Our Family Has Fallen

"The wait these past few days hasn’t been in vain." Scorpion cast a quick glance without saying much more.

To be honest, many adventurers are illiterate, and those who can read won’t casually talk about it with others; they’ll only explain things to their teammates because knowledge is precious, it’s an advantage.

Fortunately, the Lord of Hamlet thoughtfully arranged for someone to read aloud nearby, letting the lord’s brilliance shine upon them.

As for why this is so enticing to them?

Naturally, it’s the information about the ruins ahead mentioned above.

First, skeletons generally can be knocked over with a single kick by a normal person, but care must be taken to completely scatter the evil power attached to them in order to kill them.

If you encounter some with armor markings or holding weapons, be careful.

These were resurrected by evil power, likely former soldiers or mercenaries, retaining some combat instincts—they are dangerous.

But encountering abnormally large skeletons is even more dangerous, as they might gain stronger power under evil forces, especially those wearing robes.

The reason isn’t specified here, but anyone who understands supernatural power knows what’s being referred to.

Those who know won’t explain proactively, as previously mentioned, information is a valuable resource.

The announcement also stated that the midday sun drives away some evil aura; the undead will be slightly weakened and will hide in the shadows.

Similarly, at night they become more active and more dangerous.

Everyone entering the ruins is advised not to stay inside for too long, especially at night, not just because the undead grow stronger but also because the evil aura can corrode rationality.

Once something seems amiss, leave quickly to avoid unnecessary casualties.

Another warning to adventurers is that the ruins’ structures have long been in disrepair and can easily collapse...

The announcement lists much crucial information, some of which is extremely important, explaining why so many people gathered—it’s about survival.

Initially, these adventurers were quite dissatisfied with the lord’s constant marketing stunts, but upon seeing the announcement, those feelings dissipated, and they even began praising Hamlet for the hard work of opening the path to the ruins.

Because right before the announcement lies a blood-stained road, though repaired, the blood has seeped through.

This reminded them of the commotion a few days ago—luckily, they didn’t proceed, or they would have died there.

Scorpion, who could read, didn’t need to listen; after quickly understanding, he led his people forward.

After leaving the crowd, he briefly explained to his teammates, and the detailed content would definitely be shared again later, so he didn’t waste much breath.

But they wouldn’t fully believe it; he had to conduct on-site reconnaissance to make a judgment based on the information.

They are a mature mercenary corps, not scattered troops.

"How could these fortress-like outposts be built so quickly?"

"Just shut up; the captain shouldn’t have brought you along."

"Damn it, I’ll kick your ass with my boot."

But what Scorpion didn’t expect was a smooth passage; there were outposts along the way, but the soldiers shrank inside, ignoring them.

Judging by their appearance, it seemed they didn’t want to leave the fortress built from heavy stone, yet the burning torches atop indicated their presence.

Then, as they passed through the final outpost together with other adventurers, it became clear why they acted this way.

The sun set, but in the twilight, the ruins not far away could still be seen, along with skeletons scattered everywhere, even beyond the building area.

The number of skeletons wasn’t exactly overwhelming but more than enough to make one’s scalp tingle.

Countless skeletons dragging their staggering paces with erratic motions, as if pulled from underground graves, repeating habits from their past lives.

Is this the "slightly active" mentioned in the announcement?

Who the hell would dare go up there?

Then, they were stopped outside; no one was foolish enough to make contact.

Since the announcement also mentioned that once within a certain distance, they pursue the scent of the living, meaning a chain reaction would draw them all together.

Even if they were all ordinary skeletons, one strike could kill you.

"Such desecration? My Holy Light!"

"Now I understand why everyone was hiding in the outposts. I’d do the same."

"Damn it! Who would dare go up there?"

Surprised voices emerged from newcomers, along with curses.

They came seeking fortune, not death.

"They’re just skeletons; what are you afraid of?"

"That’s proof the ruins are well-preserved, with plenty of money inside for sure."

"Didn’t the announcement say? During the day, these skeletons grow weaker."

Among them were many bold individuals who had licked the blade’s edge, unafraid of clumsy skeletons.

Moreover, the presence of monsters indicates untouched ruins, raising the likelihood of treasure inside.

There’s no denying these remarks fueled their excitement anew.

However, by then, no one was foolish enough to advance; they opted to observe the surroundings like Scorpion’s group.

It’s a pity the outposts were not open to them; otherwise, they could have obtained more information from a higher vantage point.

Soon, the sky grew completely dark, and by then Scorpion and his people had finished their reconnaissance and returned to the freshly prepared base.

"Captain, those guys aren’t willing to sell, only rent."

Anyone could guess the town would grow busier, and according to custom, real estate prices would soar; they also wanted a piece of the action.

But unfortunately, the land ownership lies with the lord; they have only the option to lease, though Hamlet would guarantee their legal rights.

"That doesn’t matter; gather everyone." Scorpion had no time for these matters.

In two adjoining two-story buildings near the central area, this was the only way to accommodate a team of more than a dozen people, and now they were all gathered around a simple draft map by candlelight.

"I just went to observe; the outskirts of the ruins have no walls; you can see the edges are all..."

The lack of walls was both an advantage and a disadvantage for them.

Without walls obstructing, their vision was broader; they could see further, and no need for a siege—something beyond these adventurers’ capability then.

But likewise, without walls, the surrounding areas were mostly worthless, with no clear geographical landmarks indicating affluent zones.

This meant they had to delve into each sector to find treasure, which meant facing endless skeletons...

Another unavoidable fact was that theirs wasn’t the only professional mercenary group—a batch of skilled individuals had caught his eye earlier.

Some of these mercenaries were loners, others part of teams, and even some professional treasure hunters.

Scorpion cursed himself for accepting the guild’s damn mission; they wouldn’t have lost face so badly or offended the lord and guild.

But now wasn’t the time for such thoughts; Scorpion had to compose himself.

"The core area is surely centered around the church..."

Urban dynamics would vary based on local development—for instance, Ovando’s affluent zones weren’t centrally located, while Totnes’ core inner city was high-walled.

But one thing was certain: churches would be located in the city’s core.

Ovando’s church was in its central area, while Totnes’ church, not in the inner city, was also in the most thriving area of Central City, where innumerable wealthy traders had driven property prices staggeringly high.

To illustrate, Walter was Ovando’s second-largest grain merchant, who also dabbled in minor businesses, yet with 500,000 gold coins saved over half a lifetime, he could only secure a small storefront by the docks on the edge of Central City.

But those 500,000 gold coins could probably not even afford a toilet in the core area.