The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 643: Volume Seventeen: Dark Descends on Earth - Fourteen: Worth More Than Its Price

Chapter 643: Volume Seventeen: Dark Descends on Earth - Fourteen: Worth More Than Its Price

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Komer, having sent off Hoffman and Renta, didn’t find himself with any respite; the pressure from the Gray Skull was mounting. Gote, the old man, had already issued three warnings to Komer, stating that if he did not deliver the promised Magic-armed gun, not only would he cease to protect Mattdam, but he would also trigger unforeseen consequences.

This was undoubtedly an ultimatum, and Mattdam’s importance to Caucasus was almost indispensable. Those pirates might even traverse up the Catania River to blockade the entire river’s navigation route, and by then, the whole Caucasus and Leon would likely be plunged into trouble. Currently, Homer is gradually easing the blockade at the Mouth of Nissai River, but should they learn that Gray Skull has turned against Caucasus, they would definitely not miss the chance to strangle both Caucasus and Leon.

Gazing at the rounded prop on the desk, Komer was lost in a daze. It was a device almost entirely crafted from Magic Metal, the cylindrical tube shimmering with a calm luster under the surrounding Luminous Flame, dark and faint. Processing this cannon barrel alone had taken three months, and Maximilian had been constantly nagging in front of him, complaining that this inexplicable metal tube consumed too much high-quality smokeless coal from his workshop. He dared not demand more money—it was specified in the agreement—his complaints amounted to nothing more than a show of force, hoping that Komer would look after his workshop in future dealings.

Apart from the cannon barrel, Komer chose not to have the rest of the parts processed by Maximilian’s workshop. He didn’t want this thing to be associated with him once it was unveiled, at least not in the short term. The urgency displayed by Gray Skull must be related to the situation in the Mediterranean.

According to the news from Hayreddin, Gray Skull has been on the losing side in the past few months in their struggle against the Red-haired Witch Katerina. It’s rumored that an informant sent by Katerina had infiltrated the ranks of Gray Skull, and one of the four Mirror of Thousand Miles Komer had made for them fell into the opponent’s hands, which is likely the main reason why Gote didn’t dare to truly turn against Komer.

The initial agreement was crystal clear: the Mirror of Thousand Miles could be damaged, but absolutely could not fall into the hands of anyone outside of Gray Skull. Gote probably feared pushing Komer too far, worried about the troubles that would ensue should the secret of the Mirror of Thousand Miles leak. He still thought Komer was oblivious to the situation in the Nether Sea and the Mediterranean, unaware that Komer had already planted Hayreddin as a hidden asset.

No one knows what changes such a weapon would bring to the already tumultuous Nether Sea and Mediterranean once it emerged. The Magic-armed gun and Mirror of Thousand Miles are fundamentally different; the latter is merely an auxiliary tool. Naval warfare has always been decided by strength, and while gaining the upper hand through intelligence can provide some advantage, the final outcome still depends on a head-to-head confrontation, and the Magic-armed gun is a game-changer to break the longstanding balance of power.

Caucasus and Leon have no say over the Nether Sea and the Mediterranean, and the majority of vessels that pass between Mattdam and Bahomon come from outside Caucasus. Ships from the Homer region, Galle Region, the Ferdinand family-controlled Baden-Futon region, the Middle and Upper Reaches of Catania River and cities, colonies on the Continent and the Southern Region are especially numerous, particularly ships from Homer and Galle regions. And now, the number of vessels from the Middle and Upper Reaches of Catania River region is also increasing rapidly. Komer has tried several times to meet with the Jellyfish People’s leader, hoping to increase the quota for merchant ships passing through the Catania River channel but has so far not obtained approval.

Given the current situation, if Caucasus and Leon do not possess the power to control the waterways and the ocean, they will always be at the mercy of others. Homer’s naval force is quite weak, yet it can easily blockade Caucasus and Leon. If it weren’t for the support of Gray Skull in the background, perhaps Caucasus would have collapsed long ago.

It was under these conditions that Komer resolutely allowed Puber to allocate a huge sum of money to purchase ships and secretly established Caucasus’s first commercial fleet for direct involvement in the goods transport of the Caucasus and Leon regions. On the one hand, this could yield high profits, and on the other hand, it laid the groundwork in case Gray Skull turned hostile.

Hayreddin adapted exceedingly well to this assignment; a small fleet of three ships swiftly transported a batch of Iron ore from Bahomon to the Baden-Futon region, and brought back a large quantity of wheat. This type of barter trading once thrived in the region. In three months, Hayreddin had gathered a clear understanding of the current situation in the Nether Sea and the Southern Mediterranean.

The situation for Gray Skull was grim. The relentless pressure from the Red-haired Witch Katerina forced Gray Skull to take corresponding actions, or else their influence in the North Mediterranean would be eroded step by step. Just defending that small territory in the Southern Nether Sea wasn’t enough to satisfy or support either Gote or Gray Skull. Moreover, waning influence would inevitably lead to demoralization among the Gray Skull and pose a risk of collapse.

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At least under the current circumstances, Caucasus was still utterly incapable of competing with Gray Skull. Komer had also made a request to Gray Skull, demanding that the Mouth of Nissai River no longer be subject to the naval blockade by the Homer Navy. It appeared that under the immense pressure from the south, from Katerina, Gray Skull had managed to dispatch ships to the Mouth of Nissai River, forcing the Homer Navy to lift the blockade earlier than planned. Gray Skull had done what they were supposed to do, and now it seemed it was time for Komer to pay his dues.

The strange contraption before him was the first Magic-armed gun crafted by Komer. Knowing this day would have eventually come, he didn’t plan to delay too long. Truly infuriating Gray Skull would not be worth it, and as for the changes in the situation over the Mediterranean, they were temporarily beyond the concern of Caucasus.

Gently running his fingers across the cool surface of the cannon barrel, Komer felt a sense of attachment to the weapon. This was a piece of armament capable of altering the maritime situation. Of course, a single gun would not suffice to achieve this effect. Gray Skull were defiant and could very well turn against him at any time, so Komer had to plan some contingencies. The quality of the Magic power springs could not be entirely reliable, or to put it another way, their quality could only reach this level. Naturally, this would not be immediately apparent, but after the Magic-armed guns were used to a certain extent, they would realize that possessing these weapons didn’t mean a perennial solution.

A faint smile surfaced at the corner of Komer’s mouth. Well, let Gray Skull have their moment of joy. Using this Magic-armed gun as a secret weapon could at least let them get the upper hand against the Red-haired Witch for the time being. As for whether they could leverage this opportunity to reclaim their lost glory, it would depend on their own performance. A Magic-armed gun was merely a weapon, not powerful enough to turn the tide. He hoped they would understand this.

"Great Chieftain, the installation is complete. Please give the order," said a towering man draped in a gray headscarf, clomping up to a temporary viewing platform on the upper deck. Two men were comfortably lounging on broad striped chairs, a table before them laden with specialty dishes from various regions. The pungent smell of the sea made Komer somewhat uncomfortable, whereas the honey wine from the South suited his palate, which wasn’t fond of strong liquor.

"Come now, Viscount, let’s toast to our successful collaboration!" The somewhat hunched figure seemed even more stooped than usual, a flicker of spirit crossing his deeply wrinkled face. The gray at his temples revealed the tremendous pressure the Great Chieftain of Gray Skull had shouldered over the past year.

Through the betrayal of a confidant, although dealt with resolutely and decisively, the lingering shadows weren’t easily dispelled. Repeated losses in the battles over the North Mediterranean and the Red-haired Witch’s aggressive aura seared the soul of every member of Gray Skull. Sleepless nights and tasteless food—Gote had deeply experienced that sensation. Sometimes he even thought himself too old, perhaps no match for the emerging younger generation, yet he refused to accept this notion. Gray Skull were not weaklings or cowards; he still wanted to make one more bet, and his wager was on the man before him and the Magic-armed gun he brought.

If the Magic-armed gun truly possessed the strength he imagined, then it wasn’t impossible for Gray Skull to turn the tables and reverse their fortunes. The only regret Gote had was that the Magic-armed gun brought by the other party amounted to just one. Money was not an issue for him; the reserves on Rhode Island were still very ample. If his organization’s cohesion were lost, the disintegrating subordinates would swiftly squander all assets in their desperate escape. Gote would not allow this to happen.

"Mr. Gote, I share that hope. I would like to bring more Magic-armed guns to Mr. Gote, but as I have already explained to you, the weapon’s expenditure is substantial. I regret to inform you that the funds you provided have already been depleted. If you require additional Magic-armed guns, I’m afraid it would necessitate further payment of Gold Shield," said Komer, swirling the bright cup of wine and displaying a confident smile, "However, Mr. Gote may first witness the power of the Magic-armed gun. I believe after viewing the demonstration, you will find it to be worth every penny, perhaps even beyond value!"

Blinking his eyes, Gote laughed, the wrinkles on his face seeming to dissipate considerably. He gulped down the contents of his cup, unconcerned with the streaks of wine spilling from his mouth onto his clothes, before slamming the cup down onto the table: "Viscount, while I do not admire your penny-pinching manner, I rather like your last sentence. Value beyond the cost—if it’s truly worth it, I don’t mind paying a little extra!"

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