Farming in a Parallel World and Becoming a God
Chapter 979 - 593 Conspiracy

Chapter 979: Chapter 593 Conspiracy

"I wonder, Lord of the Fortress, how have you considered my earlier proposal?" spoke a tall man nearing six feet in height, clad in silver tight-fitting riding breeches, red pointed leather shoes, a silver hauberk, and cloaked in a sky-blue pirate’s cape embroidered with a silver raven poised for flight.

The man’s name was Mickros Selcok, son of the Sambiyan Merchant Councillor Kendrick, and founder of the Silver Raven Guild. He had been sent by his father as Sambia’s special envoy to negotiate with the Santarin Association’s Dark Castle, in hopes of allying with them to confront the Conqueror Army and let the swamps of the Goblin Margins completely swallow them.

However, he hadn’t anticipated that this mission would be far more challenging than expected. The Dark Castle Chairman, Mammon, was more troublesome than imagined—unyielding, showing little interest in the Conqueror Army, as if they posed no threat to Dark Castle, suggesting an attitude of ’why should we meddle in these murky waters?’

When Mickros received news that the Conqueror Army had departed from the Giant Dragon Coast and moved deeper into the Goblin Margins, he grew restless, eager for one last attempt. This was the final opportunity; if he couldn’t persuade the most influential force of the Goblin Margins, Sambia’s plans to ambush the Conqueror Army would be for naught. They didn’t possess enough influence there, on their own, and even with the temptation of benefits to unite some local Monster Tribes, they couldn’t threaten the Conqueror Army’s immense scale.

"The Special Envoy is a smart man and should know our Santarin creed: we weigh everything in terms of benefits, with greater risks come greater rewards. But in your plan, I see only great risk, and no reward to match it. Why should we join you?"

The reply came from a handsome middle-aged man with shoulder-length black hair, meticulous sideburns, and a painstakingly neat appearance, speaking slowly and deliberately as though every sentence, every word had been carefully weighed before being spoken.

Sitting on a massive throne that seemed out of proportion with his lean body, yet without any dissonance akin to a child on an emperor’s chair—quite the opposite, it felt perfectly fitting, given the strong magic power radiations from his person, enough to match the grandeur of the throne.

This man was none other than Archmage Simmon, the controller of Dark Castle, who had sided with Shylock. Certainly, part of it had to do with his opposition to Bozor, the High Priest of the God of Tyranny, but his own temperament was also a factor. He disfavored tyranny and unnecessary violence and cruelty. He preferred to ensnare his once-enemies with the insidious bonds of dark benefits, quietly tethering them to his war chariot.

This was why, despite the Santarin Association’s notorious reputation, the Dark Castle thrived under his leadership. Many powers resisting them also enjoyed the dark benefits he brought, making their resistance far less fatal and intense.

The proposal to sink the Conqueror Army into the swamps of the Goblin Margins and seize their vast inheritance seemed very appealing.

In reality, it was dreadful—only those blinded by greed would fall for it. Should the plan fail, they would face the wrath of the Conqueror Army’s furious counterattack.

This was a systematic, organized military force with the protection of a deity, having already proven their military prowess on the Giant Plains and their scheming at the Giant Dragon Coast.

Provoking such an adversary was akin to courting discomfort.

The Sambiyan merchants were underestimating him; Archmage Simmon was not one to be readily used as a pawn.

"Lord of the Fortress, you seem to overlook another important aspect of the Conqueror Army Commander’s identity. He is not only the Count of Battle Valley but also the owner of the Rockland Gnoll territories. What do you think the greedy old dragon of the Komeer Kingdom would do once the Conqueror Army led by him successfully crosses the Goblin Margins to reach Komeer Rocks?"

Mickros answered his own question: "If it were me, I would proclaim him Rockland Duke before the Conqueror Army formally enters the Komeer Rocks because, by doing so, the Conqueror Army’s passage wouldn’t be simply crossing the Rocks. Instead, they’d start paving roads and establishing villages and towns along the Rockland High Road. Then, it wouldn’t be about the army sweeping through Komeer to take its population, but rather they’d be increasing it.

Consequently, your Santarin Association’s plan to expand a new trade route to the south would be irretrievably lost, the terrestrial link between your Dark Castle and the Santarin would be utterly severed."

Simmon remained unmoved, not even altering his posture as he nodded, "The scenario you described could indeed happen, but it seems you’ve forgotten what we in the Santarin Association are best at: profit-sharing, decadence, and corruption. Our previous lag in progress on the Rockland High Road is because there was no true ruler here, all decisions rested in the Royal Family, in the hands of that old dragon. We lacked a target to corrupt and win over.

Once there is a Duke of our own, it gives us a clear target. And once this noble lord joins our ranks, that will also be the time we break through the High Road."

The Lord of Dark Castle was not making excuses but stating a fact—an analysis surely as clear to Mickros as it was to Simmon.