The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 357: Volume 6: Cautious Planning - 11: Magic Machine_2

Chapter 357: Volume 6: Cautious Planning Chapter 11: Magic Machine_2

"Heh, that’s just the kingdom looking after its own, but without the efforts of our Caucasus people, it would all be empty talk." Waving his hand dismissively, Komer was not interested in continuing these trivial conversations. His reason for seeking out this man today was to find a solution to the current food crisis, and the man before him was the key to that solution.

"Mr. Kudan, let me cut to the chase. You deal in food, and I’m sure you’re well aware of the food issue we’re facing in the Caucasus. The North has hiked the transit tariffs on our food imports, pushing food prices to an unacceptable level. Our foundations in the Caucasus are weak, and with over a hundred thousand immigrants moving in and land reclamation efforts only just beginning, it’s impossible to achieve self-sufficiency in the near term. Therefore, I’d like to discuss with Mr. Kudan how we might resolve this pressing food shortage."

The way Komer spoke, he seemed completely unaware that he was talking to a key member of a pirate organization, appearing more like he was discussing a business challenge with a trading partner.

"The food issue?" The whiskered man’s lips were dry. Though on the surface he dealt in grain, in reality, he was responsible for all of their logistics, with food being just one important aspect. And yet, this young lord had now dropped the issue squarely on his shoulders. Could it be that he planned to pin the blame for the Caucasus’s food shortage on him as well?

Seemingly sensing the doubt and tension in the other man’s eyes, Komer offered a magnanimous smile, "Mr. Kudan, there’s no need to be nervous. I meant no other implication with my words. I’ve heard that Mr. Kudan has friends who operate maritime transport. I’d like to solicit your help in making connections. We in the Caucasus need to import a large amount of food at the original market prices, not the inflated ones due to the added tariffs. To put it plainly, this means smuggling—though this smuggling will be for the welfare of the entire Caucasus populace."

With the conversation reaching this point, the whiskered man’s once-suspended heart settled down. Knowing his true nature and still daring to invite him, the whiskered man couldn’t help but admire the young lord’s bold and reckless approach. Pirates had always been the public enemy of coastal countries, and no one dared to deal with them, as even clandestine interactions carried significant risk. Yet this lord brazenly discussed open negotiations with him, even before his position had been fully secured. Besides shock, the whiskered man also weighed the pros and cons of the situation.

As he saw the other’s expression change and fall into deep thought, Komer did not pressure him. The trade was inherently risky. The North had clearly tightened the food blockade to the areas south of Leon. Although officially it was still free trading, dodging the tax officers at Bruce Fortress meant going by sea. But now, the logs of all transport fleets were tightly controlled by the Philip-operated Transport Guild, making it nearly impossible to evade Philip’s watchful eyes. Of course, there was one exception—the "Gray Skull" pirate fleet active in the Southern Nether Sea.

Komer knew that the "Gray Skull" must have some secret ties to the powers that be in order to thrive on these lands. From the fact that the Philip Family’s own fleets could freely travel south while others had to pay exorbitant protection fees, one could infer a connection. However, this did not prove anything. After all, as the ruler of a region, the Homer region had its own professional navy. While not numerous, these were still official navy ships, and it was this navy that allowed for the delicate balance to be maintained between Philip and the "Gray Skull."

Hoping to import food without Philip’s surveillance, the only suitable candidate was the power represented by the man before him. Of course, Komer was prepared to pay a price.

"Lordship, since you already know everything, any further explanation from my side would seem hypocritical. Yes, I’m the representative of the organization in the Caucasus. Since you took office, Lord, the organization thanks you for your benevolence, allowing us to continue our presence on these lands. However, we have never caused any troubles for you, Sir, which I believe is clear to you as well. Lordship, you mentioned smuggling food, and I presume you’re interested in our fleet. Personally, I agree with the proposition. But as you know, our organization also has connections and dealings with the North, and if you want to persuade the organization to agree to this risk, I presume you have proper conditions in mind. So I’d like to hear your thoughts first," he said, his face becoming serious. The man had returned to his usual demeanor, and his every move exuded the rugged air of someone whose life as a merchant had not eroded away his true nature.

He chuckled softly, and Komer’s heart lightened with secret joy. The other party’s boldness suggested that their relationship with Philip wasn’t as tight as he had initially thought. Now it was a matter of whether these guys were willing to get on board his ship.

"Haha, Mr. Kudan, my gift certainly won’t disappoint you, but my demands are not just for this one-time food smuggling, you know." At this moment, Komer played it cool, appearing relaxed and confident, which made the other party somewhat uncertain about what Komer could offer that would be worth agreeing to take such a risk.

"Please speak plainly, Lord. Our organization’s business is clear to you, braving the storm, licking blood off the knife’s edge every day. Without risk, there’s no point in this line of work! As long as you have something worth trading, not to mention food smuggling, even selling our lives to you wouldn’t be too much, would it?" The whiskered man now fully displayed the wild and fierce side of a seafarer, and Komer nodded again and again in agreement.

"Good, since Mr. Kudan has been earning his keep on the rough waters for a long time, I wonder if you’ve heard of the Mirror of Thousand Miles and the Magic-armed gun?"

The casual words were like thunderclaps striking the heart of the whiskered man, who had been waiting leisurely for the other party to make an offer. He shot up so suddenly that he knocked over the coffee on the table, not caring in the least as he lunged towards Komer. The large, brawny man’s face flushed, his lips trembled, his chest heaved with agitation, and he said in a quivering voice, "Lord, what did you say?"

"The Mirror of Thousand Miles, Magic-armed gun." Komer, as if he had anticipated this reaction, repeated without hurry.

Trying hard to remain calm but unable to contain the massive shock, the proudly level-headed whiskered man couldn’t control his emotions any longer. He clasped his hands so tightly it seemed he might squeeze blood from his fingers, uncaring of his rudeness and misconduct, he stood before Komer and stared intently, asking word by word, "My Lord, are you implying that you have news of these items? Or perhaps, you have a lead on them?"

Seeing the other party slowly shake his head, the whiskered man felt anger rising from within, wrath blooming in his guts, fury shooting to his forehead as his expression darkened suddenly: "So, my Lord came here to make fun of Kudan?"

"Making fun? Haha, Mr. Kudan seems to have misunderstood my meaning. What I mean is that if I wanted to, I could possess the Mirror of Thousand Miles and the Magic-armed gun!" His detached voice echoed through the reception hall.

"My Lord, please do not jest. Those two items have been lost for hundreds of years. For all this time, there hasn’t been a single rumor of these items being unearthed on the Continent. Although you are a Mage, Lord, even though these items are connected to magic, they aren’t something that can be produced by a deep understanding of magic alone." Weighed down as if a heavy stone were upon his chest, the whiskered man stood unmoving before Komer, his emotions in turmoil. He was skeptical of Komer’s words but wished even more that Komer would assertively refute his doubts. After all, the matter was of grave importance. Either of these items could cause an upheaval not only for their organization but for all the vessels active in the Nether Sea and the Mediterranean. If what Komer claimed was true, it wasn’t just a matter of minor food smuggling; it could even mean organizing an assault on Cyprus.