Gun of Ashes

”I need a reason to exist, and as your opposing existence, it allows you to vent the fury of the Night of the Holy Arrival and provides you with the motivation for revenge and survival.”

Watson’s tone was icy, like a machine executing orders.

”So Watson, are you 016?”

”016 is already dead. 016 was chosen as the recipient of Ascension, and when she became me, she was already dead.”

”Then what are you, Watson?”

”I...”

The cold Watson suddenly halted, a hint of confusion flashed in her eyes. She had always faithfully executed the orders of the Sword Scabbard Treaty, but at this moment, she too felt uncertain about herself.

”I’m not sure, perhaps some kind of monster. All of this stems from Lorenzo de’ Medici’s research. He believes the blood of the Holy Grail is the ’key’, and the Authority of Gabriel is the ’credentials’ to open some door.”

”Are you also part of his plan?”

”The War Faction would cause terrible consequences, and by that time Lorenzo de’ Medici was already unable to stop them. All he could do was comply with them and find a way to counterattack. Later, he really did find it. In the moment the experiment began, they touched the Boundary, and then the Silencers descended.”

Lorenzo slightly furrowed his brows. Everything that had been deliberately concealed gradually became clear in his mind.

”If I’m not mistaken, this is actually a part of Lorenzo de’ Medici’s plan, right? The Silencers would concentrate and kill the War Faction, then he would take Authority of Gabriel from the dry well, occupy my body, and revive.”

No... even conducting two experiments simultaneously in one day is his plan, isn’t it? If the Silencers have a fixed number, the Static Holy Temple would help him attract firepower...

It’s just like you, Lorenzo de’ Medici.

I think he’ll return to the Static Holy Temple like a hero to control everything, and after this night, the entire Evangelical Church will fall back into his control.”

Lorenzo’s mind recalled that stubborn old man again. His emotions were strange; all of this actually stemmed from his conspiracy, that old man’s wild fantasies of the Golden Era.

He orchestrated everything himself, the true manipulator behind the Night of the Holy Arrival. He deliberately handed over the captured Silencers as the ’Holy Grail’ to the opposition, dividing them into the War Faction and Faith Faction, then using information asymmetry to drive the Silencers to destroy all formidable enemies.

All of it was done by Lorenzo de’ Medici—this night of sorrow—but at this moment, Lorenzo couldn’t bring himself to hate that old man.

Lorenzo de’ Medici did too many insane things for all of this, yet just when he was about to gain everything, he abandoned it.

The last scene in the dry well was deeply etched into Lorenzo’s mind. As long as he wanted, everything he envisioned could come true, yet he let go of his obsession to continue living, and he calmly accepted death’s arrival.

This is a ruthless lunatic; for that lofty ideal, he didn’t even mind sacrificing himself to pave the path to the divine.

For the Golden Era.

Lorenzo suddenly felt very tired.

”Not only that, he was a mad old man who thought about what would happen if he failed, and I became his backup plan for failure.”

”Sword Scabbard Treaty?”

”Yes.”

At this moment, Watson revealed to Lorenzo everything she knew.

”When he didn’t return to the Static Holy Temple to save everything, I knew he had failed, but I succeeded. I completed Ascension and became like this, but at that time, like you, I was very unstable, like a child learning to walk. We both didn’t know what kind of power we were wielding.”

”So did everything that happened afterward stem from this? Your flesh was also shattered? So 047 was needed as a vessel for your will, but he couldn’t withstand your erosion... or perhaps it was from the influence during the battle, and that’s how he died, right?”

Watson stiffly nodded.

”Yes, but there are some differences.”

”Like what?”

”For example, I don’t exist physically. The moment I completed Ascension, I broke free from the shackles of the flesh and exist in the form of a Spirit Body.”

Lorenzo’s interest was piqued, and he turned to look at the unfamiliar face.

”It’s not the Authority of Gabriel? I thought you existed in my mind through some sort of Gap invasion.”

”I’m not sure, but I can feel it—I am, in fact, a higher existence than you. The degree of my Ascension is deeper than yours.”

Watson wasn’t very clear either; they faced a piece of darkness that was difficult to touch, a Boundary heavily protected by unknown forces.

”But I think perhaps I resemble...”

”Silencers?” Lorenzo interrupted, to which Watson responded with silence.

”The Truth of the world is shielded behind the Boundary, and the Boundary is guarded by the Silencers, while now the end of Demon Hunter’s Ascension seems to be the Silencers... things are becoming fascinating, Watson.”

Lorenzo lit another cigarette; several cigarette butts were already on the ground, and the cigarette box was nearing empty. He wasn’t much of a smoker, but today, for some reason, he just wanted to smoke, the blended Wind Tobacco easing his pain.

”Then the Sword Scabbard Treaty is the backup plan? I assume it’s related to the Golden Era, right? Let me think, you are also Lorenzo de’ Medici’s chosen successor. If he fails, you will continue within the Church as a Ghost, continuing the pursuit of that Golden Era?”