The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 773: Volume 23: Rising Winds and Swirling Clouds, - 10: The Wind is Rising

Chapter 773: Volume 23: Rising Winds and Swirling Clouds, Chapter 10: The Wind is Rising

The tide of Barbarians entering the Caucasus nearly crushed the immigration checkpoint in Bahomon set up by the Caucasus Prefecture Lord’s Mansion! Faced with the swarm of incoming Barbarians, the temporarily established checkpoints were simply overwhelmed.

Upon quietly learning that their tribe had officially signed the Mountain People’s Citizenship Rights Treaty with Lord Komer of the Greater Caucasus Prefecture, the impatient Barbarians could hardly adhere to any secrecy protocol. Their boundless yearning for a better life and longing for their families prompted them to return to Cordillera Wilderness. After gathering their belongings, they uprooted their families, young and old, and trekked from the heart of Cordillera Wilderness, forming an unstoppable surge.

When the Sanjia Tribe got wind of this, they were already unable to stop the trend. Anyone could cross the vast expanses of Cordillera Wasteland, and facing their unarmed brethren, the warriors of Sanjia Tribe didn’t know where to begin, let alone that they had received no orders to stop these people from migrating north.

Unlike the Nissai River, the Catania River did not have a floating bridge. To cross the wide Catania River one had to go through the Bahomon ferry, and the ferry owners there were clearly unprepared for the surging tide of people. Every day, up to a thousand people and a massive amount of luggage packed the few ferries to the brim. Seeing a copper coin, a silver shield roll into their bosoms, the ferry owners grinned from ear to ear, their bowls overflowing with profit.

Meanwhile, the dock and town square of Bahomon were plastered with advertisements recruiting laborers. Faced with such a massive pool of cheap labor, the shrewd mine owners and workshop masters wouldn’t miss such an opportunity.

On the road from Bahomon to Ugru, one could see a column of weary Barbarians. The few job opportunities in the mines and smelting workshops of Bahomon were far from enough to satisfy such a huge crowd. Perhaps Ugru and Mattdam, or even the farther reaches of Santiago and Muscat, were their destinations. And then there was Bruce Town, rumored to have developed into the most prosperous town in the north of the Greater Caucasus, where countless job opportunities awaited them. Unlike mortal immigrants, for the Barbarians who were not adept at farming, only towns with developed trade and commerce were the most appropriate places to settle.

Komer arrived in Bahomon quietly. Although he believed that the Church of Light could not have much energy to spare for the Caucasus at the moment, Komer thought it necessary to maintain a low profile until everything was out in the open.

"Heinem, are these all mountain people from your several tribes?" Seeing the Barbarians crowding outside the fenced perimeter of the armed checkpoints, Komer frowned and asked.

The rough Half-Beastmen had little fondness for the Barbarians. Clad in heavy armor, wielding long spears, the Half-Beastmen warriors rudely shouted at those mountain people eager to pass through, occasionally brandishing their spears as warnings to the restless Barbarians. They were never polite to these Barbarians, proudly rattling their armor, puffing out their chests to show off their warrior prestige. The breath from their nostrils was rapid, taking pride in showing authority before these Barbarians was an opportunity they relished, their bulging eyes glaring at those whom they considered even cruder than themselves, eyes roaming about as if seeking out rebels.

Despite the addition of two checkpoints, the queues moved slowly, processing only dozens of people per hour. For the hundreds of Barbarians gathered outside the fence, on the temporary grass embankment, their arrival into Mortal Society would mean learning their first lesson: to strictly follow the laws and rules set by Mortals, and now it meant patiently queuing and waiting for passage in an orderly manner.

Heinem’s chest heaved with controlled anger, infuriated by the arrogance and oppressiveness displayed by his kin, the Half-Beast soldiers, toward their own tribespeople. It seemed the Half-Beast officers had deliberately allowed such behavior. The tribespeople, who were eager for a new life and marked by anger, restrained themselves out of concern, having been repeatedly admonished before leaving, to abide by the laws of Mortal Society.

"Sir, not completely. Those crowding over there do not belong to the seven tribes that have obtained the treaty you signed," Heinem strained to divert his attention from the infuriating scene before him and energetically replied to Komer’s question, "This is one of the reasons I wanted to see you. The representatives of these tribes have also arrived in Bahomon and wish to meet with you."

Komer noticed Heinem’s use of the word "meet" and a discreet smile formed at the corner of his mouth.

"Heinem, do you think I don’t have enough problems as it is? Dvanch and the others have been waiting for me in Ugru for three days now, and they are adamantly demanding a satisfactory explanation," Komer said icily. "Prominent members of the Half-Beastmen are also putting pressure on me through various channels, believing that the ratification and implementation of the ’Rights Treaty’ will infringe upon the interests of the Half-Beastmen. I am caught in the middle, facing pressure from both sides. Do you understand the predicament I’m in?"

Licking his parched lips nervously, Heinem had been planning day and night on how to relocate the seven mountain tribes and the follow-up resettlement issues, becoming noticeably thinner in the process.

Fortunately, a considerable number of robust individuals from the seven tribes had found work in the Greater Caucasus Region and established themselves, now possessing legitimate citizen rights. Although the remaining issues were complex, they had become relatively easier to manage, primarily concerning living arrangements. The Mountain people did not demand living standards as high as Mortals do; accustomed to a life of roughing it outdoors, they would be content with a tattered tent. As long as they had enough bread to fill their stomachs, they were profoundly grateful. Now that these affairs were gradually on track, Heinem could finally stand tall and catch his breath.

"Lord, you should have anticipated these issues beforehand, and for you, they are not such a big deal. The chiefs of the Sanjia Tribe simply have some complaints about not being informed earlier. As for the Half-Beastmen, hmph, what right do they have to criticize? A few years ago, they were living worse than dogs in the mines of Leon. Groveling for survival under the mine owners and overseers’ whips, if you hadn’t liberated them, would they be able to enjoy their current lives? Lord, as long as the Mortals have no objections, nothing will pose a problem."

Heinem had a good grasp of Komer’s mentality. In fact, the Half-Beastmen had not really made any substantial statements. Under Komer’s absolute authority, they barely dared to mutter in private and wouldn’t voice the slightest complaint, just as Heinem said. As long as Komer’s rule in the Caucasus—the base of Mortals—remained unchallenged, everything would proceed according to his plans.

Komer glanced at him, hiding the admiration in his eyes; he had no wish to reveal his appreciation for the other man too soon. There were indeed some outstanding individuals among the Barbarians, and this man was one of them—quick-witted, mentally agile, unencumbered by the stubbornness typical of Barbarians, and nothing like those freshly migrated from the Cordillera Wilderness with their crude and boorish ways—quite the rarity.

"Heinem, you oversimplify the matter. The reason Mortals have no objections is that the migration of your mountain people does not pose any competitive threat to them. Half-Beastmen are different; they stand on a parallel line of competition with you in many aspects, and more importantly, they now make up the main force of my armed power. I cannot ignore any voice coming from them," Komer hinted meaningfully.

"Lord, I understand what you mean. Rest assured, once we have settled down, our Mountain warriors will report to you. You will see an army that is in no way inferior to that of the Half-Beastmen standing before you, loyal only to you. If you command them to advance, not even a sea of fire will make them retreat a step; if you command them to withdraw, not even a pile of gold and jewels will tempt them to look back. Trust me, I guarantee this with the honor of a true Mountain person," Heinem observed Komer’s expression while speaking with a firm tone. "It’s just that the number of warriors from our several tribes might be slightly fewer, so I humbly suggest that, if you have the time, you might consider meeting representatives from those tribes yet to receive your blessing. Whether to show your benevolence or to meet the needs of the Caucasus, I believe you will gain much more."

"Heh, Heinem, I’m beginning to doubt whether you’re truly a Mountain person. Your tone is just like that of Mortals, full of enticement and provocation. Are there really such wonderful opportunities waiting for me?" Komer’s face revealed a faint sneer. "Heinem, you’ve not yet fully mastered the hypocrisy of Mortals. A Mortal expressing such an intention would do so more covertly and subtly to make you fall into the trap without realizing it. You, on the other hand, only slightly disguise it. Hmm, but you do show great perceptiveness. It seems integrating into the Caucasus is just a matter of time for you."

Komer’s evasive remark brushed aside Heinem’s topic. He did not directly respond to the other man’s words. Retaining a necessary air of detachment was beneficial for gaining more in the next phase of negotiation, and it was essential that Heinem take back this attitude to his people.

"Lord, they••••••" Heinem was becoming anxious.

"All right, Heinem, let’s not talk about anything beyond our current topic for now. I want a clear answer, when can I expect two thousand Mountain warriors to stand under the banner of the Caucasus?" Komer gestured with his hand, cutting off the other’s words.

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