Our Family Has Fallen

All of those people suddenly became tense, no longer slack or casual as they had been moments before.

"To become a soldier, there is one thing you must achieve, which is what I will teach you today—that is to obey commands and follow orders."

Lance lectured on military rules. He used those ten veterans as the backbone, then integrated the new recruits into the ranks, swiftly forming ten squads.

At any time, seniority bullying is a troublesome issue, especially severe within the military, where even outright bullying can occur. This bad habit can be passed down from one generation of soldiers to the next.

But Lance would not allow such behavior in Hamlet's army; some mistakes should be stopped right from the start, rather than waiting for them to subtly become the norm.

Lance emphasized this point strongly—military regulations supersede the entire military system. It is the regulations that should punish soldiers, not individual veterans.

"Remember, you are all Hamlet's People; you are all my soldiers. I will not tolerate such behavior."

For someone like Barton, who was directly promoted from school to sergeant, the issue might not be so apparent. However, for Balistan, who had climbed up from the rank and file, the issue was deeply felt.

He had been bullied, and he, in turn, had bullied new recruits. At the time, no one thought it was wrong. Only now, with it being pointed out, did he realize that hatred festered within the army, venting itself on the weak and spreading continuously.

How can an army forge unity if hatred is passed down from one generation to another?

After a thorough lecture and reorganization, the reservists finally began to resemble soldiers. Then, Lance was about to announce the final rule.

"The person with the best training results will have the chance to join my Personal Guard, the Iron Warriors. They will enjoy the best treatment but will also face the most terrifying enemies. Only the elite are qualified to face those monsters with me."

These words ignited the ambition of many; no one would forgo such an opportunity, especially the veterans, who were even more excited than the newcomers.

"Begin training," Lance announced his final sentence. "Embrace your hell, and then be reborn from it!"

"Hamlet Must Win!"

"..."

Lance stood at the harbor, looking out over the boundless sea. It had only been a few days since his return, and although he had dealt with the town's troubles, he did not relax one bit.

His gaze lingered on the pirate ship. By now, it had been cleaned and repaired, and all traces of the pirates had been removed. Although it showed signs of wear, the shipwrights' assessment deemed it seaworthy for several more years.

But this discovery did not bring him joy, because the pirates had also left behind troubling news.

After taking time to study the pirate captain's navigation journal and sea charts, Lance realized a troubling matter.

Off the coast of Hamlet, there was a gathering place for pirates. Due to many visible and hidden reefs, large fleets could not approach, nor could big ships come and go easily.

The unique terrain also caused unpredictable, turbulent currents that differed at various times, akin to a maze. Only those familiar with the routes could navigate in and out smoothly. Otherwise, it was easy to suffer shipwrecks, thus earning it the name Sunken Ship Bay.

Such harsh conditions made it unsuitable for merchant ships to use as a harbor. For pirates, however, this provided a unique advantage, as the navy found it too difficult to eradicate them there.

For this reason, numerous pirates gathered there. It also served as their place for selling stolen goods, constantly threatening Hamlet.

No wonder there were few ships on this route. Otherwise, Hamlet, a place that could connect to the Empire's northeastern cities, would have been a decent location and not as dilapidated as it was now.

To revitalize the economy, the seas must be opened. To open the seas, Sunken Ship Bay must be taken and the threats eliminated.

"Lord, you wished to see me?" The old captain walked in with noticeable restraint, a stark contrast to his forthright demeanor aboard the ship.

"Surprised, are you? I remember your guidance quite vividly," Lance snapped back to reality and, looking at the newcomer, joked with a smile, clearly referring to the earlier critiques the old captain had made about Hamlet's system when he had been boastful.

"I was just talking nonsense..."

Hearing these words, the old captain's expression couldn't help but reveal a tinge of embarrassment; he had not expected that this young man was the Lord of Hamlet.

Damn this blabbermouth of mine for causing trouble!

"No, no, no," Lance said, displaying a friendly demeanor and gesturing with his hand. "I'm serious. The decline of Hamlet is the result of many factors, but it's undeniable that it has a lot to do with the inaction of the previous Lord and the corruption of the bureaucrats. But, as you can see, I'm not one of them. Those corrupt officials have been dealt with by me, and they received the punishment they deserved."

Lance readily admitted it. There was nothing wrong with discussing such matters. Pests existed everywhere, and the key was to eliminate them promptly. Attempting to cover up their existence was truly laughable.

The old captain simply nodded in agreement at his side. If it wasn't for the issue of his previous outburst, why else would this young man seek him out?

"Do you think Hamlet is safe now?"

"The bandits have been eradicated, and the corrupt officials purged. Nothing can threaten the Lord now."

"But it's still not enough!" Lance's expression grew stern as he looked out to sea. "Although I have eradicated the bandits, pirates still threaten Hamlet. Everyone is afraid of them attacking us, and the merchant ships are too scared to sail."

Turning back to the old captain, Lance continued, "And the reason I asked you here today is to rebuild the navy. So, do you wish to return to Hamlet?"

The old captain didn't express his stance directly. Instead, years of drifting and exile had ground down his edges; he could no longer be as impulsive as the young.

It was undeniable that he had deep feelings for this place, but after so many years, that sentiment had faded. He had too many memories here, but most were bitter.

He wasn't sure if he could shoulder this monumental task, and he had another identity to consider.

"I need to ask Mr. Walter about this matter."

"The head of the Walter Conglomerate is not Walter, but me. He wouldn't possibly object to my decision to employ someone."

Lance's expression became grave, his tone serious, with a touch of excitement as he cried out, "Their incompetence led to us losing these waters, leaving the people of Hamlet exposed to the pirates' blades and guns. Even the fishing boats dare not venture too far out to fish. Everyone lives in constant fear. I've had enough! I want to raise the flag of Hamlet on these seas once more, to take back what we lost, to show those scoundrels who is the true ruler here, who really commands these waters!"

The old captain couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion upon hearing this; he had waited over a decade for this day.

"Hamlet Marine Wilson reporting to the Lord!"

"Good!"

The two discussed many issues concerning naval construction. With a professional involved, many problems were addressed. However, Lance hadn't expected the issues to be so significant; in fact, they were quite troublesome.

Marines also had to be sailors skilled in navigation, possessing a certain level of expertise, which made training much more challenging.

Lance wasn't afraid to invest money, but he was concerned about the time it would take. He wanted to quickly form a fighting force.

Another problem was that Hamlet's navy, in name, only consisted of this one fast ship, which he had confiscated from the pirates.

Both men and ships were in short supply, and solving these issues would require not just money, but time as well.

Lance was clear about this and could only do what was possible for now.

"This is up to you now. Whatever you need, just let me know. You won't lack any of the treatment you deserve."

Having dealt with this matter and before he had time to rest, someone brought him a troubling piece of news.

Woodcutters clearing land in the forest had found the body of one of Sam's family members. Strangely, when discovered, the body was covered in mushrooms.