Gun of Ashes

”So... an improvised additional ship ticket?”

The man wore a delicate emblem on his chest, depicting the continent map of the entire Western world. Though not very precise, under the current limitations of measurement technology, it was considered the most complete. It had many star-like points connecting over the great continent and ocean, resembling constellations in the night sky.

This was the emblem of Nordro, with star trails marking their routes throughout the Western world.

”Yes.”

Lorenzo responded to the man’s inquiry.

People were bustling about, all queuing to board the ship. Due to the special nature of Lorenzo’s mission, Nordro had prepared a dedicated passage for them.

”But...”

The man looked somewhat troubled. He remembered only four people coming, but now there was an extra person, and to be precise, also a rat.

He didn’t know the details of the work, but he still remembered his superior’s order: report any changes, and clearly, this additional personnel counted.

”We were short of people, so we found someone at the last minute.”

Lorenzo answered, pulling over Heracles, who had a constipated expression on his face,

”But the instructions didn’t include these...”

Before the man could finish, Lorenzo interrupted him.

”Friend, you have to improvise; you can’t contact the higher-ups over everything, right?”

Lorenzo smiled, but despite his expression, he exuded a dangerous aura, making the man feel pressured, his breathing becoming slightly rapid.

”Alright, but still, I must report this to the higher-ups... you can go in first.”

The man stepped aside, and the group hurriedly boarded the ship.

The leisurely moments were always so brief, yet in such short times, everyone gained something different.

Eve once again witnessed Lorenzo’s shamelessness, and Lorenzo once again successfully conned someone, dragging along the person who looked constipated—and Lorenzo seemed to be dragging him more like a hostage.

Hebdo followed behind the three. His attire was the same as his previous disguise; tall and wearing glasses, he was reading a book as he walked, reducing his sharpness, making him seem more like a robust scholar.

As for what he was reading... hopefully, no one else finds out.

Before departure, the deft Lorenzo had covered the book’s cover to conceal its thought-provoking title.

At the very end was Red Falcon.

Halfway through the path, Lorenzo turned around, looking worriedly at Red Falcon.

Red Falcon’s situation was peculiar, hard to tell whether it was bad or too good.

It all started when Red Falcon returned from fishing, as expected, he didn’t catch a single fish but brought back another person’s catch. He said it was given by a lady, hoping his fishing basket wouldn’t be too empty.

This was normal, but what followed was odd. Red Falcon placed the fish on the table and began smiling foolishly at it.

To be honest, that smile disgusted Lorenzo.

”Red Falcon, are you alright?”

Lorenzo asked, noticing the dead fish’s large eyes reflecting Red Falcon’s face, like some ghostly ritual.

”Gloria...”

Red Falcon whispered the name, completely ignoring Lorenzo’s words.

”What’s happened to him?”

Eve came over too, this somewhat idle character’s drastic change scared her a little.

”Well... I guess...”

Finally, Hebdo came up, looked at Red Falcon, flipped through the book, finding the corresponding sentence, he read aloud.

”Even though it’s our first meeting, I think I’m already in love with her. I suddenly realized why my past life was so unfortunate; all my luck was used for this encounter.”

He spoke these cheesy words, making even Lorenzo squirm, he scratched his arms, feeling goosebumps all over.

”I guess he’s in love.”

Hebdo concluded.

”No way?” Eve exclaimed.

Lorenzo looked puzzled, shaking Red Falcon forcefully, but Red Falcon didn’t react, still staring at that dead fish.

”I doubt whether he’s been controlled by Authority?”

A professional analysis was provided, and Eve stopped Lorenzo, who seemed ready to check if Red Falcon had been corrupted.

”Sigh... I think I may never see her again.”

Red Falcon suddenly said, his previously intoxicated expression turning to disappointment, leaning against the chair back, staring at the ceiling.

”Gloria Jackson.”

He uttered the woman’s name, their first meeting also became their last. Red Falcon was leaving by ship tomorrow, and so was the woman; they didn’t exchange contact information... except for this fish.

”Do you think she’d like me? Though we only met once, perhaps never meeting again.”

Red Falcon looked at Lorenzo and asked, his face filled with worry and bewilderment, making Lorenzo stunned, followed by scolding.

”You only met her once, just a passing conversation with a stranger, would you propose to a passerby just because you got along well?”

Lorenzo chastised angrily, beginning to suspect Red Falcon had hit puberty, a belated onset of a puberty phase long overdue.