Chapter 10: Secret Aid

The vast Nise River separated the Leon Grasslands from the Greenland Forest. Standing on the high hills outside Banasha Town, one could clearly see the empty expanse above the mighty Nise River, its turbid waters flowing westward. The once-busy Banasha River Port was now deserted. After Homer’s army suffered defeat in the Battle of Leon, Cyprus announced that any ship entering the Nise River to deliver goods to Banasha would be seized, and all cargo would be confiscated. After several ships attempting to bring coal to Banasha were intercepted by Homer’s navy at the mouth of the Nise River and heavily fined, no external ships dared to travel between Banasha and the outside world anymore.

Coal and iron mining in Banasha had effectively come to a halt, which was a major concern for Komer. Unlike Murray, which was not far from Mando and had relatively good roads connecting it, coal mining there could still barely sustain itself despite high transportation costs, thanks to the black-haired cattle, a specialty of the Leon Grasslands, which served as the main draft animals for land transportation. However, even some smaller coal mines were forced to shut down. Banasha, on the other hand, was completely unable to function. The cost of transporting goods from Murray to Mando was exorbitant, making it unacceptable for coal owners. This was the main reason for difficulties in attracting investment—no one wanted to buy a mine whose products couldn’t be exported, no matter how low the price.

This situation also led to a large number of half-orc miners from Banasha flocking to Mando and Muscat. This problem once troubled Puber, but when construction of the canal from Lake Nirel to Matdan was set to begin, it turned out to be a blessing. The canal project, which required labor, could easily accommodate these strong workers. Builders contracting various sections of the canal even posted job advertisements all over the streets of Banasha, Murray, and Izmel.

To harness the rich mineral resources of the Leon region, merely building a canal from Lake Nirel to Matdan was not enough. Both Banasha and Murray relied on the Nise River for prosperity; otherwise, land transportation could not sustain them in the long term.

Mountains of coal could be seen everywhere, the dirty and messy streets were detestable, even the plants by the streets were covered in coal ash. Idle half-orcs in tattered clothes wandered the streets. Although they didn’t engage in any violent behavior, Komer knew that if this situation continued, Barnasha would eventually become a source of chaos. The half-orcs, accustomed to mining for a living, still had many who were reluctant to leave their homeland. If their living conditions weren’t properly addressed, dissatisfaction from them might arise.

But these weren’t issues Komer needed to worry about now. What he needed to focus on was how to deal with Homer’s army approaching from the south. Intelligence indicated that Homer’s army had completed its preparations, with its vanguard already heading south toward the Bosen Plains. It would cross the Greenland Great Forest on the opposite side in a week. What concerned Komer the most was that the mage corps and knight corps seemed to be following behind the vanguard.

“We must take control of Fortress Bruce. We also need a force capable of resisting Homer’s navy; otherwise, we’ll have to abandon this place.” Komer gazed at the lush forest on the other side. The vast primeval forest looked like a huge emerald basin stretching for thousands of miles. It was this forest that divided Homer into two distinct regions—one poor and chaotic, the other wealthy and peaceful. Yet the wealthy and peaceful north relied on the poverty of the south, with Fortress Bruce keeping all the chaos locked in the south.

“My lord, you really seem to be taking on the role of a lord now. I truly can’t understand why a mage of your caliber still clings to such a life. Do you really think it’s more worthwhile than the path of magic?” Mihajevic showed an expression of incomprehensible regret. In his view, Komer had great talent for magic, with a solid foundation in both elemental and mental magic. His origins were likely tied to the dark side. With such a strong foundation, he still spent his days worrying about worldly matters, which naturally puzzled these mages.

“Mr. Mihajic, life is rich and varied, and people’s minds and thoughts are equally ever-changing. Some prefer worldly power, some enjoy fine wine and beautiful women, while others are drawn to natural forces. Perhaps over time and as their understanding of the world deepens, their thoughts may change further. So you can’t expect everyone’s thoughts and preferences to be the same as yours.” Komer smiled. This view was likely not unique to Mihajic; Newman, Sorenberg, and Vladkov probably shared the same perspective. Perhaps only Rebril had begun to see some of his own thoughts.

“But my lord, with your excellent conditions, many magic practitioners might never reach your level in their entire lives. If you devote yourself to cultivation, your success in the world of magic will ensure a glorious place in magic history forever. But what can worldly life offer you? It’s merely superficial satisfaction for your senses—basic needs and self-gratification. I can’t imagine any magician liking such things.”

In Mihajic’s view, both women and power represented low-level perceptions. Only ordinary people who couldn’t break through in terms of their own strength would pursue such things. Even a monarch couldn’t compare to a true magician. True magic practitioners could abandon everything if it meant reaching a higher level of magical mastery. For them, the meaning of life was to strive for greater levels of energy release.

“Oh, Mr. Mihajic, your views are too extreme. In my opinion, many things can coexist without conflict. I enjoy practicing magic, but I also like to savor the pleasures brought by worldly desires and power. There are many sources of pleasure for humans—at least that’s what I believe. Isolating oneself at a certain level proves nothing, at least in my view. Sometimes, things that seem unrelated can actually complement and enhance each other.” Komer knew it was almost impossible to persuade these magicians whose beliefs were deeply rooted. Besides, what suited his own cultivation method might not suit others. His circumstances determined a path different from others’. He simply wanted to express his views—not to gain approval, but just understanding.

“Well, it’s just that we have different views on how to approach the world. I’ve always believed that to do anything well, one needs to be fully focused and dedicated; otherwise, nothing will be accomplished. Your actions might challenge my view, but I still stick to my own. After all, geniuses don’t appear all the time. I think we won’t be able to reach an agreement on this point. However, I believe it won’t affect our friendship, cooperation, or even our exchanges of skills.” Mihajic nodded and didn’t say anything more. “When does Lord plan to enter the Greenland Forest?”

“We still need to wait a while. But we can head to Mere first. Rebril and Vladkov have already entered the Greenland Forest. So far, I haven’t received any messages from them. It seems not easy to find a suitable group of magical beasts in the forest. The gray wolves might be the best choice, but it depends on our luck. But it doesn’t matter if we don’t find them. Even without their help, we can still succeed. Being prepared ensures we remain invincible. Homer’s army just set off from Cyprus and is likely to cross the Bosen Plain in about a week. At their pace, it will take at least two days to cross the Greenland Forest. That means they’ll have to spend the night in the forest, which should be our best opportunity.”

Komer spoke with confidence. Behind him stood a group of silent men in black, with pale faces and dark gazes. They stood quietly behind Komer, and the afterglow of the sunset seemed to lose its brightness when it fell on them.

Mihajic had been observing this group for a long time. No one in Damorsk Fortress knew where they came from or what their background was, perhaps except Komer himself. Two days before departure, these men quietly entered Damorsk Fortress. Their leader seemed to have a special relationship with Komer, as could be seen from their expressions when they met—she even seemed more like a subordinate, just like Fran was to Komer. Perhaps this group was the backbone behind Lord’s confidence. Mihajic could sense the power hidden within them—a presence similar to his own. That wasn’t strange, but where did they get so many skilled people all at once?

Another man with a stiff expression and a sardonic demeanor stood alone by the river, gazing into the distance. Though he spoke very little, every move he made made Mihajic feel uneasy, and his gaze sent a chill through Mihajic, who had never known fear, as if he were being watched by a thousand-year-old zombie. These were the so-called friends of this lord—a group of peculiar people. Komer came down from the hill; Banasha was still over two hundred miles away from the floating bridge of Bruce Fortress, and it was time to set off now.