Keeper Program

The St. Lawrence Hospital remained motionless in the rain, and water droplets flowed from the glass windows, melting the world outside the window.

"Have you served in the military?"

Rowan cut open his smock, and his eagle eyes scanned the wound on the old tramp's arm.

The waist of the beggar leaning on the chair is slightly straightened:

"Yes, in the New World to the east. That's hardly a good experience."

At the end of the Voluntary Age, the only surviving elf fleet left Silvermist City (also called Yuanwang Harbor at the time) and sailed to the east, and there has been no news since then.It was not until more than 600 years later that an explorer managed to cross the stormy ocean and found their traces——

A brand new continent, "Arcadia".

That was the beginning of all legends and tragedies, swords and muskets, the Seven Golden Cities, the Black Ark, and the massacre of one race against another.

"I understand. What regiment did you serve in?"

"Third Expeditionary Corps of Lyria, Line Infantry of the Vanguard Battalion of the First Infantry Regiment of the Fourth Infantry Division, Corporal Joseph Daly."

He saluted with his free hand.Rowan just shook hands with him:

"Rowan Shire, you used to be a hunter. What's your commander's name?"

"Ke Lusi—" Just as he was about to answer, Dr. Luo Wen suddenly took his arm back. The veteran held back the pain and squeezed out a sentence from between his teeth:

"... Curus Harken."

"It's just a dislocated arm. It has been reset for you. In the future, you must pay special attention to protecting this arm."

"Thank you, Doctor. But I don't have any money..."

"Compared to this, I'm more worried about your liver condition, you can't continue drinking."

"So what am I supposed to do? It's a miserable world, and alcohol," he said, brushing his bird's-nest beard sadly, "alcohol is the only painkiller people like us can buy."

"...I'm old and stupid. I don't have any skills other than shooting a gun. Even the woodcutter gang is unwilling to take in people of my age."

"You'd better not mention that gang in public." Rowan reminded kindly.

"...I know a guy in the pineapple business who needs a janitor for his greenhouse plantation. I happen to have a few spare suits in the break room, so take my letter of recommendation and change. Outfit, sure to get a job."

"It's too late, Brother Rowan, it's too late..."

"...the war destroyed us, and Lyria and the Emperor betrayed us."

The veteran sat up from his chair in pain, and took out the worn-out medal.Looking at it for the last time, he was trembling. It was unknown whether it was the effect of cold or alcohol, and the medal fell to the ground.

"If the merits and demerits can be offset, the Holy Spirit will acquit me."

After saying this, the old beggar seemed to relax a lot, just like a dock worker unloading a barrel.The tattered smelly leather shoes ran over the medal, and he just walked out.

Neither Rowan nor Ed, who was watching from the corner, spoke to stop him—this veteran has already left everything here.

"I'll pay for his medical expenses."

Ed suggested that after all, it was the mess he found, and he should clean it up both emotionally and rationally.

Although he didn't have much money and his salary was overdrawn this month, he still had four faceless iron coins in his hand.Except for one to be kept for upgrading the Secret Keeper program, the remaining three can be turned into cash, so Ed is not too tight at this time.

"It's okay, it's just a matter of raising your hands."

Rowan waved his hand, signaling Ed not to mention the fee.He walked forward slowly, gently picked up the medal on the ground, and took out a handkerchief to wipe off the dirt on it.

"A small medal can be exchanged for a person's life..."

Spreading his palm, the doctor looked at the medal in his hand, the rain was dripping on the glass window, like a crying face.

……

After leaving the hospital, it was almost noon, and Ed walked into a cafe casually, and ordered a bun, half a portion of pork liver, French fries, small pieces of salted fish, and a large cup of hot coffee.

All in all it cost a shilling.He finished lunch quickly on the marble-topped table. The meal was not light, but it was always a little tasteless. After the meal, he could only recall that the coffee was hot.

The green church in the rain exudes a bitter fragrance of vines, the green becomes gloomy and sluggish, and even the statues of the Seven Gods are covered with haze.

Ed came to the Green Church. Today is Sunday, and Father Dylan is proclaiming his faith and praying in front of the auditorium. At first glance, it looks like that.

The old nun led him to an unoccupied seat without saying a word, and nodded slightly to signal him to sit down.The quaint wooden seats are scarred like artificial growth rings.

Ed had no choice but to sit down, clasped his hands together, bowed his head in peace and pretended to pray.

Otherwise, what else can we do?He swaggered up and said to Dylan, "This is the money your brother asked me to bring you."?

Then he and Dylan would definitely be packed together by believers and thrown down the Ivy Bridge.

Let's talk to Dylan alone after the service is over...

Fortunately, as a small church attached to the Eastern Cemetery, the Green Church adheres to the principle of "keep everything simple":

There was no music, no choir, and even the most important donation and donation was just an old nun walking around the aisle holding a box, without any persuasion.

The service soon ended, and the believers began to leave the venue one after another. Only a few devout ones were still bowing their heads in prayer or confessing.

To my surprise, Dr. Luo Wen was also here. He was nodding his head with his eyes closed, and he didn't know what he was muttering silently.

There are many churches with much larger specifications in the Central District. Why did he come here specially?

What's more, others don't know whether the priest here is reliable or not. Doesn't he know it?

Dylan walked up to him and greeted him softly:

"You haven't been here for a while." He looked around and gestured for Ed to come over with a hook, "How is Mr. Kuntu?"

"It counts as saving half of my life, and I can't do more." Luo Wen didn't open his eyes, his voice was a little low.

"Dylan, tell me, can a person's good and evil be offset?"

Just when Ed took the opportunity to sit over, Rowan asked softly.

"How do I know, but the lawyer definitely doesn't think so." Dylan lowered his head and rubbed his nails, then lowered his voice and said:

"As for the theologians—you must have the wrong one. I'm actually an atheist, just to say the least."

Atheistic priest? !

Ed, who had just sat down, almost laughed out of anger.

"Don't look at me that way. I wouldn't be going to seminary if it wasn't for that stupid ass Bernard who won't take care of the family business and try to dump the shit on me."

Dylan grumbled softly.

"...If I don't run away, I'm afraid you will have to call me Mr. Eaton by now."

"What did Mr. Eaton do?"

These words piqued Ed's curiosity.Could it be that a man as stable as Mr. Eaton had an unscrupulous side when he was young?

"Isn't it because of his girl... Forget it, I can't tell you clearly."

He turned his head back and continued to say to Rowan:

"Anyway, old man, you've got to find a way to get out of Poppy Hollow. It's not your fault. Blame it on the officer calling the shots, or the emperor with the rotten ass."

Poppy Valley?Ed secretly recorded the place name in his heart, and decided to go to the library to look it up when he had time.

"Yes, Sergeant Rowan Shire, it wasn't your fault."

A solemn and powerful call broke the silence of the chapel.

The man in front of him had gray beard and hair, like an old lion, but his body was as straight as a spear, with a pure gold sunflower medal hanging on his chest.

"...And I believe that in the face of the fair Holy Spirit, good and evil must be offset."

Ed was a little surprised, Dylan's face was pale, and Rowan had already stood up at this time, the soles of his shoes made a crisp sound on the wooden floor, and he solemnly stood at attention and saluted:

"My salute, Colonel Curus Harken."