Embers of Embers

Chapter 44 The Extinct Torch
Outer city, East Eileens district, 121A Cork Street.
A week has passed since that crazy night. During this period, no one came to the door, and nothing strange happened. Everything was like a dream, and nothing was left after waking up.
Lorenzo tried to find the shrike. He was carrying a lot of ammunition under his dark windbreaker, and he looked like he was going to massacre the city. Unfortunately, the shrike didn't know what happened, and he didn't show up for many days.
The whole person lay in the bathtub, the warm water washed away the fatigue on the body, and the whole body was soaked in the warm water, enjoying the hard-won tranquility.
Mrs. Verde was taking a nap, and her cheap roommate seemed to be working overtime at the factory, so it could be said that Lorenzo was the only one left in this small house.
There was a dim light above his head, and the breath of life came from the street. He couldn't help but relax, picked up a cigarette and smoked vigorously, it felt really good.
Lorenzo has not been in contact with monsters for many years. It is obvious that the connection between him and the darkness is severed, but it seems that the ferocious darkness refuses to let him go. It grabbed him just when he was about to forget. .
I crawled out of the bathtub, wrapped in a white bath towel, and walked to the room wetly. The wounds on my body were still healing on their own. Except for the more serious injuries, some minor wounds had almost healed, leaving only a few wounds that have not yet recovered. dark red traces.
After that night, not only did Shrike fail to find him, but he also lost contact with Eve. Lorenzo didn't care about these. There were only a few doubts that gave him a headache at the moment.
At present, it is certain that Wall's abnormality is demonization. He is a crew member of the Silver Fish and came into contact with the mysterious sacred coffin. What is certain is that everyone on the ship has been contaminated, which means that there are at least ten others. Six potential monsters roam the city.
The next doubt is the mysterious organization that attacked the underground palace that night. I remember that I encountered such a big pile of Wei Zui grass in the secret passage, but nothing abnormal happened in the old Dun Ling after that night, so there is only one result, that mysterious The organization handled it all perfectly.
Judging from the small to the large, according to Lorenzo's speculation, the size of the mysterious organization should not be smaller than the Demon Hunting Order.
so troublesome……
Things gradually became clear. This was a game between two mysterious organizations, and he was the unlucky one involved.
The only thing that is still unclear is Shrike's position in this matter. Lorenzo has always thought that he is an underground emperor who makes wealth through smuggling business, but now it seems that Shrike is also full of doubts.
Sighing, Lorenzo put on his clothes, tidied up, and left home.
Winchester hid under his windbreaker, clinging to his body. The black deerstalker hat was pressed down hard, slightly covering his gray-blue eyes. The staff and sword were broken in the fight with Sabo, and the new weapon was still there. Forged at the blacksmith.
"It's so rare..."
Looking up, the endless dome light shines down from the gloomy sky. It is hard to believe that today's Jiudunling is actually a bit clearer. Although the dark clouds are still there, at least they have cracked some gaps, allowing light to shine down.
Lorenzo already has a new life. He should not be involved in these things. The best choice now is to buy a ticket to travel somewhere and have a good rest. But everyone should have a bottom line, although Lorenzo It is difficult to associate the word "bottom line" with this bad person, but what is certain is that this person does have a bottom line, but it is too low, as low as five meters underground.
Passing by a flower shop on the street and buying a white flower, Lorenzo hummed a little tune as if he was going to meet a beautiful lady.
After getting on the steam tram and watching the scenery slowly disappearing around him, Lorenzo was full of expectations.
This was one of his hobbies, taking a random steam tram and going all the way to the terminal. Because of the speed and the size of Old Dunling, this activity usually lasted all day.
Several hours passed before Lorenzo finally arrived at the terminal.
It is rare that this place is not covered by dark clouds. The dilapidated church is built on the desolate grassland. Not far away is the steel city. Steam and railways are swallowing up the place bit by bit. It seems that in a few years this place will turn into steel. a part of.
When Lorenzo first arrived in Old Dunling a few years ago, there were still a few priests here, but the people nearby went to the factories in the city. Gradually, the people here left, and in the end even the priests gave up. Only Lorenzo would come here from time to time to visit friends.
After crossing the weeds and barbed wire, Lorenzo found the badly weathered tombstone in a pile of rubble. The writing on it had long been unclear. If Lorenzo hadn't remembered it, no one would have realized that it was a tombstone.
"Good morning!"
Lorenzo greeted him energetically, then took off the white flowers from his chest and placed them under the tombstone.
"Oh, every time I come here, I always have a feeling of 'you've been dead for so long'?"
There is no sense of seriousness in worshiping others, just like an enemy, pointing at other people's tombstones and saying, "You didn't expect it! I have lived longer than you."
After smiling playfully for a while, Lorenzo seemed a little unhappy. He didn't expect that he would come back here one day, as if it was a fateful reunion.
After a long silence, he pulled out the Winchester with stern eyes, chanted a prayer in a low voice, and pulled the trigger.
“Be sober and watchful, for your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.”
The low prayers were accompanied by the roar of bullets, and the solid stone shattered bit by bit, and then the ferocious thing was revealed. A weird and grotesque illusion swept Lorenzo, as if he had released a devil, but he didn't care, there was nothing left It’s okay to be afraid.
Until the last bullet came out of the chamber, the solid protection was completely shattered, and the pitch-black box was completely exposed in front of Lorenzo. It had been sealed inside for many years, but the surface was as smooth as if it had just been put in.
Dark golden lines spread on it, and a layer of holy words was written on it. It sang the praises of God and holiness, so Lorenzo picked it up and pressed it under the familiar groove, and it opened in response.
"haven't seen you for a long time."
The icy cold light covered Lorenzo's vision, and they shone like diamonds under the light. But if you look closely, you can see that they are perfectly crafted blades one after another, just like Lorenzo's staff sword. , just composed of a simple sword and handle, as slender as a silver nail.
Lorenzo's eyes are reflected on the smooth blade, and fine textures are engraved on it. If it encounters blood, it will be the scariest picture.
……
It was a dark hall, with only the skylight in the middle dome shining a little light to illuminate the huge round table.
Looking up at the blue sky behind the skylight, sometimes Kestrel can't tell where he is. This is the most secret location of the purification agency. Even though he is a high-ranking knight, he is always blindfolded every time he comes.
I haven't moved much, so I must still be in the old Dunling, but the old Dunling doesn't have such a blue sky.
The Shrike on the side was also confused. Even though he had been in the Purification Agency for so long, he only came to the Broken Dome a handful of times. Sometimes he really wanted to break the rules and rush out of the conference room to see other places. If possible, Today is a good opportunity, but his injury has not healed yet, and he came here in a wheelchair.
"We are in a very bad situation right now."
A voice sounded from the other end of the round table. Looking along the round table covered with sword marks, although there was only darkness, both of them knew who was sitting there.
The head of the purification agency, the King of Knights, Arthur.
To be honest, the two of them now felt a sense of panic. How could He Dehe, a mere two high-ranking knights, be invited to the round table conference room to talk face to face with Arthur.
"What is the specific situation? You summoned a few of us in person... and there is a patient. The situation must be out of control."
There was a desperate voice, and it wasn't until that person spoke that Kestrel realized there was another person not far from him.
The person didn't hide her pride. She was bathed in the dim light, with a graceful figure and a bright blue and purple dress. If she hadn't been wearing that familiar mask, Kestrel would have thought it was the noble lady who entered here by mistake.
"Blue Jade?"
Shrike was a little surprised and didn't expect to meet her here.
"Okay, let's stop reminiscing about the past."
Arthur's voice came, and although they were smiling, the three of them immediately became serious.
"Now the knights stationed in Old Dunling have basically been sent out. Our strength is very empty, and the enemy is still missing."
"Ever since the Holy Coffin entered Yin Erweg, varying degrees of monster anomalies have broken out in various territories of Yin Erweg. The various knight commanders are exhausted. This is obviously an interference. Our enemies in the dark are trying to use This sacred coffin of protection.
To this end, Lancelot has taken the Armor of Original Sin on the Voyage to Dawn, but there are still no clues after such a long time. According to predictions, we still have about a week, and a week later there is a huge possibility that the Holy Coffin will be transported. Out of Inlvig, we must find a way to keep it! "
The eyes in the darkness seemed to be burning with fire, and the voice was calm, but all three of them could hear the seriousness.
"No matter how many ordinary people there are, I need knights who have undergone neurological specialization and can resist the erosion of demons. Unfortunately, our manpower loss is greater than expected. At present, the only manpower available in the old Dunling is the three of you. .”
"Where's Galahad?"
Thinking of his friend, Shrike asked quickly.Under normal circumstances, there were three knight captains in Old Dunling. Currently, two of them were sent out to track down the whereabouts of the Holy Coffin, and Galahad also lost news after that night.
The voice in the darkness was silent for a moment and replied.
"Originally, this operation should be led by Galahad, but now he has been detained by the perpetual pump. Regardless of his physical condition or degree of erosion, he cannot act for the time being."
"So this operation will be led by you, Shrike."
"I?"
Shrike was stunned. He was still injured before he was completely healed. Why should he be injured again?
"I know this order is difficult, but now you are the one who knows the situation best among these people. I need you to lead them, and I will give you all-round support."
"No...this is a bit too urgent!"
Kestrel also said on the side that they didn't even know the purpose of this operation.
"I don't want to, but we really don't have time. According to Lancelot's report, he traced the clues and got the approximate location of the sacred coffin. I don't need you to kill the enemy. I just need you to go there and cause a commotion. Although It may delay the enemy, and the subsequent firefight will be resolved by Lancelot.”
Arthur's voice was still flat, and it was driving them to death.
"Then why didn't Lancelot go directly?"
Lan Jade, who had been silent, said that she didn't understand, it was obviously not necessary to be so complicated.
A long sigh sounded in the darkness, and after a while Arthur said.
"Because they can't come back in time, all the knight captains have been attacked by demons recently. The demons are constantly holding them back. The demons have not hidden their intentions at all this time. They are just for the sacred coffin, even if they are sailing towards the dawn. The ship also stopped in the port of Rendona due to running out of fuel and it needs to be refueled."
"This is the first time in so many years that the demons have come out in force. We underestimated their number, so now we can only make do with you guys. You also know that ordinary people will be eroded sooner or later when they fight against the demons. That will only increase the number of enemies."
"No...it should be more than just these reasons, right?"
After thinking for a long time, Shrike asked slowly. He didn't care about his own life. He realized another kind of crisis.
"Inerweg is our home battle. Even if we mobilize the army, we can easily crush them. Why do we have to go to such trouble? Are we really afraid that the so-called pollution will cause the army to collapse?"
Shrike said, holding his hand on the edge of the wheelchair. It was a storage box with a gun inside. In his impression, Arthur had always been absolutely rational and would not make meaningless sacrifices, but today his words were full of loopholes. , so that he had to be vigilant.
After all, we are fighting monsters, so it is not impossible for the leader to suddenly go crazy.
"really."
Arthur slowly stood up and walked out of the darkness, his eyes full of exhaustion. His white hair and wrinkles made this once handsome man look extremely old. He looked like a lion in his old age, as if he had just experienced a long war.
"Originally, I wasn't so anxious. After all, we have the most advanced fleet in the world, and there is no possibility of the Holy Coffin escaping from the sea, but this information changed my mind."
As he spoke, a document was thrown over by Arthur from the other end of the round table. On the vellum was a top-secret seal, which Shrike and others had no right to view due to their status.
"Look, this is no longer a secret. After all, after all this is over, I am going to convene a roundtable meeting and announce this matter to everyone."
He took out a cigarette from his arms. Usually Arthur didn't smoke, but when he was under great pressure, he couldn't help but take a few puffs, imagining escaping from life.
"I know that some of my recent actions have caused some criticism among you, such as supporting the development of the Original Sin Armor, such as conducting neural specialization experiments, but there is nothing I can do about it."
Listening to the clattering sound of turning pages, everyone's breath seemed to have stagnated, and their eyes were full of disbelief and fear, until Arthur's voice sounded again to break the deathly immersion.
"Before the invention of the steam engine, the Evangelical Church had always controlled all countries. The reason was not because of any belief, but simply because they owned the Demon Hunting Order. Only they had the ability to fight against demons. Although we later established a purification agency. , are out of the control of the Evangelical Church, but they are still experts in fighting demons, the brightest torch in the dark night."
Arthur's voice trembled slightly.
"Yes, as stated in the report, according to intelligence, it can be confirmed that the Demon Hunt Sect was officially disbanded six years ago."
"The brightest torch in the night went out six years ago."
(End of this chapter)