The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 765: Volume 23: Rising Winds and Swirling Clouds, - 3: Unstoppable

Chapter 765: Volume 23: Rising Winds and Swirling Clouds, Chapter 3: Unstoppable

Komer did not linger long in Livonia; he chose to depart from the Quke Valley and return to the Caucasus. Having agreed to resolve the kingdom’s issues within two months, Komer needed some time to arrange for the Kingdom of Nicosia to step into the era of Katya. He needed to prepare things in advance, whether in Livonia or in Bruce. Once the dust settled on the matter of the kingdom’s succession, many things would surface.

The Cooperation Society, fully supported by Komer, was already eager to act, especially in the Southwest Region. With Komer’s facilitation, Katya soon realized the future role the Salvation Society could play in the power struggle, especially in the confrontation with the Church of Light. This force could play a pivotal role, a trump card hidden in her hand, and their mutual agreement was only natural.

Komer was pleased to see this situation unfold. In fact, he now particularly needed a force that could restrain the Church of Light, making his own influence all the more significant. Once the Salvation Society succeeded in establishing a foothold in the Southwest Region, it meant that the Church of Light had to focus its main efforts within Nicosia on the Salvation Society, which was undoubtedly good news for him.

He knew that, in some respects, he had become the key factor in deciding the outcome. The involvement of the Four Great Lords could alter the current situation, but they did not wish to get involved because, like Komer, they knew that whether Hoffman or Katya won the struggle for the throne, the Kingdom of Nicosia would no longer be the vast kingdom capable of swaying the overall situation of the Northern Alliance. The royal authority had been trampled by the beastmen and diminished by the heirs’ struggle, further weakened by the dissension sown amongst the Great Aristocracy. It was at most a symbolic crown of glory, especially now that Jazair had become the new capital of the Beamon Kingdom, making the crown seem all the more dim and heavy. They could watch the drama conclude from a calmer perspective and draw a satisfactory ending according to their interests in the post-Nicosia kingdom era.

Hoffman’s approach came a bit too late. Besides, supporting an heir backed by the Great Aristocracy was not in the interests of the Caucasus. Komer knew he was insignificant in the eyes of those aristocrats and would find it difficult to band together with them. Letting a nominally united but actually fragmented and loose Kingdom of Nicosia emerge suited his interests much better.

However, Renta’s arrival did pique Komer’s interest. This princess of noble blood was now a bargaining chip for Hoffman, but evidently, she herself was unaware of the role she played in this transaction—most amusing indeed.

Komer had no interest in marrying such a woman, but as Katya had said, using her as a trophy for amusement was not a bad idea. The thought of two female heirs from the great and noble Romanov family perhaps writhing beneath him made Komer feel a sense of glory and pride.

Before leaving Livonia, Komer did not forget to extort a sum from the southwestern traders. With the sensational effect of the Half-beast Army as backing, acquiring the money was much easier, making Komer more aware of the Southwest Region’s wealth.

The traders from these areas were eager for a peaceful and tranquil environment. Leveraging the abundant resources and excellent geographic conditions, the region’s commercial atmosphere far exceeded that of the kingdom’s eastern and northern areas. Whether it was Black Hessen, Pomorie, or Livonia, the wealth of the common people surprised Komer. He admired the vision of Katya, the lowly-born heir to the Romanov Dynasty, for her deliberate cultivation of the Southwest Region as her base.

Komer left Ilot behind. With him and Dragumo jointly leading an army dominated by half-beasts and supplemented by five hundred Half-Elf Archers, considering the increasing strategic importance of Livonia in his future territory, Komer gritted his teeth and pulled another thousand soldiers from the Caucasus, including five hundred Half-Elf Archers.

This caused Fran’s grave anxiety. The total military strength in the Greater Caucasus Region had been reduced to only two thousand men, with one thousand five hundred stationed at Bruce Fortress. Leon and the vast Caucasus land only had a patrol force of five hundred, utterly inadequate for any emergencies that might arise. Komer also had to ask Mihailovich, Newman, and Uma to stay in the Quke Valley to preempt any betrayal by the Royal Court Magicians. Komer himself realized that his territory was riddled with vulnerabilities, each slight disturbance potentially leading to conflagrations on all sides.

The ship slowly drifted away from the dock on the shores of Lake Nissai, moving downstream. This was not Komer’s first return to Bruce Fortress via this route, but every journey through the Little Greenland Forest brought him fresh sensations. A variety of unknown small trees surrounded him, intermixed with dense vines tangled on the ancient trees lining both banks of the river. Even the scorching midday sun could not penetrate this canopy. Perhaps only on the broad Nissai River could one feel a hint of sunshine’s warmth; otherwise, there was only a chilling gloom.

The Nissai River originates from Lake Nissai, which itself is formed by the confluence of numerous underground springs. The abundant tributaries along both banks of the Nissai River steadily increase its volume, and the river widens as it flows, The various vine plants on the riverbanks had been cleared by the Caucasus side, making the channel smoother. However, Komer felt it was a shame to see stretches of dozens of kilometers of river devoid of people. It was a golden waterway comparable to the Catania River in terms of navigability, provided it could be developed.

This waterway could connect the heartland of the Kingdom of Nicosia with the Caucasus. The only obstacle was the multitude of Magical Beasts by the shores of Lake Nissai. Komer didn’t want to destroy the natural environment there; in fact, he enjoyed the tranquility. But if it hindered his influence from infiltrating the Southwest Region, it was a different matter.

Although he hadn’t bypassed Lake Nissai along with the army, the Magical Beasts inhabiting the lake had opened his eyes. The variety here was simply too rich, both in quantity and quality, far surpassing that of the Magical Beasts in the Great Greenland Forest. Driving away these Magical Beasts would not be an easy task, but of course, that didn’t mean there were no solutions.

Thinking about the possibility of building docks up to Lake Nissai, which could save thirty kilometers of marching through dense forests, Komer felt that even if it required taking risks or a greater cost, it would be worth it.

The three-masted sailing ship moved smoothly over the water’s surface, unlikely to be challenged by large Magical Beasts in the water. The forty-meter vessel could only navigate safely on a waterway as abundant as the Nissai River without fear of running aground. This was the primary reason Komer was eager to open this passage.

The abundant water here could continuously supply the heartland of the kingdom with various goods from the Caucasus and Leon. If it was possible to build a port along the long Lake Nissai shore, it would only be a mere thirty kilometers from the waterway to the Quke Valley by land route. If conditions allowed, Komer even wanted to dig a man-made canal directly from Lake Nissai to the Quke Valley. The low elevation of the Quke Valley was conducive to canal excavation, and the Barbarians who had completed the canal from Mattdam to Lake Niall also needed more job positions to meet their labor requirements.

In fact, Komer found himself increasingly unconsciously including the labor force of the Barbarians on the Cordillera Wasteland within his citizenry. Without the ever-increasing influx of Barbarian labor into the Caucasus, the Half-Beastmen wouldn’t feel the pressure of work. In fact, Barbarians were more hardworking and disciplined than Half-Beastmen. It was the entrance of Barbarians that filled the labor market of the Caucasus with competition. Apart from the Half-Beastmen’s advantage in the mines due to their skills, Barbarians were gradually starting to seize the work positions traditionally dominated by Half-Beastmen in canal excavation. This was probably the result of racial integration, revitalizing this remote area of the Caucasus with vigor and vitality.

Barbarians, truly a fascinating race. Komer’s thoughts involuntarily drifted towards the Barbarians. The situation in Flanders seemed to be progressing more smoothly than in the Caucasus. Neptune had fully grown into an excellent Administrative Officer. At least in Komer’s view, this young man could keenly understand his intentions and adjust strategies accordingly. Following the example of the Sanjia Tribe, Barbarians neighboring Flanders began to appear on the Flanders territorial borders. But this time, they did not come as invaders but as traders before the Flanders merchants.

The Cordillera Wasteland’s various specialties, especially the precious metals and Magic Crystals, made all Flanders traders gasp. What they needed in return was the most common food, salt, and fabrics in Mortal Society. Of course, for the merchants, such trades still required approval from the Lord’s Mansion, as everything related to trade with the Barbarians was considered strategic material.

Another Caucasus had emerged, only this time in the Iberian Kingdom. Small-scale smuggling, if not directed through legitimate channels, could quickly become rampant, necessitating a sound strategy for redirection. Neptune requested the formation of a Guard to strengthen patrol and inspection along the border, and also sought clear policy guidance from Komer.

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