Gun of Ashes

The serene and elegant tavern turned lively, filled with the aroma of alcohol and cheers. A ’closed’ sign hung on the door, yet inside the lights still sparkled.

Shao Liangye glanced at Lorenzo, who was having an animated conversation with Buscalo. The two of them looked like brothers who hadn’t seen each other in years. Lorenzo held Buscalo closely, showing intimacy, but from the mixture of reluctance and slight terror on Buscalo’s face, things weren’t as simple as Shao Liangye thought.

”Do they know each other?” he asked.

”Probably... who knows? Anyway, Lorenzo never lacks strange friends.”

Heracles didn’t care how his old client knew Lorenzo nor why Buscalo’s eyes were full of distress signals.

He leaned against the bar, looking at the enchanting girl, waiting for her story.

”Interested in telling me about Jiuxia?” Heracles tempted, fearing Shao Liangxi might refuse, he added, ”I can pay.”

”Ingwig’s money doesn’t seem to mean much to these foreigners.”

Rod chimed in, wary of Heracles, watching this somewhat charmed fellow, he felt unreliable.

”True, then... a story exchange? Young lady, I’ve been to many places, I know many secrets, are you interested?” he tempted again.

Upon hearing about the Western world, a gleam flashed through Shao Liangxi’s eyes.

She began to show interest.

Just as Rod had understood, if Shao Liangxi were to shed her many responsibilities, she was actually visiting Ingwig for tourism, and if the Anonymous weren’t limiting her, or after the mission was over, she could act freely, she would definitely tour the entire Western world.

Rod’s expression turned somewhat unfriendly again, aware that this owner was Lorenzo’s friend, yet the demeanor of this guy was unsettling.

To Rod, at this moment, Heracles seemed somewhat sickly and lewd, not at all like a good person... just like Lorenzo.

”Oh? A Flower Guardian?”

Heracles noticed Rod’s reaction, his expression subtle, with an odd smile.

Shao Liangxi looked at the two of them, probably not understanding what it meant, while Rod felt a bit embarrassed by his remark but soon countered.

”It’s confidential, you have no right to ask.”

They were members of the Purification Mechanism, and the guy in front of them was just an ordinary tavern owner. If not for Lorenzo’s presence, Rod might have used the rules of the Purification Mechanism against him.

This was a secret of the Purification Mechanism, not to be viewed by outsiders.

”Go ahead, Heracles isn’t exactly an outsider, now he can be considered as an employee of the Purification Mechanism, similar to me, responsible for archiving and organizing records. Don’t underestimate him, this guy’s memory is extraordinary.”

Buscalo hid his head in a corner, playing dead to avoid Lorenzo, who leaned against him like he was a giant cushion.

”Surprised?”

Heracles raised an eyebrow at Rod, both comical and full of ridicule.

”But, it’s still up to you, Shao Liangxi, are you interested in talking? I’m actually quite curious too,” Lorenzo added.

Throughout these days, he had been seeking an opportunity to ask these Anonymous, even though they said their memories had been processed, he learned from them not everything was blurred by the Anti-Meme, they could still remember bits and pieces.

Lorenzo wasn’t greedy, at least not as eager as Heracles; even the faint glow after blurring was enough to satisfy his curiosity.

Shao Liangxi was eager but looked towards Shao Liangye, seeking permission.

”Is it okay?”

Usually carefree, Shao Liangxi didn’t take Shao Liangye seriously, much like an unstable factor in the team, but when faced with serious matters, she remained professional.

She waited for a response from Shao Liangye. Among these Anonymous, in the subdivision of hierarchy, she was under Shao Liangye’s command, only this ranking’s presence was quite low, rarely needed.

”Go ahead, or Mr. Holmes might be too curious to sleep,” Shao Liangye rarely laughed, picking up a drink mixed by Heracles, drinking a sip before Lorenzo could stop him.

The Anonymous were also humans, emotional beings, who were curious about this equally mysterious West. Some could suppress their ideas and follow orders, some found it hard to resist temptation, their gaze continuously drifting.

The liquid was swallowed down, unknown to all, Shao Liangye actually liked drinking, and was eager to understand what fine wines from the West were like.

His expression was a bit odd.

Shao Liangye lowered his head to look at the glass, in which transparent liquid churned, but upon closer inspection, its color seemed slightly blue.

He smacked his lips, feeling a strange sensation in his throat, wondering what exactly he had drunk.

”What’s this drink called?”

Shao Liangye’s voice carried a hint of hoarseness.

Lorenzo responded with admiration.

”As It Comes!”

...

”It’s really tragic... It’s unimaginable what would happen if such a battle erupted in the city center, turning Old Dunling into ruins is only a matter of time.”

Merlin stood under a black umbrella on the charred ground, molten iron still flowing at his feet, sizzling under the cold rain.

In front of him was the battlefield left by the duel between Edlun and Roger, where more personnel could be seen walking ahead, carrying Geiger Counters, each emitting the same ticking frequency.