The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 806: Volume 24 Beacon Smoke Connecting Camps - 16 Odessa Merchants

Chapter 806: Volume 24 Beacon Smoke Connecting Camps Chapter 16 Odessa Merchants

After all these years of tempering, Komer found that his once passionate heart had unknowingly become cold and merciless. He had left Tracy in Mattdam, discarded like old shoes. The remnants of warmth and fondness he once had for her had been completely replaced by a grotesque physical satisfaction. Occasionally toying with her might be acceptable, but the idea of even spending a night in the same bed with her made Komer uncomfortable. This transformation was beyond his own belief. Human emotions are indeed complex; once a certain unique intrinsic element is lost, everything ceases to exist, although she still appears unscathed and perhaps even more illustrious on the surface.

Komer could imagine the resentment Tracy felt at this moment, but he did not care. The hatred of minor figures had become numb to him, and moreover, he believed that if he gave her just a little incentive, she would come running like a fawning dog, even to the point of betraying her father. Once the aura of the Philip family was shattered, the noble veneer that shrouded her would be completely stripped away. What could she do then without a foundation to survive on?

Now, Komer’s focus was no longer on these trivial matters. How to quickly take control and manage the land effectively, to truly become one of the few great lords of the Kingdom of Nicosia, was most important. Recognition from Cartin and Godeburg, the default acceptance of Galle, Silesia, and Poznan, and the support from the nobility, gentry, and commonfolk of the Homer region were all immediately before Komer.

For some reason, Komer did not want to go to Cyprus. He would rather stay in Odessa. Perhaps this port city brought him a freshness that also allowed him to avoid all that was familiar from the past. Everything in Odessa seemed unaffected by the war. This city, connected to the Fertile Busen Plain and the Nether Sea via canals, seemed to lack the intense hierarchical atmosphere of other inland cities. In this city, apart from the city governors, the traders had greater influence. Although a considerable portion of these traders had evolved from noble landlords of the Busen Plain, once they joined the merchant class, the noble aura seemed to gradually fade. Komer liked this atmosphere.

The municipal official had fled after the Caucasus Army entered the Busen Plain. As the main confidant of Philip stationed here, he could not wait for the recognition of the Caucasus. Before the power of Caucasus reached Odessa, the union of industry representatives temporarily controlled the city’s operations. In reality, it was the representatives of the traders who controlled the city.

"Sir, the representatives of the traders have all arrived," an attendant said respectfully from behind.

"Oh? They’ve all come?" Komer asked indifferently. The attitude of these traders had swiftly undergone a complete one-eighty after the total defeat of the Homer Army. From their original aloofness and deliberate distance, they quickly became cordial. Some traders even secretly visited, which made Komer admire the thickness of their skins; they showed no embarrassment over their initial reservation and detachment.

"Yes, they are all waiting for your arrival," the attendant bowed slightly.

The City Hall in Odessa differed from any City Hall in the Homer region. It barely resembled the Nicosia style prevalent in other cities of the region. Accurately speaking, it resembled more the style from cities in the Southern Continent, with its slightly low-rise buildings scattered around the center of the square. Apart from the City Council, which was slightly more grand, other buildings like the taxation and judiciary departments appeared very plain and modest, which suited Komer’s taste well.

Two escorting Half-Beastmen Warriors voluntarily stopped at the entrance of the Council, which significantly relieved the traders’ representatives. Although they knew that those Half-Beastmen would not cause trouble without reason, the sight of their fierce faces and burly bodies, coupled with their fully armed appearance, involuntarily made the traders feel immense threat and pressure. Had they entered the council, the traders might not have been able to clearly express themselves.

"Honorable Lord Komer, on behalf of all the merchants and citizens of Odessa, I extend to you congratulations on Your Highness’s enfeoffment by the Kingdom. You will henceforth be the sole ruler of the Homer region, and we of Odessa, part of Homer, will all be your faithful subjects."

The merchant representatives all took off their hats and held them against their chests as they bowed, one hand placed in front of their knees, a standard merchant’s courtesy.

Komer, too, had to put on a genial smile for these merchants, although their behavior was quite despicable. Yet, it was in their nature, and he could not really blame them. Moreover, he would need their support in the future and had to properly win them over and soothe them.

"Thank you for your esteem. Homer is about to turn a new page in its history. Past events have passed, let them go. We need a new beginning," Komer cautiously chose his words, not wanting them to feel unappreciated, nor to harbor any improper desires. Balancing this was indeed a test of character.

"Currently, the Continent’s situation is turbulent. Beastmen from the North have infiltrated into the heartland of our kingdom, even capturing our capital. The territories within the kingdom still act independently, trade barriers are strictly enforced. Pirates on the Mediterranean and the Nether Sea still rampant, our link between Homer, the Mediterranean region, and the vast Continent has been greatly hindered. All these barriers and obstacles await us to break through, allowing the people of Homer to fully enjoy a better life. Our merchants, namely all present here, should first bear this responsibility. As the Lord of Homer, it is my duty and responsibility to lead you and all Homer citizens to help the kingdom regain its former glory and also to let the people of Homer feel the benefits that the changes in new life bring."

To the merchants, the invasion by Beastmen and the restoration of the kingdom’s old territory were not important. They were more concerned with Komer’s promises to break trade barriers, reduce tariffs, and smoother the trade routes from Odessa to every city around the Mediterranean and the Nether Sea, which would maximize Odessa’s role as a maritime and land trade hub. These matters touched their immediate interests. If Komer could keep his promise, they were willing to even kneel and lick the soles of his shoes.

Canals linked Odessa with inland regions of the kingdom including Galle, and its location in the southern part of the Nether Sea also gave it a natural advantage in linking with both the Mediterranean coast and the colonies on the vast Continent. Backed by the fertile and bounteous Busen Plain, Odessa was naturally the commercial and logistics center of the Homer region. However, it was not as prosperous as imagined, due to the constraints and restrictions of policies implemented by municipal officials from Cyprus. These issues were already briefed in detail to Komer by Maha Gummi before he arrived in Odessa.

"Lord, we too look forward to this day. Odessa will always be a part of Homer, and we will always be your subjects. However, Odessa differs from other parts of Homer as you might be aware. Our prosperity relies on the flourishing of commerce. We provide more than half of Homer’s commercial taxes annually, even surpassing Cyprus, yet we do not enjoy as many benefits from Homer as we should. We sincerely hope, Lord, that you could stay longer in Odessa to inspect our actual situation firsthand. Uh, we also hope that Lord would consider our representatives’ opinions when selecting Odessa’s governing officials and other municipal officials."

True to their nature as merchants, even knowing that the city hall was surrounded by Half-beastmen and Barbarian armies, they did not forget to fight for their rights—a group of fellows more concerned with money than their lives. Boldly making such requests at their first formal meeting, weren’t they afraid of angering him?

A hint of a smile appeared on Komer’s lips, but the merchants could not tell if it was a blessing or a curse.

This profligate youth from Cyprus had a poor reputation there, but this roach-like fellow managed to survive on the barren lands of Caucasus, even conquering the Half-beastmen near Leon and the Barbarians on the Cordillera Wilderness. Having these lower races willingly serve as his vanguard, even the Homer Knights and the Royal Court Magicians were defeated by this seemingly motley crowd, leaving the merchants to lament the injustice of the times. However, facing reality was a fundamental trait for merchants, it didn’t matter who controlled Homer, what was crucial was who could guarantee their commercial interests, especially since this profligate youth also had control over Caucasus and Leon, even making contacts with the Barbarians of the Cordillera Wilderness. Some nimble-minded merchants were even considering expanding their business opportunities to the Cordillera Wilderness.

"I will consider your requests. However, no matter how special Odessa is, it remains a part of Homer, and a part of the kingdom. The kingdom is in distress now, and everyone here has a responsibility to help restore it," Komer glanced over the merchants, who appeared somewhat uneasy, then smiled broadly, "Of course, Homer has its own difficulties. As an important trade gateway for Homer, Odessa should take on a more significant duty. I expect that the next governor will take into account the special circumstances of Odessa. I also hope that in a year’s time, Odessa will become a shining pearl on both the Nether Sea, the Mediterranean, the vast Continent, or the inland regions of the kingdom, so that whenever people mention Odessa, they will show an envious expression!" (To be continued. For further information, please visit WWW.QIDIAN.COM. More Chapters are available. Support the author. Support authorized reading!)