Chapter 18: Ambitious Aspirations
“Viscount Komer, Bahomon really surprised me. I never expected you to be able to build such a prosperous town in a place where even the people of Jazair can’t recall its name. I simply can’t believe my eyes,” Kakiya said, her expression shifting rapidly, before finally showing the grace befitting a royal member by expressing admiration and encouragement for the remarkable achievements in the Caucasus.
“Your Highness, although the Caucasus is remote and its people are often simple-minded, there is one thing they possess that the people inland lack: they lack excessive formalities and are straightforward in nature. Though they may be rough and blunt, once you earn their respect and trust, many problems are easily solved, and affairs proceed much more smoothly.”
Komer explained with a smile. It seemed Bahomon had greatly impressed Princess Kakiya—a good sign. As more of his strong side was revealed to her, she would gradually realize that he might be an excellent partner. It was interesting to think what would happen when she stepped into the Cordillera Desert to confront her perceived enemy—the barbarians.
“Viscount Komer, it seems you’ve truly devoted a great deal of effort to this land. I can sense your affection for it through your heartfelt words. I think I should report everything I’ve seen back to the kingdom upon my return. If the Caucasus has undergone such significant changes under your leadership, then the same can surely be achieved in Leon as well. The kingdom made the right choice by entrusting Leon to you. I only hope you won’t forget the kingdom’s expectations and trust in you.” Though it were clichéd words, they carried a special meaning when spoken by Kakiya, and they also held deep significance in Komer’s ears.
“Your Highness, Komer’s loyalty to the kingdom is beyond measure. Didn’t sending all of the Caucasus’s forces to defend themselves against Jazair despite extreme difficulties prove our loyalty enough?” Although Komer’s expression was gentle, his words carried great seriousness. “Komer reiterates that as long as the kingdom needs it and as long as the Caucasus is capable, its millions of people, along with those of Leon, are always ready to answer the kingdom’s call.”
“My Lord Viscount, you’re being too kind, but please understand my feelings. The kingdom is currently in turmoil, yet many within it refuse to think about how to revive it and restore its strength. Instead, they focus on how to eliminate rivals and consolidate their own power. It seems they place personal interests above those of the kingdom. Can such behavior be considered convincing?” Kakiya glanced sideways at the Caucasus lord, who wore a sincere smile, but her words were sharp as a blade, cutting straight to the point.
“Hehe, Princess, shall we not discuss this issue for now?” Komer smiled. “The friends in the Cordillera Wasteland have long been looking forward to your arrival. This is the first time a prominent figure from the civilized world has set foot in the heart of the Cordillera Wasteland. I believe their enthusiasm and respect will change many of your perceptions.”
A cunning fox! Kakiya cursed inwardly. Whenever faced with a difficult topic, he would either change the subject or simply refuse to answer. What kind of oddity was this man, who was not old but possessed extraordinary scheming skills? This question had puzzled Kakiya for a long time, yet his true nature remained shrouded in mystery, impossible to discern.
The rugged atmosphere of the Cordillera Wasteland allowed Kakiya to experience once again the differences between this land and the ordinary world of the Blue Continent. On this vast land, fierce and brutal barbarians roamed freely. Terran Dragon Warriors, Thunder Roc Knights, and savage fighters delivered almost monstrous displays that left Kakiya unable to hide her fear. Even Komer, who appeared calm on the surface, was deeply shocked—this was the true strength of these barbarians.
Komer considered what would happen if his half-orc army clashed head-on with these foes. The outcome would undoubtedly be defeat for the half-orcs. Although he believed his army had a clear advantage in equipment and discipline, the barbarians’ strengths in specialized units were beyond his side’s ability to counter. The mass charges of Terran Dragon Warriors could overwhelm even the half-orcs’ heavily armored infantry, while attacks by Thunder Roc Knights would cause severe damage to their command structure.
Of course, the barbarians’ advantage lies in the exclusion of the use of mage powers by their own side. If mage powers are taken into account, at least tribes like the Sanjia, with their limited strength, cannot pose a threat to them. The leaders of the Sanjia tribe are well aware of this better than anyone else. Moreover, they understand even better that if they were to defeat their armed forces and lose their food supply, their lives would return to the state of semi-famine they once were in—the Jellyfish people would not show them any kindness.
Komer knew full well that these military displays, intended as a form of intimidation, were not just for Princess Kakiya’s eyes. For the Sanjia tribe, he was the real threat determining their fate. The Kingdom of Nicossia was far too distant for them. If it weren’t for Komer’s show of respect and obedience, they would never have paid any attention to this princess from the distant northern Kingdom of Nicossia. For the real mountain people, only those who could control their fate had real influence; otherwise, they were worthless.
The lush green Cordillera wilderness exuded boundless vitality. In the distant sky, one could faintly see the shimmering reflections of the Baden Gold Mountain Range above the snowline. The grasses and flowers swaying in the wind spread their natural fragrance throughout the wilderness with the warm winds coming from the land and sea. No one could believe this was the so-called wilderness. Komer couldn’t understand why such fertile and open land couldn’t produce food—was this the will of fate? Relying solely on hunting, the mountain people’s bellies could only remain empty.
The large yakskin tents, filled with a primitive charm, were erected using special wooden poles. Their spacious interiors ensured that those inside didn’t feel oppressed at all. The domed roofs that could be closed off were undoubtedly the result of the mountain people’s wisdom accumulated over years of living in the wild. Although they had gradually adopted architectural concepts from the mortal world, they stubbornly insisted on preserving their own cultural identity in this way. Hosting guests in such yakskin tents represented the highest form of respect for them.
The double-burner milk pot hanging beneath the triangle frame in the center of the tent was making a bubbling sound; blue flames licked the bottom of the iron pot, and the boiling milk emitted an enticing aroma. Komer, with his hands behind his back, strolled leisurely in place, while Princess Katerina of the Romanov family, seemingly preoccupied, lay half-reclined on the large hammock covered with thick woolen fabric. The flickering firelight cast a dim glow on her confused pinkish-white cheeks, seemingly reflecting her uneasy mood.
“Your Highness, you seem rather upset. Are you unwell?” Komer eagerly poured a bowl of milk for her. “The geographical environment of the Cordillera Wasteland is quite different from that of our Caucasus, not to mention its difference from the interior of the kingdom. Since you’re new here, your body might not be accustomed to it yet. Drinking a bowl of dragon milk, a specialty of this wasteland, will help a lot.”
Ignoring Komer’s efforts, Katerina turned her gaze away from the milk pot she had been staring at and set aside the bowl he handed her. “Viscount, I’ve seen the craftsmanship of ordinary people on these barbarian warriors’ bodies and weapons. Barbarians never had the ability to smelt or cast metal; their weapons and armor were entirely obtained through war. Yet today, I saw that the armor and weapons worn by their warriors were almost identical. How do you explain this? Don’t try to shirk responsibility by blaming smuggling.”
Komer chuckled awkwardly. He hadn’t expected this woman to have such sharp eyesight, able to see through the situation at a glance. There was no other explanation for such a large quantity of weapons and armor except the Caucasus, and this went against the common agreements of the entire mortal world—it was tantamount to provoking the whole mortal world!
“Uh, Your Highness, I must admit that aside from smuggling, I did provide some relatively inferior weapons to the Sanjia tribe. Please note, Your Highness, I’m referring to the Sanjia tribe among the mountain people, not all of them. I believe Your Highness has also seen that there are quite a large number of mountain people in my territory. In fact, these mountain people all come from the Sanjia tribe. Like my people, they must abide by the laws and regulations of the Caucasus and submit to the management of my officials and judges. As you saw today, the Sanjia tribe respects us greatly. In truth, they must rely on the Caucasus; otherwise, they will fall into trouble.”
At this point, hiding things would be meaningless; it’s better to admit the truth openly, even if exaggerating it. Komer believed this might have the opposite effect. His intuition told him that this woman seemed utterly unbothered by having provided weapons to the barbarians—something Komer was certain of. On the contrary, she seemed more concerned about her influence and control over those barbarians. From her tone and gaze, Komer could sense her burning ambition; she was an ambitious woman, according to Komer’s assessment of Kakiya.