Gun of Ashes

”In this world, knowing too much is actually a bad thing, Mr. Holmes.”

Shao Liangye stood up, seeming unwilling to delve deeper into the matter.

Lorenzo also didn’t inquire further, glancing sideways, realizing today just how adept Red Falcon was at slacking off in the workplace. In just a moment of inattention, he was already leaning in a corner, looking sleepy.

”Wake up!”

Lorenzo kicked Red Falcon awake and asked Eve.

”Is there anything else planned?”

”Yes, there’s another outpost that needs to be placed within the city... it’s near your office,” Eve hesitated.

”Ah... I guessed there’d be one like that. So you guys usually squat there and spy on me with binoculars?” Lorenzo said.

”Nobody likes spying on you because you never leave your house, okay?” Red Falcon crawled up from the floor, clearly knowing a lot about this outpost, ”After it was deployed for a while, it was pretty much abandoned.”

”You don’t leave the house, and when you do, it’s a big event, so there’s no need for surveillance.”

Red Falcon seemed indifferent to Lorenzo’s privacy.

The group began bickering about these trivial matters. Rod, like an observer, watched them and then noticed Shao Liangxi beside him.

Out of curiosity and longing for Jiuxia, Rod was quite interested in these two guests from Jiuxia. Due to differing personalities, he found Shao Liangxi easier to interact with.

”So will there come a day when you forget everything?”

Rod asked softly.

The capacity of a carrier is limited. One day, Anonymous’s brains will exhaust the last of their memory, completely dominated by the Anti-Meme.

”Maybe, but it’s actually not that bad.”

Shao Liangxi whispered, imitating Rod, her expression deliberately serious as if revealing an earth-shattering secret.

”Some people say Anonymous will, at some moment, trigger the ’trigger’ preset within themselves, it might take a lifetime of waiting, or it could be in the next moment.

Nobody knows what it will trigger, they say that upon triggering, Anonymous will understand everything, seemingly awakening a certain memory, because this is what we set ourselves.”

”You... set a ’trigger’ for yourself?”

Rod was stunned. He had not been on the battlefield, but through the prior conversation, he could faintly guess what this was.

”Yes, but why I set it, I don’t know either,” Shao Liangxi pondered, then smiled and said, ”Who knows? The Anti-Meme is a remarkable thing, as long as it’s not completely erased, leaving even just a tiny trace, there’s a chance to recall everything.”

Shao Liangxi seemed to remember something, reminiscing.

”But if completely erased, then there’s really nothing left.”

Her words carried a slight sorrow, as no one remembers what they’ve forgotten, and those familiar with the Anti-Meme are the same.

”Hey, you two, it’s time to go.”

Red Falcon finished the meeting with Blue Jade, shouting at the two chatting people.

”The rest is up to you... though it seems there’s nothing much to do.”

Lorenzo leaned aside, bidding farewell to Blue Jade, thinking back, Lorenzo and Blue Jade were quite like comrades who had lived through life and death together.

”Mm.”

Blue Jade nodded. She was a taciturn individual, speaking more or less depending on the current crisis... These were things Bola told Lorenzo. Honestly, Lorenzo was rather curious to see Blue Jade when she spoke quickly, but on reflection of the circumstances, it seemed better to leave it.

Lorenzo enjoyed the present peace, but unfortunately, the storm was imminent, and no one knew when it would explode.

...

The pitch-black shadow began to twist, as if something alive were struggling mightily in the deep darkness, attempting to escape its cage.

The homeless man stood in the corner, reeking of alcohol, his dirty face full of confusion and joy. The lingering warmth of the hallucinogen nourished him, making this cold life not too cruel.

He held onto the wall, and after the sound of gushing water, pulled up his pants, using his minimal consciousness to ponder where to sleep tonight.

The place he slept yesterday was obviously no good. For half a dose of hallucinogen, he fought with the people there, presumably they’ve been lying in wait for revenge.

Are there other places then?

The homeless man struggled to think, but his brain ravaged by drugs and alcohol could no longer think of much.

He could only drive his body, aimlessly moving forward, then froze in place, looking towards the darkness in the corner.

There seemed to be something there. He wiped his eyes, then saw the gleaming gold.

His breath halted for a moment, his chaotic consciousness quickly became clear in the ecstasy of the gold. He looked directly at the gold in the corner, his gaze moved away with difficulty, ensuring no one else saw it, then he rushed towards it like a beast.

Gold, it was gold, gleaming gold.

The homeless man walked defenselessly into the darkness, reaching out to touch it... The gold collapsed into dust in an instant, not waiting for him to think, the dust floated in the air, seemingly consciously, flowing into his body through his mouth, nose, and eyes.

The tumultuous hallucinations affected him; he tried to resist, but his self-struggle appeared so fragile. Almost at the moment of contact, his self was killed.

He stood there blankly, after a few seconds, Roger Cruz opened his eyes.

”Old Dunling...”

Roger looked at the dilapidated Lower City District, his gaze piercing through layers of rain mist, seeing further prosperity, and even the spire stabbing straight into the clouds.

Lorenzo was already fully awakened, presumably wary of Roger’s appearance, thus Roger hid himself in a deserted place, using the [Gap] to traverse to Old Dunling.

Now wasn’t the time for his physical appearance; he first needed to confirm some things.

Such as the [Echo of the End].

The shadowy war had long been underway; as someone almost reaching the end of Ascension, there were few secrets in this world that could elude Roger. During his routine inspection and information collection, he sensed information from the Purification Mechanism and followed the clues, noticing the heavily guarded intelligence.

As expected, the Secret Keeper hadn’t revealed all the truth to them, at least not the part about [Echo of the End].

The sudden appearance of such a weapon against the Inexpressible demanded Roger’s vigilance. If possible, he hoped to resolve everything without alerting Lorenzo. This weapon not only threatened to destroy him but could also hinder the awakening of the Inexpressible. Roger wouldn’t act as violently as before.

The previously reckless man was once again cautious.

”For the great Ascension, to thus elevate to a glorious being.”

He whispered, his pupils turning incandescent white; at the end of the white light was a yet-to-open ”road,” connecting to the infinite sky.

”Hey! Damn it, finally found you!”

Cursing rang out beside him, a group of similar homeless people approached from the street corner’s other end, carrying wooden sticks wrapped with barbed wire. Such handmade weapons were common in the Lower City District.

The damned guy in front had stolen half a dose of hallucinogen last night; this was worth quite a sum in the Lower City District. After a long search, they finally cornered him.

”Which leg should I break first?”

The attacker laughed viciously.

The homeless man slowly turned around, seemingly not panicked. After a brief stupor, he revealed a puzzling smile and approached these people, until they were close and locked eyes.

”Would you... like to see the real world?”

Roger Cruz extended an invitation to the mortals. Before they could respond, the maniacal hallucinations had already devoured everyone’s sanity.

They emitted meaningless wails, staring painfully at that great existence.