Gun of Ashes

Chapter 44: Chapter 32: Underground Palace Undercurrents

The speeding bullet crossed a vast distance, slicing through the pitch-dark passageway, with a thunderous roar like a funeral bell, piercing the demon’s body. But this was not merely the end; the spinning bullet tip was coated with Lorenzo’s blood, resembling fierce fire oil that ignited within the demon.

Blazing white flames burst from the twisted body, as if possessing a will of their own, the pure white fire tore through the demon’s flesh, scorching and carbonizing the fetid blood and meat. A weak flame ignited all the blood, growing increasingly intense.

At the dark end, Lorenzo seemed to be whispering something. He raised the shotgun, and with each pull of the trigger came dazzling firelight.

”Secret Blood Awakening at 3%, within stable range, mental judgment normal, Silver Binding Bolt remains intact...”

With eyes sparkling, Lorenzo whispered inexplicable words while shooting at the demon, quickly approaching.

Like magnificent fireworks, beneath the pure white cover the demon let out a piercing scream, likely the unextinguishable Holy Flame, swearing to burn all evil to ashes.

”Eve! Stay away!”

Lorenzo shouted, and Eve used all her strength to finally move away slightly. Then the demon fiercely crashed against the surrounding walls, charging towards Lorenzo. Unlike Eve’s location, this was a straight passageway, where the rampaging demon and Lorenzo were bound to collide, but Lorenzo seemed entirely unconcerned.

The hideous figure came with white flames, clashing with the dark silhouette in an instant. Only a flash of white light was seen as Lorenzo performed a slide and swept beneath the demon at the last moment, simultaneously raising the Staff Sword, its blood-stained blade like a torch of blazing sun, completely slashing open the soft abdomen, then endless white flames surged out, completely devouring the demon.

Lorenzo slowly climbed up, having not fought demons for many years, he suddenly felt much older. He didn’t even look back at the wailing demon, the burning figure lost its ability to move, it could only retch blood feebly and fall until it was completely burned to ashes by white fire.

”Can you still walk?”

Looking at the scarred girl, Lorenzo was somewhat surprised. He thought Eve would die at the demon’s hands. After all, for most encountering demons for the first time, this would be the most typical outcome. But evidently, Eve was somewhat different. This girl surprisingly wasn’t destroyed by the terrifying pressure, instead, she was inspired with the courage to wield her sword.

”I might have a fracture...”

Eve endured the pain and tears, struggling to climb up. Earlier, there was no retreat, so death seemed not frightening, but now Eve survived and instead felt an icy chill piercing her heart.

The feeling of surviving a great danger is truly complex.

”What was that exactly?”

Lorenzo supported Eve as they walked deeper into the darkness. Although Eve didn’t explicitly say what she was asking, Lorenzo knew what she meant.

”Forbidden technology from the old era... You saw it too, those demons run faster than leopards, stronger than bears, some even possess intelligence akin to humans, not to mention their incredibly hard-to-kill nature and their mind-shattering demonic traits.”

Sometimes Lorenzo found it funny. Compared to humans, demons seemed to be the most perfect creatures. Speaking casually, he supported himself with the Staff Sword, vigilant of the surrounding darkness.

”In the past, fighting demons entirely relied on human lives, it was truly a cruel era. To survive the night, humanity paid unimaginable prices, and this technology was the product of that cost.”

To win, the Order did things no better than demons, but as Lorenzo’s mentor said, some evils are necessary. Only through current cruelty can we ensure another part of humanity survives.

Though it sounded twisted, Lorenzo agreed. Even though he didn’t have much nostalgia for Florence, sometimes he still recalled that slightly neurotic mentor.

Both were somewhat hemorrhaging, but Lorenzo was stronger. As a person who came out of the Order, the training he underwent had long made him different from ordinary people, but Eve was different. Her face was pale, seemingly ready to collapse at any moment.

”There’s a sound of water nearby.”

Eve’s voice was a bit low, she was struggling to speak.

”I know, this should be near the drainage area. Keep your spirits up, Eve. You wouldn’t want to drown in the water next, right?”

He vigorously patted the girl’s face, feeling something ominous. Eve looked terribly unwell.

It was a spiral downward iron staircase, due to the humid air full of rust stains, emitting the smell of iron and seemingly a sour, rotten food smell in the murky air.

Lorenzo felt he seemed to have found the right place. In the Lower City District, something like this was called a drainage system nicely, but unpleasantly it was a sewer. Most of the community’s and factory’s waste was dumped directly down the drainage system, finally sent to the Thames River. In Old Dunling’s history, the Thames River once became a dead river, only gradually cleared again under strong measures from City Hall.

But clearly, the people in the Lower City District wouldn’t listen to City Hall. The thought of jumping into water mixed with everyone’s excrement made Lorenzo feel nauseous.

The raspy wails in the darkness continued, sometimes near, sometimes far, all from demons, countless demons. Most were gathering above the Underground Palace, trying to break through the soldiers’ defense line. As for a couple of demons Lorenzo encountered, they were probably unlucky, lost kids.

The danger remained, and no one could guarantee there were only two demons lost.

”Hold on, we’re almost there. We’ll float all the way to the Thames River, then be washed ashore. After this, you’re still Phoenix’s princess, I’m still a detective, no one will know we were here tonight.”

The Staff Sword fiercely slashed open the iron chains, then the sealed iron door opened with a sound, heavy stench flooding in at once, while the sound of rushing water was right before them.

Contrary to what they expected, beyond the iron door was a tiny dock, where a small wooden boat was stopped on the filthy river water.

”This is a top notch sign.”

Lorenzo shouted excitedly.

Though the Lower City District was chaotic and dirty, it was also filled with wealth. But wealth was one thing, being able to move it was another. Lorenzo originally thought this would be a narrow drainage system, if they were careless they could suffocate in it, but evidently, Sabo was considerate.

In the years managing the Underground Palace, he had expanded this place considerably, transforming it into an underground river, though not spacious, enough for a small boat to pass. It was a secret route to transport wealth out of the Underground Palace secretly. And considering the Thames River’s length, no one knew where it would appear.

”Let’s get out of here.”

Saying this, Lorenzo lifted Eve onto the boat, standing at the dock, he pulled out a booklet from his pocket, wrapped securely in several layers of clothing, then placed it on the boat.

”What’s that?”

Grabbing the clothes tightly, the girl felt cold due to bleeding and the humid air.

”Sabo’s billing records, I found it in the room behind the stained glass.”

Lorenzo explained to Eve.

”Tonight’s clues are far from enough, but with this, it’s different. Every manager has such a billing record, because once the number of subordinates rises, without a record, many expenditures would become chaotic, but a record can reveal too much.”

Standing by the shore, Lorenzo picked up the oar. It seemed this life-threatening night was finally about to end, although bleeding, the detective was extremely pleased.

But at this moment, an airflow surged in the dim and wetness, as if someone brushing their fingers along their heartstrings with a razor, it tightened up, then suddenly snapped.

The girl in front’s pupils slightly constricted, appearing to see something terrifying. Her mouth slightly opened, she tried to warn him, but her fatigue made her actions slow.

In an instant, all senses seemed to sharpen, the sound of water rushing, the wind brushing hair on the cheek, clearly hearing the heartbeat of a third person.

Lorenzo saw himself reflected in the girl’s pupils, and he saw something behind himself in that shadow reflection.

At that instant, Lorenzo made a decision. He initially had the chance to counterattack, but instead kicked the wooden boat, meanwhile, a sharp sword blade tore through his chest.

The girl screamed, dragging her exhausted body to save Lorenzo, but the boat carried her further and further, until vanishing into the dark depths.

”Could this also be luck this time, Mr. Lorenzo Holmes?”

The voice from behind sounded, Lorenzo smiled bitterly, holding the Thrusting Sword tightly. This strike should have pierced Lorenzo’s heart, but at the last moment his kick on the boat shifted somewhat, evading the fatal blow.

”Of course not, people need to stay alert, not solely rely on the Goddess of Fortune.”

”Is that so?”

That person said, then withdrew the blade, but no blood flowed out, seemingly that body named Lorenzo had long since bled dry.