Pierre nodded.
"Didn't you just say that live Earth Vein Creatures couldn't be found in Hogan City? Isn't this one right here?" Receiving a positive answer, Gaode felt a surge of joy.
"This counts?" Pierre found it hard to understand. In his mind, the Earth Vein Creatures that Gaode wanted to "buy" were either those that could be used as ingredients or kept as pets. How could this kind of worm living in the sewer count?
Earth Vein Creatures were extremely dangerous, but they were all isolated outside the city. Furthermore, Mages would regularly patrol and clear the city's perimeter to ensure that no Earth Vein Creatures could easily approach human settlements. Therefore, under normal circumstances, Earth Vein Creatures would not appear within the city, and if they did, they were mostly under control.
Only the Gray-eyed Mouse, an Earth Vein Creature that posed no threat to humans, was an exception. Although they possessed the bloodline of Earth Vein Creatures, they were indistinguishable from ordinary animals in the eyes of humans because they lacked any threat.
The Dark Swamp Crawler was also this type of Earth Vein Creature. Of course, this type of Earth Vein Creature was incredibly rare; the vast majority were extremely dangerous.
"How does this not count..." Gaode thought to himself, though he certainly wouldn't say it out loud.
"Since this kind of worm is good at hiding, how do you usually clear them out?" he asked.
Pierre threw his hands up and said, "We either use a large amount of boiling hot water to flush the sewers, driving away and eliminating some of the worms.
"Or we use an insecticide potion, diluting it and pouring it into the sewer to kill these Dark Swamp Crawlers.
"It's just that because these Dark Swamp Crawlers are Earth Vein Creatures, their Life Force is extremely tenacious. Flushing them out with hot water often takes a massive amount of time, so under normal circumstances, we use insecticide potions to clear them out."
"Are insecticide potions expensive?" Gaode caught the key point.
"Not really," Pierre shook his head. "It's just a potion used to clear out worms, how expensive could it be? If the price were higher, no one would buy it; they would just spend more time instead."
"Then why the trouble?" Gaode could see that Pierre was very troubled by this task.
"It's mainly because the sewers stink to high heaven and are dark and damp. Who would want to go down there..." Pierre said helplessly.
Gaode suddenly understood.
Anyone who could secure a storefront in the commercial district to do business was bound to have some wealth and lived a relatively pampered life. Suddenly making such a person go down to a filthy place like the sewer to clear out worms would definitely be deeply unpleasant for them.
The larger shops had it better; they could just pass the job onto their clerks. Pierre, however, was in a miserable spot. Aside from himself as the manager, Pierre Grocery Store didn't have a single clerk. Furthermore, the City Guard had given a last-minute notice, and with the trading day coming up in just two days, the schedule was so tight that he simply didn't have time to hire a temporary worker. He could only do it himself.
"Two Trifoliate Flower Silver Coins. You provide the insecticide potion, and I'll help you clear out the Dark Swamp Crawlers." Gaode's offer completely exceeded Pierre's expectations.
"You're actually interested in making this kind of money?" he couldn't help but ask in surprise.
"Why not?" Gaode spread his hands and asked, "Are you unwilling to pay?"
Two Trifoliate Flower Silver Coins to clear out the Dark Swamp Crawlers—to be honest, this price was a bit high. In normal times, a single Silver Coin plus a few copper pieces would be enough to hire someone. But with time running out, Pierre naturally wouldn't haggle over such a small difference.
"If you don't mind the sewer's environment and are willing to take this job, I couldn't ask for more," Pierre said gladly.
"Then let's do it today. I'll leave after I finish clearing out the Dark Swamp Crawlers for you." Gaode appeared calm on the surface, but he couldn't wait on the inside.
"Alright. It just so happens that the shop has a few bottles of insecticide potion left. Just take them and use them." Seeing Gaode so enthusiastic, Pierre had no reason to object.
***
Taking the insecticide potion, Pierre led Gaode to the entrance of the Hogan City sewer closest to the grocery store.
Compared to his previous life, this world's sewer system was still incredibly crude and unsystematic, far removed from modern sewer facilities. The entrances were even more haphazard—just some sewage outlets placed at the base of buildings or street corners. Though called sewage outlets, they were actually just simple holes connecting directly to shallow underground stone-masonry pipes, completely lacking protective measures like manhole covers or grates.
The hole itself wasn't large, only wide enough for a single person to pass through. When the wind blew, a wave of stench wafted from the hole, causing Pierre to unconsciously take two steps back and cover his nose and mouth with his right hand.
This smell was naturally unpleasant for Gaode as well. But he was being paid to do a job. Taking a deep breath, he climbed into the hole.
***
The moment he entered the sewer, an abominable stench mixed with countless different odors assaulted his face. Even though Gaode had mentally prepared himself, he still couldn't help but dry heave a couple of times.
"Money is hard to earn, and shit is hard to eat. The ancestors truly didn't deceive me," he thought.
Fortunately, Gaode's main goal wasn't to earn those two Silver Coins, but rather to hunt down the Dark Swamp Crawlers. The reason he asked for money was, firstly, to rationalize his behavior, and secondly, because it would be a waste not to earn money when the opportunity presented itself.
The sewers of Hogan City extended in all directions. The damp ground felt wet and slippery to step on, making one feel disgusted. Not only was it cramped, but there was also barely any light, making it very difficult to distinguish directions.
In addition to the insecticide potion, Pierre had also provided a handheld oil lamp for Gaode to use for illumination. Using the light from the entrance as a reference point, Gaode quickly got his bearings.
Following Pierre's instructions, he carefully stepped along the narrow walkway of the pipe, which was covered in slippery moss. After passing two forks, he arrived at a corner of the sewer.
Directly above this spot was Pierre Grocery Store, and the section of the sewer right in front of him was the one Pierre needed cleared. Gaode confirmed that the location was correct and quickly took out the insecticide potion Pierre had given him.
Insecticide potions weren't as precious as Magic Potions, and because their primary function was to be poured into sewer wastewater to kill bugs, they came in large quantities. For example, this single bottle of insecticide potion contained a full pint (twenty ounces), nearly six hundred milliliters in volume.
Gaode unscrewed the cap and attached the matching specialized nozzle, which was provided for precise application. However, his first target wasn't the Dark Swamp Crawlers that might be hiding in the crevices of the pipe walls. Instead, he aimed at the worms potentially lurking in the wastewater at the bottom of the pipe.
It was the perfect opportunity to conduct an experiment he had been wanting to try for a while.
"Does acquiring Origin require me to kill them with my own hands, or is it enough if they die by the 'tools' I use?" he wondered.
Gaode sprayed the potion into the murky, foul water, stirring up ripples. The potion's effects rapidly spread through the current.
After spraying about ten ounces of the insecticide potion, Gaode lifted the oil lamp to illuminate the water's surface. He stared intently at the flowing wastewater, quietly waiting for something.
A few minutes later, with a GURGLE, a segment of a worm's corpse bobbed to the surface and was carried away by the wastewater toward the drainage outlet outside the city.
Gaode knew that the insecticide potion had taken effect. He calmed his mind and immediately focused his attention on his mindscape.
Origin:
0th Ring — [Human] (1/7), [Gray-eyed Mouse] (Used), Dark Swamp Crawler (2/7)
Magic:
0th Ring — [Mage's Hand], [Repair Skill+], [Acid Splash], [Frozen Ray], [Enhance Resistance]
***
"Just as I thought! I don't have to kill them with my own hands to acquire Origin!"
This was phenomenal news for Gaode. If he had to kill them with his own hands to acquire Origin, it meant that kills secured using Magic Potions or even other Magic Items wouldn't grant him any Origin. For a Mage, that would definitely be a massive limitation.
A happy event brightened one's Spirit.
Gaode was instantly fired up. With a thought, the insecticide potion in his hand levitated into the air out of nowhere.
"Mage's Hand!"
Casting Mage's Hand, he controlled the potion's nozzle, bringing it close to the crevices in the sewer walls. He then pulled the trigger, and the insecticide potion instantly transformed into a fine, dense mist that sprayed directly into the gaps.
The moment the Dark Swamp Crawlers and ordinary worms hiding in the crevices came into contact with the potion, their bodies began to show abnormal reactions. They struggled and convulsed, desperately trying to flee from this sudden, lethal assault.
However, the potion's potency was overwhelmingly strong. It rapidly penetrated their epidermis and shot straight into their nervous systems, causing the worms to lose their vitality in a short amount of time. They gradually went limp, completely drained of life.
It was just that the vast majority were ordinary worms; the number of Dark Swamp Crawlers was still quite small.
Gaode advanced step by step along the pipe, meticulously spraying every crevice while simultaneously injecting the potion into the wastewater.
Relying on Mage's Hand, Gaode's work efficiency was exceptionally high. Several minutes later, he finished clearing out this section of the sewer.
A faint chemical odor permeated the air. The active ingredients of the insecticide potion would continue to take effect for a while. Although it couldn't provide a permanent cure, it would at least prevent the worms from making a comeback in the short term.
And the second stream of Origin had already been fully gathered.
Origin:
0th Ring — [Human] (1/7), [Gray-eyed Mouse] (Used), [Dark Swamp Crawler] (7/7)