Gun of Ashes

Chapter 479: Chapter 88: Purely Human

”Lorenzo de’ Medici...”

The man turned the chair towards the window and gazed at the seemingly ever-present curtain of rain, whispering that ancient name.

When someone has lived too long, those past memories become unfamiliar, and now recalling them feels like a misconception, as if they were memories from another person.

The Plague Doctor gently pushed the door open, creating a crack, and he curiously watched Lawrence, who had been acting strangely since a few days ago, always whispering that old name in empty rooms.

”Plague Doctor.”

Lawrence suddenly spoke, seeming aware that the Plague Doctor was right by the door.

The Plague Doctor didn’t conceal himself and directly pushed the door open, walking in.

”What are you muttering about?” the Plague Doctor asked.

If everything wasn’t progressing as expected, the Plague Doctor might have thought Lawrence was having some mental issues, though it wouldn’t be unusual if he did, considering Lawrence had returned to life in such a profoundly forbidden way.

A young and strong body, after so much effort, he had finally freed himself from that prison of flesh.

”A friend... mentor... enemy...”

Talking about that person, Lawrence’s gaze became very complex.

”That Lorenzo de’ Medici?” the Plague Doctor asked.

He recognized the name, that great Cardinal Medici who led the Evangelical Church into its Golden Era, yet with his downfall, that fascinating era collapsed. He was undeniably a legendary figure in the Church’s history, but with his death, his deeds gradually fell into obscurity, and no one remembered them anymore.

Lawrence nodded, feeling somewhat proud and fortunate.

”I lived in the same era as him, witnessing his rise and fall firsthand.”

The reminiscence seemed to have stirred his memory, and the young face bore a melancholy that did not match his age.

The Plague Doctor sharply noticed the difference in Lawrence, who was a very arrogant person. Despite his humble facade, the Plague Doctor knew this was the pride of an Upper-Rank individual.

Having learned of his death, Lawrence became fearless, as if nothing in the world could shake his spirit, yet when speaking of that ancient name, Lawrence showed rare awe, a genuine reverence.

”But he’s dead, isn’t he?” the Plague Doctor said.

In that burning night, it wasn’t just the old Order that perished, but also that great man whose life was so legendary, deserving a splendid finale, but it ended effortlessly without anything more.

But then the Plague Doctor realized something, the eyes under the bird-beak mask guardedly watching Lawrence.

The cause of Cardinal Medici’s death was unclear, but it was speculated that he died on the Night of the Holy Arrival, and the culprit of that night was right before his eyes.

”Did you kill him?”

After a long silence, Lawrence nodded slightly.

The Plague Doctor froze in place, the mask hiding his expression, the thick clothing isolating all his reactions. Despite maintaining a calm facade, he felt deep dread towards Lawrence.

He had collaborated with Lawrence for a long time, two monsters plotting evil deeds—Holy Grail Flesh, Revelation, inferior Secret Blood... The Plague Doctor had already witnessed too many sins, more than he had ever imagined, yet sometimes he felt grateful to Lawrence, as without this madman, he might never have obtained that knowledge.

But even so, these secrets were not all there was to Lawrence. The future he saw, the reasons for the Night of the Holy Arrival, and killing Cardinal Medici...

”He was a great man who could lead an era... You could say he created me.”

Lawrence couldn’t help recalling the past fondly, speaking softly.

He couldn’t resist smiling.

”Plague Doctor, without him, I might have died decades ago.

He was a very ambitious fellow... The world is never short of ambitious people, but he was different from anyone I’ve met; he truly wanted to build a great and never-ending Golden Era.”

Lawrence gazed at the hazy rain, which showed no signs of stopping, as the countless strands of rain covered every part of Old Dunling, cleansing the murky air, purifying the tainted world.

”Plague Doctor, you haven’t engaged with him firsthand, you can’t imagine his terror, that guy is pure human, with pure will.

He secretly controlled the entire Evangelical Church, even the Pope became a pitiful puppet, but this wasn’t enough, it was far from enough for him, and in the end, he reached his hand towards the Demon Hunting Order.”

All of Florence was under the shadow of Cardinal Medici, but Lawrence felt the sky was radiant back then.

”I was chosen, at that time, I had just become a Demon Hunter, and he secretly supported me, making me the Dean and even broke the Church’s iron rule, allowing me to become a Cardinal. Thus, he tightly grasped the entire Florence.”

”You... admire him?”

Surprisingly, that’s the only emotion the Plague Doctor could feel in Lawrence’s words.

”Of course, I owe all I have today to him. Though I became his puppet, at least I’m still alive... I might be the longest-living Demon Hunter,” Lawrence changed his words, asking meaningfully, ”Do you know the fate of those Demon Hunters?”