They are experiencing chronic death.
These people have been thoroughly domesticated, even if they live lives worse than pigs and dogs, they lack the courage to resist, as laziness makes them complacent, right until death arrives.
The Ring City does not lack labor.
There are simply too many people here doing bottom-tier jobs.
A middle-aged man with a merchant's demeanor halted his pack animal and then turned around, picking out some of the stronger laborers from the corner of the street as if selecting livestock. Only at this moment would those numb and indolent men voluntarily stand up.
"You, you, and you." The merchant selected three laborers who looked somewhat stronger.
