Gun of Ashes

The scorching sun had begun to fall, and the countdown to the start of the action had begun.

The carriage gently swayed, taking several people to that different place.

...

The Yega Grand Theater had begun to crowd, with many spectators arriving early. They mingled around and occasionally glanced toward the theater square ahead.

In the theater square, more and more believers were gathering, accompanied by the passage of time. More believers from the Evangelical Church had arrived there, their words filled with invective. In just a few minutes, several conflicts had erupted but were fortunately suppressed by the mounted police.

Yet beneath this calm, danger loomed.

The mounted police took a deep breath; it had been a long time since he felt this exhausted. From atop his horse, he could see farther than anyone else, only to find the high platform beside the theater square crowded with Orthodoxy believers. Soon, the Pope would step onto the high platform to deliver a speech under the believers’ gaze and don the crown.

He felt very uncomfortable. The mounted police were also a believer of the Evangelical Church, but due to work requirements, he was here to maintain order. Although the increasingly intense conflicts unfolded, the warhorse beneath him was blinded.

The sound of hoofbeats echoed, with more mounted police being called in. Although the current conflict remained within controllable limits, no one knew whether the initiation ceremony would escalate into a bloodshed.

”What’s going on? Why are there so many people?”

Another colleague rode over, cursing under his breath.

”What’s wrong?” the mounted police asked.

”Believers, both the Orthodoxy’s and Evangelical Church’s believers, are increasing in number. Do we really have so many believers in Maruri?”

The colleague was deeply perplexed. Though the Evangelical Church’s faith was rooted in this land, Maruri, as a port city, experienced considerable traffic, causing faith to wane significantly here.

Yet now, more and more believers seemed to emerge, as if everyone suddenly possessed faith, and came for their God.

”This doesn’t quite align with the instructions from City Hall. They never mentioned there would be so many people...”

The colleague grew vaguely apprehensive.

Though the two of them were mere mounted police, their instinctive vigilance led him to sense something amiss. Large-scale events like this need to be reported to City Hall, and mapped out by the mounted police to maintain order at the scene, yet evidently, everything began to deviate.

Just like... just like someone is manipulating all of this, with more people slipping into the crowd under the guise of believers.

No, no, it’s not that bad yet; it’s merely a regular event.

He thus consoled himself, but right at this moment, curses erupted from the side.

”Heretic! Get off our land!”

At the periphery of the theater square, furious Evangelical Church believers shouted, clashing directly with the Orthodoxy believers on the outskirts. Seeing this, the mounted police blew his whistle, attempting to quell the conflict, but before he could advance, a hand suddenly grabbed him.

Turning his head, he faced countless faces filled with fanaticism.

The mounted police felt a chill in his heart as he released his grip, dropping the whistle. He wanted to call out to his colleague, but could only see countless hands surging like seaweed, covering his warhorse, like a drowned person. His colleague also found himself overwhelmed by countless hands, his mouth covered, letting only the panic in his eyes shine through the fingers’ gaps, then vanishing into the crowd.

”No...”

He wanted to say more, but was dragged down from the horse, disappearing into the masses, while the conflict at the edge of the theater square continued, growing increasingly intense.

...

”Now, everyone’s emotions are being stirred up.”

Corey leaned against the window, overlooking the chaos in the theater square. Under the Iron Law Bureau’s instigation, the conflict between the two faiths would be pushed to the maximum in the near future.

”Anger will accumulate bit by bit until a bursting point ignites everything.”

Corey seldom felt this sense of pleasure. He felt his dream was within reach, and turned to look at Lawrence.

”How do you think of all this?”

”It’s great, perfect, and interesting. I didn’t expect someone like you, who despises faith, to understand faith so deeply.”

Lawrence spoke and came over, joining Corey in overlooking the crowd.

Dense like ant swarms, they fought for their sacred faith, yet they didn’t know that the so-called faith was merely a chip on their gambling table.

Unveiling that hypocritical surface, beneath it lay a bloody, filthy mess.

”We need a great victory so the Orthodoxy’s faith can expand like a tide in Gaulunaro. This is a grand ritual. Have you decided who will be the sacrifice?” Corey asked again.

To this, Lawrence nodded and slowly replied.

”I have planned everything. The Choir has already blended in among the believers. Today, everything is under our control. As for the sacrifice, I have already chosen. He would be the most suitable candidate, his achievements to be recorded in the Orthodoxy’s history.”

As he spoke, the two exchanged glances and simultaneously burst into chilling laughter.

Outside, in the upper levels of the Yega Grand Theater, the girls continued to attempt to vocalize. Soon, they would sing praise, each seeming very happy. Liya wore a spotless white gown she had never touched before, extremely joyful, running back and forth in the hallways.

Hu ao was somewhat dazed. For him, these past few days had changed too quickly, almost as if the world had turned upside down.

Having been unfortunate for decades, heaven seemed to have finally seen this poor soul and bestowed kindness upon him during these days. Everything appeared so beautiful, like a dream, too good to believe.

”It’s so good...”

Hu ao murmured, softly contemplating whether to quit his sailor job. He wished to join the Orthodoxy as a priest. Though he might not be very adept, he would learn to, even if not a priest; he could start as a volunteer, as long as he was provided with food and lodging...

Liya’s white figure ran across in front of him, feelings of unprecedented joy.

Sketching a beautiful future but unaware that this might be the last of the beauty.

...

Lorenzo stood on the stairs of the Yega Grand Theater, watching the crowded theater square in the distance, Red Falcon and Eve already mixed in, just waiting for the action to begin.

”When do we start?” Hebdo asked.

”It has already begun.”

Lorenzo answered, then headed toward the theater’s interior, not walking toward the performance hall but advancing along a side staircase.

”Aren’t we waiting for the performance to start?”

Erin inquired from behind, having previously thought from Lorenzo’s accounts that the action would commence after the performance started.

”No, the plan has changed, we need to be earlier.”

Lorenzo, with a solemn expression, hid all the secrets in his heart.

”Eve was right. The two of them hold too many unstable factors in assassinating the Pope, which might trigger something terrible. To end all this, I can only be quicker.”

Speaking this, Lorenzo suddenly halted, with a cello case strapped on, holding the Staff Sword.

”Did you do what I asked you to do?”

Hearing Lorenzo’s inquiry, Erin hesitated before finally recalling and swinging her bandaged arm.

”That’s good.”

Lorenzo said, looking at Hebdo.

”Next, you’re in charge of negotiations. I’m merely an accompanying attendant.”

He spoke and donned a bowler hat, forcefully pushing down the brim, hiding his face in the darkness.

”Take it, Erin.”

Completing this, Lorenzo placed a pistol into Erin’s pocket and proceeded with instructions.

”When I tell you to shoot, you shoot, understand?”

”Who should I shoot at?” Erin was unclear.

”That’s for you to decide.”

Speaking this, Lorenzo drew the Winchester, moved to Erin’s back, then raised the muzzle to Erin’s head.

”Then let’s go, Erin. You also mentioned that your head is worth a lot at the Iron Law Bureau.”

At the side, Hebdo was entirely stunned. He couldn’t comprehend what Lorenzo was doing, his gaze was puzzled, but upon meeting Lorenzo’s gaze, he dared not to be cut by the blade hidden deep within Lorenzo’s eyes.

”Any issues? Hebdo.”

”No... no problem.”

Hebdo shook his head, at such a juncture, regardless of what plot Lorenzo harbored, he had no opportunity to pause, focusing on the endless steps, Hebdo resolutely took a step forward.