Chapter 9: Shadows
When Komer and Ilot returned to Ugru with the heads and pelts of the orcs, the entire town was in an uproar. Especially, the Adventurers’ Guild led by Hes exaggerated Komer’s achievements, greatly exaggerating the danger posed by orcs, even comparing them to the mighty dragons that ruled the Eastern Abyssal Sea. This filled Komer with pride but also concern—what if some ignorant citizen actually asked him to eliminate those dragons? He truly didn’t know how to respond. Fortunately, such a thing never happened, as the Abyssal Sea was too far from Ugru for ordinary people to sense the danger from afar.
After the orcs were completely eradicated, the Bahomun Ferrous Mine began operations. Although Kafli and his friends held only a small share in the mine, Komer and Pupber had already agreed to let someone among Kafli’s friends with experience in mining and management take charge. Of course, Komer also set his conditions: forced labor and brutal management, like those in the mines of the northern Leon region, were not allowed. The miners here were legitimate citizens with full rights within the territory.
The sensational impact of eradicating the orcs exceeded Komer’s expectations. The four orc heads hung on the flagpole outside the lord’s mansion, made even more terrifying by Ilot’s modifications. The enormous pelts were also nailed to a board outside the door, complementing the heads on the pole. Thanks to Hes’s careful planning, the story of the lord single-handedly slaying the orcs spread rapidly throughout the Caucasus. Whether it was the local natives or new immigrants, mortals or people of other races, from Ugru to Matdan, from Bahomun to Darmen, for two weeks, the hottest topic in taverns and cafes was the orcs. When referring to the demon who eliminated them, people gradually began using the title “Our Lord,” signaling that Komer’s status throughout the Caucasus was gradually being accepted and established by the people.
Komer never expected that public sentiment could be stirred in such a way. He hadn’t anticipated that a task he had undertaken out of self-interest would create such a sensation, forcing him to seriously consider how to leverage the tremendous benefits it brought.
The news of an upcoming visit to the barbarian lands in the south was also revealed at the right time, reigniting the already subsiding ogre incident. The story of how the lord single-handedly defeated the ogres and then demonstrated his greatness to win the respect of the proud and arrogant barbarians was carefully reworked and spread again. This time, the instigator was Puber. After witnessing the power of public opinion, Puber realized that elevating Komer’s prestige to a peak would bring endless benefits in ensuring the lord’s dominance, maintaining stability across the Caucasus, and implementing various policies of the lord’s court. The legendary tale of the lord as a great mage spread widely, along with rumors that he had studied under some dominant figure on the continent. The mysterious origins of Komer’s magical skills became the most hotly debated topic among the people of the Caucasus.
The common people naturally admired their lord’s abilities and charm, while the upper classes were more concerned with gaining practical benefits. When they learned through reliable sources that Komer had reached an understanding with the southern barbarian tribes regarding border issues and won their friendship, and that he would visit their lands in three weeks, both the sensitive among the indigenous people and the elite among the immigrants pondered how much change this news would bring to the Caucasus.
The unruly barbarians had always been the most dangerous neighbors of the Caucasus. Although there had been no conflicts between them and the Caucasians for decades, the barbarians stubbornly refused other races from entering the southern border regions. Over a decade ago, several adventurers who entered the disputed border areas were captured by the barbarians, sentenced to death, and their bodies sent back to Ugru—after which no one dared to venture there again. Though Ugru was only a little over two hundred miles away, the barbarians seemed content to maintain this pattern of no interaction. Apart from times of famine when they sometimes needed to pass through the Caucasus for food, the Caucasus rarely saw any signs of the barbarians.
The poor relations with the barbarians also affected the Caucasus’s reputation. Whenever Cyprus mentioned the Caucasus, it was either the mysterious and terrifying Fortress of Damorlensk or the threat posed by the barbarians. It seemed that the barbarians, like the orcs in the north, might invade the Caucasus at any time to burn, kill, and loot. But in reality, the behavior of the barbarians was quite different from that of the northern orcs. As long as one did not offend their dignity or harm their interests, they did not engage in any excessive actions.
But at this moment, it seemed as though all problems were solved effortlessly. The lord was able to win the barbarians’ respect with ease, and the barbarians even invited him to visit their territory, which no one had ever entered before. What did this mean? Could it be that the barbarians truly intended to change their policies and live in peace with the Caucasians, even engaging in exchanges with them?
Komer sat quietly in the dark room—a private space he had arranged for himself after having his original retreat renovated for meditation. Here, he could ponder his personal issues in peace without interference from others. Whether meditating or considering other matters, Komer had grown accustomed to resting here after meals, finding it highly beneficial for cultivating his mental strength.
Since defeating the ogre, Komer felt that his magic power had entered another dormant period. Each adventure brought unexpected gains, followed by a downturn. He had adapted to this cycle, using the time to meditate and train his mental control skills, as well as searching through the memory vault left by Kenifer III for the most suitable magical knowledge.
After much experimentation, Komer had initially found the path that suited him best. Dark magic, being compatible with the magic power he cultivated, was naturally his top choice. Among elemental magic, he favored fire and lightning magic. Of course, puppetry and summoning magic, considered fringe disciplines, also caught his interest as his mental strength improved rapidly, leading him to delve deeper into them. Kenifer III was truly a genius—his vast memory vault contained knowledge of almost every type of magic, not just superficial understanding but mastery as well. Komer couldn’t imagine how anyone could achieve such a level in a lifetime. Even geniuses, in his view, might find it difficult, given human limitations and the need for specialization. Many seemingly contradictory magical skills could not possibly be mastered by one person, yet Kenifer III had done it. Moreover, Kenifer III had told Komer in a dream that he could do the same.
Thinking of this, Komer couldn’t help but shake his head with a bitter smile. “Mana conversion” sounded easy, but crossing this threshold proved incredibly difficult. Many magi who claimed to be elite geniuses had failed at it. To change the properties of mana at will, especially those that were incompatible, Komer never thought he had such talent. Just like now, casting a few simple spells of white or light magic might not be a problem, but he was powerless against large-scale or advanced spells of light and white magic. If he tried to force mana conversion using the methods left by Kenifer III in his memory, it would undoubtedly be seeking death. Komer didn’t want to take such unnecessary risks; it was better to focus on mastering his dark magic.
“My lord, the gentlemen are waiting for you in the conference room,” came the deep voice of the half-orc guard from outside. Though these half-orcs appeared grotesque and rude in the eyes of mortals, Komer, who was accustomed to deceit and betrayal, appreciated these simple-minded yet utterly loyal men. Handsomeness couldn’t replace reliability, and the role of the guard was to protect his safety. At least their dramatic transformation from slaves to guards ensured their absolute loyalty, freeing him from worries about sudden betrayal.
“I understand.” Adjusting his clothes, Komer stood up. Today was the first meeting one month after the establishment of the Caucasus United Bank, and it was also a crucial meeting to determine its direction.
Komer had followed Puber’s advice. After returning from Bahomontu to Ugru, he invited some business elites who had gradually integrated into the Caucasus business community to discuss the possibility of establishing a local bank there. To his surprise, whether they were local merchants, immigrant gentry, or even the Barefoot Society merchants including Kafli, everyone was extremely interested in founding a bank. They all expressed willingness to invest and participate in creating the first bank in the Caucasus. Their enthusiasm once again proved Puber right—financial institutions, especially those involving those in power, were always the top choice for investors. High profits and low risks—how could such investments fail to tempt merchants who were already accustomed to the ups and downs of business?
Following Pupber’s advice, Lord’s Manor, which held a 10% stake in the Caucasus United Bank, sent Pupber as its shareholder representative. As Komer expected, Zip, Hozel, and Melbourne served as representatives for the new immigrants, while Hes, Maxim, and even the grain merchant Kudan appeared as representatives of the indigenous shareholders. Kafli, Palermo, Pilo Feller, a friend of Kafli from the Barefoot Society, and a spokesperson for Princess Kakiya became representatives of the foreign commercial forces. Thus, a regional bank with only 15 million gold shields in capital was born. Melbourne, who had long been involved in finance in Susor, became the new owner of the newly established Caucasus United Bank, as his single contribution accounted for 30% of the bank’s total capital—4.5 million gold shields, a significant amount. Moreover, the shares held by the new immigrants accounted for half of the bank’s total capital, reflecting the wealth of these merchants from Main and Susor.
The establishment of the Caucasus United Bank greatly stimulated industrial and commercial development across the Caucasus region. Merchants became even more eager to establish industries, leading to the emergence of a series of basic workshops such as logging camps, timber processing plants, furniture workshops, handicraft workshops, ironwork workshops, leather workshops, stone processing plants, and carriage workshops. These not only absorbed a large number of unemployed workers but also significantly reduced the Caucasus’s reliance on external supplies. After all, the Caucasus was rich in resources—timber, stone, iron ore, and coal were already being exploited. Komer had already borrowed a large sum from the Caucasus United Bank and used it, along with funds from Palermo, to import large quantities of grain to prevent further disruptions. It can be said that Komer and Pupber’s foresight played a crucial role in preparing for potential challenges. Just as the last batch of grain arrived via Bruce, news from Cyprus confirmed that the Bosen Plain and Galley regions, adjacent to the Caucasus, had significantly raised tariffs on grain trade and transit fees. In Bruce, in particular, the transit fee on grain had tripled. These developments made Komer highly vigilant.
A gentle warm breeze swept across the fields, with the lush green wheat sprouts undulating like a green carpet in the wind. Continuous patches of shrublands were scattered among the trees, blending shades of green and dark gray—sparse in some areas, dense in others. In the shade of the rolling hills under the sunlight, darkness loomed, as if some wild beast was stirring. Several hounds with raised fur rushed out of the forest, their deep growls echoing through the woods as they dashed toward the dark figures moving swiftly ahead. Judging from the sounds, it seemed to be a wild boar. A group of servants followed closely behind two horses that emerged from the forest, but the two leading riders somehow slowed down inexplicably.
“What’s the matter, Gofi? You seem less enthusiastic today. What’s bothering your hunting mood?” The older man on the left had a rosy face, his broad cheeks glowing with vitality. However, the wrinkles on his forehead and around his eyes revealed his true age. His bright white teeth flashed when he smiled, making it hard to believe he was already over fifty.
“Hmm, Rol. I didn’t expect you to be so open-minded. I thought you’d be more worried than I am. It seems I was overthinking things.” Glancing at his companion who had slowed down and ridden alongside him, the thin-faced old man stroked the wind-tousled ends of his hair and said softly.
“Hehe, Gofi. Are you referring to that kid from the Caucasus?” The broad-faced old man shrugged slightly, his expression shifting slightly as he flicked his riding crop back into his hand. His sturdy horse moved steadily across the uneven terrain. “Why do you value that kid so much?”
“Rol, it’s not that I value him highly, but what he’s done lately is truly remarkable. I can hardly believe this is the same person he described to me. After all, it’s impossible for a person to change that much. As the saying goes, it’s easy to change surroundings but hard to change one’s nature. Since he’s capable of such things, it seems unlikely he’d suddenly transform into something extraordinary. But his performance now, hehe, is truly impressive and deserves attention.” His gaze returned to the front. It was another year of good harvests. Days of spring rain had softened the ground, and now that the weather had cleared, it wasn’t the best time for hunting. But everyone at the hunting estate was growing bored, so going out for a walk to clear their minds was better than nothing.