"Are you... okay?"
Zach had to ask, because it had been almost an hour since Mrs. Barton arrived at the Grand and she hadn't said a word to Zach. Vertex 23S. Fastest update
What is she doing? She spent ten minutes in Zach's office sipping tea, then walked around the Grand's second floor, bedrooms, rec room, etc., while the cup was at the bottom.
Then I went to the living area and sat in a public space where a bunch of ex-convicts stayed. I didn’t know what I was doing. I just sat and looked at everyone who passed by.
Of course, some ex-convicts felt offended during this process, but with this guy Zach standing by, no one 'dare' to do anything. Everyone understands the meaning of this quotation mark. Hehe, he is not afraid of Zach, the vampire, but what he is afraid of is that if he looks at Zach, he will be sent back to prison by Old Hank!
After almost a quarter of an hour, Zach felt that there must be a reason for Mrs. Barton's behavior. For example, use practical actions to show Zach the annoying feeling of having his private life invaded by 'foreign objects' ~ Zach felt that he deserved this, so he kept quiet and waited.
After looking at the living area for about half an hour, Mrs. Barton moved her position again. She arrived at Grande's showroom and took Siris's seat. She sat behind the counter and looked at Grande's open front door. I don't know what I'm looking at. Zach could only accompany him.
I don’t know if it was luck or something, but Grande actually had a guest. It's not a funeral, just civilians who come to the cemetery to visit their deceased friends. Bought some flowers and trinkets here in Grande. What's interesting is that the guy who came didn't seem to recognize Zach, the owner of the Grand Funeral Home, and mistook the old-faced Mrs. Barton for... a salesperson.
Mrs. Barton actually cooperated and chatted with the guest for a few words. What was the content? Are you curious
Civilian, "Can I ask you something?"
Mrs. Button, "You asked."
"I used to come once a week, then once a month, and then once every six months." He said thoughtfully, "The last time I came here was more than a year ago. Today, I suddenly remembered that I used to be a person with grandparents. , so I’m here.” Well… the funeral industry, the topic went like this, “Do you think my grandparents will blame me?”
Mrs. Barton answered quickly, "At least you remembered." She actually gave the other party change with extremely skillful movements.
"Thank you." The civilian smiled and said, "No need to look for it. I didn't even plan to send anything there. When I arrived at the entrance of the tomb area, the security guard reminded me that you can buy flowers here." He added, "You have changed a lot here. .”
Mrs. Button took back the change very skillfully and said, "I wish you a nice day."
"Thank you." He left.
After this period was over, Zach couldn't help it anymore and kept preparing to talk to Mrs. Barton. But Mrs. Barton kept looking at the Grand door with a cold expression, not giving Zach a chance.
Now. Zach had to speak, because Zach was afraid that Mrs. Barton lived here.
Mrs. Barton glanced at Zach and then her eyes drifted back to the main entrance of Grande, and answered the question, "Your business here is really bad."
"We are a funeral home." Zach pursed his lips and could only respond like this.
"So? People are dying every day. You can't compare to restaurants. You should at least be more prosperous than hotels."
This logic... cannot be parsed.
Zach frowned, and he had been preparing the words for an hour, "Mrs. Barton, if you are dissatisfied with Alice and the others at Barton Manor, I am sorry but not sorry." He has already suffered the sin, Zach felt I am sincere enough, "I can't influence teenagers' friendship..."
Zach was interrupted. Mrs. Barton raised her hand and took a long breath to represent her next words, which were slightly longer. "I walked around on the second floor of your Grande because of my personal curiosity. What is the composition of a family like yours?" . As a result, there is nothing beyond my knowledge. Resting, cleaning, entertainment and relaxation are all human habits and necessities. This makes me... I don’t know, disappointed? It seems wrong, contempt? It seems more appropriate. . Well, contempt." He put down his hand and looked at Zach, "Your life makes me feel contempt."
Zach was a little confused for a moment and didn't quite understand what Mrs. Barton wanted to express. He could only vaguely feel, "Otherwise, what would Mrs. Barton expect to see?"
"I had no expectations." Mrs. Barton shook her head. "How could I anticipate the life of a thing that was not my race?" She added, with contempt, "How could I anticipate the life of a dog? How would I know? How does a fish live? Hum."
Zach tilted his head. It was not that he was disgusted with Mrs. Barton. On the contrary, Zach also felt that Mrs. Barton was a little strange. She seemed to be more humble than ordinary people. Gee, how should I explain it...
so:
Mrs. Button did not assume that something should be like her just because it also had a nose, mouth, and eyes.
"Then you should probably check out the basement. If you want to see my vampire life, that's where you might be interested."
Mrs. Barton continued to scorn, "What's in the basement? Your food?" She continued to shake her head, "The blood of other creatures, that's it? Now I feel sad."
"Why?" Yes, why
"I'm a human being. Our philosophers, scientists, and sociologists have been studying for a long time, but they still haven't figured out what human beings are." The beginning of this answer was a bit broad, but it immediately tightened, "We We don't even know what we are as a race, but look what we've built. We've built everything, we've defined our lives as humans. Huh, and you, you have such a clear definition of your race, and as a result, you live The only thing related to you is the bottles of blood in the basement. Shouldn't I feel sad for you, should I feel envious?"
Zach tilted his head and responded to the racial discrimination from an old human woman, "I can't represent my race, just like I confirm that you, Mrs. Barton, can't represent the human race." This is the truth, to be blunt, poor people And the difference between the rich, the common people and the powerful class, "If Mrs. Barton insists on using the analogy of your life situation, you should gain some knowledge in the West."
Zach didn’t want to say this, but when it came to the racial superiority of vampires, he could only praise Lesembra’s Sabbat.
Mrs. Barton didn't seem to be interested. She shook her head slightly, sighed, and advanced the topic without warning, "Going to the living area to see your employees is the main purpose of my visit this time."
What the hell.
Mrs. Barton clarified Zach's doubts, "At least it's the right thing that my family thinks I should do. Let me ask you something, how much control does Grande have over your employees? If you want them to do anything, they Will everyone do it?"
Zach was thinking about the 'anything' Mrs. Barton said, so let's test it out first, "The funeral business?"
Mrs. Barton: "Huh. Why are you so careful?" She became impatient and said, "I'm asking you if it's possible for your Grande employees, those ex-criminals, to follow the old path."
Zach felt that the person who should be talking to Mrs. Barton now was not him, but Old Hank. But calling now was obviously unexpected, so Zach decided to bypass this trouble for Old Hank, "Why should Mrs. Barton care about Grande's employees?" Pointing to himself helplessly, "If Mrs. Barton has anything to deal with, it's necessary." Are you finished
Mrs. Barton smiled inexplicably and looked away, "I know that I don't need to care about those employees, but my family doesn't know." She shook her head, "My son doesn't know. And my son is the head of the Barton family, so he needs Confirming Grande’s ability to execute.”
Zach felt something strange when he listened to Mrs. Barton's words. First of all, Mrs. Barton's tone seemed... sarcastic. Yes, when this lady said that she was the son of the family master, her tone was mocking. Is it difficult to understand? No explanation.
And then there's the content of Mrs. Button's words, Grande's execution? It sounds like the Barton family is about to entrust Grande with a major... crime.
Mrs. Barton sighed suddenly, "I've been sitting in your living area for so long, why don't any of your employees ask me?"
"Well, it's a bit complicated to explain." Zach blocked Old Hank's knife again without asking for anything in return, "But if the Patton family needs to confirm Grande's execution ability, Mrs. Patton replied..." Zach paused, "It's very bad. I can't be trusted at all." Zach is a good citizen. Zach doesn't commit crimes. Zach doesn't... "As in the beginning, Grande is only suitable for handling household chores. It's such a heavy responsibility. Grande I can't bear it." Zach looked at Mrs. Barton, and Mrs. Barton looked at Zach. The atmosphere was a bit awkward.
Mrs. Barton turned her eyes away first, "Then just think that I'm asking you for your opinion on some things."
Zach couldn't seem to stop Mrs. Barton from saying that 'too great a responsibility'.
"In the past quarter, Barton has been helping homeless people in Newton. The unemployed in Newton are also flocking to Barton in search of job opportunities, not investment. Common people in Newton have purchased properties and settled in Barton. What do you think of this phenomenon? .”
Although he is cautious, Zach will naturally not have bad words when it comes to Mayor Anthony's political performance. "Newton is going through a difficult period, and we in Barton have provided the greatest help we can. I am proud to be a citizen of Barton." "Hey, what else can Zach say.
"Then do you think Barton should help more?"
Zach glanced at Mrs. Barton, who was the wife of the first mayor of Barton. Zach didn’t think he could be vague. Mrs. Barton must have something worth listening to... Uh, teachings, "How to provide it, I think our The mayor has done enough."
"It's very simple to change some policies, such as providing discounts for purchasing land and real estate, lowering the living standards of the floating population, and Newton Industrial's products being traded more frequently... "
Zach heard what he was interested in, the products of Newton Industries. Remember, the former phantom lord of Newton once mentioned that Crowley, the angel who now controls Newton, wants to rely on this to fill the gap in the Federation's export of republican goods. , to help Newton's economy recover. But at that time, Zach considered that the West had plans to export goods to the Republic, and explained his concerns to Newton for their own consideration, and did not participate in subsequent developments.
Now hearing Mrs. Barton say this, Zach guessed that given Mrs. Barton's level, she could say "transactions are more frequent", which probably means that Newton Angel has already negotiated with the Western Sabbat. What Zach was slightly concerned about was that he was not notified. He didn't know whether the Sabbat thought too highly of him and thought he knew everything, or whether Lutrecenbra simply forgot to inform Zach.
Mrs. Barton noticed Zach's distraction, "Are these things boring you?"
"No." Zach blamed himself for being tired from standing and failing to control his expression. "I just realized that it doesn't matter what I think about these things. I'm just the funeral owner."
Mrs. Barton snorted, "Huh. You are right. These things should not be something that anyone other than city managers should have an opinion on. It is only the policy makers who have the hard work. They have to clearly distinguish what is Barton should help Newton. What are the benefits that Barton should not give up. Barton is Barton, and Newton is Newton. We are neighbors, not a family."
Zach raised his eyebrows, and Zach thought he heard what Mrs. Barton meant. Speaking of which, if we hadn't already known the reason for Mrs. Button's appearance here, and just listened to what Mrs. Button said in Grande, what would we think Mrs. Button wanted to express
Zach immediately frowned, "Mrs. Barton, are the people in the West End dissatisfied with Mayor Anthony's support for Newton?" The key word Zach heard was profit, "The industries of the West End people are being squeezed by Newton." Have you?" Combined with the criminal commissions that Zach had tried to dodge before and required the execution of Grand employees, "If you touch Anthony, everyone will regret it."
"Why are you so anxious?" Mrs. Barton seemed a little speechless. She was dissatisfied with Zach's conclusion and completely went in the opposite direction. She did not look for the reason in herself or realize that it was her own way of expression that was the problem. "I can't say anything." Not finished yet.”
Zach lowered his expression and made a gesture of invitation.
Mrs. Barton waved her hand, "Following what I just said, Newton and Barton are not a family. The decision-maker will work hard to consider those policies when balancing Barton's own interests and Newton's." Looking at Zach, " Actually, there is a way to avoid this trouble."
Zach didn't receive it, mainly because his thinking was a bit fixed. Zach now looked at Mrs. Barton expressionlessly, looking at a potential threat to Anthony. In an instant, the relationship between Mrs. Barton and Mrs. Quinn, the relationship between the West Side and the Sabbat, and all kinds of thoughts were weighed in Zach's mind.
Mrs. Barton curled her lips slightly disappointedly, "Newton and Barton have become a family."
Zach is still expressionless, his mind is a little empty now.
"Did you hear that?" Mrs. Barton raised her hand and waved it in front of Zach.
Zach gained an expression, "I heard it." He twitched his lips and said, "What your son wants to entrust Grande to do is..." Waiting for Mrs. Barton to finish.
"Go and get rid of the newly appointed city management class in Newton, empty out Newton's upper class again and plunge the city into chaos."
"Then?"
"We annex Newton."
"Annex Newton," Zach repeated, and then, "Do I need to give my opinion?"
It was Mrs. Button's turn to make the gesture of invitation.
"It can happen." Zach said.
Mrs. Barton stood up from behind the counter, "One last thing, you are a mortician, huh." She shook her head, "You will live forever. Is this common? People forget the people they once loved, just because those they loved have already … died."
It's abrupt, no. Mrs. Barton gave her reasons for the first two stops in the Grand, and this was the last.
"It's quite common."
Mrs. Barton looked at Zach for a while and then left.