The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 776: Volume 23: Rising Winds and Swirling Clouds, - 13: Undercurrent

Chapter 776: Volume 23: Rising Winds and Swirling Clouds, Chapter 13: Undercurrent

The continuous allegiance of more than a dozen Mountain Tribes to the Caucasus has still caused a stir. Although Komer intentionally kept a low profile, it was clear that such a move could not fail to have a significant impact on the surrounding areas, especially toward the Cordillera Wilderness and the Homer region.

The reaction from Homer had no impact on Komer, as he never intended to lessen the pressure on Homer. However, for the Sanjia Tribe, which had always maintained a cooperative attitude with the Caucasus, this was a test. As interactions with the Caucasus became more frequent, even people like Dvanch realized that the Sanjia Tribe was gradually being tightly bound to the Caucasus. The substantial flow of goods and trade made the Sanjia Tribe increasingly dependent on the Caucasus as a supply channel, and they even unintentionally became a transit point for delivering supplies to other tribes deep within the Cordillera Wilderness.

The attraction of the Caucasus to the small Mountain Tribes was undeniable, and Komer’s tolerant attitude toward these tribes also caused some anxiety among the leaders of the Sanjia Tribe. After approving seven Mountain Tribes to join the Caucasus and their rights charter in one fell swoop, Komer negotiated with the Sanjia Tribe and subsequently agreed to another six small tribes’ requests to settle in the Caucasus. This made the leaders of the Sanjia Tribe feel not only furious but also marginalized.

The joint visit of the Sanjia Tribe leaders was not a surprise to Komer; their absence would have been. Komer had long been waiting for this showdown. Now that they had indeed come, Komer planned to have a thorough discussion with them about the current situation.

Dvanch, Bellamong, and Sike arrived in Ugru with an uneasy mood. The bustling scene at the Bahomon checkpoint was a huge shock to them. Seeing how their kin, with children in tow, were determined to wait in the wilderness for days just to get through, their pride and self-esteem began to slowly crumble inside. This was destined to be an unequal negotiation, as, subconsciously, they had already placed themselves on the weaker side.

While the prosperity of Ugru was expected, the vast changes in Ugru still made them look astonished. With nearly annual transformations, Ugru was no longer the remote little town of the past. Centered around the Lord’s Mansion, the town’s streets had now extended several kilometers out, with the bustling market trading area filled with traders from all over the Continent. The figure of Mountain people was visible at every corner of the streets.

But what really caught their eyes were the heavily armored Mountain soldiers patrolling in formation on Ugru Street. These Mountain people wore the distinctive armor of the Caucasus Self-Defense Forces, but it was clearly different from the outfits of the Half-beast soldiers. Purple-red was the Mountain people’s favorite color, and it seemed the Caucasus Self-Defense Forces had catered to this preference, intentionally using purple-red linen for the linings under the armor so that they could be easily distinguished from the Half-beast Army, even when their helmets’ visors were lowered.

Routine patrols had become an exciting activity for the Mountain soldiers following tedious and strenuous training. Clad in excellent armor and gripping their double-edged axes tightly, they strode with pride. Each stamp of their feet would raise a cloud of dust, and seeing the awe-filled eyes of the surrounding people added to their sense of pride. This feeling was undoubtedly the most effective in establishing a soldier’s sense of honor and belonging. This was part of the training plan specifically designed for these newly integrated Mountain people, as per Fran’s instructions from Komer. It aimed to strengthen their basic combat skills on the one hand, and quickly integrate them into the land of the Caucasus and foster their pride as members of the Caucasus Army in the shortest possible time.

"Chief Bellamong, do you think it’s appropriate for us to come here?" As they strolled through Ugru Street, Dvanch felt a heavy weight on his heart, unspeakably uncomfortable. The prosperity of the Caucasus highlighted the plight of the Mountain people on the Cordillera Wilderness. Although the Sanjia Tribe had improved their circumstances over the years, this was only relative to the poorest small tribes in the heart of the Cordillera Wilderness. Looking at the prosperity of Bahomon and Ugru, was it truly this man’s capability, or were Mortals naturally more intelligent than Mountain people?

"Chief Dvanch, what if we don’t come? Should we just watch indifferently as our kin flock to the Caucasus?" Bellamong, seemingly aged quite a bit but still with a sharp gaze, said, "As long as I, Bellamong, remain chief even for one day, I will not agree to such shortsighted actions!"

"Do you think we will achieve any results from this visit?" Dvanch did not respond directly to the other’s remarks and merely asked faintly.

Sighing softly, Bellamong seemed to find the question difficult to answer. All three of them had experienced that man’s cunning and wiles which were watertight yet full of hidden sharpness. Dealing with him was not an easy task, and if opinions within the Sanjia Tribe were not united, it would be even more difficult. Meanwhile, the chief of the neighboring Gapeng Tribe obviously had a different rhythm from Bellamong and Dvanch.