Chapter 1332 - 724: Busy
"Go and make some preparations; I reckon Walter is in Ovando impatiently waiting, and if we delay further, he might bring an army back to cause trouble for me."
Lance jestingly urged her upon seeing her fall silent, but he didn’t expect the reply to be somewhat surprising.
"I’m not going." Tiffany’s temper flared. "I’ve grown up; I’m not their toy anymore. I have the right to make decisions, and I’ve had enough of this shit!"
Protection was also a shackle. Back then, after Walter went missing, Tiffany was forced to manage the merchant group. Why did those people dare to deceive her?
It was because Walter protected them so well that her brother didn’t understand anything about the merchant group, and she was only half-knowledgeable.
To her, achieving today’s success was not easy. You casually suggest leaving, but you haven’t considered my feelings. Can the accomplishments I’ve worked hard for so long be casually discarded in your eyes?
She hated the feeling of powerlessness, and she would not allow her personal issues to cause others to waver.
Hamlet was her heart and soul, her glory; she would never allow it to be casually abandoned.
"You know I’ve always supported you."
Lance wasn’t surprised by this, as young people’s rebellion is quite normal. Besides, this retreat indeed cut Tiffany’s career short; not many people can stand seeing their efforts go to waste.
And Tiffany was not the kid she used to be; she had grown amid heavy work, not entirely independent, but at least with her own thoughts.
Could a woman who could force Lance to hide and write an IOU be easy to deal with?
She was like a dragon guarding her treasure, anyone trying to make her leave her valuables would face hostility; even if she didn’t breathe fire at you, she’d be polite.
"How about this: see what your brother’s attitude is, then write a letter explaining the situation and have your mother take it over. At least let Walter know that I didn’t force you."
Lance, even at this moment, still emphasized this, clearly trying to stir up trouble between them, father and daughter.
Which revealed the reason why Lance agreed to let them go so simply; this retreating tactic was truly insidious.
Yet, no one could question him.
Facing Walter, he said it was okay to leave, but he worried about the danger on the road and sent someone to escort them.
Facing Tiffany, whatever decision you make, I support you; go ahead without worry.
On the surface, it’s just a conflict between Tiffany and Walter, removing his responsibility entirely and positioning himself as the referee.
This matter was just a minor episode but revealed something very significant.
Ordinary people have no choice; they must remain in Hamlet, but how many bureaucrats want to leave Hamlet?
Lance’s expression turned playful; power and responsibility are corresponding, so it was a perfect chance to observe those people’s reactions.
However, before that, Lance still had many things that needed doing. After quickly dealing with some affairs, Baldwin appeared.
"Sir, let me handle these matters."
"You just returned; rest for a day."
"Hamlet needs you; you need rest more than I do."
After Baldwin returned, he also adjusted himself, but thinking that the Lord was still working kept him awake; he came over to take over the work once he felt better.
It was too intense; only those legendary warriors with strong physique could dare play this way, unlike Amanda and the others, who came out like dead fish.
Lance thought briefly about it and did not refuse, handing him some unimportant chores.
But he had no intention to rest; instead, he took Beggby to the new town, the front line of ruins.
On the road, he saw many people pushing carts forward; those were the short-term workers Hamlet hired to transport materials, using carts to increase efficiency, standardizing those scattered laborers while giving them something to do.
Of course, many people were also running back from the front line, heading to the dock to take a boat away or choosing other routes, simply not wanting to stay here.
Naturally, some adventurers couldn’t withstand the town’s prices but were reluctant to leave, so they returned to watch from within the city, believing they could run if something truly occurred, safer than on the front line.
On the carriage, Lance looked at the situation with displeasure; he managed to swindle so many grain-carrying free laborers, even better than serfs, and now they were all leaving.
Damn it, blame the ancestors!
The carriage entered the new town, a strange atmosphere could be felt, countless torches burned on racks in the dimness, and probing gazes swept over constantly, filled with unease and hostility.
There were many people, logically the place should be bustling, but what was presented was more of a repression.
Plenty of adventurers roamed about; they were mostly those confused by the new rounds of rumors, but precisely because of that, they represented boldness; those without guts had all run away, only these ambitious ones chose to stay.
Lance didn’t reveal his identity, retracting his gaze as the seemingly ordinary carriage headed towards the corner of the town.
Arriving outside the door, Lance seemed to sense something and turned to indicate to Beggby.
"Wait here for a moment; I’ll call you in later."
Having said so, he pushed the door open without even knocking.
Beggby’s intuition wasn’t bad and could naturally sense an unsettling vibe, but once the Lord went inside, it quickly calmed down.
Before he could have more reactions, a voice came from inside.
"Come in."