Our Family Has Fallen

As for danger?

An antique shop with a lord’s insignia, as long as those guys aren’t fools, they won’t make a move.

Even if the risks from the ruins spill over, there are troops stationed, and by then one can retreat.

Once things over here are resolved, someone will naturally take over for her, just as Lance said, a construction plan for the frontline town already includes an antique shop, showing it’s been long planned.

Lance specifically took time to meet briefly, to determine Catherine’s state; if she’s still like that, it might need some reconsideration.

After all, those antiques inevitably contain extraordinary items; what if she causes trouble again?

Though Lance is willing to trust others, having been stabbed in the back once means there could be a second time; there’s no harm in being cautious.

Fortunately, her mental state is good, otherwise Lance would have to have Amanda step in, wasting a battle force.

But ultimately, he held back, because the antiques were those instruments; what Lance truly values are the books, scrolls, and the like.

To put it bluntly, those might record valuable things or perhaps the messy deeds of elders, or even the truths of those days, so Lance arranged for illiterate people to handle them.

They just need to learn to identify what’s a book, without needing to understand it, for some books are best left unread—the knowledge is a curse.

For now, the necessary preparations are complete, and Lance plans to set off—thinking about it excites him.

But sometimes things don’t go as he wishes; reality is always full of surprises.

Amanda walked quickly, her proud figure clad in an overcoat due to the autumn wind, yet it couldn’t entirely block the slight sway.

However, Lance wasn’t in the mood to notice these, for he found Amanda’s expression looked a bit strange.

"There’s an issue, Sela’s here."

"I know, so what?"

Lance knows because the Romani’s ship arrived in the morning; wasn’t it Amanda’s responsibility?

"She brought a message, I think you need to check it out."

Amanda’s secretive words left Lance speechless; why play the mystery game now?

Soon, Lance found the place, yet there was an extra person present.

What is Geralt doing here?

His expression seems off too.

"Tell me, what trouble did you encounter?"

The message Sela brought was simple, Witchers were targeted for attacks, many Witchers across the continent faced issues.

According to Romani intelligence, someone is trying to locate the Witchers’ headquarters, while surrounding areas are being stirred to incite hatred towards Witchers.

It’s a straightforward situation: Geralt’s house was robbed, he needs to return.

But the concern is Lance already informed him to prepare for a task.

That’s right, Lance planned to bring Boudica and Geralt along, and of course Amanda too, all starting at Master level—that’s the minimum benchmark.

But now...

"I understand," Lance decided for him immediately, "Go."

"My Lord I..."

Lance lifted a hand to stop him from speaking further, stepped forward and patted his shoulder as a gesture, "No need to say anything, Hamlet is safe with me here, and they need you more than I do. Don’t leave them waiting too long."

Geralt rarely reacts much, not that the Witcher’s ritual really robs one of emotions.

It’s just that a long life makes him witness too much human ugliness; his once passionate fervor has long since grown cold, what he can do is only to preserve himself, that coldness is just a protective color.

But undoubtedly right now he feels an unprecedented feeling towards Hamlet, the lord’s radiance is always so moving.

"There’s not much time to waste, go to Grendel for some potions; these are life-saving items." Lance spoke and suddenly paused for a moment, glanced at Sela, signaled Amanda instead, "You guys talk first, Geralt and I will go grab some stuff."

With that, he walked right out, leaving Amanda and Sela together.

There’s not much pleasantries between them, no need to pretend in front of Lance, and Amanda’s words immediately carried a sardonic tone.

"Every time you come here, there’s no good news~"

Amanda knows the lord’s plans; now, with an unexpected absence, isn’t it troublesome?

From several contacts, Sela seems aware of Amanda’s sharp tongue, entirely unmoved, even chuckled in response.

"Those words are so hurtful~ I barely managed to sift through the chaotic information to find this, came over immediately after finding out, shouldn’t you be grateful to me?"

Though those places are far outside the empire, Sela, acting as the organization’s representative in the empire, can access information on events happening across the continent.

Evidently, those specializing in intelligence are very sensitive, noticing these details, deducing it’s a premeditated action targeting Witchers.

And she recalled that the lord’s men include a Witcher, so she made a trip, definitely not because she received news of a ruin opening a few days ago, surely!

But Amanda is very familiar with internal affairs, isn’t it obviously an excuse to probe about the ruins, only to flip the information for more sales later?

And what are those Romani who disembarked doing? Placing spies under my nose?

Once you lift your butt, can’t I guess your intentions?

"Pfft! Geralt isn’t your lover; would you make a trip for just that message?" Amanda was absolutely unyielding, even warned, "Don’t blame me for not telling you, those chaotic spies have all been removed, their fate..."

Amanda didn’t finish, just gave Sela a look to let her guess.

To this, Sela’s heart was full of disdain; we’re from the same organization, you understand me, don’t I understand you?

Dammit! Pretending to care, who doesn’t know you fear Romani trouble affecting yourself?

Sela is a straightforward spellcaster; she sensed Amanda is stronger than the last time they met.

Note that she was seriously injured and dying last time, surviving already seemed fortunate, typically requiring long recovery and worrying about after-effects.

How could she recover so quickly and grow stronger? This doesn’t fit her understanding at all.

The only explanation is the mysterious lord, since she saw Amanda recover rapidly from near-death back then, even having the energy to haggle.

No wonder this person dove into Hamlet, refusing responsibilities, rushing up to any matter despite risks.

Since back then Tamara left while she got abandoned, didn’t expect she gained so much in Hamlet.

She must know something...

"Am I that kind of person? I am also the lord’s collaborator, those are just regular personnel, won’t cross the line, plus we have you."

Sela’s feelings were complex, but for the sake of business, she tried to ease the hostility between them.

Even she didn’t believe her words, but business is never shy.

Amanda didn’t continue attacking her, just a little warning suffices, if she acts recklessly, Amanda won’t hold back; surely she’s not stupid enough.

Yet as Amanda pondered, some doubts arose; perhaps these people really could be so foolish, as she can’t forget Sela’s previous threats against the lord.

Sela didn’t know nor care what Amanda was thinking; she sharply discerned an urgent matter, and pressed on.

"What potion was the lord talking about just now?"

"What potion? I didn’t hear anything."

Amanda actually knew some information, but was unabashedly feigning ignorance.

Not about not wanting to tell her, but—it needs extra payment.

Sela looked at Amanda, feeling envy, jealousy, hatred.

Damn it! Why isn’t she the one who grabbed onto the lord’s leg?