Gun of Ashes

”Sow discord between the two? Make the Purification Mechanism abandon Lorenzo?”

This wasn’t a difficult riddle, Samuel thought of it easily.

”Is it like that?”

Anthony nodded, it seemed the plan had been systematically deployed.

”But that’s not enough,” Samuel recalled the figure swinging a sword in the wine cellar, ”Although the contact was brief, I don’t think this is enough to defeat him, let alone the suspicion that he might be Lorenzo de’ Medici.”

As a Florentine, Samuel was very familiar with the deeds of Lorenzo de’ Medici. That elderly man’s life was only defeated by time, and after so many years, it seemed he was living again in a young body, turning the tables in the final game of chess.

No, he hasn’t completely won against time. The new Order and the new Pope won’t let him go easily, even suspicions are not to be ignored.

”So some plans can only be proposed by someone as pathological as Moriarty.”

At this moment, Anthony said, his expression was interesting, as if he had always been treating all this from an observer’s perspective, yet he was clearly the Dean of the new Order, the representative of Florence.

”Lorenzo Holmes is a solid iron, but sometimes it’s unnecessary to destroy it with great force, as long as cracks appear internally.”

”Can he do it?”

Samuel was very uneasy about the uncontrollable Moriarty, who seemed like an unruly lamb always ready to topple the Shepherd.

”Not sure, but isn’t that why I’m here?”

Anthony smiled, and with his smile, the hideous scar moved, like a centipede clinging to the skin.

”We are all pieces under His Excellency, on this chessboard called Old Dunling. Different levels see different things, Samuel.”

The action this time could be said to be entirely following Moriarty’s ideas. Anthony’s presence was meaningless. Samuel also realized this, but Anthony’s position, being the Dean, made Samuel hesitant to question him rashly.

”You’ve only realized the enemies in front of you, but what about those potential ones?”

Anthony said as he picked up the letter that triggered the series of events before. Only Anthony had read it, and after reading it, the hunt for Shermans began.

But it was somewhat different from the letter Lorenzo received. This letter had an additional sentence.

”Lorenzo Holmes suspected of being Lorenzo de’ Medici.”

Anthony could be sure this letter was definitely not from the Purification Mechanism. On this chessboard named Old Dunling, there was another player who had never shown their face, a player ignored by everyone.

He possessed the Secret Blood and knew Lorenzo de’ Medici’s ”immortality.” After much thought, Anthony could only conclude one thing.

This letter came from Lawrence’s remnants.

”So what do you want to do?”

Anthony was the one overseeing all this, the bishop appointed by the new Pope to Old Dunling. His goal was not to hunt Lorenzo Holmes, but to achieve the greatest benefit the new Order could gain in Old Dunling.

This benefit could be Lorenzo Holmes and the Pseudo Holy Grail he carried, or the remnants of Lawrence, the lost Revelation.

...

”So has that madman started yet?”

Looking at Lawrence, who had just awakened from the seat, the Plague Doctor asked.

Lawrence had just exited the [Gap] traversal, showing a slight pain of mental disconnection on his face. After easing for a moment, he nodded, with a hint of appreciation in his words.

”I didn’t expect the new Pope to find such talents, no, lunatics.”

”It seems their plan is so perfect that even you find it impressive,” the Plague Doctor said.

”Yes, only it’s a pity they never realized they’ve been under my watch all along.”

As Lawrence spoke, he recalled the face of that child, somewhat timid, somewhat introverted, but also with a hint of madness. The encounter in the White Church was intentional, hoping to use Hig to counterbalance Lorenzo. Unfortunately, this piece wasn’t utilized.

However, thanks to these circumstances, this piece ignited today, allowing Lawrence to intervene so effortlessly.