Gun of Ashes

Chapter 721: Chapter 8: The Scam_2

”Come on! Lorenzo.”

Arthur really didn’t want to talk with Lorenzo, didn’t want any interaction with this lunatic here.

”Wait for me.”

Lorenzo suddenly said, then reached his hand into his pajamas, searching for something unknown.

This time, not only Arthur but also the Royal Guards were stunned, watching as Lorenzo pulled out two armor-piercing hammers from beneath his pajamas and handed them to the nearby Royal Guard.

”These things are flammable and explosive, handle them with care.”

The Royal Guard took the armor-piercing hammers with a bewildered look in his eyes.

Who is this guy?

Should I arrest him?

Where did he get these things from?

Then, these chaotic thoughts were interrupted by the next item that was taken out.

A finely crafted short shotgun appeared before everyone’s eyes, elegantly inscribed with a small poem, like a work of art.

Everyone was left dazed.

”Alright, let’s go.”

Without caring about the others’ reactions, Lorenzo walked straight toward the Platinum Palace, the sound of his slippers echoing crisply in the empty hallway, like a slap to everyone’s face.

The journey went silent thereafter; Arthur desperately avoided any communication with Lorenzo, while Lorenzo seemed to enjoy himself.

After all, this was the Platinum Palace, not a place easily reached. Lorenzo lacked the restraint that others felt on their first visit here, as if he were exploring his own living room, his gaze flitting about.

If not for the Royal Guards guarding other areas, Lorenzo wouldn’t mind checking the Platinum Palace’s defenses before meeting Queen Victoria.

”Alright, we’re here, Lorenzo.”

Finally, before a grand door, the two halted their steps.

A gilded door, smooth and golden, reflecting their appearances vividly.

At this moment, Lorenzo couldn’t help but become serious; as the door slowly opened, a dim glow engulfed him.

Beyond the door was a vast and empty dining hall; a long table was set atop a red carpet, laden with sumptuous cuisine, yet the space was too empty. Apart from these, there was no one, the chairs by the long table pushed beneath it except for two left out for Arthur and Lorenzo.

Lorenzo looked forward, seeing a woman referred to as Queen Victoria.

...

Reflecting on it, people nowadays seem unaware of Queen Victoria’s appearance or name, or even which reign she represents. It’s a peculiar phenomenon; as the nation’s ruler, the public seems to have almost zero knowledge about her.

Here, Lorenzo was seeing her for the first time himself, and she was different from his imagination—a very ordinary woman, not clad in resplendent gowns or adorned with a noble crown, simply seated at the head of the long table, smiling at Lorenzo.

Lorenzo silently took his seat, not having seen Queen Victoria in person before, unsure if this woman was a stand-in or something similar, but then he noticed.

The woman’s skin was pale, though with a hint of blood under the glow; a blood transfusion tube at the corner of her sleeve, beside her stood a man serving diligently.

”Mr. Lorenzo Holmes.”

The queen’s voice was soft yet clearly resonated in the vastness, reaching Lorenzo’s ears.

Meeting eyes, Lorenzo abruptly laughed.

”That’s right, I’m Lorenzo Holmes, Your Majesty, though you don’t seem surprised to see me. I was quite eager to see your reaction.”

Lorenzo put the jest aside, finally becoming serious, his comical pajamas seeming solemn.

”Are you referring to the pajamas? In fact, had you arrived respectfully, I would have been disappointed, as it wouldn’t align with your description in the literature.”

The queen replied.

”Your Majesty seems well-acquainted with me.”

”Certainly, I have copies of every piece of information about you here; I’ve read them many times.”

”Didn’t expect Your Majesty to pay such attention to me,” Lorenzo shamelessly commented.

The queen maintained her smile, then raised her scarred wrist for Lorenzo to see.

”You should be aware of the King’s Curse, right? The Victoria family trapped in this splendid palace—it’s a gilded cage... I cannot venture out to see you in person, so I find your likeness in these texts, and fortunately, my guess was correct.”

From action reports and personnel accounts, among other information, these writings in Queen Victoria’s mind sketched an image of Lorenzo—a somewhat mad, neurotic, and hard-to-control presence.

”I’ve heard from Arthur about you, so now that you’ve seen me personally, can our cooperation continue?”

Lorenzo smiled back similarly.

”Of course.”

”Then it’s time for you to fulfill your promise, Mr. Holmes.”

The queen continued.

”What.”

The queen set down her cutlery, gazing directly at Lorenzo, a nameless oppression sweeping over the silent room.

”What exactly is the Pseudo Holy Grail?”

Faced with this question, Lorenzo fell into silence.

He had promised Arthur before; they would cooperate again, be transparent, and Lorenzo would reveal the mysterious Pseudo Holy Grail to the Purification Mechanism.

But what is the Pseudo Holy Grail?

Ultimately, it’s just part of countless lies, a ridiculous lie at best.

Watson is the Pseudo Holy Grail, she as the product of Lorenzo de’ Medici’s other plan, successfully ascended, becoming akin to a Silencer.

To expose her?

The last conversation clarified everything: Watson wasn’t truly an adversary; at least for now, Watson stood on Lorenzo’s side, and her existence was so bizarre, Lorenzo was perhaps the only one aware of her existence. If leveraged suitably, Watson could become a trump card for Lorenzo.

Of course... Lorenzo was unsure of the whereabouts of this trump card now.

Should he trust the Purification Mechanism? Revealing Watson’s existence to them?

The silence was brief, but in this short time, Lorenzo’s smile grew peculiar, and Arthur beside him felt uneasy; despite Lorenzo being constantly on the losing side previously, pursued and attacked, Arthur knew well what Lorenzo was capable of when he gained the upper hand.

Ultimately, Lorenzo was an uncontrollable character; current mutual benefit allowed everyone to sit together amicably, but should Ingwig choose to leverage Demonic power for their own end, Lorenzo wouldn’t hesitate to use weapons hidden under his pajamas.

Lorenzo wasn’t adverse to opposing the Purification Mechanism; after all, that’s what he used to do.

No one understood what was in Lorenzo’s mind, followed by a sound breaking the silent smile.

”What exactly is the Pseudo Holy Grail?”

Lorenzo repeated the question, meeting the queen’s gaze.

”Do you know the Rat King of the Lower City District?”

He suddenly brought up something else.

”It’s actually just a rat—a big rat, many are misled by the inertia of thought, but similarly, this kind of misdirection can be reversed.”

He smiled as the lie wove bit by bit.

”The Pseudo Holy Grail is a piece of information, intelligence—a curse that causes nightmares when spoken.”

He took control of the entire scene.

”Arthur, you’ve felt it too, haven’t you? An invisible wall limits our understanding, and those who know what’s beyond that wall die peculiarly with no information left behind.”

Lorenzo shifted his gaze to Arthur, a perfect performance needs to weave in true information and a collaborator willing to act.

Arthur nodded stiffly, unsure of what would happen next.