Gun of Ashes

This is where Lorenzo’s troubles lie, as everything about Ice Bay is unknown to him.

”How can such a thing trouble you?”

Bola was bewildered by Lorenzo’s concerns, and only then did Lorenzo notice Bola’s subtle gaze, filled with battle intent.

”The last Demon Hunter of the old Order, unmatched single combat power.”

Bola said, pointing out the window.

”Morning Glow Advance, the most advanced Iron Armor ship of today; as long as we go full throttle, these Viking scraps can’t catch us.”

Lorenzo’s expression suddenly cleared up, then he showed an appreciative look, as if saying ”Good kid”.

”Arriving at Ice Bay, you kidnap Froki, I’ll make him compliant, then go full throttle to Silent Sea; you see, it’s all very simple. As for any possible interference along the way, we can solve it with force, and we are not lacking in power.”

Bola’s straightforward thinking is undeniable. This kind of plan is nearly flawless; with absolute power, Lorenzo couldn’t see any way Froki could resist.

”The only worry is what happens afterward. Our actions will undoubtedly anger the Viking nations. Let’s just hope the King of the Ice Sea doesn’t mind too much; after all, this is for saving the world.”

Having been with Lorenzo for a long time, Bola couldn’t help but pick up Lorenzo’s quirks, and he also started to act rogue.

”That’s nothing to be worried about,” Lorenzo reflected on Ragnar’s views of the lords, ”perhaps the King of the Ice Sea might even support us doing this.”

”Eh?”

This time, it was Bola’s turn to be stunned.

An absurd plan for a lord’s kidnapping was thus finalized in this ridiculous scenario.

”Then please excuse me, can we finalize the trade with Lord Willgardson first before kidnapping him? Maybe I can assist you a bit.”

A soft female voice suddenly sounded beside them, startling Lorenzo and Bola and making their hearts race.

”Selyu... Selyu?”

Lorenzo looked down and only then noticed the girl standing nearby. She wore white pajamas, her pale golden hair draped down, her presence always so faint that without deliberately noticing, it’s hard to feel her existence.

”When did you get here?”

”Hmm? I’ve been here since Bola kicked Hebdo, but you two seemed to be having a lively conversation.”

Selyu waved her hand; she wasn’t angry about being ignored by others, instead, she liked it because when these guys noticed her, their expressions were always amusing.

”Let me see.”

Selyu took the book from Bola’s hands. She loved reading; for this voyage, she brought many books to pass the time.

Like a glow that doesn’t belong here, she stepped over Hebdo’s corpse, past the indifference-inducing vomit, and sat down nearby, flipping through the book.

Her past life made Selyu easily adapt to different situations, as far as she’s concerned, nothing could be worse than back then.

”So... should I go back to my duties now?”

The idle crew member said, similarly as disregarded as Selyu, many times trying to steer the topic back on course, but was ignored by Lorenzo and Bola, watching helplessly as a legitimate operation turned into a kidnapping crime.

Thanks to the looming threat named Demon, without it, no one could tell if this great detective would settle into an ordinary life or seek excitement by turning to crime.

”Go ahead, go ahead.”

Lorenzo signaled for the crew member to leave, then bent over and clutched under Hebdo’s armpits, hoisting him up.

”Ugh!”

He probably pressed Hebdo’s stomach, as he heard that sound, Hebdo started to vomit, scaring Lorenzo into squealing. His actions were so skilled that before Hebdo actually vomited, he had tossed him out of the longhouse.

”Suddenly, I kind of miss the Red Falcon.”

Having tossed Hebdo away, Lorenzo reminisced about the Red Falcon. He looked at his hands, clenched them into fists, feeling that from the grip perspective, the Red Falcon was more comfortable to throw, Hebdo was much bulkier than the Red Falcon.

The dry heaving continued, then came wails after a while, Hebdo stood up, his face befuddled.

...

The cargo ship proceeded over the vast sea, sky clear, the scorching sun fell making the metal heated.

Tuck sat in the shadows, looking at this monotonous scene, clutching a Butcher Coin tightly in his hand, rubbing it hard, making the Shrike shine brightly.

He couldn’t quite remember which day it was since setting sail, the entire ship was upheld by him alone, making it very exhausting because some equipment had already malfunctioned due to being understaffed, but luckily it didn’t affect the voyage.

This was likely Tuck’s last voyage, that woman’s meaning seemed to be just that, this Seahorse only needed to take her to the Viking nations, after which its fate would come to an end, thus the damage to the ship’s body needn’t concern at all.

Slowly raising the Gold Coin in his hand, the brilliant light reflected on Tuck’s haggard face.

He had taken care of the bodies on the ship, whether captain or crew member, once dead everyone’s fate is the same, they sink into the sea becoming the fish’s nourishment.

Thinking like this, Tuck slowly stood up, forcefully casting the Butcher Coin into the sea, it skipped several times on the surface before sinking below the waves.

”Just threw it away like that?”

The woman leaned against the doorway, she seemed much better, much more spirited.

Tuck gazed at Watson, and what he saw was the stance of a man, but he thoroughly knew that under that body was Watson’s soul, the silvery white crown acted like a marker of her soul’s presence.

”If there’s no life to spend it, gold becomes meaningless, might as well have some fun now.”

Speaking, Tuck threw out a second Butcher Coin, solid gold that Tuck used to chase, but now it’s akin to ordinary stones being casually discarded.

”You think you’ll die out here?”

Sea life was quite dull, the only one left to converse with her was Tuck, compelled by chaotic thoughts in her mind, these days she occasionally talked to Tuck.

”I’m not sure, I just feel... maybe I’ll change.”

Tuck stated calmly, he didn’t hold much fear towards Watson anymore; it was more of a ”letting go” mindset.

”In the end, gold isn’t that important.”

”Is this a villain’s reflection?” Watson remarked.

”I don’t know, what do you think?”

Tuck looked at Watson, more curious about her secrets after fear subsided, this bizarre existence showing monstrous power, yet from some conversations, Tuck sensed a hint of humanity in her, not entirely uncommunicable.

Watson shook her head, speaking disdainfully.

”Just self-reasoning before the threat of death, you try making yourself seem like a good person, a repentant person, to avoid guilt, yet no matter how you sugarcoat it, what you’ve done is done, the ones you’ve killed won’t resurrect, they’ll wait for you, for your meeting in Hell.”

”Really sounds cruel...”

Tuck didn’t show much emotional fluctuation, during their initial days together, he was engulfed almost constantly in fear, afraid of a moment the silvery white crown would find its way to his head.

Fear grew alongside him, until he reached complete numbness.

”But I believe everyone should have a chance to repent.”

Watson took a Butcher Coin from his hand, turned towards the sea.

”A repentant lie.”

”Repentant... lie.”

Tuck thought deeply, Watson didn’t care what his thoughts were, she also threw a Butcher Coin, the Gold Coin kept bouncing on the sea surface until buried beneath curling waves.

Watson shifted her gaze from the crest to continue ahead at the sea, across the sea an iron drape of lead grey color appeared in front of her.