Our Family Has Fallen

"The news of the beast transformation disease was not released by the Earl; on the contrary, he went to great lengths to block it, even killing many ordinary Barbarians who escaped from the mountains.

I also learned about this matter from home, and after confirming other news, but most people don’t know about it."

Vick added a comment along those lines, which Walter was already suspecting; hearing this, he practically confirmed it.

Although it seemed through some means he temporarily suppressed the discontent of those nobles, Walter understood the simple logic that cutting off someone’s source of wealth is like killing their parents, and he didn’t believe the Earl didn’t understand this.

The beast transformation disease can make everyone in the Barbarian Tribes on edge, so the Earl couldn’t possibly be unaware of its danger.

Yet he covered up the news, driving the nobles to attack; the meaning is obvious — he’s sending them to their deaths.

"Weren’t those nobles initially unwilling to go to war? Why did they suddenly agree?"

"Because of Alvin, the Earl’s second son."

This statement from Vick made Walter even more puzzled. He knew about this Alvin; wasn’t he the guy captured by the Lord? Moreover, he is the second son. How can he have such influence?

But then, after a thought, it made sense to him, and with a strange smile, he teased.

"Are they going to split the family? Is the Earl just going to watch?"

"Alvin’s defeat in Hamlet resulted in his Order of Knights being taken back. Now, all three Orders of Knights are in the Earl’s hands.

Although there have been quite a few losses during this period, they are still much stronger than the forces the nobles have, not to mention the Eagle Flock guys; it seems he thinks it won’t cause any turbulence, so he just lets them expose themselves."

"What if we find a way to release a Barbarian and let them know about the beast transformation disease?"

"Those nobles have no choice; their power is inherently inferior to the Earl’s, even if they know, they can only rely on Alvin, taking advantage of the excuse of fighting the Barbarian Tribes to recruit troops, but I don’t think they can win."

For those nobles, Bastia was conquered collectively, the bestowed territory is their own, if you intervene, do you really think they are all made of clay?

Calling you Earl if respectful, calling you a chicken neck if not.

This is the defect of that feudal nobility system; each one of them is the local emperor of their land, if pushed, they are more ruthless than the Barbarian Tribes.

However, Vick also says that now, as bystanders, they can see clearly that the Earl has too great an advantage, and wants to take the opportunity to deal with them.

By then, one winter is enough to integrate Bastia’s entire strength, and eliminate the mountain Barbarian Tribes in one fell swoop. No matter how the empire changes, he will be the one those guys need to court.

But Vick wasn’t too concerned about Bastia’s conflict, to be honest, no matter who wins, it won’t change a fact.

"They are destined not to be our opponents."

Vick wasn’t boasting, but based on a large amount of intelligence.

Surviving under the Earl isn’t simple; he turned into a real businessman, traveling to many places within Bastia collecting mountain goods, knowing those ordinary people...no, serfs, live in extreme misery, almost like slaves to those nobles.

Their treatment entirely depends on the local Lord, usually being in a state of barely not starving to death, because from the fields to the wilderness, everything in the territory belongs to the nobles, and even if they chop wood, they must hand over most of it.

Currently, most goods shipped to Ovando are produced by ordinary people, but all transactions with Vick are done by nobles, who easily gain wealth by exploiting these people.

Free citizens can only be found in towns, the grassroots governance is rotting like mud, it can be said most are serfs who do not have enough to eat, their numbness makes him fearful, and it’s no wonder the Church can control so many people.

In endless despair, even a tiny bit of hope is still very important, going to heaven after death serves as their motivation.

As for the Earl’s so-called elite, don’t mention the serf soldiers, even the Order of Knights aren’t taken seriously.

Now Hamlet’s army is fully equipped with muskets, cannons, these new weapons, and bombs and Incendiary Bottles have accumulated a lot.

Compared to Bastia’s, be it equipment or system, they are armies from different eras.

Noisy, noisy, they cannot overturn things.

Vick suddenly became disinterested; after all, no matter how they stir up trouble, it’s still the ordinary people who suffer. He can only hope My Lord will attack soon to rescue them.

Walter also noticed his reaction. This child is smart and calm, decisive in dealing with evildoers, not knowing how many gang leaders at Ovando Dock were killed by him.

Unfortunately, he is soft-hearted towards ordinary people, probably related to his personal experience, but being in his current position is very dangerous, any bit of mercy might lead to exposure.

Regarding this, Walter doesn’t question the Lord’s arrangements, but he can bring him some good news.

"Recently, news came from home that My Lord bypassed the ruins in a surprise attack, broke through the evil cultists’ lair in one fell swoop, and annihilated most of the evil cult high-ups, with the evil cultist forces within Hamlet almost cleared out completely."

"That’s great!" Hearing this really excited Vick, those evil cultists have been plaguing Hamlet for so many years, it’s high time they were exterminated.

"It’s a pity the evil cult leader has already led a batch of trusted followers and left Hamlet, lurking in surrounding areas."

"Does My Lord want us to find that leader?" Vick is quite familiar with these evil cults; if you can’t find and kill it, even if they are cleared now, it would be like bedbugs breeding to continue disgusting people.