Our Family Has Fallen

”Amanda? What is she doing here?”

Both Lance and Grendel were a bit puzzled by this.

However, Lance instantly understood. When he left, she seemed to be by the door. She probably guessed something was wrong and followed, hoping to gain something from it.

”Hmph. These opportunistic folks,” Lance snorted coldly. ”Let her come. I want to see what important information she has.”

Grendel, standing beside him, could clearly sense Lance’s dislike for Amanda, something she knew a little about.

The Lord had tolerated the Romani’s repeated offenses for the sake of Hamlet’s uninterrupted development, finally achieving his goal. After the business was settled, naturally, he had no pleasant expression for Amanda, who represented the Romu Organization.

Or perhaps, after supporting Tamara’s rise to power, Amanda had become useless in this man’s eyes. He wouldn’t waste time on someone of no use.

For some reason, thinking about this, Grendel felt a sudden sense of crisis.

If I can’t keep up, will I also be ignored?

While she was lost in her thoughts, Amanda had already dragged an unconscious person in.

”When I got here, I accidentally discovered her sneaking around, so I captured her. I also found out some other things.”

Lance squatted down, intrigued. He lifted the cloak, revealing a girl underneath who looked no older than fifteen or sixteen, her face bearing a gloomy expression. ”It’s a girl,” he noted.

As soon as Amanda spoke, Grendel snapped back to reality, her attention drawn to the figure in the green cloak on the ground.

But when she saw Lance lift the cloak, she realized something and blurted out a name.

”Eagle Flock!” As she spoke, her expression grew more worried, and she wrinkled her brow. ”Why are they here?”

Amanda had intended to build some suspense, but Grendel’s direct remark caught her off guard.

”What is the Eagle Flock? A Barbarian Tribe?”

The feathered ornament around the neck of the green-cloaked figure was clearly barbarian-style. After hearing Grendel’s words, Lance naturally guessed the captive’s identity.

”No. They are traitors to the Mountains, enemies of all Barbarian Tribes!” Grendel’s tone grew heavier, yet there was a strange note in her voice.

”They are a Barbarian Tribe that surrendered to Bastia. Originally called the Eagle Claw Tribe, they later changed their name to the Eagle Flock and now serve as the private soldiers of the local Lord...”

Amanda couldn’t let Grendel say any more; it would diminish her own value.

Grendel had no intention of competing for credit and simply stood beside Lance, listening.

”So you think Bastia is also involved in this matter?”

Lance had obtained information about the Empire’s forces from the Romani Elder, so he was well aware of this ”good neighbor” who was constantly ”concerned” about Hamlet. It was just unexpected. After such a long silence, the arrival of Warwolf had drawn them out as well.

”The Eagle Flock serves two purposes: one is to do the dirty work for the Lord of Bastia, and the other is to act as scouts for the army when deployed. They are the tentacles of the Lord of Bastia. Their presence anywhere signifies that the Lord has extended his reach there,” Amanda explained, doing her best to analyze the situation for Lance and demonstrate her sincerity.

”No need to guess. Since you’ve brought her here alive, you must have a plan. I’m watching.”

Lance knew well that people like Amanda handled the dirty work. As a Seeker of Omens, interrogation was naturally within her capabilities. Otherwise, why would she bring a living person before him? Isn’t she just trying to show off?

Amanda understood then; her intentions truly couldn’t be hidden from him.

However, she didn’t waste words. Instead, she took out a strange potion and poured it down the unconscious girl’s throat.

”This is a special potion. After drinking it, consciousness weakens, hallucinations appear, and uncontrollable behavior emerges. However, to get the information, we still need to use some special methods.”

As she spoke, Amanda took out a gleaming Incense Burner. She lit a stick of incense on it, and an eerie sight occurred: the rising smoke strangely snaked its way into the girl’s nostrils.

Watching Amanda chant, it was clear the smoke was under her control.

As she cast her spell, a power acted upon the girl. Her eyelids trembled, and her body twitched, as if she were fighting against something or struggling.

But under the influence of the drug and the secret technique, she quickly grew still. She slowly opened her eyes, but they looked vacant, as if she had lost consciousness.

”Who are you? What is your purpose?”

”I am Laura...”

As Amanda questioned her, the girl quickly revealed everything.

Their task was indeed to track Warwolf and his party, and she was the sole survivor.

Through further questioning, they discovered that a cavalry unit of fifty men had entered Hamlet’s territory. Their leader was an Earl’s son, who had even arrogantly declared he would take Lance’s place and use Warwolf to drain Hamlet’s resources.

Upon hearing this, both Grendel’s and Amanda’s expressions darkened.