Our Family Has Fallen

”Teacher, what message has the Eagle Flock brought back?”

He had heard the cries of the birds just now and naturally understood what had happened.

”The Eagle Flock has re-established the location of the Barbarians, but it seems that something happened during the time she was away,” the Baron said, passing Alvin a slip of paper as he briefly explained.

”By the time she found them again, their numbers had been more than halved; now only about ten remain. It could be the work of those Heretics, or perhaps some other enemy, but unfortunately, she didn’t see what happened.”

Alvin didn’t care about these details; he was happy at the misfortunes of the Warwolves. Upon hearing that the Barbarians had lost quite a few men, he burst out laughing.

”Hahaha! Truly, fortune favors me; Hamlet Town is indeed my blessed ground.”

The Baron, however, wasn’t as joyful. He was still wondering what kind of enemy could have caused the Barbarians to suffer such losses and felt that the land held even more secrets yet to be revealed.

”Teacher is right. Without these Barbarians, we’d probably be the unlucky ones.” Alvin, despite his excitement, knew his teacher’s decision was correct: using the Barbarians to wear down Hamlet’s rebellious forces was better than taking action themselves.

”Then what shall we do next, Teacher?” Alvin asked.

Upon hearing this, the Baron brought out a map, estimated their position, and drew out a route with his hand.

”Last night they were about here, and now they have reached this place. Unlike their previous aimless wandering, their target this time is very clear. Something must have happened last night.”

The woman from the Eagle Flock, though a Barbarian by blood, was actually born after the Eagle Claw surrendered and became part of the Eagle Flock.

Without that environment or instruction, she simply didn’t understand what the ceremony last night entailed.

After all, it was just two white wolves fighting; she couldn’t discern the difference and didn’t understand that Wang Cai was their target on this trip.

The only Eagle Flock scout who might have known something had already been eliminated. If she didn’t understand, Alvin and the others certainly knew even less.

Without enough information, it should not have been possible to discern anything, but the Baron displayed a strange attitude, as if he had guessed something.

However, he did not reveal his thoughts but instead fell silent for a moment before looking at Alvin.

”What do you think their next move will be?” he asked.

He needed to cultivate Alvin, not coddle him.

Alvin, sensing his teacher’s intention, reined in his excitement and studied the map, contemplating the Barbarians’ possible objectives...

”It’s here!” After a moment, Alvin pointed out a location on the map.

”Why?” the Baron asked without much surprise, seeking further explanation.

”Because in the latter half of the journey, there’s only this one settlement. Otherwise, what do you think they’re going to do—set sail to sea? Head north to the ice fields? Venture east into the desert?”

The Baron did not object to Alvin’s reasoning but instead looked at the spot on the map that Alvin had indicated.

”Do you know what place this is?” he asked.

”A town called Hamlet,” Alvin replied. ”It was founded by people who fled when their old city was destroyed. They should number around twelve hundred. They don’t even have a regular army, just a sheriff and a militia.”

After learning of his father’s intentions, Alvin had quickly familiarized himself with the situation in the Hamlet region. At the very least, he could now recite details about the towns marked on the map from memory.

His words, however, carried a strong disdain, as if he had little regard for this ”Hamlet” formed by fleeing refugees.

The Baron actually understood Alvin’s perspective; having grown up in Bastia, a city with a population of a hundred thousand, it was normal to look down on a dilapidated small town.

”I’ve been to Hamlet. It was once a magnificent architectural complex, grander than even Bastia. In comparison, this small town is indeed dilapidated, perhaps not even as prosperous as a farmstead outside the old city back then,” the Baron said, a nostalgic look on his face. He then turned serious.

”But the name ’Hamlet’ was carried on by the Lord who fled. Do you understand now, Lord Alvin, what this small town called Hamlet represents?”

”Legitimacy...” Alvin wasn’t foolish; he quickly understood why his teacher had emphasized this point.

Legitimacy. That was the key. To control the Hamlet region, one had to control this town.

And the Baron took this opportunity to divulge some matters.

”Lord Alvin might not be aware, but recently, a saying has suddenly emerged throughout the Empire, asserting that Hamlet is a Sanctuary in this chaotic world, free from war and slaughter, with an endless supply of bread and milk.”

”This rumor has been circulating for some time. It now seems very likely it’s a ploy by those Heretics to lure people in.”

”Why didn’t Teacher tell me before?” Alvin seemed displeased. How could such important information be withheld until now?

Alvin spent most of his time at the training grounds honing his Combat Skills and rarely went out for leisure.

Even when he did venture out, it was usually with a group of children from other Nobility families for a hunt, or to attend exclusive banquets. He had no way of interacting with commoners.

”These rumors have been circulating for some time, and I thought you were aware,” the Baron said, feigning confusion without admitting to anything.

Alvin’s expression darkened as he felt that his teacher was keeping a lot from him.

His fate had been controlled by others for half his life. He had thought he could finally break free and gain his freedom, but his teacher’s attitude still made him feel as if he were living under the shadow of his father and Big Brother.

This displeased him greatly!

The Baron naturally sensed Alvin’s mood. Wasn’t it obvious why he hadn’t mentioned it sooner? With this boy’s sensitive temperament, wouldn’t bringing it up have been asking for trouble?

However, the emergence of the Heretics and the Barbarians’ current route compelled him to speak out now.

In fact, the Baron knew much more.

For example, another version of the message:

As long as they abided by the rules, Transcendents would be granted Sanctuary in Hamlet.

It was this message that truly pushed Hamlet’s name back into the awareness of various powers within the Empire.

The suppression of Transcendents wasn’t decided by other factions, but by the Church.

This was because the largest Supernatural Organization within the Empire was the Church—a clear monopoly.

As far as he knew, whether it was the Emperor or other Nobles, all had connections with Transcendents, much like Bastia. However, no one dared to make these connections public.

The Church controlled society at the grassroots level, and no one could withstand a blow from them. A single word from the Church could label you a heretic, and the usually docile commoners would then rise against you with pitchforks.

The Baron surmised that it was precisely this sudden rumor that had truly pushed the Earl to decide to act, and to do so ahead of schedule.

Otherwise, they should have waited for a large-scale invasion by the Barbarian Tribes. At that point, everyone’s attention would be diverted, and the Empire Emperor, wary of the Barbarians advancing south, might have made concessions.

But for now, I’d better pacify this young Lord Alvin.

”Lord Alvin, don’t you find it all too coincidental? If those Barbarians are truly aiming for Hamlet Town, could there be no connection to the rumors and that evil cult?”

At these words, Alvin’s attention was immediately drawn, because Hamlet was now most important to him.

”Teacher, do you mean that those Barbarians came because they received the message? But those Heretics not only attacked us, but they also attacked them; how could they be on the same side?”

”Who knows?” The Baron’s face bore an enigmatic smile.

Seeing this, Alvin quickly understood, an enlightened smile spreading across his face.

”That’s right! The Heretics have occupied Hamlet and are spreading rumors, intending to conspire with the Mountain Barbarian Tribe to invade the Empire! The Lord of Hamlet has no choice but to seek help from us in Bastia. We, in our pursuit, will uncover this conspiracy and be ’invited’ to send troops to eliminate the Barbarian Tribe and the Heretics!”

”So what should we do now?” The Baron finally nodded with slight satisfaction.

”A swift cavalry raid to seize the initiative!” Alvin declared, his fighting spirit soaring as he made a grand gesture. ”We must take control of Hamlet Town before those Barbarians do and secure the Lord of Hamlet’s ’request’ for aid!”