Chapter 1396 - 751: Aftermath (2)

Chapter 1396: Chapter 751: Aftermath (2)

They didn’t know about this matter and couldn’t have been involved, just some unlucky fellows who were inexplicably dragged into it.

However, among them, some were also interrogated for other issues, which involved other individuals, making the complex situation headache-inducing for William.

"Investigate thoroughly, but follow procedures, no forced confessions, no killings."

Lance offered his opinion, as he wasn’t the kind of person who enjoyed seeing blood; killing people was meaningless.

"For those who didn’t actively participate, retrieve the small amounts and fine them; a record is enough, no need for labor reform.

For those knowledgeable, with significant amounts, besides basic penalties, dismiss them from public office, and they must undergo labor reform. The term will depend on the amount and if there are additional crimes for compounded penalties.

Then there’s the third category, those whose leading nature is too malicious; confiscate their property and dismiss their direct family members, while the perpetrator is sent straight to the nursing facility."

Lance did not fear them involving many people, he even wished for more.

The reason was simple, Hamlet was developing too quickly, many couldn’t keep up, but their qualifications were present, and Lance couldn’t move them without cause.

Hamlet was just this small place, if they didn’t retire, others couldn’t advance, and Lance expended resources to educate outstanding workers and farmers, not just so they could continue working.

Now removing a batch was pretty good, Lance didn’t even have to support them, he could place them in more appropriate positions to continue serving Hamlet.

After all, recovering Hamlet Territory needs a lot of roads to be built, relying on their efforts.

Don’t talk politics with Lance; he doesn’t understand what compromise means.

Don’t talk unity; if you don’t commit a crime, nobody can move you.

It was he who conferred power upon Lord as the identity, not the other way around.

Regarding this issue, it couldn’t be kept secret for long, soon some news spread, leading to an interesting phenomenon.

Locals believed Lord did very well, especially parents with children in schools, they wished to hang those troublemakers in the square.

It’s worth noting that previous executions of several criminals were done this way, with their wind-dried, decomposing corpses being quite visually engaging, making the gallows square conceptually akin to "execution at the public marketplace" in people’s minds.

But for those outsiders, it was a completely different story, hard for them to understand.

In their mind, bureaucrats were the assistants of noble rule; why would someone work for the nobles? Surely there must be benefits, exploiting power for bribery, deduction, and oppression was nothing surprising, not doing these would be odd, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the master’s affairs, that’s the rule.

But in Hamlet, isn’t it just snatching food from orphans, what is this supposed to be?

Even if you want a resolution, dealing with one directly would suffice, everyone saves face, but catching so many people and punishing them so severely?

That breaks the rules, who’d dare work for you in the future?

Those people did not think well of this restless Lord, some even had the courage to mock the Lord’s folly and arrogance after two beers.

Actually, their reasoning was easy to guess — after staying here so long without gains, suffering all sorts of unlucky incidents, the Blood Moon getting encircled, all negative emotions pinned on the Lord Lance.

Even if Lance knew, he’d likely not care, but others are different; the troublemaker was denied beer by the bartender, tried to cause a scene, only to be thrown out of the tavern, hoping he’d learn to respect others.

Yet, just as those people stated, Lance indeed shattered the tacit understanding of the noble system.

It’s noteworthy that Hamlet initially absorbed many intellectuals; in this era, literacy meant a certain background.

No one could deny that it was by leveraging their strength that Hamlet could quickly get on track, especially in schools where their proportion was even higher.

These people still held fantasies about old rules, believing there must be an unspeakable tacit understanding between Lords and bureaucrats.

Previously, two major incidents; one was a riot and another a spy case, both led to significant turbulence, and those involved were mostly punished.

The first two purges involved rebellion, shaking Lord’s rule; courting death doesn’t gain pity.

But this time, it’s simple economic corruption, many implicated just took small sums.

Yet, they were harshly interrogated, followed by criticism and punishment, some even being pulled for labor reform.

This they couldn’t bear psychologically; many who returned after the amount wasn’t large and unaware opted to voluntarily resign.

What did Lance do? Almost laughed; you willingly stepped aside, that’s the best.

Approved everything, however many came, he let go without an ounce of persuasion.

Did they truly think he didn’t know what bureaucrats under the noble system were like?

He was acutely aware; the reason bureaucrats needed sideline earnings was because the nobles never cared to pay them salary, thus tacitly allowed them to make money.

But the problem is, Hamlet’s official treatment is quite good, not just the salary, even the benefits are fully assured.

It’s not difficult to support a family of five, knowing this is above average living standard, if promoted, even better benefits await.

So if this isn’t satisfying, not performing their primary work, but misusing power for privileges, making money, it means they aren’t on the same path — the further they go, the better.

What era are we in; do they honestly believe they’re treasures? Trying to threaten him?

If the patriarch hadn’t died, Lance might have had to reconsider, as stability was paramount.

But now with the patriarch gone, frankly speaking, their backing vanished.

Hamlet lacks nothing but people.

If you don’t want to work, plenty of others will.

Lance long identified a group who quickly learned and grew from opportunities, these people were filled with sunshine-like passion and energy; they are Hamlet’s future.

More so, these people are loyal enough; perhaps not knowing how many could resist temptation, but at least for now, trust they can.

This period, many completed lifelong vacations, while others were hastily summoned mid-break to schools for training.

The first lesson was integrity, and needless to say, the live case studies right beside them served as examples.

That’s Lord lecturing them, a rare opportunity.

Not just those individuals, but many civil clerks were there, even some of the apprehended.

Lance did not sweet-talk with grand statements; instead, he revealed the cultural reasons behind the noble-bureaucrat tacit understanding, somewhat excusing their actions.

But soon through comparative analysis between both parties’ treatments, he debunked this amusing tacit understanding.

"Everything of yours is sustained by ordinary people, some even used to be ordinary people; having suffered, why harm them?"

Lance spoke calmly, shaking his head in admiration: "I hope never to see this, it’s not Hamlet, you disappoint me..."

Those words hurt remarkably more than interrogations, many wept directly.

Watching those people with complicated expressions, ambition, greed, numbness; it takes caution to avoid slipping into the Abyss.

This is no tribunal, merely a session of education.

Lance then proceeded with training those individuals, fearing not their resignations.

Because [Enchanting Voice] enabled Lance to swiftly nurture batches of outstanding students.

"Soon Hamlet’s entire territory will recover; are you willing to aid difficult regions?"

"For Hamlet!" 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

"Good, Hamlet’s fortune to have you all, and for me, you are my pride!"

While Lance trained those students, Reynard had completed the purge of the evil cultists, signaling that the real war was about to begin...