Gun of Ashes

”I’m really curious about what that book is about,” Eve whispered.

”So... are the Vikings literate?”

Perhaps these two had already said everything on their minds, and finally, Lorenzo, after holding back for a long time, blurted out this question.

Fortunately, Hebdo didn’t hear it; he was already completely immersed in the story.

”So, as Hebdo said, can we take a day off for now? What do you plan to do?”

Lorenzo asked again, seeming to have made up his mind about something. He stood up and tidied up his clothes.

”I’m going fishing.”

Red Falcon said, flipping through his wallet, hoping there would be a place to rent fishing gear at the dock.

”I don’t have any plans,” Eve said.

”Oh... then let’s call it a day.”

Lorenzo raised his eyebrows and headed straight for the door.

He moved very quickly, almost as if he was running, striding down the stairs. But before he had gone far, a hand stopped him again.

”May I ask where you’re planning to go?”

Eve followed him out. After a brief moment of thought, she realized that, no matter what, she couldn’t let Lorenzo out of her sight. After all, no one knew what he might do.

Perhaps after turning left out the door, he would buy a ticket back to Old Dunling, humming a tune and saying goodbye to everyone. Although unlikely, the probability isn’t zero.

”To see an old friend.”

Lorenzo said as he walked, occasionally looking back at Eve, sizing up the girl.

”You have friends here?”

Eve closely followed Lorenzo, maintaining a skeptical attitude towards his words.

”Mr. Holmes has friends all over the world; isn’t that quite normal? What else would you think?”

”Me? I thought you were trying to hide the fact that you don’t have many friends, saying you’re going to meet someone when in reality, you’re wandering around the streets, pretending to be exhausted before returning to the hotel’s couch as night falls.”

Eve spoke respectfully, but her words were biting.

”Why would I pretend such a thing?”

”Probably out of some ridiculous sense of pride; I think you could do such a thing,” Eve retorted sarcastically.

Lorenzo chuckled. He remembered about the draw and suddenly stopped walking. He turned to look at Eve.

”So, dear Miss Phoenix, are you interested in placing a bet with me?”

Lorenzo’s tone turned respectful.

”What are we betting on?”

Eve still remembered Lorenzo’s previous bet with Sabo, and betting with this lunatic usually had no good outcomes. But curiosity often drove people.

Many things in the world can be easily understood, even complex humans. Many people’s thoughts are quite predictable; seemingly closed-off wills can actually be easily invaded.

Like Red Falcon, the guy’s simplicity in certain aspects made it easy for Eve to guess he would go fishing, probably read while he’s at it, and maybe even have the catch stolen by seagulls.

But Lorenzo was different; he was hard to read. Sometimes you might guess right, but his unpredictable behavior would make you doubt your judgment, ultimately missing the opportunity.

After thoroughly understanding the hidden knowledge about Demons, the Purification Mechanism, and the Evangelical Church, Eve suddenly felt an intense sense of unfamiliarity with this familiar detective. She realized she’d never truly known Lorenzo Holmes; what everyone saw was just a carefully woven mask by Lorenzo.

Eve was curious, intrigued by what was hidden beneath the mask.

Was it a great detective with a hint of madness in his heart, or a little boy curled up in a corner silently sobbing?

”I haven’t decided yet,” Lorenzo answered, ”Are you willing to bet?”

”Of course.”

Eve smiled.

Listening to Eve’s response, Lorenzo found himself momentarily dazed, as if truly sensing the passage of time and the changes around him.

He found the essence buried deep within his soul; familiar friends either grew or left forever. The tag-along of the past had turned into a duchess, and the female cop who used to tremble at the sight of demons had become a fierce warrior.

Honestly, Lorenzo missed the old Eve, like a docile doll, easily manipulated by him. Not like now; Lorenzo couldn’t manipulate her freely, and might even get bitten back by her.

”By the way, were you always this wild since you were a child?”

Wandering the streets of Gaulunaro, Lorenzo started a different conversation to pass the time.

”What are you trying to say?”

”No, just that you weren’t like this before.”

Lorenzo muttered to himself, at least she used to be easier to deceive.

”That’s thanks to a good family upbringing.”

Eve had been constrained by Arthur’s doctrines from a young age. It wasn’t until many years later that she finally broke free, like a lion released back into the wild. Beneath the elegant dress was the fiery blood of a Ranger and a fiercely beating heart.

”Of course, the necessary etiquette is also there. For you, it’s just revenge. Thanks to you, I was laid up in Black Mountain Hospital for quite a while.”

Being a duke’s daughter, Eve couldn’t just tease anyone she saw. The reason she picked on Lorenzo was because he looked so deserving of it.