Gun of Ashes

Lorenzo walked straight to the bar. Although he wasn’t sure what the strange test was, ordering a bottle of wine was definitely a good start.

The bartender, with his handlebar mustache and friendly smile, served Lorenzo a drink and casually chatted with the new face, just like many ordinary bartenders would.

”Is it pouring outside?”

Lorenzo glanced at him, the window wasn’t far away, and he could see if it was raining.

”No... I just accidentally fell into the river,” Lorenzo explained.

”Killed a few people along the way, did you?”

Lorenzo paused his drinking motion. The bartender smiled, pointing at Lorenzo’s clothes on both sides, which had cuts from sharp weapons—marks left by Ban’er.

”Something like that, given how chaotic it is here.”

Lorenzo paused, making up a random excuse. This was the edge of the Lower City District, bordering the West City District, where all sorts of chaotic and bloody events could happen.

”Yes, it’s really chaotic, even strange creatures exist. I always thought they were some kind of demon.”

The bartender wiped an empty glass.

”Hmm... it seems you’re quite skilled, just like before. Truly impressive, I can’t even run a few steps without gasping for breath.”

He continued speaking but then stopped, seeing Lorenzo’s extremely alert gaze and his hand already holding the folding blade inside his jacket.

”Don’t be nervous, Mr. Lorenzo Holmes, it’s not the first time we’ve met, right?”

Upon hearing his words, Lorenzo was stunned, and the bartender’s face flashed through his mind, finally confirming his identity.

”Information broker?”

”Looks like you haven’t forgotten me.”

The information broker placed the cleaned glass aside and poured himself a drink.

”I actually thought you’d recognize me the moment you saw me, but unfortunately, maybe my disguise was too perfect.”

The information broker was completely different from when he was at the Rat Nest. Back then, he wore heavy clothing, his whole body covered in grime, but now his manner was elegant, attire immaculate, no one would suspect they were the same person.

”Perfect indeed, no one would associate you with that filthy guy back then.”

Lorenzo picked up the glass.

”Aren’t you afraid it’s poisoned? Or are you immune to poisons?” The broker asked as if testing Lorenzo’s abilities.

Lorenzo felt it was odd but still took a sip, then put down the glass.

”What exactly do you want to say?”

”Nothing much, just had many suspicions to confirm. Though I thought you might be willing to tell me directly, I still prefer the process of unraveling the mystery.”

The broker extended his hand in a friendly manner.

”Heracles Christie.”

Lorenzo hesitantly extended his hand to shake with Heracles, who had all the aspects Lorenzo disliked the most—unknown and uncontrollable.

”So you’re the Rat King?”

”How could that be? I’m just one of his information brokers,” Heracles said.

”Then, what are you doing here? And what about the test that Kamu mentioned?”

Lorenzo continued to ask, not wanting to play this strange unraveling game with Heracles, but Heracles seemed very pleased, continuing to spend Lorenzo’s patience.

”You killed that creature... what do you usually call it? Although it’s not important, just a name, call it whatever you like.”

Heracles began to ask a question but then dismissed it himself, as if talking to himself.

”You made it out alive. I’ve seen such power, there’s really no chance to escape. Your presence here means you eliminated everyone in that den... and those creatures.”

Heracles’ eyes brightened up, and he asked excitedly.

”You’re just a human, yet you possess power that a human shouldn’t have. Truly intriguing, Mr. Holmes.”

”Are you a fanboy of mine?”

Sure enough, everything was orchestrated, Lorenzo had been used by them, and more frighteningly, from Heracles’ words, it was clear he knew about demons, but not much, only that they were monsters.

”No, I’m just a seeker curious about all the unknown.”

A seeker, that’s how Heracles described himself.

”I know you’re eager to know the reason behind all of this, and about the Rat King, but please be patient a bit longer, Mr. Holmes. I have a few things I want to initially confirm. After all, I wasn’t present at the scene where you were so formidable.”

Heracles’ speech sped up. Although he tried hard to restrain himself, Lorenzo could sense his excitement. This man was extremely happy, as if he had found some treasure.

He suddenly leaned over the bar, one hand on Lorenzo’s head, gesturing for him to look at the people behind him.

”I remember you’re a detective, aren’t you? What do you see?”

Heracles pointed at the silent drinkers, who seemed oblivious to what was happening, although just drinking, their eyes were sizing up the opposite side.

Lorenzo was somewhat resistant, but Heracles had indeed shown no hostility. He saw Lorenzo’s weapon, and yet approached unguarded. Since it had come to this, he might as well see what Heracles was trying to do.

”They... they are enemies.”

Lorenzo looked at the two groups, noticing the murderous aura he didn’t detect earlier, like a broken negotiation, as if they could start fighting at any moment.

”Yes, these people are always like this, negotiating here, and when negotiations break down, they start fighting. Sometimes people die, sometimes they smash the new tables I’ve bought, and sometimes blood splatters on me. But what I want to say is, they never compensate me for it.”

Heracles smiled while looking at Lorenzo.

”Are you really just a bartender?”

”Of course, otherwise, where would I get the money to pay the inferior rats who help me gather information?”

”So this is the final test?”

”To be precise, it’s a test. I know you can kill such creatures, but I don’t have a specific reference to understand to what extent.

Heracles stepped back, expectantly watching Lorenzo.

”These ordinary people reveal nothing... as a reference.”

Lorenzo’s power was too strong. In his eyes, killing an ordinary person and killing a fully armed warrior weren’t much different in difficulty. But he realized something unusual just as finishing his harsh remark.

His body was paralyzed, trying to get up from his seat became much harder, and when he looked up suddenly, Heracles was scribbling something down.

”I know your power is immense. I’ve witnessed it in the Rat Nest, so this time I wanted to impose some restrictions on you.”

”The drink was poisoned?”

Lorenzo shakily stood up, the strong physique of the demon hunter delayed his perception of danger. For an ordinary person, this paralysis would have been noticed earlier. But the demon hunter’s body ignored this just like a common cold, not taking it seriously. By the time Lorenzo realized, it was already too late.

”Not poison, just a regular dose of anesthetic.”

Heracles explained, ”Under such constraints, it should be easier to distinguish you from normal people, shouldn’t it?”

”Of course, it’s also a warning to you, Mr. Holmes.”

Heracles bent down.

”Don’t let your strength make you arrogant towards mortals. No, no, don’t rush to refute. I know you don’t feel superior, but you are still too confident in yourself, or rather, overly confident when facing a mortal like me.”

Heracles looked down on Lorenzo, warning him, yet he himself displayed a different kind of arrogance.

”Just like I said initially, I mentioned the drink might have poison, yet you drank it without hesitation... you’re too confident in your armor.”

Lorenzo glared fiercely at Heracles. Just as he was about to say something, the thugs behind him stood up; the test of confronting the Rat King had begun.