Gun of Ashes

”Yes, yes, yes, it’s not the first time, but this time is not bad.”

Polo lifted his head, glancing at the slightly chilly night.

”My fur is too thick, this temperature is just right. Compared to the scorching sun back then, this is more reassuring for a mouse.”

The man and the mouse sat closely together, behind them a city ablaze, and before them an endless black ocean. Thinking carefully, this scene was actually quite interesting.

”Interesting, my ass! No... no way, you are the second Polo, the first Polo died long ago.”

Heracles felt his mind start to unravel, remembering that the first Polo had died at sea; so where was this second Polo’s memory from?

”Polo? Polo is just Polo, Heracles, perhaps you’re the one with the problem in your head?”

Polo said a bit helplessly.

”My... problem?”

Heracles pondered for a moment, and was surprisingly persuaded by Polo’s words.

”Yeah, I’m actually talking to a mouse, maybe I am the one with the problem...”

Man and mouse fell silent, and not knowing how much time passed, Polo suddenly looked towards the sea and spoke.

”Hey, Heracles, is that the ship coming to pick you up?”

Heracles lifted his head, seeing something writhing at the end of the dark sea. Judging by the distance, it was approaching quickly, and its blurry outline was getting clearer.

”Perhaps...”

Heracles said uncertainly.

”You seem to have changed a lot, Heracles,” Polo said again.

”Why do you say that?” Heracles asked.

”How many years has it been? You’ve finally crawled out of the dark sewers, daringly putting yourself in mortal danger,” Polo said. ”You would have never done this before. That shipwreck made you cautious and wanting to hide in the shadows forever.”

”What changed you?”

Faced with this question, Heracles was taken aback, thought about it, but couldn’t find an answer. After a long time, he slowly said,

”I used to long for secrets, all the information, to have everything in my grasp. Although I still desire these things now, I suddenly realized that compared to knowing the secrets, the process of discovering them is more exciting.”

Heracles spoke with a strange voice.

”Unraveling bit by bit, gradually knocking open those dusty doors, sometimes I feel like the secret itself is not so important. The moment of discovery, that’s immense joy... just like this damned mission.”

”So you came, and don’t want to leave?”

”Because I want to see the end.”

”Is that so?”

The conversation came to a standstill again. The man and the mouse stayed silent for a long time, and the blurry outline gradually became clearer. It was a strangely shaped ship, mostly hidden in the darkness; Heracles couldn’t see it clearly, but he could distinctly see the painting on the ship.

It was a snake, a snake biting its own tail, in an endless cycle.

”So... Heracles, how will you conquer your fear of the ocean?” Polo asked finally.

”With this!”

Heracles’ voice grew a bit more joyful as he took out a bottle of seasick pills he got from a doctor, and under Polo’s gaze, he swallowed a handful dry without any water, spraying saliva, his expression grim.

”Oh oh oh! Let’s get started!”

Heracles yelled wildly.

...

”Who is that guy?”

On the Silverfish, the captain looked at the strange guy on the dock and questioned.

He had noticed Heracles early on, as his behavior was extremely odd, like a patient who escaped from a mental hospital, talking to himself while hugging a mouse, his expressions rich as if he were role-playing.

”Heracles Christie, one of Lorenzo’s friends, and also a member of this mission. It seems he is responsible for the pickup.”

The voice came from the narrow cabin, the Silverfish’s design was different from conventional ships. Its overall structure was like a slender sword, and because of this design, the cabin was extremely narrow with minimal space; besides the captain, there was only this companion behind him.

”Hebdo reported to us before, but after leaving Ingwig, we haven’t gotten any more information from him.”

The guy behind rolled up his sleeves, covered in sweat. The two of them steering this ship seemed exhausting, but to pick up these retreating guys, they had to save space.

”Is that so? Then I’ll dock, hoping they hurry. If we’re discovered, escaping the Gaulunaro waters would be quite a challenge.”

The captain said worriedly.

”I know, I know, don’t worry, this is the latest work of the Perpetual Motion Pump, I have full faith in it.”

Sounds of clanging rang out, unsure what the guy behind was doing. The cramped space made it difficult for the captain to even turn around.

”Though, I never thought you could steer a ship, I always believed you were only good at poker and robbery.”

The guy behind him remarked.

”Had no choice, being a mob boss requires a bit of flair. As for steering a ship, that was in the past, but it’s filled with bad memories. I almost died at sea.”

The captain’s voice trailed, probably from too much pressure, it suddenly erupted in rage.

”Damn it! Damn it! What a shit mission, I feel like I might really die at sea this time.”

”Don’t worry, this is equipped with our new engines, it goes really fast, Gaulunaro’s ships can’t catch us.”

Nikola tried his best to comfort Bola.

”You’re full of shit, I almost died the last time in your Armor of Original Sin!”

Bola screamed. He was truly fed up with the lunatics at the Perpetual Motion Pump, not to mention Nikola was involved this time.

Truth be told, it was absurd to include Nikola in such a life-threatening task. As a researcher, he faced immense risk at the front lines, and if he were to die, it would be a major blow to the Perpetual Motion Pump.

Initially, when Bola was appointed to work with Nikola, he thought the higher-ups were really valuing the mission, since they sent someone as precious as Nikola. But he realized why when the mission began.

Because the Silverfish was a total experiment; no one except Nikola knew about it. Nikola kept tinkering with devices behind Bola all the way, even asking him for screws.

”Alright, alright, in the progress of science, sacrifices are always needed.”

Nikola continued, but despite his words, he showed no concern for the sacrifices being made.

The Silverfish slowly approached the shore, but before it could stabilize, a dark figure leapt onboard, and through the glass, Heracles’ somewhat frantic face was visible.

”You...”

Bola was about to say something but was sternly interrupted by Heracles.

”Get ready to retreat! They’re coming here!”

There was terror in Heracles’ eyes. He had heard Lorenzo’s voice just a moment ago, resonating directly in his mind.

Perhaps the information carried in the words was too shocking, for a moment he didn’t ponder why Lorenzo’s voice was in his head. Without hesitation, he dashed onto the Silverfish.

Heracles had known Lorenzo for so long, but had never heard such a tone: fear, anger, confusion...

He was speaking to himself.

”Escape! Quickly, escape!”

The melodious sound of the horn echoed under the night, one after another, like waking monsters, thick smoke rose at the edge of the sea horizon.