The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 968: Volume 31: A Hand Trying to Cover the Sky, - 12: Wrist and Tactic

Chapter 968: Volume 31: A Hand Trying to Cover the Sky, Chapter 12: Wrist and Tactic

No one likes to be controlled, yet whether it was Wu Gul, Gulupu, Montrey, or Woodleigh, they all deeply felt a sense of powerlessness and fatigue from being manipulated, like helpless butterflies or grasshoppers stuck on a spider web. Struggling desperately only exhausted them more quickly, hastening their death without any value or meaning, as everything had already been destined.

All of those involved knew that no matter how much they tried to show their sincerity now, they could not regain the trust of their former allies and companions. Once a rift had formed, it could never be mended. If at this time you still foolishly try to exchange your honesty for the other party’s trust, then when you turn around, everything you do and say will be presented on Komer’s desk. Trading a ’partner’ who shares your bed but harbors different dreams in exchange for the ruler’s approval was something no one wanted to be second in.

An alliance that was weak and full of mutual enmity and surveillance was far easier to manipulate than scattered and dangerous tribes, and this Komer knew well. He had no intention of dragging the Sanjia Tribe into this since he controlled a force that could at any time play a balancing role. As for the remaining tribes, to him, they were but trifles, little tricks and maneuvers. Dealing with these tribes, already driven to desperation by the issues of survival, was effortless, even excessively so. But this was not the ultimate goal of Komer.

Causing them to become divided and hostile towards one another was merely a process and a means to an end, not Komer’s final goal. What was the use and value of the Barbarians? Besides offering a considerable number of low-level laborers, what truly piqued Komer’s interest was their potential in war.

Born soldiers, these Barbarians were naturally infantry material. They not only could serve as infantry but also excelled at taming the Magical Beasts unique to the Cordillera Wilderness. If their talents in this aspect could be fully utilized, Komer believed that in the event of a real confrontation with the beastmen, these special troops could play a significant role in the war.

Of course, it was too early to indulge in such discussions. The Barbarian Alliance was quite fragile, and even though Komer had been adding his power to the mix like sand filtering into the Barbarians, bit by bit seizing power, it was not something that would show immediate results. This required patience and process.

Having already had such a beginning, Komer was quite satisfied. Ilot was not an exceptionally talented individual. He was not adept at manipulating political strategies and schemes. To be accurate, Ilot wasn’t even a suitable general, though his loyalty was unquestionable. Outside of that, there wasn’t much he could bring to the table.

Being able to thoroughly implement Komer’s intentions and achieve expected results, that was Ilot’s strength. He would not abandon his work due to some indecent concerns about face or prestige.

Komer could hardly imagine what concept over six hundred thousand Barbarians meant to him. These Barbarians were now ensnared by a net that seemed very fragile. A new alliance that appeared loose and with limited binding force had become an important rope for him to lead these guys, and how to get the maximum benefits with the least cost was like a high-difficulty tightrope walk he had to maneuver.

Komer wasn’t worried. In his view, the surrender of the Sanjia Tribe had already provided an implicit psychological suggestion to the Barbarians who had not yet completely submitted. Look, the Sanjia Tribe has now succumbed to the Caucasus, but their lives seem much better than before, receiving much more than when they were mere vassals in the alliance. So what reason did these tribes, already exhausted by war and hatred, have to refuse Komer’s carrot and stick?

This psychological suggestion may seem negligible, but in fact, it had a significant effect. All animals have a herd instinct, and humans even more so. They subconsciously choose a precedent that has already appeared rather than taking the risk with the unknown.

The flawless cooperation between the Bright Torrent Knights and the Black Flame Knights with the Mage Corps deeply engraved a mark on the minds of the Barbarians, also letting them realize that among mortals were powerful warriors who, when united, could make the Barbarian Warriors unable to secure an absolute victory.

Of course, the Barbarians still maintained a considerable degree of independence and might at times still foolishly attempt to strengthen this characteristic. However, Komer had no intention of giving them this chance.

When the new alliance was established, Komer gave Ilot clear instructions, telling the Barbarian Chiefs that the Caucasus would soon build a road running through the entire Cordillera Wilderness. This road, starting from Bahomon and ending at Antwerp, would largely use the existing paths of the Barbarians, linking these long stretches together. Although the road conditions could not be compared with those in mortals’ inhabited areas, this was nonetheless a real road. This would expose the heartland of the Cordillera Wilderness to mortals, and Komer believed that adventurers, explorers, miners, and merchants would soon flock there.

Komer’s decision sparked the first argument since the establishment of the new alliance. Although they had submitted to Komer’s tyranny, the possibility of exposing everything of their ancestors to the mortals still filled the Mountain people with grievance and anger. They had not expected Komer to implement his aggressive policies so soon.

Komer’s decision was non-negotiable, and Ilot had already begun his journey of secret visits to the tribe leaders, as instructed by Komer. He stealthily passed around some ambiguous messages, leaving the ten tribal leaders restless. No one knew what response their partners and allies would give facing Komer’s demands, and they wouldn’t believe it even if they were told. The only way to decide was through the final vote, which made the tribal leaders extremely uneasy.(To be continued, for more please visit www.qidian.com, more Chapters, support the author, support authorized reading!)