The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 691: Volume Nineteen: Lost Horizon - Nineteen: Contempt

Chapter 691: Volume Nineteen: Lost Horizon Chapter Nineteen: Contempt

The deep grey of her eyes flared red in an instant, and Katrina’s face twisted into a look of frenzy and ferocity. Komer grew quite concerned that the Mediterranean Pirate Queen might lose her sanity due to the shock of the news. Although he was not afraid of her sudden outburst, he was not intentionally trying to anger her this time, as it would benefit neither party.

Soon, Katrina proved that her self-control, which earned her the leadership of the Carter Fleet, was not unfounded. Rage, shock, pain, excitement, joy, and anticipation—all those emotions flitted across her face in a matter of seconds, combining into an unfathomable expression. Yet, Katrina did not display any significant loss of composure, which made Komer look at the woman before him with new respect.

"Viscount Komer, name your terms, as long as it’s within my capabilities. I need the Mirror of Thousand Miles and the Magic-armed gun, and I can agree to anything I can do, on condition that the Carter Fleet is provided with them immediately. I need your help, and in return, I can offer you everything that Gote and his ilk could never achieve."

The Red-haired Witch, now calm and clear-headed, seemed even more collected. The light that sparkled in her grey-blue eyes was persistent and fervent, but it was a cold fervor that radiated from her.

"Oh, I can understand how you must feel right now, Miss Katrina. In fact, I’m starting to regret why I ever cooperated with that selfish Gote. His shortsightedness was very disappointing. The Homer Navy is still blockading my approach to Cyprus through Caucasus and Leon, and Philip still tightly controls the canal entry to the inland of the Kingdom of Nicosia from Odessa. I gave them so much, yet he did not give me the expected return."

Komer, at this point, suddenly became rambling, incessantly complaining about his former collaborator.

"Enough, Viscount Komer. I have no interest in hearing about those petty issues between you and Gote. That you chose the wrong partner reflects on your judgment, but now, it seems you are not entirely foolish. To mend the fold after the sheep is lost, it’s never too late. Choosing me will be the most correct decision of your life. I believe that together, we could claim the Mediterranean and the Nether Sea as our own," Katrina said flatly, dismissing Komer’s reflections with no sugarcoating, until her last words betrayed the fierce passion and longing in her heart.

"Oh, Miss Katrina, immersing oneself too deeply in the sea of desire for power can lead to loss of direction. I must remind you of that," countered Komer, unfazed. The capricious Mediterranean Queen tolerating his audacious speech here was probably the limit of her patience. But Komer enjoyed the thrill of riding through storms, leisurely savoring the various excitements the voluptuous Red-haired Witch presented, which he found quite soothing—even if it meant taking some risks.

"Hmph, Viscount Komer, I would advise you to spend more energy on yourself and your own territory. The news of your disappearance is likely to continue indefinitely. The noses of the Church of Light are sharper than anyone else’s. If they learn you’re hiding in the Mediterranean—even if this is the territory of Hades, the god of darkness—they won’t let you off easily," countered Katrina with a cold jab.

"Hehe, My territory requires no worry on part of Miss Katrina. It will continue to grow as though I were still in charge. My mood is lighter now than ever before. Traveling the Mediterranean has always been a dream of mine, and now it seems like it may be realized," Komer replied nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders.

"Enough, Viscount Komer. I don’t want to hear any more of your pointless blather. I want to know the terms of our cooperation. I’ve already promised that I can agree to any condition within my reach, so I hope you’ll consider it seriously," Katrina erupted impatiently.

"Oh? All conditions, you say? What if I desire Miss Katrina herself?" Narrowing his eyes, Komer’s lips curled with a mischievous smirk.

"Me personally? Are you referring to my body or something else?" After casting a somewhat pitiful glance over Komer, the red-haired girl suddenly burst into laughter. She laughed so hard it seemed tears might spill out, and it took a long while before she could stop and say, "Viscount Komer, I have no idea how you could harbor such bizarre thoughts. Are there really only Half-Beastmen and Barbarians in Caucasus and Leon? Are there no other Mortal women? In my memory, it seems Viscount Komer is not lacking women by his side."

Komer didn’t bother with the other party’s somewhat acerbic sarcasm, still waiting leisurely for their following remarks.

"I am not celibate. However, Viscount Komer, I’m afraid your body might barely allow you a moment of masculine glory, and I worry that when the time comes, you may die of shame. Hahaha!" She couldn’t help another burst of wild laughter, and Katrina’s enchantingly flirtatious figure became more provocative as she leaned forward and backward with her movements. "If Viscount Komer’s words imply something else, I can only tell you, you do not yet have that power, the strength to make me willingly submit! Should you truly possess that power one day, Katrina will prostrate herself at your feet without another word, begging for your pity!"

If the previous words were a great mockery and insult, the latter were an outright challenge and disdain. However, to Komer’s ears, they couldn’t have been more delightful. Such character, I like it. She lives up to her name as the Mediterranean Pirate Queen, truly a formidable character. With this, I won’t be lonely in the Mediterranean.

Once the topic was broached, everything became much smoother. Both Komer, in his arrogance, and Katrina, in her conceit, quickly reached an agreement on the issue of cooperation. The island of Xifnos, located three hundred nautical miles southeast of Dacorsica Island, would become Komer’s private territory in the Mediterranean, while Komer would also craft the Mirror of Thousand Miles and magic-armed guns for Katrina. Katrina would not interfere with any of Komer’s actions south of Xifnos Island, and Komer guaranteed he would not be active in the Mediterranean regions north of the island.

This island was nominally under the Tilo City-State of the Collins City-State Alliance, but due to its proximity to the home base of the Carter Fleet, it had effectively been abandoned. For Katrina as well, this location was a peripheral area, constantly under threat from the navies of the Collins City-State Alliance as well as the Demisheme Pirate Group roaming the edges of the Storm Ocean and the Mediterranean just to the south.

The Demisheme Pirate Group was a broadly defined entity. They were those godless atheists reviled by the deities, mostly comprising Mortals and Dwarves or illegitimate offspring from mixtures with the Elf Clan. Unable to earn recognition of their paternal lineage, they were forced to take refuge in coastal regions, earning their keep as muscle, assassins, and mercenaries.

As their numbers grew, their collective strength caused the Collins City-State Alliance and the nations around the Southern Mediterranean to fear them, prompting a joint attempt to eradicate these wandering warrior bands. They had no choice but to flee the lands and take to the fringes of the Mediterranean and Storm Ocean. Over time, they became a formidable gang of thuggish pirates, sometimes splitting, sometimes joining forces, continually raiding the Southern Mediterranean and the Storm Ocean, looting ships, attacking coastal towns, committing all kinds of evil, and becoming one of the most rampant and lawless forces in these regions.

The Demisheme Pirates tried several times to breach into the Mediterranean to devour Katrina’s territory, but three defeats in a row shattered their confidence to contest the Carter Fleet. Instead, they turned south to ravage the Storm Ocean, forcing the naval forces of its coastal countries to join the Collins City-State Alliance’s naval forces in putting them down. Yet, they managed to survive by using several key islands, far from the Continent as bases, and maintaining their supplies through trade with Mang Continent in the East, thwarting the plans to eradicate them.

Komer chose this place as a temporary foothold primarily to avoid attracting attention and to evade the pursuit of the rising Church of Light. He also wished to understand the situation in the southern regions of the Continent, particularly the extent of the Great Mysterium Sect’s underground influence, to set targets for his next plans. Another reason was Komer’s hope to establish a stepping stone for Caucasus and Leon in this region. The developed maritime trade of the South would allow Caucasus and Leon to break free from the constraints of Homer and the Kingdom of Nicosia. If he could closely connect Caucasus and Leon with this area, they would have the potential to become a new force independent of the kingdoms and even the Northern Alliance, which was precisely what Komer desired.

The distinctly dark ambiance of the Southern Region gave Komer a sense of indescribable relaxation just being there. He was aware of certain changes in his body; the power and memories of Kennifer III’s soul had gradually permeated every part of him, both his bloodline and his spirit. Under the subtle influence, the once suppressed dark aura within him grew increasingly potent, now even surpassing the Light Power he had long strived to convert from Dark Powers. He could even feel that every movement he made brought with it a somber wave of dark force.

For any practitioner of Dark Magic, this level was something they could never hope to achieve in a lifetime. Many Archmages would never get to experience this feeling in their entire lives, yet Komer did, and it was the harbinger of the initial formation of the Dark Heart. Once the Dark Heart took shape, a great Dark Great Mage would be born.

(To be continued. For further details, please log on to WWW.CMFU.COM. There are more Chapters available; support the author, support authorized reading!)