Chapter 7: Bait
“Merfolk?! Do pirates even dare attack merfolk? Aren’t they afraid of their revenge?!” The armored soldier was shocked. Merfolk were the masters of the Undersea Ocean, with most of its islands under their control. Though they didn’t reside on land, those islands were their sacred territory, off-limits to ordinary people. Thanks to their innate ability to breathe and live in water, those who made a living at sea generally avoided provoking them—pirates, no matter how fierce, were no exception.
“I’m not entirely sure about that. But there are indeed merfolk for sale in Jazair’s slave market. Haven’t those nobles spent vast sums of money just to experience something new? It’s been years since merfolk slaves appeared there, especially female merfolk. How could those nobles resist?!” A hint of sarcasm lingered on his lips. As national affairs grew more urgent, these so-called elite members of the kingdom turned a blind eye, preoccupied only with seeking novelty and pleasure, ignoring state affairs. At this thought, Tez also felt a sense of powerlessness.
The armored soldier could tell the helplessness in his friend’s words, but this situation was beyond their control. All he could do was do his best to fulfill his duties as a soldier; otherwise, he was equally helpless.
“Tez, are these pirates insane? If they want to survive in the Undersea Ocean, would they really provoke merfolk? If they anger them, how can they still roam freely there? An enraged merfolk would tear them to pieces!” Matthew was more concerned about this. Such an obvious deviation from normality usually meant something was wrong. Though far from the kingdom’s direct territories, he was still very interested.
After some thought, Tez shook his head. “There must be something strange going on, but I don’t have the energy to investigate matters too far from us. I suppose you feel the same way! The weather is warming up, and the beastfolk’s active season is coming again. How’s your preparation going?”
“The construction of the northern fortress is almost complete. The Iron Cross Legion has taken position in the west, along with the border guards. Things should be fine. But have there been any updates on the investigation the king ordered you to conduct? This is a matter critical to our kingdom’s survival. Where did those beastfolk’s battering rams come from? What’s behind this?”
After nodding, Matthew countered that this was indeed the most important issue. If the orcs acquired a sufficient number of battering rams, fortresses in both the north and west would face destruction. The gap between the orcs, armed with advanced siege weapons like battering rams, and the kingdom’s army could not be bridged by just a few fortresses or a single legion. This was what worried Matthew the most. Even if the orcs had only a small number of battering rams, he wasn’t afraid—years of combat experience had hardened him like steel. The orcs might gain an advantage through surprise attacks, but once they stabilized their positions, they had little recourse against impregnable fortresses. However, once those half-orcs, whose physical strength far exceeded that of ordinary soldiers, possessed advanced weapons on par with those of humans, the balance of power could completely shift.
“Unfortunately, we haven’t made much progress on this issue yet. But I can assure you that the orcs don’t have enough battering rams. At least so far, no abnormalities have been detected among them in our territories.” Teyz’s head began to throb. “I don’t have evidence to make any bold claims about who’s behind this, but why haven’t the countries in the west of the alliance been invaded by the orcs in recent years? That’s hard to explain.”
“You’re saying those countries in the west of the alliance supplied the orcs with battering rams?! Can orcs and humans trust each other? Aren’t they afraid the orcs will use those weapons against them?” Matthew had also had such suspicions, but the idea was too outrageous. Proposing it without evidence would only cause chaos and even lead to the division of the alliance. Even as the top general of the kingdom’s army, he wouldn’t dare to voice such a view casually.
“No, the orcs don’t have many battering rams. As long as we’re prepared, they won’t pose a significant threat. Of course, if they launch surprise attacks, they could cause us heavy losses—like in the Duchy of Mellen and the city-states of Main and Susor. Those who supply the orcs with battering rams will surely be on guard, so the orcs can’t pose a fatal threat to them. And given the orcs’ lack of skill in manufacturing, they’ll never be able to create such hybrid weapons. To keep getting more and replace their losses, they must obey those behind them. In other words, those behind the orcs actually control their actions and can do as they please.”
A deduction devoid of any emotional coloring made the armored soldier break into a sweat, feeling a chill over his back. If what the other person suggested was true, then the kingdom’s situation would be extremely dangerous. Even if the Blue Dove Legion were successfully formed, it would still be unable to cope with the threat posed by those with ulterior motives supplying advanced weapons to the orcs. Such an action was simply insane!
Seeing his old friend’s stunned expression, Tez sighed slightly in annoyance. “Matthew, things might not be as bad as I said. This is just my personal speculation, and there are many doubts involved. Although the western countries of the alliance disagree with us on some political issues, in my opinion, the conflict between us isn’t severe enough to warrant such extreme measures. Moreover, the rulers of those western countries are all rigid conservatives; it’s unimaginable for them to accept an alliance with the orcs. So this is merely my guess, with no basis at all. I hardly believe in this possibility myself.”
“Then how do you explain this?” Matthew wouldn’t give up. As long as there was even a one percent chance, it required serious attention—otherwise, the downfall of Mellen could happen again at any time. As the military commander, he needed to be extremely vigilant.
“I’m sorry, I can’t explain it,” Tez said, shrugging. He placed one hand on the sturdy oak desk, his dark eyes beneath his white brows seeming to flicker with something unusual. He casually shook the letter in his hand. “Matthew, fortresses are often breached from within. The hidden dangers inside are the real threats, aren’t they?”
The armored soldier’s eyes immediately narrowed, a strange crimson glow appearing on his angular face. “Tez, what are you trying to say?”
“No, no. You already know what I’m trying to say. Why do you insist I say it out loud?” With a sly smile, the Minister of Internal Affairs’ grin vanished in an instant.
“Do you think the time is nearly ripe?” Matthew countered, his hand stroking the cold short sword at his waist, his battle-ready eyes seemingly searching for a target.
“No, but the opportunity will get closer and closer to us. While we wait for it, we’re also creating opportunities, aren’t we?” Tez’s expression gradually returned to normal; his ever-changing look seemed to reflect the shifting situation in the kingdom. “That kid in the Caucasus is incredibly talented. Even the Gray Skulls are involved with him. Even I can’t figure out why that old fox, Gott, would take such a big risk to transport supplies for that kid. Pirates turning into freight traders—how ridiculous. Oh, and the barbarians too—they just sit back and do nothing about his activities in the Caucasus. There are too many secrets involved, but I don’t want to figure them out now. Hehe, I originally planned to help that kid, but it seems I was overthinking it. This ‘seed’ has indeed been chosen well. Before long, we’ll see it grow into a troublesome carnivorous flower!”
Taking off his cumbersome robe to reveal fitted undergarments, Komer reached out to dispel the protective magic surrounding the area. Although there were half-orc guards every few steps outside, they were nothing more than a formality for those truly determined to enter his mansion. The illusions outside the room were enough to stop any restless magicians, but Komer knew that true experts could not be stopped.
Komer intentionally left the doors and windows—places best suited for installing devices and magic—unprotected. However, on the roof above the workbench, he placed a mixed spell called “Thunderstorm Fury” that could give both magicians and knights a serious disadvantage. This spell, combining dark erosion magic with lightning magic, could easily dismantle the magical or physical defenses of any intruding grand magician or knight. Connected to this spell via a sophisticated mechanism were series of crossbows hidden in the corners; the moment the spell was activated, these crossbows would fire in succession, creating a dense net of arrows. Thanks to its unique design, Komer believed no one could escape his intricate and perfect setup.
Lifting the tablecloth covering the workbench, he saw a large, round wooden trunk on it. The trunk had been hollowed out and rested peacefully on an exquisite wooden stand. Under the sunlight streaming through the window, it appeared perfectly harmonious. On the tray lay several round stones that had been polished to such a thinness they were almost paper-thin, crystal clear.
Success or failure hinged on this one attempt. Komer took a breath, put on gloves, and carefully picked up a shard of crystal to fit it into the gap at the front end of the wooden trunk. Then he took a tube of liquid from beside it and applied it gently to seal the gap. After examining it for a while, he unscrewed the small hole in the trunk, lit a flame with his finger, endured the burning pain, and inserted his finger into the hole for a short time before quickly pulling it out and blocking the hole with a pre-prepared covering.
After completing all this, Komer rested for a while before repeating the process. Finally, he inserted another shard of crystal at the back end of the trunk, applied glue, and sealed it.
It was finally time for the final step. The hexagonal star in the center of the workbench emitted a dazzling light. Various runes and symbols surrounded the star, flashing intermittently. Mist rose in the center of the star. Komer carefully placed the wooden trunk at its center, positioning it properly. The mist soon enveloped both the trunk and the hexagonal star. Taking a step back, he performed a series of gestures along with murmured spells. The light from the hexagonal star quickly pierced through the mist, and a green glow filled the entire room, bathing everything in a pale green haze. Komer silently retreated to the door of the room, observing everything thoughtfully, as if time had stopped.
Sitting by the workbench, he watched quietly the round wooden trunk placed on the stand—it was the result of his hard work over two months. Yet before testing it, neither he nor anyone else knew whether it was worthless junk or a priceless treasure. But whatever it was, it was a precious item in Komer’s eyes. This object had consumed all his energy over the past two months—ranging from design and material selection to sourcing raw materials and actual construction. Almost everything had been done by him alone. Not only had it required immense effort, but even the minimal amount of raw material used had made Puber’s lips tremble with pain. Yet everyone understood the importance of this item. To find collaborators in the Nether Sea, it was necessary to maintain good relations with these neighbors to the east for now.
The wooden trunk didn’t seem extraordinary at first glance, but those who knew their stuff, especially experts in crafting magical machinery, knew that this seemingly simple and rustic wood was actually “wood within wood” sourced from the Misty Forest at the northern end of the Mogan Wasteland. Just the name sounded peculiar. Although the parent tree of this wood was rare, it wasn’t particularly valuable. But the actual trunk itself was extremely uncommon—it could only be obtained after the parent tree completely rotted and was then infested by a special spore that absorbed nutrients from the rotting wood to grow anew. Only then could it be called “wood within wood.”
As for this “wood within wood,” it relies entirely on absorbing nutrients from its parent plant, resulting in slow growth and difficulty in becoming usable timber. Finding a large piece of such round timber is practically impossible. However, as an essential material in many wood-related magic spells, adventurers are willing to take risks to search for it in the Misty Forest. Of course, magic material shops occasionally sell it, but such items cost tens of thousands of gold shields. Having Kafli obtain it from Jazair’s shop cost Puber ten thousand gold shields. Although Komer repeatedly promised to recover the cost plus profits, Puber, adhering to the principle of not losing money, hesitated for a long time before paying.
As for the most important crystal fragments, though valuable, they didn’t cost Puber a single penny. Instead, Komer spent a week searching alone on the edge of the Jellyfolk’s swamps before finding anything. This was all thanks to the advice of a dwarf who was obsessed with alcohol. Although the magic crystal mine there cannot be mined at the moment, it is a great place for exploration and treasure hunting. With good luck and courage to venture deep into the caves, it’s not impossible to find one or two pieces of raw magic crystal—at least Komer was lucky.
Processing these three pieces of magic crystal truly gave Komer a lot of trouble. The wear resistance and hardness of magic crystals are well-known, and processing them requires specialized tools and techniques. Yet, there isn’t a single shop in the Caucasus capable of processing such items, and even in the Kingdom of Nicomedia, there are only a few. Komer didn’t dare to take these items to other places, as nothing stays hidden forever. If outsiders discovered them, the consequences would be severe. With no other choice, Komer resorted to the simplest yet most direct method: using magic fire to heat the magic crystals to extremely high temperatures before grinding them. This extremely energy-consuming method was unprecedented, and it took two months of continuous heating and grinding to barely complete this tedious and grueling task.
All that remains is the installation process, which is by no means easy. First, the air inside the wooden trunk must be removed—burning it with special magical fire is one method. Then, by utilizing the unique properties of the wood, a vacuum state is maintained between the lenses, while the natural power of the wood complements that of the magic crystal. Wood and stone are inherently connected; wood originates from stone (earth), and stone extends into wood. It is these two distinct yet complementary materials that enable the magic crystal to function at its best. Merging these two different materials requires extremely powerful wood-based magic. The principle behind the Thousand-Mile Mirror is to leverage the magic crystal’s ability to penetrate air, bringing distant scenes within sight. Though “thousand miles within reach” sounds exaggerated, displaying scenes from miles or even dozens of miles away is not impossible—everything depends on the quality of the magic crystal and the wooden trunk, as well as the purity of the air removed.
Finally, it was done. Komer gently lifted the magical device that embodied his countless efforts. Rather than calling it a magical device, it was more like a work of art. Although it had no fancy or intricate patterns on its surface and appeared simple and unadorned, it was indeed a magical device created by his own hands. What impact it would have on this continent, Komer didn’t know. But he knew that with this, he could make the pirates who dominated the southern part of theMediterranean Seaan Sea willing to cooperate with him.
Walking over to the window, Komer took a deep breath. Outside, the sun shone brightly. Using his keen eyes, he could faintly see a flag hanging listlessly on a pole atop a castle in the distance. From afar, the grayish castle resembled misty mountains. Slowly, Komer raised the wooden tube in his hand. In a flash, a striking flag appeared before his eyes, its pattern equally eye-catching, as if it had appeared out of thin air—a bear with bared fangs.
Komer sat steadily in the large chair. The distance from Ugru to here, just over two hundred li, was nothing significant. While practicing magic, he also began to train in martial arts. He didn’t aim to become a powerful martial artist, but if he could have a strong physique and occasionally use a surprise move or two to defeat his opponents, he would be quite happy with that. However, his main goal was still to strengthen his body in conjunction with the cultivation of his mental power, as there was a close connection between the two. After all, it was his own body, and it seemed that many mages who practiced mental magic didn’t pay much attention to this. In their eyes, if they had extra time, it was better to spend it on cultivating mental power or mastering spells.