Our Family Has Fallen

The arrival of the Blood Moon immediately plunged the entire Hamlet into a scene more terrifying than Extreme Darkness.

Under the blood-red moonlight, almost everyone who looked up was instantly captivated, frozen in place.

And then came the corruption, affecting people in a more exaggerated manner than before.

All those whose minds were drawn seemed to hear something echoing in their minds, and if they accepted that power, they could...

The silhouette of a man appeared in their consciousness, quickly shaking off the temptation of corruption.

Many even became angry, wishing to shoot down that enormous Blood Moon, for no one could insult their loyalty!

Why did Lance choose not to rest and enjoy himself before the final battle and instead engage in these seemingly pointless preparations?

Attending the Heroes’ Cemetery event to reassure the army and police, adjusting defenses; summoning Beggby, Samendi and other Transcendents to reassure them was normal.

But running to the school, sanatorium, workshops... almost touring the entire city, not for official business, but to casually chat with the people.

Then going to farms, development areas, and villages to have meals and chats with ordinary people.

Finally, even on the square and docks, recounting how he donned armor and wielded a sword, killing bandits in moments of despair, expelling evil cults, holding the outpost, fighting to the death at the third stronghold, and cavalry charging into the fray to aid...

In these words, Lance had already instilled in their hearts the power to resist corruption, and when the Blood Moon arrived, most people invoked the will infused by [Enchanting Voice].

Compared to ordinary people, the soldiers, students, and police of Hamlet almost instantly shook off the influence of the Blood Moon.

Their organizational abilities were stronger, and upon detecting the influence of the Blood Moon, they immediately abandoned all production activities and opted to take over the city’s martial law.

Fully armed troops were stationed at critical locations in the city, such as the docks, sanatorium, workshops, and research institute.

Police, holding torches, began to orderly arrange the ordinary people on their district streets to return home and reassure them.

The regulatory effect that Lance originally established with the police function, according to districts, was showing results, as they were familiar neighbors, preventing any trouble.

There were even people trained as militia volunteering to assist, although it was better for them to return home to care for their families.

Urban security included armed police patrolling to handle any potential bloody incidents.

The city had quite a few adventurers returning from the ruin front, as well as other outsiders remaining here for various reasons.

These people did not favor Lance nor trust him; last time, these folks were corrupted, causing so much trouble.

Now, facing the arrival of an even stronger Blood Moon, many among them were immediately influenced, engrossed in the power of the Blood Moon.

But just at this moment, a burst of rapid lute playing came from nowhere, startling them awake.

A playful clown holding a lute emerged on the street, the sound neither loud nor ceasing, seeming to directly pierce into their minds, awakening them from the eerie state.

Samendi recalled Lance’s words after playing at the cemetery.

"Their husbands and sons died here, my people also died here, I don’t want to see so many people crying again, so would you be willing to play a song for the people again?"

His presence here was for no other reason, simply because the Lord could comprehend his music.

One person’s power was somewhat insignificant compared to an entire city, and even without Samendi’s intervention, chaos wouldn’t ensue in Hamlet City.

Boudica, Amanda, Grendel, William, Samendi, and even Baldwin donned armor and wielded swords, ready to act at any time, along with prepared troops and armed police.

Any uncontrolled madman, upon being discovered, would immediately be eliminated. Could they defeat the Legendary Swordsman Baldwin at full strength? Or escape the choking grip of thousand-textured vines?

Not only is chaos unachievable inside the city, but in the farms or villages outside, those farmers began to self-organize following militia training, settling their families.

Though they only held flails, pitchforks, long spears, and short axes, they already had the determination to defend their homes; the Lord’s repeated teachings finally made them understand to protect themselves.

These places, in fact, were army-guarded, with them as the true main force.

Although now the entire Hamlet fell into stagnation, this proper handling quickly subdued the negative effects brought by the Blood Moon’s arrival, suggesting that Lance’s arrangements before leaving were effective.

However, these were all areas under Lance’s strong influence, yet among them was one very special place—the ruin frontier’s new town.

Although a portion of adventurers left due to the Extreme Darkness’s arrival, there were still over ten thousand remaining.

Those now daring to remain obviously were not virtuous, conversely either confident in their strength or greedy and cruel.

Not to mention, with Lance intentionally leaving it open, anyone curious about Hamlet would arrange to enter, amid mixed inhabitants, even cultists could sneak in without surprise.

Sure enough, when the Blood Moon descended, people struggled to resist the desire for that power, accepting the [Great Blessing] from a certain presence, rapidly succumbing to corruption.