Our Family Has Fallen

Chapter 496: Chapter 314: Pigman Trace_1

Lance left. He didn’t have much time to waste entertaining them.

After spending a few days suppressing bandits and training his troops, there were plenty of matters in town awaiting his attention.

The woman was waiting outside. When she saw Lance emerge, she quickly entered the reception room to see the Elder.

”Elder?”

A voice tinged with a hint of confusion roused the old woman from her contemplation. She shook her head and muttered to herself, I thought I came here to bear humiliation for the Romani, but it turns out the one who truly endured for the Romani... was an outsider.

The woman, not understanding these cryptic words, could only change the subject and ask, ”Elder, what should we do next?”

She didn’t ask what had been discussed in the meeting or its outcome, but directly inquired what needed to be done. Sometimes, that was true cleverness.

”Go see Tamara and the other one. Some things need to be clearly explained, and I hope they can understand us.”

Lance kept his promise and didn’t restrict their movements. Their carriage left the training camp and drove into the small town of Hamlet.

However, the old woman couldn’t care less about appreciating this bustling town. Instead, she used her Supernatural Power to locate the two Romani carriages.

In fact, since their last encounter, Tamara and the other one had left Lance’s residence and moved to the town’s residential area.

”I’ll go call them over.”

”No, I’ll go myself,” the Elder refused the woman’s offer. At this point, it was utterly meaningless to maintain her airs as an Elder.

The woman didn’t say much, merely standing respectfully to one side.

On their way here, although the Elder hadn’t shown it outwardly, every move she made carried a certain dignity. But after emerging from that place, her entire aura had faded, and she seemed like an ordinary person. The woman didn’t know what had happened inside, but she knew the impact was significant.

When Tamara heard the noise outside and opened the carriage door, her attitude softened at the sight of the Elder.

”Please come in, Elder.”

Upon entering and seeing the interior, the Elder couldn’t help but sigh.

”Child, you have suffered all these years.”

”It’s fine. At least I haven’t lost control,” Tamara said indifferently, but the heavy resentment in her voice was unmistakable.

Years ago, she had fainted during a divination ceremony after glimpsing some inexplicable visions. Upon waking, she was told she was prone to losing control and that they had to give up on her, which led to her resentful escape.

Bringing this up now was a clear dig at their past judgment: she had been free for so many years, without their Seals, and had not succumbed to evil.

The Elder clearly knew about the past. Before coming, she had thoroughly investigated Tamara’s situation and understood that neither apologies nor anything else would yield a good outcome. Someone had to take the blame.

”About your case back then, we Elders actually didn’t know the precise situation because this matter...”

Setting up a scapegoat, she then fabricated stories of internal organizational struggles and persecution, shifting all responsibility onto subordinates in just a few sentences.

Finally, she explained that the Elders only learned of the situation when it escalated, which was why she had come personally—to clear up the past misunderstandings and vindicate Tamara.

For Tamara, the Elder’s status had always been viewed through a favorable lens. Thus, her hatred naturally shifted towards her teacher’s supposed adversaries, believing the past events were their slander.

”Back then, your teacher actually acted that way to protect you. So, are you willing to bring your talent back to the organization and prove yourself to them?”

”Of course!”

Tamara was still too young. Once her innermost thoughts were discerned, she was won over with just a few words.

This also demonstrated how truly formidable the Elder was. Her previous ineffectiveness was largely due to the pressure of facing Lance.

An impeccable man.

Compared to the rebellious Tamara, Amanda’s attitude had always been very reserved. The Elder needed only one meeting and a few soothing words to manage her.

After placating both of them, the Elder didn’t hurry to leave. Instead, she began contacting other Elders.

Indeed, the Spiritual Network within the Empire had failed, but as an Elder, she possessed special methods.

The Elder relayed what had happened to the others in detail. Truthfully, the current situation far exceeded their initial expectations.

”This person is destined to hold a significant place in this world in the future. I propose we don’t charge for these items; let’s give them to him directly as a personal favor.” The Elder’s opening words were a bombshell, immediately sparking disagreement among the other Elders...

Meanwhile, Lance and Grendel were walking through the refugee camp established outside of town, discussing the events of the past few days. Everything else was on track; the only significant remaining issue concerned the reception of refugees.

Then he heard about this recent incident, which he found quite amusing.

”Still going on about ’lateral thinking,’ is she? If I’d been there, I’d have had her thrown out. That’s not ’lateral thinking,’ that’s just a convoluted way to justify cutting in line—pulling that Kong Yiji sophistry, isn’t it?”

Grendel, however, was quite calm, proposing the most rational solution.

”We’re very short on teachers right now. I think we could actually send her for some labor reform. Making her endure some hardship might still make her useful.”

”No. We don’t need trash like that, no matter how capable, and certainly not to recruit for the school.” Lance’s joking tone vanished as he emphasized with utmost seriousness, ”The school is Hamlet’s future. A teacher’s abilities can be lacking, but their moral character must be impeccable.”