Our Family Has Fallen

Walter knew that the only reason he was still alive was because Lance didn’t care.

Because he was certain that Vick had reported to Hamlet, and he intentionally used this to express his dissatisfaction, showing a desire to trade Ovando for his family’s return.

As mentioned earlier, before the Lord returns, no one else can make a decision; they can only suppress the matter, or else his wife would have already come to deliver a message.

Once his wife comes to deliver a message, it means the Lord definitely knows about this issue. Given that he knows Walter is gathering soldiers yet only sends a squad of cavalry and doesn’t even write a letter, or deliver a single word, the intention is obvious.

It’s a deliberate disregard, as if one wouldn’t pay attention to an ant’s movement in a corner, not even considering it a demonstration but rather a joke.

What more can be said, just accept fate.

At this thought, Walter inexplicably smiled. If it were a different noble lord, he would have already lost his head, removed from his position even if they were merciful.

But this Lord seems completely unconcerned, truly interesting.

"Why are you smiling?" The woman looked at Walter with some concern. "I should stay and look after you."

"If you stay here and don’t go back, you’ll worry about the two of them. I won’t be in any danger here, don’t worry about me."

Actually, Walter had also heard, that his wife didn’t intend to stay, but was here to deliver a message. Although somewhat displeased, he understood his wife was worried he’d get caught up in his thoughts.

But Walter was also insightful enough not to do anything foolish.

However, this matter did stir some resentment in him.

Dammit, as for the position of Ovando’s Governor, whoever wants it can take it. I’ve long since retired, let the young ones deal with it, stop bothering me.

...

In Bastia, somewhere in the underground river connecting to the sewer, whispers echoed in the gloom.

"Your daughter is very safe. This clearing of the ruins and outbreak of evil cult activities by the Lord is all part of the plan.

Once this is resolved, the entirety of Hamlet will be liberated, and manpower can be spared to handle Bastia. Besides, there are tens of thousands of adventurers and thousands of troops on the front lines, keeping the situation stable, which has nothing to do with the city."

There’s no doubt that the conversation was between Vick and the Lord’s embedded spy in Bastia—Baron Lawrence.

The day the anomalies in Hamlet broke out, the coverage area was vast. Even Bastia could see it, and the surrounding caravans brought back various outrageous rumors.

This scenario dealt a huge blow to Lawrence and Francis, who were betting on Hamlet. If it shakes their confidence and severs ties, or if they surrender to the Earl, it would pose a significant negative impact on his espionage activities developing in Bastia.

So after a quick confirmation on horseback that Hamlet was okay, he immediately returned without waiting for an accurate response.

Honestly, he didn’t know exactly what happened, but he wasn’t a child, he clearly understood what to say, what not to say, and how to say it.

No matter what, grasp the main contradiction, stabilize people first, and put everything else aside for now.

Hearing these words, the person hidden in the dark didn’t say anything. Everyone here is an adult, no one can easily believe a single sentence, not even with a letter, how to ensure a daughter’s safety?

However, getting on the ship was easy, while getting off was difficult. Lawrence could only hope that the man would truly be able to protect his daughter.

Vick didn’t dwell on the issue but instead broached another matter to spark motivation in the other person.

"This time, the Lord launched a surprise attack, broke the stronghold of the cultists. Although the cult leader fled in advance, we obtained the list of cult members they recruited, among which..."

Vick revealed a few names, indeed drawing Lawrence’s attention, as many of them were Bastia’s nobles and bureaucrats, and their positions were not low.

It’s worth noting that with the Eagle Flock in his grasp, Count Bastia had strong control over his territory. Except for a few chaotic years at the start marked by some cult activity, which was suppressed by both the Church and the Count’s dual attack, it’s disappeared over recent years, not even heard about.

To discover the corruption ran this deep!

"Is the information accurate? Why would these people engage with the cult?"

"If we can speak here, what’s so strange about that."

The simple phrase baffled Lawrence, indeed, I’m acting as a spy right now.

Vick couldn’t help but ridicule, "Those folks with nothing better to do, doesn’t the cult’s promise of Ascension exactly meet their fancy? If they knew what those cultists really meant by Ascension."

Only after working at grassroots level can you truly grasp how backward the feudal nobility system is. Just as the Lord said, the grassroots level is chaotic beyond belief, and yet they still claim to govern?

At times when he saw those bureaucrats, those hooligans oppressing ordinary people, it made him furious. Coming out from Hamlet, he couldn’t tolerate it.

How can territory be governed amidst these pests?

Vick had already recorded the names in secret, ready to send them all to the sanatorium once the Lord came calling!

Lawrence felt that Vick was cynically mocking him, but he lacked evidence, so he had to change the subject, discussing Bastia’s recent troubles.

The new war waves stirred by the Earl, this matter was a bit unclear to Lawrence.

"The Lord warned not to venture into the mountains. The Beast Transformation disease is spreading inside, causing massive casualties among the Barbarian Tribes, enemies not ordinary people can defeat.

More importantly, it’s contagious; while the Barbarian Tribe camps are scattered, humans are concentrated in towns. If it spreads in the city, Bastia would plunge into chaos."

Lawrence was surprised too, it’s so severe, and how did the Lord know this precise information?

Nevertheless, Lawrence was wise enough not to question, instead choosing to inquire about the Lord’s mission.

"But now, the Earl is forcing most nobles to declare war on the mountains; this is difficult to stop. How should we proceed?"

"Simple, expose the cult’s existence, using the Earl’s hand to strike against the cult."

"But wouldn’t this just give the Earl an excuse to purge dissenters?"

Fighting in the mountains leads to death, while being labeled a cultist by the Earl also leads to death—what’s the difference?

"The Church, you’re ignoring an important power in Bastia. The cult’s rise alarms the Church most, and they need manpower."

Moreover, we all know Alvin couldn’t surpass his elder brother, and after all, they are family. Who’s to say it’s not the Earl laying a trap, but the Church is different."

With the outsider Vick’s reminder, Lawrence was suddenly brought to consideration.

Lawrence didn’t expect it because typically one avoids leveraging the Church as in the Empire the Church holds a transcendent position and doesn’t engage in noble disputes.

Just as the nobles refrain from interfering with the grassroots level, and no matter who ascends to power, the Church’s position is implicitly accepted, a mutual understanding between both sides.

However, Lawrence also heard that the church in Hamlet had been dismantled, and that man doesn’t care about the Church.

Those nobles backing Alvin originally clung to tradition under the two-option regime because they couldn’t side with Bruce.

But if you utilize the cult to force the Church to act, they can rally around the Church to eradicate cultists, even the Earl would have to bow.

Perhaps even direct the spearhead against the Earl... it’s not impossible...

Many figures on those lists are deeply connected to the Earl.

As for the nobles who originally backed Alvin fleeing to the Church after being driven away, what would happen?

Who the hell cares about that!

Using the cult to shift the tension between the Earl and nobles, provoke conflict between the Earl and Church, whoever gets hurt benefits Hamlet, also conveniently targeting cultists.

The Lord can disrupt Bastia without firing a single bullet, such a cunning scheme, how can he be so thoroughly aware of matters here despite not being in Bastia?

Lawrence, even if unwilling to admit it, had to acknowledge his daughter’s safety; the pressure from being an enemy of that man was sheer despair.

"I understand," Lawrence replied, though he couldn’t let go without asking, "I hope to see a letter from my daughter next time."

"I will arrange it."

A gentle phrase echoed in the dark, soon returning to complete silence.