Gun of Ashes

”Damn it, what’s going on!”

The man cursed angrily, grabbing the knife handle tightly, trying to pull out the blade to give Watson the final blow, but the blade seemed stuck in the corpse, unable to be pulled out no matter what.

Watson didn’t fall; in the last moment, she grabbed the blade to keep herself from completely collapsing. The sharp edge cut her palm, but there was nothing else she could do.

Using the blade as a support, she pulled herself up and then stabbed the folding blade into the corpse in front of her. The corpse blocked the man’s view, and Watson used the same trick to retaliate.

The cold touch of death was imminent.

The heart pounded, sending hot blood throughout the body. The man saw it, a slight bulge on the corpse, and then cold metal protruded from it.

”I saw it!”

The man shouted loudly. He had won this duel, easily dodging Watson’s counterattack. He lifted the blade again, preparing to deliver death to Watson.

A gunshot rang out.

Ande fired at the man, the bullet piercing through his body and the corpse behind him. He kept pulling the trigger, one shot after another, until the man’s body was shot to pieces, as was the body underneath.

”Now it’s down to us three to split the loot.”

Ande picked up the pistol to reload it, glancing at the others still alive beside him — a sailor and his chief mate. The bloody hallway only had the three of them left... and probably still Watson.

”You, check if she’s still alive.”

Ande raised the gun, indicating to the sailor.

The sailor swallowed hard. The hallway was piled with corpses and blood, but he wasn’t afraid. As Ande said, the more that died, the more money he would get.

But... could he ensure that he would live to get the money?

He glanced at the chief mate. The chief mate’s expression was stiff; he couldn’t feel the ecstasy of gold. His thoughts were the same as the sailor’s.

What could he do? Ande held the gun, and with just two triggers, he could kill himself and the chief mate. The sailor had no choice but to do as he was told, rummaging through the pile of corpses to find Watson.

Ande slowly backed away, making sure both the chief mate and the sailor were within his sight, finally pointing the gun at the sailor.

The sailor forcibly pushed aside one body after another, picking up a bloodstained crown from the blood.

The blood seeped through the silver-white gaps. It was like a blood-dyed white rose, with a bewitching beauty.

”Is she dead?”

Seeing the crown, Ande was somewhat disappointed. He had expected more gold... but it didn’t matter; at least he got the crown.

The sailor didn’t answer him but instead placed the crown on his head, blood dripping from it, running down his cheek. The next moment, he turned sharply, throwing the folding blade in his hand.

A piercing sound echoed in the hallway as the folding blade slashed through Ande’s throat like a nail, embedding into the wall behind.

First stunned, then Ande felt the pain in his throat. He raised his hand to touch it gently; the scarlet blood was blindingly bright.

”You... you...”

Ande could no longer speak. He clutched his throat, trying to prolong his life, raising the gun, but the second blade was also thrown over, knocking the gun away and piercing his hand, propelling his hand into his abdomen.

The blade sliced open his pocket, and the golden Butcher Coins spilled out, falling into the pool of blood, reflecting his face.

”Gold... my... gold...”

Ande reached out, trying to touch them, but his vision began to darken. The gold laughed mockingly, moving farther and farther away.

His body slowed, stilled atop the blood and Gold Coins, life slipping away.

”Can you operate the ship?”

The sailor asked the only remaining chief mate.

The chief mate, covered by the chill of death, looked at the familiar face. It bore a blooded crown, but the expression was so unfamiliar.

Tired eyes, a look so familiar, the woman who was just killed had the same look.

”Yes.”

”Can just the two of us keep this ship running?”

”It’ll be a struggle, but we can try!”

The chief mate replied hastily, knowing well what fate awaited if he couldn’t.

”What’s your name?”

The sailor asked again, shocking the chief mate and confirming for him that this sailor was no longer the person he knew, but the woman, like a Devil.

She brought ominous gold, steering this ship toward doom.

”Tuck Brandy.”

The chief mate replied.

”Tuck Brandy, now this gold is yours.”

Watson glanced at the gold in the blood pool, and without looking back, left.

The Seahorse continued to sail on the sea, heading toward the realm of thunderclouds and storms.