The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 613: Volume 16: Hazy Darkness - 6: Hidden Agendas

Chapter 613: Volume 16: Hazy Darkness Chapter 6: Hidden Agendas

"Your Highness, it is merely a temporary capital relocation. Currently, the Beastmen’s two armies are nearly forming a pincer movement, and the Blue Dove Corps can hardly withstand the northern Beastman Army. Once Jazair is encircled, the kingdom will truly be finished. If we temporarily withdraw from Jazair and retreat to the south, the kingdom could then catch its breath, allowing us to assess the situation, observe the Beastmen’s next move. The vast central region could serve as a buffer zone. If the Beastmen are only out to plunder, then there’s little more to say, but if they intend to occupy the land long-term, then so much the better. As the vast central region acts as a buffer zone, the deeper they penetrate, the greater the pressure they will face. Whether it’s from the Four Great Lords or the Northern Alliance to the west of the kingdom, the kingdom might gain even greater support."

A subtle smile appeared on Palermo’s face, his somewhat puffy eye bags always looking lackadaisical, yet his verbal analysis was incredibly precise.

"Oh? What do you mean by that? Those Great Lords are clearly in league with the Beastmen, nothing more than bandits. How would they support the central Kingdom of Nicosia? As for the countries of the Northern Alliance, they have been sitting on the sidelines up to this point, showing no intention of lending a hand. They all seem eager to see the kingdom’s downfall and demise. In such times, they refuse to send aid, so you’re saying they’ll suddenly develop a conscience later?" Katya asked with some confusion, although she also knew that her business confidant, or rather partner, was equally exceptional in political insight. Over the past few years, she had navigated many a crisis under his guidance.

"Heh, why do you think the Great Lords would tacitly cooperate with the Beastmen? It’s because the central policies of the kingdom threaten their survival. I suppose someone must have brokered a deal with the Beastmen, which explains their actions. But no matter who it is, I believe they would never readily hand over the entire northern territory of the kingdom as a bargaining chip. Neither the Four Great Lords nor their brokers are simply looking to exploit the Beastmen to drastically weaken the central authority of the kingdom, so the kingdom can no longer interfere with the affairs within their territories. But the Beastmen may not be willing to follow the commands of the Great Lords and their brokers. They too are approaching with an exploitative attitude. This is a deadlock; when the Beastmen exceed their limits, it will be time for the Great Lords and their brokers to strike back. At that time, the kingdom might instead become a bystander. No one wants to see the Beastmen’s blades at their throats, whether it’s the Great Lords or other allied nations."

Palermo’s voice was somewhat coarse, but the implication in his words was unmistakable. Everyone needs to gamble for their own interests—be it exploitation or collaboration, once the bottom line is crossed, allies could become enemies.

"Do you think, given the current arrogance of the Beastmen, that the Ferdinand and Heine families could still turn the tide?" She shook her head slightly, a curious sparkle lighting up Katya’s delicate face, clearly intrigued, yet she still disagreed with Palermo’s perspective.

"Your Highness, you underestimate these Great Lords. The Four Great Lords are in this together, not to mention there is a hidden broker behind them. Although I can’t guess who their broker is, the fact that they dare to gamble so greatly proves that this broker is no simple character. Without absolute confidence, the Four Great Lords wouldn’t easily take the plunge," said Palermo, his face revealing an inscrutable smile.

Pondering and nodding thoughtfully, Katya seemed to taste the underlying meaning. Indeed, the struggle between the Four Great Lords and the central kingdom had been ongoing for years. The central Empire had also enacted some specific policies in the past to which the Four Great Lords either resisted passively or disobeyed secretly, but they had never been as brazen as this time to openly break with the kingdom. Although it seemed that the Ferdinand family claimed they had to flee due to a sudden Beastmen attack, it was clear to any discerning observer that the St. Nicholas Fortress could not have been taken by a mere Beastmen raid. If that were so, the Northern Border fortifications of the kingdom would be as good as nonexistent. After all these years, the Beastmen had never breached any fortress cluster, so how could they succeed at the St. Nicholas Fortress this year?

And where did the Beastmen in the west get their battering rams? Katya would never believe that the Beastmen would suddenly have a surge of intelligence to create battering rams on their own. Dozens of battering rams were not a small number. The workshops or factories of ordinary mortal nations could not provide so many battering rams on short notice, especially not under the tight embargo of the Northern Alliance. The mystery was too intriguing.

"Palermo, are you suggesting the Church of Light••••••?" Katya’s complexion changed slightly. If the Church of Light was also involved in this conspiracy, then it would be terrifying. The kingdom could be said to be utterly powerless to turn the situation around. After careful consideration, the mysterious broker seemed to be none other than the Church of Light. Even if the church factions of those Northern League countries had the intention, it was unlikely that they had the power to influence the Great Lords to such an extent.

"Your Highness, some things are better left pondered in the heart. Now, with so many possibilities, everything is complex and confusing. The kingdom’s temporary abandonment of the North may not be a bad thing; letting those fellows take the stage may make things much easier to handle. At least the kingdom can see clearly who is truly loyal to the Romanov family, who is a fair-weather friend, and who harbors ill intentions." Palermo shook his head slightly and lifted a cup of coffee that was at just the right temperature to his lips for a gentle sip.

"But once the kingdom relocates its capital, both Galle and Homer will do everything in their power to strangle the life out of the kingdom. My father would never accept such a situation." Katya had essentially taken up Palermo’s argument, but this matter was not for her to decide.

"Your Highness, why not wait and see for a bit longer? I imagine that by this time, the Great Lords would have started negotiating with the beastmen, too. Seeing the beastmen encroach step by step, the Great Lords are just as anxious. What if the beastmen tear up the agreement and thrust eastward, or what if they are not content to stop here? Their intermediaries would get dragged in as well — the real spectacle might still be to come." Palermo’s face revealed a hint of a mysterious smile.

"Are you suggesting the beastmen won’t act according to their agreement?" Katya picked up on the implication in Palermo’s words and stared sharply at him.

"If the beastmen were so obedient and trustworthy, could they still be called beastmen? They simply do not trust us mortals and similarly believe that these mortals are only using them again. They have the same intent: to destroy the mortal governance of the Kingdom of Nicosia, turn this land into scattered sand and their hunting ground — that is their ultimate goal. Alas, everyone is busy scheming against each other. It’s really too early to say who will have the last laugh," Palermo sighed. "Your Highness, better not worry about these issues for now. You can’t make these decisions at the moment; instead of troubling your mind over them, you might as well consider how to relocate your properties. Sooner or later, the kingdom will move the capital, and you should make up your mind sooner rather than later."

"Then where do you think the kingdom will relocate to?" A flicker of intrigue flashed in Katya’s eyes.

"Where it relocates to is irrelevant for us. I suggest you not move your properties to the temporary royal city just yet. If you are interested, you can completely invest in both Leon and Caucasus; that area should now be prime hot land," Palermo said, his lips likewise curling into a sly smile.

"Are you referring to Baron Komer’s place? Palermo, have you lost your wits? Without the kingdom’s support, Komer is like an ant that could be crushed by Philip at any moment. Do you honestly think Komer’s pitiful strength could truly contend with Homer, just because those half-beastmen defeated the Homer Army? That’s absurd; I have no intention of losing my properties for nothing," Katya was stunned. She had never expected her usually shrewd business partner to entertain such ideas.

"Your Highness, you underestimate Baron Komer. His maneuvers are extraordinarily smooth. Leon falling into his hands — is it merely because the kingdom was unwilling to let it fall back into Philip’s hands after Boninski met his end? No, I am certain, no matter what the Kingdom Star Chamber Court decides, he will become the de facto ruler of that land. He’s playing the game even more beautifully than we could imagine, and there are people in the Central Kingdom who support him. You may not be aware, but the hottest topic these days is that His Excellency, the Baron, is organizing the construction of a canal from Mattdam across the Volt Mountain Range to Lake Niall, connecting Caucasus and Leon through a convenient waterway. If that canal is established, Leon will no longer fear Homer’s blockade. The iron and coal of Leon will flow continuously to and from the Continent, and once this canal connects with the recently opened Catania Channel, can you imagine how immense the profits will be?"

Palermo was clearly persuading Katya to invest in this major project. His nose for business opportunities was every bit as keen as his political sensitivity. This canal would cement the position of Caucasus and Leon in the entire southern region of the kingdom. Palermo was certain that Baron Komer would shine brightly because of it.

"Palermo, I’m not worried about making money, but the current situation is so grave. Wouldn’t Philip seize the opportunity to deal with Leon? As far as I know, the construction of the floating bridges at Brook Fortress has suddenly sped up significantly. You should realize what this means," Katya gave Palermo a sidelong glance, enunciating each word: "Philip is definitely planning to make a move on Komer!"

If you like this book, please visit Qidian Chinese Network www.cmFu.com, where there are more Chapters, support the author, and support authorized reading!