Chapter 16: The Little Greenland Forest

Staring at Komer with her emerald eyes unblinkingly, Kakiya’s lips curled slightly, revealing a faint smile, before she finally burst into laughter. “Lord Viscount, you’re truly humorous. It seems my trip to the Caucasus wasn’t in vain—at least it kept me in a good mood. You’ve already accomplished that.”

“It would be an honor for us in the Caucasus to have Her Highness Kakiya reside here permanently. Our reputation and status would greatly improve—this is exactly what we’ve been hoping for.”

Komer also wore a smile. The internal strife in Jazair made it difficult for him to stay out of it, and Hoffman clearly held absolute advantage. Kakiya had fled to Mainz to avoid his dominance, likely to escape trouble, but now being here in his territory indeed posed a dilemma for him. Now wasn’t the best time to intervene in the kingdom’s conflicts—his strength wasn’t yet sufficient to engage in such a game. Though he was eager, reason told him it wasn’t the right moment. Yet this woman seemed determined to drag him into this mess. He wondered why—did she think she could help turn the unfavorable balance of power in her favor?

“With such words from you, whether Lord Viscount means them sincerely or not, Kakiya is satisfied. Right now, Kakiya isn’t very popular, but she’s not someone to be easily exploited. She will remember those who have genuinely helped her.”

Her face was filled with joy, showing no signs of unhappiness. Even Komer was pondering the meaning behind her words. Such explicit remarks seemed somewhat out of place for her status and current situation. If he reported her words back to Jazair, it might stir up huge turmoil.

“Your Highness, Komer doesn’t wish to say more. As the saying goes, it takes time to test a horse’s strength and a person’s true nature. Your Highness might as well stay at my place in the Caucasus. The scenery here in the borderlands is actually no less beautiful than that in the heart of the kingdom. If you’re interested, I have time to accompany you to Leon and the southern region of Bahomun. We could also take a trip to the Cordillera Wasteland—its rugged charm is quite different from that of our kingdom.” With his thoughts racing, Komer’s calm smile deepened, filled with thoughtful pride and confidence. His bright gaze swept over Kakiya’s carefully dressed pink face. “I believe Your Highness will gain many insights after witnessing the primitive beauty of the Cordillera Wasteland.”

Fixing her gaze on his composed face, Kakiya faced him so seriously for the first time. Her sharp eyes scanned Komer’s face like thorns, sensing that he was hiding something. It wasn’t surprising—her situation wasn’t optimistic, so seeking external support made sense. After all, hadn’t he tried to connect with her earlier in hopes of gaining support from the kingdom’s center?

But now that she was in a difficult position, with Hoffman’s forces clearly stronger, he didn’t seem bothered. Instead, he acted as if he would fully support her. That was one thing, but words alone couldn’t guarantee his loyalty in critical moments. She had carefully assessed his strength—the Caucasus had considerable power. If he thought he could act arrogantly just because he had 3,000 orcish defenders, he was far too overconfident. If not for Philip’s various concerns, he would have already sent forces to destroy the Caucasus and Leon. Yet his words didn’t suggest such foolish arrogance, leaving Kakiya uncertain.

“Oh, in that case, I can’t disappoint Viscount-sama’s kindness. I’ve long heard about the rugged beauty of the Cordillera Wasteland and the Baden Gold Mountains. With nothing much to do these days, experiencing such exotic scenery would make this trip worthwhile.”

Only after sending Kakiya and her group to an inn did Komer have the time to carefully consider the situation he was facing.

It’s obvious that Kakiya slipped away with an air of desperation. I heard that Hoffman ordered Lenta to follow her and keep an eye on her. Now, by doing this, she’s clearly drawing attention to herself. No matter what explanation she gives now, Hoffman probably won’t believe her deep down. Moreover, as Palermo continues to shift investments to Leon and the Caucasus, as Kakiya’s financial agent, such associations are inevitable.

Now, I need to seriously consider the trouble Kakiya has brought me. Hoffman won’t take action against me anytime soon. Even if he suspects me, on the surface he still acts as if he trusts me completely. It’s likely that Leon’s official title as lord will be officially confirmed through a ruling by the Star Chamber soon. But what should I do next? The central kingdom has actually lost its significance after granting me the title of Lord of Leon. Perhaps in the future I might be able to raise my viscount to earl, but chances of being granted a territory are unlikely anymore.

However, Kakiya surely doesn’t have no countermeasures. To be Hoffman’s rival, she must have some basic strength of her own. This temporary retreat doesn’t mean she’s lost her ability to fight back. Maybe it’s a strategy to gather strength and avoid direct confrontation. Komer knows well that every one of these royal descendants has some hidden cards up their sleeves. To compete for that position, one must be willing to make sacrifices—otherwise, it’s unthinkable. And unless it’s absolutely necessary, no one can predict who will win.

I’m not sure what consequences this closeness with Kakiya will bring to the Caucasus and Leon. But one thing Komer knows for sure: the kingdom can never return to its former glory. Having completely lost control over the territories of the four great lords, the Kingdom of Nicosia has become a second-rate country within the Northern Alliance, with only nominal influence over its surrounding territories. As for the Caucasus and Leon under my control, they’re surrounded by Philip’s control over the Homer region, effectively cutting them off from the kingdom’s direct territories. To connect with those territories, one must use the Greenland Forest Trail or sea routes to reach the Bosen Plains.

Is it really necessary for Kakiya to come all the way here in such a situation? She should be aware that, regardless of whether she’s willing to get involved in the conflict between her and Hoffman or whether she has the strength to get involved in this internal kingdom struggle, just the Bosen Plains under Philip’s control already rules out any possibility for her to participate. She still doesn’t have the strength to challenge Homer unless she can obtain a route directly connecting to the kingdom’s own territories.

At this thought, Kommer suddenly had an epiphany. Earlier, Kakiya had deliberately or inadvertently asked about the details of the opening of the Catalonia River route and also inquired about the situation in the Little Greenland Forest. He hadn’t realized it at first, thinking she was truly interested in the investment environment in Leon and the Caucasus. So that’s how it is!

As his thoughts raced, Kommer smiled slightly. Kakiya really thought highly of him—after opening the Catalonia River route, she turned her attention to the Nise River. Did she really think he had some special talent in this area? However, the upper reaches of the Nise River, originating from the Little Greenland Forest, were quite different from the Catalonia River. The Catalonia River route itself wasn’t anything special; it was actually a very good waterway that had been abandoned only due to the Jellyfish People’s blockade. Now that it’s reopened, everything is progressing smoothly. As for the Nise River, it only had a navigable route starting from the port at Bruce Fortress, with the terrifying Little Greenland Forest stretching further upstream.

The Little Greenland Forest had always been a forbidden area for mortals. Going upstream from Bruce Fortress for about a hundred miles would bring one into the traditionally defined region of the Little Greenland Forest. To the north, it bordered the western part of the Bosen Plains and the Galley territories; to the east, it connected to the Great Greenland Forest; to the south lay the Great Swamp and Wetlands controlled by the Jellyfish People, making passage impossible; and to the west were the southern territories controlled by the Kingdom of Nicossia, bordering some central countries.

The Great Swamp and Wetlands were impassable due to geographical reasons, while the Little Greenland Forest, because of its unique environment, attracted few humans willing to explore it. Even expeditions and adventurers preferred the Great Greenland Forest as a destination rather than the Little Greenland Forest, as its lack of value and high risks didn’t align with the goals of adventure. Additionally, since the interior of the kingdom could previously be connected to Odessa on the Abyssal Sea via canals, with this convenient waterway in place, few people paid attention to this potential route.

And now, as the trend toward actual independence among the four great lords grows, Kakiya, who is at a disadvantage in direct control over Jazair and the entire central region of the kingdom, must look further afield for external help. Before she can find suitable candidates around her, it seems she will have to consider those who control the Caucasus and Leon as well. Ensuring that these forces are under her control is likely the main issue Kakiya is pondering regarding how to communicate with them.
The Little Greenland Forest… Hmm, Komer pondered for a moment. She had never paid much attention to this small forest area in the northwest of her territory, and few people paid attention to it either. It seems she should now turn her attention to this place, famous for producing fierce magical beasts.