Gun of Ashes

According to Eve’s logic, it does seem that way. With Lorenzo’s mindset at the time, he might have knocked down the blocking mounted police with one punch.

”Do I owe you thanks then?”

”Thanks are unnecessary; I’m a bit curious what you’re doing.” Eve said, frowning slightly. In this enclosed space, Lorenzo’s scent was intoxicating. ”Are you catching rats in the sewer?”

”Don’t mention it, it really is related to rats.” Lorenzo replied upon hearing this. ”Just a slightly complicated case.”

Eve nodded, not pressing any further.

Everything calmed down again, so calm it made Lorenzo quite uncomfortable. He thought about topics he could talk about and then asked.

”Did... Duke Phoenix agree to you becoming a detective?”

Lorenzo originally thought that after that incident, Arthur would send Eve far away, but he didn’t expect Arthur to give up on those ideas and let Eve pursue her dreams.

”More or less.”

Eve replied; no one knew how she convinced Arthur.

She didn’t seem to want to talk much with Lorenzo. The topic, which was hard to find, was gone again, and Lorenzo couldn’t bear it any longer.

”I’m sorry.”

”What?”

Eve looked at him with some curiosity, not understanding where Lorenzo’s sudden apology was coming from.

”I’m really sorry for having to sacrifice you at that time.” Rather than concealing it, it’s better to lay it all out.

”There’s nothing to apologize for; I can understand.” Eve answered earnestly. ”Moreover, I learned something.”

”What did you learn?”

”Don’t rely too much on others,” Eve said, ”It’s wrong to impose one’s desires on others.”

”That makes me sound like a jerk.”

”Weren’t you just that?” Eve continued.

”Lorenzo, you’re an excellent liar; sometimes your performance makes me forget your vile nature. However, this time I remained cautious.”

Eve said as she flicked the gun in her hand, ”Don’t overthink it. We’re all adults; there’s no need to be so sentimental.”

She said and pushed open the door.

”You can leave now.”

”What about the record?” Lorenzo asked.

”Like you said, we’re all familiar faces, just going through the motions.” Eve said.

This strange attitude made Lorenzo feel quite awkward. Although she said she didn’t care, Lorenzo could sense her coldness. As Pres once said, trust is a precious thing; an invisible wall had indeed formed between them.

The young girl is harder to deceive now.

Lorenzo sighed inwardly but obediently walked out.

Indeed, with humanity comes troubles. Lorenzo never used to care about others’ feelings. In his view, others were merely tools to assist him in hunting demons. But things are different now. Iron has melted into a heart of flesh and blood, and sometimes this damn guilt is unbearable.

”Can you... be a bit happier!” Lorenzo suddenly said.

Upon hearing Lorenzo’s words, Eve didn’t get angry but laughed instead, ”I say, Lorenzo, there should be a limit to shamelessness, right?”

”Last time we met, you almost killed me. I’ve already restrained myself enough by not detaining you for a few days, okay?”

On hearing this, the young girl indeed had become much more rational, otherwise, based on Lorenzo’s previous impression of her, she would have been ready to draw her gun and fire by now.

But she didn’t do any of those unreasonable things; she even went out of her way within her duty to give Lorenzo a break.

”Is this a love-hate relationship?” Lorenzo continued rambling. He liked to alleviate awkwardness using such shameless tactics, as if turning a very serious matter into something less serious.

Eve clearly had seen through Lorenzo’s game; this guy was always like this.

”So hurry up and scram, Lorenzo!”

Eve said as she kicked Lorenzo out of the Suyalan Hall’s door.

Lorenzo stood alone on the street, night was almost upon him, and the streetlights came on as if bidding farewell to the departing day.

Looking back at the Suyalan Hall, fortunately, things hadn’t blown up; otherwise, the one in trouble wouldn’t be Lorenzo but Pres because according to the report, he accompanied Lorenzo on this action.

Pres needed this job to make ends meet, but Lorenzo didn’t; he just needed something to find some fun, to fill the emptiness in his heart when he wasn’t killing demons.

Standing on the street, pondering briefly, Lorenzo came up with a new plan and headed towards the Lower City District.

After Lorenzo left, Eve also walked out of the Suyalan Hall. But this time she had taken off her police uniform and put on a wide coat. She looked like she was supposed to be going home after getting off work, but she walked the same path as Lorenzo, seeming to head to the same place.

What a surprise, Eve didn’t expect to meet Lorenzo today, at least not in this way.

The girl’s gaze carried a hint of coldness, though she claimed to be rational, she still wanted to shoot Lorenzo after all, the demon hunter wouldn’t die anyway, shooting him would serve as a good vent.

In Lawrence’s surprise attack, Eve’s world shattered into countless pieces. She had faced demons and stared directly at horrific things, but even then, Eve had the power to resist. Yet when facing Lawrence, it was a feeling of powerless despair.

In the dark depths of the sea, no one could save her, her last hope resting solely on Lorenzo. But at that moment, the demon hunter seemed unable to protect himself too, but... Eve still held some hope. Maybe Lorenzo would solve Lawrence by yelling something about love and peace?

But the miracle didn’t happen, Lorenzo had no intention of saving her, even intending to take her to Hell.

At that time, rather than feeling despair, Eve felt a sense of loss.

You’d think you were like brothers risking life together, jumping from a car, fighting demons side by side, only for this bastard to sell you out.

Afterwards, Eve reminisced about the situation; she had no reason to blame Lorenzo. The demon hunter was fighting to eradicate demons, and compared to that grand ideal, she was indeed insignificantly pitiful.

But then, someone she never expected appeared, Arthur took that fatal blow.

It was a tough decision. Lorenzo coldly killed everything for his grand ideal, while Arthur, who had been steadfast, betrayed everything and chose to save Eve.

It was from that moment, the world Arthur had always concealed finally presented itself before Eve, he could no longer hide it.

However, this time, the conversation between father and daughter wasn’t as intense as before, and at that moment Eve suddenly understood why Arthur had always wanted to send her away, realizing she was so close to that dark world.

At the end of the conversation, both sides made compromises; Arthur allowed Eve to pursue her dream of becoming a detective, and everything ended there. Arthur wouldn’t reveal anything related to that dark world, nor would she ask, they’d continue living as if nothing ever happened.

But Eve was never one to comply easily; she had her own ideas. She knew that dark world was somewhere in Old Dunling, she was about to find that gate.

She suddenly stopped, looking down at her palm.

Beneath her fair skin, one could faintly see the blue, she was human, yet there was something different in her blood.

Eve remembered what Lorenzo said about her. Her body had issues, although not the strong Secret Blood of demon hunters, it should be something close to Secret Blood, which was evident from Arthur, that damn God of evil spirits, yet that old thing wouldn’t say anything.

Her mentality was peculiar at this moment, hard to put into words, as if having a prolonged dream, now that this meticulously woven dream had shattered, she found herself in the cold wind, still ignorant of her essence.

Actually... maybe she was something like Captain Ingwig after all.

Female captain? Sounds quite powerful.

Although Arthur wouldn’t reveal those matters, nor allow her to ask, it didn’t mean Eve couldn’t uncover the truth herself. She stepped towards the Lower City District.

Despite the fears, Eve felt she had learned much that night, like sometimes her life could only be held in her own hands; hence, a firearm was concealed beneath that wide coat.

Putting on a hat, hiding her face in the shade, Eve didn’t have much time. If she returned too late, Arthur would certainly become suspicious.

But Eve had barely taken a few steps when a rat ran past her, a red pendant hanging on its tail.

Looking at the swiftly passing rat, her expression showed some hesitation. She then sighed, seemingly abandoning the plans she had set for the night, returning back properly, heading home.