Our Family Has Fallen

Chapter 441: Chapter 288: Knowing People and Delegating Properly_2

That’s right; this was never an issue that could be resolved simply by killing Amanda.

But to say Tamara truly didn’t know? Clearly, that wasn’t the case.

This highlighted the difference in their thinking. Lance was accustomed to viewing the whole situation from a macro perspective, conducting long-term analysis, and focusing on the key conflicts without getting overly concerned with temporary gains and losses.

However, Tamara’s life had always been about getting through today without thinking about tomorrow, constantly hiding and wandering. It wasn’t that her vision was short-sighted, but she certainly prioritized solving immediate problems over future ones.

Simply put, you can’t expect someone who can barely fill their stomach to start thinking about how to get meat.

Just like now, with the danger from Amanda looming, for her, getting rid of Amanda would buy some time, even if the Seeker of Omens organization were to send more people after her. As for the future... that was a problem for later. Who cared about that anyway?

”What do you think I should do?” she asked.

”I talked with Amanda and found out they don’t seem to care much about you. Rather, they’re more concerned about the Sacred Object you took...”

”It wasn’t stolen!” The keyword seemed to touch one of Tamara’s nerves. She couldn’t help but interrupt Lance, emphasizing, ”It was supposed to be mine to begin with! I was just taking back what belonged to me.”

”Alright, alright, you ’took’ it, not ’stole’ it,” Lance said, amused. He had heard this kind of ’a scholar’s appropriation is not theft’ joke far too many times, but he didn’t expose her last shred of dignity, instead continuing along with her.

”They care about that Sacred Object. If you return what you took, they won’t waste resources trying to kill you.”

”Why would you think that?” Tamara looked at Lance with slight surprise, finding it hard to believe he could say such a foolish thing.

”Isn’t it obvious? The fact that you’ve eluded capture for so many years demonstrates that catching you requires significant effort. If there’s not enough benefit, the Seekers of Omens wouldn’t waste resources on you; after all, it’s meaningless for an organization.”

”No, no, no!” Tamara shook her head frantically. ”The only reason I’ve been able to hide is because of this Sacred Object. If I give it up, they’ll be able to find me at any time. Without the Sacred Object, I’ll only have death awaiting me.”

Lance heard this but didn’t seem too concerned, a slight smile on his face.

Could he really not know what the Sacred Object meant to Tamara? Or was this a verbal trap he had set?

In truth, Lance was well aware that for Tamara to protect herself, giving up the Sacred Object had to be done simultaneously with another action: she needed to display a power that would intimidate the Seekers of Omens. Only then could a fragile balance be maintained.

And this intimidating power was Tamara’s trump card.

But now she had revealed her trump card herself, meaning that with just a few words, Lance had figured out Tamara’s true situation.

Tamara was indeed panicked. But seeing the expression on Lance’s face, she realized she had misspoken, and unease instantly showed on her face. She felt as if the man’s gaze could see right through her clothes, standing before him as if she were naked and exposed.

”This is your Romani people’s own affair. I’m just offering a suggestion. If you find it unreasonable, that’s fine, but remember to schedule an appointment next time you come in,” he said.

Lance wore a gentle smile, and his tone was calm, but his words sounded like a dismissal to Tamara.

”I can be useful!” Tamara urgently needed to increase her leverage. ”I can save you. Only I know how to deal with those Secret Technique Curses.”

Lance was a bit puzzled as to why she would say this, but this slight hesitation was enough for Tamara to start speaking about the Seekers of Omens.

Tamara was very clear that Amanda had refrained from acting against her solely because she was wary of the rules set by the man before her.

But if she were to leave now, the moment she stepped out of Hamlet, that scum Amanda would be on her tail.

If she didn’t leave, she’d face growing pressure as more and more Seekers of Omens arrived. When that happened, she didn’t know if Lance could still withstand it.

Lance might be strong, but those Seekers of Omens had countless ways to kill a person. She had once been one of them and knew about those bizarre and evil rituals; killing someone from a thousand miles away wasn’t all that rare.

”Curse me?” To her surprise, Lance just laughed after hearing this. ”I’d actually like to see how they intend to curse me.”

The last Wizard who tried to curse him from a distance now had grass half a meter tall on his grave; moreover, the attempt had brought Lance a significant amount of Spiritual Essence and two nice items.

He really wasn’t afraid of those flamboyant curses.

Seeing Lance’s attitude, Tamara was at once both anxious and angry. How could he underestimate the Seekers of Omens?

She was anxious because if something happened to Lance, she would lose her Sanctuary.

She was angrier still that his indifferent reaction made her own importance completely invisible.

”I have money!”

”I don’t need money.”

”I’ll give you the Sacred Object.”

”Don’t bother, I don’t want it.”

”...”

Tamara played her cards one by one, but Lance simply wouldn’t bite, acting indifferent no matter what she offered.

The relentless pressure had left her gasping for air; otherwise, she wouldn’t have rushed to see him the moment she heard Lance had returned, desperate to find a way out.

But it was clear she had failed... She had completely failed to sway him with her bargaining chips; instead, her own meager assets had been laid bare.

Despair washed over Tamara.

Lance, on the other hand, leisurely watched her dejected figure. This woman had finally been driven into a corner.

It reminded him of their first encounter on Rat Street, when she had put on a mystifying act and had remained unconcerned even after being exposed.

At that time, she had held the upper hand. Lance had desperately needed an advisor who understood the Supernormal Realm and had knowledge of Mysticism, so he had tried to curry favor, even making concessions.

If she had, even without joining, shown a little sincerity and offered Lance some help back then, he wouldn’t be standing idly by today.

If she had joined back then, Lance would have gone to great lengths to protect her, actively mediating with the Seekers of Omens to resolve the issue.

But unfortunately, she had looked down on him then. Now, while it wasn’t exactly a case of her getting what she deserved, she was certainly reaping what she had sown.

And Lance wasn’t acting out of revenge; he simply didn’t want to deal with such a major nuisance.

But she still had value—a crucial piece she hadn’t played when negotiating, which was also her fatal weakness...

”Give me everything you have, and I’ll go talk to Amanda for you as a mediator.”

The casual words from Lance felt like a lifeline to the desperate Tamara, who urgently asked, ”What do you need? I’ll give you anything I have!”

”Of course, it’s your most prized possession. I’m just worried you won’t be willing to part with it,” Lance said, his gaze turning peculiar, revealing an inscrutable playfulness.

Tamara suddenly looked up, meeting his eyes. She was taken aback for a moment before it clicked. After laying out so many conditions to no avail, what else could she possibly offer him?

A wave of indignation washed over her at the implication. Tamara remembered the days of her glory, when she had burst onto the scene, eclipsing a host of talents.

Yet now she had fallen to this state, to be humiliated by a mere town Lord, a strong sense of unease and turmoil churning within her.

Her pride wouldn’t allow her to accept. She would rather fight Amanda to the death than succumb to this.

But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t muster the defiance. Just the thought of Amanda’s loathsome face made her unwilling to accept defeat so easily.

Simply put, it was rivalry. She didn’t care what others thought of her, but she absolutely could not lose to Amanda.

Seeing someone she had once surpassed now faring better than her was more painful than death itself; for this, she was willing to pay any price.

”I... agree,” Tamara conceded through gritted teeth, her expression twisted as she clearly struggled to suppress her emotions.

”Good! I like that straightforwardness,” Lance said, gesturing for her to hurry. ”Quickly now.”

”Now? Right here?” Tamara was so shocked by his words that she didn’t even have time to dwell on her sense of loss, her expression one of utter astonishment as she questioned him.