The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 485: Volume 10: Thunderous Movements and Winds Rising, - 20: Jellyfish People

Chapter 485: Volume 10: Thunderous Movements and Winds Rising, Chapter 20: Jellyfish People

Komer’s countenance darkened.

The Homer Navy Fleet had been particularly active in recent times, incessantly intercepting merchant ships in the central Nether Sea to inspect fleets traveling to and from Mattdam, strictly enforcing the so-called ban to prevent strategic materials from flowing into Leon and Barbarian Territory.

It was clear who the target was, and even if the paperwork was in order and the taxes fully paid, they would still take the ships back to Odessa and hold them for several days before release, which caused much grievance among the fleets traveling to and from Mattdam.

Fortunately, the Homer Navy had not yet crossed the traditional control line of the Gray Skulls, and the merchant ships coming from the Continent of the Vast and the Blue Continent to the south were not yet greatly affected.

However, the majority of Caucasus’s food supply came from the north, and as a result, the original plan to rely on a local bountiful harvest and then import a large amount of food for essential reserves had been stranded. The current food imports were already insufficient to meet the needs, presenting the biggest challenge to Komer.

Komer also knew that there was little point in negotiating any further with those Gote chaps, as Gray Skull’s attention had completely shifted toward the southern Mediterranean.

The rapidly expanding influence of the pirate fleet led by the Red-haired Witch Katerina had severely threatened the very survival of the Gray Skulls, and having acquired the Mirror of Thousand Miles, they considered themselves powerful enough to reclaim their rightful interests. The conflict between them had escalated from minor skirmishes to full-scale war, so the Gray Skulls had no energy to react to the southward expansion of the Homer Navy’s patrols, as long as their own foundations were not endangered.

From the looks of it, it seemed unlikely that they would conflict with the Homer Navy over the fate of Caucasus.

The only way to solve this problem now was to rely on oneself, and Komer’s gaze quietly shifted westward, to the endless Great Swamp. The abundant water from the Catania River and its vast network of tributaries, coupled with frequent floods, were the major contributors to the creation of the Great Swamp Area and the largest habitat for the Jellyfish People.

The Jellyfish People were perhaps one of the most extraordinary races on the Continent, differing from species that lived entirely on land, and unlike the Shark people who mostly lived in water. They preferred the wetlands and swamps that were widespread across the Continent, a semi-aquatic and semi-terrestrial environment that was unbearable for other species but a supreme paradise for them.

The unique lifestyle molded by their special environment led most of them to build wooden houses on the drier, firmer ground in the wetlands and swamps. They had specialized fin-like limbs that would morph to enable them to move effortlessly in swamps and wetlands. Of course, they could also live freely in rivers, lakes, and on land, but being away from water for too long or living in water for extended periods could harm their health. Hence, they chose to survive by fishing, hunting, and cultivating some swamp-friendly edible plants.

Their particular way of life and self-imposed seclusion meant they seldom interacted with the outside world, whether it was the Mortals spread across the Continent or the Shark people, whose customs were quite similar to theirs. They had little contact, and they seemed quite content with this lifestyle.

Perhaps the only interaction they had with the outside world came through the occasional purchase of medicinal herbs from specially permitted merchants who were allowed into their living areas. In return, they would sell some local specialty products to these merchants, which was probably the only channel of communication with the outside world.

A considerable stretch of the Catania River passed through this expanse marked on maps as the Java Swamp, part of the Great Swamp Area. Neither the Barbarians and other countries and powers to the south of the swamp, nor the kingdoms to the north, including the Duchy of Rosenbourg to the east, dared to easily enter these magical waters.

The quite xenophobic Jellyfish People greatly disliked anyone disturbing their peaceful lives. They had been living within these waters, including the Swamp Area, for hundreds of years, and decades ago, the Rosenborg Kingdom to the east and the Luval City-State to the south of the Catania River both had hoped to clear this important waterway for their landlocked countries, but their attempts to pass through this swath of water were blocked by the Jellyfish People.

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After several conflicts, this asymmetric war ended in defeat for the Rosenborg Kingdom and Luval City-State. Dozens of warships and merchant vessels sank in the Catania River, and the Jellyfish People, who were completely unwilling to negotiate, permanently closed off any attempt to open this waterway. Henceforth, except for its navigable upper reaches, the mid and lower courses of the Catania River became an abandoned, desolate waterway.

Afterward, numerous adventurers tried to drift down the Catania River, but without exception, there was no word from them. It is unknown whether they met with disaster on the water or fell at the hands of the masters of these waters—the Jellyfish People. The entire Great Swamp Area seemed to be shrouded in a thick fog, with no one knowing what truly lay within.

Even the few traders who had established long-term contact with the Jellyfish People could only enter the outermost strongholds of the Swamp Area and could not venture further inside. All trading had to be conducted within a few countable strongholds. The Jellyfish People’s completely self-sufficient economy meant they didn’t need to interact much with the outside world and remain isolated. This also rendered the various attempts by those seeking to find the Jellyfish People’s weakness, with the aim to open up the waterway through the Great Swamp Area, utterly futile.

Seeing Komer’s gaze fixed on the vast, clouded waters to the west, Puber naturally understood what his old companion was thinking. However, up to this point, not a single Jellyfish Person had appeared in the Caucasus territory. Even sightings of the Shark People could occasionally occur, but the Jellyfish People remained unseen.

The Jellyfish People had a very distinctive appearance. Almost all of them wore a kind of rough fabric made from the reeds commonly found in the Great Swamp, which after special tanning methods, would have their plant fibers separated, processed through many steps, and finally woven into the fabric. This fabric had good ventilation and dehumidifying properties, making it very suitable for life within the swampy region.

"Boss, could it be that you’re thinking of targeting the Jellyfish People? Alas, the Jellyfish People are not like the Half-Beastmen and Barbarians. They are completely self-isolated and self-sufficient, not needing anything from the outside world. If we want to communicate with these rigid and conservative Jellyfish People, I’m afraid it’s going to be difficult. We don’t even know how to make contact with them,"

Shaking his head and sighing softly, Puber had tried himself, but the border region of Bahomon to the west of the Great Swamp Area was uninhabited. Neither Mortals nor Barbarians were often seen there, let alone Jellyfish People. What’s more, moving forward, the ground would become soft and moist, gradually turning into wetlands before finally entering the Swamp Area.

Common folks dared not enter such a place. The reeds and various aquatic plants spreading along the river bank veiled the entire riverbank tightly. With such a situation, how could one establish contact with the area?

"There will always be a way. The Jellyfish People are probably not as transcendent as you imagine. They too have many troubles. As long as we search carefully, we can find their weaknesses. If they are people, they will have all sorts of desires and troubles. Their contentment with living in the Great Swamp must not be just due to their lifestyle habits. It’s like the Barbarians trapped on the Cordillera Wasteland. It’s not that they don’t want to leave, but they are constrained by various factors. As far as I know, the Jellyfish People did not only reside in this Great Swamp Area, and surely, this region doesn’t only have these tens of thousands of people, right?"

The population of the Jellyfish People is also a mystery. Some estimates are over 100,000, some around 30,000 to 50,000, but based on what Komer knew and combining the information gathered from people like Rebry, he judged that there ought to be fewer than 100,000 Jellyfish People.

According to the History Books common on the Continent, the Jellyfish People numbered at least over 500,000 at their peak, scattering across various swamp and wetland regions. But now, apart from this one region that can still be called the Jellyfish People’s habitat, other wetland areas rarely see them anymore; even if so, they exist in very small populations.

Raising an eyebrow, Puber realized his boss likely had some ideas in mind, otherwise, he wouldn’t have such a resolute demeanor. But what concerned him more was the issue of time.

Given the current aggressive advances of the Homer Navy Fleet, it would not be long before Homer’s warships appeared off the coast of Mattdam. If such a situation arose, the entire Caucasus would be seriously impacted, and opening the waterway through the Catania River seemed no easy task. Could his boss really achieve it?

"Lord, why have you chosen to involve me in this adventure with you? While I do love adventuring, I would never recklessly embark on a worthless risk. What treasures in the Great Swamp Area are worth the journey? Moreover, the Jellyfish People’s hostility toward other races is well-known on the Continent. If we rashly go there, wouldn’t we be sending ourselves to our deaths? You don’t think that the two of us, along with a Dark Knight, could oppose thousands of Jellyfish People, do you? If it were land, perhaps we could escape, but there it’s all mires and mud. I’m afraid we would be gone without a trace!"

Looking intrigued at the calm-faced Komer, the Sloppy Mage was evidently just emerging from his Magic laboratory, holding a short rod still emitting wisps of smoke in his hand, and with splash-like corrosion marks on his robe from some magic, possibly from a spell strike experiment. The pursuit of Magic Heaven seemed to have become the lifelong hope of these Mages, and magical experimentation was an extremely important endeavor.

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