CHAPTER 216: CHAPTER 189: ARRIVING AT THE LOYAL HAMLET_1

Since the pirate attack, there had been few surprises, with smooth sailing all the way.

The old captain took some people to control the clipper while also sharing some of the cargo and passengers, which alleviated the crowding on board.

At any rate, Lance could finally have a room to himself and no longer had to squeeze in with the others.

Until suddenly, there was a commotion outside...

"Land! It’s land! Go quickly and inform the Lord!"

The lookout perched at the top of the mast with a telescope suddenly shouted as if he had discovered something.

The ship grew bustling as news of their approach to land spread quickly.

Upon hearing the news, Lance also came out to look towards the horizon. It had been nearly half a month since he left Hamlet, and now, finally returning, his heart inevitably stirred with excitement.

I wonder how things are in the town?

Boudica was even more excited than him. Like a husky finally freed from its cage for a walk, he was eager and ready for a hearty indulgence in all the drinks he’d missed out on.

The ship could see the land, and equally, the land could see the ship. The small fleet of three vessels drew the attention of some people, starting with those on watch at the harbor lighthouse.

Before setting off, Lance had been very worried about pirate attacks, so he had those three cannons transferred here and also arranged for people to stand guard.

Today, his foresight finally paid off. The lookout high above spotted the incoming ships and the bright red flag atop the main mast.

"Red flag! That’s the Lord’s signal flag! Quickly notify the officials!"

This news immediately set the whole town abuzz, and people unconsciously began converging towards the harbor.

Sighting land, no matter how distant, brought hope; arrival was now just a matter of time.

Soon, the ships docked at the shabby little pier. For a place like this, three ships represented a considerable burden.

From the deck, one could get a rough view of the town. However, having seen the prosperity of Totnes, the dilapidation of this town presented a gaping disparity.

Ordinary people wouldn’t dare say anything, nor would they want to, but Boudica, having no such reservations, blurted out.

"Boss, why does this place look so rundown?"

"Hahaha!" Lance was not angry at all but instead laughed loudly, drawing everyone’s attention.

It was then that he confidently explained.

"Totnes may be nice, but it belongs to others. Hamlet, however, will always be your home."

This statement elicited a range of thoughts from the crowd.

They were all from Totnes. Even if not locals, they had experienced its prosperity. Who wouldn’t want to stay in such a place?

But they had all been harshly treated and had felt the malice of Totnes; otherwise, they wouldn’t have ended up here.

Lance was right. As wonderful as Totnes might be, it belonged to others; this place, Hamlet, was their own home.

"Pass the word: everyone return to their cabins. You will disembark in an orderly manner by cabin later. Anyone causing trouble will be severely punished."

Over the past few days, Lance had already formulated a resettlement plan; otherwise, managing two thousand people suddenly pouring out would have been difficult.

He, along with the doctor and Boudica, disembarked to head to another ship and prioritize arrangements for the craftsmen he had recruited.

Bringing them back was just the first step; the real challenge lay in management. He had to quickly establish policies and start assigning them jobs.

Meanwhile, Tiffany had also disembarked, along with Master Eugene, Winston, and other craftsmen.

It had to be said, these were experienced people. Upon seeing the state of Hamlet, they were somewhat baffled. Can such a small town really support our research? Can it really offer such high salaries? Is there truly a future here?

Lance was well aware of his territory’s weak competitiveness, but there wasn’t much he could do about it. For now, the only way to stabilize them was to pave the way with "sincerity."

"As I’ve said, you get priority in choosing your homes. Everyone gets a month’s advance on their wages. After a month, whether you stay or leave is up to you."

Lance’s words, laid out so straightforwardly, immediately soothed their moods.

He said this, but since these people had brought their entire families, how could they truly leave after just one month?

People are subject to sunk costs. Once they settle in, it’s hard to leave.

"Lord Lance!"

"My Lord!"

"..."

Some people hurried over, led by Susan, Balistan, Barton, and a few other responsible figures.

Lance turned to look, and the sheer force of his gaze halted their steps, leaving them rooted five or six meters away.

Dismas and the others, who were around Lance every day, hadn’t noticed much change. Balistan and the rest, however, hadn’t seen Lance for some time. Their impression of the Lord was still based on how he was when he departed.

Yet to their surprise, in little more than half a month, the Lord’s authority seemed even more formidable. Every move he made inadvertently inspired awe.

"You’ve all worked hard. There haven’t been any issues in town while I’ve been away, have there?"

"Nothing major, but..." Balistan’s one-eyed gaze swept over everyone, "there are some matters in town that require Lord Lance’s decision."

So, trouble has arisen.

Lance sensed something but didn’t intend to press the issue. Some matters were best not laid out in the open.

"We can discuss any matters later. Come here for a moment; let me make some introductions. This is Master Eugene, the Empire’s top gunnery designer. This is Winston, a skillful weaponsmith. These craftsmen are all seasoned gunnery craftsmen..."