Beating Instances through Words Left by the Dead

Chapter 135: Chapter 127: Gravekeeper

Iron Armor Corps’ Lei Hu, Wu Chang listened without understanding, but the expressions of other players present changed noticeably after hearing it.

As a notorious PVP troublemaking organization in the Desolate Realm, Iron Armor Corps sets up nine elite combat units specifically to hunt down players who have offended Iron Armor Corps and don’t have a major force backing them, to maintain their intimidation among mid to low-level organizations and solo players.

Each elite unit leader possesses powerful reincarnations, and the leaders of the first to third units even have hidden classes.

Lei Hu is the leader of the ninth elite combat unit, Level 25, possessing a Golden Level class just below a hidden class: Thunder Warrior.

Lei Hu and his ninth elite combat unit are active in B-Level instances, and all players between Level 15 and 25 hearing Lei Hu’s name should show some degree of respect.

Of course, if you belong to the four major forces, then just ignore this statement.

Lei Hu stood in the center of the square, scanning the crowd, and when his gaze swept over Wu Chang, he blinked once and naturally moved past him.

”The six of you, if you have any complaints, speak up before the instance starts; we can still negotiate. If there are any small moves after the instance starts, don’t blame me, Lei, for being ruthless.”

The player named Cannon was the first to take a step back, coldly saying in an imitation robotic voice: ”I’m used to operating alone, so I won’t join in your actions.”

Lei Hu slightly tilted his head and asked, ”Where are you from?”

Cannon said, ”Firepower Truth.”

Lei Hu nodded knowingly, ”Oh~”

The next moment, lightning burst forth in the square, blinding everyone present. Cannon, wearing a tactical helmet, wasn’t affected by the intense light. He quickly retreated backward, a futuristic-looking rifle appearing in his hand.

But before he could raise the gun, he froze in mid-air.

Lei Hu was somehow already behind Cannon, his huge hand gripping Cannon’s helmet. With electricity flashing in his palm and finger strength bursting forth, he forcibly crushed the C-Level tactical helmet on Cannon’s head.

After the tactical helmet shattered, what remained in his grip was Cannon’s head, and even with a 50% damage reduction between players, Cannon’s head wouldn’t be much harder than the helmet if Lei Hu exerted his strength.

Lei Hu held Cannon’s head, lifting him single-handedly into the air, sneering:

”I thought you were someone important, turns out you’re just a lowlife. Even your organization’s leader has to speak with his head down in front of me. Who gave you the courage to bargain with me?”

Lei Hu squeezed Cannon with his right hand, and with his left hand pointed at each of them. When his finger brushed over Wu Chang, he drew a wave and jumped directly from the duo to Guang Zhi.

”Any of the five of you have any objections?”

The field was dead silent, quiet enough to hear a pin drop.

”Good.” Lei Hu nodded, turning his face to look at Cannon in his hand, ”And you?”

Cannon’s head made a creaking sound under the grip, his facial muscles contorted and deformed under Lei Hu’s fingers. He could only murmur, ”No, no objections.”

Lei Hu let go, allowing Cannon to fall to the ground.

”See, if you have a problem, feedback and solutions should be timely. That’s how an excellent team operates. I’m quite approachable, we can raise and discuss issues anytime.”

The crowd glanced at Cannon sitting on the ground, regaining his composure, and managed a dry smile.

Having seen enough of the drama, Wu Chang raised his hand to attract Lei Hu’s attention, but Lei Hu treated him like air, not even sparing a glance.

At that moment, the transparent barrier surrounding the square dissipated, signaling the formal start of the instance.

Lei Hu waved his hand, signaling everyone to follow him. Seeing Lei Hu not invite him, Wu Chang considered following thick-skinned, but the Ranger blocked his path, drawing a line on the ground.

The message was clear: stop here, do not cross the line.

Watching the group walk away, Wu Chang scratched his head, realizing he was isolated?

No matter, acting alone would save him a lot of trouble.

There are four exits around the square, and since Lei Hu’s group doesn’t welcome him, he’ll take another path.

Anyway, everyone has to stick around the Royal Tomb for these days, so they might meet again.

Although, at that time, whether it’s the real person or a grudge, who knows.

He randomly chose a path and walked straight ahead, coming to a small wooden hut after about ten minutes.

The light inside lit up, seemingly sensing his arrival.

Cre-aaak~

Accompanied by the rusty sound of the wooden door opening, a frail-looking old man with white hair, deep-set eyes, and ashen skin, hoisted an oil lamp and walked out of the hut.

The old man’s body was extremely weak, lifting his feet took great effort, and he shuffled with a dragging sound.

”Are you the new Gravekeeper?”

Wu Chang nodded, ”I am.”

The old man pulled a piece of paper from his pocket, glancing at the names on it, and asked:

”Are you Morgan?”

Wu Chang shook his head.

”Bauer?”

Wu Chang continued shaking his head.

”Then you must be Thomas.” The old man asserted because there were only three names on the paper.

Wu Chang shrugged and said, ”My name is Sean.”

The old man was taken aback for a moment, then quickly realized, tearing the paper to pieces and tossing it into the wind.

”Ah, my memory, right, someone mentioned today, the incoming person is Sean.”

Wu Chang: ”...”

Seriously, buddy, is the onboarding ceremony this casual?

”Come, follow me inside; let’s sign the employment agreement first.” The old man feared Wu Chang might slip away if he turned around, beckoning him while retreating back into the hut.

Entering the wooden hut, the old man eagerly took out an employment agreement, written on a parchment that seemed quite aged.

The agreement content was simple, only one line.

”Do you confirm to take over as the 44th Gravekeeper of the Royal Tomb?”

Wu Chang clicked his tongue, thinking this was his jinx number, wasn’t it?

Without hesitation, he signed on the spot.

After signing, the patterns on the parchment’s top rotated, like an eye opening to glance, then closed again.

Seeing him sign the agreement, the old man nearly jumped with excitement, hastily untying a waist tag from his belt and placing it in Wu Chang’s hand.

”Brother Sean, this is a Gravekeeper’s badge; make sure to carry it during nighttime patrols, don’t forget!”

Wu Chang frowned, wait a minute, when did we become brothers? The old man looked almost eighty, surely if he wasn’t a lifelong bachelor, he’d have grandkids older than him.

”Sir, how old are you?”

”My name is Han’er, I just turned thirty-five last month.”

Wu Chang: ”Huh?”

Wow, at 35 he’s already this frail, must be a haunting, girl ghosts maybe, absorbing Essence Qi type.

Watching Wu Chang sign the agreement, Han’er pulled a notebook from the drawer of a desk, stating:

”A Gravekeeper’s duties typically comprise five tasks: reception, burial, monument setting, prayer, and night patrol. I have noted the process in the notebook, you can browse through it, I’ll now highlight some crucial points you need to be mindful of.”

”First, if anyone visits the cemetery at midnight, demand they slip an invitation through the door slit. Without an invitation, absolutely deny their entry.”

Needing an invitation to enter a cemetery, Wu Chang heard of such a procedure for the first time, wondering who the inviter was, someone buried underground?

Wu Chang asked: ”What if I encounter such a person, how should I stop them?”

”Simply lock the door, they can’t come in.” Han’er said.

”Second, if the moon isn’t full, ensure the patrol lamp is lit. If the moon turns red, return immediately to the Gravekeeper’s cabin.”

”Third, if someone asks you anything from the sky, never answer; just run. These three precautions, don’t ask why.”

”Additionally,” Han’er whispered into Wu Chang’s ear, ”I have a personal suggestion: if you notice a person approaching and they’re not someone you recognize, don’t hesitate to run. And if you happen to see something strange beneath the earth, ignore it.”

Wu Chang understood Han’er’s message and asked, ”Do I need to pay you?”

”I can introduce you to a collector.” Han’er said, along with a private commission he had received, ”Currently, I’m not the Gravekeeper, remember. Now, let’s sign this contract quickly, lest I miss out on my own matters.”

After signing the contract, Wu Chang realized that the pattern on top of the parchment read: ”Do you confirm your appointment as the 44th Gravekeeper of the Royal Tomb.”

Wu Chang clicked his tongue, thinking, why am I always at odds with the number 4?

Without hesitation, he signed his name.

Once he signed, Han’er couldn’t wait any longer and hurriedly took out a notebook, saying:

”Here are a few private suggestions regarding the duties of a Gravekeeper. Make sure you remember them.”

”First, should someone arrive at the Great Tomb at night, ask them to slide an invitation under the door.” Wu Chang had never heard of such a process, but it seemed wise to him to follow. ”Who’s the inviter?” Wu Chang asked.

”As long as it’s someone from the kingdom’s great cemetery,” Han’er said, ”you should refuse to answer their questions and start running away immediately. Don’t ask why, just run. That’s a private suggestion.”

Wu Chang understood Han’er’s implications and asked, ”Should I pay you afterwards?”

Han’er replied, ”Oh, I’m so forgetful. Yes, I was told someone named Sean was coming today.” Han’er said this, and quickly tore up the piece of paper in his hand, tossing it into the wind.

”That’s right, today someone told me that the person coming is named Sean.”

Wu Chang: ”...”

Is this how a job induction is done so casually, my friend?

”Come, follow me inside. Let’s sign the employment agreement first,” Han’er said, afraid that Wu Chang might slip away if he turned around, while beckoning Wu Chang and backing into the cabin.

Once inside, the old man eagerly produced a parchment-written employment agreement that appeared to be quite old.

The agreement was straightforward, with just one line of text.

”Do you confirm to take up the position of Gravekeeper No. 44 of the Royal Tomb?”

Wu Chang clicked his tongue, secretly thinking—am I doomed to battle with everything associated with the number 4, or what?

He didn’t hesitate and signed the document.

After signing, an engraving appeared at the top of the parchment, and the old man hurriedly took out a waist tag from his possession, giving it to Wu Chang.

”Look at me, forgetting again; yes, someone did tell me earlier that a person named Sean would be coming today.”

Wu Chang: ”...”

Is the hiring process really this casual?

”Come, enter, let’s get the employment agreement signed first.” The old man, fearing Wu Chang might slip away, beckoned him inside while backing into the cabin.

Once inside, the old man eagerly pulled out an employment agreement, written on a tattered piece of parchment, giving an impression of age.

The content of the agreement was very simple, with just one sentence.

”Do you confirm to take over as the Gatekeeper of Royal Tomb No. 44?”

Wu Chang clicked his tongue, thinking if he was doomed to a life with the number four.

Without hesitation, he signed his name on the spot.

After signing, the engravings on the top of the parchment started to shift. The old man almost immediately ripped up the paper in his hand, gleefully scattering it into the wind.

”Look at my memory, yes, someone said it today, the arrival person is indeed called Sean.”

Wu Chang: ”...”

Wait a minute, buddy, is this induction ceremony always this casual?”

”Come, follow me into the house and we’ll sign the employment agreement first.” The old man, worried that Wu Chang would slip away, beckoned him to come closer while cautiously retreating back into the hut.