Gun of Ashes

Admittedly, he is indeed quite similar to Lorenzo, but the difference lies in that Heracles doesn’t possess the same formidable combat power as Lorenzo; he relies solely on his brain, making him more cautious, alert, and prudent than Lorenzo.

”So many kinds?”

Lorenzo never imagined there’d be so many types of hallucinogens, but Heracles refuted.

”It’s not the types; they are all hallucinogens made by the same producer. It seems he is using people as experimental subjects. These different packages are merely different iterations.”

Heracles pointed to the labels on these hallucinogens, indicating different dates when they were discovered.

”We can see that the producer’s experiments are quite successful; their progress is fast, the iterations swift, up until this latest version.”

He pointed to the end, where a new glass bottle held a splendid liquid.

”How did you discover these?”

With more conversation, Heracles gave Lorenzo more surprises; this mortal managed to deduce secrets fiercely guarded by the Purification Mechanism.

”Inferior Rats initially reported people going mad from the hallucinogens... this is quite common. I’ve heard even more absurd tales from the Inferior Rats, like someone took hallucinogens and under hallucination stripped naked and ran into a furnace.”

Heracles laughed; amidst this vast information, listening to some ridiculous stories was Heracles’ source of joy.

”I didn’t pay attention, as the data I needed to compile was too vast, and I naturally ignored some of it until the variable’s issue became apparent. More and more Inferior Rats began reporting these issues. Later, I disguised as a wanderer and witnessed these myself, and started taking this eerie substance seriously.”

”Its evolution is swift, and in recent generations, it’s capable of turning people into monsters—bloodthirsty monsters. But each time it appears, it’s slaughtered and cleared by you guys as if nothing ever happened.”

Heracles’ tone was peculiar.

Lorenzo asked, ”You suspect us then?”

”Indeed, some mysterious official force covertly uses people from the Lower City District for some experiment. It’s too fitting for a conspiracy theory. At one point, my sense of justice overflowed, and I even prepared enough evidence to lead the Lower City residents to rebel.”

Heracles’ voice suddenly stopped. After a moment of silence, he continued.

”But later, I found out you were not accomplices but also investigating these. Sabo’s death is proof; early on, I discovered his involvement with the distribution of these hallucinogens. And then the flames roared in the Heaven and Earth Palace, surrounded by the Forbidden Guard.”

Upon hearing this, Lorenzo felt a chill in his heart. Heracles had been attentive to these early on, alarmingly so—his mortal body gave him an excessively heightened sense of forewarning.

”Today, by utilizing me, you’re doing the same, right?” Lorenzo asked; behind all these coincidences was Heracles, pushing this chain of events.

”I discovered they were preparing to ship the final batch; this was my last opportunity to act. I used you—for a win-win, since you were investigating too, weren’t you? But just hours ago, you were not yet trustworthy, Mr. Holmes.”

Heracles continued, ”I wasn’t sure of your abilities. Alone, it was risky.”

”So you called for Suyalan Hall?” Lorenzo asked.

He nodded and said, ”Sheriff Donas has long yearned for promotion and needs to crack a big case. But if I directly gave him the intel, it might alarm him. That’s when I discovered a newcomer; she’s motivated and keen on solving the case...”

”You orchestrated all this through her?”

”Yes, to avoid drawing attention. I intentionally released news that Inferior Rats knew the information.”

”She thought she found the clue herself, though little did she know that you released it intentionally.”

”When you have enough manpower, you can easily deceive anyone. I thought with you and the mounted police from Suyalan Hall, you could perfectly resolve these matters, but it seems I underestimated the evil of this hallucinogen.”

Lorenzo remained silent for a long time, seeming deep in thought.

Heracles was too clever; if not for no obvious anomaly in him, Lorenzo might have suspected he was also influenced by the Demon. Yet the effect seemed positive—he wasn’t mad, but instead became even more rational.

After a long pause, he asked again.

”How much more do you know? Or rather, with enough information, to what extent can you deduce?”

”Hmm...”

Heracles hugged Polo tightly in Lorenzo’s arms, cogitating carefully, and then chuckled, replied.

”All in all, your action, my deduction, we’ll be confined omniscience and omnipotence.”

Heracles plunged into the joy of finding kindred spirits; he was quite an odd person, although he claimed to resist darkness, he held no noble ideals nor tragic past.

He was merely someone driven by primal desires, indomitable curiosity, and that distorted control desire—a pure human.

Like those who fear not death, sailing into the storm. He craved neither wealth nor honor; Heracles was simply curious—curious about what lay beyond the sea.

”Then let’s start quickly, Mr. Holmes.”

Heracles said and cheerfully kicked open the kitchen door, but Lorenzo sat there and shook his head.

”Not yet, Heracles, I still have many things to do.”

”Like reporting the mission?” Heracles knew well the giant behind Lorenzo, the conversation wasn’t merely directed at Lorenzo but also the organizations behind him.

”Sort of...”

”Will you mention me to your superiors? How will you judge me? Trust is precious, and I don’t want once you leave, I’m caught and locked in a mental asylum.”

Heracles’ tone grew firm.

”If you’re afraid of these, you shouldn’t expose yourself.”

”But to satisfy my twisted curiosity, I’m willing to bear these risks.”

The two exchanged brief glances, then laughed, and Lorenzo slowly said.

”No, I won’t tell anyone about meeting you, but similarly, you’ve impressed me, Heracles, I do indeed need someone like you.”

Heracles’ gaze carried some doubt, and his rapidly spinning brain soon realized something; his smile turned peculiar.

”You have your little schemes too, don’t you?”

Lorenzo didn’t deny, nodded, ”Certainly, but if possible, I’d prefer that day not to come; after all, becoming enemies is always hard to accept.”

”Conflict between individuals and groups?” Heracles spoke words only they understood.

Lorenzo didn’t respond further but instead pulled out the embedded folding blade and left without looking back.

After Lorenzo’s departure, Kamu cautiously returned. Although he wasn’t present, judging from the state of those hooligans, it was all Lorenzo’s doing.

”They’ve sent another letter.”

Kamu gazed at Lorenzo’s departure direction, confirmed no one was nearby, took out a letter from his bosom, and handed it to Heracles.

”They really don’t give up, do they?”

Heracles glanced at the seal on the envelope; the melted wax formed a peculiar symbol, a mysterious eye within a triangle quietly gazing at the world.

”Burn it; I have no interest in them.”

Hearing Heracles say so, Kamu was stunned. Though working under Heracles only for a few days, he somewhat understood what this letter represented.

”Really?”

”Indeed, my curiosity and control desire are too warped, and they’re a group with secrets—do you think if I join, can I restrain my nature from exploring them, or can they relax and not guard against me?”

Heracles went on.

”Deducing not only unravels those secrets but also avoids harm.”

Kamu nodded in agreement. Though Heracles seemed not wealthy on the surface, he knew How terrifying Heracles’ wealth accumulation was, possibly why those people valued Heracles.

This tavern was indeed Heracles’ industry, but they hadn’t mentioned it during the conversation; it was merely one among Heracles’ many industries. Unlike Lorenzo deploying all his intellect against demons, Heracles optimized his talents to the fullest.

”They’ve existed too long; joining them grants mere shareholders, but now this is different. Investing in this detective... makes me a partner!”