Gun of Ashes

”Maybe... Maybe Ivar himself knows that this is fake, that I approached him with a purpose.

But what does that matter?

His life is already so tragic, the more glorious the King of the Ice Sea shines, the more magnificent the achievements of his brothers are, the more he feels ashamed, feels pressured. And when the care he longs for arrives, it’s like a victim in a swamp, even if you extend thorns to him, he will grab them tightly, even if he knows it’s poison, he would swallow it without hesitation, wouldn’t he?”

Erin said lightly.

”Just like faith, people always need something to deceive themselves.”

Lorenzo smelled the familiar scent of flowers, cold and piercing, like the cold wind brushing his cheeks. It was then he realized Erin was very close, their eyes almost touching.

”By the way, you and he are very alike... No, you people are all very much like Ivar.”

Erin gently reached out and clasped Lorenzo’s neck. She didn’t have much strength, but she still slowly tilted Lorenzo’s head, forcing him to look at Erin.

Lorenzo could hear Erin’s breathing, her chest subtly rising with the heartbeat, shadows and faint light sculpting a delicate face, the pupils reflecting Lorenzo like a mirror,

”Mr. Moon, Lorenzo Holmes, and Ivar, sometimes I think you all are particularly alike, there seems to be some commonality... Let me think.”

Erin thought of it, her voice carrying joy and mockery.

”Twisted, you are all twisted humans.”

She licked her lips, her hands wrapped around Lorenzo’s face.

”Have you had a family?”

”Had close friends?”

”Had someone unforgettable?”

She continued to question.

”Have you had... love?”

There was no response, only silence.

”Yes, you are all such people, no place to return to, no destination, wandering aimlessly in this gray world... I think if given the chance, you would also crave that poisonous happiness, wouldn’t you, Mr. Holmes?”

Lorenzo suddenly pushed Erin away, his face emotionless.

The two exchanged distant looks, Lorenzo could see Erin’s face, but Erin couldn’t see Lorenzo’s face; he faced away from the light, a mass of impenetrable darkness adhered to his face. After a brief silence, Erin laughed even louder.

”Yes, you are all such people,”

She said, then the laughter ceased, her voice seeming somewhat melancholy.

”We are all such people... living dead.”

She didn’t explain the meaning of ”living dead,” her emotions shifted swiftly, making it impossible to guess her inner thoughts.

Erin lowered her head like a disciplined child, starkly contrasting with her previous assertiveness.

After some time, she seemed to recover from the sense of loss, regaining her spirits, looking at Lorenzo with interest, as if she had found a new toy.

”Mr. Holmes, did you know, Ivar and the Moon both showed me the same expression, like a stray puppy suddenly seeing someone open their arms to them.”

”I think you are like that too, right?”

Erin said, spreading her arms as if she was about to hug Lorenzo.

”Want to come over?”

Lorenzo didn’t respond, he took a deep breath.

It had been a long time since he felt this way, a subtle fear, not the fear of life and death, but the fear of having a corner of his inner self exposed.

Yet similarly, Lorenzo had also glimpsed Erin’s inner self, despite the damned woman babbling a lot, it was all a masquerade, she was throwing smoke grenades one after another, trying to cover up her truest self.

Lorenzo saw it faintly.

”To you, everyone is just toys, just little dogs, just tools to achieve your goals.”

Lorenzo said disdainfully.

”Yes, Erin, you are just as twisted as us, more pathetic than us.”

He also spread his arms, using Erin’s words to mock her.

”Want a hug, little puppy?”

In terms of disgusting people, Lorenzo had a knack, he was extremely pretentious, full of taunts.

Both are incredibly cunning villains, the earlier encounter was merely a brief exchange, no knives, guns, or bloodshed, just words and more words, trying to extract the other’s most genuine self.

Erin’s expression fell, as if ripping off a mask.

”We all wear masks, Mr. Holmes, we are well aware of the lies in life, we force ourselves to believe them.”

It was only at this moment that Erin genuinely became serious, she knew full well her tricks couldn’t fool Lorenzo anymore, instead, they would embarrass her.

”So I’m still curious about Ivar’s feelings at the time, although he knew it was a scam, he still stepped in without hesitation... all for the care and poison you mentioned?”

Lorenzo said while observing Erin’s expression.

”Do you think he’ll regret it? Or hate you?”

Erin did not answer, she seemed tired, no longer maintaining her previous facade, half lying down, she seemed to be hiding her emotions, but Lorenzo could still keenly sense them.

”He trusted you that much, yet you pushed him into the fire... How many people have you manipulated this way, do you feel guilty afterward, or has it happened so many times that you’re already used to it.”

Lorenzo continued.