Our Family Has Fallen

Chapter 514: Chapter 323: Reinforcement_1

”I presume everyone has received the news. What do you think?” Gene said, looking at the others without showing any haste to express his stance.

”I think we need to send someone to verify the source of this message; otherwise, if the city is taken by refugees, we’re going to have trouble with our grain supply.”

”There’s nothing to verify. Everyone knows there’s a war going on over there. As long as we can transport the grain, even if the message is false, or if that city has already been overtaken by refugees, there will still be plenty of people in need. It won’t affect our trade at all.”

Merchants do not mind trading with anyone, whether it’s the Empire’s Governor or refugees, as long as they pay.

Yet, there were still objections.

”Those refugees won’t pay. If they rob us, who’s going to bear the loss?”

”The message might be fake, but the war front is real. I just spoke to quite a few refugees who fled here, and indeed, the Chaotic Army has already advanced to that area. This message doesn’t seem to be false.”

Those in favor and those against each had their reasons, but no one could convince the others.

”You all know Walter, right? He was our biggest rival, the one who nearly collapsed. I thought he was dead, but I didn’t expect him to return and even expand. I have no idea how that fellow got so much money.”

While everyone was still arguing, Gene spoke up, though not about the current matter, but bringing up Walter again.

Before the others could ponder his meaning, Gene began to explain.

”Right now, we control everything locally, from supply channels to the market. Even if he’s formidable, he poses no threat to us. However, I’ve heard they’re actively preparing for this matter, probably aiming to make a comeback. If they succeed with this deal, our business will become much more difficult.”

Gene’s words also highlighted their current situation: their competitors hadn’t fallen yet, so for them to fall into disarray first would be somewhat ridiculous.

”Exactly! We must act, and faster than them,” supporters immediately chimed in.

”But what if we encounter refugees or the Chaotic Army?” One person’s question poured cold water on the increasingly heated situation.

Everyone knew grain prices at the war front were definitely high, but why wasn’t anyone going?

Because the situation was very unstable, the risks were too great, and no matter how high the profits, merchant caravans could easily be swallowed up.

So why the eagerness this time?

Because the refugees being stopped meant the situation had reached a stalemate, leaning towards stability. Furthermore, a statement from the Governor indicated they had a clear objective. Unless he no longer wanted future grain supplies, he had to defend the city well and honor his commitments.

But the risks remained substantial, enough to make even these greedy merchants hesitate.

Finally, Gene spoke.

”I’ll borrow thirty cavalry and one hundred infantry from the city defense force. Combined with our own guards, we shouldn’t have to worry about safety, even if we face typical refugee bandits.”

Why was Gene able to take over the trading company after his father’s disappearance?

It was because of the background and connections his father had cultivated, including his relationship with the city defense force. He had resources of his own.

With this assurance, those who had been opposing gradually relented.

Just as Walter had said, no merchant could refuse such lavish profits. As long as the profit was high enough, they didn’t mind what battlefield it was.

In fact, the outcome had been decided as soon as everyone arrived.

They had discussed so much, yet no one questioned the grain prices being several times higher than the market rate. They knew this wasn’t unusual; since they themselves had manipulated local grain prices to such an extent, such high prices at the front were to be expected.

”Other trading companies are already stirring, and our old rivals are buying up large quantities. We must be faster than them! I’ve said my piece. Who’s in favor? Who’s against?”

At this point, there was nothing more to say, and Gene asserted his authority.

”Good! Collect the grain, dispatch the caravans, prepare...”

Gene was full of enthusiasm, ready for a major undertaking.

At the same time, Lance was engaged in a fierce battle within the Beast Lair.

Inside a tunnel, they encountered a group of Pigmen: two Pigman Butchers led the way, followed by a half-bodied, crippled Pigman crawling on the ground.

They had seen all of these types before, so there was nothing particularly surprising.

However, among these Pigmen was one that stood out from the others.

This Pigman was half a head taller than any Pigman Butcher, but it did not possess their burly physique. Instead, it appeared rather emaciated, its pig skin loose and wrinkled, as if flesh were merely draped over a skeleton.

Even more disgusting were the numerous bulging tumors around its neck, resembling lymphoma. Compared to other Pigmen, its head was grotesquely exaggerated, with protruding tusks.

If it were merely a case of an abnormal body and repulsive appearance, Lance and his companions would not have found it strange; after all, they had already killed many Pigmen.

The peculiarity lay in this Pigman’s attire. It carried a drum in front of it and wielded bone sticks instead of metal weapons in its hands.

On its back, it carried another strange object: a long staff with a metal crescent-shaped arc at one end, from which several sharp spikes protruded.

Isn’t that the Inverted Crown symbol of the Ascension Sect?

Dismas, having accompanied Lance on many purges of the evil cult—including one beneath the meeting hall in Ovando City—had seen this symbol before. However, it was usually just placed to the side during rituals and hadn’t caught anyone’s attention.