Gun of Ashes

Chapter 456: Chapter 75 Funeral_2

This is no ordinary trapped beast before me; he is Lorenzo Holmes, a demon hunter who survived the Night of the Holy Arrival, bearing the strange Pseudo Holy Grail. If Lorenzo chooses the worst option, this place might be engulfed in flames the next second.

”Calm down, Lorenzo.”

Arthur timely said.

”What are you planning to do next? Catch me? Then dissect me thoroughly?”

Lorenzo’s eyes were filled with distrust.

Perhaps because of this mysterious identity, when this point was touched, Lorenzo completely lost his previous composure.

”We just want to confirm whether the Pseudo Holy Grail is really on you.”

Arthur’s voice boomed, then his tone softened again, explaining his stance.

”Lorenzo, the premise of cooperation is trust. We of the Purification Mechanism do not care about your past. Even now, you are still a member of the Purification Mechanism. The Evangelical Church declaring war on you is declaring war on us.”

With Arthur’s soothing, Lorenzo took a deep breath, trying hard to calm himself, and then a severe pain erupted in his mind, as if someone was forcibly prying open his skull.

”But you hid the Pseudo Holy Grail. According to Anthony, that was an evil anomaly from the Night of the Holy Arrival. Most participants died that night, and even now, the Evangelical Church is unclear about its power... it’s very dangerous.”

”So, what do you want to do?” Lorenzo asked.

”Cooperate with us to contain this potential danger... or rather, you.”

Arthur slowly raised his finger, pointing at Lorenzo.

”No... wait a minute.”

Strangely, it was Anthony who interrupted, looking at Lorenzo, seemingly realizing something, and then asked again.

”Lorenzo Holmes, I want to ask you a question again.”

In those cold eyes reflected Lorenzo’s face, he seemed to see through everything.

”Who do you think you are?”

”Number 042.”

Lorenzo replied without hesitation.

First, there was silence, then Anthony sighed, his eyes filled with the previous pity.

”So, you’re not deceiving us, right?”

This sentence was like a sharp sword, viciously piercing Lorenzo’s heart. Clearly, it was nothing, yet he felt an ineffable coldness.

”What... do you mean?”

This sentence could mean so many things, and Anthony slowly said.

”This isn’t deception. You think of yourself as 042, not 047. You believe 047... your original self, is dead?”

Anthony made a shocking conclusion, and in an instant, Lorenzo’s mind went blank.

”Did Lorenzo make an error in self-perception?”

Merlin suddenly said.

”For some reason, Medanzo... 047, imagined himself as a non-existent demon hunter numbered 042. After perceiving himself as 042, 042, that is, Mr. Lorenzo Holmes, you think the original you was someone else, someone who died on the Night of the Holy Arrival.”

”No... what are you talking about? I am 042! I’m here, alive and kicking! I am the best proof of myself!”

Lorenzo retorted, somewhat unable to accept it.

”But you are 047! Look at these documents; to prepare for this conversation, we brought all the information about you, from your childhood joining the Evangelical Church to the outbreak of the Night of the Holy Arrival. All this information can piece together a complete life!

The life of demon hunter number 047!”

Anthony reprimanded.

”According to your statement, 042 and 047 were friends, and 042 was also a Medanzo demon hunter... but actually, none of these documents mention the existence of a person 042. Our records in the Demon Hunting Order have never used number 042.”

”So you’re saying I’m crazy?”

Lorenzo stood up angrily, like a caged beast fighting back.

”I’ve imagined myself as someone else! A non-existent person!”

”Isn’t that right, 047?”

Anthony continued.

”Actually, it can be easily proven, look at those photos, and recall everything about the Night of the Holy Arrival.”

Scattered on those files were photos, each featuring the same person; the only difference was the age at the time of the shot. They pieced together, building a boy growing up, who is now questioning everything.

”If you think you are 042, then what were you doing on the Night of the Holy Arrival? 042!”

Anthony demanded, high and mighty, that night was a nightmare, a night Lorenzo would never forget, where his life completely turned around, he personally killed Medanzo, taking over that forbidden Pseudo Holy Grail.

”Static Holy Temple was out of control, Medanzo guarded the Gate of the Celestial Kingdom, intercepting demons trying to break through, while I was at...”

Lorenzo’s words of recollection suddenly stopped.

”I...”

It seemed as if an invisible hand gripped his heart, all the recent anger and confusion dissipated in an instant, leaving only an inexplicable fear.

The fear of existence itself, this long life, the presumed anger, all of it... it was all just a madman’s fantasy.

”Speak, 042.”

Anthony emphasized 042’s name deliberately, continuing to press Lorenzo.

”I was at that time...”

Lorenzo slowly raised his hand, forcefully covering half his face, memories he didn’t want to face, memories that had been forgotten, were now brutally ripped open, exposed without reservation.

”I was in Seven Hills dealing with the remaining demons, finally meeting up with Medanzo who broke out of the Static Holy Temple...”

”But the Medanzo demon hunters were all stationed outside the Saint Nalos Cathedral, guarding the Gate of the Celestial Kingdom after the outbreak on the Night of the Holy Arrival, blocking those demons, so why were you acting alone?”

Anthony recounted the whole process, in the face of the real story, Lorenzo’s words were fragmented.

”Split personality? Due to the Pseudo Holy Grail... or something else, 047’s personality split into one named 042, and 042 killed 047.”

Percival suddenly remarked, her voice always so light. It seemed so out of place in this serious meeting.

”Percival!”

Gawain said sternly, trying to keep Percival silent.

”It’s not impossible. Due to erosion, such cases are many in Black Mountain Hospital...”

Percival wanted to say more, but seeing Gawain’s solemn gaze, she could only fall silent.

But her suggestion indeed has such a possibility. From this conversation, it shows that Lorenzo seemed not to intend to deceive everyone but actually had an error in recognizing his identity.

”Answer my question, 042, why is that?”

Anthony continued his pursuit, then without waiting for Lorenzo to answer, he threw out another question.

”Then you said you killed Medanzo, but why are you using his Silver Binding Bolt?”

Suddenly everything went quiet, Lorenzo stared blankly at Anthony, his gaze rigidly shifting.

”You say... the Silver Binding Bolt...”

”As a demon hunter, you should know the use of the Silver Binding Bolt. It not only restricts the powers of you demon hunters; through the Static Holy Temple, when you break through the critical point, we can determine your location through it.”

At this point, Anthony’s sidelong glance observed Arthur’s reaction.

”But a few days ago, the Static Holy Temple detected the reaction of the Silver Binding Bolt of 047, located in the north of Old Dunling... if you claim to have killed 047 yourself, then what about this response report?”

Leaving Lorenzo no room for counterattack, Anthony delivered the final blow.

”You should know, the Silver Binding Bolt cannot be removed.”

The priest completed the last prayer and, under the watch of the family, the last shovel of dirt covered the coffin of 042.

seemed to have lost the ability to speak, standing there dejectedly, the beautiful dream shattered, revealing a cruel reality.

”Medanzo, you have been eroded by the Pseudo Holy Grail.”

Anthony looked at this demon hunter who had fought his entire life with pity.

”Fallen into this prolonged madness, so long that even this maddening nightmare was regarded by you as normal.”