Chapter Seventeen: Interference

It was those absurd legends—more accurately, deliberately spread rumors. Komer himself was a master at concocting such things. From the ancient dwarf ruins in the Volt Mountains to the treasures of the Nature Goddess in the Little Greenland Forest, Komer knew all too well the truth behind these so-called “legends.” As long as one could find even the slightest connection and weave in some plausible coincidences, it was impossible for people not to believe them. There were so many people in the world who loved chasing after these nonsensical legends, and often they had considerable resources as well.

Fenitz immediately noticed the expression on Komer’s face. She certainly knew Komer’s background, but she didn’t think the legends of the elves were the same kind of trickery as what this mortal lord excelled at. After all, those were legends that had been passed down among the elves for hundreds of years, and some people had indeed come close to success.

Five of the seven sacred artifacts had been gathered together, but unfortunately, it fell short due to the lack of two more. Without those two, it was impossible to enter the secret realm. However, it was said that the location of the Nature Goddess’s secret realm was roughly indicated to be in the forests along the Storm Ocean to the south. But the forests along the Storm Ocean were vast, and without a specific map, it was impossible to find them.

“Do you think it’s just a vague legend?”
“Hmm, indeed. I think it’s a scam by some people with ulterior motives.”
“What’s their goal?”
“Oh, that’s hard to say. This legend in your tribe must have a long history. As times change, it’s difficult to determine what the original instigator intended. If it were a recent legend, I believe I could figure it out pretty accurately,” Komer said confidently. “But one thing is certain: none of these things can have a happy ending. Their purpose in history is simply to keep many people living in illusions, chasing after them endlessly—nothing more.”
“No, Komer. Maybe you can make such judgments about other things, but this legend in our tribe definitely has a basis in reality.” Fenitz shook her head. She wasn’t convinced by Komer. The history of the elves was beyond the understanding of mortals.
“Oh, then give me your reasons.”
“It’s simple. Just look at the power of these sacred artifacts—this proves it’s not just a simple legend. My Green Wood Divine Chain—have you felt its power, right? Can ordinary magical items do such things? These are true divine artifacts, not something any magic artisan can create.”

Komer was stunned for a moment, recalling the attack he and Finitz had suffered on their first meeting—the backlash of magic that nearly killed him. It was the tassels he had made at that time, along with Finitz’s Green Wood Divine Chain, that helped him struggle out of the abyss. And it was certain that Finitz’s Green Wood Divine Chain played a decisive role.
“Hmm, there’s some truth to that. But just this alone isn’t enough to prove that these are the treasure keys left behind by the Goddess of Nature,” Komer said, still unconviced.
“Hmph, you’ve seen the power of the Green Wood Divine Chain. The other sacred artifacts are equally remarkable—the Canglang Bracelet allows one to cross water as if walking on solid ground, and its effect on enhancing water magic is indescribable. The Flying Wing Drill is a masterpiece of air magic, greatly increasing the user’s speed in the air. Each sacred artifact has a distinct effect, yet none of them counteract each other. No one knows what will happen when these seven artifacts are gathered together.”
Finitz hadn’t realized how much his description of the seven sacred artifacts of the elves would stir Komer. But one thing was certain: this must have been the initial motivation that led Komer to agree to get involved in the elves’ affairs. Even without those so-called legendary hidden treasures, the allure of these seven sacred artifacts alone was sufficient.
Komer didn’t think his power was strong enough to take action yet. Before the threat of interference from the orcs and the Northern Alliance was removed, Nicotia under his control needed to remain cautious.
However, Komer also had his own plans regarding the elves. The dark elves were clearly supported or instigated by some external force. Otherwise, as Finitz said, although the dark elves were among the strongest among the seven elf tribes, trying to stand against the other six tribes alone would be suicide. The fact that they took such a step proved there must be some unknown forces at work, and he needed to find out who was behind it first.
Haidering had already made progress along the coasts of the Southern Mid-Sea and the Storm Sea. The subjugation of Demisheme had further expanded his influence. Though it still couldn’t compare to Katrina’s power, avoiding direct confrontation and finding his own path forward was the principle Komer and Haidering had agreed upon. The Storm Sea was undoubtedly one such direction.

In fact, little strength was needed to get involved in elven affairs in the early stages; the power of the Black Flame Knights and the Mage Corps was more than sufficient for this task. It wasn’t a full-scale war but at most some confrontations at various levels, so large-scale intervention was impractical. Allowing these individually powerful individuals to test the situation was the natural choice.

Komer increasingly valued the special knight corps formed by Vladkov. This force had no restrictions on its use and didn’t have to bear any other obligations or responsibilities. Their inherently dark nature also made them better suited to handle matters that shouldn’t see the light. They were undoubtedly the most suitable for dealing with dark elves—using violence against violence posed no problem for the Black Flame Knights. Of course, Komer’s true goal was items like the Canglang Bracelet and the Jiuxiao Hairpin. As for the affairs of the various elven tribes, Komer wasn’t very interested.

The power of the Caucasus Mage Corps was also growing. After integrating the mage forces of entire Nicomedia, it was no longer as weak as when it was first established. As many as thirty magi were enough to sustain the name of the Caucasus Mage Corps. However, the quality of this mage corps was mixed, and their campaign in the Cordillera Wasteland hadn’t provided much training. Perhaps this intervention in the elven affairs could offer them a good opportunity to improve.