Last Gun Alchemist

Chapter 214: The Money Plan Part – Seven

Rogers sat in silence.

His arms were folded across his chest while his eyes remained fixed on the Starlix resting on the table before him.

The screen displayed a single contact.

The person he had told Ezra he would call.

Yet despite having made that promise, his finger stubbornly refused to press the call button.

The usually loud and carefree blacksmith looked strangely tense.

Almost nervous.

"Coward."

Lenny suddenly appeared beside him with a mocking grin stretched across the young man’s face as he leaned forward to look at the screen.

"AH!"

Rogers nearly jumped out of his chair.

His arm swung instinctively.

Whoosh!

The large hand cut through the air.

Lenny’s body immediately dropped.

His knees slammed against the floor while both palms supported him.

The hand passed over his head by less than an inch.

The wind from the swing even rustled his hair.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Then...

"He just tried to kill me."

Lenny’s eyes widened.

His breathing became uneven.

The look on his face was so serious that anyone who didn’t know him would think he had narrowly survived an assassination attempt.

"Don’t pop out like that!"

Rogers shouted.

"You scared the hell out of me!"

Lenny remained frozen on the floor.

His gaze slowly moved from the hand that had nearly hit him toward Rogers’ face.

"I almost met my ancestors."

His voice carried genuine accusation.

Rogers ignored him completely.

Instead, he turned back toward the Starlix.

His expression gradually became serious again.

The contact remained there.

Waiting.

His fingers tightened slightly, then he slowly exhaled.

It’s just a phone call.

Why am I acting like I’m walking into an execution?

After fortifying his resolve, Rogers finally pressed the button.

Immediately, a holographic phone icon appeared above the Starlix.

Soft rings of light expanded outward from the projection as the call attempted to connect.

Lenny slowly stood up with a surprised look on his face.

"Wow."

He crossed his arms.

"I honestly didn’t think you’d actually do it, old man."

"Shut up."

Rogers replied instantly.

"I was only thinking about what to say when she answers."

He tried to sound calm.

Unfortunately...

"Yeah right."

Lenny didn’t even pretend to believe him.

Rogers’s eyebrow twitched.

"Cough."

He cleared his throat awkwardly, then looked toward the floating hologram.

The phone continued ringing.

Several seconds passed.

Then more.

Nobody answered.

Rogers immediately relaxed.

"She’s not picking up."

His voice had somehow become much quieter than its usual volume.

This made Lenny look at him.

Then look again.

Interesting.

It had been years since he last saw his master, this worried about another person.

Actually...

This was probably the first time.

Well...

It is Auntie Rena we are talking about.

Lenny nodded to himself.

Once.

Then twice.

Then three times.

A knowing smile appeared on his face.

"Why are you nodding like that?"

Rogers frowned.

"It’s creepy."

Lenny’s smile only widened.

The call eventually ended by itself.

The holographic phone disappeared.

Rogers immediately stood up.

"Let’s go."

He turned toward the hallway.

"Where are we going?" Lenny pointed at the phone. "Aren’t you going to call her again?"

"She’s probably busy."

Rogers replied immediately with his answer arriving suspiciously fast.

"That’s obviously why she didn’t answer."

A relaxed smile appeared on his face.

A very forced relaxed smile.

"So, we’ll leave her alone for now."

Lenny stared.

Then stared harder.

Coward.

"Come!"

Rogers’s voice suddenly returned to its usual volume.

"Let’s review your work!"

"Tsk."

Lenny clicked his tongue.

That was the very last thing he wanted to hear from the old man.

Life under Rogers was simple.

Blacksmithing.

Studying blacksmithing.

Practicing blacksmithing.

Getting yelled at about blacksmithing.

Then repeating the process again.

The old man practically lived inside the workshop which was also in an isolated area where nobody but him lived.

And because of that, Lenny practically lived there too.

It was exhausting and lonely at the same time.

Then suddenly...

Ring!

Ring!

Ring!

Lenny’s eyes widened.

"SAFE!"

His fist shot into the air in celebration.

Rogers immediately turned.

"What was that?"

Lenny pointed at the ringing phone.

"What a coincidence."

He laughed nervously.

"Haha..."

Rogers ignored him, because his attention had already shifted toward the phone.

Slowly, he walked back.

Lenny wisely retreated several steps.

The screen displayed the incoming caller.

Rena.

Rogers swallowed.

He didn’t even notice himself doing it.

Then he accepted the call.

The holographic projection immediately expanded.

A large rectangular screen appeared above the Starlix.

The moment the connection completed...

"ROGERS!!!!"

The shout exploded from the projection.

The volume alone made both old man and boy flinch.

"YOU MOTHER-FUCKING OLD MAN!"

Rogers instinctively took a step backward.

Meanwhile, Lenny looked delighted.

The woman on the screen sat comfortably inside what appeared to be an office.

Her legs were crossed.

Her arms were folded.

Her expression carried enough irritation to kill a weaker man.

"Heyyyy, Rena."

Rogers forced a smile.

"That’s not exactly how you greet your favorite uncle after all these years."

"GREET MY FUCKING FOOT."

Her response arrived instantly.

Every word struck like a hammer.

"WHY WOULD I GREET AN OLD MAN WHO VANISHED FOR SEVEN YEARS?"

Another strike.

"AND DIDN’T BOTHER CHECKING ON THE FAMILY HE LEFT BEHIND?"

Another strike.

"AND SUDDENLY DECIDE TO CALL NOW?"

Critical hit.

Rogers visibly shrank.

Lenny almost started clapping in joy of seeing the old man helpless against someone.

"You’re being a little harsh."

Rogers sulked.

"You know I had my reasons."

"Shameless old man."

Rena looked at him the same way one might look at dirt stuck beneath a shoe.

"You’re still creepy even at this age."

Lenny immediately turned away.

His shoulders were shaking.

He was trying very hard not to laugh.

The mighty Rogers.

The legendary blacksmith.

The terrifying workshop tyrant.

Reduced to this.

Fuck... this is golden!

Lenny’s mind raced with pleasant joy.

"I’m not shameless."

Rogers attempted to defend himself.

"Hm?"

Rena’s eyes narrowed.

The pressure instantly increased.

"Yes."

Rogers nodded.

"I am shameless."

The surrender happened so quickly that Lenny almost choked on holding his laughter.

Silence settled briefly in the living room with Rena continuing to stare while Rogers continued looking everywhere except at her.

Meanwhile, Lenny fought for his life.

One laugh.

Just one laugh.

And he knew very well what would happen to him after the call ended.

Eventually...

"Ahhh."

Rena sighed, rubbing her forehead.

"I was having a perfectly good day."

Her posture relaxed slightly.

"Then your face appeared from nowhere."

Rogers lowered his head.

"I’m sorry."

For once...

The apology actually sounded sincere.

Rena studied him quietly, then she closed one eye, leaving the other open.

"I still haven’t forgiven you. And I don’t know if I will ever forgive you."

Rogers nodded.

"But..."

A faint smile appeared.

"It’s good to see you’re still alive and healthy."

For a moment, the atmosphere softened.

The tension that had filled the room eased slightly and Rogers visibly relaxed.

Then Rena’s attention shifted.

"And it’s good to see you too, Lenny."

Her smile became warmer.

"Auntie Rena!"

Lenny practically teleported toward the screen.

"I missed you!"

His excitement was genuine.

Rena chuckled softly.

"Is Uncle treating you well?" frёewebnoѵēl.com

The moment she asked...

Rogers began winking furiously.

One eye.

Then both eyes.

Then one eye again.

The man looked like he was having a medical emergency.

Lenny stared at the old man who normally nagged him down every training session and also hit him whenever he tried to argue back, now at his mercy.

A faint malicious grin appeared.

Rogers’s winking became faster upon seeing Lenny’s grin.

At this point he was outright begging, and Lenny enjoyed every second.

Then...

"He’s treating me well."

He smiled innocently.

Rogers nearly cried from relief.

"Oh?" Rena glanced toward Rogers. "I thought he’d be bullying you."

Her gaze carried a warning.

Rogers immediately straightened.

"Of course not."

He placed a hand on his chest.

"You know he’s like a grandson to me."

The smile on his face looked suspicious.

Very suspicious.

Rena narrowed her eyes at Rogers.

The smile on his face looked strange.

Not just strange, but also suspicious.

There was also something awkward about the atmosphere between him and Lenny.

The disciple looked far too happy.

And the old man looked far too relieved.

Normally, that combination meant somebody was hiding something.

However, since Lenny himself had already said he was being treated well, Rena decided not to press the issue.

For now.

"Okay."

She finally relaxed her gaze.

At least slightly.

Then she leaned back into her chair and crossed one leg over the other again.

The office behind her remained quiet.

Stacks of documents rested neatly on several shelves while a large window behind her revealed part of the city beyond.

Her attention remained fixed entirely on Rogers.

"So."

Her voice became calmer.

"Why exactly are you calling me?"

She paused.

Then added,

"It’s obvious you want something."

The corners of her lips curled upward.

"Especially considering the fact that you haven’t called me for the past seven years."

The final words came out slowly.

Very slowly.

Each word carried enough weight to make Rogers visibly flinch.

Lenny immediately looked away.

Not because he wasn’t trying to be respectful, but because he was trying his best not to laugh.

Rogers’s awkward laughter echoed through the room.

"Haha..."

It sounded forced.

Painfully forced.

"I need your help, Rena."

He said, looking very hesitant and nervous to speak.

"I know."

Rena nodded immediately.

"That’s already obvious."

She rested her cheek against one hand.

"So, stop wasting my time and get to the point."

The pressure immediately returned.

Rogers opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again.

For some reason, the man who could shout at blacksmiths all day long suddenly struggled to form a complete sentence.

"Okay..."

He rubbed the back of his neck.

"What I need your help for isn’t actually for me."

His voice became slower.

"It’s for..."

"Auntie."

Lenny suddenly interrupted.

The young man looked like he couldn’t watch the suffering any longer.

Rogers immediately shot him a grateful look.

Lenny ignored it.

"I’m sure you’ve heard of a boy named Ezra Ashenlocke."

Rena blinked.

The name immediately sounded familiar.

"Ezra Ashenlocke..."

She repeated it thoughtfully.

Her fingers lightly tapped against the armrest of her chair.

Several moments passed.

Then recognition appeared.

"You mean the boy who nearly turned the Unveiling Party upside down?"

She narrowed her eyes slightly.

"The one who ranked sixth in the Trial of Steel?"

Lenny nodded.

"That’s him."

Rena looked surprised.

Not because she didn’t know who Ezra was.

But because she didn’t expect Rogers to be connected to him.

"Did you attend the party?"

Lenny asked curiously.

"Of course."

Rena rolled her eyes.

"Why wouldn’t I?"

She paused, then frowned.

"But why are we talking about him?"

Her gaze moved between Rogers and Lenny.

"Is he the one who needs my help?"

"Yes."

Rogers immediately nodded.

Finding a bit of confidence now that the topic had shifted away from himself.

"The boy was introduced to me by Vera."

The moment Vera’s name was mentioned...

Rena blinked.

Twice.

"Wait."

Her expression became strange.

"That evi..."

She stopped herself with a cough escaping her throat.

"The Young Lady from the Main Family?"

Rogers pretended not to notice the correction.

Lenny nearly laughed.

"Yes." Rogers nodded. "That one."

I mean, it’s only one we know though.

Rogers’ eyes shifted slightly to another side, before returning back to look at Rena.

Rena leaned back.

Now she was becoming interested.

She had seen Ezra during the party.

She had seen his performance.

And she had also witnessed the attention he received afterward.

However, unlike many of the nobles present, she hadn’t bothered approaching him.

A talented child appeared every generation.

She had seen plenty.

At the time, she simply categorized him as another promising young noble.

Nothing more.

Yet the situation felt different now, because Rogers was involved.

And Rogers didn’t get excited about just any people.

Especially not children.

"He’s a good kid."

Rogers smiled.

Then shook his head.

"No."

His expression became more serious.

"He’s not just a good kid."

A hint of pride entered his voice.

"He’s a genius craftsman."

The room became quiet.

Rena’s eyes widened as she heard the words from his mouth.

Mainly because she understood something.

Rogers wasn’t the type of person who casually praised others, especially when it came to crafting.

The old man’s standards were absurdly high and he never praised anyone for being a genius, even when he trained Vera.

He didn’t say any praises like he just did now.

Rena stared deeply at him.

Studying his face.

Searching for exaggeration.

For bias.

For emotional attachment.

Instead, all she found was certainty.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

"A genius craftsman?"

She repeated slowly.

Rogers nodded without hesitation and any doubt.

That alone made the statement carry more weight.

That boy...

Her interest immediately skyrocketed.

Meanwhile, Lenny also joined in.

"He’s really good, Auntie."

He folded his arms.

"Although he’s not better than me, obviously."

He said with confidence.

Rogers rolled his eyes.

Rena ignored him.

Yet hearing praise from both master and disciple only made her curiosity grow further.

"So."

She leaned slightly forward.

"What exactly does this genius craftsman need from me?"

Her folded arms remained where they were.

Only her index finger tapped lightly against her sleeve.

A habit she had whenever she was thinking.

Rogers immediately answered.

"He needs help creating structural layouts for an invention."

"Hmm."

Rena thought quietly.

An invention.

That wasn’t particularly unusual.

The company she worked under handled projects far more complicated than that and she had also met young inventors who showcased their inventions to the company.

After a brief moment of consideration, she replied.

"You can send him to my office."

Her tone became professional.

"I’ll make time to review the invention myself."

She continued.

"If it’s viable, I can assign people to assist him."

"No."

Rogers’s response came immediately.

The speed of it surprised both Lenny and Rena.

Rena frowned.

"What?"

"Please."

Rogers’s expression became serious.

Far more serious than before.

"You’ll need to come with me."

The atmosphere shifted.

Gone was the awkward old man being bullied.

Gone was the uncle struggling through a conversation.

For a brief moment...

The legendary craftsman returned.

And Rena noticed it immediately.

Lenny stared at Rogers wondering who was this old man standing in front of him talking.

He didn’t remember seeing a serious Rogers like this in his life.

"What are you talking about?"

She narrowed her eyes.

Rogers held her gaze.

"Trust me, Rena."

His voice was firm.

"The invention he’s working on is going to be worth the trip."

He paused, then added,

"Trust my experience."

Silence followed after he said those words.

Rena looked at him.

Really looked at him.

At the man who had once elevated their family’s standing from the very bottom.

She looked at the craftsman whose judgment had built reputations and industries.

At the person whose standards bordered on unreasonableness.

Yet he was asking her to travel personally.

For a child.

And for an invention she knew nothing about.

The request alone was ridiculous.

And yet...

The seriousness on his face prevented her from dismissing it.

"Ahhh..."

She rubbed her forehead.

A small headache was beginning to form.

Mostly because her curiosity was now winning.

"I heard you."

Rogers visibly relaxed.

"Thank you."

"Don’t thank me yet."

She immediately cut him off.

"Send me the location."

Rogers nodded.

"I’ll also meet you there."

He said looking at her with a face of gratitude, then his expression became slightly cautious.

"Ah, don’t tell anyone about the trip."

Rena stared at him.

The blank look on her face lasted several seconds, then her eyes narrowed again.

Now she was even more curious.

Because whatever Ezra was creating...

It had somehow managed to make Rogers excited enough to personally come looking for her after seven years of silence.

And that alone was enough to make the trip worthwhile.