Gun of Ashes

”This rain just goes on and on...”

Lorenzo sat by the window, gazing at the hazy rain and couldn’t help but sigh. Thanks to these torrential downpours, it was almost noon, yet the sky remained overcast and dim.

He could see the lights already turned on in the buildings along the streets. In this gloomy weather, the boundary between day and night blurred.

Inside the Winchester Law Firm, the lights were also on. Lorenzo turned to see Shao Liangye sitting nearby. To this foreigner, the dire scene was quite novel, so he held a completely different mindset than Lorenzo.

The room maintained a perfect silence. Lorenzo looked up, gazing at the Iron Whale lurking amidst the clouds. The Flame Holder resided on one of these Iron Whales, descending whenever Lorenzo needed him to deliver justice and eliminate evil.

Thinking about it, it was quite cool.

Earlier that morning, Shao Liangxi and Rod sneaked out, claiming it was an inspection, but in reality, it was a tour. It was quite nice. The heavy rain was indeed oppressive, so seeing them so happy, Lorenzo felt it was not bad either.

However, Eve was still worried about them, as one was the office worker Rod, and the other was the enigmatic Shao Liangxi. So after greeting them, Eve went out to find them. With the communicator, Lorenzo guessed they must have met by now.

Red Falcon was overwhelmed with work, seemingly assisting Merlin at the Perpetual Motion Pump. Other familiar faces were likewise busy with work, leaving Lorenzo seemingly idle.

But Lorenzo truly didn’t know what he should be doing.

He had done all the preparations. Now, all Lorenzo needed was to quietly await the outbreak of war. Therefore, he and Shao Liangye returned to this familiar harbor, calmly preparing for battle.

Only, the atmosphere within the firm was extremely harmonious, not at all reflecting the impending war.

Lorenzo lit the fireplace, warming up the room considerably. The firelight spread throughout the room, covering every corner with a warm, light red hue.

Shao Liangye nestled on the sofa, engrossed in a book.

It was a book on the geography of Ingwig, and Shao Liangye was so absorbed that Lorenzo didn’t disturb him.

In fact, these foreigners were all full of curiosity about the Western world, yet their duties bound them tightly together, leaving them clutching swords instead of wandering across this vast land.

”Truly interesting...”

Shao Liangye suddenly remarked, lifting his head and placing the book beside him before casually picking another one to flip through.

”What? Very interested?” Lorenzo asked.

”Of course, if possible, I’d like to see many attractions in person.”

Shao Liangye responded while reading. For him, a person of Jiuxia, these foreign languages were still challenging, but his curiosity was sufficient to override the hardships.

”Then you might need a long time,” Lorenzo remembered something and added, ”If there’s time, I can even take you to see the Viking countries. The aurora there is beautiful... but also very cold.”

”The Silent Sea?” Shao Liangye asked.

”No, no, not the Silent Sea. It’s not only there that you can see the aurora,” Lorenzo said of that cursed place, one he’d rather never return to in his life. ”Some say that at the northernmost tip of Ingwig, you can also witness such a sight. It’s just too far and desolate, so I’ve never been.”

”We could go together if there’s a chance.”

Shao Liangye seemed intrigued.

”Well, you might have to stay here for a while,” Lorenzo said.

”I actually had such a plan, to live here for a while... I think you’d welcome foreigners like me, right?” Shao Liangye mused, recalling how in Old Dunling’s streets, it was not unusual to see different foreigners.

”Of course, this city welcomes everyone.”

Lorenzo looked at Shao Liangye, curiously asking, ”Then... I’d like to visit your Jiuxia as well.”

”In the past, Jiuxia surely wouldn’t welcome a corroded monster like you. You might not even be able to cross the Forgotten Great Wall,” Shao Liangye said. ”But by that time, perhaps the demons will have been eradicated, and perhaps Jiuxia will reopen?”

”Oh? That’s something to look forward to, then.”

The two exchanged smiles, enjoying the warm tranquility. If possible, Lorenzo truly hoped that such calm could last forever.

A slight dripping sound caught Shao Liangye’s attention. He looked towards the dim staircase, noticing water dripping down.

”Is it leaking, Lorenzo?” Shao Liangye asked.

Lorenzo got up and walked over, looking up to see the drops coming from above.

”Yeah, it’s an old problem.”

Lorenzo said as he headed up the staircase. Many didn’t know that the firm had a staircase leading directly to the rooftop. Usually, nobody went up there, so Mrs. Van Rudd had sealed it off, only opening it during major cleans.

After she left, Lorenzo nearly forgot about it until this continuous rain caused seepage, reminding him of the place’s existence.

Pushing aside a pile of clutter, Lorenzo climbed higher, forcefully pushing open the rusty door as cold wind and rain hit him head-on.

The biting chill instantly cleared Lorenzo’s mind. Standing in the rain on the rooftop, the ground already had a thick layer of accumulated rainwater, where fallen leaves and dust floated, turning into a dark turbid flow.