Our Family Has Fallen

This will do. I warn you once more: be careful with whoever you encounter after leaving Hamlet. You wouldn’t want to fall into the hands of those Heretics.”

”Thank you.”

Lance wasn’t sure if she had understood. After a parting word, he quickly plunged into the darkness. Laura might seem to have been let go, but in reality, she’ll never escape my grasp. She’ll return on her own. I always consider everything...

After sending Laura away, Lance didn’t just return but instead turned around and went back into the sanatorium.

The prisoners captured in this battle weren’t limited to Laura; Alvin and Baron Lawrence were also among them.

There was no attack when he opened the cell door. Carrying a candlestick, Lance walked in. In the flickering light, a young man lay on the bed, his face pale and his expression haggard. Underneath the simple burlap clothes were bandages. Judging by his weak appearance, it was clear his wounds hadn’t healed yet. Lance wouldn’t waste any Spiritual Essence on them; it was enough that they weren’t dead.

Alvin, who had worn two trinkets that enhanced health and defense during the battle, had taken a worse beating due to his high stats. He had been thrashed until he was exhausted, knocked unconscious as if someone were hammering on a tin can.

”Alvin.”

As Lance approached, the sight of the silent Alvin nearly made him laugh. This guy had been arrogant when he first woke up, but he became docile after Amanda drugged him and soon revealed everything. He had no inheritance rights, seldom saw the Earl throughout the year, and knew even less about the situation in Bastia than Lance did. It was apparent that he was utterly neglected. Even Lance, an outsider, could see he was nothing but cannon fodder. Yet this guy thought he was the chosen one sent to take over Hamlet—utterly laughable. However, this repressed ambition, suddenly unleashed, could be useful to me...

”How are you feeling? Any better?”

”Hmph!” Alvin, showing some spirit in accepting his defeat, spoke to Lance, ”I have nothing to say about losing to you all. Just kill me.”

”Victory or defeat is no big deal. Besides, you didn’t lose to me,” Lance said, offering him a glimmer of hope.

”What do you mean? A loss is a loss.” Alvin had a straightforward temper and didn’t shy away from his defeat, but Lance’s words left him with a question.

”Think about it. Your Order of Knights was fully armed, we didn’t even have proper horses, our equipment was in tatters, and our weapons would chip when they hit your armor. How could you possibly lose to us?”

Seeing the fish take the bait, Lance wasn’t in a hurry to set the hook, instead guiding him to bite down completely.

He’s right! They had superior equipment, and we were just a ragtag bunch. How could they have lost to us?

No one likes to admit they are inferior to others, especially not when young and full of pride. Now Lance had given him an out, a way to save face without him even needing to humble himself.

While Alvin was dumbfounded, Lance continued to raise the stakes, revealing his true objective.

”You actually lost to those Heretics. If it weren’t for their constant harassment along the way, which depleted your strength and exhausted you before the final battle, how could you have possibly lost?”

Indeed, it was those Heretics!

”Wait... Heretics?” Alvin looked puzzled and glanced at Lance. He did remember the Order of Knights being attacked by Heretics before; they had been in a sorry state. But that was only once. What was really going on?

”I’ve heard soldiers say that you encountered many attacks along the way, but we in Hamlet never sent anyone to intercept you.”

”Are you saying those who attacked us weren’t from Hamlet?”

”Because we were at war with the Barbarian Tribes at the time. Everyone was in hiding, so we weren’t even aware of your approach. When the Barbarian Tribes attacked us, it was clear they considered you Hamlet’s reinforcements. That’s why those Heretics went to great lengths to stop you. Soon after, the Barbarian Tribes seemed to receive some information and left, apparently in collusion with the Heretics. Not long after that, you appeared. It was obvious the Heretics left because they realized they couldn’t stop you.”

”But they were shouting ’Hamlet’.”

”It’s essentially the same because the entire Hamlet Region is now controlled by the Heretics, except for our small town, which is still holding out.”

With Lance’s explanation, Alvin quickly pieced everything together. No wonder those troublesome commoners attacked us! It must have been the Baron’s plan—his contact with those townspeople exposed the Order of Knights, leading to the continuous attacks and ultimately this defeat. Yes! That must be it!

Alvin had constructed a complete narrative in his mind. This meant that from now on, any information he encountered about Hamlet would be unconsciously filtered through this preconceived logic. And Lance’s goal was achieved.

Alvin, that fool, had no access to crucial information. He was either training or carousing. There was truly nothing of value to be gleaned from him directly, but his true worth lay elsewhere. My goal was to make him aware of the Sect of Ascension’s existence and the idea that the Barbarian Tribes were colluding with them. Alvin’s true usefulness would only become apparent once he was sent back.

Lance understood Alvin’s rebellious psychology. Given an excuse, Alvin would never readily admit his own failure. Therefore, everything Lance told him today would eventually reach Count Bastia’s ears through Alvin himself.