Our Family Has Fallen

Chapter 301: Chapter 227: Night Talks_1

”I understand,” Grendel said, nodding her head in agreement after a moment of contemplation.

Indeed, there was still some time before the treatment was complete, so there was no need to rush into making a decision.

”I don’t know how much you’ve heard from the Witch about Hamlet, but all of these matters are well within my control.

”After all, just three months ago I was but an ordinary Scholar at the university, not even aware of Hamlet’s existence, let alone that I was a noble Heir. And now Hamlet is prospering.”

Lance reminded her one last time, his meaning quite clear. ”You may think the evil cult’s conspiracy woven in Hamlet is terrifying, but I’m no ordinary person—I have powerful connections!”

Grendel had personally witnessed his confrontation with the Witch. Others might not be aware, but how could I not sense the Witch’s power? A single blow nearly claimed my life!

And Lance, who was able to fight against the Witch and even kill her, she had thought was an Elite cultivated by the Imperial Nobles over a decade using countless resources.

Yet just three months ago, he *was* an ordinary person. To gain such strength in three months *is* even more terrifying than calming and developing a territory in that time. This *is* beyond the realm of genius; *is* this even possible for a normal human being to achieve?

At that moment, Grendel couldn’t help but harbor doubts. Is the person before me really human, or some monster in human skin?

Lance had hoped to impress, but he found that Grendel’s gaze had grown even more vigilant than before, her hand gripping the Magic Wand as if prepared to act at any moment.

For a while, Lance didn’t quite understand, but he still added, ”I am confident and capable of pacifying Hamlet within five years, and your assistance will accelerate Hamlet’s development. The better its development, the sooner you can have your revenge.”

If ”science” was a keyword for Paracelsus, then ”revenge” was certainly Grendel’s.

Upon its mention, Grendel’s expression remained calm, but the fear hidden in her eyes was unmistakable. The mere thought of that figure made her tremble slightly, for the power of the Warwolf weighed heavily on her.

Yes, only such terrifying growth could possibly help me kill that man. As long as it helps me achieve revenge, it doesn’t matter what he is or what he asks me to do.

It couldn’t be denied—blinded by hatred, Grendel had one foot in madness. If she hadn’t encountered Lance, it was hard to say what might have become of her.

Or perhaps it could be said that not many who came to Hamlet voluntarily were normal...

Grendel left with a head full of thoughts, but Lance wasn’t too concerned. She can’t escape my grasp, he mused. Everything I said was true, and all the conditions I offered were real.

The territory of Hamlet wasn’t limited to its current size. Once he accomplished its recovery, it would surely border the mountain ranges, and then it would be necessary to deal with the Barbarian Tribes.

According to Boudica, those folks loved to raid, driven as much by circumstance as desire. But raiding his lands was out of the question.

So, when the time came, he would need to make an example of a prominent group, and the Fang Wolf Tribe, with its practice of attacking all around, made a good target for this. Because the Fang Wolf Tribe had offended nearly all the neighboring tribes, eliminating them would have no other repercussions. On the contrary, it would stabilize the chaos in the mountain ranges.

Furthermore, stability could only be ensured by eliminating the most powerful and uncontrollable tribe in this region.

Then, by displaying power and ending the chaos, he could establish a trade zone, beginning to mitigate resource conflicts between the two sides through commerce.

He needed resources like furs and medicinal herbs, while the Mountain Barbarian Tribes needed grain to survive the winter. Mutual benefit could bring peace instead of war.

Lance disliked wars. Wars meant people would die. Moreover, logistics cost money, and mobilization required the involvement of the population. Any of these aspects demanded a significant financial outlay.

And the benefits? What good could come from the Barbarian Tribes? They’re still in tribal forms, with small tribes of a few hundred people and the larger ones barely reaching a thousand members. Their productivity is too low.

If there had been profits to be had, the Empire would have conquered them long ago. Would they have waited for me?

The Empire’s preference to march east rather than campaign north shows that those Barbarian Tribes are nothing but poor wretches. Waging war on them could bankrupt me!

Fighting the Fang Wolf is a necessary battle to display strength. And, as I’ve said, there’s an existing grudge between us—I won’t sleep well until the Fang Wolf is eradicated.

However, thinking about all this is still too premature. As long as the old ancestor lives, I can’t spare more energy for expansion...

Lance set aside his research on the Witch’s Notes. Addressing the impact caused by the Witch was now more pressing.

Of course, he had eliminated all the negative effects. The outbreak of plague had indeed caused public panic, but it also presented an opportunity.

An opportunity to implement policies on drinking water health and personal hygiene.

These two initiatives were something Lance had been pushing for some time, but the public response had been muted.

Putting aside the difficulty of enforcement, even if he was very capable, he still couldn’t control whether they drank boiled water or not.

If he dared to enforce it strictly, who knew what kind of scandal the people below could stir up to make him realize the error of his ways.

He said to drink boiled water, and those below would dare to ratchet up the requirements, forcing ordinary people to drink scalding water.

Many things change as they’re passed down the line. This isn’t related to other matters; it’s purely a side effect of power.