The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 330: Volume 5: Lord’s Path - 15: Determination

Chapter 330: Volume 5: Lord’s Path Chapter 15: Determination

Jiangshan had nothing but respect and questions for his boss. In just three years of exile, he had changed so much; it wasn’t surprising. People grow and mature, and three years of being exposed to the elements like never before certainly turned an ignorant youth into a man. Ilot had felt this the first time they met upon returning to Cyprus, but what puzzled him was that in just these past few months, his boss kept giving him fresh impressions. Whether it was his exceptional magic skills, his views on the current state of the Continent, or the guidance he provided today on martial skills improvement, all made him feel a profound respect. And this feeling was for someone who had grown up with him since childhood, which left Ilot inexorably moved.

However, emotions aside, Komer’s guidance indeed showed him a clear path through the fog on his journey to improve his martial arts. Ilot could faintly sense that he might have touched upon the crux of his current plateau. With targeted refinement, he would surely break through this stage and take his martial arts to the next level.

Seeing his companion quietly contemplating with his hand on his sword, Komer did not disturb him and hung his head, preoccupied with his thoughts. The arrival of these more than one hundred thousand immigrants would certainly turn Caucasus into a highlight of the Homer region. Although Philip had refrained from confronting him immediately due to not wanting to break ties with the Central Kingdom just yet, the subsequent restrictions and pressures were likely unavoidable. This thought made Komer feel somewhat troubled.

As a new establishment, Caucasus relied heavily on support from the outside world, especially in transportation—it was a major weakness. Not only were the roads in poor condition, but transporting various materials also required passing through the Leon Region, then through Bruce Fortress, and finally crossing the Greenland Great Forest to enter the Busen Plain. It was no wonder that Philip, the old thief, didn’t take his activities in Caucasus seriously. Leon was the territory of his confidant Boninski, and control over Bruce Fortress meant Philip had a stranglehold on him. If he wanted to take action against him, all he needed to do was firmly control Bruce, leaving him powerless.

Although he had passed through Bruce in a hurry, Komer noticed that its army had at least doubled in size, clearly aimed at him. It seemed only a matter of time before Philip would make his move. How to break free from this cage of shackles needed serious consideration for the future. But now, there was no time to think about that. Ensuring the one hundred and fifty thousand refugees safely survive the winter and settle down was the immediate priority. If he succeeded in these two aspects, all other problems would no longer be issues.

He casually pulled up two blades of grass and chewed them in his mouth, the bitter taste seemingly reflecting his current predicament. Being a lord was not as glorious as he had imagined. Of course, if one could sit in the position of a lord over places like the Busen Plain or Gutenberg, life would be vastly different. Unfortunately, this was Caucasus, where endless troubles were yet to come.

Sheathing his sword, Ilot came out of his deep thoughts, his face alight with joy and excitement. While his contemplation may not have led him to the secrets of advancing, Komer’s guidance had indeed provided a beacon in his mind. As long as he followed this direction, advancing to the next stage seemed just around the corner.

"Ilot, it looks like you’ve had quite the breakthrough. Does improving your martial arts truly captivate you that much?" Komer’s lips curled into a rare smile as he looked thoughtfully, weighing his words carefully.

"Haha, Boss, you know me, I don’t have many other interests. In this life, my only skill lies in martial arts, and I just want to make a breakthrough in it. I’m already of age, yet my Fighting Qi is still at the beginner level. When I look at those Thunderhorse Knights, I wonder how long it will take me to catch up to them?" Ilot’s face wore a trace of discontent and regret, "Boss, your level of magic must be at least that of a Mage, right? Three years ago, you knew nothing. I don’t mean to be rude, but back then I could take on three of you alone. But now, in three years, your magic has reached the realm of a Mage. Heh, I know that even entering the stage of a Magic Apprentice takes three years, and it takes at least five to eight years to advance from an apprentice to a Magician. Going from a Magician to a Mage requires someone with considerable magical aptitude to overcome that hurdle. With a good talent, it takes at least eight to fifteen years. Boss, what takes an ordinary person sixteen years of effort and cultivation, you achieved in three years. How on earth did you do it?"

"Ilot, my experiences over these three years are too complex to summarize, and even now, I’m not clear about my Master’s origins. But I firmly believe that, even when facing some of the well-known overlords of the Continent, my Master would not be at a disadvantage in either magic or martial arts. It’s just that I lack interest in martial arts, so I haven’t learned much from my Master in that area. All I can offer you are some insights based on what I know." Komer sidestepped the peculiarities about himself. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust his brother, but the time just didn’t seem ripe. Letting them know about many things would be of no benefit to them and might even bring them a lot of trouble.

Nodding silently, Ilot also knew that his question was somewhat abrupt. Everyone has secrets they cannot share, and his boss was no longer the reckless and uninhibited scion who used to party and sing. Perhaps only Jiangshan himself clearly understood the secrets he carried, from the close attention of the Thunderhorse Knights to the display of his magic skills, all indicating that Komer was no longer the same person he had been.

Seeing his companion a bit dejected, a wave of indescribable bitterness swept over Komer’s heart. He now needed friendship more than ever, especially from someone like his companion, who had grown up with him. Having gone through too much pain, he no longer wanted to return to the past. He wanted to change everything, and all of this required power, a kind of power that could control the fate of others.

"Ilot, what do you think people live their whole lives for? What is our ultimate goal? Unfettered freedom and carelessness? Invincible martial arts and magic? Endless wealth and riches? Eternal and entwining love? Or the power to direct the course of kingdoms? In this vast world, we hustle every day, but what are we really trying to get?"

His faint words seemed to suddenly bridge the distance that had grown between them. Both Komer and Ilot fell silent at that moment. What was all this for? Even Komer wanted to understand this. Endless worries seemed to constantly follow him, one wave after another, exhausting him. He felt like he was living on autopilot, following a course set by others, never able to escape external constraints and control.

"Boss, I don’t know what your ultimate goal is, but I do know that if we don’t struggle and fight, we’re likely to be abandoned by the locals or executed by those who despise us. We’re just struggling to survive, to live a better life. That’s all," Ilot said.

Komer was truly shocked by Ilot’s words. He had never expected his rough-around-the-edges friend to articulate such succinct yet profound sentiment. Survival, a better life, was this what he was pursuing?

"Ilot, you’re right. Survival, we’re merely fighting for a better right to live. Others live better than us, and some people don’t even want us to survive, going out of their way to prevent us from living. If we want to protect our right to live and lead a better life than those people, then we must struggle hard. By any means necessary, as long as we can make ourselves more powerful and gain the power to determine the fate of others. As for those who try to deprive us of our right to live, we must fight tooth and nail, only by depriving them of their right to live can we truly protect our own," he said, stirred by Ilot’s words. Komer’s emotion surged, and the words that had been buried in his chest came tumbling out. By the end, his voice was fierce, and the words, laced with a hint of bloodlust, seemed to be squeezed through his teeth.

Upon returning to the Caucasus Region, Komer received a spontaneous welcome from the townspeople of Ugru. When word spread among the merchants from various places that a large number of immigrants would soon be moving in, Ugru immediately became a hotspot for business openings, especially under the influence of Barefoot Society Merchants like Caffrey. Cafes, flower shops, bakeries, taverns, jewelry stores, clothing stores, fabric stores, shoe stores, and even weapon gear shops opened one after another. The townspeople felt life was about to change, especially when the Lord’s Mansion planned several streets within three kilometers of Ugru Town as the central city district. Land that had once been wilderness was about to be turned into bustling streets, and they would all become residents of Ugru’s city center. This left them nervous but filled with surprise, as this was likely the most significant transformation since the town’s founding. The young people, tired of the silent and dull life, eagerly anticipated this change.

Neptune, already captivated by Puber’s highly motivational plans, used the mentality of the younger generation to continuously promote and explain the benefits of immigration through various channels. In addition, Puber officially announced a waiver of poll tax and land tax in the Caucasus Region for three years through a formal decree from the Lord’s Mansion, an action that made the impoverished indigenous people spread the word excitedly. Even in times without a lord, the poll tax had never been abolished. Every year, tax officers from Cyprus arrived punctually to collect it. Although the amount was small, for those barely making ends meet, it was a significant expense.

In front of the cheering townspeople, Komer felt little joy or passion. Since the discussion with Ilot, he had set his goal. These simple townspeople were merely pawns he could use, and he planned to fully exploit everyone’s value, tying them to his objectives. Of course, many difficulties needed to be overcome along the way, but with a clear goal, Komer felt he at least could move step by step towards it with effort.