Gun of Ashes

Arthur reorganized his thoughts, connecting the dots of Anthony’s every word and action, and then continued.

”I need to talk to him, where is he?”

In such a complex situation, Arthur hoped to end these matters in a bloodless manner.

...

”It’s been a long time, Mr. Holmes.”

Walking out of the strictly sealed conference room, amidst the gray-white corridor, a familiar alchemist waved to Lorenzo. Merlin was still wearing that somewhat tattered gray robe, as if he wore it all year round.

”Yes, it’s been a long time.”

Seeing Merlin made Lorenzo feel a little better. He couldn’t quite understand why Gawain was so indifferent to the exiles’ intelligence. What he didn’t know was that the Purification Mechanism had already collaborated with the exiles, but to ensure safety, this information was strictly sealed for now.

”You seem to have recovered well, no abnormalities with your body?”

More than the meeting of friends... if they could be considered friends, Merlin was more concerned about Lorenzo’s body. In this alchemist’s view, Lorenzo was a very perfect experimental subject. If Lorenzo didn’t refuse, Merlin would probably have a lot of strange things he’d want to try on Lorenzo.

”It’s alright, nothing else feels different.”

The sudden concern made Lorenzo uncomfortable, although he knew Merlin was asking just to study his body.

”It seems those flesh and blood have perfectly fused with you, truly incredible.”

Merlin looked Lorenzo over from head to toe. During the assassination of Lawrence, Merlin wasn’t present, but based on the thrilling written reports, he could imagine the peril of that moment.

According to the report from Selyu’s account, Lorenzo was actually dead at the time... or half-dead, anyway, in an almost impossible-to-survive state, yet he lived on. The Black Angel lost control and fell, killed Lawrence, who was controlled by the Holy Grail flesh, and then devoured Lorenzo. Following this, the demon hunter was reborn like a phoenix, descending back to earth.

The investigation into the Black Angel’s loss of control hasn’t yielded results, and the Armor of Original Sin known as the Black Angel has been sealed deep beneath the Perpetual Motion Pump ever since.

”Follow me.”

Merlin glanced around and motioned for Lorenzo to follow him.

Lorenzo hadn’t visited the Perpetual Motion Pump often, and whenever he did, he couldn’t move freely. As for this research institute built on the trunk of the Furnace Pillar, he never had a clear concept of its size.

As Merlin led the way, the land beneath continually extended. The more they advanced, the more Lorenzo could feel the vastness of the place.

Lorenzo recalled the people’s description of Old Dunling; they said the Mechanical Institute had hollowed out the underground of Old Dunling to build a huge mechanical system there. Initially, Lorenzo thought it was an exaggerated description, but as he gradually understood the underground world, he increasingly felt this wasn’t an exaggeration.

He couldn’t remember who told him that, saying this place was like a towering tree, with the Mechanical Institute, the Furnace Pillar, and the Perpetual Motion Pump vertically established together, penetrating the land known as Old Dunling.

”It reminds me of the Static Holy Temple.”

Lorenzo suddenly said.

”That demon hunter’s station?”

Merlin asked curiously upon hearing Lorenzo’s voice.

Lorenzo nodded, then continued.

”The Static Holy Temple is built beneath Saint Nalos Cathedral, like a shadow of its afterglory.”

”Someday, I’d love to visit it, the origin of the Demon Hunting Order.”

Merlin’s words revealed a longing.

”That’s not a nice place... Rather, I don’t want to return there, if possible, I wouldn’t want to go near Florence ever again.”

Lorenzo didn’t hide his loathing for his hometown.

”Why? After all, it’s the place where you were born.”

Merlin asked.

”Do you think such a simple thing can bind me? It’s just pure dislike.”

Lorenzo thought for a moment, then continued, ”It’s a sad place, and I don’t like it.”

”Wait, why am I telling you all this? Where are you taking me?”

Lorenzo suddenly came to his senses. Perhaps out of trust in the alchemist, he followed Merlin’s lead for quite a while but still didn’t know their destination.

”Soon, I only want you to cooperate, just conducting some research, and of course, a check on you.”

Merlin spoke with some concern.

”You know it yourself, right? Your resurrection isn’t a miracle, but it was the Holy Grail flesh that saved you. That fearsome vitality isn’t extinguished even by bombardments or oil burns; once free of Lawrence’s will, it grows like wild grass...”

Merlin’s steps suddenly halted, his tone filled with dread.

”If it weren’t for the subsequent events, the wildly growing Holy Grail flesh would proliferate and mutate like the demons we encounter, but it was ultimately fused into your body.”

He spoke while pointing at Lorenzo’s chest, warning him.

”Lorenzo, even though you seem fine now, in reality, you’ve merged the Holy Grail flesh successfully just like Lawrence. What distinguishes you from Lawrence is that the Holy Grail flesh has fully mixed with your body, exceeding Lawrence’s proportion in flesh and blood.”

These words made Lorenzo worry as well. He hadn’t considered these aspects much, but from Merlin’s viewpoint, it sounded horrifying.

”But luckily, you’re much younger than Lawrence. Your will can still maintain sanity, unlike him who was controlled by the primitive Holy Grail flesh.”

Merlin said as he stopped in front of an elevator, with the steel doors slowly opening, revealing a narrow space to the two.

”Come in.”

He stepped inside and called to Lorenzo standing outside the doors.

Lorenzo didn’t move, but instead looked at the elevator with suspicion. He was already in the Perpetual Motion Pump, so what was below?

In fact, he hadn’t mentioned that throughout the journey with Merlin, there was an unignorable sense of eeriness enveloping him. Merlin’s conversation occupied his attention, and he didn’t pay it much mind, but the strange feeling grew stronger.

After hesitating for a while, Lorenzo stepped inside. The narrow space slightly swayed, both of them remained silent until Lorenzo couldn’t help but ask.

”What’s below?”

”Hmm... Perhaps your savior.”

”Savior?”

Lorenzo was startled, and then the door opened, with dazzling light pouring down.

He squinted, forcefully enduring discomfort as he walked out of the elevator. After adapting, he realized he was in a massive underground space, resembling a workshop but lacking the sturdy defenses of one, as if temporarily established.

The steel frame supported the space, with personnel moving about, tracks and cables interwoven, accompanying the rotation of pulleys, lifting heavy objects one by one.

The scent of rust and blood mixed together, rushed into Lorenzo’s nostrils, with unknown red liquid flowing over his shoes, then cascading into drainage holes, heading towards undisclosed directions.

”After the incident, we’ve been researching the reasons for its loss of control, but we’ve gained nothing, and during that time, it wasn’t just you who was fused by the Holy Grail flesh, but also it.”

Listening to Merlin’s words, Lorenzo couldn’t help but look up at the sky, where countless chains and oddly shaped mechanical parts bound it. Black iron feathers interlocked, tightly enclosing the core. Under the strong lights, it resembled a finely crafted black egg.

”Truly a savior...”

Lorenzo gazed up at the Black Angel. It maintained absolute silence, as if it were a statue.