The Origin of Arcane

Old John, how many people did you call? If you squeeze any more, your shabby house will be squeezed out of holes.

Papa John, you suddenly called us here. What is the important matter? You must tell us the whole story, right? It's really uncomfortable to be kept in the dark.

We corpse collectors make do together, what else can we do? Of course we are discussing how to collect corpses!

What's there to discuss about collecting corpses? Anyone here who hasn't been a veteran for more than three years can collect them with their eyes closed.

Who said that? There must be rules when collecting corpses. Not all corpses can be collected. You must pay attention to the territory, right? If you collect them randomly, it will break the rules for many years.

Don't you just want to talk about the homeless man I accepted a month ago? That's right, I made a small profit from him, but it was completely a coincidence. I just passed by there and accepted it by the way. It's not intentional to snatch your job! Besides, if I don't accept it, those homeless and beggars will also pick off his things, before you come to your door. Because of this, you have targeted me not once or twice, today Since we are here with Old John, let's make things clear.

Okay, since you admit it, it's easy to say, that homeless beggar died in the streets I was in charge of, and I should have a share of the money for burying the body. I'm not greedy. You can give half of it. Come on, it's over.

Why? I did the work, and you have to share half of it with your empty words? When did those streets become your private? Is it possible that I picked up a purse on those streets? It's also yours. ? Just now I said, even without me, the burial money would not fall into your hands.

Sophistry, it's pure sophistry, but you are judging, what's the deal with this matter? If we collect randomly everywhere in the future, wouldn't there be no rules at all, and the whole industry will be messed up!

We are just a group of corpse collectors. When did we start planning territory like those hooligans, and when did we become an industry? You really have the face to say that even if it is an industry, it is the cheapest kind.

Both of you don't say a few words. Isn't it just a matter of dozens of coppers? As for making such a scene and ruining our friendship for so many years, is it worth it?

Dozens of coppers, what you said is light and fluffy. The emotional coppers are not taken from your pocket. This is enough for me to work for half a week. Besides, I am not wrong at all. He is here to make trouble for no reason. I used to help him collect those pennies When he was a beggar who was penniless and disease-ridden, why did he never talk about the territory? Wouldn’t it be even more messy if everyone turned their attention to money.”

Nonsense, I told you this before, when did you see me cross the line?

Why don't you know good people? Forget it, forget it, you two continue to fight, I want to see what tricks you can come up with?

Shut up. Old John paused heavily on his crutches, his long face full of age spots was so gloomy that water dripped down, For a small profit, you are fighting so hard in front of the guests, are you not ashamed? If you don’t unite, it’s no wonder that outsiders call us ghouls, and if this continues, you will really become ghouls one by one.”

But, we...

If you talk nonsense, get the hell out of my house. I'll have nothing to do with it in the future...cough cough... Old John covered his mouth and coughed for a while. The cough was so severe that he seemed to be coughing out his heart and lungs, and his whole body was bowed. Shrimp-like.

At this time, the people collecting the corpses discovered that there was another person behind Old John's tall figure, but this person was wearing a traveler's hooded cloak. He was thin and shrunk in a dark corner, silent, and most people didn't notice it. his presence.

The sudden appearance of an outsider made these corpse collectors stunned, and most of them looked at each other with vigilance. The relatively isolated environment and depressing life made most of the corpse collectors withdrawn and perverse, and even the relationship between the same kind Neither was friendly, let alone a stranger.

Xenophobia has almost become a part of their nature. If Old John's cough was not too painful, even if he was highly respected, many corpse collectors would jump out and question him.

Long time no see, gentlemen, don't come here without any problems.

The stranger obviously had a good understanding of the habits of the corpse collector, and he took the initiative to lift his hood, revealing a young face, and at the same time patted Old John on the back.

Dad calm down, dad calm down, your current condition is not suitable for getting angry, I'm really sorry, before you came, you didn't consider your physical condition, and you caused trouble to Dad, otherwise, a different doctor should have come here.

I thought it was some big man who came to our corpse-eating alley and made old John make such a big noise. It turned out to be Al Heyman. I heard that you recently got a new boss with a lot of money. I appreciate it. The smell of meat can be smelled at home. There are dozens of children crowded in front of your house every day, just to beg for a piece of bone to eat, beg for a mouthful of oily soup, why? This is to give the brothers a few bones to gnaw too bite?

Be content! Our group of ghouls are also worthy of gnawing bones. Don't you still want to eat meat? Even if you have money, if you dare to set foot in other people's shops, you will be beaten out with sticks. We don't eat people Qualifications for food.

The skinny young man was none other than Al Heyman, the young lobby manager of a restaurant with a booming business. Although he was not very old, he had worked hard at the bottom for so many years. Keeping the same, he kept the perfect smile and said: This gentleman is really right. Ailer came to the door this time, and he really wanted to give you a piece of meat to eat. Not only can you be full, but you can also eat well.

There is such a good thing in the world? Who knew you... ouch...

The most powerful body collector, who was cynical and sarcastic, hugged his feet and wailed for a while.

The person who beat him was none other than Old John, who had stopped coughing. Leaning on crutches, he panted heavily and said, You guys are going back more and more... complaining every day, because others look down on you, but you are looking down on the river. Photo, do you think highly of yourself? It’s true that we deal with corpses every day, but there’s no need to turn ourselves into walking corpses. All but dirty thoughts in our hearts are dirty thoughts. Everyone seems to have ulterior motives, but you talk about it, except for this rotten life , is there anything else worth thinking about?

This long speech made Old John breathe heavily again. Under his eagle-like eyes, no one dared to talk to him.

Only the body collector from before was moaning in a low voice. Old John just hit hard, and the position of the hit was also very tricky. It was the place with the least flesh in the calf. Even if there were no fractures, the pain would be enough for him to endure for three or two days. of.

It was the first time for many collectors to see the good-tempered old John so angry, and they couldn't help correcting their attitude.

If you can believe me, Old John, let's continue the conversation. If you can't believe it, then go back to your own home. If you have any losses in the future, don't blame me, Old John, for being unjust.

Immediately afterwards, Old John uttered another serious sentence, causing all the corpse collectors to look at each other. What happened to Old John today?

In the past, it was not uncommon for people to quarrel for a few coins at meetings like this one.

The poorer fights the poorer, the poorer the poorer the easier it is to have all kinds of conflicts.

A few coppers may not seem like much, but when it comes to a full meal, it is a big deal. Most of the fights with Old John are to ask the other party to help make a judgment and preside over justice.

Old John usually plays the role of a peacemaker, making peace in the middle, and both sides fight fifty big boards to settle the matter. Although it may not be very fair, it is also a way to solve the problem. It is unique like today's anger.

As for the body collectors who walked out of the house, there were none, including the two who had a dispute, and the one who was hit by a cane, because they knew that once they left the room, it meant that they were isolated by the group of body collectors.

For a group that itself is not accepted by the public, if it is isolated by this small group again, it will really become a lonely family and not far from death.

All the corpse collectors turned their heads to appease Old John.

Papa John, what is this about? If we can't even trust Papa John, who else can we trust? Don't you think so?

Anyone can cheat us, but Dad can't. I absolutely believe what Dad said.

Anyone who dares to say that Dad is wrong, first ask my fist if he agrees.

Father, calm down, your health is not good recently, if you lose your temper, leave us and leave first, we will really become a mess and be crushed under your body forever.

Can you talk? Can you talk? What do you mean daddy left us and left first? Dad's body is strong, and he will definitely live longer than you, a tuberculosis ghost.

That's natural, that's natural, I said the wrong thing, I said the wrong thing.

Father, it's our fault. We shouldn't care about these petty gains. The two of us go back and settle it privately. We will settle it privately. There will never be a similar thing happening again.

Father, we know we were wrong, so please forgive us for a while.

Old John sighed for a long time, waved his hands and said, Don't worry, I won't be able to die for a while, it's my words, it's all for living. In order to live, I have done some shady things these years, but We can’t live like this forever.”

Isn't it like this for the rest of my life? What else can we do? We need skills but no skills, we need strength but no strength. Once we hear that we are corpse collectors, we wish we could stay two blocks away from us. Is there any other way out?

There is a way out from the ordinary, who wants to be a corpse collector.

Don't worry, wait until I finish talking. Old John waved his hand, I didn't say that I would change careers, we will still be our body collectors, but someone is willing to make a deal with us, a big deal, if it is done well , It is impossible to make a fortune, but it is no problem to ask for a full meal.

A deal? A big deal? We are collecting corpses, not trash, and we can pick up some old things and resell them. What kind of deal can there be?

Yeah? Don't tell me you want us to sell corpses? That's not okay. This is to be condemned by the gods, and the soul will go to hell forever after death. I don't do this kind of thing.

What nonsense are you talking about? If the people of the Holy See hear it, they will send you to the stake.

Who is our trading partner? Could it be Little Ayler? I admit that he has been doing well recently, but it's far from being able to call us all together, right?

Don't make wild guesses, just listen to what Dad says, and you'll be fine! Dad, don't be fooled. What kind of deal is it that makes you so inspiring?

That's right, dad, hurry up and say it, it's going to scare us to death.

All the corpse collectors whispered to each other, guessed for a long time but couldn't figure out why, and finally set their sights on Old John and Aile. Not surprisingly, this so-called deal was brought by the young man in front of him.

Old John deliberately paused for a while, letting everyone digest the news, and at the same time whetted their appetites before speaking.

This matter cannot be explained clearly in just one or two sentences. It is the first time that my old John has encountered such a deal in his life. He dare not make up his own mind, so he called everyone over and listened to it for himself, and then Make up your own mind, I’m not feeling well today, so I’ll let Little Aile tell everyone in person, Aile, come on.”

Papa John, you rest first, I will be grateful if you can help me summon all the gentlemen, and the rest will be left to me naturally.

Aile dragged a stool over skillfully, helped Old John to sit down, and cleared his throat just now.

Those present, some know me and some don't. It doesn't matter. I'm just a small person, someone who runs errands. The one who really wants to make deals with you is my current boss.

The Andis man who runs the canteen and the clinic?

That's right.

What big deal can he do with us? Could it be transporting the corpses of patients in the medical center? But most of the people who can go to the medical center have family members, so they don't need us?

There is a need in this area. Our boss is kind. He will not only treat the rich patients, but also treat some homeless patients. There are always some corpses without family members. It is really troublesome to deal with. But this is not the main content we are going to discuss today, my boss wants to ask you to do something, this matter is a piece of cake for you.

Aile paused for a moment, looked around, saw that all the corpse collectors were listening, and then continued.

When you are collecting the corpses, turn around and leave the city through the city gate where the medical center is located, especially those who are still alive, including those seriously injured gladiators, and send them to the medical center as quickly as you can Of course, I won't let you work in vain. Every time you transport a corpse through the medical center, you will be rewarded with a meal. You can choose to eat, or you can choose to exchange it for copper according to the market price. It's all right on the spot. now.

After Ailer finished speaking, the scene was silent, and all the corpse collectors looked at each other, and no one answered for a long time, because this transaction was so weird that it was unprecedented.

It’s not difficult for them, at most they just run a little more errands, but they can exchange for a full meal. It’s definitely a pie that fell from the sky. They are not afraid of hardship or tiredness. What they are really afraid of is that no one will dare to use them.

But the question is, what is the other party planning?

There is no profit at all, can such a business last for a long time?

What should I do when my body is pulled over and the other party refuses to accept it?