The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 828: Volume 25, Rowing Against the Current, - 15, The Regular Cast

Chapter 828: Volume 25, Rowing Against the Current, Chapter 15, The Regular Cast

A dense gloom had spread between Komer and the Chief of the Sanjia Tribe, and even after Dvanch and his two companions had left, it lingered stubbornly. Cross-armed and watching the resolute figure of Dvanch departing, Komer felt a tinge of regret. He hadn’t wanted to confront the issue in this way, but if the other side insisted on forcing his hand, he certainly wouldn’t mind.

"Lord, it seems we have underestimated the will of the barbarians after all," Neptune, standing behind Komer, said with some dissatisfaction. His brown hair was neatly brushed, and the fitting half-coat he wore clung to his slightly thin body, which still looked well-proportioned. The spirited gray eyes above his straight nose gave off an impression of vitality.

"Hmph, understandable. Having lived freely on the Cordillera Wilderness for hundreds of years, they wouldn’t bow their heads just because of a few threats from us. If they did, they wouldn’t be barbarians, nor would they have endured under the blockade of mortals for so long. The Sanjia Tribe is not like those smaller tribes. They have their principles. To break those principles, we need time and opportunity."

Komer was unfazed by this, as it was within his expectations. Dvanch was tough and stubborn, Bellamong was cunning yet principled, and only Cisse seemed more lively among them. Cisse’s liveliness, however, was predicated on the unyielding stance of the other two tribes, enabling him to extract as many benefits as possible for the Gapeng Tribe.

"Indeed, dealing with these barbarians is not the work of a single day. It’s just that this way, it’s dragging on too long," Neptune also expressed his regret.

"How are things in Flanders?" Komer abruptly changed the subject, "You’ve returned this time, and I have an important task for you, but that place will be our important base in the south, and we cannot afford any oversight. You must make sure everything is well-arranged."

Seeing Komer’s steady gaze turning to him, Neptune straightened his face and said proudly, "Sir, you can rest assured. The situation in Flanders is relatively stable for now, and the Sanwa Tribe has also started to align with us. To fight for the leadership of the Barbarian Alliance, the Carlo Tribe has to condescend to seek our support. At this moment, Flanders is at its best developmental opportunity in years. If it were not for something particularly important, I think it would be better for me to stay in Flanders for another two years. Just two years, and I am confident that I can completely divide those barbarians and ensure they can never unite against us again."

"Good, it is fine that you have this confidence, but you must find a balance. We need to support them to a certain extent, but we cannot allow them to develop the strength to overlook us. We also need to foster a delicate balance among them, so that any party must rely on us to take the lead and initiative. Only this way, they will have to keep depending on us," Komer replied.

Komer was quite satisfied with the young man before him. Compared to his father, this Neptune was far more useful to him. As for Hesse, the old man could now exert limited influence only among the indigenous people of the Ugru region. And as the indigenous population was being increasingly diluted, perhaps only his Adventurers’ Guild could still be of some use.

"So, Lord, do you mean to agree with my continued stay in Flanders for a period of time?" Neptune was uncertain about the Lord’s attitude and asked cautiously.

"Oh, Neptune, we are just discussing our strategies for dealing with the barbarians, nothing more. You need to come back; I will arrange for someone else to take over your duties," Komer said, shaking his head with a smile.

"Well, if you, Lord, have already decided, I would advise you to be careful not to place too much trust in those people from the Salvation Society. Although they don’t seem ambitious on the surface, I personally think it’s best not to over-rely on members from groups with clear religious significance," Neptune spoke after a moment of thought.

Neptune’s words made Komer look at him in a new light; the young man had actually seen this point? That was no simple feat. Komer had also realized this but had not expected Neptune to reach the same conclusion, strengthening his confidence in him.

"Hmm, thank you for the reminder, Neptune. I’m glad you could bring up more constructive suggestions. Even though the Salvation Society is currently our ally and will continue to be for a significant period in the future, they are still a group. For now, this group seems relatively pure, but that’s only because they’ve been forced to tightly band together under the severe oppression of the Church of Light. Many people can share adversity, but not wealth. In hard times, they may be able to maintain their integrity and resolve, but the same cannot necessarily be said for when times are good. Therefore, we need to take a longer view on many matters. We can make full use of the talents of the Salvation Society, but we mustn’t let them hold administrative powers in one place for too long. Rotating positions and adapting to multiple perspectives might better help them understand their place."

Komer’s words were full of ambiguity and uncertainty, but to Neptune, they were enlightening. Lord Komer had opened up so frankly that any dissatisfaction Neptune had harbored about being recalled from Flanders vanished instantly.

"May I know what kind of task you wish me to undertake, Lord?" Neptune finally couldn’t contain his curiosity.

"I originally intended to have you replace Puber as the Greater Caucasus Government Officer, but I’ve changed my mind. I want you to take on the role of the Homer Government Officer and take responsibility for managing the entire Homer region," Komer stated indifferently.

"Ah?" Neptune was taken aback and a bit incredulous. He was well aware of the situation in Homer; judging from seniority and closeness to the lord, he seemed not to be on par with Puber. Why had Komer chosen him?

"There’s no need to make such a fuss. I have my reasons. I’m not very fond of the city of Cyprus, and even Odessa is much better in comparison. That place is filled with nobles with rigid minds and decaying thoughts, along with merchants who only know how to cling to nobility without their own opinions. However, Puber and I are both from there. After all, it’s still the heart of the Homer region. Hence, I think it’s more appropriate for someone completely unrelated to Cyprus, like you, to take on this role as Administrative Officer. Odessa will become a special open city and compete with Cyprus, forming a competitive relationship. Only by leveraging this rivalry to fully engage the jealousy of the Cyprus people can Homer truly shake off its outdated and declining shadow. I expect you to adhere to this principle."

Komer ignored Neptune’s surprised expression and continued to elaborate on his thoughts.

"But Lord, what about Sir Puber..." Neptunes hesitated. Of course, becoming the Homer Government Officer was a dream come true, but he couldn’t dismiss his concerns about Puber’s feelings...

"You needn’t worry about Puber. The development of the Caucasus is no less important than that of Homer. I can tell you explicitly that our foundation still lies in the Caucasus, and this won’t change in the short term—it may even strengthen. Homer is regarded as the land of civilization, but when these so-called civilized people truly witness the prosperity of the Caucasus, they’ll realize just how ludicrous their misconceptions were. Homer should further strengthen its various interactions and connections with the Caucasus, tightly linking the economies of both regions to achieve true integration," Komer dismissed with a wave of his hand, signaling Neptune not to worry about those additional concerns.

"Lord, may I be so bold to ask whether you are really content with just sitting on the position of the Lord of Homer? Do you have other thoughts or intentions?"

After a long silence, an indecisive Neptune finally mustered the courage to ask a question that had been lingering in his mind. In fact, he had always been analyzing and pondering where his lord would head next. Surely Lord Komer was not someone content with obscurity. This could be seen from his aggressive infiltration among the Barbarians. Komer was doing so in the Caucasus, and he expected the same in Flanders. Neptune had realized that Komer was actively penetrating amongst the Barbarians of the Cordillera Wilderness from both the north and the south, continually expanding his influence. Komer’s influence in the Cordillera Wilderness was already implicitly surpassing that of the Chief of the Carlo Tribe. But what was the ultimate goal behind Lord Komer’s relentless infiltration of the Cordillera Wilderness?

Neptune did not believe that Komer had a compassionate heart eager to improve the barbarians’ lives—there seemed to be nothing in the Wilderness that mortals would value, except perhaps for its minerals. Could that be a possibility? Somewhat likely, but it didn’t quite fit. Then, maybe it was about the barbarians themselves. The value of the barbarians seemed to manifest more in military terms. If mere labor was the only goal, the economic coercion that had been previously employed would suffice. There was no need for such strong confrontations with the Sanjia Tribe as today.

Komer, too, started laughing. His closest confidant had finally realized his true nature. He was not a man who was content with the status quo. Only those who could guess his intentions could truly be considered part of his inner circle. Who says the Caucasus lack talented individuals? (To be continued... For further developments, please log in to www.qidian.com. More Chapters are available, support the author, support authorized reading!)