Last Gun Alchemist

”It could simply be because she wants House Orvain to rise above the other Baron Houses.”

Ezra calmly answered his own question.

His blank black eyes slowly moved across everyone inside the waiting room before continuing.

”But...The problem with that reasoning is that the defensive structure protecting Velcryon would collapse.”

He folded both hands together.

”As we all know... The five Baron Houses don’t merely exist as neighboring noble families. They each protect different sections of the Velc Forest. If only House Orvain remained...then the entire defensive network would lose its balance.”

Lucy quietly narrowed her eyes.

She had already begun following Ezra’s train of thought.

”And...”

She suddenly spoke.

”If they really became the only remaining Baron House...”

She slowly stroked her chin while organizing her own thoughts.

”They still wouldn’t be able to properly protect the Velc Forest.”

She looked toward Gena.

”Every Baron House is responsible for different regions, patrol routes, logistics, and supply lines. They all work together to maintain the defensive seal around the forest. If one family disappears... the others can’t simply replace everything overnight.”

Ezra nodded once.

”Exactly.”

He naturally continued the explanation.

”And even if...”

He calmly raised one finger.

”...House Orvain somehow managed to shoulder every responsibility alone...They would still only be a Baron House. Their noble title wouldn’t suddenly rise simply because they became wealthier.”

He looked toward Blake.

”Noble status doesn’t only increase because of money. There are far more requirements than financial strength; Political influence, sometimes Military achievements, Recognition, and Contributions to Britannia.”

He listed them one after another.

”Even if House Orvain somehow fulfilled all those conditions... it would still take many years before they could even hope to rise in rank.”

He paused briefly.

”By then... The defensive line surrounding the Velc Forest would’ve already weakened, and Monster attacks would increase. Trade routes would become dangerous. And Velcryon itself could easily descend into chaos after a large-scale monster tide.”

The waiting room gradually became quiet, with everyone silently processed Ezra’s reasoning.

Even the maids serving inside the room unconsciously stopped what they were doing.

Gena...

Blake...

Gwen...

Even the maids of House Miles...

All looked at Ezra in complete disbelief.

It wasn’t simply because his conclusion sounded reasonable.

It was because...

The way he analyzed the situation didn’t resemble the thinking of an ordinary teenager.

He understood noble politics.

He understood military logistics.

He understood economics.

And somehow...

He naturally connected every piece together into one complete picture.

The level of understanding he displayed far exceeded what someone his age should possess.

That’s Ezra for you...

Gena couldn’t help smiling proudly.

Lucy quietly noticed Gwen’s expression.

A satisfied smile slowly appeared on her own face.

See?

Now you understand why I trust Master this much.

Gwen quietly looked away.

She didn’t say anything, since there wasn’t anything left to argue about.

”The Baroness isn’t collecting this money simply to live a luxurious life.”

Ezra calmly adjusted his sitting posture.

”If that were her goal... this entire plan would’ve been absurdly excessive to her.”

He paused briefly.

”I could still be wrong.”

He honestly admitted.

”But... I don’t believe luxury is the reason.”

His fingers lightly tapped the armrest.

”In conclusion...”

He slowly looked around the room.

”The money collected from the four Baron Houses... was most likely transferred into anonymous financial accounts.”

He calmly finished his deduction.

”From there... It’s either being stored... or invested into a hidden operation requiring an unbelievable amount of funding.”

Silence immediately followed throughout the whole room.

Everyone quietly absorbed the conclusion.

Then...

”What if...”

Blake suddenly spoke.

”What if she’s using the money to buy illegal things from the Black Market?”

The room immediately became quiet again.

Every woman present slowly turned toward him.

Lucy narrowed her eyes.

Gwen narrowed hers even more.

Even Gena looked at him strangely.

Several maids also stared.

Blake immediately felt every pair of eyes focusing on him.

His shoulders instinctively shrank.

”...It’s happening again.”

He laughed awkwardly, while his hand scratched the side of his cheek.

”Did I say something weird?”

”Youth Master...”

Gwen sighed helplessly, rubbing her forehead.

”I’ve already told you countless times.”

She looked directly at him.

”The Black Market doesn’t exist. It’s nothing more than an urban legend.”

She spoke with complete certainty.

Blake immediately puffed his cheeks.

”But... I was actually given directions to one of its branches.”

He quietly defended himself.

Lucy couldn’t help smiling helplessly.

He’s actually right this time...

She secretly glanced toward Ezra.

Her Master remained completely expressionless.

However...

She noticed the faint thoughtful change in his eyes.

Ezra quietly looked at Blake.

That wild guess...

Is exactly where my thoughts were heading.

He silently organized his reasoning.

It’s still only a possibility.

But...

I know if I suddenly obtained that much money...

What would I spend it on?

His answer naturally appeared.

Rare refined metal ores.

Materials difficult to obtain through legal channels.

Components needed for Alchemy...

And advanced firearm manufacturing.

He slowly narrowed his eyes.

If that’s how I would think...

Then Baroness Orvain might be thinking along similar lines.

Another memory quietly surfaced.

The Black Market.

The ore shop.

Umbrium.

Among all the rare metals displayed...

Only the Umbrium stock had looked strangely depleted.

At the time...

Like the attendant told him, He simply thought a rich Illusionary Alchemist was the buyer.

Now...

The memory returned with entirely different meaning.

Could...

The mysterious buyer...

Actually, be connected to House Orvain?

Ezra didn’t immediately jump to the conclusion.

Instead...

He quietly pushed the thought aside.

”It’s better...”

He calmly spoke.

”...to confirm the suspicion first.”

His tone remained perfectly steady.

Only after gathering evidence...

Would he allow himself to draw a final conclusion.

”Alright...”

Gena suddenly stood up from the couch.

The gloomy atmosphere that had filled the waiting room moments ago seemed to disappear from her face.

Now that a possible solution had finally appeared before her...

The frustration she had been carrying for weeks was quickly replaced by excitement.

Her white eyes sparkled with renewed determination.

”I’ve been itching for some action, Ezra.”

She looked at him with a bright smile that carried both confidence and anticipation.

Lucy couldn’t help blinking.

She recovered quickly...

It almost reminded her of Vera.

No matter how serious a situation became, the moment there was something worth doing, their spirits immediately returned.

”What exactly does that mean, Young Lady?”

One of the maids standing beside her narrowed her eyes.

She already had a bad feeling about where this conversation was heading.

Gena answered without even thinking.

”Of course...”

She folded her arms proudly.

”I’m going to follow my boss on this sneaking mission.”

Her tone sounded so natural that it was as though everyone should already know what she meant.

The room instantly became quiet.

”...Boss?”

Lucy tilted her head.

Her expression became one of genuine confusion.

”...Boss?”

Blake repeated the word as well.

He looked between Gena and Ezra several times.

”...Boss?”

Gwen quietly muttered to herself.

Her brows slowly rose.

”...Boss?”

Even the maids exchanged confused glances before looking back toward their young lady.

None of them understood where that title had suddenly come from.

Gena looked around at everyone’s puzzled expressions.

Then...

She simply shrugged.

”You all don’t know. Gosh... how many times do I have to say this.”

She casually pointed toward Ezra with her thumb.

”Ezra and I go way back.”

A smug smile appeared on her face.

She looked strangely proud while saying those words.

Blake’s eyes immediately widened.

”Seriously?”

He looked at Gena with open amazement.

The daughter of House Miles...

Was actually this close to his idol?

”Yeah.”

Gena nodded confidently.

”But...”

Her smile slowly faded.

She turned toward the maids.

Her playful expression became much more serious.

”I’m the only daughter of House Miles.”

She quietly placed one hand over her chest.

”For the past several weeks... I’ve done nothing except watch Father and Mother suffer because of this stupid debt.”

She lowered her eyes.

The frustration hidden inside her voice became impossible to miss.

”We’re only fortunate... because House Orvain and House Miles have maintained a friendly relationship for years.”

She clenched one fist.

”That’s the only reason that woman gave our family a much more forgiving repayment method.”

She didn’t even try hiding the hatred in her voice.

”But...”

She slowly raised her head again.

”I don’t want to keep sitting inside this mansion doing absolutely nothing.”

She looked directly at Ezra.

”Especially now... when I finally know there might actually be a way to solve this.”

Her eyes carried complete determination.

The maid closest to her sighed softly.

She hadn’t expected this.

”Youth Lady Gena...”

She gently called.

”Even if everything Sir Ezra said turns out to be correct...”

She carefully chose her words.

”...wouldn’t it be much safer to report everything to the Lord first?”

She looked at Gena with obvious concern.

”Wouldn’t it be better for the adults to handle something this dangerous?”

Her voice became softer.

”Please... Don’t act recklessly.”

”I’m not.”

Gena immediately walked over.

She gently held both of the maid’s hands.

Then...

She looked directly into the older woman’s eyes.

”I’m a proud Gun Alchemist of Ash.”

Her voice became calm.

Yet...

Every word carried conviction.

”My blood runs with steel.”

A faint smile appeared across her face.

”So... Why should I fear danger?”

Before the maid could answer...

Gena took several steps backward.

She raised one arm and confidently pointed toward Ezra.

”And I also have the Rank Six of the Trial of Steel beside me.”

She smiled brightly.

”As long as I’m with him... I’ll be fine.”

Her answer came without the slightest hesitation.

The waiting room became quiet once again.

The maids slowly looked toward Ezra.

Then...

Back toward Gena.

The maid standing closest to her quietly lowered her eyes.

Young Lady...

You really trust him that much...

One after another...

Old memories quietly surfaced inside their minds.

They remembered how excited Gena became whenever Ezra accomplished something.

How she constantly told the Lord and Lady Miles stories about the Seventh Trial.

How she proudly described Ezra’s cool moment in the second trial.

How she repeatedly spoke about everything she had learned from him.

Back then...

They simply thought their young lady admired a talented boy.

Now...

Watching her stand there without the slightest doubt...

They finally understood.

Ezra hadn’t merely helped Gena become a stronger Alchemist.

He had quietly helped her mature as a noble.

The confidence.

The courage.

The willingness to shoulder responsibility.

Those qualities hadn’t appeared by chance.

Young Lady Gena...

Has truly grown.

Every maid quietly smiled to themselves.

Ezra watched the entire exchange in silence.

His blank expression never changed.

Originally...

He had only intended to bring Lucy with him.

Too many people would only make moving around more troublesome.

However...

After listening to everyone’s thoughts...

He quietly reconsidered.

Each of them had a reason for wanting to come.

More importantly...

This investigation involved their own families.

Keeping them completely in the dark wouldn’t necessarily help them, and he didn’t see the reason for him to completely shoulder the Barons of Velcryon’s problem by himself.

After organizing his thoughts...

Ezra calmly shifted his gaze.

”What about you, Blake?”

His expressionless eyes rested on the young inventor.

Waiting for Blake’s own decision rather than making it for him.

”Of course.”

Blake answered almost immediately.

”I want to go.”

His reply carried no hesitation.

”I finally have a chance to do something for my family instead of just standing around watching.”

His voice wasn’t loud, but the determination behind it was obvious.

Even so...

After speaking, he instinctively turned toward Gwen.

He quietly watched her expression.

More than anyone else...

He knew she would be worried about him.

After everything that had happened in Cryden Town, asking her to follow him into another dangerous situation was asking a lot.

Gwen noticed his gaze.

She didn’t answer immediately.

Instead...

She quietly stared back at him.

Her brows slowly drew together as countless thoughts ran through her mind.

Should I stop him...?

Or should I let him go...?

She carefully weighed every possibility.

If she refused...

Blake would probably find another way to sneak out.

If she agreed...

At least she could remain beside him.

Several long seconds passed before she finally sighed.

”Ahhh...”

She rubbed her forehead helplessly.

There was no perfect answer.

”We’ll follow.”

She finally gave in.

”But...”

Her eyes immediately shifted toward Ezra.

”You must guarantee our safety.”

Her expression became serious.

”Neither Young Master nor I are Alchemists like the rest of you.”

She honestly stated the biggest concern on her mind.

”I’m an Alchemist too.”

Lucy suddenly raised one hand.

She proudly puffed out her chest.

Gwen blinked.

”Huh?”

Her eyes immediately widened.

She slowly looked Lucy up and down again.

Almost as though she were seeing her properly for the first time.

”Wait...”

Her memories suddenly connected together.

”Is that why...”

She pointed toward Lucy.

”...you were able to carry Young Master Blake like he weighed almost nothing?”

She paused.

Another memory immediately surfaced.

”No...”

Her eyes widened even more.

”You also defeated those thugs so easily.”

She quietly covered her mouth.

”I can’t believe I only realized this now.”

Lucy couldn’t help smiling proudly.

She placed one hand over her chest.

”Don’t worry, Gwen.”

She spoke confidently.

”This time... I’ll protect you.”

Her smile carried complete confidence.

It wasn’t arrogance.

She genuinely believed she could keep her friend safe.

Gwen looked at her for several seconds.

Then...

A small smile finally appeared.

”...Thank you.”

She quietly answered.

Blake looked between Lucy...

Then Ezra...

Then Gena.

A bright smile slowly spread across his face.

”Wow...”

He laughed.

”We really sound like some kind of special operations unit preparing for a mission.”

His excitement quickly returned.

He leaned slightly forward.

”So...”

He looked toward Ezra.

”Is this what it’s normally like for combat Alchemists?”

Lucy couldn’t help chuckling.

”If only it were that simple.”

She laughed softly.

Just as Blake was about to continue asking more questions...

”Young Lady Gena.”

A calm voice interrupted the room.

Everyone turned toward the entrance.

A middle-aged male servant had quietly entered the waiting room.

He respectfully bowed toward every young noble present before raising his head.

”The Lord and the Mistress have returned.”

He calmly reported.

Gena’s eyes immediately brightened.

”Dad and Mum are back!”

She excitedly turned toward Ezra.

The cheerful smile she wore returned once again.

”Ezra.”

She looked at him with sparkling eyes.

”You have to meet my parents.”

She clasped both hands together.

”I really want them to meet you.”

Her voice became noticeably softer.

Almost pleading.

Having known Ezra for quite some time now...

She had already prepared herself for rejection.

After all...

Ezra rarely enjoyed unnecessary social interactions.

He usually preferred finishing whatever work he came to do before quietly leaving.

That was exactly why...

She unconsciously looked at him with hopeful eyes.

Trying her best to persuade him before he even answered.

Ezra quietly looked back at her.

”This is your parents’ home, Gena.”

His tone remained as calm as ever.

”So naturally... We should greet the owners of the house. It’s basic etiquette.”

His answer immediately surprised Gena.

”...Eh?”

She blinked several times.

”I thought...”

She awkwardly scratched her cheek.

”...you wouldn’t want to.”

A teasing smile slowly appeared on her face.

”You’re usually so nonchalant whenever etiquette gets involved.”

The moment those words left her mouth...

Ezra slowly narrowed his eyes.

Gena instantly froze.

Her body unconsciously stiffened.

Old memories immediately resurfaced.

Back during the Trial...

Every single time she teased Ezra too much or complained about an exercise...

He would calmly flick her forehead.

And surprisingly...

Those flicks hurt far more than she wanted to admit.

Almost instinctively...

She quickly covered her forehead with both hands.

”I didn’t say anything!”

She hurriedly took several steps backward.

Then...

She turned around and quickly ran toward the entrance before Ezra could react.

”You maids!”

She suddenly stopped at the doorway.

Turning around dramatically...

She pointed toward every maid inside the waiting room.

”Everything we talked about here...”

She spoke in an unusually serious tone.

”...stays inside this room. Don’t tell anyone.”

She firmly ordered.

Every maid immediately bowed.

”Yes, Young Lady.”

Only after receiving their answer did Gena happily run out of the room.

Lucy quietly watched her disappear.

”...She really talks a lot.”

She softly muttered.

Ezra silently agreed.

Not long afterward...

One of the maids quietly approached Ezra once again.

Now that the discussion had finally ended...

She assumed their guests would like some refreshments.

She politely bowed.

”Sir...”

Her voice remained gentle.

”Would you like any snacks now?”

Ezra looked toward the beautifully arranged refreshments on the nearby serving table.

Then...

He calmly shook his head.

”I’m fine.”

His voice remained flat.

”But...”

He quietly pointed behind himself.

”You can bring something for her.”

The maid followed his finger.

She looked toward Lucy.

A gentle smile appeared on her face.

”Certainly.”

She turned toward Lucy.

”What would you like, Miss?”

Lucy smiled politely.

”The small chocolate bars, please.”

She answered without hesitation.

They had already caught her attention several times while everyone was talking.

The maid gave a respectful nod.

”Of course.”

She gracefully walked toward the serving table before carefully arranging several neatly wrapped chocolate bars onto a small porcelain plate.

Not long afterward...

She returned and respectfully presented them to Lucy.

Lucy happily accepted the plate with both hands.

”Thank you very much.”

She smiled warmly.

The maid bowed once again before quietly stepping back to her position, allowing the waiting room to return to its peaceful silence while they waited for Gena to return with Lord and Lady Miles.