Gun of Ashes

”I barely have anyone over there, besides, intelligence is very time-sensitive. After passing through one hand after another, there will be a significant delay by the time it reaches you.”

Heracles is an expert regarding intelligence.

But Lorenzo didn’t care about this, he moved closer to Heracles, with a full smile on his face.

”This problem is easy to solve, why not just come along with us?”

”Together? Gaulunaro?”

Heracles’ face turned pale, he had always been dancing on the edge of danger, but only limited to the edge.

He was very self-aware. Ultimately, he was just a bit smarter than others. Heracles wasn’t skilled with any weapons, so in terms of combat ability, even a drunk might be able to kill him.

Not to mention working with Lorenzo and heading to Gaulunaro.

This detective in front of him was a demon hunter, capable of taking down a group of people with just a spoon. How could Heracles have the ability or qualifications to work with such an existence?

”No, no.”

Heracles quickly waved his hand.

”Trust me, Heracles, there will be plenty of benefits after it’s done.”

Lorenzo smiled, but the smile didn’t look very kind.

This was a trap, a trap aimed at Heracles, he shouldn’t have come.

”What good is earning a fortune if you can’t spend it alive!”

His vision’s corner searched for an escape route, but at that moment, Heracles noticed Eve standing in front of the kitchen door.

Although Eve couldn’t quite understand what the two were discussing, from what she could grasp, she understood that this ”new friend” called Heracles would be a very useful tool.

”Come on, Heracles, this will be an unforgettable journey.”

Lorenzo grabbed Heracles, kicked open the tavern’s back door.

Heracles acted as if he had lost his bones, letting Lorenzo pull him along. His mood was complicated; he still remembered the last unforgettable journey, that damned shipwreck.

Eve followed closely behind them, holding Polo in her arms.

...

The afternoon sun was so warm and harmonious, the fresh sea breeze came face-on.

Red Falcon lay on a recliner, in front was a set-up fishing rod, and on the small table beside him laid ”Hawk Under the Night” along with a few bottles of ice-cold beer.

How wonderful.

Located at the edge of the port, Red Falcon took all morning to find such a comfortable spot, without noisy crowds or the strong fishy smell, this place was as beautiful as the Celestial Kingdom.

Red Falcon felt like he hadn’t relaxed like this in a long time, his soul seemed to be sliding out of this heavy shell.

It was a perfect day, if there was anything regrettable, Red Falcon would have liked a nice encounter here.

Indeed, he was at the age for marriage, but there wasn’t any suitable woman around him. If he went on a blind date, it seemed troublesome, after all, when talking about work, Red Falcon couldn’t say his job was hunting demons. Then the woman would ask what demons were, and Red Falcon would have to explain, and then... then there would be nothing left, and by that time, the cleaners would likely come knocking.

”Ah... sometimes it’s nice to be an ordinary person.”

Red Falcon sat up, with the fishing rod steadily set in front, showing no sign of any movement.

”An ordinary person? Why would you think that?”

Suddenly a voice sounded, and at some unnoticed moment, there was already a recliner set not far beside Red Falcon, on which a woman sat, she also seemed to be here for fishing.

”Why wish to be ordinary? Everyone hopes not to be ordinary, to break free from mediocrity and become entrepreneurs, artists, and whatever other things.”

The woman held a wine glass, looking at the sea ahead without glancing at Red Falcon.

”Why, probably because it’s tiring.”

Though she was a stranger, Red Falcon surprisingly felt no sense of foreignness, and chatted with her.

Red Falcon’s life indeed could not be regarded as ordinary, from struggling in the Lower City District to now slashing demons, sometimes Red Falcon even felt like he was the protagonist of some knight’s novel.

”Really tiring, dealing with a bunch of annoying guys every day, unintendedly might end up dead, colleagues changing again and again... mainly without earning much money.”

Red Falcon complained.

”Indeed, wanting to be an ordinary person, doing simple work, enduring slightly rough days, without any major wealth nor disasters, passing a life peacefully like that... thinking about it, ordinary seems to be the most extraordinary.”

How lucky must one be to lead such a perfect life.

”Yeah, everyone has their own troubles, they’re inevitable, can’t escape them.”

The woman turned her head, and in that instant, Red Falcon must admit that his breath slowed half a beat.

Reflecting sunlight, hers was a lovely face, beautiful yet not outstanding enough, perhaps not unforgettable forever, but somewhat reassuring each time seen.

”Gloria Jackson.”

Gloria announced her name, then raised her wine glass.

”Moon Naredo.”

Everyone continually called him Red Falcon, Red Falcon had almost forgotten his own name, and upon speaking his original name after so long, Red Falcon only felt suddenly unfamiliar, as if, unknowingly, Moon Naredo and Red Falcon had become completely different entities.

”Hmm? Hello, Mr. Moon.”

Gloria revealed a captivating smile, as the wine glass collided with the bottle Red Falcon raised, making a crisp sound.

”Alright, calling me Mr. Moon isn’t a problem.”

Hearing this nickname, Red Falcon couldn’t help but feel nostalgic.

The name Moon represents the moon, such a naming style seemed quite fairy-tale like, sometimes when telling this name, Red Falcon’s colleagues would show surprise, then find Red Falcon somewhat adorable.

”What’s that, Mr. Moon, are you on vacation?”

”Sort of.”

Regarding his current situation, Red Falcon didn’t even know how to describe it at the moment.

”Indeed, only those released from toil can utter such sentiments.”

As Gloria spoke, she began fiddling with the fishing rod, unlike Red Falcon, her catch basket was full.

”And you? Vacationing? Or traveling on company expense?”

As for company expense travel, Red Falcon thought it might become a heart-knot for him.

”Me? I’m going to meet a friend, but my boat hasn’t arrived yet. I can take a break.”

At this point, she hesitated but said it out anyway.

”Hey, you read this too?”

Gloria suddenly noticed the book placed beside.

Hearing Gloria’s question, Red Falcon felt a bit ashamed, as knight novels like this were still considered somewhat frivolous and of low-quality by the public.

”Also? You read too?”

Red Falcon immediately realized, shame turned into excitement, finding a book friend was quite rare in this age.

”Uh-huh.”

Gloria turned around, picking up the same book from the table beside her.

At this moment, Red Falcon felt his breath slow another half beat, he suddenly realized this might be the wonderful encounter he was looking forward to.

Indeed, what a wonderful afternoon, cool breeze, no demons, no battling, unbelievably harmonious scene, coupled with a woman liking the same things.

For a moment, Red Falcon was dumbfounded, suddenly becoming flustered, not knowing what to say, he began to fear he might say the wrong thing, ending this beautiful time.

Yet Gloria didn’t seem concerned about those, she exclaimed.

”Here it comes!”

She grabbed the fishing rod tightly, her youthful healthy body showing muscle lines, like the trajectory of the wind, water splashed, a plump fish was pulled from the sea, rolling on the ground.

Gloria picked up the fish, its scales slippery, leaving her in a momentary frenzy.

Looking at all this, Red Falcon laughed, his smile silly.

”Do you want one?”

Gloria asked, but Red Falcon didn’t hear it, he suddenly felt that overtime wasn’t too bad.