Chapter Seventeen: Taking the Lead

This might seem like an optimistic development, but Comer’s intuition told him that there was likely much danger hidden behind it. The more things appeared calm and normal, the more it signaled something was about to happen. Yet Comer couldn’t figure out what Philip planned to do now—what he could or dared to do. Even with full support from the Gallia region, it would be difficult for Homer and Gallia alone to confront the kingdom’s army. The two northern lords could hardly provide much substantial support to Homer and Gallia. Not only were their relations with the southern lords mediocre, but they also needed to focus all their efforts on dealing with the strong pressure from the orcs in the northern border regions, leaving them with no extra strength to worry about anything else. The kingdom probably took advantage of this to make such a bold decision.

But would Philip willingly accept defeat? Comer didn’t believe it. Philip wasn’t that kind of person. He must be plotting something, perhaps even a decisive move to end things once and for all. Planning carefully before acting had always been Philip’s approach. Before he was absolutely certain, his calm demeanor was often misinterpreted as cowardice. But Comer understood that it was like a venomous snake tensing its body before attacking—if someone underestimated it, they would pay a heavy price.

Comer had no power to change any of this, nor could he interfere with the kingdom’s central decisions or the shifting situation. The only thing he could do was find ways to strengthen his own strength. Although the Caucasus region had developed rapidly lately, it still paled in comparison to places like Homer and Gallia. Comer knew that if Philip really wanted to destroy him at all costs, it would be too easy. Without the constraints of the kingdom, Philip might have already taken that step.

Opening the Catalonia route was to build strength, and seizing control of Leon was also aimed at enhancing one’s power. The arrival of the barbarians seemed like an opportunity as well, but it depended on how one made use of it. Barbarians were a double-edged sword—used well, they became a deadly weapon; used poorly, they became a tool to carve one’s own epitaph.

No matter what Philip does next, the issue of the barbarians will always remain. Since he has become their neighbor, he must face it. They have demands, desires, and difficulties, but they also possess strength, opportunities, and hope. If he can establish good and harmonious relations with these people, they might be able to provide unexpected help in the face of various crises and difficulties that may arise in the future.

“Chief Difanchi, welcome to the Caucasus. On behalf of all the people of the Caucasus, I sincerely welcome our neighbors,” said Komer after giving him a warm embrace, then pretended to glance at the two men beside Difanchi. “Could you introduce your two friends to me? We Caucasians are quite hospitable.”

“Respected Baron Komer, you may have heard that our Jiarong tribe is a member of the Sanjia tribes. These two are the chiefs of the Jialong and Jiapon tribes. This is Chief Beilemon of the Jialong tribe, and this is Chief Sik of the Jiapon tribe. Chief Beilemon is my elder, while Chief Sik is my good brother. For this expedition, the Jialong and Jiapon tribes each provided three Earth Dragon young ones as a sign of respect for our neighbors,” said Difanchi, pleased by Komer’s enthusiasm and respect, which made him feel honored, especially in front of the chiefs of the two brother tribes.

“Thank you very much for your generosity, chiefs. Earth Dragons are a specialty of the mountain tribes, and I really like them. I also hope to form a squad of Earth Dragon warriors. I don’t expect to build an extremely powerful military force using them, but as you all know, my territory is home to people of various races. I need a formidable armed force to show them, and that’s why I want Earth Dragons. I’ve already discussed this with Chief Difanchi, hoping it won’t cause any misunderstandings,” explained Komer, gesturing for the three of them to sit down with a smile.

“Baron Komer, I’ve already explained your idea to the two chiefs, and they strongly support it. If it weren’t for the limited number of Earth Dragons in our Sanjia tribes, we would be more than willing to provide you with more.”

Komer was also very surprised by Di Fanchi’s tactfulness. It seemed these barbarians had gradually learned human hypocrisy and pretense through interactions with mortals. This was both a good thing, as it would make them more focused on reality and interests, and a sad one, as they would gradually lose the simplicity inherent in their mountain tribe. Still, Komer hoped they could adapt to this world faster and not isolate themselves in their own world, as he needed them too.

“The three leaders, I am already extremely grateful for your selfless help. Perhaps the Caucasus will need assistance in the future, but I hope it will be based on mutual equality and cooperation, exchanging what each side has to offer for mutual benefit,” Komer said with a nod and a smile. “So, Leader Di Fanchi, has everything been going well all this time?”

“Thank you for your concern, Baron. We of the mountains do not beat around the bush. Please forgive my directness. If Lord Komer could make your anti-smuggling team less strict, or if you could allow grain exports from the Caucasus to our territory, our situation might improve greatly,” Di Fanchi said, returning to his “frankness,” forcing Komer to admit that this guy adapted very quickly.

“Hehe, Leader Di Fanchi, you’re joking. The anti-smuggling team is under the authority of Judge Rese and not under my control. But it should be noted that as long as they have an export license issued by the lord’s office, they will not create trouble unnecessarily. They are simply enforcing the law, which is my requirement and also the law’s requirement; otherwise, they would be derelict in their duty. As for opening grain exports, if any country or force around your mountain tribe opens its market to you, I, Komer, will immediately follow suit. But to ask me to take the lead—don’t you think that’s asking too much of me? You should be aware of the Caucasus’s limited resources. Can I really withstand pressure from other mortal forces? Though I’m quite confident, I must admit I can’t. Even if I don’t think of myself, I still have to consider the people in my territory. I don’t have enough strength to go to war with all mortals,” Komer said helplessly, spreading his hands.

“Besides, if you ask yourselves honestly, my policy toward your mountainous people has been quite lenient. Aside from food exports, which other country or force exports weapons, armor, iron, and other strategic materials to you? As some have warned me, this is a crime against all mortal races—it’s support and encouragement for your massacres of mortals in the south and east. Everything I get in exchange from you is stained with the blood of mortals and other races. It may sound exaggerated, but upon careful thought, it isn’t without reason. Don’t you agree?”
Komer’s words were somewhat vicious, even sinister, leaving Di Fanchi and Belemont, who had wanted to retort, speechless.
It was an undeniable fact: the war between the mountainous people and the mortal nations and cities to the east had hardly ever ceased. The battles with the dwarves and elves to the south, though far smaller in scale than the wars with mortals, were still intense. The elves and dwarves had formed an alliance and received help from some native giant tribes to resist the mountainous people’s advances in the south. Every year, thousands of brave warriors died in these wars, creating a vicious cycle—the more the barbarians were suppressed, the harder their lives became, the more they wanted to break free from their constraints, leading to more frequent wars.
The same was true for mortals and other races. The more they feared the destructive power of the barbarians, the more they tried to suppress and restrict their growth, imposing stricter controls on the export of resources to them. This only led to even more frenzied and violent attacks from the barbarians in their struggle for survival. Overall, however, the alliance of mortals and other races held an advantage in this war that had lasted hundreds of years. The number of barbarians had already decreased by 30% compared to fifty years ago. If this war continued, it would take no more than a hundred years before the barbarian race was wiped out from the Land of the Sky.

“But our Sanjia Tribe rarely participates in wars to the south and east, my Lord Baron. You should be aware of that.” Seeing that Di Fanchi and Beilemon remained silent, Sik could hardly hold back his words. The Jiapeng Tribe was inferior to the other two tribes in terms of strength and location, and could be considered the weakest among the thirteen tribes of the Mountain People Alliance. Unless there was a massive war, the alliance generally did not think of this tribe. This made Sik both happy and disappointed—being able to represent the alliance in wars against other races was also a symbol of strength. As far as he remembered, since he took charge of the Jiapeng Tribe, he had never received an invitation from the alliance, and the few invitations that had come were for the Jiaron and Jialong Tribes instead.
“Chief Sik, I am aware of this, but who else knows? Moreover, as far as I know, many of the supplies I exported to the Sanjia Tribe never reached them but were taken by those so-called other tribes of your alliance, right? Isn’t this using weapons produced in my territory to slaughter my own people?” Kemer retorted coldly.