Gun of Ashes

Ragnar Rodbrock, both a king and a warrior, a Viking pirate.

Lorenzo knew the history of his rise, starting as an ordinary warrior; he raided other territories for the survival of his tribe, the scale growing larger and larger. Eventually, he killed his own lord, took over the rule, and his raiding fleets grew more substantial until he raided an entire country.

This is a living legend, but in some people’s eyes, he is a faithless villain.

”I heard you encountered pirates on your way here?” Ragnar asked.

”Yes, it seemed to be a group called the Black Tooth Pirates; we annihilated them completely.”

”Is that so?” Ragnar was somewhat surprised, ”Completely annihilated? I really must thank you; these guys are extremely troublesome.”

”What’s the matter?”

Lorenzo stabbed a piece of roasted meat and ate it directly without hesitation.

”You know, we Vikings started with raiding, but after I ended the civil war, the first thing I did was abolish raiding. We can’t keep attacking each other; many lords agreed with me, and those who didn’t had no choice but to agree.”

Ragnar smiled helplessly.

”But I can persuade the lords, not everyone; some extreme Vikings use the faith in God Odin as an excuse not to obey my orders. They continue to raid all over the Viking kingdoms; not long ago, they attacked Ice Bay and stole several Iron Armor ships, making it increasingly difficult to encircle them.”

”Don’t worry about it; those Iron Armor ships have all sunk into the sea. I witnessed it all.”

Lorenzo knew well that the pirates weren’t the problem; the problem was the Iron Armor ships—whoever had them was the most arrogant pirate on the sea.

”Did the pirates on board die too?” Ragnar sighed, ”There were many familiar faces among them; I thought I could persuade them.”

”Did we kill your acquaintances?” Lorenzo felt something amiss.

”It’s okay, better that they’re dead, no more troublemakers,” Ragnar waved his hand, signaling Lorenzo not to mind, ”Indeed the faith of God Odin once sheltered us, but now, as the Viking kingdoms try to keep up with the times, the faith of God Odin has become a shackle for us.”

”Many people criticize me for this, saying I betrayed the faith of God Odin. Others say I was the most damnable pirate, yet now I pursue other pirates to the very end.”

Ragnar took another sip of wine, his face slightly flushed, making him look much healthier.

”What do you think?” Lorenzo asked.

”What else can I think? It’s inevitable; faith can’t be eaten for sustenance. Only internal stability and external raiding can keep more people alive.”

To the faith of God Odin, Ragnar was dismissive. He looked at Lorenzo, noticing his slightly peculiar gaze.

”Why, do you find it strange?”

Lorenzo nodded, without reservation, voicing his thoughts directly.

”You’re the king of the Viking kingdoms, a pirate roaming the Ice Sea. It seems like you should be the bravest offspring of God Odin, yet you show no regard for Him... it just feels odd.”

”And what about you, Mr. Holmes? I know you were once a Demon Hunter of the Evangelical Church, guarding the Medanzo at Saint Nalos Cathedral. Comparatively, you should have been unfailingly devout before your God, yet here you are.”

Ragnar smiled, seeing a shared trait with Lorenzo.

”Perhaps faith indeed has mysterious power, but more often, it is merely a tool for convenient governance. However, times have changed, and we must catch up. Faith ought to be abandoned; only steel and gunpowder are the absolute truth.”

Ragnar’s expression grew stern, his gaze icy, unaffected by alcohol.

”Are you trying to say something?” Lorenzo asked.

”Hmm, external warfare is just the first step in the Viking kingdoms’ rise. Afterward, I hope to completely destroy all the lords within my lifetime.

On the surface, the Viking kingdoms seem united, but in reality, it’s just the lords’ interests aligning. My becoming king was merely because more lords were willing to support me; should they desire, anyone could replace me at any time.”

Ragnar’s words carried a piercing chill.

”It’s not me ruling the Viking kingdoms, but the lords. Compared to the faith of God Odin, they are the real obstacles to the Viking kingdoms, but regrettably, I currently have no solutions against them; their foundations run too deep.”

Hebdo remained silent, drinking alone since the beginning, as if deaf to Lorenzo and Ragnar’s conversation.

Lorenzo felt something amiss; a king confiding national issues to him presented significant concerns.

”Each territory has its own laws; I need to unify them, along with all interests and wills. What do you think, Mr. Holmes?”

”Sounds good, but executing it is too difficult. You’re attempting to overthrow an entire old system with your might... ending the civil war was already commendable.”

”Indeed commendable, but not enough. It merely turns the Vikings’ destined demise into a slow death; we need to make more changes.”

Ragnar pondered; he could cut down one enemy after another with blade and axe, even claim a country through raiding, but he couldn’t overcome these intangible issues rooted deeply in ideology.

”I’m curious, Your Majesty, you’re a pure Viking, grown under the faith of God Odin, surviving through raiding... yet your current mindset doesn’t resemble a Viking. I’m curious, what compelled you to change?”

Facing Ragnar, Lorenzo always sensed a strange mix of discord and familiarity, something indescribable and hard to recall.

”Death, quite simply, death.”

Ragnar confessed, withholding nothing from Lorenzo.

”My first time out raiding was because my mother was starving. That winter arrived swiftly; we had very little grain to survive. Left with no choice, I chose to venture out. I reached a Viking village; I killed those inside and seized their supplies. Thus, my mother and many others survived.”

As Ragnar recounted these tales, his face remained expressionless.

”I killed my kin... we’ve always been this way, warring and slaughtering each other. We need to change, and my initial intention was indeed quite simple—just to let more people survive, to not be ravaged by cold and hunger.”

He gave that same helpless smile, as if this were not a serious meeting, but just a group of workers unwinding after a hard day’s work, drinking and lamenting.

”The sin of war, or killing more people, I don’t care; I just hope no one in the Viking kingdoms starves or freezes again.”

Hearing his words, Lorenzo realized what this odd familiarity was; the face of the man before him gradually overlapped with the visage in his memories—Queen Victoria’s face flashed before him.

For the survival of the greater number.

”So, what do you want me to do?”

Lorenzo appraised Ragnar. A king revealing such matters must have a purpose.

Ragnar shook his head, speaking slowly, his words mingling with the scent of alcohol.

”Nothing, just wanted to chat with someone. Usually, I’d talk to Ivar, but alas, he’s gone. He died as a warrior, though, and when I return to the Heroic Spirit Hall, we’ll meet there, having plenty of time to discuss these things.”

Renouncing faith, yet following it, Ragnar seemed to embody a bizarre contradiction. He raised his glass, clinking it with Lorenzo’s.

”As for you, I do have another reason for seeing you, something that’s troubled me for a long time. After much contemplation, I think you might be interested.”

”Does it have anything to do with this mission at the Silent Sea?” Lorenzo no longer wanted unrelated matters drawn in.

”Loosely connected, but I believe even if unrelated, you’d find it intriguing. Don’t worry about me burdening you; you’ve done quite enough. I just want to hear your opinion.”

Ragnar asked, looking into Lorenzo’s eyes.

”As a Demon Hunter of the Evangelical Church, do you know the Apocalypse Society?”