The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 352: Volume 6: Cautious Planning - 9: Shadows_2

Since the ordeal with the Ogre, Komer felt his magic power had entered a dormant phase again. Each adventure brought unexpected gains followed by a slump, a cycle he had become accustomed to. During these times, Komer devoted himself to meditation, practicing spirit control, and searching the memory archive left by Kennifer III for magical knowledge that best suited him.

After much exploration and experimentation, Komer had begun to identify the path most suitable for him. He naturally favored Dark Magic, which resonated with his own practice of magic power. Among Elemental Magic, he had a preference for Fire Magic and Thunder Magic. Puppet Magic and Summoned Magic, often considered heterodox, also piqued his interest due to his rapid advancement in spiritual power, leading him into a deeper exploration of these arts. Kennifer III was indeed a genius without equal; his vast memory archive contained almost every kind of magic, each mastered to a high level. Komer found it inconceivable that a single individual could achieve such mastery in one lifetime. He believed that even a genius would struggle to do so, given the limitations of human energy and the need for specialization. However, Kennifer III had accomplished this feat and even told Komer in a nightmare that he too could achieve it.

At this thought, Komer shook his head with a wry smile. Magic power conversion might sound simple, but crossing that threshold was unimaginably difficult. Many mages, priding themselves as magical elite geniuses, had failed at that very task. Komer never believed he had such a talent. As of now, he could perform a few simple spells of White Magic or Light Magic without issue, but he was powerless when it came to large-scale or advanced spells of these types. To forcibly attempt magic power conversion following the methods Kennifer III had left in his memories seemed tantamount to courting death, a risk Komer was not willing to take. He preferred to focus on refining his practice of Dark Magic instead.

"Sir, the gentlemen are waiting for you in the conference room," the guttural voice of a Half-Beastman Guard rang from outside the door. Although these Half-Beastmen might appear ferocious and uncouth to mortals, Komer, accustomed to the deceptive and betrayal-filled business sea, admired their simple-minded but unwaveringly loyal brutes. Handsome charm could not replace practical reliability, and the role of the Guard was to ensure his safety. The significant shift from slaves to guards was enough to guarantee their absolute loyalty to him, relieving him of the constant fear of betrayal.

"Understood." Komer straightened his attire and stood up. Today marked the first meeting of The Caucasus Cooperative Bank a month after its establishment, and it was an important meeting to confirm the operational direction of the bank.

Heeding Puber’s advice, Komer invited a select group of business elites, who had gradually integrated into the Caucasus business community, to discuss the feasibility of establishing a local bank in the region after returning from the Bahumon Massacre. To Komer’s surprise, not only native Traders but also immigrant gentry and Barefoot Society Merchants, including Caffrey, expressed great interest in the bank’s formation, eagerly offering to invest as shareholders in the establishment of the first bank in the Caucasus. Their enthusiasm once again validated Puber’s assertion; financial institutions, particularly those with the involvement of authorities, were always the top investment choice for merchants, offering high profits with low risks—a prospect surely irresistible to those used to the ebb and flow of the business sea.

Following Puber’s suggestion, the Lord’s Mansion, holding ten percent of the bank’s shares, sent Puber as the shareholder representative. As expected, Zip, Hozer, and Melbourne represented the new immigrant shareholders. Hesse, Maximi, and even the Food merchant Kudan appeared as representatives of the indigenous shareholders. Caffrey, Palermo, Piro Feller, a friend of Caffrey in the Barefoot Society, and a representative of Princess Katya’s interests became representatives of external commercial forces as shareholders. With a mere 15 million gold shields in capital, the provincial bank broke ground. Melbourne, with his extensive experience in finance in Susoer, became the new head of The Caucasus Cooperative Bank, as his contribution alone amounted to thirty percent of the bank’s capital—4.5 million gold shields, no small sum. The new immigrant share capital accounted for half of the bank’s total, showcasing the wealth of the merchants from Meine and Susoer.