Our Family Has Fallen

Chapter 1243: Chapter 681: Victory Is Certain

Hamlet, the new town.

The sky had barely begun to lighten, yet the whole town was already buzzing with activity.

While some adventurers were still groggy from a night of revelry, the professional teams had already finished breakfast, prepared their supplies, checked their equipment, and were ready to set off.

These people were like guilds in a game, striving for the first dungeon kill; they had team discipline, and as soon as they returned last night, they reviewed the day’s activities and revised their plans.

Of course, this didn’t mean that members weren’t allowed to have fun; on the contrary, appropriate entertainment is crucial for restoring one’s state.

Having a drink or two, playing a couple of card games, or taking a bath was fine, but there was a limit, especially during the critical opening of a dungeon, which everyone was well aware of.

Even before dawn, the blacksmith’s workshop in town began its hammering. This was also part of the lord’s holdings, with apprentices trained in the workshop as well as blacksmiths continuously arriving in Hamlet.

Lance would rate these craftsmen. If you wanted to join the workshop, you had to prove your skill, either with genius-like talent or formidable ability.

Those with less skill or experience would make tools, farm implements, or repair weapons and armor here.

Slashing skeletons all day wears down weapons considerably, and tools are equally needed for the town’s construction.

It’s a large market, but monopolized by the lord—or you could say the rest of the town is similar.

For instance, items like torches, bandages, potions, and shovels in the stores... are not only expensive but also limited in supply.

It’s clear who’s pocketing those adventurers’ money in the end.

Even as the sky remained dim and the sun not fully risen, Scorpion arranged for people to prepare various supplies, while he and some others headed to the blacksmith’s to retrieve repaired gear, along with his newly custom-made equipment.

It was just a long-handled flail. Such a farming tool for threshing was quite popular here; compared to swords and knives, such striking weapons were more effective against skeletons.

”Who are those people?”

Suddenly, a stir arose from the crowd, making Scorpion and his companions turn to look. A uniquely attired team was passing through the town, drawing a large crowd of spectators.

Their uniform actions exerted an invisible pressure on everyone; without a doubt, the legion’s power was formidable.

A significant portion of the mercenaries gathered in the town originated from Totnes. These mercenaries, who traveled extensively with merchants, were well-informed, and some appeared to recognize the style’s origin.

”That’s from Romulus, isn’t it?”

”What’s that place?”

”The birthplace of the Ancient Empire, though it’s long declined into a small country.”

However, beyond those superficial discussions, an adventurer raised a topic.

”Isn’t this the legend of the Taboo Legion?”

”What is that?”

”A legendary immortal troop guarding the inheritance of the Ancient Empire.”

”If that legion is here, doesn’t that mean...”

In front of an antiques expert like Catherine, legion legends also involved money, but that was just a small part; the rest was a culmination of numerous myths ultimately yielding crucial info: the legion’s hatred for corruption.

Yet, for these mercenary adventurers, the legion was seen as either an entity the Ancient Empire’s emperor sent to gather treasures globally or one charged with guarding the empire’s secrets...

In simple terms, there was no other option; if it was here, it had to be money-related.

The distant history of the Ancient Empire, a roaming mysterious force, now arriving at the ruins of a lost city—these topics instantly captivated everyone.

Some people quickly caught on—

Hamlet Ruins + Ancient Empire’s Heritage = Great Treasure!

That related information soon spread among people, gradually becoming exaggerated and taking on a new myth.

The Ancient Empire’s heritage was rumored to be hidden within the Hamlet Ruins, driving everyone mad!

Even someone as calm and rational as Scorpion knew this was unlikely, but amidst the heated atmosphere, he couldn’t help but entertain the thought, ”What if it’s true?”

Not to mention others, fueled by the mood, everyone seemed ready to storm the ruins as if brimming with excitement!

The news quickly spread throughout the town. When those scavenger teams, who had been distancing themselves from the youth, heard the news, they were immediately overjoyed.

”Ha ha ha! If that fool knew this, he’d surely regret it, right?”

”What if he comes back now begging to join us?”

”For his sister’s sake, if he’s willing to hand over the musket and run errands for us, we might consider it.”

”Ha ha ha!”

Arrogance, conceit, and delusions of grandeur—emotions that shouldn’t have appeared in them—flooded their minds.

But one could say it was amusing because they actually won some money at the casino last night. Money came too quickly, too easily.

Then they squandered it in taverns and brothels, and the thrill of spending had already twisted their rationality, though they never really had any to begin with.

They thought of themselves as chosen ones, harboring unrealistic fantasies, and once more ventured into the ruins...

As for the ”big brother” they longed for, he was now preparing to return to the city to sign up for exams, planning to buy some meat with the money.

When they first arrived in Hamlet, the ruins weren’t open, and they couldn’t afford fun—they just wandered around and picked up a lot of specific information about Hamlet.