Gun of Ashes

Gaulunaro, Maruri Port, Yega Grand Theater.

After leaving the White Tide, the carriage did not take the orchestra to the hotel to rest, but headed straight to the Yega Grand Theater.

At this moment, there weren’t many people inside the theater, and the vast hall was not yet illuminated, making everything seem somewhat dark and gloomy.

Renette, the conductor, walked excitedly at the front, and other members of the orchestra couldn’t help but excitedly look around, their whispers echoing in this desolate world.

Perhaps due to the influence of the Evangelical Church, the theater’s decorations and sculptures all had a religious style. Angels swirled over the dome, and one by one marble columns supported the Celestial Kingdom carved by the artisans.

The equally marble floor was polished to a shine, and Lorenzo began to faintly anticipate the moment when those lights would turn on, feeling it would be like walking on light.

”Yega Grand Theater, this place used to be a church. During the Radiant War, it served as a kind of front-line church where soldiers prayed before boarding warships under the watchful eyes of the priests.”

A voice sounded nearby, and at some point, Renette had walked over, explaining the history of the grand theater to Lorenzo.

”And after Gaulunaro’s defeat, this place was abandoned for a time, but it wasn’t long before it was repurposed and expanded into what it is now.”

Renette’s expression turned mysterious, and he whispered to Lorenzo.

”In fact, its repurpose was also because of ’war’.”

Lorenzo, drawn in by Renette’s words, asked.

”What war?”

”The war of art.”

Renette chuckled.

”Of course, it can also be understood as a war of luxury.”

”As early as hundreds of years ago, the nobility of these kingdoms quarreled endlessly. But constant warfare was intolerable, so they sought victory in other arenas, such as who had more gemstones and thus greater prestige. Eventually, this expanded into the realm of art.”

It seemed that before coming here, Renette had conducted a thorough research. He continued.

”The main leader of this was the great Lorenzo... of course, I’m not referring to you, but Lorenzo de’ Medici. During his time controlling the Evangelical Church, he heavily patronized artists, and this trend spread to his regions and eventually reached Gaulunaro. At that time, any family that didn’t sponsor a few artists had no face to show.”

After the defeat, some people in Gaulunaro focused on this area. Unable to win on the battlefield, they sought pleasure here. They converted it into the current Yega Grand Theater and used ships from Maruri Port to spread poems and operas. Although the war was lost, there was new progress in cultural dissemination.”

Reaching out, gently brushing those silent columns, the touch was cold, like caressing steel.

”Yega Grand Theater was designed to rival Ingwig’s Victoria Royal Theatre. In those post-war times, everyone fought to the death in the field of art.”

Renette shook his head, then said somewhat helplessly.

”But as time passed, the scars of war gradually healed, and people no longer needed these things to heal their souls. Gradually, these things became less valued, and the war of art might have temporarily ended.”

”Sounds quite interesting,” Lorenzo said.

”Oh, it’s just a bunch of people who have too much time on their hands.”

”This may sound childish, but more or less, it’s like this: when the music starts, it marks the beginning of our artistic battle.”

Renette said as he rubbed his hands together, a sly smile appearing on his face.

”Honestly, I never imagined that after so many years, I, a conductor from Ingwig, would perform in Gaulunaro’s grand theater.”

”After so many years, finally conquering the enemy’s capital, congratulations,” Lorenzo congratulated Renette.

”All thanks to you, Mr. Holmes. Your generous support makes you just like Lorenzo de’ Medici reincarnated!”

The two of them shared a peculiar laugh, exchanging flattery.

Despite saying such frivolous words, Renette takes the upcoming performance very seriously. Not waiting to rest after disembarking, he handed over his luggage to others to be taken to the hotel, while he led the orchestra here for rehearsal.

”We don’t have much time left. The performance will start here in a few days.”

Renette stood on the stage, speaking while arranging the sheet music.

Lorenzo and others sat in the audience, watching all this.

”Any plans? Everyone?”

The spotlight shone on the stage, leaving the audience in darkness. In the shadows, Lorenzo asked the others.

”Or should... we go with my idea.”

Lorenzo glanced to his side, with Hebdo and Erin sitting on either side of him, while further out were Eve and the Red Falcon, who seemed to be held like captives.

As for Heracles, he really treated himself like a tourist, casually grabbing a staff member to guide him around.

Lorenzo didn’t pay much attention to his whereabouts, trusting that Heracles wouldn’t disappoint him, as he was the Rat King’s keeper.

”I assume you’ve got some ideas, Lorenzo,” Hebdo said.

”And you?”

Lorenzo didn’t reply but instead looked at Erin beside him.