The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 747: Volume 22 Revival and Rise - 7 Join Hands

Chapter 747: Volume 22 Revival and Rise Chapter 7 Join Hands

Komer eyed the elderly man in the simple gray cloak with great interest. Agreeing to meet in such a place was indeed a risk for Komer, even though Piro Feller had assured him repeatedly that safety was absolutely guaranteed. Nonetheless, Komer decided to meet the other party in disguise. Looking at the thoughtful face of the old man, Komer knew that his makeup would hardly fool him. As the largest slave trader in Jazair and also a notorious usury merchant, the head of the Novarin Family was by no means mediocre. His actions in Jazair made it clear that he would always stand invincible in the contest for the Royal Successors.

"Mr. Muktse, please forgive me for appearing before you in this guise. In fact, before I met you, I had some mistrust towards you. However, once I saw you, I realized that my worries were unnecessary. So, here, I offer you my apologies," Komer started by pointing out his own shortcomings, reasoning that it was better to be upfront about his deceptions than to wait for the other to expose him.

"Ah, Viscount Komer, I hadn’t expected it to indeed be you. The moment you entered the door, I had my suspicions, but Piro did not make it clear whether you would come in person. I wasn’t sure, but it seems Piro’s judgment is quite reliable." The elder showed no displeasure at Komer’s initial secrecy. Instead, he expressed understanding of Komer’s caution. In such turbulent times, everyone needed to be careful, even those merchants like him who were seen as opportunistic were still in need of constant vigilance.

"To receive such praise from Mr. Muktse is truly a secret delight for Komer. It indicates that we must have much to discuss, don’t we?" By this point, Komer had little patience for beating around the bush. Since Piro had formally introduced him to this man, Komer guessed that he must also have some connection with Katya. Given the current volatile situation, this man would not dare to commit readily, and Komer’s main goal now was to solidify the man’s confidence.

"Viscount Sir, you do not seem to be a man who rushes things. Why are you in such haste today?" The elder took a sip from his coffee cup, exhibiting a demeanor that didn’t quite match that of a slave trader or usury merchant. However, Komer knew that this was just a facade. As one of the kingdom’s leading slave traders, he had an extraordinary relationship with General Mathew, who controlled the kingdom’s military forces. Additionally, due to his substantial loans to the kingdom’s finance department, he had ambiguous ties with both the Finance Minister and the Minister of Internal Affairs. However, since he came from common people, he was constantly disparaged and suppressed by the Great Aristocracy, and even those ministers who wanted to recognize his merits and bestow upon him noble status were helpless to do so.

Komer’s heart chilled at the other’s words, which had multiple layers of meaning. Although Piro had somewhat hinted, this man still intended to wait until the last moment before taking a stand. This was absolutely unfavorable for Katya, who was already at a disadvantage. Komer had bet heavily on her and could not afford any mishaps. Moreover, Maha Gummi had delivered some disconcerting news after his arrival in Jazair: it seemed that Galle had struck some deal with Hoffman and Quke Valley might fall into the hands of a noble friendly with Zellin, a troubling development for Komer.

"Mr. Muktse, although I will stay in Jazair for a couple more days, I do not wish to waste my time on meaningless pleasantries. If we were to draw a boundary, it seems I have unreservedly chosen a side, while you, Mr. Muktse, do not seem to have made up your mind. It may seem like a good idea to have the boundary under your feet, but we both know that once involved, there’s no escaping unscathed. I can simply return to my remote backwater, but if someone were to stir up trouble, I believe your good days in Jazair will come to an end. I’ve heard you left many people disappointed and empty-handed in Parluca Bay, and they, like you, are now keeping a watchful eye on everything around. Do you believe your affairs are so impeccably flawless?"

Komer’s sharp words pierced Mr. Muktse’s veneer of frailty with the precision of a scalpel, exposing the robust armor underneath. As a commoner-turned-merchant—and an unpopular slave trader at that—Muktse was fully aware that many wanted him dead and his property plundered. It was for this reason he spared no expense to ingratiate himself on both sides, all to ensure clearer vision. But now, even a lord from faraway Caucasus knew his secret, which made Muktse realize his previous ideas were rather naive.

Sensing the other’s emotions wavering, Komer pressed further: "Mr. Muktse, we are both in the same predicament. We understand our choices all too well. Katya is clearly not the best candidate; she holds little advantage for Hoffman, and the nobles despise her for her lineage, which is precisely why we’ve chosen her. I never shy away from my origins—the Reese family’s blessings never reach me, so I have to rely on my own two hands. And it seems that, so far, the Norinwa family has not received even the slightest bit of favor from the kingdom, despite its great contributions, simply because the Norinwa family isn’t of noble origins, and from the depths of their hearts, they shun all those of so-called lesser blood, even though many of those ’high-blooded’ individuals end up as beggars and vagrants on the streets."

"Mr. Komer, what exactly are you trying to convey?" Muktse finally showed some emotion. Whether nobles or traders, both were more accustomed to hiding their true intentions beneath a veneer of insincerity, expressing themselves in roundabout, indirect ways, trying to mask their real motives. In this, nobles and traders were no different. Someone like Komer, who stated his intentions so frankly, actually gave Muktse a rare sense of refreshment.

"It’s quite simple, Mr. Muktse, I want you to understand that if you choose Hoffman, you will never receive true respect. The Norinwa Family might cozy up to you when they need you, but they won’t remember you when the real benefits are at hand. By sitting on the fence as you are now, you only make both sides feel indifferent toward you. Even if one side ascends to power, they will still harbor doubts about you. This is a path the wise would not take. Your only choice is Katya, and if she ascends, it will be by relying on traders like you who are not of noble birth to truly stabilize her position. The hostility of the nobles toward her won’t be resolved in a single day, they could overturn her at any moment, which is why she must rely on you. Do you understand the meaning of reliance?" As he spoke the last word, Komer winked at Muktse.

Muktse carefully pondered the meaning of the word "reliance" from Komer’s speech. Clearly, Komer held similar thoughts; "reliance" was rich in meaning. It could be interpreted as valuing someone or depending on them, and for traders, dependence signified an opportunity to seize more wealth and political status. However, Katya was certainly no pushover, and whether such benefits would materialize was still an unknown.

"Mr. Komer, thank you for your candor and honesty. To tell you the truth, I enjoy these productive conversations with you. Even though our discussion this time may not be pleasant, or rather, may not yield a result that satisfies both of us, I still hope we can have an opportunity to cooperate in the future. I can grasp your intention, but as a merchant, my first consideration must be to maximize profit while minimizing risk, so I may need to be more careful than you all in many regards, please understand my concerns," Muktse said slowly.

"Heh, minimize the risk and yet gain the maximum profit? Where in the world could you find such a bargain?! Please tell me, I’d like to do that too!" Komer’s words brimmed with sarcasm. "Risk and reward have always been proportional; even a fool knows this! Mr. Muktse, if you haven’t grasped the situation yet, and still haven’t made up your mind, I can only express my regret. But I must tell you, by missing this opportunity, you might regret it for the rest of your life."

The strong tone in Komer’s words seemed to affect Muktse. Although his expression was still calm, his shifting gaze revealed he was not as unaffected as he appeared.

"Mr. Komer, I am curious about your confidence in Katya; where does it stem from? Or perhaps personal feelings have clouded your judgment? Based on your past behavior, I wouldn’t believe you to be such a person. I won’t deny that personally, I too would prefer Katya be in power, but as the Chief of the Norinwa Family, I must consider the interests of the entire family. Because right now, from any perspective, Hoffman’s ascension is inevitable. The only hindrances are General Mathew and Lord Tez, who have yet to make their stance clear, and we all understand why they are reluctant; it won’t have any impact. Do you really think that by joining forces, we could change this situation?" Muktse finally spoke his mind, his gaze unwaveringly on Komer.

(To be continued, to find out what happens next, please visit WWW.CMFU.COM for more Chapters, support the author, support authorized reading!)