Gun of Ashes

It felt like an earthquake, the vibrations from above were relentless, dust continuously fell like a heavy rain, covering everyone in a gray mist.

The pipes were also shaking violently, some even ruptured, with large amounts of steam and liquid gushing out, the escalating pressure caused the water to shoot out, turning the scene more chaotic.

The Mr. Cai stood expressionlessly amidst it all, as if devoid of emotion, while leading them was Left Garrison, standing in a high place.

Left Garrison raised his head, he was well aware of the current situation, and he knew that something was coming, moving swiftly, forging ahead and easily breaking through the defenses Left Garrison had placed, then continuing forward.

If it were Red Falcon and the others, they would probably be scared out of their wits, spouting nonsense, trying to relax their nerves.

But Left Garrison was different, regardless of whether the upcoming arrival was Death God or a friend, his face remained unchanged like a false mask.

Many often said, as a subordinate, seeing Left Garrison’s demeanor would always bring peace of mind.

After all, this foreigner from Jiuxia was always like this, no matter what kind of crisis he faced, his face always carried a faint smile.

He seemed to exist outside the story itself, whether sadness or joy, everything seemed irrelevant to him, with his face always that composed and poised demeanor.

Yet beneath the sense of calm, some would also feel a sense of fear, as if no one ever truly understood Left Garrison, nor knew what was hidden beneath that mask-like facade.

”The guests are about to arrive, aren’t they eager?”

Left Garrison said casually, turning his head to glance at Mr. Cai beside him.

Mr. Cai’s expression was stiff, the so-called ”Mr. Cai” was merely a title after all, as for who they truly were, perhaps even they couldn’t figure it out.

”What are you thinking about, Zhao Lun?”

Left Garrison asked unexpectedly, and the ”Mr. Cai” referred to as Zhao Lun thought for a moment, then spoke slowly.

”I am reminiscing about my childhood,” Zhao Lun said.

”Oh? Sounds nice.”

”Yeah, our family has had involvement with Anonymous for generations, so my training started at a young age.”

Zhao Lun recalled.

Left Garrison nodded slightly, mouthing something silently, seemingly following Zhao Lun’s words in repetition.

”I remember the training field was built by the lakeside, paved with bluestone...”

The memory was blurry, no matter how hard Zhao Lun tried to peer into it, the images remained undefined, like a misty dream.

Yet even so, he stubbornly believed that it was real, something he personally experienced, etched into his soul.

”I remember there was a massive maple tree there, I couldn’t tell how many years it had grown... it should be the largest maple tree I’ve ever seen, come late autumn, those leaves would turn fiery golden red, falling everywhere, painting the great lake with radiant gold, like flowing molten gold.”

Within Zhao Lun’s voice was a deep sense of nostalgia, cherishing it immensely.

In his mind, aside from orders and tasks, this seemed to be the only memory that was truly his own.

The Anonymous, due to the influence of the Anti-Meme protection, with the passage of time and an increase in protection, their memories would be gradually eroded, eventually losing all memory, and finally their own existence would completely vanish, erased from this world.

Zhao Lun emerged from the beautiful memory, and soon realized something, looking at Left Garrison in confusion.

”You said that we ’Mr. Cai’s’ have no names,” Zhao Lun didn’t understand.

”Yes, maybe I just said it offhand,” Left Garrison glanced to the side, observing the Mr. Cais below, ”habits are hard to change.”

”Have we worked together for a long time?”

Although Zhao Lun’s memory was shallow, as a professional Anonymous, he immediately understood Left Garrison’s meaning; they had worked together, seemingly quite familiar, but Zhao Lun had forgotten.

”A long time... quite a significant period, only because you guys were too deeply affected by the Anti-Meme, the brain’s capacity is pitifully small, you can’t remember much, so I got lazy about telling you Mr. Cais your names, anyhow, you can’t recall them.”

Listening to Left Garrison’s words, Zhao Lun nodded in a semi-understanding manner, muttering.

”Is that so...” That’s when Zhao Lun understood the meaning of ”Mr. Cai,” ”so that’s why we are called Mr. Cai?”

”Yes, that’s the fate of the Anonymous, the fate under the influence of the Anti-Meme, the lucky ones might live out their days with dementia in a nursing home, or like you unlucky ones, with me here, sharing your final embers.”

Left Garrison spoke, then asked.

”Are you afraid, Zhao Lun?”

Zhao Lun shook his head, his expression quite perplexed, the memories in his mind difficult to answer Left Garrison’s question.

”I... I’m not sure if I am afraid, I think many things are probably relative, having felt the ecstasy of life, one then fears the arrival of death.”

”Have you never experienced the ecstasy of life?”

Listening to Left Garrison’s words, Zhao Lun’s eyes flashed with the image of that flowing golden lake, murmuring.

”Perhaps.”

Then he realized something, his gaze becoming slightly tremulous and fearful.

”Was it real? Or simply a fleeting hallucination.”

The feeling was quite unsettling, originally a confused puppet, yet within Left Garrison’s words, he briefly found a semblance of... clarity.

”It was real, it definitely was real, after all, that was the residence of our Anonymous.”