Our Family Has Fallen

Chapter 1246: Chapter 682: The Tragedy (Part 2)

As for that legion, it has long disappeared into the ruins...

On the watchtower at the edge of the ruins, Dismas put down his telescope and handed it to the others, cursing under his breath.

”Damn it, a bunch of useless fools! Pretending to be stronger than they are? Now we have to clean up after them again.”

The hero of Hamlet had already received the message and came to observe. As the sunlight tore through the darkness, he seemed to understand the situation at the front line.

The Lord repeatedly emphasized not to let too many people die, their side had been warning them endlessly about how vicious the skeletons at night were, but still, no one listened.

So weak yet so eager to play, what power do you have to mimic the legion?

”Let’s go, make sure everyone brings plenty of Corpse Decomposition Spores, otherwise, it won’t be enough.”

Balistan was practical; quickly clearing the corpses was the most important thing to not affect the Lord’s plans.

”Those aren’t living people, but merely shells bound by a curse.” Alhazred was among them, originally staying here. He was curious to see what would emerge upon hearing of the Ancient Empire Legion.

While other adventurers had already charged ahead, Scorpion and his group were still observing.

”Why is the leader watching this? When are we going up?”

”They’re all disappearing, if we don’t go now, it might be too late.”

”Let’s wait a bit more.”

The urging of his teammates didn’t affect Scorpion’s mood; he even took the time to glance at the notice board beside the watchtower.

Several new notices were posted, and with a quick glance, Scorpion understood they were about the punished criminals from yesterday.

Warnings for everyone not to kill each other; if discovered, severe punishment would follow, while also encouraging whistleblowing and targeted crackdowns.

It might deter some, but one must never underestimate greed and ambition, especially with rumors of the Ancient Empire treasure spreading.

Things like this didn’t interest him much, because a reputable Mercenary Corps differs from bandit groups, the sunk costs were too high.

Of course, if the benefits were plentiful, he wasn’t sure if he wouldn’t falter...

Then, a shout from a teammate pulled his attention back.

”Leader, they’ve returned!”

”What’s the situation, how come they’re so beaten?”

”It seems the scavengers who followed all disappeared...”

It was only when the team saw the adventurers retreating en masse that they understood why their leader hadn’t rushed in, now feeling amazed rather than complaining.

”Leader, how did you know something was wrong?”

”Because after we left yesterday, those people from Hamlet followed, but just now, those people didn’t move at all and instead went straight up the watchtower.”

Scorpion’s experience showed; he had been impulsive just now, but after arriving here and realizing the legion had charged into the dimness while the Hamlet people turned and left, he cooled down and chose to observe.

If one examined closely, it was clear that not many strong individuals went up in the first wave, those with strength were mostly watching.

The inexperienced and the young rushed up in a mob, and the outcome was clear—they were out.

”Let’s go, now it’s our turn to move up.”

Scorpion led the Mercenary Corps up, retracing yesterday’s path.

Initially worried about getting entangled in endless combat, but clearly those fools had attracted the skeletons on the outskirts of the ruins away.

Scorpion and his group passed by without stopping, just where someone had been hung up, elevated to avoid contact with the wandering skeletons, but clearly died.

No one knew what he’d gone through; no visible wounds, eyes bulging, his twisted and grim face looked as if he’d been scared to death.

They couldn’t take the body down for a proper examination, but it was clear something wasn’t right about this place at night.

”Damn spooky...”

”There are a few more ahead, let’s take a look.”

The team continued forward, encountering nothing but the dead, not a single survivor, unsure of what had happened the night before, but it was enough to keep them on guard.

As Scorpion and the others passed a location where they had found looters before, they didn’t avoid it this time, choosing instead to approach, discovering a gnawed skeleton.

”This is the work of rats.”

”Are you saying rats ate him?”

”To clarify, they ate him alive, look at these struggle marks, the dead wouldn’t struggle.”

”Oh~ damn! I just had breakfast.”

”Also, look at these, the skeletal remains of rats, meaning they ate each other too.”

”Would rats elsewhere act like this?”

Asking such a question unmistakably pointed to the evil of this place, even the rats were aggressive.

Scorpion remained calm, and while the others were puzzled over these details, he suddenly made a suggestion.

”I have a feeling we’ll have to sleep with the rats tonight.”

Following his gaze, they saw the shadowy skeletons among the ruins up ahead.

The density appeared similar to yesterday, meaning that in just one night, the skeletons had refilled the cleared area.

It seemed they had been too optimistic earlier, the recent skirmish seemingly consumed nothing, not even what an entire day with so many people had dealt with.

This situation served as a reminder to anyone truly intent on claiming the treasures of the ruins: they couldn’t retreat, otherwise they’d waste time fending off these skeletons.

But staying overnight in the ruins... meant being surrounded, a great test of continuous combat capability.

Especially when considering the fate of those who had fallen, and no one knew who could withstand it.

The unspoken pressure was like a boulder on the shoulders of those team leaders, what decision would bring them the greatest benefits? How could they be faster than others?

”We need to prepare for camp.”

Scorpion was still ambitious, unwilling to circle the outskirts. After the Mercenary Guild’s advancement task expired, he urgently needed to make a big move to restore the Corps’ reputation.

His career goals remained strong; hence his willingness to take certain risks and choose aggressive tactics, the only way to cleanse the humiliation, leading the Mercenary Corps to greatness.

The team, trusting him completely, offered no objections, something impossible in hastily thrown together groups.

While Scorpion and his team diligently pressed forward, the news of the great defeat quickly spread to the small town, prompting the Mendicant Monk to approach the Priest immediately.

”See? I told you this wasn’t simple, it’s all part of the Lord’s conspiracy.”

”But according to the Monk, they’re promoting the Ancient Empire treasure to attract more people, but why warn them? Besides, wouldn’t these casualties actually benefit us?”

”We have to rescue them now, no time for your nonsense.” The Mendicant Monk realized, choosing facts over pointless disputes.

With minor casualties yesterday and major ones today, it was time for miracles, ignoring any distractions was imperative now.

The Candlelight Priest offered no objections.

With compassion, the Mendicant Monk moved towards the wounded, performing divine interventions under the light of dawn.

The gravely injured adventurers who returned quickly recovered, grateful to the Monk, praising the Holy Light.

And the Church duo managed to gather more followers through healing, securing enough to survive without scavenge.

That’s why the Church achieved what they have; aside from religious influence, Divine Arts played a crucial role.

The news of the defeat also reached a teenager preparing to leave the town.

”Big brother, they’re all dead.”

”I already warned them.”

The teenager wasn’t surprised, clearly having anticipated it, he turned and headed towards Hamlet.