Chapter Seventeen: Demonstration of Strength
The Small Greenland Forest on the parchment map appeared as a strange shade of black, distinctly different from the surrounding areas and even the nearby Large Greenland Forest. This region was famous for producing various fierce and brutal large magical beasts. Unlike the magical beasts in the Large Greenland Forest, which were numerous but relatively weak in both individual strength and aggression, the large magical beasts here were likely elite creatures left over from the unprecedented ancient war hundreds of years ago.
According to historical records and information obtained from explorations at the edges of the Small Greenland Forest, super magical beasts such as the Hairy Rhinoceros, Nine-Headed Eagle, and Terror Ape lived there. Even powerful creatures like the Evil Dragon dared not provoke them easily, let alone any ancient magical beasts that mortals had yet to discover or understand.
The Nise River originated in the Small Greenland Forest, but no one knew exactly where within it. No one had truly entered or explored this forest filled with mystery, and few were willing to undertake pointless adventures—after all, those strong enough to challenge themselves and the unknown were exceedingly rare.
After staring at the parchment map for a long time, Komer realized he knew far too little about his own territory. Such a large forest occupying a significant portion of the Leon lands had gone unnoticed. Perhaps it was because no one thought this forest might attract the attention of its ruler due to some special needs, so it was often selectively forgotten.
Kagiyaa undoubtedly hoped to find a passage through this forest to connect the kingdom’s central territories directly with Leon and the Caucasus. Economic benefits were secondary; she probably wanted to ensure that once she assessed the strength of the Caucasus and Leon, she could fully utilize her own power to provide support at any time. With such support, she could not only regain the allegiance of those who were fickle but also have the confidence to challenge Hoffman.
Komer couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Though Kagiyaa seemed extremely shrewd, she sometimes appeared naive in certain aspects. Why should he serve her? Could the weak forces of the Caucasus and Leon really dare to confront Hoffman? Was she certain he would fully support her, and that his power would be decisive? It seemed she hadn’t considered these questions, which truly puzzled Komer.
However, Komer did want to consider this issue seriously. The geographical location of Leon and the Caucasus was extremely unfavorable. Apart from Homer tightly controlling the exits to their territories, it was impossible to establish a land route through the Cordillera Wasteland in the short term. Even just the Sanja tribe was not enough to influence the entire barbarian population’s perception of them, and the Sanja tribe itself did not want the Caucasus to become too closely connected with other barbarian tribes. Moreover, the Catania River route was under the control of the Jellyfish People, and the sea route posed too many uncertainties—besides the Evil Dragons, Merfolk, Pirates, and Homer’s navy, weather conditions were also a major obstacle.
If it were truly possible to make a breakthrough in the Little Greenland Forest as Kajia had envisioned, it would indeed open up a bright path for the Caucasus and Leon. But the obstacles ahead were severe. The destructive power of ancient monsters was beyond ordinary people’s imagination. Unlike when he went to the Great Swamp to negotiate with the Jellyfish People, Komer already knew their weaknesses and was quite confident back then. But venturing into an unknown area like the Little Greenland Forest, even Komer himself had no idea what to expect.
Tapping gently on the parchment map, Komer weighed Kajia’s hints. The risks in the Little Greenland Forest were considerable, but if a route could indeed be established, it would greatly alleviate Leon’s poor transportation conditions. At least they wouldn’t have to rely entirely on the Nise River and sea routes to the east. For the Kingdom of Nicossia, this would also be a pleasant surprise—linking the Caucasus and Leon with its direct territories in the southwest would make it possible for the kingdom to gain support from them. Especially in the face of pressures from the several major lords in the east, threats from orcs in the north, and those suspicious allied members in the west, assistance from the Caucasus and Leon would be invaluable.
The half-orc armies of the Caucasus and Leon left a deep impression on Jazair and the kingdom’s nobles. Although they had not actually fought against orc armies, their ferocious appearance and imposing presence were enough to give an idea of their strength. Their strict discipline also raised the nobles’ expectations for these armies significantly. Though they were laypeople, they could still roughly assess a military force’s combat capability.
It was probably for this very reason that both Kakiya and Hoffman suddenly paid attention to her remote territory. As soon as Kakiya went to Mainz, Lenta rushed there immediately to keep an eye on her, clearly to prevent Kakiya from colluding secretly with her in her own territory. These two sisters could be quite fierce when it came to competition. For some unknown reason, however, Lenta returned to Mainz temporarily, giving Kakiya the chance to escape to her place.
Komer’s gaze swept across the Little Greenland Forest. To the northwest of the forest lay the territory of Calais, while due west was the Uck Valley, a irregular triangular valley that led into the kingdoms of Bessarabia and Bohemia after crossing this somewhat narrow land. To the southwest was a small neighboring state of the kingdom—Ust Autonomous Principality, a closed autonomous city-state with unique customs.
However, it was difficult to find a path through the Little Greenland Forest right away. Exploring step by step would be extremely challenging, as there were no records or maps, and nothing was known about the forest’s conditions. Komer considered such an reckless exploration utterly absurd.
When Komer accompanied Kakiya by carriage to Bahomon, Kakiya could hardly believe her eyes. The excellent road conditions from Ugru to Bahomon already amazed her. How much gold shield and labor must have been invested in such a road? Kakiya wasn’t a naive woman secluded at home; she had some understanding of local construction. Building such a road required not only substantial funds but also enough labor. In the Caucasus region, it seemed there wasn’t enough labor available. Considering the canal under construction from Lake Nirel through Santiago to Middelburg, Kakiya grew increasingly interested in this seemingly unassuming minor noble. But when she saw the prosperous Bahomon, she was still stunned by the port town hidden deep in the wilderness, right next to barbarian territories.
Seeing the bustling residents of various races on the streets, the ships from all over arriving and departing from the docks, loaded with freshly delivered grain and various supplies, the iron mines constantly spewing ore, the smelting workshops filled with thick smoke, and the forges where the sound of hammering metal never ceased—along with carts after carts of rough iron and large amounts of iron ore being loaded onto ships for shipment—Kakhiya could hardly believe she was in one of the most remote towns in the Caucasus. Scenes usually seen only in important cities or ports within the kingdom now appeared here. Only after being shocked did she begin to understand why Palermo insisted she personally travel around the Caucasus to see it for herself.
Kakhiya’s outward calmness and inner shock couldn’t hide from Komer, who had been watching her closely. Feeling proud and somewhat triumphant, he thought about how a small fishing village that was uninhabited just two or three years ago had transformed under his leadership into the most important town in southwestern Caucasus. Not only had it become a key stronghold in that region, but it had also developed into a vital trading town connecting to the upper reaches of the Jataynia River, linking westward to the Sea of Darkness and the Northern Mid-Sea, and radiating southward to the northern parts of the Cordillera Desert. Such achievements seemed beyond anyone else’s capability in such a short time.
What shocked and frightened Kakhiya even more was the sheer number of barbarians in this town, far exceeding what she had imagined. Whether in the iron mines or smelting workshops, on the docks or in the streets, barbarians who were taller than ordinary people seemed to outnumber ordinary humans and half-orcs combined at first glance. Their unique physiques and clothing had become a distinctive feature of Bahomon. The presence of so many barbarians here far exceeded Kakhiya’s understanding of Komer allowing barbarians to enter this land. Barbarians and orcs had always been natural enemies of humans—ones in the south and the other in the north. The devastation caused by orcs to the kingdom was well-known, while the constant attacks by barbarians in the south also put immense pressure on alliances between southern humans and other races. Here, the liberation of half-orcs was already hard for many to accept, and now barbarians were also appearing openly in this land. Such a contrast was truly hard to comprehend. Did this man not fear that the barbarians might turn the tables? Did he not worry about losing control of these fierce, brutal, and cruel barbarians?
The ever-changing expressions fell into Comer’s eyes. He could understand the princess’s concern, as she did not truly know this land. Yet this was even better—he intended to make her believe that no one other than him, Comer, could control this land. Only in this way could he gain more in future deals.