The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 318: Volume 5: Lord’s Path - 7: Gutenberg

Chapter 318: Volume 5: Lord’s Path Chapter 7: Gutenberg

"Gutenberg is known as the Garden City, and it truly lives up to its reputation. Although Mycenae is the capital of a kingdom, compared to Gutenberg, it seems no more than a rural market. However, for such a grand and beautiful city, with its buildings so rich and colorful, I wonder how much it must have cost the treasury. It seems that the Galle Region’s reputation as the wealthiest area in the Kingdom of Nicosia is indeed well-earned," even the usually stern and traditional Reese couldn’t help but sigh deeply after experiencing this prosperous land where every inch of ground is worth its weight in gold.

"Haha, Mr. Reese, the prosperity of Gutenberg didn’t happen overnight. Its rise wasn’t solely due to its special location and fertile land. The flourishing of commerce and agriculture were just icing on the cake. Its initial rise was because of the movable printing factory founded by Duke Zellin’s great-grandfather, Duke Gutenberg. At that time, movable type printing was not as popular as it is now, but Duke Gutenberg, with his keen insight, grasped this opportunity, invested a huge sum of money in the printing factory, and spared no effort in promoting this new thing within his territory. Since printing elsewhere on the continent mostly used engraving, which was time-consuming and costly, the spread of movable type printing immediately sparked a printing revolution across the whole continent. Parchment and engraved printing became relics of the past, and today’s wide circulation of books on the continent is thanks to Duke Gutenberg," Komer said with a touch of emotion. "Duke Gutenberg’s keen instincts turned this then-obscure town into the printing center of the kingdom and the whole continent. A steady stream of books and illustrations were exported from here. Although this period did not last very long, it was enough to lay a solid foundation for today’s city of Gutenberg."

"One man can prosper a state, one thing can prosper a state. It seems that a correct decision by someone in power can lead a place onto the path of prosperity," Reese was also captivated by the rise of Gutenberg and spoke thoughtfully.

"Isn’t that the truth? But those in power also bear greater risk. A single misstep in decision-making can just as easily plunge the interest group they represent into trouble," Komer hinted, prompting a moment of realization between the two.

Although they had already witnessed the wealth of Gutenberg, when Komer and his group punctually arrived at Duke Zellin’s villa on the south side of the city, everyone was still shocked by the splendor of the villa.

This was an asymmetrical garden villa. The main entrance didn’t lead to the main building but rather to a large and quiet courtyard. Along the right side of the court was a long row of low stables, capable of accommodating dozens of steeds. Further down along the edge was a spacious lawn, intended as backup space for the master’s large banquets and receptions, in case the number of guests and their carriages and horses became too overwhelming. Beside the horse farm to the right, there was a row of simple but impeccably clean resting rooms for the coachmen of visiting guests.

Passing through the wide passage and separated by a tall wall with openings, one would officially enter the main complex of the villa. A corridor, dozens of meters long and ten meters wide, led directly to the circular pool in front of the main building. The magic crystal lamp reflected the pool in all its colorful glory, with the sound of gentle cascades and the play of light and shadow. In the center of the pool stood a group of statues, prominently featuring the gold Statue of the god Apollo holding aloft a seven-string harp, exuding a lavish and unrestrained demeanor. With well-defined and symmetrical muscles, every line appeared lifelike under the magic lamp’s illumination. Several nude nymphs followed behind him, some calling out in surprise, others looking on with trepidation or admiration, all incredibly lifelike and natural.

This exquisite group of statues stood proudly in front of the main building, which itself was of a dignified and refined character. Anyone passing by these masterpieces for the first time would be utterly mesmerized and filled with longing for the villa it adorned.

Upon entering the grand hall decorated with large carved glass doors, one is dazzled, as at least several representatives from the merchants of the Meine and Susoer City-States gasped. Such a large panel of carved relief glass couldn’t even be thought of without the expense of three thousand gold shields, and just the decorations in this hall used twelve panes. The cost alone could support a hundred ordinary households for a year. The gracefully behaved and handsome doormen were clearly well-trained over many years, their every move conforming to the basic etiquette of nobles. This made the refugee representatives following Komer feel awkward and worried about committing a breach of etiquette.

Passing through the grand hall, one arrives at a spacious main hall with twelve thick marble columns, each two people could barely wrap their arms around, arranged in an arc, supporting the entire building’s dome. Dozens of crystal chandeliers hung from the eight-meter-high interior, with bright candles magnified by the crystal to illuminate the entire hall, a faint fragrance wafting about, which Komer seemed to recognize. It came from the burning of the candles, made with wicks rolled from the roots of a plant from the sea, although the plant was common, it grew in the territory of the Shark people. Like other extraordinary human races, the Shark people detested the intrusion of other races into their territory. Any intruders would be met with fierce group attacks until their ships were destroyed and people killed. Thus, such candles were rare, and none but the wealthiest families dared even consider them, Duke Zellin and Duke Philip being among the exceptions.

The arrival of Komer and his group didn’t attract much attention from the Galle nobles already gathered in various groups throughout the hall. In their eyes, such irrelevant matters were merely a way for the Duke to enhance his prestige and demonstrate his virtue, an invitation for the local nobility to gather, much like an ordinary banquet.

From the moment they entered the door, Komer and his group could feel the cold stares and disdain of the various nobles, with insults like "country bumpkin," "rube," and "fleeing pauper" intermittently coming from the surrounding noble circles. The refugee representatives following behind Komer were even more timid as they navigated through the grand hall crowded with nobles, trying to find their place. It was at this moment they truly understood how difficult and arduous it was for outsiders like them to live in an environment such as the Galle Region. The nobles, proud and extremely exclusionary, might still maintain their noble demeanor and rationality, but what about those ignorant and bullying farmers and citizens? With what attitude would they face these invaders who, in their eyes, had snatched their jobs and land?

"Lord, why do these people look at us with nothing but indifference and disdain, if not hostility? It seems we haven’t offended them, especially since we were invited as guests by Duke Zellin. Wasn’t this banquet supposedly held to welcome us as we passed through his territory?" A somewhat puzzled Melbourne, who had barely set foot into the lower ranks of nobility, glanced around at those mocking and sneering gazes, then quietly approached Komer, who remained calm, and whispered behind him.

"Lord Melbourne, are you not placing our position a bit too high?" Komer replied, his expression unchanging, coldly surveying the opulently dressed nobles around him, "This is just another ordinary noble banquet at Duke Zellin’s estate; saying it’s for us is just a courteous fib, nothing more. Could it be you actually believe we warrant a banquet in our honor hosted by Duke Zellin himself? As for our identities, I’m afraid these nobles have long been aware you and I are nothing but rootless refugees and commoners — and your noble title was probably bought with a hefty price, wasn’t it? The kingdom has fallen, and our destination is some remote land; I’m merely a lowly baron. Look at the old men here. Apart from a few young ones, I fear all possess ranks higher than viscounty. Why would they consider people like you and me?"

This sort of situation was all too familiar to Cyprus Komer, who had seen how high-ranking nobles scorned the lower echelons, city nobles looked down on country nobles, and the capital’s nobles ignored those from the provinces. Arrogance, pride, selfishness, indifference, and impulsiveness—these traits were characteristic of nobles. Of course, that was under normal circumstances. Even the former Komer had been somewhat infected by this attitude, but years of exile had also made him deeply understand the life of an outright pariah. The haughty and arrogant temperament he once bore had been significantly tempered, which was one of the main reasons why these representatives felt so comfortable and favorable toward the lord who seemed so approachable.

Although Komer purposely lowered his voice, the few representatives behind him heard every clear word. Seeing the contemptuous gazes around them, the representatives couldn’t help but feel both angry and internally shaken.

"One who despises himself will be despised by others; if you don’t even respect yourself, how can you expect others to respect you?" With a sidelong glance that startled the representatives from Meine and Susoer, they both felt a chill in their hearts. Could it be that the secret negotiations with Duke Zellin were known to the others?!

"There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Duke Zellin isn’t stupid; it’s likely that only when some people truly fall into a trap they cannot escape will they be crying without tears," Komer’s light remark finally pierced through the thin veil of pretense.

Startled and horrified, the three representatives from Meine and Susoer looked at each other with palpable anxiety and fear. Turning to the expressionless faces of the two Myron representatives, Meine City-State’s Hozel realized the situation and, no longer caring about the Galle nobles who occasionally glanced over, approached Komer with a pale face and unease, "Lord, there are some things I want to explain..."

"Alright, whatever it is, we can talk about it after we return. This is still Duke Zellin’s estate, and I think we’d better calmly wait until the banquet concludes before discussing it," Komer said indifferently, waving his hand.

Hozel, stymied by Komer’s words, turned green with embarrassment and exchanged worried and uncertain glances with the other two equally enlightened representatives. Not daring to speak further, they could only hang their heads in dejection, silently wondering how to explain everything to the lord after the banquet concluded. With the doors to Galle now closed and having offended the future lord of their new home, they didn’t know how they would survive in the Caucasus, especially when they carried the responsibility for many others on their shoulders.