Gun of Ashes

”Although the officials have yet to make a clear statement, there are already people referring to these united countries along the Rhine River as the Rhine Alliance.”

Her voice paused.

”This is not a good omen. Ingwig, to respond to this potential behemoth, has allied with other countries.”

”Is this why you strongly support the Viking nations?”

Ingwig’s actions are not generous. Just like the Rhine Alliance, it is also a political alliance, which Lorenzo finds utterly revolting.

The queen nodded, affirming Lorenzo’s words.

”You could say, looking at the current situation in the Western world, divided by the White Tide Strait, one side is us, Ingwig, and the other side is Gaulunaro. We are all growing rapidly, but the space accommodating our survival remains the same. When we expand to the limit, it will mark the beginning of war.”

”We do not yearn for war. If possible, we hope to avoid its outbreak. Once war begins, given our size, it would become an incredibly lengthy slaughter. Yet amidst this prolonged struggle, I have a premonition that when humanity falls into the deepest despair, the Demons will return to the land.”

Arthur, seeing all this, breathed a sigh of relief. He walked toward the queen, speaking to Lorenzo.

”Or, we could end the war in an extremely swift way, requiring the knowledge of the Secret Keepers… another industrial revolution.”

This is the reason, the reason to seek knowledge.

Lorenzo fell silent again, glancing at Arthur and then resting his gaze on the queen’s face.

In his hesitation, the queen’s voice rang out once more. She knew very well that she must persuade Lorenzo here; even if that was impossible, she should at least make him understand the reasoning behind it all.

”Moreover, I believe our interests overlap, Mr. Holmes. We desire higher knowledge and stronger technology to avoid the advent of war, similarly to how you chase the Root Source of Demons.”

If there’s anyone in the world who understands Demons the most, it is the Secret Keepers.

Whether it’s Ingwig or Lorenzo, no matter the purpose, the path ultimately leads to the Secret Keepers.

Lorenzo remained silent, smelling the smoke of war on the tip of his nose.

War is inevitable; Lorenzo knows this well.

What unsettles him are the possibilities of events in war.

Death, despair, turmoil, betrayal.

This is such perfect nourishment for nurturing the Evil Anomalies of Demons, and if Gaulunaro truly militarizes Demons in the end...

Lorenzo could hardly imagine what would come, but he also doubted the queen before him, and Ingwig where he stood.

After a long silence, Lorenzo spoke again.

”I’ll take on this job, and I hope everything turns out as you said.”

Lorenzo stepped back, but kept his eyes on the queen, repeating her previous words.

”Pursuing power is not frightening; the misuse of power is.”

”To have your trust is our Victoria’s honor.”

The queen, instead of showing anger at Lorenzo’s actions, replied with a smile.

Lorenzo is a power that cannot be discarded. He is a walking humanoid Armor of Original Sin… no, more than that. If utilized properly, Lorenzo himself could be an entire legion, but regrettably, this legion does not pledge allegiance to Ingwig. He is loyal only to his own interests, his own goals.

Lorenzo felt no gratitude toward this. With a hint of emptiness in his expression, he said emotionlessly.

”Don’t rush to thank me, Your Majesty. Please remember your words, but also remember that if one day you attempt to control those forbidden powers, striving to lead this world astray, I will make you pay the price. Believe me, I can do it.”

The anger in his heart continued to burn, stemming from the old Order, the roar of the Night of the Holy Arrival.

Lorenzo de’ Medici once tried to trust humanity, but he was swallowed by the desires of those people. They didn’t care about exterminating Demons, nor did they care for steadfast faith. They only cared about their status and power, and being able to overlook this world from an elevated position.

There is always some reason driving Lorenzo, turning this somewhat neurotic man into a fear-inspiring Demon-like existence.

This is the reason.

”If someone could oversee us, that would be better. Power is tempting; it can distort us into frightening forms.”

The queen concluded.

The conversation ended, and Lorenzo walked out of the Platinum Palace with a grim expression. The outside had long been filled with Royal Guards, and when Secret Blood surged, its overwhelming erosion hit everyone’s chest like an alarm bell.

They gripped their weapons, glaring at Lorenzo, but he didn’t care about them. He didn’t even look at them and took his weapon from another Royal Guard’s hand, striding out.

There was no need to stop him, nor anyone to stop him.

Leaving that solemn atmosphere, blending back into the bustling city, Lorenzo turned into a corner of an alley, and his grim expression suddenly collapsed.

He panted heavily. Beneath his pajamas, the cold sweat soaked through the fabric.

He never expected to walk out unscathed. The surprise attack on the queen was extremely dangerous; as he carried out each step, Lorenzo appeared exceedingly angry on the surface but was anxious inside, uncertain of the queen’s next attitude—whether she would continue the discussion or order three thousand Blade and Axe soldiers to rush into the Platinum Palace.

Fortunately, the events following did not exceed Lorenzo’s control. His heart stirred; he had expected the world’s situation to be dire, but he hadn’t realized the hidden tumult was so intense.

How much longer would the peace before him last, he couldn’t say, nor did he know where this job would ultimately lead the story.

At least, Lorenzo succeeded.

Lorenzo is a madman, but he is a rational madman who makes actions beyond common sense, but each action has its purpose, not purely madness.

He closed his eyes slightly, and in the darkness, not far from Lorenzo, a series of flames lit up, akin to beacons on the coast.

The Beacons were planted.

This was the ultimate goal of Lorenzo’s actions just now.

Everything Lorenzo said and did had a deeper purpose. He was not merely questioning Queen Victoria but doing so in a seemingly reasonable way to ignite his Secret Blood, in a manner that wouldn’t alert anyone.

It was a perfect display and deceit. Lorenzo successfully deceived everyone, and when Secret Blood soared, Lorenzo’s erosion spread onto Queen Victoria, planting navigational Beacons on her.

Now this became one of Lorenzo’s trump cards, and just as he said, he hadn’t lied; from that moment on, he possessed the capability of ”Gap” to invade Queen Victoria. He could easily kill the heavily protected queen or stealthily invade her thoughts.

And... those beings known as Secret Keepers, Lorenzo was uncertain how much truth lay in the queen’s tale, how much falsehood, but at this moment, all these secrets could be easily obtained by Lorenzo.

It was a wondrous feeling; amidst the haze, Lorenzo even felt himself become a being surpassing humanity, akin to a God walking the world, a sword hanging above everyone’s head.