s body, blood spurting as the gunshots filled the air. The stench of blood pierced his nose before he stopped.

He stared blankly at the gun in his hand, the sailor’s shattered corpse, the blood stains covering the walls...

Ande’s expression froze, then gradually melted into a hideous grin.

”One less person to share with.”

He said greedily.

Ande had long had enough of this miserable life, drifting on the sea with a bunch of stinking sailors, doing business with damned irritable Vikings, dealing with those detestable gangs.

For the sake of gold, he had lived in constant danger, but now he had the chance to change that. If he took all the Butcher Coins for himself, he could live a life of wealth and comfort.

”Poor fellow.”

A woman’s voice rang out from the end of the corridor.

Watson, wearing her silver crown, her face full of fatigue, her arm hanging limp, with a blood-stained folding blade in her hand.

”Oh, there you are.”

Ande raised his handgun, his gaze fixed on Watson’s silver crown.

”Don’t worry, I won’t harm you. You must be able to bring more gold, right?”

Seeing Watson still alive, Ande breathed a sigh of relief. He shouldn’t have killed Watson. If she could produce so many Butcher Coins, she must have a way to make more money.

When it comes to gold, no one ever feels satisfied.