The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 786: Volume 23: Rising Winds and Swirling Clouds, - 22: Right to Speak

Chapter 786: Volume 23: Rising Winds and Swirling Clouds, Chapter 22: Right to Speak

Komer paid no attention to Fran’s comfort, for in his view this skirmish was negligible in terms of losses to their own strength, yet was quite significant in establishing the image of the unbeatable Caucasus Army. However, the disappointing outcome made Komer regret why he had appointed someone with a simple mind like Woodhardt as the chief of the Half-beastman Armaments. Though the man held some prestige among the Half-beastmen, it was clear that he lacked in both command and adaptability.

Truth be told, Komer also acknowledged some oversight on his part, as appointments of high-ranking officers within the Caucasus Army were decided solely by him. At the beginning, Fran had subtly expressed concerns over Woodhardt’s command abilities. Komer, eager to solidly secure control over the five thousand Half-beastmen troops, had only Woodhardt and Dragumo to choose from to maintain a front.

Woodhardt’s loyalty was beyond question, and his personal combat prowess ranked him among the elite within the Half-beastmen. However, leading two thousand Half-beastmen proved to be challenging for him. Compared to Dragumo, he lacked experience and ingenuity. Komer thought that perhaps spending more time with Ilot, Havier, and Bayezid could help improve his weaknesses in these areas.

Changing commanders right before a battle was a major taboo in military strategy, but Komer had no choice but to proceed. Designating his Guard leader Kuroba as the new chief of the Half-beastman Army was the only option. Komer’s decision was supported by Fran. Kuroba might have been a man of few words, but his prestige among the Half-beastmen was now on par with Woodhardt’s, if not superior, and his capabilities were of a completely different level. The fact that he spoke less seemed to embody the inviolable dignity of strength to the Half-beastmen.

Seeing Woodhardt’s face filled with grateful tears of joy, Komer felt incredibly frustrated inside. What was meant to be a punishment had made this man ecstatic, his pockmarked face even glowing red. It made Komer realize that the position of his Guard leader seemed no less prestigious than that of the chief of the Half-beastman Army. In the eyes of the Half-beastmen, the title of "Lord’s Guard leader" seemed even more reverent. It was no wonder that Woodhardt had almost not believed his ears when he first heard the order.

The honor of serving as a bodyguard close to the enigmatic Lord was a tremendous one for any Half-beastman, a sentiment deeply ingrained in every mature Half-beastman from the Caucasus, to the point where even some strong female Half-beastmen privately suggested forming a fully female Half-beastmen Lord’s Guard to share the responsibilities of the original unit. This idea won Puber’s approval but was undoubtedly vetoed by Komer; he wasn’t ready to have his mood spoiled by a bevy of female Half-beastmen constantly surrounding him.

"Fran, it looks like our predictions were not wrong. Philip has acted faster than we thought. The people of Galle have finally joined in, and even the Nirvana Knights have appeared. Is Zellin truly willing to clash with us head-on?" Komer’s countenance turned somber as Woodhardt’s figure disappeared, the gloominess piling upon his face, "With the Galleians here, what about the people of Poznan and the Silesians? What is that fool Maha Gummi doing?"

"Not necessarily, my Lord. I don’t think the people of Galle are necessarily willing to risk their lives for Philip," Fran said, shaking his head, disagreeing with Komer’s view.

"Oh? And why do you think that? Isn’t Zellin’s dispatching of the Nirvana Knights enough to show his determination?" Komer raised his eyebrows and asked.

"Heh, selfishness is the word that lies in the marrow of these nobles. Our Myron Duchy has always been an important bulwark to the west of the Kingdom of Nicosia. Yet when faced with an invasion of the Beastmen, the Kingdom of Nicosia, with its substantial forces, was reluctant to send reinforcements for one reason only: fear that once Mycenae fell, their own forces would suffer significant losses. This hesitation led to missed opportunities and the downfall of our Myron Duchy. As for the people of Galle, it does not matter who controls Homer. Besides, you are not a Barbarian or a Half-beastman; like them, you are a duly crowned noble of the kingdom, which makes it much less of an ethical shock to them. As long as the policies you implement do not harm their interests, I believe Zellin will not easily play his last card."

Fran shook his head again. When talking about the fall of his ancestral land, his face no longer showed the indignation of the past. It appeared especially calm. Time can dilute everything, and the events of the past are slowly being forgotten. Now he is a high-ranking officer of the Caucasus, and he only needs to consider the interests of the Caucasus.

The reason why the Nirvana Knights of Galle came to reinforce is out of moral obligation. If they remained indifferent to an ally’s call for help, it would significantly damage Zellin’s reputation. However, the presence of the Nirvana Knights actually proved that the Galleians were unwilling to get too deeply involved in this war. The mobility of the Knights ensures they can withdraw in a timely manner should the battle turn against them, and the lack of their infantry units is enough to prove that they are already doubting whether Homer can withstand the advance of the Caucasus."

Fran’s incisive analysis once again made Komer realize that his own understanding of war was still too superficial. He had thought that the appearance of the Knights regiment, seen as the absolute main force by Zellin, was almost an act of declaring war on Caucasus, yet he hadn’t considered the complexities involved, with the Galleians even adopting a stance that appeared to advance in retreat.

This is the so-called fidelity between allies, these rubbish nobles! Komer didn’t mind including himself in that assessment.

"Then, what do you think about Poznan and Silesia?" Komer asked immediately afterward.

"This is still uncertain. The Ferdinand and Heine families have a more traditional mindset and may harbor stronger animosity towards Caucasus. They are neither as shrewd as Zellin in their thinking nor do they share his long-term vision. If Philip tempted them with benefits, it’s hard to say whether those two families would take the bait," Fran slowly said. "However, these two families are also under a greater threat from the Beastmen. If Maha Gummi makes a significant move, I believe they will consider carefully. Of course, as long as we can accelerate the pace of war, defeating Homer completely before Poznan and Silesia intervene, they would have no choice but to accept reality."

Komer nodded in agreement with Fran’s view, "It’s just that the Nirvana Knights have now appeared on Busen Plain, which might impact the speed of our next move. Homer’s knightly strength was already heavily damaged last time. If it weren’t for the involvement of the Nirvana Knights, we could have swept through all opposition on our way straight to the gates of Cyprus City. But now we must reconsider our strategy."

"Yes, their presence does affect our operations somewhat, but I believe the strength of the Nirvana Knights is also quite limited. If necessary, I suggest, Lord, you could gather our Earth Dragon Warriors and, together with the Thunder Peng Knights, deploy them en masse to the battlefield. If the Nirvana Knights continue to oppose us, we can choose an opportune moment for a decisive battle. We can create a defensive line with the Barbarian infantry and have the Earth Dragon Warriors and Thunder Peng Knights attack from the flanks and the air. If conditions allow, our Mage Corps can also teach them a lesson and give them a taste of total warfare," Fran proposed with much conviction and determination.

Fran was quite pleased with the power displayed by the Barbarian Warriors in the siege of Takros Fortress. He believed that the defeat of the Half-Beastmen was entirely due to being caught off guard and was confident that, with proper preparation, the current involvement of the Galleian forces would not be enough to halt the advance of his mighty army.

"Oh, so early on, revealing all our cards, is that appropriate?" Komer asked back.

"Since the Galleians have intervened, it means there are still those who doubt the strength of Our Caucasus. We can only fully demonstrate our power to make those people understand that we are determined to win this war. This might also deter those still clinging to old notions from coveting Homer. Giving the Nirvana Knights a harsh lesson can give us more leverage in future peace talks and kingdom affairs. The battle at Takros Fortress has already completely crushed Homer’s morale. I believe that Philip is no longer able to organize an effective resistance. Once we defeat the Nirvana Knights, Homer’s fate will no longer be uncertain," Fran asserted.

Komer nodded in satisfaction. Fran was no longer the mere knight leader of Myron Duchy he used to be. Although he poured more effort into building up the Caucasus Army, war is merely an extension of politics. To grasp the changes of the situation more clearly and to formulate strategic plans, one must accurately understand it all. Fran might not realize it, but his ability had improved significantly, almost imperceptibly.

Seeing Komer momentarily speechless, Fran added, "In fact, Lord, you could completely request Miss Vero’s assistance as a mediator. This would be perfectly appropriate. Duke Zellin is not our most direct enemy at present. Given your relationship with Miss Vero, an agreement that is mutually beneficial between us and Galle can certainly be reached. The Central Kingdom’s influence has waned, and only a few persons within the kingdom can now wield authority. There is ample room and benefit to satisfy our needs, and the best-case scenario would be at most to the detriment of Philip’s family alone. I suggest you entrust Miss Vero with passing on a message. Perhaps her coming to Caucasus this time in itself represents some intention from Galle."

(To be continued. For further developments, please visit WWW.CMFU.COM. More Chapters available, support the author, support authorized reading!)