BLOODY LOVE'S
Episode 210's

All the bodies finished being drowned right at the time the sun started to rise. It is now five in the morning Wednesday, just two more days until the solar eclipse.

Rolan knocked on the door of one of the people in the North to look for boiled water and clean towels, only to get what he wanted after knocking on the door of the third house. Many workers get clawed or bitten, but nothing is too severe. Hans and Gerald weren't even hurt at all. They prefer to be examined when they return to the manor, but Rolan insists that all wounds be washed and cleaned as quickly as possible for fear of possible infection.

"What if this is actually a disease?" Rolan approached Jose, helping his nephew open the coat to see if there were any hidden injuries. His voice faltered a little nervously as he continued, "Monster .. The devil stuck out his tongue at me before you came, and his tongue made me remember the trunk of a mosquito. What if what makes human corpses come back to life is a disease? It might be some kind of virus or bacteria, or some kind of parasite like malaria. Then this river is kind of quinine water that kills parasites."

"Come away, Uncle," said Jose, not to bother. He put his coat back on after Rolan made sure there were no significant injuries. "If it's a disease, it can be cured."

"If it's a disease, what's the explanation for the flaming river?" a chiming voice.

Jose and Rolan turned their heads, seeing that Hubbert had completely recovered. Sunlight awakens hope for everyone, making everything that happens in the dark feel like a dream. Hubbert carried his portrait equipment with both hands. His black bag was wrapped on his right shoulder. Whatever was inside the bag was clearly crushed when seen from the wet stains on its surface. His pet hat disappeared, revealing wild red curls on the man's head.

"You okay?" Jose stood up. An ignorant smile was on his pale face. He snapped his fingers twice. "You know what your name is, Mr. Decker?"

"Hubbert Decker!" Hubbert laughed. He shakes in shame and sighs. "Thank you for helping me last night, Mr. Argent, dr. Orlovs. Really am. I'm really grateful. Even so, without diminishing my respect ..."

"If you want an interview, go to Argent's manor with us" cut Rolan, who was completely tired and could not stand the smell of corpses in his hands. The smell of rotten flesh and fishy blood did not disappear even though he had washed his hands repeatedly. "You can ask anything there while eating. I won't be able to eat meat after tonight. I want to eat vegetables like a rabbit."

Hubbert turned to Jose with a questioning look. Jose nodded, able to see that he had already won the respect and trust of the man. "You can have breakfast with us" he said as he began leading the way. As soon as he stepped, all the workers immediately followed him across the bridge. "Doctor Rolan would also like to check if the bodies carry infectious diseases on us and much more he wants to know. Right, Uncle?"

"What I want to know is how the Bjork people can stay quiet and ignore us all night!" gerutu Rolan while teaching Jose steps. "Didn't they hear last night's commotion?"

"Certainly listen, the town hall bell told them to hide. After all we've all been trained to lock the door after it's late." Jose doesn't want to blame anyone. He was grateful that no civilians were injured. Sir William could not chase them all the way to the South, therefore he sent the undead instead. The fact that there were so many undead waves made Jose know that Sir William intended to finish him off last night, and the depletion of the army of corpses had only one meaning: the mortemaker was not in Bjork, or the man could no longer make more corpses. There may be a manufacturing limit. Jose doesn't know which one is right, the apparent quiet psychic buzz in his head signals that it is now safe.

Rolan grunting. "Well, or they're all sleeping late."

"I disagree, dr. Orlov," said Hubbert, who walked a bit behind Jose, on his left side. "Bjork didn't sleep last night. They all saw what you did. They all watched it. Just look at." He pointed around.

Rolan raised his face and realized the truth of Hubbert's words. The windows of the house are wide open. People stared at them silently from behind the curtains. Not only adults, children also appear, grimace shyly or hide once they meet her eyes. Some stared at them blatantly from the balcony, others exclaimed and greeted.

"What are you doing, Little Master?" pierre shouted while opening the door of his shop. The round face was blushing red, his smile broadening and proud. "What light did I see last night?"

Jose turned his head, putting one finger in front of his lips while smiling secretively.

Some people who greeted them when passing by were happy because Jose's entourage replied with suppleness and humility. There were also those who ran over just to thank Gerald or Hans for their help last night. Everyone saw how Argent workers dragged all the bodies into the river in the South. The streets are boisterous with laughter and the cry of greetings and blessings. Jose replied to every blessing he had politely.

Rolan watched with a dumbfounded face. The haughty and ruthless image that clung to Argent's name for years collapsed in one night. He had never seen people welcome this group of friendly and enthusiastic bouncers. Until a day ago, everyone was still turning their eyes or pretending not to look because they were so afraid of the name Argent. And that's half because of Hubbert. Perhaps seeing the man walk casually with Jose is what makes the community soften.

Bjork, for the first time, did not look as cold and as stiff as usual.

"They all saw you lighting the river?" ask Rolan waswas. The sun is shining golden. There was the sound of cheers and the sound of a long whistle, as well as vague applause as if welcoming the arrival of the hero. Inevitably his heart became warmed to such fanfare. But he also knew this moment was usually only temporary. "Don't be lulled by Jose" he whispered. "The same people who welcomed you now could have hunted your head down in an instant. People turn around as easily as winking."

"I know." Jose nodded small, but still spread a flamboyant smile and waved at everyone who called his name. He is an expert at taking people's hearts and intends to appear as pleasant as possible to make it easier for the public to believe whatever his family will say as an explanation of this mystery tomorrow. The more people love him, the easier it will be.

"If you want, I can help you come up with an explanation" Hubbert said hurriedly. "I'm sure Daily Bjork won't miss Argent's explanation. Especially since you guys saved this city—and seem to know what's really going on."

"You think you hate Argent?" sindir Rolan's.

Does that mean he thinks Argent is on the right side? Rolan let the question go unanswered.

"You're going to be a big help, Mr. Deckers." Jose stopped as soon as he saw a horse-drawn carriage walking towards them. The car is black. The emblem of Argent's sword is on the door.

***

No one talks in the car. Rolan and Jose are too tired to talk about anything. Their minds were still filled with shadows of corpses attacking in the dark. Rolan stuck his palm around his neck, still fumbling and looking in case the wound turned out to be there. Jose closed his eyes tightly, refraining from vomiting. It was like there were hundreds of ants nesting in his cranium, downstream and there. He felt itchy and sick too. Hubbert wasn't with them. The man walked with the Argent workers, choosing to be under the early morning sun and boisterous crowds to calm down.

"Have Sir William given up?" Rolan asked. If they stayed any longer, he was sure he would go crazy. The sounds of meat shredding and the snoring of corpses still echoed in his ears. He could still feel how his neck was being bruised.

"He's not in Bjork" said Jose slowly with his head spinning. "Maybe he thought the bodies would be enough to kill us, so he left Bjork at the moment. But he'll be back."

Rolan felt somewhat relieved. At least they have time to breathe. "Why do you need to use your hair? I mean when I pray."

"For the show," murmured Jose lirih. "Blood, nails, ari-ari, hair, whatever part of the human body can be used for offerings because it contains energy. That's sort of ... surrogate fees to be paid for a fraud."

"Fraud?"

"There's no such thing as magic, Uncle. All the magic that just happened was the utilization of the natural system." Jose massaged his own shoulders. His bones seemed to want to be dislodged because of the energy load he used overnight. "The so-called magic is when we intervene against an existing natural system, turning it into something in time. But to do so instantly, there must be a price paid because all exchanges must be equal. No more, no less."

"And why can you do that?"

"Because I have seen the true truth" said Jose briefly, referring to the ancient entity he encountered on the verge of life and death. "Easy as it is, I know how the world system works if I try to remember it." He held the window. "I could turn this wood into something else if I wanted to. Now either. I can do it because I know the composition and how to change it, I have knowledge of it, but doing it will obviously be draining. Energy is the price I pay. Others can do it too, but those without true knowledge will not be able to do it without a sigil. The sigil contains words, mantras, prayers, keys, ciphers, whatever humans call them, which helps people without knowledge to intervene in the natural system."

The sound of the rhinoceros wheel passing through the rocky paving filled the silence in the compartment of the carriage.

Rolan tried to understand all of Jose's explanations, but he still did not understand one thing. "Then how can you heal my neck? I'm sure my chunk of meat must be gone. If indeed the laws of nature were an equal exchange, what would you exchange my healing for?"

Jose smiled faintly, not answering. They had already entered Argent's courtyard and stopped in the courtyard. On the terrace steps there were already many people waiting for them. Marco, Renata, Maria, Nolan, Lady Chantall, as well as George and many other servants.

Jose jumps out of the car, returns his mother's arms tightly, and walks up to Marco. "I'm sorry to bother you" he said.

"I'm not surprised" said Marco coldly. "You're always a hassle. But don't expect this to be done with just one apology."

Jose climbed the steps to level with Marco, then touched his uncle's injured waist. "Am I forgiven now?"

Marco frowned. His expression changed from puzzled, astonished, then startled. "You ..." He looked quickly at George. "Bring Jose to his room. Hurry along!"

Jose initially did not understand why Marco needed to shout so sweetly. He thought maybe his uncle was just shocked because the wound on his waist didn't hurt anymore, but Jose was wrong. He knew his guess was wrong when the world suddenly flashed and everything seemed red in his view. It tasted a familiar metallic taste.

The next second, Jose coughed and vomited blood.

***