Gun of Ashes

"So, does that mean protecting everyone is just a side benefit?"

"Of course, you're not paying us, after all."

The two old guys laughed, enjoying a rare moment of ease.

But Duke Phoenix's expression immediately turned icy. He looked at Yawei with a gaze full of authoritative scrutiny.

"You should know what I'm going to ask next, right?"

The old butler nodded, seemingly foresaw it long before.

"Since Selyu made contact with you, I had a premonition... I thought I could hide it for a lifetime, as long as I died, no one would know the truth."

The old butler looked complexly at the girl standing gracefully like a swan beyond the crowd.

"This is the intelligence obtained after Lorenzo woke up. At that time, he couldn't stop Lawrence. He had captured Selyu and successfully used her as a link to spread erosion... But large-scale demonization did not occur, and those Stuart groups on our watch list were safe and sound."

Duke Phoenix slowly said.

"Although Lorenzo is insane, some of his words make sense as a detective. Eliminate all impossibilities, and whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth."

He spoke gravely.

"Selyu is not a descendant of Stuart, is she?"

It was a terrifying secret, stirring up massive waves.

Everything seemed so ironic. Selyu was being honored, and at that moment, the so-called honor was mere deception.

But the old butler appeared calm, simply replying.

"Yes."

He said, then started to laugh.

"Actually, it's a riddled lie in itself. How could the noble Stuart lineage end up in Gaulunaro? Even if it did, the enraged enemies would have wiped them out completely... It was just a self-deceiving joke."

"Why did you do this?"

Duke Phoenix asked, puzzled.

In reality, their conversation could change nothing. Selyu was the last Stuart, and Yawei was the last retainer of this ancient family. As long as he affirmed Selyu's identity, no one could detect the anomaly. As for the peculiar meme contamination, the Demon's power wouldn't appear in the public eye.

"You are the guardian of this bloodline, yet in the end, you defiled this honor... Was it just to ensure Stuart's continuation?"

Yawei shook his head, his cloudy eyes reflecting radiance.

"No, not like that, Duke Phoenix. Honor never belonged to any bloodline. Even if old Duke Stuart were alive, he would agree with my decision."

"What decision, just finding someone randomly to solve the issue of extinction?"

He appeared somewhat angry.

"You shamed Navis Stuart."

Navis Stuart, the man who was awarded by everyone during the war and then achieved distinguished merit in the Radiant War. He was recorded in the history of the Ingwig calendar.

This was originally a harsh rebuke, but in Yawei's ears, it sounded like an immense joke, making him laugh even more joyously. He then looked at Duke Phoenix.

"No, no one will blame me, especially Navis Stuart. On the contrary, he would praise me, for I did what he always wanted to do."

Duke Phoenix looked at him, confused, then Yawei continued.

"Do you know? His real name was Navis Dodd, the son of a blacksmith."

The horrifying truth was thus unveiled, casually mentioned by Yawei.

Duke Phoenix recalled the previous rumors about the Stuart family, warnings from the now-extinct Baskerville, and assembled the fragmented pieces, appearing shocked.

After a brief moment of surprise, he asked.

"So, those are true."

"Of course they are true, only everyone was very united, closely holding together, no one leaked, so Navis Dodd became Navis Stuart."

Yawei continued to say.

"Yes, that's the truth. Actually, the Stuart bloodline ended a long time ago; in the castle a hundred years ago, it died along with the old Count."

"But so what, Duke Phoenix?"

He asked rhetorically.

"The bloodline has long since ended, but the glory of Stuart continues to thrive in this world, doesn't it? And it's becoming even more intense.

Honor never belonged to any bloodline; it resides in the human will. Even if it's gone, people will always pick it up, dust it off, and keep moving forward.

Will is stronger than bloodline; it can never be killed."

Duke Phoenix breathed heavily. Indeed, the human heart is much more complex than a Demon's, so much that he couldn't quite grasp it. The words hammered at his heart like a heavy blow, and in the end, he barely managed to ask.

"But... why?"

Why was there such persistence? That past was over a hundred years ago. Why so obstinate?

"Because we must continue the Stuart name, continue its glory. This is the only way we can repay what the war at that time granted us."

Carrying on this name was the only way they could honor the memory of that old Count.

"Moreover, it is no longer just a surname; it represents a kind of common will and the people connected by it."

Yawei's voice grew heavier, along with the music rising in the hall like a devout divine speech.

"Stuart will not perish, it will never perish; as long as there are people willing to follow this path, he may be crowned with the name of Stuart."