Our Family Has Fallen

Hamlet, in the village where Gene’s convoy was stationed.

Probably no one expected that those Barbarian Plunderers who had just fled would dare to attack again, but what was more disgusting was that they would fire a round and then leave, making it clear they didn’t want anyone to sleep.

Because no one knew whether the next time would be a mere harassment or a full-scale attack.

Especially those ordinary people who survived the previous battle, at the sound of gunfire, some immediately fell into a state of collapse.

However, the suppression by the Personal Guard was merciless, easily making them as docile as sheep with just a few bodies.

Fortunately, the remaining people retreated into the village, where the protection of a dirt wall prevented further casualties.

After a night of torment, they successfully welcomed the sunrise.

This meant they had survived another day, but they finally felt the pressure brought by the Barbarians.

In contrast, the Barbarians felt much less pressure, since under the cover of night, they held the upper hand. The harassment involved only a small portion of their forces, as the main forces were conserving energy and waiting for a new round of battle.

As long as the attrition continued, this elite force of Imperial Nobles was sure to fall into their hands.

Unfortunately, the situation was not as simple as they had imagined.

Suddenly, vibrations came from the earth, along with the slightly chaotic sound of hooves.

”Not good!” The Barbarian sentry hurried back to report, ”Those people abandoned the convoy’s goods and rode off on horses. Should we give chase?”

Upon hearing this, the Barbarians immediately disregarded everything else and quickly moved forward to check.

Upon hearing this, the temporary leader chosen last night, namely the Serpent Bow Shooter, furrowed his brow.

He wanted to say something, but obviously, no one paid attention to him, and everyone had already rushed over, leaving him no choice but to follow.

Climbing the nearby tree, he looked toward the village surrounded by dirt walls from a distance, vaguely seeing some people guarding inside, while the goods and carts were indeed piled up in a mess inside, looking as if they were too hurried to organize them before fleeing on horseback.

All those wearing armor had fled, leaving only the frightened city defense force and cart drivers to guard.

”That’s ridiculous, they think these people can guard this?”

”The cowardly Imperial People have abandoned their companions.”

”They underestimate us. Let’s teach them a lesson quickly!”

The Archers had also noticed this. They originally thought those people planned to escort the convoy, which is why they had the previous plan to deplete them slowly, but now they simply abandoned the convoy’s goods and made a breakthrough on horseback. None of them on foot could catch up with the horses, not even the draft horses pulling the carts.

Given this situation...

”We still have to be careful, in case this is a trap. What if they come back and attack us?” The Archer sensed something was wrong and couldn’t help but suggest, ”Let’s have a few people go over there to keep watch.”

His words were based on caution, but obviously, he, as a temporary leader, did not have much authority. When the formidable enemy disappeared, the Barbarians immediately turned back into a loose bunch.

Who would listen to him and give up immediate benefits to keep watch? They were already discussing how to divide the goods.

”It’d be better if they came back; how else can we carry off the loot without seizing some horses?”

”Exactly! Don’t kill those people; use them to carry the goods back.”

”Cunning Imperial People, you think we can’t take it just because you rode the horses away?”

”Quick...”

The Barbarian Plunderers directly attacked the village, even visibly dividing into several groups. They hadn’t fallen into chaos yet only because there were enough convoy goods to divide, otherwise, they would have started fighting amongst themselves.

The Archer did not move, still standing on the tree, gazing into the distance at the direction the Imperial People fled on horseback, his expression somewhat uneasy.

But below, chaos was already in full swing, and the ordinary people didn’t even have the awareness to resist. Seeing the Barbarians, they didn’t even have the thought of relying on the dirt walls to fight back; instead, they just fled in a panic.

Bear in mind, they weren’t Serfs, they had some weapons and equipment on them, even if they resisted a bit, they would surely not lose so easily.

The root of the problem was that they knew they had been abandoned, and the Noble Knight who commanded them had died, meaning their morale had long since collapsed.

The Barbarian Plunderers easily breached the dirt walls and entered the village, but they did not kill anyone; instead, they seized those ordinary people as Slaves, as otherwise, they couldn’t carry off so many supplies.

”Don’t kill me!”

”Damn it, stay still!”

”Hahaha! There are women here...”

These few ordinary people couldn’t possibly withstand their onslaught, were they truly abandoned?

The Archer couldn’t bear it any longer at this point, are you kidding me, if we don’t act, we’re going to lose everything to looters.

Once he joined in, it meant all the Barbarians were involved in the ”pig-catching” business.

”Money! It’s all money!”

”That’s mine!”

”Screw you, that’s mine!”

The Slaves and goods even became their reasons for conflict, thoroughly exposing the Barbarians’ chaos and disunity.

But just as they were reveling, tremors came from the ground, and soon someone shouted out.

”It’s hooves! They’re coming back!”

”Quick, quick, quick! Get out of here, don’t get surrounded by them.” The Archer realized something was amiss and immediately abandoned all plunder, calling the Barbarians to quickly retreat back into the wild forest.

But how many could abandon what they had gained, even if he could?