Chapter Nineteen: Kindred Spirits

At this moment, Kakiya’s expression was somewhat unpredictable, her beauty standing out even more under the light of the fire. Komer looked at her openly, wanting to see how she would react to his actions.
“Lord Viscount, don’t you think your behavior is playing with fire?” After a long while, Kakiya finally spoke in a somber tone.
“Hehe, are barbarians fire? Well, perhaps so. This fire might indeed be scorching, but those who play with fire don’t necessarily burn themselves—it depends on their skills and tactics. If handled properly, I believe this fire can bring warmth to us while inflicting fear and burns on our enemies.” Komer sat carelessly in the luxurious woolen hammock, which made Kakiya feel uneasy. She instinctively wanted to sit up but felt it would show weakness, so she simply curled her legs slightly to avoid physical contact.
A subtle tension began to build in the air. Komer enjoyed this atmosphere; he needed to test her limits.
“Oh, Lord Viscount, so confident?” Kakiya tried to keep her composure. The events in the Caucasus and the Cordillera Wastelands had left a deep impression on her. The young man before her was far from the country noble who once came to Versailles. This remote place had now become a powerful force—at least for her. It could even send three thousand half-orc soldiers to help Jazair defend against orc attacks. Just this symbolic gesture had made the Caucasus and Komer the subject of conversation among Jazair’s nobles. This guy was extremely cunning; every move he made was surprising, yet it always brought him significant gains.
“Hehe, Your Highness, if I may speak boldly, confidence comes from strength. Though this statement may sound arrogant, for the Trija tribe, the Caucasus or I will always be insurmountable obstacles. If they want to survive, develop, and grow stronger, they must rely on me. Of course, I also depend on them. I believe Your Highness understands this as well.” A strange smile appeared on Komer’s lips.
Stunned, Kakiya glanced at Komer’s face. “I still don’t quite understand what you mean. Could you give me a more detailed explanation?”

“Your Highness, the situation of the barbarians is not as simple as you think. They are not a monolithic group but an alliance composed of various tribes of different sizes, somewhat similar to the orcs in the north. Their overall strength even exceeds that of the orcs, but their unity is far weaker than that of the orcs; they are in a rather loose state. Moreover, due to the blockade imposed by our mortal world and other races, they have fallen into a vicious cycle. These tribal communities, driven by their own interests and survival pressures, must unite to fight against external threats while also competing among themselves. The struggle to acquire resources and benefits for a better living environment for their own communities is an irreconcilable conflict among them.”

“The Sanjia tribe is just one of the three smallest among the thirteen major tribes in the entire barbarian alliance. Due to the soil conditions in the Caucasus and Leon, large-scale grain production is impossible, and the obstruction by the Catalonia River has meant that these areas have never been given much attention by the barbarian tribes. As a result, those settled in the north, adjacent to the Caucasus, are generally relatively weak tribes. Now, since the Caucasus has gained access to the upper reaches of the Catalonia River, abundant grain from those areas can be continuously supplied to the Caucasus, not only meeting the needs of the Caucasus and Leon but also allowing some to be sent to the barbarians in the Cordillera Wasteland. Being in a favorable position, the region inhabited by the Sanjia tribe has naturally become highly sought after. As far as I know, in just the past six months, as many as five small tribes have come to join and rely on the Jiarong tribe, with the larger groups numbering up to a thousand and the smaller ones several hundred. The Jialong and Jiapeng tribes have also had three and two tribes respectively join them. It can be said that this period is when the Sanjia tribe has expanded the fastest.”

“Lord Viscount, I still don’t quite understand. Doesn’t the expansion of the Sanjia tribe pose any threat or pressure to you? Aren’t you afraid that they might exploit you? Or do you believe you have absolute confidence in suppressing their military strength?” Since the topic had been brought up, Kajia no longer hid anything and asked directly about the key issue.

“Your Highness, the expansion of the Sanjia tribe’s power is based on me serving as their source of food. Without my supply, they couldn’t even fill their stomachs. What do they have to offer other tribes to attract them? Now that their tribe has grown stronger, their status and influence within the alliance have increased, allowing them to seek more benefits. But since food—this vital resource—is in my hands, they are forced to obey me. As for the possibility of them turning the tables, Your Highness need not worry. The leaders of barbarians are all cunning by nature. They understand that even if they seize the Caucasus from me, they still won’t be able to control the routes along the Catalan River. The Jellyfish People have no interest in them and are not under their control. Of course, the Caucasus also needs to prepare its own military forces—your Highness needn’t worry about that; Komer knows what to do.”

Komer patiently explained the actual situation of this land to the heir to the kingdom. Only by fully understanding her own position and importance here would she be willing to cooperate sincerely with her, so that both could benefit.

A silence fell in the tent. Kajia lowered her eyelids, seemingly deep in thought, while Komer also remained silent, as if waiting for something.

“Viscount, I think it’s time for us to open up and share everything we have on our minds. I believe we both understand our mutual needs. If we can support and look out for each other on certain issues, I think our situations might improve greatly,” Kajia said calmly after much deliberation.

Finally, they were discussing the real issues. Komer had been waiting for this moment. She believed that the armed forces of the Sanjia tribe had a profound impact on those who had never seen barbarian strength before. Her own words earlier, along with the Sanjia tribe’s respectful attitude toward her, had made the princess, who was at a disadvantage in the struggle for the throne, reconsider her situation. Without the support of the powerful ministers Teyz and Matthew, she no longer had many chances. Although Hoffman hadn’t taken action yet, his relentless pursuit showed that he clearly wouldn’t leave any threats behind. His behavior at this moment truly reflected the cunning of a member of the royal family.

“Your Highness is truly direct. I suppose you already have some ideas. As long as Kommer can do it, you surely won’t hesitate to take action.” Only after saying this did Kommer realize he had been too hasty. How could such matters be discussed in just a few words? If anything needed to be discussed, it should be by her trusted aides rather than her herself.

As expected, Kakiya remained calm and replied indifferently, “Your Lordship is too kind. Kakiya is merely pleased to see the achievements of Your Lordship in this land. She hopes you will prioritize the kingdom’s interests and consider its needs more. Of course, as parts of the kingdom, the Caucasus and Leon will also take into account your actual situation and provide appropriate support when necessary to help you avoid unnecessary troubles.”

Her vague words left Kommer confused. This princess’s mood seemed to change too quickly—she seemed to change her mind in an instant, pulling back on what she had just said. It seemed she was still undecided, unsure whether to trust him or think the time was not right. Her last remark, however, puzzled Kommer—appropriate support? With the kingdom struggling to cope on its own, what support could she possibly offer? A title? He was already a viscount, and no changes were likely in the short term. Money or military force? Perhaps it was something he should contribute to the kingdom—what could that be? Troubles? Did he have any troubles?

As his thoughts raced, Kommer seemed to grasp something. What troubles could he possibly have? Could it be the Church of Light? But he had already dealt successfully with the arrival of the Church’s tribunal. Could there be more troubles? Although the Rema Knights hadn’t left yet, their activities were now much less frequent than before. Unless there was more behind it. At this thought, Kommer was shocked—it seemed this princess was not as weak as he had imagined. No wonder Hoffman was so cautious.

“Hehe, then it all depends on Your Highness’s concern. The Caucasus is in a remote area, and many situations are difficult for outsiders to understand, leading to misunderstandings. Your Highness will need to help us mediate and explain these matters in Jazair,” Kommer replied vaguely, going along with her words.

“Hmph, Your Lordship, you should be aware of my current situation. Do you really think I still have a chance to return to Jazair?” Kakiya’s sharp gaze flashed.

“Yes, Your Highness. Please trust my judgment. It won’t be long before you can return to Jazair.” Komer said with a meaningful smile. “I believe this inspection of the Caucasus and the Cordillera Wasteland has not only strengthened your confidence but will also bring good fortune to you. Your Highness, how about we make a bet? The stake is the Zuk Valley—what do you say?”
Her heart trembled as Kajia met his equally intense gaze. For a moment, it seemed as though she saw herself in his eyes. “The Zuk Valley?!”