Our Family Has Fallen

Chapter 1380: Chapter 3: Bastia That Never Falls (Extra)

”This is not about any meanness, because history is always written by the victors, and no one will remember the losers.”

”I understand.”

Bruce, for a moment, also felt sentimental. Those people were making such a fuss, thinking they could resist their father by seizing this opportunity, yet they still couldn’t escape their father’s control. It’s truly pathetic.

”But the matter of the evil cult must be handled with care; I suspect it is related to Hamlet.”

Bruce reminded with a word; everyone knew about the evil cult causing trouble in Hamlet, coupled with the current overwhelming darkness, it was truly horrifying.

”It’s just a few cultists; let the Eagle Flock handle it.” The Earl was indifferent; it’s merely a few cultists who ran over, nothing significant at all.

Under his control, Bastia was as solid as gold and stone, simply not a place where a few cultists could stir up trouble.

This is precisely why many noble lords allow the Church to preach, because in this desperate world, ordinary people need a bit of spiritual support. The bright faith of the Church can compress most of the living space of the evil cult.

So, under stable circumstances, the evil cult hardly has any room for action; only in places where order collapses can chaos be provoked.

Thus, the Earl was not much concerned about these rats that could only hide in the sewers their whole lives.

Instead, another matter made him more alert.

”Do you think Lawrence has anything to do with this?”

The Earl suddenly asked, with a tone somewhat subtle.

Bruce knew this was a test for himself. He pondered for a moment before speaking:

”Those people had just incited Alvin, and the matter of the evil cult erupted, which seems a bit too coincidental. Whether it is related to him or not, it can only be considered related.

Because he is Alvin’s teacher, in the case of his daughter’s disappearance, it seems Alvin is his only political continuation, with sufficient reason to want to sideline Alvin to protect him from the side.

And more severely, he wants to use this to make us fight each other. He stands in the middle, seemingly unbiased towards anyone, but neither side can ignore his presence, instead making him more significant.”

Bruce paused slightly and then gave his final conclusion.

”We can court him, but cannot give him real power, otherwise he and Alvin might start some unnecessary fantasies.”

The Earl listened to Bruce’s analysis and didn’t say anything, merely nodded, but his attention was evidently not on this matter.

”And Alvin, what do you think?”

”Let him leave Bastia; this is the only way to ensure his safety.”

”If the Empire had not undergone turmoil, I would have undoubtedly sent him to train in the Emperor’s Order of Knights, or to be a Wandering Knight across the Empire.

But now it is impossible. Alvin’s identity is very sensitive, and any action we take will be seen as taking sides. Before the situation becomes clear, we must not express anything externally.

So, he cannot be let out...”

The Earl shook his head, and suddenly his calm tone turned into severe reprimand:

”I thought he would grow after suffering setbacks in Hamlet, but now it seems he’s still a child,

No! He’s a fool! He actually led an entire Order of Knights to fall in Hamlet. Even if I led a pig, it wouldn’t have allowed the full capture of everyone.

And now I have to pay to ransom him back, causing my Order of Knights to have not yet recovered. How does he still have the audacity to throw a tantrum at me? I don’t have such a foolish son.”

The disappointment and anger towards his inability were unapologetically expressed, but the Earl soon calmed down, revealing a coldness in his words, not much familial affection.

”Keep him confined; he cannot leave the castle, must not disturb our plans, and send him away once the situation is clear, as far away from the Empire as possible.”

”Isn’t this too harsh on him...”

Bruce was also troubled; everyone knew about Alvin’s twisted personality; confining him would be harder than killing him, and he would certainly make a fuss, which Bruce didn’t want to become ugly.

The Earl said nothing, but a glance was enough to put pressure on Bruce.

The meaning was clear: if you cannot control him, you are not qualified to be the successor.

To this, Bruce could only nod in agreement.

”Go ahead, without pressure. You are protecting him; otherwise, if he continues to disturb, it won’t be something that can be solved by confinement for a few days.” The person in front was the most excellent successor, not just a subordinate. Ultimately, the Earl softened.

”Yes!”

Bruce left, and the Earl fell into silence, staring blankly out the window, with a strong discontent, and of course, some fear.

Because in that direction was Hamlet...

The Earl could control the overall situation with laughter and conversation, but some people were hard to predict.

In Bastia City, in a secret room indiscernible by anyone, a quarrel was bursting.

”Damn, can’t you do things cleanly? Do you know what’s going on outside now? The Church has already discovered your traces. What will happen if they trace it here?”

Alvin’s words were as irritable as ever; he was furious now, as those nobles who had been gathering around him suddenly scattered, rushing to embrace the thigh of the Church because of this matter.

This made him feel a strong sense of humiliation, and of course, fear, as in the Empire, the Church could be mightier than the Emperor.

Under the blood-red candlelight, the missionary’s figure was still mostly shrouded in a black robe, remaining calm despite being questioned.