Gun of Ashes

”Interested in guessing what I’m planning to do this time?”

Lorenzo asked, looking at Heracles, hoping for a perfect response, but also wishing those damn rats hadn’t peeked too much, after all, Lorenzo needed some personal space too.

”Stay away from Old Dunling, although you told me you’re reluctant to leave the comfort of your bed, I know well you’re only fond of the advancement here. You can swiftly reach another place by taking the Iron Serpent, rather than bouncing around on horseback, thus you dislike traveling.

To move you, it must be quite an important task.”

Heracles’ gaze fell on Eve, and considering Eve’s identity, he continued.

”A task from the nobility.”

”There’s rarely a Viking in your team, and not long ago, the Viking Nations sent a messenger... Wait, is this a commission from the Viking Nations?”

Heracles suddenly had an epiphany.

”Yes, Heracles, a troublesome task. I’m going to Gaulunaro next; if you’ve truly investigated me, you should know how valuable my head is there.”

Lorenzo continued to explain.

”And this time, I will have no backup since the Purification Mechanism and Nordro were discovered; maybe they’ll even go to war.”

”So you came to me? Lorenzo!”

Heracles raised his voice, having just been put in a bind by Lorenzo, now wandering since he couldn’t return to Old Dunling, and here Lorenzo was again.

”Don’t be so agitated, I bet you’re also excited about the upcoming adventure, right?”

Lorenzo stood up as well, easily vaulted the table, then grabbed Heracles, placing a hand on his shoulder, looking intimate.

”You know, without any trouble, I usually don’t look for you, but you knew that and still came to see me, doesn’t that mean you’re looking forward to these things too?”

As Lorenzo spoke, his hands gestured aimlessly in the air, seemingly sketching a future of beautiful scenes.

”Have you not thought that I might be here for revenge?”

Heracles stiffly turned his head, lifting his shirt as he spoke, and Lorenzo now noticed there was a revolver at his waist, the caliber looking like it could kill a bull with one shot.

”Ah, this...”

For a moment, Lorenzo didn’t know what to say, but upon thinking it over.

”Let’s calm down first, Heracles, this task has lots of benefits, maybe you can even turn things around! By the way, are you interested in joining the Purification Mechanism? I could refer you!”

Though Heracles posed no real threat to himself, Lorenzo decided it best to let him calm down.

”Lorenzo, you’re truly steeped in sin.”

Eve wasn’t clear on what happened between them, yet she felt it must take immense anger for a regular person to want to shoot a Demon Hunter.

Heracles glared at Lorenzo, and there seemed to be real fury burning in his eyes, recalling the days of wandering? Heart-pounding fear...

Countless emotions mixed together like the randomly mixed drink ”Whatever”.

”Fine, tell me what’s going on this time.”

His face suddenly changed, the anger vanished like flipping a switch, Heracles sat back down with a twisted expression, his body seemingly trembling slightly.

”For a job so seriously undertaken by you, what does this concern?”

Heracles questioned.

Lorenzo persuaded Heracles, but not with his empty promises of benefits, rather with the secrets that followed.

This was his true nature, a sickly obsession with information, intelligence, secrets, and mutant-like control desires.

”Ivar Rodbrock.”

Lorenzo revealed the target’s name.

”Ragnar Rodbrock’s progeny, what happened?”

Heracles asked, while thoughts flooded his mind. This simulation was challenging for Heracles; his intelligence network covered only Old Dunling and nearby areas, knowing little about foreign intel.

Seeing Heracles get serious, Lorenzo also stopped fooling around.

The light-hearted atmosphere instantaneously turned weighty, Eve felt uneasy watching them, the duo who’d just been scuffling now suddenly acting seriously, like fighting tigers suddenly stopped clawing and started jumping through hoops.

But also, Heracles was a friend of Lorenzo’s, and Lorenzo’s friends, how many are truly normal?

Thinking about this, Eve chuckled to herself.

Indeed, even she wasn’t normal; she was a Ranger, a born Ranger.

”Is that so... Quite interesting.”

After listening to Lorenzo’s account, Heracles fell silent, seriously considering.

”Hebdo must be hiding something, I’m uneasy, so I hope you can secretly assist me.” Lorenzo requested.

”What’s the price then, Mr. Holmes?”

Heracles showed a smile like a cunning merchant.

”Consider it a debt I owe you.”

”You haven’t paid back the last debt yet.” Lorenzo was momentarily speechless.

This situation didn’t last long; eventually, Heracles didn’t expect any good reward from Lorenzo, continuing.

”So, this time, not only do you have to trace Ivar’s whereabouts, try to bring him back, but also confront the Iron Law Bureau, possibly directly breaching a military base or such.”