The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 1021: Volume 33: Where to Go, What to Do, - 9: Seeking Change

Chapter 1021: Volume 33: Where to Go, What to Do, Chapter 9: Seeking Change

Puber jumped down from the deck and stood on the simple pier, looking around and stretching his stiff body from the long voyage. The warm sea breeze carried a hint of moisture, even making his hair feel slightly damp.

The surroundings were dominated by a somewhat chaotic thicket of shrubbery, with purple-red eucalyptus, gray-green barberry, and needle laurel with its petite white flowers, all common shrubs of the South. Clusters connected to clusters, covering the hills far and wide, extending to the inland before one could finally glimpse some small strips of tall tree forest, no more than three to five meters high.

Looking out, a winding path twisted towards the inland, with almost no one in sight except for a few people within two or three hundred meters of the dock—it truly felt like a land apart from the world.

Puber sighed. This godforsaken place was far worse than Ugru and Mattdam had been initially; at least those places had some indigenous people, at least there were a couple of barely decent roads.

Here, Puber knew, the faint hints of life around the dock were entirely the work of Hayreddin. As for the roads, they could hardly be called that, amounting to nothing more than tracks worn by frequent steps—and perhaps even by the passage of wild beasts more often than not.

Puber had no other option but to sigh; he had no choice but to come, given the task the Boss assigned to him. He was well aware that, in terms of economic value, there was none here, but it was a strategic outpost to prevent the Assyrian People from infiltrating eastward. Further west and north lay the heart of the Mist Flower Hills and the Red Tree Forest. If the Assyrians managed to gain control of the Red Tree Forest and the Iris Basin, their influence would truly seep into the Southern Mediterranean Region.

Nicosia currently lacked the power to extend its influence to the Southern Mediterranean, but that did not mean it couldn’t in the future. Allowing the Assyrians to gain the upper hand was undoubtedly the last thing Komer wished to see. Aiding the Forest Elves in resisting the oppression of the Dark Elves was just an excuse; preventing the far-reaching hands of the Assyrians from reaching the Southern Mediterranean before Nicosia was the true goal.

The essence of the region along the Southern Mediterranean coast was too far from here; there was almost no activity from mortals, and the secluded customs of the Elves also made traders uninterested in this area. Without government support, no one would be willing to pioneer business opportunities here, and now he found himself unwillingly playing the fool.

"Hayreddin, how many people are here now?"

"Roughly a bit over a hundred," Hayreddin said, standing at the bow with his hands on his hips, gazing into the distance. "Most of them are sailors and boatmen we brought. Only a handful of traders have come to establish a presence and scout the area." The sea was as blue as a mirror, a rare quiet time in the Storm Ocean suitable for long voyages. Unfortunately, the place was just a bit too desolate.

"Hmm, Komer wants us to build a forward base here to thwart the Assyrians’ plans, heh, that’s really asking a lot from us. We lack people, resources, and even a lively atmosphere—how are we to build this? Are we supposed to pull this place together with just you and me?" Puber rolled his eyes.

"Mr. Puber, the Lord has entrusted you with full authority to plan and develop this place. I’m merely here to assist you," Hayreddin said with a hint of anguish. "Whatever you decide to do, sir, is up to you. We can run errands and do the grunt work with no issue. Security is taken care of by Vladimir Koff’s Black Flame Knights regiment and the Magicians, at least for now."

"Life is tough. These damn tasks always seem to fall on me. That damned Ilot never has to deal with things like this. Komer is whipping the fast ox, undermining my enthusiasm," Puber grumbled resentfully. "He can’t stand to see me rest in one place for an extra day."

"Mr. Puber, the strong are burdened with more tasks, and you’re the only one the Lord can truly rely on," Hayreddin flattered.

"Hmph, no need for flattery, Hayreddin. Now that I’m here, can I run away?" Puber said grudgingly. "But this godforsaken place needs some basic conditions for development. With absolutely nothing, not even any apparent worth, how can one plan anything?"

"Didn’t Lord Komer mention that we might seek solutions with the Forest Elves? As long as we can get the Forest Elves to come out, half the problem is solved," Hayreddin reminded him. "Miss Finitz is the princess of the Forest Elves, isn’t she?"

"Hmph, Komer’s downfall is women, isn’t it? If it weren’t for Finitz sharing his bed, would he be so committed to rallying the Forest Elves? What do their lives or deaths have to do with us?" Puber smacked his lips and spoke nonsensically.

Hayreddin had no response. This chancellor was known for his unrestrained speech, even in front of the Lord.

"Alright, Hayreddin, stop pretending to be troubled over there. The worries are mine to bear. Komer wants us to take advantage of the Forest Elves? Fine, let’s have Vladimir Koff and his crew hold off a bit, let the Forest Elves feel the pressure. They need to realize that if they want to maintain their relative independence, they need to work with us. And cooperation goes both ways; we can help them, and they should understand our difficulties too. There are plenty of good things in the Red Tree Forest—isn’t it time to bring some out for trade here? It would also benefit the quality of life for the Forest Elves themselves, presenting a win-win situation."

"We could also reach out to other Elves oppressed by the Dark Elves, not just the Forest Elves. In fact, the Forest Elves are the most conservative among these Elves. If we can’t break through there, maybe we could find success with the other Elves," Hayreddin said thoughtfully.

"Indeed, only through mutual exchange and getting commerce flowing can we make this place livable. Otherwise, with a decrepit dock and no traders willing to come, even if the Assyrians don’t, I fear we won’t be able to stay," Puber mused. "But initially, we’ll still have to motivate some merchants to break the ice, figure out the Elves’ preferences and thoughts, and act accordingly. I believe their methods and means are far richer than we imagine."

"Mr. Puber, rest assured, the Elves are not satisfied with their current living situation either, and the desire for change is strong. I believe all we need to do is fan the flames, let them realize for themselves that change is inevitable," Hayreddin said, nodding with crossed arms.

(To be continued. For further information, please visit www.qidian.com. More Chapters are available, please support the author and authorized reading!)