Our Family Has Fallen

Ah! Are you serious?

How should I put it, it’s not exactly dangerous.

For spellcasters, there’s no spiritual pollution or anomaly. I think this is a kind of confidence.

But the trap set up is quite interesting. Lance didn’t walk far before he discovered the spike mechanism left on the ground. As soon as someone steps on it, spikes will spring up and puncture their feet.

However, the appearance of this thing didn’t make Lance feel dangerous. Instead, it made him more eager to find out what lies ahead that the ancestor was so protective of.

After disarming the trap, Lance arrived at a door, feeling an unusual discomfort before even entering.

The moment the door opened, even Lance couldn’t help but be shocked.

If the study downstairs was the accumulation of the Hamlet Family over a thousand years, then this was the fruit borne before the Hamlet Family withered.

It’s a strange way to describe it, but if you saw the inside, you’d understand Lance.

Because here were the items collected by the ancestor, gathered at the cost of everything, showcasing various rare relics, remains, and ancient scripts...

Wooden storage racks, large chests with the Hamlet mark, and most eye-catching was probably the tall, exquisite display cabinet in the middle.

What was placed in the display cabinet was probably the most precious. Through the glass of the cabinet, one could see those bizarre objects.

The involved powers were indescribable, even Lance felt a bit pressured, proving the ancestor’s madness.

Even the display cabinet itself was an extraordinary item, possessing arcane power, otherwise how could it hold so many bizarre items at once?

Lance examined it, though he didn’t have much time to study and elevate his knowledge in mysticism to Amanda’s level.

But he could still discern some situations. The display cabinet had certain isolating and sealing abilities, but it wasn’t the ritual power that covered the entire floor.

Lance could only temporarily set aside his doubts and focus on other parts of the room, such as each one.

Upon opening, Lance discovered the ancestor’s collection of extraordinary equipment.

The magic stones that Tamara previously swindled him with as treasures were in abundance here, along with a variety of accessories, even Lance couldn’t take it all in.

Lance was like a mouse falling into a pantry of grains, momentarily overwhelmed.

Luckily, he had anticipated hitting the ancestor’s gold coin stash, so he cleared the showroom, allowing him to grab fiercely.

He reached directly for the entire locked display cabinet, ignoring the extraordinary equipment since there was always a better piece, anyway just instinctively stuffing the showroom until completely empty, without leaving a speck of dust.

As he exited the room, Lance’s face was smiling so much it cramped, he had hit the ancestor’s little treasury!

But these feelings quickly plunged into another phase as Lance stepped into another room.

There were signs of living, but it’s empty of cultists, what does this mean?

If the floor height represented status within the Ascension Sect, then as an old house with only five stories, with the fifth floor being a rooftop attic, the fourth floor was the highest.

This also foretold that those remaining here were definitely the highest in status within the Ascension Sect, following religious hierarchies like chief priest, sect hierarch, pope, and the like.

What they’re called isn’t important; what matters is they’re the leaders of the Ascension Sect.

But now the problem is they’re not here!

It’s absolutely impossible they perished in the previous battle, that cardinal at most was a minor leader, given he chose to intercept the team and buy time for the choir.

As for the choir’s battle, it was too easily handled, not a single legendary expert was present, they were dealt with like slicing vegetables.

Losing one or two cultists meant nothing to Lance, surely many were still active outside now.

But the most important leader escaped. This means the Ascension Sect could possibly regroup, causing the excitement Lance felt earlier to cool down anew.

He quickly searched the room, taking all the documents, then focused his attention on a very familiar large box.

Picking locks requires skill, coincidently Lance specialized in it. Asking why would be a bit rude.

Before opening the box, Lance already anticipated something, his actions slowed, handling it as if dismantling a bomb, successfully opening it.

Sure enough, on the lid was a very dangerous mechanism. Only after removing a potion fixed to the lid was it truly neutralized.

Obviously, if opened forcefully without the right key, the corrosive potion would explode, destroying the contents and harming the person.

Don’t ask why Lance is so skilled, this common mechanism is widely used in many places.

The box contained no gold coins or valuables like gemstones or extraordinary ornaments.

There were only books, scrolls, letters, and such things.

A quick glance, Lance understood it wasn’t the mysticism knowledge he craved, but it did help him understand more about the Ascension Sect.

These were ledgers, internal records, correspondence with various parties, critical things.

Seeing those certificate-like letters, Lance realized how deeply the Ascension Sect infiltrated territories around Hamlet, feeling a bit worried.

But this only solidified Lance’s determination to destroy this "kingdom," it could not waver!

However, the existence of these things also indirectly confirmed his previous speculations, the Ascension Sect’s leader definitely still lived...

Time was tight, Lance didn’t linger long, clearing this room then moving on to the next.

Among them, Lance discovered many sealed rooms whose contents amazed him.

These rooms contained familiar alchemy tables, most vessels were emptied, but plenty of indescribable strange instruments remained.

The floor and walls had many incomprehensible symbol patterns, unlike the methods of those evil cults.

They lacked the religious insanity, more like calmly arranged field rituals.

Papers scattered on the ground, Lance picked one up, recognizing the familiar handwriting reminiscent of what was found in a collapsed cavern, confirming it was the ancestor’s.

Casually browsing through the research materials, information indicated this was where the ancestor began engaging with alchemy, mainly handling mild potion experiments.

In terms of alchemy, Hamlet truly lacked talent.

The potions Grendel brewed focused on herbology, while Amanda’s potions were supplied by an organization, and afterward she could still acquire from Sela.

Paracelsus’ work had nothing to do with alchemy, entirely based on real-world research, what we call science.

Thus these materials held significant reference value for Hamlet.

But now they’re mine!

These gains further affirmed his choice to raid the old house was exceedingly correct.

Until he ventured deeper, discovering the last room.

The door opened but did not immediately reveal the interior, instead, a raised black cloth tent covered it, sadly worn with dust and holes over time.

This eerie environment didn’t make Lance hesitate a bit; he lifted his hand to cover his mouth and nose, swept aside the black cloth to find a completely sealed room.

The door was explained earlier, windows were nailed shut with heavy boards, curtains hung seemingly to block any sunlight.

Unfortunately, the curtains too were ripped, showing the board over the window but served their purpose, keeping the room dim.

This surprised Lance further, as in the center was a device.

With one glance, he was shocked.

"Damn it, ancestor, you dare..."