Gun of Ashes

The drizzle gradually intensified, becoming heavier until it poured down, densely pounding this city.

Arthur sat by the window, from this vantage point, he could see the Dunling Tower in the rain mist, the high tower standing tall, turning into a gray-blue silhouette.

”What a tough winter.”

Arthur murmured; the rain that lasted for days was getting heavier, and after it came the harsh winter, he could imagine the entire city engulfed in ice.

Having lived in Old Dunling for so long, Arthur was already accustomed to this: steam pipes bursting, streets full of puddles and mist, maintenance workers rushing back and forth, the sound of metal being struck endless, even ringing out deep into the night.

Just thinking about what’s to come, the current cold no doubt added more gloom to it all.

”The evacuation has started, Arthur.”

The voice of Left Garrison rang out in the communicator, hearing this Arthur sighed with relief, at least the Death Row was still proceeding orderly.

”I know, once the evacuation concludes, we’ll be able to fully prepare for battle.”

”So... no changes to the list?” Left Garrison asked.

”What?” Arthur was puzzled.

”Eve isn’t on the list, I remember she is your daughter.”

Hearing this, Arthur’s gaze blurred slightly, but soon it turned harsh again.

”Yes, so what?”

”I thought...”

”There’s nothing to think about, she’s part of the Purification Mechanism now, I think, if I do this, she wouldn’t accept it herself, don’t you agree?”

Arthur said expressionlessly, ”Isn’t Zuo Tang also your nephew? What binds us now is duty, not kinship.”

The other end fell silent, after quite a while, Left Garrison slowly spoke.

”Okay, I understand.”

Arthur’s gaze lowered, he had actually discussed this with Eve once, but given the current situation, the outcome was clear, rather than fleeing in panic, it was better to see it through to the end together.

”So... goodbye? Arthur, you’re a good leader.”

Left Garrison suddenly spoke of something else, after a short crackle of electricity, his voice completely disappeared.

Arthur’s expression turned slightly unnatural, not knowing why, he always felt Left Garrison’s last farewell seemed to carry a different emotion.

He disliked these outsiders, they came from afar, carrying stories that were sealed, and drenched in blood, Lorenzo was like this, so was Left Garrison.

Every time he recalled Left Garrison’s face, Arthur felt it was the face of a dead man, skin shriveled like deadwood, overlapping one another, in deep shadows hiding the gloom of eyes, in the darkest depths, there’s no trace of light.

Truly unsettling.

Arthur rose, took the communicator and handgun, it was time for him to act.

He had made a decision with Left Garrison earlier, to avoid being beheaded together by Roger, he would not appear in the same location as Left Garrison, actually there’s another rule, to preserve as much active force as possible, Left Garrison would be in the light, executing most commands, while Arthur needed to act temporarily in the shadows, to avoid Roger’s attention.

Because of these decisions, Arthur was here rather than in the Broken Dome, one must admit that this decision was right, otherwise according to Arthur’s original plan, he might have already died inside the Broken Dome.

Pushing open the door, Arthur suddenly stopped; at the end of the corridor, someone was slowly walking towards here, followed by more people behind him.

”Who are you?”

Old, vigilant eyes, Arthur immediately raised his handgun.

In an instant, Arthur realized many things, these people he did not know, and the soldiers here would not allow their arrival.

Now they bypassed layer after layer of defense, almost reaching in front of Arthur.

[Goodbye, Arthur.]

In his mind echoed Left Garrison’s words, terrifying flames exploded in Arthur’s mind, before waiting for the opponent’s answer, just as he was about to fire, he only felt a sharp pain from behind, within seconds, Arthur lost arm sensation, muscles stiff some, unable to move, even pulling the trigger this simple thing he couldn’t do.

Then came the heavy blow, Arthur was knocked to the ground, his sight also blurred, he saw someone coming from behind, squatting beside him, seeming to inspect something.

”Is this revenge? I’ve wanted to do this for a long time.”

The man said, voice quite muffled, yet Arthur could still hear a trace of familiarity, but consciousness also turned chaotic, Arthur couldn’t recall who he was.

Familiar yet strange face slowly approached, the man bent over observing Arthur, and at that time Arthur was also observing him.

”It’s...you...”

In the last moment of consciousness, Arthur recalled the person before him, followed by those deliberately hidden memories.

They surged like a flood, consuming Arthur.

...

”Well then, the last person on the Death Row list, successfully secured, now it’s time for packing and loading.”

Bluebird tightly bound Arthur, then crowned him with the Holy Silver’s coronet.

The old man was deeply unconscious, Bluebird kicked him a few times, yet there was no response.

”Sleeping so soundly.”

Bluebird laughed cheerfully, he looked forward and asked, ”Joey, do you want to kick a couple too? Such chances aren’t common.”

”No.”

Joey was not as cheerful as Bluebird, he shook his head, looking out the window at the thick clouds.

”The weather’s getting increasingly dire.”