Our Family Has Fallen

The Baron knew the reason but felt somewhat helpless. Just as he was about to speak, Alvin, who was by his side, interrupted him.

”Peasants! I am a noble! Bring your town mayor out to speak at once!” Alvin bellowed. He certainly did not possess the Baron’s patience.

Upon hearing the word ”noble,” the townsfolk were instantly taken aback. Their fierce confrontational spirit swiftly crumbled, leaving them with an inexplicable sense of inferiority.

See, don’t they look like a dog?

The fear of the nobility, after centuries of conditioning, was almost etched into their very bloodlines.

At this point, a middle-aged man dressed slightly more lavishly stepped forward, claiming to be the mayor.

The Baron smoothly took control of the conversation, proclaiming that the Barbarians had already slaughtered hundreds in a violent frenzy and had been chased here by his party.

”My lord, we have not seen any Barbarians here. However, to express our gratitude, we can share some grain with you,” the mayor offered.

The mayor, having seen a bit of the world, knew that without some form of payment, they wouldn’t be able to send these soldiers away.

However, the Baron refused, putting on a show of integrity and not accepting the offer at all.

The mayor, thinking their offer was too little, steeled himself and raised the price.

As the two haggled, Alvin grew somewhat annoyed. He knew, however, that they had to play the charade out fully, since they were a ”righteous” troop and couldn’t simply accept benefits.

At least, that was the case for now...

Soon, the man arranged to come ”requesting aid” rushed forward. He wasn’t wearing standard armor and was smeared with blood from an unknown source, deliberately making himself look utterly disheveled, as if he had just burst from a battlefield.

”Help!”

Moreover, if one was going to act, one had to commit. He commenced with a difficult dismount, pretending to fall to the ground from exhaustion.

The Baron, playing the director, also dismounted to help the fallen man.

”Who are you? What happened?”

”I am a Guard of the Hamlet Family. Hamlet Town is currently under siege by Heretics and Barbarian Tribes and is on the verge of being overrun! The Lord said he is willing to give anything to be saved. Whoever kills those Barbarian Tribes and Heretics will be the new Lord!”

”How many enemies are there?”

”So many, so many! Hurry and save us! Hamlet can’t hold on much longer...”

After these words, the man appropriately ”fainted” from exhaustion. The Baron shook him vigorously a few times, calling out his name repeatedly, but there was no response.

Only then did the Baron turn his gaze to the surrounding townsfolk, observing their puzzled expressions, and to the mayor, who stood frozen, clearly unsure what to think.

He immediately intensified his efforts to rally them.

”You heard him! We plan to go to Hamlet to rescue its people, but there may be many enemies. We need help! Who among you wishes to join us in saving the Lord?”

”Ah!” the mayor exclaimed, as if suddenly jolted awake. ”This... this... might not be a good idea.”

”But that is your Lord of Hamlet.”

”Let’s... let’s discuss this...” The mayor raised a hand to wipe the sweat from his brow and hurriedly turned to go back inside.

But as soon as he entered the room, the few people who had been waiting for a long time surrounded him with questions.

”What’s happening?”

”Who are those people?”

”Is there a problem?”

At this moment, the mayor’s previously timid expression instantly shifted to a calm demeanor. It was clear the earlier act had been for the outsiders’ benefit.

In just a few simple sentences, he explained the situation. When the others heard that the Barbarian Tribes and Heretics were collaborating to attack Hamlet Town, they couldn’t help but gasp in shock.

”How is that possible?”

”That’s right! How could there be such a major operation?”

”What on earth happened? Could they really be collaborating with the Barbarian Tribes? Why haven’t we received any news?”

From their words, it was evident that the town mayor and these people were followers of the Ascension Sect that had been developed here.

No one could resist the temptation of Ascension. This was especially true for the mayor who, entering middle age and beginning to experience a clear decline in physical function, had fallen completely after experiencing the vitality brought by the Flesh Rite. He had even recruited other followers.

However, the followers in a nearby town had recently been eradicated. Then, they heard that many of their camps had also been attacked. Later still, even the sect’s transport routes were cut off by the Lord of Hamlet.

After numerous strikes, the sect suffered severe casualties. Since these setbacks, the orders to these followers were to lay low, recruit more followers, and wait for the right moment.

Only especially outstanding followers could be summoned by the sect to receive the opportunity for Ascension that everyone coveted.

In any case, they hadn’t received orders to attack Hamlet.

”So I also find it strange…” The mayor furrowed his brow, unable to fathom the intricacies of the situation.

This was actually quite normal. Currently, the flow of information was still obstructed. At their level, they were still just a small town, with no access to the broader perspective of regional conflicts.

They had no way of knowing about the recent events involving Alvin and his people, lacking both the information and the breadth of vision required.

Furthermore, to infiltrate deeper, they had reduced their interactions with the Sect of Ascension since receiving their orders. Now, they were completely in the dark about the outside world. How could they possibly know what had happened in Hamlet?

”What’s so strange about that?” one said. ”The Lord of Hamlet has killed so many of our people. It wouldn’t be strange for our higher-ups to collaborate with the Barbarian Tribes and attack Hamlet together.”

”Exactly,” another added. ”Don’t forget, we also received another directive: to kill that lord at all costs. If it really comes to that, our higher-ups won’t let this opportunity slip by.”

These two statements quickly dispelled their other thoughts and gained unanimous consent.

But now a new problem lay before them.

”So what do we do now? That group is going to Hamlet to rescue people.”

”We can’t let them pass. According to that man, the battle isn’t over. If they go and repel the Barbarian Tribes, it’s very likely they’ll save Hamlet Town.”

”That lord has killed so many of us! No matter who attacks Hamlet, we must lend a hand to the attackers!”

This statement provided everyone with a reason. Having participated in the Flesh Rite, their minds were essentially no longer normal. In their eyes, nothing was more important than the sect. Naturally, they couldn’t possibly let that group pass.

These individuals had been left behind precisely because they lacked talent, but they equally longed for the chance of Ascension, which now seemed to be right before their eyes.

”But those men are nobles. We can’t reveal our identities. We must find a cover story.”

”We are Hamlet’s People. Even if something happens after we kill them, let that Lord take the blame.”

”Well said! I’ll gather everyone right now.”

The zeal of these fanatics was certainly not something an ordinary person could match; they acted as soon as they decided.

Alvin, waiting at the town gate, grew impatient. He had probably guessed that these people didn’t have the courage to go with them to Hamlet.

But just as he was about to leave for the next town to continue his charade, the seemingly gaunt mayor emerged, walking down the main avenue. Simultaneously, people poured out from every street in the town, continuously gathering behind him.

These people wore ordinary clothes and were devoid of armor. They didn’t even carry decent weapons; in their hands were nothing more than kitchen knives, farming tools, and pitchforks.

Their faces were withered and their hands cracked, betraying the toll of labor under the scorching sun. Yet now, their expressions were filled with determination.

The Ascension Sect had operated in this region for many years. No one knew just how many Heretics lurked beneath the seemingly normal facade of such places.

However, Alvin and his companions were unaware of these subtleties and simply assumed these people were answering the Lord’s call to action.

This scene was unbearable to Alvin. How could that ruined Lord command such influence here? How could there be so many people still loyal to him?

The stiff expression on his face revealed nothing, but inside, he churned with jealousy and annoyance. All of this should have been his!

I am the rightful Lord of Hamlet! Yet you choose to pledge allegiance to a dead man?