Chapter Thirteen: Generating Power

Komer sat in his study, lost in thought. Compared to the crises in the Caucasus and Homer regions, the threat to his own safety was far more serious. He didn’t believe the Inquisition and Vazhinki’s faction could tolerate such humiliation—especially those madmen from the Inquisition. His public appearance was undoubtedly a challenge to their authority, and another confrontation was only a matter of time. That battle would determine his fate to a large extent.
Rebri had to be rescued before then. Since open confrontation was inevitable, he didn’t need to be cautious. Overthinking would only make him hesitant. If he could save Rebri, Komer believed his strength could improve greatly. With a companion who knew the Light Church inside and out, and Rebri’s analytical and organizational skills, Komer felt confident. In the next battle, he believed Rebri wouldn’t disappoint them.
But rescuing Rebri required a clear response from the Salvation Society. So far, those people hadn’t given him any reply. Carrera might be a decent administrator, but his status within the Salvation Society wasn’t high enough to have a say in such matters. The long wait was starting to annoy Komer, but he had to wait.
“Lord, did you call for me?” Mahagumi always seemed energetic. The half-ork heritage gave him exceptional stamina, which was even more pronounced in this hybrid. Komer even wondered if this guy needed rest or sleep. He traveled constantly between Jazair, Homer, and the Caucasus, occasionally stopping in Poznan and Silesia. Yet whenever Komer needed him, he was always ready to respond.
“Hmm, I want to know how the orcs have been performing lately,” Komer said without any pleasantries.
“There haven’t been any major changes, but the orcs’ migration continues. With many refugees fleeing from the north, their takeover has spread from cities to rural areas. If this continues, the entire northern part of the kingdom might truly become the orcs’ new home. It will be very difficult to drive them away later.” Mahagumi understood what his master was concerned about.
“Don’t the orcs always try to win over and buy off local mortals? Won’t that provoke anger among them?” Komer frowned slightly. This was a new development.

“There are simply too many refugees fleeing, leaving behind vast tracts of land. The orcs have declared that those who do not return to their homeland within a month to register will no longer be entitled to land ownership. With such an abundance of land, they can not only meet the needs of those orc immigrants but also allocate some to the poor who stayed behind in their homeland, greatly easing the hostility between humans and orcs. The orcs’ strategy is quite clever; they are gradually learning the ways of the human world and trying to innovate.” Mahagumi rarely used such complex terms.

Komer smiled slightly. Even this guy could now use some trendy terms—seems the saying “one must keep learning” really applies to him. “Is the situation in the north peaceful?”

“Not entirely. The rift between humans and orcs cannot be bridged in just a day or two or with minor favors. But the orcs are working hard, and their efforts have indeed shown some results. They have driven away or scared off those nobles, seized their lands, and used part of it to bribe the poor humans who stayed behind. Many humans cannot resist such temptations. Although it may not completely erase the divide between the two races, at least on the surface—especially since the orcs hold absolute power—the relationship has been significantly eased. If the orcs can continue this policy for a long time, they might achieve their goals.” Mahagumi seemed to sense his master’s satisfaction with his speech and became more careful in choosing his words.

Komer nodded silently without saying anything.

“Lord, this situation seems to have little impact on us for now, but in the long run, it is very detrimental. If you have deeper intentions, perhaps we need to take measures now to stop the orcs’ tactics of winning hearts and minds,” Mahagumi said cautiously, observing Komer’s expression closely.

Komer certainly knew what measures Mahagumi meant, but now seemed not the right time. His focus still had to be on eliminating the threat from the Light Church first. “Has there been any further activity from the Salvation Society?”

“No, the Salvation Society is highly secretive, and it’s very difficult for us to obtain accurate information about them. But so far, they have given us fairly satisfactory responses to all our requests—as long as they can fulfill them or are willing to do so.” Mahagumiton paused before continuing, “This includes the matter regarding Mr. Rebrí in the Tower of Confinement as well.”
“Oh?” Komer’s eyes lit up. His main reason for bringing Mahagumiton here was precisely this issue, and now that Mahagumiton had brought it up on his own, it meant the Salvation Society must have a clear stance on it. “What did they say?”
“I conveyed your request and reiterated the importance of this matter for our cooperation. Finally, they gave a fairly accurate response—they can offer us some assistance, ranging from intelligence to actually carrying out action plans.” Mahagumiton was also proud; he had worked hard to secure this, even resorting to some intimidation, but in the end, he got what he wanted.
Komer’s mood immediately improved. After Mahagumiton detailed the Salvation Society’s response, he resolved that there was no time to lose—the rescue plan could be launched right away. He couldn’t wait for the Inquisition to take action first. The news from the Salvation Society was crucial; it seemed that Vazinki’s side was indeed planning to ally with the Inquisition. If Rebrí couldn’t be rescued by then, facing a combined force of Vazinki and the Inquisition, despite Komer’s growing confidence, he had to admit his chances of success were slim, especially since the other side held the initiative.
This wasn’t the first time Komer had encountered the core forces of these dark forces from the Great Secret Cult and the Dark Guests’ Society.
The Great Secret Cult and the Dark Guests’ Society had merged, and with Xuro’s active promotion, the banner of the Dark Holy Church had been raised. Free from the constraints of the Great Secret Cult’s name, these dark forces easily united under the banner of the Dark Holy Church. Even Komer was surprised by how much influence this ancient and distant banner could wield. Apart from one explanation, there seemed to be no other way to account for how these various dark sects could unite so easily—namely, under the pressure from the Light Church and other sects, they were in a desperate situation, and unity was their only way to survive. And the Great Secret Cult’s timely proposal exactly met their needs.

“You mean we’ll go to Marco with you?” The excitement in their eyes grew stronger. The leader standing before Komer had a piercing gaze, and a faint blush couldn’t be concealed on his pale face.
“That’s right. But I’m sure you all know very well what Marco is—a forbidden land for those of us who practice the dark arts. It’s the stronghold of the Light Church. The risks of going there are obvious, so I need to hear your opinions. I don’t want to force anyone. If you have any objections, feel free to speak up. I won’t mind at all.” Komer’s gaze swept slowly over the four of them.
“My lord, what are you saying? Challenging those hypocrites of the Light Church has always been our desire. What about Marco? The Light Church isn’t some unattainable mountain—they’ve been eroded by time and storms, left with nothing but a paper mask. I think with just a little guidance, that mask will fall right off, won’t it?” The fervor in their eyes seemed ready to ignite everyone around them, even Komer could feel the intense heat radiating from them.
What kind of people had Xuro sent him? Komer was surprised by these individuals before him. No wonder Xuro had agreed to his request so readily. The power hidden within these men was like a volcano ready to erupt, and their suppressed aura was extraordinary even for Komer.
That old fox, Xuro, had transferred these unstable and radical elements under his control. Clearly, these men were ones Xuro couldn’t deal with yet couldn’t suppress either. The situation in the south had entered a relatively peaceful and stable phase. After unifying various factions, the Dark Holy Church had seen a new era in the south. Those overly radical forces clearly didn’t suit the current situation there. But mishandling them could destabilize the newly unified Dark Holy Church. Komer’s request provided Xuro with an ideal solution. Sending these unstable elements to the Caucasus was a win-win—it satisfied Komer’s demands while eliminating threats. It was simply perfect.