Our Family Has Fallen

Chapter 330: Chapter 240: Curing the Plague_1

Hamlet’s Central Square was filled with onlookers. William stepped forward to announce the cause of the matter and the progress of the related cases. He clearly explained the crimes committed, the reasons for their punishment, and the methods of punishment. This was to ensure the public, who were unclear about the incident, gained an accurate understanding and wouldn’t be misled by rumors.

It wasn’t just William who spoke; the victims also recounted the unfair treatment they had endured.

One person recounted how their points had been bought by others.

Another told of being used by their leaders for personal errands.

Family members of the deceased wept, recounting how their loved ones were killed for resisting oppression, their deaths then dismissed as accidents...

Nothing could resonate more than this. As soon as the situation was explained, the crowd’s anger flared immediately. The pent-up negative emotions immediately shifted towards the criminals. William’s public reputation swiftly transformed, and he became seen as upright and just, his image instantly solidified.

”Bring in the prisoners!” William commanded. He was dressed in a full Hamlet sheriff’s uniform, his badge gleaming brightly on his chest.

”I have shed blood for Hamlet! I have made achievements for Hamlet! You can’t treat me this way! I want to see the Lord! I want to see the Lord!”

The former official in charge was brought forward by two sheriffs, struggling and shouting. Following him were several others whose crimes were equally severe. Their struggles and pleas for help were useless now; no one paid any mind to their reactions.

As for their families, they were likely still starving, awaiting their own sentences to the labor camps.

William loudly read out the charges against him, but the crowd below roared in fury.

”Kill him!”

”Despicable fellow!”

”You betrayed Hamlet!”

”Carry out the execution!” William bellowed.

The executioner bound the man’s hands and, pulling a rope, hoisted him onto the newly constructed gallows.

One by one, they were brought forth. Only a few who had committed the most heinous crimes received this sentence: to endure seven days of torture under the scorching sun.

To most, these individuals were already as good as dead. For any who might survive, falling into Paracelsus’s hands would mean their nightmare was only just beginning...

With several individuals now hanging high, William once again emphasized the sheriff’s department’s duties. This time, no one dared question the sheriff’s department’s authority.

The crowd in the square didn’t cheer wildly; instead, a collective sigh of relief swept through them. Everyone has a psychological breaking point, and the recent events had caused widespread panic, placing immense pressure on all. Now, with the public trial concluded, this ordeal was finally over. The dark cloud that had loomed over the town for days at last dispersed.

Lance delegated these public matters, gradually sharing his burdens. The daily operations of Hamlet couldn’t consume too much of his energy. However, some tasks he couldn’t entrust to others; he still needed to accumulate prestige.

Lance visited the victims’ homes to offer condolences. Seeing one injured man still comatose, he immediately took out a prepared potion and administered it.

The man, comatose for many days, awoke within seconds. His memory, however, seemed stuck in the time before his coma, leaving him dazed. The woman, meanwhile, pulled her son forward to thank Lance.

”It’s nothing serious. He just needs some rest,” Lance replied, putting away the potion vial with a slight smile.

In reality, the vial contained only water; the true healing came from his ”Flesh Reconstruction” ability. But Lance preferred the populace to believe in potions rather than in elusive Supernatural Power.

The man soon regained full awareness. Upon seeing the Lord, an unprecedented sense of security filled him. Lance didn’t rush off; he wasn’t there merely for appearances. He chatted casually with the family, using their experiences to gather feedback on Hamlet’s operations.

Some things aren’t apparent when viewed from a position of leadership. Without engaging with ordinary people and understanding their lives, all data becomes meaningless. For instance, after his expeditions, his attention had been largely consumed by the Sect of Ascension and the Witches from the wilderness. This demanding schedule had caused him to overlook problems accumulating from the town’s unchecked growth.

The core issue was that the public’s mindset hadn’t kept pace with development. To address this, merely using harsh measures against crime wasn’t enough; education was also vital to liberate them from feudalistic thinking. Only absolute rationality could combat this mad world. Still, it’s a long road ahead...

After the trial, policy reform became Lance’s primary focus. He delved into the grassroots, spending most of his time conversing with the townspeople, not only to collect information but also to reassure them.

Governing, he mused, was like cooking: too much heat would burn the dish, and relentless harshness would lead to collapse. A balance was crucial. If William played the ”bad cop,” then he, Lance, had to be the ”good cop.” He met not only with the townspeople but also with the condemned criminals before they were dispatched to the labor camps, making a specific visit. These men, arrogant before William, were as meek as lambs in Lance’s presence, daring no deception.

As Lance listened to them describe their descent into corruption, a look of disappointment crossed his face. He shook his head slowly and said, ”I trusted you implicitly, entrusting my most precious people to your care. Is this how you repay my trust? I am profoundly disappointed...”