Our Family Has Fallen

The driven refugees... the deliberate massacre... the scattered mob... the insidious plot...

With Laura’s narration, Lance finally understood why the Corrupting Wind suddenly swept through Hamlet.

It turned out they had slaughtered five to six hundred people around Hamlet, human lives, just like that, perished under Bastia’s butcher’s knife without any resistance.

Upon receiving news of the Order of Knights’ capture, the first response was not to redeem them but to weave rumors of Hamlet’s praise, then simply to drive refugees here en masse.

Lance didn’t even know how to describe such tactics; is this Earl a bit foolish?

What’s more outrageous is their deliberate design, intentional slaughter, merely to intimidate them?

Are you afraid the ancestor is hungry, so eager to deliver some takeout for the old thing?

Are you really the ancestor’s beloved sons?

”When we left, many criminals and mob had infiltrated the refugee crowd, and these people, without military supervision, detached from the group, and a large number of refugees, at least half, scattered into Hamlet’s territory.

Moreover, on the way here, the original convoy split quite a few people, disguised as merchants heading for those towns...”

Laura continued to remind Lance of the dangers these people posed, one being ruthless villains, the other harboring ulterior motives. Their stay in Hamlet would inevitably cause more trouble.

Nearly a thousand people scattered on the road for various reasons, and Lance seemed to have already guessed their fate.

Lance welcomes refugees, and so does the ancestor, even more vigorously.

Lance only uses them as labor, but the ancestor wants them all to become part of himself.

”I understand.” That’s all Lance could respond.

He did want to see those mobs and the Ascension Sect tear each other apart.

Laura seemed to find the Lord’s calmness incomprehensible, only stating that these big figures always remained so composed when facing issues.

”Among those refugees were also mixed...”

Without hesitation, Laura exposed the pawns that the Earl planted among the refugees, having watched them for days, waiting for this moment.

Hearing this, Lance looked at her with some surprise, unable to deny that he liked this direct way of communication.

As the saying goes, a wise person adapts to circumstances...

Now the convoy’s carts were filled with the wounded, even the fat man was forced to walk along.

The fat man, all along the way, was pondering certain things, and over time, the sanity that was ravaged by the Heretic Priest gradually returned.

Something’s not right!

What was I supposed to be doing here again?

Oh right, I received the Earl’s task to come over and discuss ransom.

As for the ”minor actions,” they were entirely ”misunderstandings.”

But how did it become like this now?

Those suddenly appearing lunatics disrupted his plans, then just after being severely injured, a team of cavalry took over the group.

Even his magic wand was taken away.

The coincidences in all of this aroused his suspicion uncontrollably.

Damn, have I been set up?

He couldn’t just sit there awaiting obliteration, he had to find a way to escape.

The fat man cautiously observed his surroundings, watching the soldiers’ movements, only to turn around and find that not far away, the man in a coat exuding a roguish air was looking at him.

It was the person from earlier, and he was fiddling with the fat man’s pistol.

”Take it easy, although I don’t want to waste bullets on you,” Dismas apparently noticed his gaze, and the pistol in his hand inadvertently pointed at the fat man, ”but I wouldn’t mind trying out a new gun.”

The Lord had ordered him to watch this guy, such a spellcaster isn’t safe.

Speaking of which, the fat man felt a surge of frustration, previously being targeted by his own gun, and now again?

But the situation was stronger than the person, he really had no means.

Let alone whether he could outrun a bullet, even if he could incinerate Dismas, there were so many others around, he’d still end up dead.

Lance finally caught up on horseback from behind, but Laura wasn’t by his side.

”We’ve already prepared food and fresh water, up ahead is Hamlet.”

To hasten the refugees’ pace, it’s not whips and fists that are needed.

One word from Lance infused a sliver of hope into those trapped in despair, reviving even their utterly exhausted bodies with energy, noticeably increasing their speed.

The refugees now harbored no other thoughts, they only had one.

As long as they reach that place...

Among the refugees, some with ulterior motives couldn’t help but cast their eyes on Lance’s towering figure, thinking unknown thoughts.

”Stay close to me,”

A figure wrapped in tattered cloth approached Margaret and her companion, interrupting her thoughts.

Margaret was startled by the sudden, silent appearance of the figure, but quickly realized it was Laura’s voice.

Although she wasn’t sure about the specifics, the care she received along the way made her choose to trust Laura.

Originally at the front, they slowly moved to the edge, then gradually fell to the rear...

From dusk until nightfall, but once the group passed one area, they saw faint firelight in the distance.

A cavalryman rode swiftly ahead, as if awakening the giant beast lying upon the earth, and when the beast opened its eyes, more and more lights rose, dispelling the shrouding darkness.

And also awakened the refugees’ hope.

”Go and keep all these Bastia guys under surveillance, have someone inventory and store the convoy’s supplies, handle them slowly when there’s time.”

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