Gun of Ashes

”Your map is accurate. We mobilized a large number of excavators overnight and dug to the Holy Silver Mine from several dozen meters underground. The excavation was somewhat difficult, but now the Perpetual Motion Pump has accepted it, and the production will be greatly increased soon.”

As Red Falcon spoke, he took a silver-white metallic ore from his pocket and tossed it towards Lorenzo, who raised his hand and caught it. His rough fingers rubbed the smooth surface, feeling the coldness of it.

At this moment, the office’s door was pushed open again, and the Purification Mechanism agents moved heavy black boxes inside, quickly filling the already limited space of the living room.

Lorenzo stood up and casually opened one of the boxes. In a cloud of dust, the exquisite silver-white Nail Sword and the equally cold bullets appeared before him.

”To meet your demands, we urgently processed these Holy Silver Weapons from the Holy Silver Mine... For the first time, I feel a sense of victory. These Holy Silver Weapons are enough to destroy all Demons.”

Red Falcon’s words carried a slight tremor. Initially, when he was coaxed to go west to mine, he felt quite indignant. But when he unearthed the last layer of dirt and carved open this lethal Holy Silver, all he felt was awe.

He had heard of the power of Holy Silver long ago. As a mysterious metal capable of suppressing Demons, its existence further fortified the status of the Demon Hunting Order. But unfortunately, this metal was far too mysterious, difficult to replicate externally, and highly treasured within the Order.

However, under Lorenzo’s map, it was casually excavated into a large chunk. Upon leaving, Red Falcon estimated that there were at least thousands of tons of Holy Silver below, and terrifyingly, such locations weren’t singular.

On that map, beneath each red cross lay a massive Holy Silver Mine.

”Looks pretty good.”

Lorenzo took out a Nail Sword. Different from the previous coating, this was a new type made of Holy Silver and Pine Iron, retaining the suppressive power of Holy Silver while using Pine Iron to enhance the blade’s sturdiness.

The other bullets were also made this way. With these weapons, Lorenzo felt he had the complete ability to obliterate a Demon army.

”So how did you know there were...”

Red Falcon couldn’t resist his curiosity and just began to ask Lorenzo when he heard a piercing sword sound. The sharp tip was inches from his throat.

Lorenzo shushed him, then shook his finger and sheathed the Nail Sword.

Seeing Lorenzo’s reaction, Red Falcon didn’t press the issue further. He was well aware of the Purification Mechanism’s rules: things that shouldn’t be known, should remain unknown, like the vast Holy Silver Mines.

Lorenzo leaned against the side, reaching out to gently stroke the edge of the Nail Sword, feeling its sharpness.

This was a gift from the Secret Keeper. Lorenzo read his memories, striving to obtain useful information, and thus found the war fortresses from wartime in his mind.

To the Secret Keeper, these were useless ruins with no survivors, all circulatory systems already collapsed, energy cut off, and facilities all fallen into stasis or damaged. Aside from the history they carried, they were meaningless.

But for Lorenzo, it was not the same.

The Secret Keeper was right, always restricted by his era. No matter what, he would never have thought that merely using the Forbidden Alloy to protect himself would eventually be melted and forged into a blade for killing.

These crushed abandoned fortresses were all wrapped in Forbidden Alloy, meaning they preserved a massive amount of Holy Silver.

Lorenzo noted their locations, but those were places from unimaginable centuries ago. Initially, Lorenzo thought he would need a lot of time to pinpoint them until he saw Froki’s map. It was then Lorenzo remembered he already had accurate coordinates.

Utilizing Froki’s map and supplementary maps, the two maps spanning vast stretches of time overlaid in Lorenzo’s mind, and he drew red crosses on superimposed locations, thus unearthing the massive Holy Silver Mine.

”So who is Froki Willgardson?”

Red Falcon inquired about the mysterious story again, but he was genuinely curious. His memory bore no impression of this person, nor did others, let alone those who traveled to the Silent Sea with Lorenzo.

But Lorenzo claimed he was also a member and emphasized that in finding the Holy Silver Mine, his contributions were invaluable.

Yet no one remembers him, and some even think Lorenzo is suffering from delusions. But Lorenzo became very stubborn until Froki Willgardson’s name was etched into the Purification Mechanism’s archives.

He would be remembered, even if only by a small number of people.

”Someone... I don’t know either.”

Lorenzo tried hard to think, then helplessly answered.

The Anti-Meme took everything away, causing Lorenzo at times to feel profound fear. He was terrified he might forget something, forget the people around him, his mission, or even things more precious.

Thinking of these made him feel immense fear, followed by anger.

”You’re saying nothing at all!”

Red Falcon exclaimed.

”Can’t help it. Aside from his name and his accomplishments, I know nothing.”

Lorenzo returned the Nail Sword to the box, then picked up a few bullets to admire. To meet Lorenzo’s demands, some specially made Holy Silver Bullet Heads were also present here; now he could fully condition various bullet heads to incorporate Holy Silver to increase their lethality.

”And about the remaining weapons... those at the Perpetual Motion Pump say these things are only meant for your use. They are mostly handmade, but they can be delivered to you before the Divine Birthday.”

Red Falcon recalled his other matters and explained to Lorenzo.

”Hmm, I’m not in a hurry. These are already enough.”

”And about Merlin’s request: he invites you to visit the Perpetual Motion Pump, saying he wants to discuss the details of the ’Plan’ with you.”

”The Plan?” Lorenzo recalled something, but then it seemed something had been forgotten again, but he didn’t pay much attention, ”Okay, I understand.”

Red Falcon stood up, found a path to exit through the crowded living room, and stopped by the door.

”What are you going to do next?” Lorenzo suddenly called him and asked.

”First, take a bath and tidy myself up, then visit the hospital to see Bola. He’s tough; the doctor said he wouldn’t die, but getting discharged might take a few more months.”

”Is that so...”

Upon hearing Red Falcon’s words, Lorenzo remembered he hadn’t visited Bola since returning.

Upon reflecting, it seemed he hadn’t done a thing since returning, but time had flown by so quickly...

It seemed...

It seemed something had stolen many days from Lorenzo’s life without him knowing.

This feeling was much like suffering from an Anti-Meme; you couldn’t recall what you’d forget. But Lorenzo’s instincts alerted him to something bizarre.

”Lorenzo! Lorenzo!”

Red Falcon called out again, watching as Lorenzo slowly came to his senses and asked.

”Are you sure you’re okay?”

Lorenzo looked at Red Falcon, as though a current surged through his body, as if his soul had just regained control over this body.

”Nothing, just been too tired recently, mentally unfocused, easily zoning out.”

Lorenzo rubbed his forehead, knowing what he said was nonsense.

He was a Demon Hunter and an Ascender, his spirit fortified to the extreme, having immense resistance against corruption and Anti-Meme, so how could someone like him possibly lose focus?

Certain there’s something happening... but Lorenzo couldn’t recall.

”Then I think you should thoroughly relax.”

Red Falcon suddenly placed a hand on Lorenzo’s shoulder; this large-hearted guy actually believed Lorenzo’s nonsense.

”How about going to the train station to welcome people in a couple of days? It’s bound to be very lively.”

”Welcome which people?”

Lorenzo looked confused.

”Hm? The people from Jiuxia!”

Red Falcon fetched today’s newspaper from somewhere. Like the Armor of Original Sin appearing in Old Dunling, this time a black-and-white photo occupied the whole page.

Lorenzo looked over. A great wooden and steel ship appeared on the sea off Reindona port, covered with flags resembling a Firebird.

After many years, the people from Jiuxia once again ventured beyond the Forgotten Great Wall, appearing within the Western world.