The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 296: Volume 4: Turbulent World - 19: Power Circle

Chapter 296: Volume 4: Turbulent World Chapter 19: Power Circle

Komer slightly furrowed his brow and took a sip of the rich black tea. Even Duke Tez was powerless regarding this matter, and although Caffrey had gone to contact the Barefoot Society’s companions, he had clearly stated that such a large volume of food purchases could not be kept secret. Duke Philip and Duke Zellin would definitely pressure the Kingdom’s Grain Merchants in various ways, and for the merchants, raising food prices would not only yield high profits but also avoid offending their lords. Why wouldn’t they do such a thing?

"Your baron, I have a friend who has an extremely wide network among the Kingdom’s Grain Merchants, and also has a good relationship with both Philip and Zellin. I believe if you entrust this trade to him, it will surely help you save a substantial amount of funds while also ensuring the transaction goes much more smoothly. What do you think?" The princess in a pale yellow dress hesitantly offered her suggestion after considering her words.

It suddenly dawned on Komer that this was the reason why Princess Katya had invited him to have afternoon tea. A grain trade worth over one million gold shields was quite a significant deal; whoever secured it would not earn a small profit. Even Princess Katya had her eyes on it, extending a hasty invitation to use her advantage of having better inside information to secure the deal before anyone else.

Feigning deep gratitude, Komer nodded earnestly, "If there’s such an opportunity, of course Komer welcomes it. I thank you in advance, lady. Whether or not you can assist me with this matter, I will always remember your kindness."

Katya was unable to fathom whether this man was feigning ignorance or truly naive due to his provincial upbringing, but she didn’t care. Having made the offer, she naturally aimed to achieve her goal, as for the rest, insiders knew all too well how much the annual royal allocation for each member of the Royal Family amounted to – merely enough for the expenses of an ordinary official. How could it satisfy the extravagant lifestyle of the royals? Those of the Royal Family needed to live and live well, and to enjoy such a lifestyle, they had to be resourceful.

"Very well, my friend is already waiting for you in the living room, I’ll call him in now." Not one to dawdle, Princess Katya promptly summoned her friend into the garden with a wave of her hand, and the servant who had been standing in the distance, already instructed, immediately ushered in a middle-aged man.

Leaning against the window sill, a white gauze clung tightly to the beautiful woman’s delicate face, her melancholic expression seeming to hover over it persistently. Katya gazed somewhat absently at the two outside who were discussing earnestly, familiar with her friend’s nature of never compromising when it came to business. But what about His Excellency the baron? He too seemed leisurely engaged in the conversation, as if they were long-lost friends. This man was not simple at all.

In fact, since the first meeting at the banquet, Katya had sensed that this seemingly unsophisticated man was no ordinary individual. Daring to take in one hundred and fifty thousand refugees from Caucasus, a place not renowned for its resources, was akin to gambling; it demonstrated how much of a risk-taker he was, wagering his own fortune and life. Should there be deaths from starvation and freezing, a humanitarian disaster, mere instigation from the interested parties would be enough to send this scapegoat to the gallows.

However, Tez appeared to have great confidence in this man. Perhaps with the intention of planting a spy, Tez was very dedicated this time, keen on supporting him. It seemed Philip had indeed caused great displeasure to both his father and Duke Tez. But this was in line with her own interests; Philip seemed oblivious to her, perhaps considering her an unlikely heir to the throne. In his eyes, her brothers or even Hoffman might be more suitable candidates than she. Katya thought coldly, anyone not an ally was an enemy; in this war, there were no neutrals. Perhaps this country noble could become a thorn in Philip’s side.

The visit of the Court Chief Magician piqued Katya’s interest in this rural bumpkin even more. Nowadays, in Versailles, everyone knew what a visit from the Court Chief Magician from the Church of Light meant. Could this bumpkin be a Mage or even an assassin capable of killing Magician Malone? This was both shocking and baffling, and Katya couldn’t help but wonder what Onia had asked him during his visit, and how he had managed to give Onia a satisfactory answer. After all, Onia was not an easy man to handle.

Mage? Assassin? These familiar professions suddenly seemed peculiar when associated with a provincial aristocrat. It was rumored that the one who killed Magician Malone might possess Dark magic power, meaning the killer could be a Dark Magician or even a Necromancer. Although the Church of Light was not the only magic authority in Nicosia, Dark Magicians were seldom mentioned for, after the fall of the Nether Empire, also known as the Dark Dynasty, six hundred years ago, Dark Magic had become synonymous with evil, a term that no one wished to utter. The Necromancers, who revered darkness and death, were even more despised and scorned. This was the case in Nicosia, but in the Holy Church-based countries of the Northern Alliance, such mages were even more intolerable to the Holy Light adherents.