The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 402: Volume 8 Gathering of the Storms - 4 Burning with Jealousy

Chapter 402: Volume 8 Gathering of the Storms Chapter 4 Burning with Jealousy

The situation within the kingdom seems to be getting tenser by the day. A message from Jazair had recently spread that the Minister of Internal Affairs publicly criticized the Dukes of Galle and Homer for not sharing the kingdom’s worries. Instead, they were single-mindedly expanding the military strength within their own territories, clearly harboring disloyal intentions, which incited severe dissatisfaction in the regions of Galle and Homer. Although the Kingdom’s Privy Council later stepped in to mediate, the stance of the Central Kingdom had been increasingly tough, particularly as the Finance Minister strongly demanded that the "Utrecht Decree" must be strictly enforced in the regions of Galle and Homer. Moreover, Duke Galle publicly declared that the "Utrecht Decree" was inappropriate for the region and could not be implemented in the near term, leading to another crisis between the Central Kingdom and Galle. During this crisis, Duke Homer Philip initially took an ambiguous stance, but in the end, he decisively sided with Galle, further escalating the crisis.

In order to prevent the kingdom’s situation, which was on the brink of eruption, from deteriorating further, Prince Hoffman and Princess Renta were sent as envoys to Cyprus, while Princess Katya was dispatched to Gutenberg, aiming to mitigate the hostile atmosphere between Jazair and the two regions. However, the extent of their efficacy remained uncertain to everyone.

Based solely on their expressions from yesterday, Komer could already conclude that the marriage alliance between Hoffman and Tracy had reached a dangerous edge. Although both maintained customary politeness and restraint on the surface, the wariness behind their backs had long confirmed this point. A betrothal document could not sustain the relationship between the two houses, which was deteriorating day by day. The opposition between the kingdom and Homer forced both to stand at the forefront of their families’ clashing interests.

At first glance, the visits of the Royal Family members Hoffman and Renta seemed to be a simple affair, and even from their conversations, they appeared more interested in the exotic landscapes of the Caucasus than anything else. But Komer believed that there was a deeper purpose to their visit; they just had not yet found the right opportunity to communicate it, especially at a time when the Leon Region seemed unsettled and on the verge of losing control. Tracy, who stayed close at hand, seemed to take on more of a surveillance role. Perhaps Hoffman and Renta were aware of this too, but as the daughter of the nominal Great Lord of the Caucasus, they had to be discreet about bypassing her to contact Komer directly.

"Your Highness flatters me. The conditions in the Caucasus are harsh; it is just at the starting stage, and besides the newly arrived immigrants, there are many residents from other races in the surrounding areas. They are very different from the mortal immigrants in many ways, and there is a long way to go to foster harmonious coexistence. But Komer believes that with the support of His Majesty the King and Your Grace, the Caucasus will gradually prosper. The Caucasus is also willing to take on more responsibilities and necessary obligations for the kingdom," Komer said with a slight smile, politely squeezing out a bunch of meaningless platitudes.

"Haha, Your baron humbles himself too much. We are all aware of the initial state of the Caucasus, and to bring about such drastic changes in such a short time, who could overlook Your baron’s abilities and talents? The kingdom sincerely hopes for the rapid development of the Caucasus, after all, it is at the southernmost tip of our kingdom’s territory, and not only is the racial composition complex, but there is also an inevitable tension with the Barbarians, who have always been at odds with our mortals. I hope Your baron can properly manage the relations with the Barbarians to avoid conflict and unnecessary disputes. All these heavy responsibilities will still rely on Your baron’s efforts alone," Hoffman said in a long string of noble diplomatic phrases. However, he finally touched on some substantive issues. The Barbarians had always been a hidden danger to the kingdom, but fortunately, they were located in the distant south and separated by several natural barriers, so the kingdom was not overly concerned about this problem. Instead, they hoped the Caucasus could become a barrier against potential dangers.

"Rest assured, Your Highness, the south has always been a focus of Komer’s attentions. I have somewhat grasped the temperament of the Barbarians. The lack of food in the Cordillera Wilderness is the biggest vulnerability of the Barbarians; controlling this lifeline means they are not that hard to deal with. However, the Caucasus is not a grain-producing region, and it is extremely difficult to meet the demands of the local residents. If we also have to cater to the Barbarians, I fear it will be beyond our abilities. If we encounter a year of disaster with no food sources, and the Barbarians become unsettled, they will not be easy to handle. Right now, the Duke has, for some reason, doubled the tax rate on food imported to the south, making it impossible for the people of the Caucasus to afford such food prices, let alone the Barbarians. In the long run, trouble will inevitably arise. I hope that Princess Tracy can convey this to the Duke on my behalf, it would be best to return to the original tax rates, and I would be greatly appreciative if both Your Highnesses could mediate in this matter," Komer claimed.

Since the others had mentioned the Barbarians, Komer subtly implicated Philip in the matter, letting the three understand that restricting food would not harm the Caucasus but would likely cause the Barbarians to become restless due to food shortages. Of course, Philip might desire such an outcome, as it would harm only the Caucasus and not the other areas of Homer Province.

The reactions of Tracy, Hoffman, and Renta were different. Tracy, with a sip of a smile, merely pretended to promise to convey the message to her father upon her return, while Hoffman and Renta had already become aware of the underlying danger. Philip had recognized the threat posed by the Caucasus and had begun taking planned and systematic steps to restrict and suppress it. However, from the baron’s demeanor, it seemed he also had a strategy in response.