Our Family Has Fallen

Chapter 434: Chapter 285: Joy of Victory_1

Reynard didn’t simply conclude the modest award ceremony. Instead, he used it to address the current situation they faced.

”Today we have triumphed. However, those Heretics still grow like wild weeds around Hamlet. They incessantly desire to kill us and offer us as sacrifices to the Evil God. They want to eat our flesh and drink our blood. Those they hang would be our kin, our friends, our comrades. What should we, as soldiers of Hamlet, do?”

Reynard had experience in the Church’s army and his own understanding of speeches and brainwashing. He ignited the soldiers’ fervor with just a simple sentence, especially a few on stage who yelled the loudest.

”I will not leave a single Heretic alive! I will kill them all!”

”We swear to defend Hamlet to the death! We will never allow them to set foot inside!”

”Only if they step over my corpse...”

Reynard knew this minor victory meant little. If these soldiers grew complacent and underestimated the Heretics because of this small win, he would have failed the Lord. This weakness had been exposed previously during the pig-catching incident, and he felt he must remind these young men.

”Remember to cast aside any complacency. Those villains are always waiting for us to reveal a weakness. They are like venomous snakes, lurking in the grass, just waiting for the moment to strike suddenly.”

Reynard’s warning indeed made the soldiers reconsider. However, he didn’t continue to berate them. Instead, he raised his hand.

”Dismissed. Enjoy your victory.”

The instant he announced the dismissal, the entire camp erupted into celebration, joyful laughter echoing all around.

However, not everyone could laugh. On the other side, one man preparing for the banquet watched this scene unfold with an indescribable sense of loss.

He too was once a soldier. His training results were exceptional, and he had performed outstandingly in several battles. He even had the chance to stand on that platform. However, due to family issues, he was discharged. Now, he could only chop vegetables and do odd jobs.

Watching his former comrades thrive, he felt the stark contrast not just psychologically, but also in his daily life. Only after losing his preferential treatment did he realize how well the Lord had treated them.

Even after leaving the army, no one would hire him for construction work. Hamlet was too small; everyone knew about his family’s affair. With so many laborers available, why would anyone hire a criminal’s son?

Once respected by everyone in town, he had now become an outcast, a joke to be avoided.

But now it was too late for regrets. His family’s greed had cost him everything and killed his honor.

He wasn’t the only one in this predicament. Many who were implicated by their families’ actions had fallen on hard times, their lives plummeting to rock bottom overnight.

The Lord knew they were also victims in this affair, but the rules were clear: public servants could have no blemishes on their records.

All industries in town were owned by the Lord. If the Lord truly wanted to ruin them, it would take but a single word. Fortunately, the Lord was merciful and didn’t leave them to die, instead arranging work for them during their hardship. Though it was difficult to return to their previous comfortable lives, at least they could remain in Hamlet.

Yet as he watched his former comrades reveling at the banquet, he felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

He couldn’t quite describe it. It wasn’t jealousy, but rather a deep frustration, a heavy weight on his chest that made it difficult to breathe.

All the happiness belonged to them, and I have nothing...

News of the army’s victory quickly spread through the small town.

That night, business at the tavern unexpectedly boomed. Many were willing to spend a little for a couple of drinks in celebration.

”Have you heard? The Lord has won a battle.”

”Who hasn’t heard? The confiscated materials have filled several warehouses, and the huge convoy of wagons has taken up all the surrounding open space.”

”Do you know who the enemy was?”

”Who cares who it was? They certainly weren’t good people. Probably those bandit ruffians again.”

”Exactly. I’ve heard things are chaotic out there...”

Due to the secrecy of the military operation, little information was released even after it concluded. The public remained largely unaware of the specifics.

Yet, they were genuinely elated by the Lord’s victory, even though they didn’t know who or what the enemy was.

After all, the Lord was always right, and the Lord’s enemies were their enemies too.

A simple mind is considered innocent only under the right leadership; otherwise, it’s mere ignorance.

A man in the tavern listened to the news of the victory. Even though he was just an ordinary worker, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride.

Unlike those without the pressure of supporting a family, he had to save up for his son’s school tuition.

But upon hearing of the army’s victory, he still willingly spent a copper coin on two large mugs of beer to join the celebration.

He downed the last of his beer in one gulp, then reluctantly handed back the oaken mug.

After leaving the tavern, he hurried home. In Hamlet, it was safe even at night. This kind of security was unavailable elsewhere.

The man was eager to get home and share the good news with his wife.

He was, in fact, the victim from that earlier incident—unjustly treated, knocked unconscious by the foreman, and ultimately the one who had ignited that whole explosive situation.