Chapter 2: Arrival

Komer had no prejudice against half-orcs, and he held Mahagumi, who had half-orc blood, in high regard. Yet reality was clear—most of the people around him were mortals. Perhaps they could barely accept races like elves, dwarves, and half-elves, whose living habits were similar to those of mortals, but it was difficult for them to get along with races like half-orcs, barbarians, and orcs, whose habits differed greatly from those of mortals. Of course, this seemingly did not affect the relationships between the various races in the Caucasus at the moment, but the lack of closer ties between them also stemmed from such factors. Komer knew that Mahagumi’s racial background would be a significant obstacle if he wanted to enter higher circles, as most of the important officials and friends around him were mortals.

But this was a reality he could not change. Whether in the merchant circles of Mein and Sussor or in the landgentry circles of Melen, other races were always viewed with prejudice. This could not be changed by his efforts alone in just a year or two; it required time for gradual change. Only when one after another half-orc or barbarian stood by his side would they gradually realize that these forces, though often overlooked, were equally indispensable to them. This was the effect Komer hoped to achieve, but the conditions for that were clearly not yet ripe.

The officials and gentry surrounding him had gradually formed a large circle, which in turn consisted of many smaller circles intertwined with each other. There was the group of administrative officials led by Puber, Rese, Lafayette, Neptune, and Mahagumi; the business community led by Kafli, Melbourne, Zip, Hozer, and Maxim; and the group of military officers led by Ilot, Fran, Baoling, and Dragumo. These three groups intersected with each other—Fran, Baoling, Rese, and Lafayette all came from Melen, so they were naturally closer in relationship. Kafli, Puber, Ilot, and Neptune had collaborated first, so they were also more harmonious with one another. These interwoven relationships formed Komer’s power network.

Besides this larger circle, there is another group of people who operate outside it but still exert a significant influence on Komer. These are outsiders led by Rebrí, Lome, Eve, and others. Although they do not get involved in Caucasian affairs or power distribution, their influence on Komer is crucial. On major issues, Komer seeks their advice to gain their support to the greatest extent possible.

So far, among the half-orcs, only Mahagumi seems truly capable of entering his inner circle. Dragumo can barely be considered part of it; he still needs time to prove himself both in terms of ability and loyalty. Komer also hopes to bring more half-orcs into his power circle, but he won’t lower his standards. He can only hope that more outstanding half-orcs will come to his attention.

“Hmm, good work. These tactics are necessary. Also, be careful not to make the acquisition of maps and topographic charts of the Little Greenland Forest too obvious, so as not to arouse suspicion among adventurers and exploration teams. The price doesn’t need to be too high—after all, their main goal is to explore for treasures, and mapping is just a side task. As long as there’s enough incentive, they won’t refuse to do such opportunistic work,” Komer instructed Mahagumi. Though this guy is quite shrewd, he isn’t an ordinary person after all, and Komer still needs to better understand many ordinary human motivations.

“I understand. I’ve also had people spread similar messages in the Zuke Valley, hoping that someone there will take similar action. By working in tandem, we might be able to progress faster in understanding the Little Greenland Forest.” As expected, Mahagumi lived up to Komer’s expectations, considering every detail thoroughly.

“I’m relieved that you’ve thought this through so well. Leave this matter entirely in your hands. But don’t neglect the situation with Bruce and Leon either. My advice is that you recruit and train more useful people—there’s no need for you to handle everything personally. That’s not the behavior of a competent official. Understood?” Komer was quite satisfied; everything that needed to be considered had been taken into account, leaving him no need to worry further.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly. The legendary tales of the lost civilization in the Volt Mountains were completely overshadowed by the vast treasure hidden in the Little Greenland Forest, belonging to the nature goddess Minto. A large number of adventurers and exploration teams flocked there. With a simple registration at the administrative office of Bruce Fortress, they could set off to explore the Little Greenland Forest legitimately. Of course, before that, they needed to form teams, purchase magical items and protective gear, exchange various weapons and equipment, and stock up on supplies—all of which could be done at the shops and taverns in the market outside Bruce Fortress.

Since the rumors started spreading, the number of adventurers and exploration teams in the market outside Bruce Fortress kept increasing, and their scale grew larger as well. After all, the treasure of the nature goddess had already been obtained by a lord from the Caucasus by chance. The Tianmiao Ring was clearly one of the two water-related rings among the seven rings of the nature goddess, a fact confirmed by many who had seen it with their own eyes. Moreover, the Jinghua Ring held by Princess Galleviro became well-known in the magical world due to that birthday banquet, and it was also found in the Little Greenland Forest. These two rings of the nature goddess were sufficient proof that her treasure indeed existed—and was located in the Little Greenland Forest. Such a rare opportunity could not be missed by anyone.

The various dangers lurking in the Little Greenland Forest had long been circulating in the taverns outside Bruce Fortress. Komer didn’t want unprepared adventurers to recklessly venture into the forest. What he needed was a shortcut to the southwest of the kingdom, not to see those adventurers die needlessly.

However, Komer’s worries were completely unnecessary. Adventurers with extensive exploration experience thought much more carefully and thoroughly than he did. From weapons, equipment, and magical items tailored to various dangerous magical beasts to strategic and tactical combinations, these adventurer teams fully demonstrated their professionalism.

If a team is unsure, it immediately sends magical letters to summon allied teams or looks for partners on the spot to complement each other’s strengths and cover for weaknesses. As long as they can address their own shortcomings, two or three teams can quickly form an excellent combination. After all, the legendary treasures of the Nature Goddess are abundant, so there’s no need to worry about distribution. Such high-level adventures also represent a rare opportunity for training for an adventurer team. As a result, even teams with poor conditions or smaller scales hope to join larger, higher-level adventurer groups to gain valuable experience, even if they receive little or no share of the treasures.

Fort Bruce once again entered a golden age. Adventurer teams arrived at the riverport docks on the Nise River almost daily, and the Great Greenland Forest became an ideal place for them to test their skills. Caravans of horses were constantly moving along the forest paths, and adventurer teams from both ends of the continent were driven by the vast treasures of the Nature Goddess Minto.

“Noyora, we haven’t found anything. There’s no sign of any dark forces in this town. It seems we’ll be returning empty-handed this time.” Lorenzo was wrapped in his cloak, his gaze shifting nervously among the adventurers in the streets. The half-orc soldiers standing atop the distant towers made him uneasy. Though reason told him these half-orcs had nothing to do with the dark forces, the sight of these inferior races wearing armor and carrying weapons to defend human fortresses was hard for him to accept.

“Lorenzo, don’t be discouraged. If the dark forces were so easy to uncover, they wouldn’t have given our Light Church so much trouble. I have a feeling we’ll find something this time—maybe even something significant.” Noyora wasn’t as wary of the constant stream of adventurers around them as Lorenzo. To him, these adventurers were people who had lost their ideals, embarking on this pointless game in search of physical satisfaction and absurd spiritual pursuits. “Oh, what do these guys want here? They say it’s for the treasures of the Nature Goddess Minto in the Little Greenland Forest. That’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard. Lorenzo, have you ever heard such nonsense?”

“Hmph, mortals always prefer to be driven by those unreasonable, insane desires. You and I will never understand those vulgar thoughts of mortals. The treasures of the Nature Goddess? Complete nonsense. Why are there so many foolish people who are so obsessed with such things?” Lorenzo also looked furious and depressed. These faithless fools are always interested in games that seek sensory stimulation, yet indifferent to noble beliefs that cultivate the soul and elevate morality. How can this not arouse indignation?
“Well, this is the only explanation for their foolish actions.” Nuoyao La pulled the curtains back down, and the carriage continued to move slowly down the street. “Karu, Boreiz, and the others should have arrived by now. I wonder if they’ve found anything. Why haven’t we seen any messages they left for us?”