Chapter 20: The Foolish One

The exquisitely woven rattan chairs and stools, like masterpieces of craftsmanship, added a touch of romantic charm to the lawn. The soft sunlight scattered across the grass like tiny dots. Komer leaned back on the comfortable cushions, savoring this rare moment of leisure. Yet soon, his mood was ruined.

When Puber, who was as persistent as a persistent disease, and Karmanyi, who followed him like a shadow, appeared before Komer’s eyes, he knew his good mood was gone again. Guests had arrived, but Komer didn’t want to pay them any attention. Yet Puber was even more casual than the host—he sat down without permission and casually invited Karmanyi to do the same. The coffee, heated over charcoal on the rattan coffee table, was poured into cups as Puber lifted them, releasing its rich aroma instantly.

“Puber, aren’t you being a bit too presumptuous?” Komer couldn’t hold back anymore. His plan to enjoy the moment in peace had been ruined by this guy. With his attitude, it seemed he wanted to drink it all at once—wasn’t that a waste of the material?

“Boss, don’t say that. Why have I worked so hard? Isn’t it for the prosperity of your territory? Can’t you spare this pot of coffee?” Puber ignored him completely.

“Puber, this isn’t just about a pot of coffee. It’s about respect. I brewed this coffee with great effort, yet you just come and enjoy it without saying a word. How can such a thing happen?” Komer said irritably.

“Enough, boss. You’re now a great lord with multiple territories. Why still argue over trivial matters like this? Aren’t you ashamed?” Puber said nonchalantly. “Let’s stop arguing about these unimportant things and talk about serious matters instead.”

“Serious matters? I’m taking a rare break. Why must we discuss anything today?” Komer glanced at Karmanyi, who looked uneasy beside him.

“Boss, time is of the essence. Poznan has calmed down. Princess Lenta is quite skilled—she quickly scared those rustic nobles in Poznan. Now they’re much more obedient. I doubt they’ll cause any trouble anymore.”

“Hmph. I never thought they could cause any trouble. Even without Lenta, it wouldn’t matter.” Komer snorted lightly.

“That’s different. Without Lenta, this chaotic situation will continue for at least some time. The bloodline of the Romanov family and the influence of the Anson family still play a role—we have to admit that.” Pube shook his head in disagreement with Komer’s view.
“Pube, remember to remind Lenta not to cross the line.”
“Boss, Princess Lenta is smarter than any woman I’ve ever met. She knows what’s important and what’s not,” Pube said with some emotion. “Why are all the talented people in the Romanov family women?”
“It seems you have a good impression of her?” Komer asked, tilting his head.
“Boss, don’t get the wrong idea. I just think she’s quite intelligent and knows how to read the situation—that’s not easy.” Pube smirked. “With a woman like that by your side, you’d feel like she’s scheming against you at all times. Boss, don’t you find that boring?”
“Hmph!” Komer snorted and avoided continuing the topic. “What’s on today?”
“Boss, it’s another topic of interest to you—the development of the Nise River.” Pube grinned sleazily.
“Oh? It seems the Gran family is very interested in developing the Nise River?” Komer turned his gaze toward Kalamanii.
“My lord, it’s not just our Gran family, but several of our Giza families as well,” Kalamanii replied. “Mr. Pube told us that my lord has already obtained sovereignty over Livonia. Moreover, Princess Vyrana will be engaged to Lord Komer, and as a dowry, she will bring along the fiefs in eastern Buzak Plain. I wonder if this has been finalized?”
Komer gave Pube a sharp look. This guy truly was a master at spreading rumors. As soon as there was even a hint of something, he would exaggerate it into something incredible, crafting vivid details that made it hard not to believe. With only slight contacts in Bessarabia, the outcome was still uncertain, yet Pube had already linked Livonia and the fiefs in eastern Buzak Plain to the development of the Nise River. No wonder Kalamanii suddenly became interested in it.
“Why? Why would Mr. Kalamanii care about my personal affairs? Is he planning to give me a gift ahead of my wedding?” Komer smiled slightly, not answering the question directly.

“We certainly won’t miss the Lord’s wedding. However, we’ve heard that the Lord seems intent on linking Livonia with theBruise region, and the Nysa River is to be developed as a key waterway connecting southwestern Nicosia with the Leon region. We’re very interested in this project, so we’d like to learn more about it,” said Karmanni, glancing at Puber, who was pretending to be surprised, with a hint of embarrassment.

“Oh, I see,” Komer replied deliberately coldly. Puber had already piqued his interest, and it was now time for him to play along. To draw the Giza people in, he needed to act coy. “I do have such an idea, but I’ve just established sovereignty over Livonia, and there are still issues regarding Transylvania that need further discussion. I think it’s better to consider these matters once everything is finalized.”

Seeing that Komer wasn’t very interested, Karmanni grew even more anxious. It seemed this matter indeed had significance. Given the Lord’s nature, anything that benefited him would draw him in like leeches drawn to blood. Such coldness clearly indicated something was amiss. It was likely true that the merchants from Transylvania planned to invest in developing the Nysa River to gain control over its future operations.

The canal rights from Matdan to Lake Nirel had already brought profits to the Gran family. Without sovereignty over Livonia and the issues related to the eastern fiefs of Transylvania as dowries, Karmanni wasn’t optimistic about this project. The river was too long, and the two regions belonged to different lords, reducing its connection value. But if both Livonia and the eastern fiefs of Transylvania became part of Komer’s territory, its significance would be immense. The abundant agricultural products from the Buzak Plain and Livonia’s handicrafts could be continuously supplied to Leon, while Leon’s mineral products could also flow upstream to Livonia and the Buzak Plain—creating endless business opportunities.

“Lord, this matter shouldn’t be delayed. Precisely because you’ve just established sovereignty over Livonia, you should dredge and develop this waterway as soon as possible to strengthen ties between Livonia, the Caucasus, and Leon. This will greatly enhance communication between the regions, strengthen Livonia’s loyalty to you, and the economic complementarity between them will also boost trade and exchange,” Karmanni quickly interjected, seemingly unwilling to give Komer any chance to argue.

“But the situation upstream of the Nile is complex; especially a long stretch of the river lies deep in the Little Greenland Forest, making it extremely dangerous and requiring massive efforts. Developing this river route demands considerable effort and funding…” Komer pretended to hesitate.

“My lord, what are you saying? Haven’t our collaborations on canal projects been very successful?” Upon hearing this, Karmanni quickly stepped forward, his tone grandiose. “We of Giza are eager to serve you. Repeating our cooperation with you has always been our greatest wish. If you have such a plan, we of Giza are willing to take on the development and management of the Nile route, contributing to the economies of both regions.”

“I see. I still need to consider it. I must take into account the situation in Bessarabia…” Komer appeared hesitant, seemingly troubled.

“My lord, we already have experience in successful cooperation, and we of Giza have been specializing in this area. You can trust us completely with this project. You won’t need to worry about anything—from funding and progress to quality and management. By then, I guarantee you’ll see a golden waterway that will satisfy you completely,” Karmanni assured promptly.

“If that’s the case, I can consider it. For the specifics, you’d better discuss them with Pupber,” Komer agreed reluctantly.

Exchanging surprised and satisfied looks with Pupber, Karmanni finally left with firm steps.

“Boss, how was it? Not everyone can pull off getting something for nothing so skillfully, right? Hehe, funding the development upfront—the people of Giza are such fools.” It was only after Karmanni’s figure disappeared completely that Pupber lazily spoke up.

“Sigh, another willing victim. Pupber, leaving Livonia aside, how did you make him believe that the eastern part of the Buzak Plain in Bessarabia would become my territory? I don’t even know what Vulyana looks like—how did you come up with such a vivid description?” Komer was curious about Pupber’s remarkable ability to fabricate lies.

“Boss, you may be better at other things, but when it comes to figuring out these guys’ thoughts and manipulating them, it still depends on me. The secrets lie in the heart—intuitive but indescribable,” Pupber said proudly.