Chapter 1010: Chapter 567: After the Matter (2)

Controlling Ovando is equivalent to gripping the throat of the Hamlet region’s external affairs, especially since the outside is in chaos, nothing holds value except food. He couldn’t possibly allow Hamlet’s food to flow out; it can only be locked down.

"One day there, one day back." Lance extended three fingers, "Three days, you stabilize Hamlet."

"Mm."

Regardless, Ovando is a city, even though it’s been tormented half to death, it still has a population of over ten thousand. He actually intends to settle the affairs of Ovando in such a short time?

What audacity!

But Grendel surprisingly didn’t find it strange, directly nodding in agreement.

"Let everyone stop working, don’t waste the bombs anymore."

After speaking, Lance turned back, but Grendel quickly chased after him with a remark.

"When I went to find you this morning, I noticed Tiffany stayed at the Lord’s Mansion waiting for you the whole night. Probably won’t leave until she sees you."

Grendel herself laughed while saying this, managing to dodge a whole night.

"Is that so~" Lance wasn’t the least bit afraid upon hearing this, instead heading in that direction...

Returning home, before even entering, he saw Susan outside. Upon noticing the Lord’s return, she hurried over with a reminder.

"I know, it’s just Tiffany." Seeing Susan’s worried expression, Lance couldn’t help but smile wryly, "Don’t worry, it’s a minor issue. You’ve also had a tiring night; go get some rest."

After reassuring Susan, Lance went straight inside. He couldn’t understand why everyone seemed to be treating this like Xiang Yu’s entrapment at Gaixia, as if this Lord’s Mansion was bound for disaster.

Lance had completely forgotten that he had fled through the window without seeing anyone just yesterday.

Sure enough, upon entering, he saw Tiffany working at the desk in the living room, and beside it was a makeshift bed, evidently slept here last night.

Good heavens! Just to block him, not only did she sleep here, but also moved her work here—too ruthless.

As Lance stepped into the hall, Tiffany lifted her stern face, angrily and sarcastically remarking.

"Finally decided to come back?"

She spoke, immediately standing, her intense anger and resentment seemingly materializing and rushing toward him.

"Where’s the money? My money..."

Just as she started, Lance swiftly raised his hand, revealing a box and lifting the lid, instantly breaking the brilliant golden light that interrupted Tiffany’s complaints midway.

"I know, I know~" Lance showed no arrogance; instead, he vigorously soothed, "I went to get the money, didn’t I? This money is hard-earned through toil and sweat."

Yet Tiffany appeared as if Lance didn’t exist, completely ignoring his nonsense, instead squatting to inspect those gold coins. Her tensed expression gradually relaxed.

Couldn’t be helped, impoverished during this period, watching the account’s balance decrease without any income, pressure mounting.

What relieves worry? Only gold coins!

Ultimately, having safeguarded over millions of gold coins, Tiffany quickly reacted, roughly estimating the coins, offering a single word evaluation.

"Average."

Upon hearing this, Lance couldn’t maintain composure; after all, this was hard-earned money spent working like a cow and horse all night.

Sigh... truly a degenerate world, indifference to human emotions...

"What are you pretending about? You spent three thousand gold coins in those two bouts. The subsequent plan for establishing a town at the frontier outpost and developing the wilderness will be unimaginable without tens of thousands; who are you trying to appease with just this bit of money?"

Tiffany looked at his pathetic demeanor, annoyed enough to want to kick him.

Lance was the planner; how could he not know?

Seeing his act of pity didn’t work, he could only awkwardly smile, hurriedly finding an excuse to change the subject.

"I need to go to Ovando, anything you want to say to Walter?"

"What are you planning to do again?" Tiffany’s eyes suddenly sharpened, cautious as a miser.

"Why so tense? Not asking you for money." How could Lance not see through her thoughts?

"Are you really not avoiding me?" Tiffany expressed doubt, as Lance has been avoiding her for so long, akin to having zero credibility. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"What a joke; I’m the Lord, why would I avoid you?" Lance didn’t bother explaining, urging swiftly, "Come on, I’m in a hurry."

Seeing Lance’s serious demeanor, Tiffany felt half believing, half doubting.

"This time I’ll let you go."

Lance wasn’t fazed, directly turning away, thinking, when I return, you’ll see my competence.

As soon as Lance stepped out, Grendel approached, her expression slightly heavy, plainly stating the reason for her visit.

"Initially, I thought those two from the Church had left with the fleet; who would’ve thought they’d stay behind." She expressed with a palpable sense of crisis, "To endure such humiliation but stay, perhaps they have their plans."

"They’re sent by the Church to eliminate us; how could they leave before completing their mission?"

Lance instead joked, "Moreover, I confiscated their tools; returning would be even more disgraceful. You don’t think mendicant monks are popular within the Church, do you?"

The previous night, Lance also discussed this issue in detail with Amanda; Grendel wasn’t fully aware, so he took the chance to explain simply.

Based on the information Amanda received from Sela, the martyr Martin, the mendicant monk, was supposed to reorganize Totnes’s local Church and clergy.

But Totnes, known as the Merchant Nation, had long been corrupted by gold coins, and those clergy didn’t want an old zealot practicing asceticism lingering.

This old one had absurdly high status and strength, likely making Totnes’s local bishop sweat profusely, eager to send this formidable presence away.

During this time, news from Hamlet surfaced. The Church believed Hamlet was suffering widespread leprosy infection, and any claim to treating divine punishment would surely be heretical, hence sending people to erase them.

Such thankless tasks were assigned to mendicant monks.

"They were expelled from Totnes, so you understand now."

"In that case, isn’t it better to just remove them? The Church’s ability to deceive is exceedingly strong; leaving them is trouble."

"We’re ordinary people, not bandits or thugs. Don’t always yell for kills. Besides, who’s going to help me contend with the Church if they’re removed?"

Lance uttered a very unconventional statement but quickly explained further.

"Once word of the relic spreads, the Church will surely take action, possibly under various pretenses, like necromancers or the issue of evil cults, to invade Hamlet. They might even launch a so-called holy war.

Then, mendicant monks become useful; even if you send a bishop, they can’t suppress Martin the martyr, like in Totnes, leveraging intra-Church faction struggles to counterbalance them.

As for your main concern about their ability to deceive, yes, it’s strong but still conditional. I’m not dead; war hasn’t invaded. Without these two conditions, a stable and prosperous Hamlet won’t allow such occurrences.

Martin, that old figure, despite constantly rambling about the Holy Light, has very flexible boundaries—practically none. After I beat them and pulled their teeth, they’ve been obedient."

Lance wasn’t prejudiced against faith; otherwise, Junia wouldn’t remain in Hamlet, profiting and living increasingly well.

Faith and religion must be separated. What you believe is your business; don’t gather to make trouble for privileges.

What face do those who produce nothing have to demand tithes?

A firm hand is necessary!

"To prepare for the incoming impact, spread the word about the mob matter, and use it as a pretext to prohibit any religious organization from evangelizing in Hamlet.

This time, needn’t consider anyone’s opinion. I don’t care who they are; whoever stirs trouble will be dealt with directly. Stability over everything, my rules are the rules in Hamlet."

Lance had lost patience in playing slowly; he directly commanded the spread in a strong manner.

Once this was completed, Lance mounted his horse and dashed out of Hamlet alone...