The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 813: Volume 25, Striking the Water Midstream, - 1, Going Against the Wind

Chapter 813: Volume 25, Striking the Water Midstream, Chapter 1, Going Against the Wind

The winter in Cyprus was still fearsome for the homeless, as the cold North Wind rolled in from the Northern Mogon Wasteland. Even with the moderating warm and moist air currents from the Nether Sea, it could still chill one to the bone. Of course, compared to the land of Poznan and Cisilia to the far north, Cyprus had it relatively easy.

The merchants and nobles within Cyprus City were all awaiting the arrival of a new lord, but to their disappointment, as the steps of spring drew near, they had yet to catch even a glimpse of this lord. Aside from occasional news brought by merchants from Odessa that Komer was traveling between Odessa, Bruce, and Mattdam, the residents of Cyprus City felt as if, overnight, their once-proud center of Cyprus was no longer at the heart of Homer’s territory, and a restless sense of loss filled the hearts of all Cyprus people.

Change was happening little by little. Komer was tolerant; he endured the somewhat arrogant attitudes of the Cyprus people, for he came from Cyprus and knew of the weakness hidden beneath their prideful facades. Only when they realized that Homer’s machinery had to keep running without Cyprus would they shed their hypocritical shells. Komer had plenty of time, and he had more pressing matters to attend to. For now, he saw no need to engage in a battle of wills with the Cyprus people.

Support from the Anson family began to surface after Komer expressed interest in a marriage pact with Renta, and the attitude of Homer’s nobles began to shift. Even within the most stubborn Cyprus, some nobles began to pay homage to Komer in Ugru or Bruce, quietly. Not everyone could maintain their personal integrity and dignity like Lord Ramla. The harsh reality was enough to break many; one could either be ousted or conform to the tides of the times.

Komer had no immediate plans to get engaged to Renta. An immediate engagement would indeed have direct effects, but there were also downsides, particularly the many troubles that would come with it, which made a more subtle approach preferable, one that would be easier for people to accept.

He now had more important matters to address, such as gradually integrating the barbarians into his rule from two fronts. While this ambition could not yield very noticeable results in the short term, the Sanjia Tribe had already set a precedent. Whether they admitted it or not, the warriors of the Sanjia Tribe were becoming more accustomed to life in the lands of Homer and the Caucasus, especially given the ample treatment that left them with little to worry about. Apart from a minor discrepancy in name, the warriors of the Sanjia Tribe were almost ready to willingly submit to Komer.

The outstanding performance of the barbarians also stimulated the Half-Beastmen’s desire to display their capabilities, triggering a surge of enlistment that took both Komer and Fran by surprise. In fact, Komer had not planned to further expand the size of his army. As long as he could wield the barbarian army at his whim, there seemed to be no need to increase the Half-Beastman Army’s power. However, considering the uncertainty this created, Komer could not tolerate such unpredictability. He would prefer to expend more Money and time to ensure that his grasp on power was more substantial.

The collapse of the Philip family plunged many of the knights loyal to them into despairing straits, leaving them confused and struggling without an object for their allegiance, especially as Komer showed little interest in setting foot in Cyprus. Cyprus was, in fact, semi-autonomous at the time, and although they were nominally subject to Komer, his rule was effectively limited to beyond the city’s borders. Both the nobles and the merchants longed to keep power firmly in their hands, but they knew that without the name of a lord, none could truly achieve it.

With the loss of their livelihood and psychological dependence, the knights began to degrade, indulging in drunken brawls, starting fights, and disturbing the peace—all of which suddenly came to light. For the citizens, the behavior of the knights was also a source of dismay. Cyprus was like an abandoned, forgotten city, fading from the view of the people of the Continent. It was something the Cyprus people, especially the merchants, could not accept.

Zellin observed the young man before him with a calm gaze. There were no traces of defiance to be seen, and his placid, humble expression only made Zellin more wary. The more composed he appeared, the more it hinted at the burning ambition cloaked beneath his thick exterior. Any person who saw this young man for the first time would likely be deceived by his seemingly harmless facade. Zellin wondered, was his overly naive daughter the same?

Komer, too, maintained his silence, feeling like he was under scrutiny—indeed he was, for to marry someone’s daughter, one always had to pay a price. The very fact that they had agreed to meet in this place was already a significant concession on their part.

This was a small town on the boundary between Homer and Galle, where a bustling Canal and its many small fairs provided a livelihood. This town was no exception, with the one unique aspect being that less than three miles to the east, one would find themselves in Homer’s territory.