Lord of Cinder in American Comics

"Well, I'm here."

Can you hear me?

Ash held the Fire Keeper's hands in front of her chest.

"I have always heard it, my Fire Keeper. May the flame guide us."

## Chapter 5: Someone Died on My First Day at the Firelink Shrine

Ash held the Fire Keeper's hands, and the two sat on the steps of the Firelink Shrine. The Fire Keeper rested her head on Ash's shoulder, and they quietly watched the campfire before them. They remained like this until late at night.

Suddenly Ash seemed to sense something, and looked up at the back of the altar, her gaze seemingly extending all the way to the outside of the sacrificial site.

"Lord Ash, what's wrong?" The Fire Keeper asked, sensing Ash's movement.

“I suddenly received several souls. I wonder who’s doing things around here. I’d better go out and take a look,” Ash explained.

As she spoke, Ash changed her clothes into a clerical blue robe. Although the archbishop's robe was of higher rank, it hindered her movements too much. The clerical blue robe was short, close-fitting, and also reflected her status.

As for why he didn't change into modern clothes, Ash said, "Who would think a priest dressed in clerical robes is going to fight? And even if he did fight, who would think a clergyman is the culprit?"

It's like you're fighting with someone, and they're carrying sticks, so you're carrying sticks too, and in the end, everyone gets arrested. But it turns out your stick is a rolling pin. You can then tell the police officer that you were out buying a rolling pin for your wife and somehow got caught up in a fight. Maybe you can slip through the cracks and get released without charge?

Ash walked down the path through the shrine until she reached a house where a man was dragging a corpse out of the house and loading it onto a vehicle.

"Sir, can you tell me what you are doing?" Ash asked.

The man suddenly froze, then slowly looked in Ash's direction until Ash emerged from the shadows.

Upon seeing Ash's clothes, the man sighed and said, "Father, this is not something you can handle. Leave."

Ash, listening to the man's words and sensing that there were still living people in and around the house, seemed to understand something.

“Who are the women and children inside? And the lady hiding in the bushes, please come out,” Ash said to the man, then turned to the other side of the road and said the rest of the sentence.

The man who was disposing of the body paused for a moment, then suddenly drew his gun and pointed it at the spot Ash indicated.

"Don't shoot, I mean no harm, I'm his neighbor." A woman emerged from the bushes, dressed in casual home clothes, but carrying a women's handgun.

The man squinted for a moment, then said, "Snow, is that you?"

“Hatch, can you put down your gun? I heard noises coming from your house, I came to see if I could help,” Snow replied.

After Snow finished speaking, Hatch put down his gun and followed Snow over.

"Where is your wife? And where are your two children?" Snow asked anxiously.

“They’re all fine, they’re in the basement now. I need to take care of things here first.” Hatch said, stuffing the body into the trunk and then slamming the trunk lid shut.

Snow also helped Hatch drag the remaining bodies out of the house and stuff them into the back seat of the car, then helped clean up the yard. Ash stood by and watched the two of them tidy up little by little until they had basically finished cleaning.

Hatch saw Ash standing motionless beside them, watching them, and walked up to him, saying, "Father, you really should leave. This is not something you can handle."

"Why didn't you say so? Maybe I could have solved it?" Ash said with a smile.

"What can a priest do but pray to your God?"

“No, if he can be obedient, I will forgive him. If he can’t be obedient, I have 9 millimeters, 12.7 millimeters, 40 millimeters, or even more.”

Hatch, hearing Ash's words, thought Ash was exaggerating. "Using your identity as a priest?"

"In my name, Ash Solar."

The moment Ash Solal's name entered Hatch's mind, Hatch blurted out, "It's you? Solal, the army chaplain?"

Having realized that Ash truly had the ability to resolve the situation, Hatch slowly explained the whole story.

It turns out that Hatch only wanted to find the bracelet that his daughter had been stolen, but he almost killed a robber couple who had just had a child. Feeling helpless and angry, he beat up a few thugs on the way back, but he didn't expect that the thugs were actually quite powerful.

The thug's father was the estate manager of five major gangs, and he sent men to kill his family. Hatch had no choice but to put his family in the basement and deal with the others alone.

Hachi killed several assassins at home, but was outnumbered and knocked unconscious. He was then put into a car, but managed to kill the driver and drive the car back to dispose of the bodies at home.

"Which gangs are so audacious? Do you have any information about them?" Ash asked curiously.

"They're supposedly called the Five Great Gangs Alliance, a bunch of bullies who have no rules and no bottom line. They even recruit black people into the Russian gang."

Hachi lit a cigarette, took two puffs, finished explaining the whole story, and then angrily smashed the cigarette to the ground.

"Bring your wife and child out now. Arrange for them with me. I'll handle the rest. The five major gangs might be of some use." Ash took the blame and offered Hatch a solution.

Hatch agreed to Ash's request and went back into the house to bring his family out of the basement. Hatch held his daughter in one arm and covered her eyes with the other. Hatch's wife followed closely behind, holding their son's hand.

After being taken away from the house, Hatch's family became less nervous, and Snow helped to comfort the children.

Hatch recounted what had happened to his wife, and finally led his family to Ash. The little girl timidly hid in Hatch's arms, while the boy stood in front of his mother.

"I believe Hatch has already told you that you should stay at my place for the night, and everything will be over by tomorrow morning."

At that moment, the little girl Abby handed the bracelet she was holding to Ash.

Ash took the bracelet and looked at it, then gave Hatch a look as if to say, "Is this the bracelet?"

Hatch nodded slightly, feeling helpless.

“Then Hatch and I will handle the rest here. You all go to the shrine at the end of the road.”

After making the arrangements, Hatch handed his daughter to his wife and directed them to leave. At this point, Snow offered to help take care of the child.

Hatch's wife, Becca, holding their daughter and leading their son, looked at Hatch as if asking him a question. Ash then spoke.

“It’s alright. The shrine is a bit short of supplies. Snow, could you go home and get some food and water? You can go with them to the shrine and protect them.”

Snow agreed, went home to get some supplies, and when she returned, she saw that everyone was still waiting for her. Ash was making the little girl giggle, and Snow breathed a sigh of relief.

"Alright, everyone's here. Little Abby, do you want to see magic?" Ash said, patting the little girl's head.

Abby nodded, somewhat bewildered. Ash then took out a sacred bell with a golden handle and a white ivory body and gently shook it. Golden specks of light continuously emerged from the lower part of the bell, gradually converging and eventually forming a golden sphere of light that floated in the air.

"Abby, follow it. It will take you to the Firelink Shrine. There's also a nun there who's a great storyteller."

Becca and Snow led the children away following the light, leaving only Ash and Hatch. Ash gestured for Hatch to wait a moment, then took out a phone and dialed.

"Hey, General, you're still awake? I'd like to borrow two men to kill a few scoundrels."

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Author's Remarks

Item Used: Yorshka's Sacred Bell. A sacred bell jointly given to Yorshka by her brother, the former Grand Master of the Knights, in her name. Its sound must surely soothe loneliness. Combat Skill: Prayer for Grace, slowly restores health over a certain period. A combat skill usable on either hand. Magic Used: Illumination of Light. A lost magic from the ancient golden magic kingdom of Ulashiro. It emits light that illuminates its surroundings. The emission of light is a pure form of magic, the essence of golden magic. Conversely, the Dragon Academy cannot reach this level. Although the magic is cast using a sacred bell that can only perform miracles, without using a catalyst like the White Hair Amulet or a mage's staff, this will be explained later in the book. If any readers have extra recommendation votes, please give them to me; I would be extremely grateful. Thank you all.

2022-01-25 08:00

## Chapter Six: There are Five of the Four Heavenly Kings

Ash called Ross, since Ross was the only one in the country at the moment, and there were air force bases all over the United States, so it would be easy to assemble a team.

During the conversation with Ross, Ross said he would soon transfer capable squads from the surrounding area, and kept mentioning Ash going back to take over. Ash advised Ross to give up as soon as possible, saying there were better options in Sheffield. The phone call ended with Ross cursing loudly.

At that moment, Hatch started the car, preparing to dispose of the vehicle and the body inside. Ash stopped him.

"What did you do before? Weren't you often in China? Let me guess, were you with the CIA, or on overseas assignment?"

Hatch noticed Ash's confusion, as if there was something wrong with his behavior in New York. He answered Ash's question anyway: "I used to train new recruits for the CIA, and then I was overseas as part of GRS."

"Then you must not have worked in the CIA for very long, otherwise it wouldn't be so easy for you to retire like this."

Hatch lit a cigarette, leaned against the car, took a drag, and said, "I only worked at the CIA training base for less than two months before I left. Those guys in the CIA are inhuman."

“It’s good that we’re out here. We don’t have to do what the CIA requires. GRS is only responsible for risk assessment and VIP protection. We don’t even have to write reports,” Hatch said indignantly.

Listening to Hatch's complaints, Ash took out her phone again and dialed a number.

"Accounts payable 00013, room cleaning, address at xxxxx, immediately."

Not long after, a small van equipped with a professional household pest control system pulled up in front of Ash. A short, stocky man wearing a top hat got out of the driver's seat, and then the back door of the van opened, from which two tall, strong Slavic men jumped out.

"Good evening, sir. Cleaning service," the man said, lifting his top hat and bowing.

Ash took out a few gold coins and handed them to the man, while also gesturing for Hatch to give him the car keys containing the body. Hatch did as he was told. The man took the keys and drove away, leaving two burly men with cleaning tools to head towards Hatch's house.

Hatch stared blankly at all of this, marveling at the absurd efficiency of it all.

"Don't just stand there, drive, let's go to the next place." Ash got into Hatch's family car and patted the door as she spoke.

On the way, Hachi was still sighing, his words filled with a longing for answers.

“Remember the Mafia of the past? Al Capone became the head of the entire American Mafia, and even the FBI couldn’t do anything about him. He even planned to run for office, and anyone who disagreed would be attacked and slaughtered by him.” Ash didn’t directly address the Mafia but instead started by recounting its history.

"So you called the Mafia's services?"

"Of course not, I haven't finished speaking yet, don't interrupt me."

As Al Capone's power grew, the FBI struggled to find any overt evidence against him, and some accusations even involved witnesses disappearing. Ultimately, the IRS intervened and imprisoned Al Capone on charges of tax evasion.

However, this did not cause much damage to Al Capone's criminal empire, as his successors, supporters, and challengers emerged one after another.

Finally, the various departments sat down together and came up with a solution that was more of a sham than a solution: dismantle Al Capone's power into multiple parts, and allow these parts to participate in the power struggles of the underworld.

Ultimately, several gangs, conglomerates, violent organizations, and power institutions came together to form a twelve-person high table, which now serves as the service center for the dark world.

If you can't solve it completely, then break it down, modify it, and integrate it into your system.

After listening to Ash's explanation, Hatch remained silent for a long time. Having spent so much time overseas, he hadn't realized how treacherous New York was. However, he quickly seized upon a suspicious point.

"You said there were twelve people at the high table, but I remember you gave the number thirteen when you called?"

"There are four giants in novels, five Heavenly Kings, nineteen scholars, and twelve hegemons of the Spring and Autumn Period. So what's so strange about having thirteen tables on a high platform?"

After hearing Ash's words, Hatch remained silent and drove quietly until they arrived at the agreed location. He still couldn't understand why there were five Heavenly Kings.

The agreed-upon location wasn't far from the destination Hatch had asked for, but it was even more desolate. The entire area was located near a bend in the road, with only streetlights providing light. Leaving the road meant plunging into darkness.

After waiting a short while, Ash got out of the car, walked to the roadside, and waved vigorously. Hatch keenly sensed that Ash wasn't making a fuss for no reason, but he didn't feel anyone was there.

Just as Ash finished waving, several faint, transparent shadows walked over from across the road. Without close inspection, their outlines were completely invisible. Soon, the shadows reached Ash's side and then dispersed, leaving only one beside her.

Hatch silently pulled out his pistol, released the safety, held the gun against the door with his right hand, and placed his left hand on the door handle, ready to rush out at any moment.

However, just as he opened the car door a crack, a powerful force suddenly yanked it open, and a transparent figure ripped it open, quickly pointing a cold gun barrel at Hatch's head.

Hatch could only see a dark gun muzzle separated from the transparent shadow; the shadow was only vaguely outlined as the appearance of an armed person.

Hearing the noise coming from near the car, Ash and his shadow walked over.