The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 668: Volume Eighteen: Stormy Secrets, - Nineteen: Fellow Kind

Chapter 668: Volume Eighteen: Stormy Secrets, Chapter Nineteen: Fellow Kind

At this moment, Katya’s face was slightly changing hues, and under the glow of the firelight, her beauty was even more pronounced. Komer observed her openly, wanting to see how this woman would react to his behavior.

"Viscount, don’t you think your actions are playing with fire?" After a while, Katya finally exhaled and spoke somberly.

"Heh, are Barbarians fire? Well, perhaps they could be considered as such. This fire might indeed be scorching, but those who play with fire are not necessarily doomed to burn. It all depends on the skill and ability of the one playing with it. If handled properly, I believe this fire can bring us warmth and bring fear and burns to our enemies," Komer said presumptuously while sitting on a luxurious woolen hammock, making Katya feel somewhat confined. She subconsciously wanted to sit up, but then thought it might seem like a sign of weakness, so she simply curled her legs slightly to avoid physical contact between them.

A subtle atmosphere slowly developed in this environment, and Komer enjoyed it. He needed to test her limits.

"Oh, so the Viscount is quite confident?" Katya tried to keep her emotions steady. The scenes from the Caucasus and Cordillera Wilderness had left a deep impression on her. The young man before her was far from the simple Noble from Versailles he had been in the past. This remote corner had now become a crucial source of power, at least for her. He could even dispatch three thousand Half-beast soldiers to help Jazair fend off Beastmen attacks. This symbolic act alone had turned Caucasus and Komer into trendy topics among Jazair’s Nobles. This man’s schemes were deep, and every step he took was astonishing, each bringing him significant gains.

"Heh-heh, Your Highness, forgive my boldness, but confidence comes from strength. Although it may sound arrogant, to the Sanjia Tribe, either the Caucasus or I will forever be insurmountable obstacles. If they wish to survive, develop, and grow, they can only rely on me. Of course, I too have my own reliance on them, and I believe Your Highness understands this point," Komer’s smile always had a hint of mischief.

Taken aback, Katya’s gaze wandered across Komer’s face. "I don’t quite understand the implications of your words. Could you please give me a more detailed explanation?"

"Your Highness, the situation of the Barbarians is not as simple as you imagine. They are not a homogeneous group but an Alliance formed by numerous tribes of different sizes, similar in this respect to the Half-beastmen of the North. Their collective strength even surpasses that of the Beastmen, but in terms of unity, they are much looser, and one might say they are in a state of disarray. They are trapped in a vicious cycle due to the blockade by our Mortal world and other races. For their own benefits and survival pressure, these tribal communities have to compete with each other while collectively facing external threats. The contradictions that they cannot reconcile arise in their struggle to secure enough survival resources and advantages to ensure a better living space for themselves."

"The Sanjia Tribe is merely three of the smallest tribes out of thirteen significant tribes in the Barbarian Alliance. The tribes settled in the northern areas bordering the Caucasus, generally speaking, are relatively weak because the soil conditions of the Caucasus and Leon are not suitable for large-scale grain production, and the Catania River poses a barrier. However, now that the Caucasus has opened a passage to the middle and upper reaches of the Catania River, the ample food supply from that region can continuously flow into the Caucasus, not only meeting the needs of both the Caucasus and Leon but also supplying a portion to the Barbarians of the Cordillera Wilderness. The privileged position of proximity to resources has naturally turned the Sanjia Tribe’s land into a hotspot. To my knowledge, just within the last six months alone, five small tribal communities have come to join the Garong Tribe, with the larger ones numbering in the thousands and even the smaller ones have hundreds. Additionally, the Galong and Gapeng Tribes have each had three and two tribes come to affiliate with them, respectively. This period of time is probably when the Sanjia Tribe has seen the fastest expansion of its strength."

"Viscount, I still don’t quite understand. Doesn’t the expansion of the Sanjia Tribe’s power pose any threat or pressure to you? Aren’t you afraid they’ll become the masters? Or do you believe you have full control to suppress their Martial Power?" Since the subject was out in the open, Katya no longer concealed anything and asked the key question directly.

"Your Highness, the expansion of the Sanjia Tribe’s power is based on my support as their backer of food supply. Without my supply, they cannot even fill their own bellies. What do they have to attract other communities to join them? Now that the Tribe’s strength has grown and their status and say within the Alliance have increased, they can better compete for more benefits. But with the food supply, the lifeline, in my hands, they have no choice but to submit to me. As for the issue of guests overpowering the host, Your Highness need not worry. The chieftains of the Barbarians are all cunning creatures. They understand that even if they took the Caucasus from me, they would still be unable to control the shipping routes of the Catania River; the Jellyfish People ask nothing of them and are beyond their control. Of course, the Caucasus also needs to be prepared with its own Martial Power, which Your Highness need not be concerned about—Komer has a sense of proportion," Komer patiently explained the realities of the territory to the kingdom’s heir. Only by fully understanding her own position and importance on this land would she sincerely cooperate with him, to the mutual benefit of both parties.

A silence settled in the tent, with Katya’s eyelids lowered as though in contemplation, while Komer also maintained his silence, as if waiting for something.

"Viscount, I believe now is the time for us to speak frankly and shake out all that needs to be said. I trust that both you and I understand what the other needs. If we can support and cooperate with each other on certain issues, I think our respective situations could improve significantly", Katya said composedly, lifting her gaze after a long moment of deliberation.

The substantial issues were finally being addressed—Komer had been awaiting this moment. He believed the martial display of the Sanjia Tribe had a profound impact on those who had never witnessed Barbarian martial power. His own remarks and the Sanjia Tribe’s attitude towards him must have made the Princess, disadvantaged in the battle for the throne, weigh her options secretly. Without the support of the powerful officials Tez and Mathew, she had little chance left. Although Hoffman had yet to make a move, the relentless pursuit from the Renta revealed that Hoffman would certainly not leave any threats to his future—a display befitting a member of the Royal Family.

"Your Highness is straightforward. I am sure you already have some ideas, and as long as Komer can help, he naturally won’t hesitate", Komer replied, realizing too late his own eagerness. Wasn’t this sort of thing too complex to be addressed in just a few words? Even if there were to be a discussion, it seemed more likely that it should be her confidants doing the talking, not herself.

Indeed, Katya’s expression remained unchanged as she simply responded, "You overstate it, Viscount. Katya is simply relieved to see your achievements on these lands. I hope the Viscount will prioritize the greater good of the kingdom and consider the kingdom’s feelings and needs. Of course, as territories, Caucasus and Leon will also take your practical circumstances into account and provide appropriate support when necessary, helping you avoid unnecessary troubles."

The vagueness of her words left Komer somewhat puzzled—had the Princess’s mood shifted too quickly? It seemed that in a single thought, she changed her mind, retracting the lead she had hinted at. It appeared the Princess was still hesitating, uncertain whether she fully trusted him or if the timing was still not right. What puzzled Komer the most was Katya’s last statement about appropriate support. What could the kingdom, preoccupied with its own affairs, possibly offer him now? Status? He was already a Viscount and unlikely to change ranks shortly. Money or martial power? Perhaps those were things he should be contributing to the kingdom. Then what was it? Trouble? Did he have any trouble?

In the midst of his rapid thoughts, Komer seemed to taste the hint of an idea. What trouble could he currently face? Was it the Church of Light? But the arrival of the Church Tribunal had already been successfully dealt with by him. Could there be more trouble? The presence of the Thunderhorse Knights had not yet ceased, but their activity had greatly diminished. Unless there was something else behind it all. At this thought, Komer felt a surge of alarm—it seemed Princess Katya was not as vulnerable as he had imagined, no wonder Hoffman was so cautious.

"Ha ha, then I must rely on Your Highness’s concern. Being on the fringes of Caucasus, many situations are hard for outsiders to comprehend in a timely manner, which can lead to many misunderstandings. We will need Your Grace in Jazair to clear things up for us", Komer said ambiguously, extending the conversation along her lines.

"Humph, Viscount, you should be aware of my current predicament. Do you really think I still have a chance to return to Jazair?" Katya’s sharp gaze flashed.

"Yes, Your Highness, please trust my judgment. It won’t be long before you can return to Jazair." Komer said with a meaningful smile, "This visit to the Caucasus and Cordillera Wilderness, I believe, has both strengthened confidence and will likewise bring fortune to Your Highness. Let’s make a bet if you don’t believe me—the stake being the Quke Valley, how about it?"

Her heart skipping a beat, Katya’s gaze met his equally fervent one, and in a daze, she seemed to see herself reflected in his eyes. "The Quke Valley?!"

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