Gun of Ashes

The pitch-black carriage slowly stopped in front of a mansion, and Lorenzo sat inside, his gaze passing through the window, catching sight of the exquisite splendor.

After careful selection, Lorenzo identified his target as a baron named Abel, who, because of the wealth left by his commercial ancestors, still lived a life of enviable luxury in Old Dunling, despite being a useless person.

The reason Lorenzo confirmed it was him was due to the baron’s indiscreet private life. It’s said he had been through several wives, not to mention countless lovers. Of course, this doesn’t prove anything; what truly made Lorenzo focus on him were his wives.

According to the information provided by Bola, this Baron Abel had several dealings with Hughes in the past, where he employed a lot of Exiled People from the southern Gaulunaro at especially cheap rates. Contrary to the anticipated discrimination, some of those Exiled People became Abel’s wives, but most did not live long before dying.

Several wives and lovers… Lorenzo instantly concocted a narrative of tens of thousands of words. If he really was the next person the Demon sought revenge on, then all of this would make perfect sense.

A poor girl came to Old Dunling for a living, only to be brutally killed under the baron’s oppression. Her admirer would stop at nothing, even becoming a Demon, to rush to Old Dunling to avenge her... A clichéd love story, yet very plausible.

”Baron Abel’s economic situation has always been declining. He can’t bear to give up that luxurious lifestyle, yet cannot afford those expensive commissions, so most of his servants are those Exiled People. Cases like this are common. They are a vulnerable group, and in his hands, these people are like slaves from hundreds of years ago.”

Bola said blandly, unwilling to delve into it further. This was Ingwig’s dark side, even he felt oppressed and saddened by it.

”He isn’t the only one employing those Exiled People, right?”

Lorenzo asked.

”Yes, but a more important reason is that Baron Abel’s wife has recently died. If the Demon really is a clichéd love story as you suspect, it’s probably because of his wife.”

”The woman he admired just died without a clear reason… Perhaps that would be a reason to become a Demon. But before formally confirming, we should still have a talk with this baron.”

Lorenzo pushed open the car door and strode out. Behind the Purification Mechanism was all of Ingwig, making it easy for him to break into a baron’s home.

Bola walked ahead. This time, however, he wasn’t wearing a mask. After all, compared to his true appearance, what truly made people remember ”Bola” was that mask. Without it, he was like a nobody. No one would expect the ruler of the Lower City District to look like this.

Joey followed behind them. The group pushed open the iron gate of the mansion just like that.

Just as Bola’s intel had indicated, Baron Abel’s economic situation was clearly not very optimistic. Upon entry, the place felt empty. Lorenzo couldn’t even spot a few servants. Weeds were everywhere; it seemed the baron spent all his remaining money on pleasures.

”Do you think he will cooperate with us?”

On the way, Lorenzo suddenly thought of this matter and asked Bola.

Although he hadn’t met Baron Abel, an annoying character already surfaced in Lorenzo’s mind. While asking Bola aloud, privately, his hand was already gripping the Winchester tightly.

In Lorenzo’s not too long or short professional life, he had encountered many people: good people, bad people, adults, minors, men in skirts, women with bow ties, and many strange individuals.

The saying goes, a hundred people have a hundred appearances, but Lorenzo believes that regardless of a person’s personality or different languages, there’s at least one thing common to humans, to all life.

That is fear.

The fear of death is the international language.

Seemingly sensing Lorenzo’s malice, it’s understandable. Even if all this speculation was wrong and had nothing to do with the baron, his damned behavior still disgusted Lorenzo. Sometimes the detective would not hide his malice towards others.

”He will cooperate with us. In fact, if necessary, half of Old Dunling’s nobles would listen to us.”

In Lorenzo’s skeptical gaze, Bola was incredibly confident.

Bola was the ruler of the Lower City District, but in reality, he was just a puppet. The true rulers of the Lower City District were the Purification Mechanism and Queen Victoria residing in the Platinum Palace.

Countless nobles from Old Dunling had once gone to the Lower City District, and everything they did there was meticulously recorded by Bola. These records could be used to control them when necessary, serving as evidence for judgment.

”If Baron Abel doesn’t want to lose his noble title, he’d better confess honestly.”

Bola smiled slightly, but that smile sent shivers down the spine.

On the surface, the nobles ruled Old Dunling, but in reality, the power of control had always been firmly held by Queen Victoria.

Lorenzo glanced at Bola, couldn’t help but think these political people were all dirty-minded. Yet, at the same time, he gained a new understanding of this machine called the nation.

Behind the Purification Mechanism was all of Ingwig, which had the world’s most perfect and powerful industrial technology. What Lorenzo saw now was far from the essence of this world. In the darkness lay even more dangerous things yet to make their entrance.

Pushing open another large door, there was not even anyone to stop Lorenzo. The smell of alcohol and luxury assaulted his senses, as if wealth were rolling in the air, so thick it was nearly nauseating.

”Seems like this baron is even more extravagant than we thought. Truly enviable.”

Looking at those pale bodies sprawled across the carpet and sofa, Lorenzo said, not sure if he felt envy or sarcasm.

Bola shot a sidelong glance at Lorenzo, then began to cough forcefully.

The flames in the fireplace had long died out, with only embers emitting a slight warmth. Old Dunling’s winter was harsh, and those pale bodies looked like they had been sleeping here all night. It’s hard to say how much they drank, still not waking despite the cold.

The heavy coughing obviously didn’t wake these people, and with some reluctance, Lorenzo raised his Winchester. Before Bola could stop him, he pulled the trigger, the thunderous gunshot startling everyone awake in an instant.

The girls, wrapped in blankets with bleary eyes, seemed confused about what was happening. But soon, they saw those men standing at the door, dressed in black like Death Gods, screamed shrilly, and ran away wrapped in blankets.

”What’s going on?”

A man lazily crawled up from behind the sofa, swearing and cursing, but soon felt the cold touch on his forehead. His sleepy eyes gradually opened, and then he was fully awake.

The Winchester pointed at his forehead, Lorenzo asked with a disgusted face.

”Baron Abel?”

Abel nodded emphatically, not even having time to pull up his trousers.