Lorenzo whispered the name, and for some reason he seemed so familiar at the moment, but felt indescribably strange.
"Let's talk about those things related to 047. From the existing evidence, it can be judged that 042 does not exist... but you insist on believing that it exists. Perhaps from the story of 047, we can find the hidden message
, find the location of 042 from there."
"You also think 042 exists, right?" After hearing this, Lorenzo looked at Hercule with some hope. Everyone denied the existence of 042, but they didn't expect that the guy in front of him didn't.
"I don't know," replied Hercule.
"This is a world that values logical evidence. Nothing can support the fact that 042 exists...except for your seemingly crazy imagination.
Of course, your crazy imagination is not much evidence, but Lorenzo, you should know, and I also know, this is a crazy world, and there are secrets hidden everywhere that mortals cannot know, just like me,
Just like you and those monsters known as monsters."
Hercule gently rubbed the big mouse in his arms. Its fur felt very good. It was still warm in this thunderstorm day, like a small fire ball that could be touched.
"But just because of the madness of this world, everything is possible, right? No matter how small the probability is.
Maybe 042 really exists, but all traces have been erased for some reason... And you, you, Lorenzo Holmes, you find yourself to determine whether the fictional person is real or not.
The only clue."
The thunderstorm became more and more violent, until the entire sky was plunged into deathly gray black, and the whole world had no light except for the thunder.
Hercule did not close the window, he let the curtains dance wildly with the wind, and the icy rain and cold wind poured into the house. As the thunder passed by, it seemed as if the whole world was collapsing.
"Let's talk, Lorenzo, tell us about 047."
…
Even today, those memories are still clear. Lorenzo wrapped himself tightly in the blanket, and after a brief absence of consciousness, he slowly recalled everything at that time.
"I am……"
He thought about it carefully, but there was a stabbing pain in his mind. Just like Anthony asked him why he left the team on Advent Night, there were some memories that he could not recall.
"I...I can't remember..."
"Is it all, or part of it?"
Hercule asked like a skilled doctor.
"I...I can't perfectly recall the entire thing."
"Just like from the beginning to the end...just like dreams, dreams are always fragmentary. You can't remember how you got here, and when you realize it, you are already in the middle of the story."
"You said those memories of mine are all dreams?" Lorenzo was puzzled.
"No, it's just a description. I'm sure there is something wrong with your memory. It's like a building that has experienced an earthquake. The various levels are misaligned. Two different stories are spliced together, or a piece is missing."
Hercule explained calmly, but as he explained, Lorenzo became a little panicked.
"That is to say...am I really crazy?"
"Have you ever been normal? Lorenzo."
The conversation fell into silence, and after a long time Hercule spoke slowly.
"But humans can't imagine things they haven't seen before, Lorenzo. Just like we can't imagine a color out of thin air, even the fantasy works we create now are only based on realistic references. Human beings
The same is true for memories.
You are crazy, but your chaotic memories are also spliced together based on some real memories that you have actually experienced. They are wrong, but they are true."
Hercule then said.
"So there's no need to think so clearly, just say whatever comes to mind."
"Is this...?"
Lorenzo seemed to feel more at ease. He sank into the sofa, wrapped himself in a ball, looked at the world outside the window, and started talking as if no one else was watching.
"047...047 and I have known each other since we were children. We lived together on the streets of Feilengcui. I can't remember the more distant memories, but I remember that at that time I was free and wandering along the Tiber River. I would go there when I was hungry.
We robbed a bakery on the street and fell asleep under a bridge when we were sleepy... There were many children like us.
Until one day, I can’t remember exactly which day, people from the church found us. They promised warm beds and clean food. We didn’t know at the time that the price was so heavy. When we realized it, it was too late.
.”
Lorenzo said as if everything had returned to that time. Suddenly, the heavy rain and thunder outside the window disappeared, the dark clouds dispersed to reveal a clear sky, and the children's laughter echoed in the room. Lorenzo could not see them, but
But you can hear the brisk footsteps.
"We are orphans that no one remembers. Even if we die, no one cares. We have been taught by the Evangelical Church since we were young. After receiving the [Baptism of God's Favor], we experienced cruel secret blood implantation, and then became part of the Demon Hunting Order.
member."
The brisk footsteps around him became rarer and heavier, and the boys had long lost their childishness. They were leaning against the window with their books in their arms.
"Sounds like a less than perfect childhood," Hercule said.
"Actually, it's okay, maybe."
Lorenzo looked at the window, as if he had returned to that long time ago, when he and 047 were leaning against the window chatting.
"[Baptism of God's Favorite] is an extremely important step before becoming a demon hunter. I don't know the specific effect of this ritual. In short, it can make us have a certain resistance to the erosion of demons. At the same time, we can also get some unique,
A memory that does not belong to this era.
For example, I saw another similar but completely different world, where there were no demons or demon hunters. Humans there were not bound to the earth. They used steel and fire to break through the barrier of the sky.
"
"Barrier to the sky?"
Hercule was shocked by Lorenzo's recollection. No one had ever described the sky in this way, or said anything related to the sky.
At present, human beings' understanding of this world is still very shallow. Regarding the familiar sky above their heads, human beings also built the first war airship decades ago, announcing the beginning of conquest. However, after so many years, human beings are still
I don't know where the sky ends.
Whenever it reaches a certain height, extreme cold covers everything, and the airship falls out of control. Over time, no one challenges that unknown place anymore.
"Yes, there is pitch black at the end of the sky, but there are countless stars in that darkness, and those stars are like shining suns one after another. They gather together like glowing dust, and the dust is swept up by unknown forces.
It rises and pulls into a gorgeous vortex..."
Listening to his words, Hercule seemed to be entranced, his eyes full of greedy curiosity, but Lorenzo seemed to have thought of something, and his face couldn't help but look a little sad.
"As you said, humans can't imagine things they haven't seen before. Maybe this is the curse of knowledge. No matter how I describe it to you, it's hard for you to get a glimpse of that magnificent one percent."
Hercule was startled. He seemed to realize his gaffe, but he did not continue to ask any more questions, but motioned to Lorenzo to continue.
"The priests forbid us from talking to each other about what we saw, but it's like the curse of knowledge. Even if I tell them, they won't think of it, right? But I will still communicate with 047 in private. Unlike me, he seems to see it.
There are some amazing stories.”
"what story?"
Hercule suddenly became serious. Although Lorenzo's world after the sky was very tempting, now he first had to help Lorenzo solve the problem of who he was. This was a memory about 047, real but misplaced.
memory.
"A detective story."
Lorenzo said this, his tone was obviously so casual, but suddenly he felt like he was in a trance.
For a moment, all the sounds that had gone silent began to sound again. Someone was tearing apart his own memory and dragging himself into a world that had long been forgotten. All the colors were stretched into brilliant light until they returned to pitch black.
Hercule disappeared, along with Poirot in his arms, and the surrounding rooms also changed. 042 rubbed his eyes vigorously, as if he couldn't believe everything in this trance, and then someone left
He came over and sat on the vacant sofa.
"Did you just wake up? 042."
The man said, and then he said to himself.
"Where did we talk about it last time... it was a detective story."
047 looked at the sleepy 042 and then said.
"The Story of Mr. Holmes."
"Do you like this story that much? 042 seems to be very sleepy, and he doesn't really want to understand 047.
"Of course, remember what the priests said? This is a unique story, a story that only belongs to me." 047 looked extremely excited.
In fact, [Baptism of God's Favor] has another meaning. Demon hunters will inevitably encounter extremely dangerous moments in future battles. When their consciousness is corroded, tortured and controlled, the false illusion of [Baptism of God's Favor] is...
The information they get will guide them like a morning star.
This is a star that is unique and belongs only to them.
"And it's really fun, and if I could, I hope I can be him when I retire."
"who?"
"The man in the story, Mr. Holmes."
047 said as he put down all the books in his arms, but in fact it was blank, and he picked up the pen and continued to write the story on it.
"what are you writing?"
"Those stories, poems, and human memory are not reliable. Although the priest said that we will not forget them, but...what if? I want to write them all down."
042 looked at 047 and sighed helplessly. He was like this after [Baptism of God's Favor]. 047 was a wild boy before, even wilder than 042. Priests always say that everyone is the Lamb of God, so 047 is the most uneasy.
If possible, this lamb would not mind knocking over the shepherd and then leave happily, but now this restless lamb is busy writing.
"Knowledge is the ladder of progress!"
"No, you just like this story too much." 042 said.
"Likes will change a person... I have brought some other books over, do you want to read them?"
047 said, taking out a book from the pile and throwing it to 042.
"What's this?"
""Henry V"...016 said so."
042 took a look at the appearance of the book. The workmanship was extremely rough, and there was no name on the cover. When he opened it, he saw lines of crooked handwriting.
"Did you write this?" 042 exclaimed.
"To be precise, it's a transcript."
Another voice sounded from behind 042. This sudden voice startled 042. If these things were discovered by the priest, punishment would be inevitable.
But when he turned around, a familiar girl was looking at him with a smile. She was half a head taller than 042 and wore the same uniform.
042 looked at the sudden appearance of 016. After thinking for a short time, he was shocked.
"This...this book is your [Baptism of Divine Favor]?"
"Yes, 047 has begged me for a long time to get this story." 016 said with a smile.
"That's a great story, 042, about a king."
047 did not raise his head, but continued to copy the precious stories in his memory.
042 looked at the book in his hand, and then at 047.
"Then do you want to be a king? 047." 042 asked.
"How is it possible? I said, I want to be a detective."
This time 047 raised his head and spoke to 042 very seriously.
"As I told you, I'm going to Inverge after I retire. They say it's great there. It's much better than the staid city of Florence. There are no nagging priests and no cumbersome things.
Dogma was replaced by advanced technology and vibrant cities."
047 fell into the beauty of his own conception.
"I want to open a firm there. Just like in the story, I can investigate the case and find the murderer. How great. The priest said that in a few days we will implant secret blood and become demon hunters. Those robbers and robbers are even more...
If you can't beat me, I will become a very good detective... 016 is also very interested in this, we have agreed, she will be my assistant, what about it, do you want to join us? 042."
042's eyes swept back and forth between 047 and 016, and then said.
"Sounds pretty good."
“To be precise, it’s really great.”
047’s eyes were full of excitement and longing for the future.
"But before that there is another question, 042."
"What?"
"We need a name. After all, a number is not a name."
042 is a little hesitant.
"Priests absolutely forbid these,047."
"Just don't let them find out. I've already given myself a name, and so has 016."
047 said and pointed at 016 behind 042. 042 had a look of disbelief on his face, as if he didn't expect that 016 would do such a stupid thing with 047.
"It's quite interesting, isn't it?" 016 said, "My name is Watson. Although it is a man's name, it feels pretty good."
042 then looked at 047 and saw him put down the book and pen in his hand and said seriously.
"Please call me...
——Mr. Holmes!”
That was probably one of the few beautiful moments in Lorenzo Holmes's life. He sat on the sofa and told it quietly, staring out the window. The story was obviously happy and beautiful, but Hercule felt
It was unspeakably depressing, as if the story contained some kind of vicious curse.
There was cold liquid across his face. It was unclear whether it was the sadness for the past or the rainwater splashing into the room, but everything was so dim that no one knew.