Our Family Has Fallen

Ordinary residents and outsiders must pay money for treatment, though generally, people don’t come unless it’s a severe illness.

They prefer to spend money on indulgence rather than treatment, largely due to distrust in medical technology.

Hence, hospitals here are small; mostly experimental records and treatments are conducted, with few patients.

Until this crackdown discovered a batch of prostitutes infected with various diseases.

They were brought to Hamlet by well-connected pimps using carriages; they are neither local residents nor refugees.

Initially, there was a suggestion to expel these individuals, which Tiffany supported; she’s too afraid to spend even a Gold Coin frivolously due to poverty.

Even Boudica can figure out that it’s not feasible; these people can’t go for reform through labor, imprisoning them wastes food, and executing them is too outrageous.

Ultimately, Lance decided to shelter and treat them, with a simple reason: realizing the Association of Healers is unreliable, Lance understood he had to promote modern medicine.

If he can’t hold a place in the global medical community, this endeavor would die out once subsidies end.

Without industry formation, there are no patients, which mean no income; without income, how to support it?

New technologies require extensive funding, training doctors and nurses needs money, people need salaries; how to develop without money?

Currently, he’s burning money, but what about the future? Hamlet is not about charity.

Leprosy is too risky with few patients, but sexually transmitted diseases and peculiar gynecological ailments are more widespread, serving as better potential clients.

Therefore, nothing suits better than these prostitutes; they will be Hamlet’s premier medium for spreading medical technology, the pimp has already paid.

No doubt about the special agenda treatment, only Lance would never express it openly.

Instead, he claims these people are victims under the pimp’s oppression, unable to decide their own actions.

Sentencing those prostitutes with probation; giving some money to the healthy ones to decide whether to stay or leave, treating the sick ones...

It’s for the hospital, accepting treatment from the hospital.

Everyone knows the Lord is kind-hearted, unable to watch them suffer. Though Tiffany disagreed, she could only allocate funds from the money seized from those pimps.

Baldwin, upon learning of this matter, was quite touched, recalling how the Lord offered help to them, perceived as abandoned "monsters" by society.

As a Governor or town mayor, Baldwin knows such endeavors are thankless.

Similar to when the Lord ventured repeatedly into perilous wilderness and Beast Lair for them, amid attacks from evil cultists and various monsters, expending resources beyond mere Gold Coins.

Moreover, rescuing these lepers derived antagonism from the Church and Association of Healers.

The Church incited a riot while he was gravely injured by Fishmen, fortunately causing no major harm to Hamlet, otherwise, he couldn’t have forgiven himself.

Yet, whenever he speaks of such things, the Lord merely smiles, comforting him by suggesting looking forward, letting the past be past.

Ah! The Lord is too benevolent...

No one can sway the Lord’s decisions, once opinions are given, all departments initiate their actions.

The police deployed all female officers, while hospitals sent numerous doctors and nurses.

However, the collectively detained prostitutes were unaware; when the jail opened, and so many people emerged, they were indeed startled.

The police who arrested them, along with figures in lab coats, wearing masks and gloves, frightened them even more.

Anxiety, despair... instantly, various negative emotions enveloped these prostitutes.

Their will is being tested... despair!

Some bury their heads in tears, some kneel pleading, some attempt to retreat, some are numbed.

"No! I don’t want to go out!"

"Sob... forgive me..."

"Will we be killed?"

Managing the situation requires no teaching; police directly banged batons against iron bars, overshadowing their weeping cries.

"Quiet! Quiet! The decision is made; the Lord understood your situation, acknowledging your coercion, hence granted probation..."

Probation and whatnot, this plethora of official jargon couldn’t reach them in their startled state, but they grasped the Hamlet’s Lord seems to be sparing them.

Freeing them while giving money, treating the sick for free...

These words were spoken, but they couldn’t dare believe, and before further reaction, the police began urging.

"Hurry! Hurry! Don’t waste time."

"The sick, stand out for check-up."

The personnel were temporarily drawn, they had little time to waste; police directly entered the jail to escort people, turning to the temporary inspection room set aside.

Some fabric and frames had just been set up to divide space; inside were medical staff for tests and female officers maintaining order.

"Undress for examination; if fine, you may leave."

The doctor’s calm words through the mask became muted; the woman didn’t understand, but could only comply.

Baring oneself before strangers had long been insignificant for these prostitutes; something had shattered their sense of shame, a terrifying thing, as it is the self-protection consciousness of personality.

"Get dressed, take this, and register." The doctor said while filling out something in the form in hand, then handing the slip to the woman, gesturing to the nurse beside.

"Next one."

The woman didn’t comprehend the meaning, but could only follow prompts, leaving outside, where someone naturally greeted, questioned her, and took the slip away.

The woman couldn’t read, but staff had to recognize; the doctor’s examination results were there.

No evident symptoms, but body bore scars from long-term beating and torture, patient self-reports...

Facing this merely seventeen-year-old woman, the staff couldn’t help uttering compassionate words.

"You’re lucky encountering our Lord, he eradicated those controlling you, now you’re free, no one will ever force or beat you.

Moreover, luckily you didn’t contract illness, hopefully you won’t engage in such anymore; observe job postings on the administrative hall board, seek some proper work, you’ll get through it."

The somewhat nagging staff completed the registration, then produced ten copper coins, handing them over into her hand."All right, you may go."

At this moment, the previously dazed woman seemed to be awakened, first uneasily surveyed the vicinity, finally gazing at the staff, with an anxious tone queried.

"What did you say!?"

"I said you’re free; this money is means of transition living or travel expenses given by the Lord.

Stay in Hamlet if desired, don’t commit anymore wrongs, find a proper job.

No one will hinder you if wishing to leave, go home..."

The staff hadn’t finished speaking, the woman suddenly realized something, gazing at the coins in her hands, unable to stop trembling.

It’s true... she’s free... free!

She couldn’t remember when those people bought her from her parents; she only recalled endless torture that followed, just thinking caused fear.

She thought she’d lost hope long ago, but it was here she gained freedom.

"Wow!"

At this instant, she broke down crying, collapsing to the ground as if energy drained, clutching the coins and wailing.

Previously responsible for refugee registration, the staff were long accustomed to this scene, having once been refugees themselves.

In Hamlet, redemption will eventually be found...