Our Family Has Fallen

Lance did not continue, but everyone knew what he wanted to say.

At this, Grendel inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief, somewhat glad she had rushed in so impulsively earlier. Thinking about it now, if Lance hadn’t come, the Warwolf wouldn’t even have needed to force a promotion to kill me. However, looking at the outcome, I made the right choices at several key moments. During the fight with the Witch, I chose to save him. Then, I didn’t run away but chose to fight alongside him. After treating the withering disease, I didn’t leave. I chose to trust his plan for revenge and stayed. Just now, I didn’t choose to run away. I chose to trust in Hamlet’s reinforcements and joined those soldiers to stop the Warwolf. The key to these three choices was my decision to trust him. To believe he could defeat the Cannibal Witch. To believe he could get revenge for me. To believe he would definitely appear! And the results were obvious: the Witch died, the Warwolf died, and as for my final revenge, it didn’t seem far off.

”You did well this time, but don’t do it again next time.”

Lance’s sudden words left Grendel somewhat puzzled. She looked at him with a questioning gaze.

”Your strength isn’t in combat,” Lance explained, simply and straightforwardly. ”You are very important to me, to Hamlet, and to all of mankind. If anything happened to you because of this, it would break my heart.”

These words might have sounded like an exaggeration, but truthfully, if Lance had to choose between the farm and her, he would choose Grendel without hesitation.

Because Grendel’s ability to control plants was very important in his plans.

Higher-quality crop varieties meant higher food production. More people could be fed with less land, and famine would be kept away from Hamlet.

It could even be said that her ability was key to solving a major human survival issue, as it would greatly enhance their resilience against natural disasters and calamities.

As a leader with foresight, this single matter was worth more than the lives of a thousand people; he wouldn’t even exchange ten thousand lives for it.

And food represented only a small category of plants. There were also medicinal herbs, vegetables, fruits... countless plants waiting to be developed.

So in Lance’s eyes, Grendel was never just a Governor or a Pharmacist, but a botanist.

She was the treasure of Hamlet, and even of the whole world.

”So, don’t take such risks in the future. If the situation turns bad, run. If you can’t escape, call for help. If calling for help isn’t enough, find me. Your safety must be guaranteed,” Lance stressed again, afraid she didn’t realize her own importance. ”You’re the last hope of the Deerhead Tribe.”

”I understand...” Grendel felt Lance’s deep concern for her. Her expression was a bit strange, and no one knew what she was thinking.

But Lance didn’t notice it at all, as his attention had already shifted to more pressing matters. He stepped outside and gestured for someone to come over, giving an order.

”Go and summon the families of the two children.”

”Yes!”

Only after Lance walked away did Grendel snap back to her senses.

He was just expressing concern for me, so why did he suddenly turn and leave?

She couldn’t dwell on it too much and hurriedly followed after him.

The temporary medical facility was just to the side. Lance went there to check on the condition of the wounded soldiers.

Although he had helped them upon his arrival, he hadn’t had time to provide detailed treatment.

Moreover, they had paid a price in the subsequent battle against the frenzied warriors of the Barbarian Tribes.

The human body is very complex. The soldiers he had pulled back from the brink of death needed time to recover. After all, with severe blood loss, the body needs time to slowly mend from critical injuries.

Lance directly approached the soldiers to offer them comfort, something he did after every battle.

He let them know their Lord was aware of their fight and had been watching over them.

He also reminded them for whom they fought and that their Lord would always be with them.

When he came to a Musketeer with a severely injured arm, Lance personally helped treat him, bandaging his wounds and securing them with wooden splints, reassuring them that their injuries could be healed.

He also encouraged the Musketeer, who worried he could no longer serve in the army.

”Don’t be afraid; you will recover. Hamlet won’t abandon anyone, and certainly won’t give up on a hero.

”You don’t need to worry about anything else now. Just focus on recovering well. I await your return.”

After making his rounds, Lance concluded there was no immediate risk of death; they just needed time to recuperate.

In feudal times, armies were often winnowed by war, with survivors becoming the elite. However, Lance had managed to lower the mortality rate, thereby still cultivating a group of veterans.

These veterans, having faced death, would rejoin the army with combat strength incomparable to new recruits. This wasn’t something training could replicate. Only those who had truly faced battle could understand the terror between life and death and thus transcend it.

Grendel remained silent. This wasn’t the first time she had witnessed such a scene. Truthfully, the wounded soldiers weren’t showing any exaggerated reactions. But their emotions were fervent and intense. With just one command from their Lord, they would probably dare to charge at anything, even death itself. Although the comparison wasn’t entirely appropriate, these men reminded me of the Church’s Fanatics, who only had eyes for their God. Similarly, these soldiers only had eyes for their Lord.