Gun of Ashes

Lorenzo wasn’t late... at least that’s what he thought.

Pushing open the door, he saw figures already seated around the round table, everyone uniformly looking at him, their gazes varied, making him uncomfortable, as if Lorenzo were some odd exhibit being pushed out from behind the scenes, awaiting everyone’s bid.

The atmosphere was somewhat awkward, no one spoke, yet under such scrutiny, Lorenzo’s expression remained unchanged, and he glared back forcefully.

Someone behind him gave him a push, making Lorenzo fully step into the meeting hall.

Unlike Lorenzo, Selyu was somewhat embarrassed. She had underestimated the influence of the Jiuxia envoys, causing congestion around the central train station. Although not late, as the last to arrive, she still felt a bit embarrassed.

”Jiuxia people? Oh oh oh, hello, hello.”

Lorenzo followed with quick steps, his mind erratically mumbling, as he waved his hand greeting these foreigners.

At the end of the round table, Arthur’s expression was gloomy. Having witnessed Lorenzo’s nonsense before, he didn’t expect him to still act out in such circumstances.

”This atmosphere is really stiff, I wonder if these foreigners can understand what I’m saying...” As Lorenzo passed by, he saw Rod and Mr. Cai standing to the side, instinctively speculating, ”You’re the translators, right? Don’t translate this sentence!”

Mr. Cai showed his signature smile, as if his feedback to the outside world was only this. Rod completely ignored Lorenzo; the serious current situation put immense pressure on him, though he could cope, but Lorenzo’s arrival and those nearly insane comments momentarily left him at a loss.

”Ah... the atmosphere here is as solemn as discussing where to hold a memorial service.”

Lorenzo murmured softly again, while Selyu was too lazy to bother with this guy’s antics, finding a vacant seat to sit down; Lorenzo bypassed her, sitting beside Shao Liangye.

”Hello, hello.”

As he sat down, Lorenzo didn’t forget to greet.

Shao Liangye turned slightly, glanced at Lorenzo, his expression indifferent, with a hint of surprise in his eyes, perhaps not expecting someone who crawled back from the World’s End to be like this. Shao Liangye also understood Arthur’s previous response.

”Hello.”

Out of etiquette, Shao Liangye replied clearly and articulately.

Listening to this standard Western language, Lorenzo was dumbfounded.

The scene grew more awkward and silent, once stern like a final battle’s conference room, now resembled Lorenzo’s mentioned memorial service, mainly eulogizing Lorenzo himself.

Sweeping around once more, he could see everyone at Arthur’s side giving Lorenzo strange looks, while Left Garrison maintained a friendly smile at Jiuxia’s seats, Zuo Tang was indifferent like Shao Liangye, and Shao Liangxi puffed her cheeks as if holding back laughter.

”This must be Mr. Holmes?” Left Garrison glanced at the embarrassed Lorenzo, then at Arthur, ”Truly, hearing about him can’t compare to seeing him.”

Arthur smiled helplessly, ”Indeed, a headache-inducing guy.”

”Fortunately, I think he’s quite nice.”

Left Garrison gazed at Lorenzo, Lorenzo could clearly feel his gaze sweeping up and down over his skin and clothes repeatedly... the feeling was awful, made worse by Left Garrison being an old man scrutinizing him.

”This guy is too interesting.”

Shao Liangxi struggled to suppress laughter, whispering, but it didn’t escape Lorenzo’s ears.

Lorenzo didn’t understand Shao Liangxi’s poor Western language, so he turned to Rod behind her.

”Translate.”

Rod snapped out of the pressure, thought for a moment, responding.

”She said you’re quite humorous.”

Lorenzo frowned, doubting if that’s what Shao Liangxi really meant, yet under such circumstances, it wasn’t proper to further inquire.

He could see with his peripheral vision Arthur’s already clenched fist... no choice, in things about smoothing the atmosphere, Arthur never got along with him.

The situation grew more complex, some not-so-good ones had slightly uplifted mouths, suppressing laughter, while others looked stiff, seemingly itching to stab Lorenzo a few times.

Until Left Garrison let out a hearty laugh, the toe-curling tense atmosphere finally eased.

The Nation-Builder from the East kindly spoke.

”I originally thought Mr. Holmes would be a fierce fellow, with a face full of seriousness, bristling with weapons, emanating bloodlust.”

Lorenzo looked at Left Garrison, clearly, he was the leader of these Jiuxia people, ”Then are you disappointed?”

Left Garrison nodded, then shook his head.

”Initially, there was some disappointment, hard to imagine someone accomplishing such a great feat looking like this, but on reflection, it makes sense.

It was a journey through Hell, average people’s minds couldn’t endure that, yet you managed in such high pressure, your ’optimism’ seems reasonable.

We all need a self-entertaining mentality, after all, in our line of work, serious psychological issues often arise.”

Though the old man praised him, Lorenzo felt he was being subtly mocked.

”I am Left Garrison, the leader of the Jiuxia team this time.” Left Garrison introduced himself.

Lorenzo was somewhat puzzled, the name felt familiar, yet he couldn’t recall, pondering carefully before the decades-old story suddenly came to mind.