Our Family Has Fallen

Grendel received the intelligence from the front line, and likewise, Lance got the situation from Hamlet.

"Those fleets have disbanded, they’ve sold their goods, and the mercenaries on the ships have been dismissed. There shouldn’t be much of a threat."

"Our operation achieved great results this time, but the most critical problem remains unsolved. The surrounding safety is uncertain, and we must stay vigilant."

The disappearance of the Ascension Sect leader and news of the surrounding areas being corrupted by the evil cult put pressure on Grendel, but she didn’t show it; instead, she promised to quickly muster more personnel to replenish the front-line supply.

However, she also had a relatively special piece of news, unsure if it was good or bad.

"More and more Transcendents are coming to Hamlet, along with plenty of wanted fugitives and other riffraff."

Hearing this, Lance understood what was happening: those people knew about Hamlet’s unique system and wanted to use it to evade the Church and Empire’s warrants.

Lance could understand the oppressed Transcendents, but why would those fugitives think Hamlet would offer them Sanctuary?

However, after some consideration, Lance didn’t intend to act directly, instead, he emphasized one point.

"Don’t take action unless they cause trouble; anyone daring to make trouble should be dealt with immediately. However, we can investigate to ascertain the reasons for their warrants and identities, record them for my use."

Currently, Hamlet seems peaceful but is in reality, in turmoil. If not for opening up the ruins to divert attention, there might have been chaos already.

Stability is the most important at this stage; any problems that can be pressed down should be until I return to address them.

Besides, fugitives may not necessarily be bad people. Hamlet can’t blindly follow the definitions from the Church or elsewhere in the Empire; power must be firmly held in our hands.

Moreover, hardly anyone coming to Hamlet is clean; they’re all problematic kids, but if they’re useful to Hamlet, let’s put them aside for now.

It has been stressed numerous times that this world is very bleak and cruel, and the power of Transcendents comes from bloody and twisted sources. Those who manage to survive must have done something, and the more powerful ones certainly have issues.

For example, Audrey wants to advance and gain power requires special corpses.

Theft and desecration of corpses are serious crimes; if she were discovered, she’d definitely be wanted, but since Lance is using her now, her crimes can’t be closely investigated, at least not until she’s no longer useful.

Everything is a matter of interest, it’s such a simple truth.

"But those who cause trouble must be severely punished; anyone daring to challenge Hamlet’s order must be dealt with. I think Paracelsus will like these gifts."

"I understand, I will communicate this with the police." Grendel didn’t care about anything else; she just needed to follow orders.

The call ended quickly, and the absence of trouble in Hamlet didn’t ease his unease; instead, it made him more hesitant.

In previous incidents threatening the ancestor’s interests, he would pursue retaliation like a child, even knowing he couldn’t win, he’d symbolically harass with cultists.

But now, after assaulting the old residence and reaching the doorstep, how come the ancestor hasn’t made any trouble?

This was a very unusual situation. Because while the leader isn’t here, those massive numbers of followers are still around, there shouldn’t be a lack of capability to retaliate.

So why aren’t they fighting desperately?

Could it be the ancestor wants to make money too? Or is there a more troublesome plan?

With these questions, Lance started rifling through the documents found in the evil cult leader’s room, aiming to obtain more information.

...

Another ship unloaded at Hamlet’s port, only this time, the "cargo" could walk off itself.

Why are there few ships dedicated to passengers, and why are cargo ships mostly the ones also carrying some passengers? It’s because there’s not much demand for sea travel, so the market hasn’t developed.

And now, the most frequent cargo on Hamlet’s route is people, as ships just need slight modifications to squeeze in more people.

As for those with money, they can live in better accommodations. As long as you pay enough, you could even stay in the captain’s quarters.

Moreover, these adventurers are all about money, not life; in case of pirates, it’s hard to say who would beat whom. You could say, aside from storms, there aren’t many risks.

Additionally, the hydrography of this route has long been developed. Just spend a little money, and you can buy it from Hamlet’s shop in Totnes; basically every captain has a copy.

Also, transporting people has its benefits; even though the profit isn’t high, it’s convenient and fast. Once they arrive, they can disembark directly, without needing to handover with the dock administration, nor require cumbersome loading and unloading.

Perhaps they also heard of Hamlet’s unique system; the limitation on commercial activities and protection for laborers is hard for these businessmen to comprehend.

Moreover, the meticulous crackdown on contraband and smuggling makes them very uncomfortable.

Don’t mistake it, they’re not afraid of contraband restriction measures. On the contrary, they like it because the profit from contraband is much higher than regular goods.

What truly bothers them is that restricting contraband is fine, but why the rigorous checks on smuggling? How will I get my goods in?

Some clever ones thought this was the dock officials asking for bribes, but it was obvious that their unstoppable tricks failed in Hamlet.

Do they consider inciting those sailors to cause trouble?

Don’t be ridiculous, that’s not something money can solve.

This has led those merchants to be quite resentful towards Hamlet, feeling they are being unfairly suppressed.

But is Lance really offering Sanctuary to those laborers? Clearly, he’s just following business contracts.

The prices are all pre-agreed; if you want a low price, extend the time, if you want speed, hire more people.

Instead of reneging on agreed prices after the work is done, finding ways to cut prices, causing so much trouble that the government has to clean up the mess.

But Hamlet also makes it so those unscrupulous merchants can’t leave, and the reason is simple: interest, as there are many business opportunities here.

Plus, it’s simple, without needing to take too many risks.

Earlier it was mentioned that merchants dislike tedious regulations, but now it’s stated that Hamlet is simple.

These two seemingly unrelated statements have no contradiction.

They dislike regulations because it restricts their interests, and simplicity is easily understandable.

While they may use large transactions to press prices, in Hamlet there are no gangs or bureaucrats needing various shady hands, thus not really losing profit after calculation.

Most importantly, it saves the complexity of retail, allowing them to get money first-hand, then fill a shipload of goods and return.

In simple terms, Hamlet and those merchants specialize in large transactions, leaving processing, retailing, and other matters irrelevant to them.

And through this, Lance also monopolized Hamlet’s commerce, thus being able to provide so many job opportunities, maintaining market stability without turmoil from external shocks.

Do those merchants have any comments?

Of course, they do, but not the small merchants; they benefit from orders, whereas the big forces are anxious.

This is the real reason those guys are banding together to make trouble, all for interest.

Their love-hate entanglement is destined to accompany them for a long time, until Hamlet’s strength forces them to completely bow their heads.

But they won’t admit defeat so easily.

But who cares? Lance doesn’t, and neither does Hamlet...

Most of those who can afford a boat trip came specifically for the ruins, as ordinary people don’t have this capital to travel by sea.

More of them come by land, and these people’s makeup is even more complex.

The majority are refugees who wander elsewhere yet can’t find acceptance, like those gathered outside Totnes City.

They’ve been to the Empire’s most prosperous places, but it doesn’t mean they can become Totnesians.

The news from Hamlet indeed reignited a glimmer of hope within them, sparking a new wave of refugees.

Every day, hundreds to thousands of refugees need to be processed, and they are sent to farms or wilderness development; no one gets a free ride from Lance, they must contribute labor.