The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 268 - Nine: Strolling Down the Path of Life

Chapter 268: Chapter Nine: Strolling Down the Path of Life

The atmosphere in the woods seemed filled with a subtly amorous charm. Princess Katya casually picked up her coffee cup and took a gentle sip, the crimson imprint of her lips and the blush on her cheeks becoming so enchanting in Komer’s eyes. Every move she made emitted an alluring aura like fermenting mellow wine, slowly revealing itself, seemingly even more bewitching than the scene Komer had witnessed at the banquet a few months ago. Komer liked this ambiance; although he had no intention of taking any action, it was the lethality of these fleeting sentiments that far exceeded many straightforward expressions, a fact of which Komer was well aware.

Confronting the undisguised look in his eyes, even Katya, accustomed to the gaze of many a man, felt a slight tremor in her resolve, which frightened her. Be it emotion or a flutter of the heart, such feelings seemed long estranged from her, and she was used to the exchange of benefits under all sorts of gazes. However, she could sense a difference in his gaze from all she had experienced before—a liking, an appreciation, perhaps even intimacy, which was unlike mere lust or love. It might develop into love if it progressed further, which filled Katya with fear, for she realized she harbored a joyful feeling deep inside. She did not wish to be entangled with anyone, even if only a possibility, and perhaps the best way to sever such sentiment was to discuss those unpleasant yet unavoidable matters.

"Your baron, it seems your territory is indeed somewhat different from what I had imagined. I see Half-beastmen and Barbarians freely coming and going within your lands, and your guard is mainly composed of Half-beast soldiers. Are you not afraid that they might rise up in rebellion?"

One could say this trip had truly opened Katya’s eyes. She had long heard that the Caucasus was both a vibrant and frightening place. At the time, she could not understand it until she arrived and witnessed the prosperity of Mattdam and Ugru. She then grasped the true meaning of that phrase. It seemed everywhere bustled with activity, with Notices recruiting workers plastered on shops and construction sites, and streets crowded with people of all races from various places seeking suitable work and homes. Mortals formed a large part, but Half-beastmen, Barbarians, Half-Elves, Dwarves, and Elves were also present in significant numbers. Even the Shark people, rarely seen elsewhere, could occasionally be found. Menacing Half-beast soldiers marched impressively through the streets, while Half-Elf Archers stood guard atop tall towers, watching the horizon vigilantly. The passersby seemed accustomed to all of this, displaying no fear or terror, leaving Katya excited yet somewhat worried. The land seemed to be one where all were armed, and the culture of martial training appeared quite popular here; everyone seemed to carry weapons, although few dared to draw them.

The seemingly harmless and elegant Baron in front of her was not as simple-minded and easily deceived as one might imagine. The fact that he had turned a desolate and remote wilderness into this in just a few months, if attributed to mere luck or opportunism, would be utter nonsense. No wonder Hoffman and Renta had kept silent about the situation in the Caucasus upon their return. Had not Palermo divulged a bit of inside information to pique her curiosity, she would never have condescended to visit such a remote wilderness.

"A rebellion? Ha, Lady, do they look like they wish to rebel?" Komer laughed heartily, seeming to realize she wanted to break the subtly romantic mood. He had no desire to dwell on this either; some things were better kept at a certain distance, and besides, he had no real designs.

"You mean you can guarantee they won’t oppose your rule?" Katya asked, puzzled. It seemed he was quite confident about this issue, and she didn’t know where his confidence stemmed from. These races had never truly submitted to the rule of Mortals. Could this man achieve that?

"Well, if I didn’t have that confidence, why would I dare let them live freely in my territory?" Komer replied with a rhetorical question and nodded slightly. "Lady, don’t view these people with such fear. They are actually very simple and kind, and even easier to manage than Mortals. Of course, you need to earn their respect. "

It seemed this man had quite a conceited air about him, but confidence must have been based on something; otherwise, it would be arrogance. And judging by his performance in Versailles, he did not seem to belong to the latter category.

"Your Baron, I dare to ask a question, these Half-beasts within your territory, do they come from the adjacent Leon Region? If so, what status do they possess now in your land?" She knew it wasn’t appropriate to raise this query, but Komer’s performance had been so astonishing that, despite being aware of the truth, she still desired to hear how he would address the issue of these fugitive slaves’ status.

Avoiding her direct gaze with cunning, Komer was aware that almost everyone who had ever visited Caucasus yearned for a definitive answer to this question. After all, such a large number of Half-beasts could not have been locals. Considering the landscape, with Barbarian Territory, the vast Great Swamp, and the Nether Sea nearby, they could only have come from the North, from Leon. The chaotic situation in Leon might have provided the Caucasus with a plentiful and cheap workforce – everything pointed to the runaway or perhaps out-of-control slaves from Leon.

"Hehe, Lady, it seems you are quite interested in this matter, but you are not the only one concerned. In front of you, I will not shy away from the truth. Indeed, quite a significant number of Half-beastman slaves have come to Caucasus. They neither wish to join the rebellious insurgents nor wait in the Leon Region for Homer’s army suppression. That’s why they chose to enter the Caucasus. And for us in Caucasus, because of the development of certain mines, we really do need a large number of skilled workers. So, as the saying goes, it’s a perfect match. As for the statuses you mentioned, they are but slips of paper. In the eyes of the Jazair nobles, even the lives of these Mortals are not guaranteed, let alone concerning themselves with what status these Half-beastman slaves appear under. They probably think this place should be a wild and chaotic world! Hahahaha! As for Homer, the relationship between Caucasus and them has long since reached this point. If they want to pursue this matter, they’d better solve the rebel problem in Leon before coming to argue with me."

Komer’s brazen freedom didn’t come as a surprise to Katya; she had previously perceived his untamed nature that occasionally revealed itself behind his refined demeanor. Located on the fringes, Caucasus was difficult to reach by road. Not to mention holding him accountable, even making the journey here carried many risks. In the hearts of those timid Jazair nobles, aside from claiming sovereignty over this land in a geographical sense, they would probably not even spare it a second glance on the map. His words clearly showed that he wasn’t afraid of Homer pursuing the matter. Upon reflection, it made sense – the Kingdom was undergoing turbulent political shifts, and Homer couldn’t even handle a minor rebellion in Leon, let alone try to deal with the issue of Caucasus harboring illegal fugitive slaves, which seemed far-fetched indeed.

Seeing that he’d led the conversation this way, Katya seized the opportunity to introduce her own topic: "Your words suggest, Baron, that Homer already feels helpless regarding the situation in Leon?"

"No, no, Princess Katya, it seems you’re misinterpreting my words. Do you believe that the Leon Region can survive on its own? It’s a simple truth; it produces neither food nor other essential life necessities. If it lacks external support, even without the suppression of Homer’s army, it is doomed to collapse under its own weight. As for how the Leon mobs achieved victory at first, I believe you and I both clearly understand the reasons, and I do not need to elaborate them. The Homer People could easily conquer Leon if they truly wished to. It’s just for various reasons that Philip has been unable, or rather, has not devoted enough attention to this matter. But this is only a matter of time, and I believe before long, the situation in Leon will change."

A thought struck Katya – she realized the underlying meaning of the seemingly calm Baron’s words: the situation in Leon was bound to inevitably change; it could no longer maintain the current status. However, in which direction it would shift remained ambiguous.

"Your Baron, what do you think could ensure that the situation in Leon maintains a status that protects the interests of both the Kingdom and the Caucasus?" Katya knew that to prevent Leon from falling back into the hands of Homer People, the man before her was the key. Thousands from Homer’s army had been victorious in Leon but then suffered defeat, an event that had shocked the entire Kingdom. That a regular army, even including Mages, had been beaten by an untrained slave force was astonishing. Even if these Half-beastman slaves were savage and fierce, it was still an eye-opening event. However, the truth couldn’t remain hidden for long. As suspicions about Central Kingdom interference grew, the core figures in the Central Kingdom knew that the credit mostly belonged to the obscure Caucasus Lord. The Kingdom had merely provided some assistance with food and logistics, but defeating Homer’s regular army, which was comparable to the Kingdom’s own forces, took more than just food supplies and logistics.

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