Our Family Has Fallen

Chapter 331: Chapter 240: Curing the Plague_2

Upon hearing these words, they were stunned, their mouths slightly agape, but they could not utter a word, trembling.

They could plead, cry, and justify themselves in front of William, but in the presence of the Lord, they found themselves speechless.

The aura surrounding Lance as he made his way was too overwhelming; to most, he was a god.

These people were greedy, but they never wavered in their loyalty to the Lord.

Lance was indifferent to their reaction; he merely looked up with a steadfast gaze at those who awaited their sentence to labor reform.

”I will not forgive you, for this is a desecration of all those who are loyal. You do not deserve to stand by my side, nor can you step into the new world we have built together. Remember, this is what you have forsaken.”

After speaking, Lance left the place, leaving behind only wails and cries.

”No!”

”My Lord, I was wrong!”

”Don’t abandon me...”

In this mad world, they had suffered too much malice, and thus the Lord’s grace had become so important to them, even sustaining many people’s beliefs.

When faced with the Lord’s denial, it was as if they were erased from existence on a spiritual level. Sometimes physical death was not as terrifying as the collapse of belief, which showed what true despair was.

On the contrary, the civil order officers who heard these words couldn’t help but puff out their chests, proud to be the loyalists who would follow the Lord on the journey to the new world.

However, the matter did not end there. Taking this opportunity, Lance reviewed and announced reforms to Hamlet’s existing system.

Mainly, improvements were to be made in the areas of the personnel appointment process, the point system, identity verification, and feedback channels.

The decentralized power of personnel appointments was retracted. Promotions would require multi-faceted scrutiny and also a public announcement period, during which staff changes would be posted and subjected to the supervision of the citizens.

Regarding the point system, it was no longer practical to maintain it with so many people now, as there was not enough manpower to manage it.

Lance did not directly erase it, which would have greatly damaged his prestige.

Instead, after a thorough review, he used money to settle the points in one go. The villagers who received the money were not too troubled by their efforts being nullified, feeling it was more of an exchange.

Next, he tightened the recommendation system. Unless there was a significant merit or an outstanding achievement at work, it would not be recorded in the files.

The weight of these merits would also increase, affecting various priority policies and evaluations.

This move saved a significant amount of manpower and resources while retaining the motivational effects.

For identity verification, he planned to use ”dog tags,” a method already being implemented in the military.

It is a small metal plate with the name, a number, and basic information engraved on it.

He also provided a channel for feedback to prevent issues from accumulating and then exploding suddenly, as they had before.

Sometimes opportunities are hidden within dangers. This major purge meant some were cast out while others were brought in.

A myriad of fresh ”parts” were tested and then promoted, integrated into the machinery of Hamlet.

For these people, their hard work being recognized and the clearer path to advancement unleashed a force that made the machinery run smoother and faster than before.

Projects that had been halted were restarted, and Hamlet swiftly recovered.

Humanity as a whole never lacked fresh blood; as long as it was infused, life persisted—of course, provided that the rotten flesh was excised.

* * *

In the quarantine camp for the injured and sick, Grendel administered a specially concocted potion to Boudica.

Lance and Paracelsus observed her reactions from the side.

”How does it feel?”

”Nothin’ much, just feel like there are ants crawlin’ over me... AH!” Boudica had just described the sensation when she suddenly felt a change in her body. Her tone shifted drastically as she became restless, began to twist and turn, and couldn’t stop scratching at her skin—a growing intensity to her actions.

This response made Lance frown and look towards Grendel.

”Pain is normal; it means the body is fighting the virus. It’ll be over soon,” Grendel responded calmly. The potion, concocted using the Secret Techniques of the tribe, was usually this potent.

Either the germs die, or the patient does, and if one cannot withstand it, it means that the Spirit of the Wilderness is calling.

Lance didn’t understand much about these things, but he figured that Grendel wouldn’t harm her, and all he could do was wait and see how things would unfold.

”It’s okay, it’s okay, it’ll be over soon...” Lance moved forward, tightly gripping Boudica’s hands while continuously talking to her to distract her attention.

Even in a state of injury and illness, Boudica’s strength was not something ordinary people could control; only Lance could easily suppress it.

About three to five minutes later, Boudica gradually recovered from the torment of the pain; it wasn’t that she felt completely fine, but after enduring the first wave, her body began to gradually adapt.

Lance monitored her body constantly, and when the time was right, he cast ”Flesh Reconstruction.”

Diseased, withered organs were rejuvenated with blood flow, the atrophied muscles pulsated, and the slightly wrinkled skin regained its former elasticity and luster.

Under Lance’s powerful strength, the most difficult step in the treatment was completed in the simplest manner, and Boudica’s condition finally improved.

Lying weakly on the bed, gasping for breath and soaked in sweat, Boudica’s current state seemed somewhat odd.

It seemed she was better, but there was still one very crucial step.

Lance helped Boudica sit up, then personally unwrapped the bandage around her head.

As the bandage was removed, Boudica’s tightly closed eyelids trembled continuously until, in a moment, they flew open, revealing her bright, large eyes.

But the next second, as if unable to adapt, she blinked frantically while tears uncontrollably streamed from her eyes.

Seeing this, Lance raised his hand and waved it in front of her.

”Can you see?”

This call brought Boudica back to her senses, and she suddenly jumped up from the bed, hugging Lance who was right in front of her, her face beaming with ecstasy.

”I can see! Boss, I can see again!”

Lance could only respond with a wry smile and a pat on Boudica hanging onto him, ”Alright, alright, it’s good that you’re fine.”

Grendel, witnessing this scene, couldn’t help but feel moved. In theory, this kind of trusting interaction between a warrior from the Barbarian Tribes and an Imperial Noble was very rare, if not impossible, yet it was now truly happening before her very eyes.

Grendel didn’t know whether she should believe him. Her choice was...

”Their physiques are not as strong as Boudica’s, and I expect the reaction will be even more violent. We should tie their hands and feet to the bed before administering the potion.”

”I think we can use a sedative to help with the treatment, to help the patients through the most painful stage.”

”That makes sense, perhaps we should give it a try.” Lance, listening to Paracelsus’s suggestion, couldn’t help looking at Grendel. ”Miss Dai’er, do you think this could affect the treatment outcome?”

Grendel snapped back to reality and quickly joined the discussion about the treatment plan...

As these reforms progressed, a piece of truly good news finally began to spread through the town—the plague treatment had succeeded.

This message, like a shot in the arm, infused Hamlet with hope and signaled that the plague brought by the Witch was completely conquered by the people of Hamlet under the Lord’s leadership!

Joy dispelled the last of the gloom in Hamlet, and all the townsfolk wore smiles, because this signified they would no longer suffer from the plague’s torment.

”Go on, go home and take a few days of rest before we talk about work.”

Lance directly gave those people a three-day holiday. The torment of illness had plagued them for so long that if they weren’t allowed to go home and relax, mental issues might arise. Besides, their families needed them.

After sending off the last healed patient, only Lance and Grendel remained in the camp.

As agreed upon from the beginning, the time to make a decision would come when the treatment was complete.

Grendel was still somewhat torn, and Lance, noticing her reaction, didn’t rush her but instead offered some advice.

”There’s no need to rush your decision. Ever since you came here, you have been busy with the plague. You may have heard something from the Witch, but what I can tell you is that the truth may not be so simple.

”For now, why not take a walk, get to know Hamlet a bit better, and then make your decision? I’ll be waiting for you all along.”

Lance didn’t like to force anyone; he wanted Grendel to stay willingly, and he was confident in that.