Gun of Ashes

Chapter 493: Chapter 94 Elderly Care_2

”Go home?”

Such a phrase clearly did not suit Lorenzo. He was somewhat confused, and Bola immediately continued explaining.

”Cork Street 121A... taking you home, that’s it.”

...

The downpour was torrential. The pitch-black carriage stopped in front of 121A Cork Street. Through the window, one could see the light inside and the busy silhouette, much like the countless times before.

Lorenzo hesitantly stepped out of the carriage, not quite understanding what Bola was up to.

”If possible, don’t disappear anymore... at least tell someone before you vanish about what you’re going to do?” Bola said sitting in the carriage.

”Is this surveillance?”

”Of course, it’s unavoidable. You have something that might lead all of Old Dunling to its death, and we know nothing about it. Even you are unclear about that thing, and obviously, you are even less willing to cooperate with us.”

Bola spoke of the Purification Mechanism’s intentions.

”Hand you over to the Evangelical Church? That’s unlikely too. If we lock you in our prison, you certainly wouldn’t behave. You’re a troublesome hedgehog. Instead of all this fuss, it might as well be like usual, only with more eyes watching you.”

”Can’t you trust me a little more?” Lorenzo couldn’t help but ask.

Hearing this, Bola laughed out loud, more in mockery.

”Trust? How can I trust you? Lorenzo, it’s always been said you’re insane, and it turns out you really are. While you say you wouldn’t do something to endanger everyone, who truly knows your real thoughts?”

Bola couldn’t help but remember Lorenzo’s determination to die to kill Lawrence, a madman who didn’t even care for his own life to achieve his goals. And just how credible is a madman’s word?

”Lorenzo, to Ingwig, you are a stranger. To the Evangelical Church, you are a dangerous... traitor? Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter, you’re something both sides fear greatly.”

Bola took a deep breath and said with some helplessness.

”Do you know what we generally call people like you?”

”What kind of people?”

”Anarchist terrorist.”

Bola said as he closed the carriage door. He couldn’t be bothered with Lorenzo anymore, and neither was he prepared to listen to whatever assurances Lorenzo might offer. The carriage splashed through the water, disappearing rapidly into the rain.

Lorenzo watched the shadow vanish into the rain, then couldn’t help but look around. Bola had been very candid. At this moment, in some corner, there were pairs of eyes spying on Lorenzo... it seemed he needed to draw the curtains tight.

After standing in the rain for a while, Lorenzo then pushed open the door, trying his best to act like nothing had occurred, which was the best solution, pretending everything was normal.

”Hig... Lorenzo?”

He immediately bumped into the bustling Mrs. Van Rudd, who thought Hig had returned, but it was Lorenzo instead.

”I thought you’d go missing for many more days.”

Mrs. Van Rudd looked Lorenzo up and down, and upon realizing Lorenzo had returned in one piece, she felt relieved.

To think that this outsider Lorenzo had lived here for so many years, Mrs. Van Rudd had grown used to his comings and goings over time.

Watching her busy form again, Lorenzo had a strange feeling.

After all, setting aside those demonic things, Lorenzo did have an apparently normal life, although only seemingly so, but it brought a sliver of comfort to this man dwelling at the fringes of normal society.

”By the way, Lorenzo, someone came looking for you earlier.”

Mrs. Van Rudd suddenly remembered the visitor from some time ago, she raised her head and called out to Lorenzo.

”Familiar face?”

Lorenzo asked.

Though Mrs. Van Rudd wasn’t aware of the matters with the Purification Mechanism, she could recognize some familiar visitors by face, and from her brief description, Lorenzo could tell who had come.

”No, it was someone I’ve never seen.”

Quite unusually, Mrs. Van Rudd hadn’t seen that person, and she frowned tightly as if trying to recall that person’s look in detail, but strangely enough, she remembered nothing.

Suddenly, in the darkness of her memory, a pair of blazing white eyes flashed, reflecting Mrs. Van Rudd’s face in the burning pure white. This image flashed by, making her stand in place unconsciously.

A faint pain shot through her head, and the old lady rubbed her head vigorously.

”Hmm, I can’t remember, seems like I’m getting old, huh?”

Mrs. Van Rudd apparently didn’t take these matters to heart, attributing it to her progressively aging body.

Looking down at her own wrinkled hands, with blue veins protruding from the shriveled skin, ten years ago, these hands were also fair and smooth, but now they’ve become like this.

”Is that so...”

Lorenzo pondered, having set aside his previous gloom. Even a cold-hearted individual like him, who’ve lived here for so long, would have some feelings.

”You should consider retirement, though you’re already somewhat retired... find someone to take care of you, like Hig.” Lorenzo suggested.

”Are you saying I’m old and useless?”

”No, no, I absolutely didn’t mean that.” Lorenzo quickly replied.

Mrs. Van Rudd was a proud woman, who once danced, and attracted countless young men, like many beautiful girls, but she was different. She was also part of the Aerial Cavalry, descending from the sky to shoot the enemy’s head off.

She could mock herself, but didn’t like others saying it.

But this time, Mrs. Van Rudd’s anger dissipated quickly, and she sat down on the sofa beside, sighing.

”Though I don’t want to admit defeat, it has to be acknowledged, people can’t defeat time.”

She raised her head and continued,

”Actually, I have indeed considered retirement life.”

Unexpectedly, Mrs. Van Rudd would seriously discuss this with him, Lorenzo looked around, feeling that she should talk about this with Hig, yet Hig was obviously not home now.

Lorenzo obediently sat down, listening to the old lady’s grievances.

”So what’s your plan?”

”What else could it be, sell the house, then use the money to move to a small town in the countryside. Houses in Old Dunling are expensive, and that money would last me till I die, if I save a bit, maybe even hire a couple of handsome lads.”

Mrs. Van Rudd imagined those blissful absurdities, then forcefully knocked her knees.

”Old Dunling is a city that ages you, my injured leg can hardly bear this damn cold anymore.”

It was an old injury from her days in the Aerial Cavalry. With her aging, the ailments clung to her like Evil Ghosts.

Lorenzo rather agreed with Mrs. Van Rudd’s thoughts; Old Dunling was gloomy and damp, with the factory residues permeating the air. It’s a city suited for struggling, but definitely not for retirement.

”Sounds pretty good... wait, sell the house!”

Lorenzo suddenly realized something was amiss.

”Yes, sell the house, otherwise where would the money come from.”

”But... but...”

Lorenzo said, pointing towards the stairs, beyond which was his room, he was a bit speechless.

”Where will I live?”

”Not my business?”

All of Lorenzo’s words were rebutted, the old lady was sturdy in her stance. However, she then spoke with some sorrow,

”Lorenzo, there’s no such thing as a never-ending feast, you’ll live for a long time, and I have only a few years left at most.”

The passing time was etched into the old lady, her words tinged with dust.

”You’ll grow up, get married, and have children. By then, you can’t still be renting, right?”

Lorenzo hesitated, suddenly unable to say anything, so he patiently listened.

”Actually, I wanted to kick you all out a long time ago and go live in the countryside, but then I thought, if I kicked you out, where would you live? Actually, I’m not worried about you, Lorenzo, you are like a wild dog, and a wild dog always survives in harsh environments.”

It’s unclear if it’s a compliment or criticism, but the old lady looked at him with eyes full of smiles.