Chapter 7: Alliance
Komer studied the elderly man in the simple gray cloak before him with interest. Choosing to meet in such a setting actually carried some risk for Komer. Although Pilo Feller had assured him repeatedly that there would be no safety issues, Komer decided to meet him under a disguise. Looking at the thoughtful old man before him, Komer knew his disguise would likely not fool him. As Jazair’s biggest slave trader and a renowned usurer, the head of the Novarin family was by no means an ordinary person. Judging from his behavior in Jazair, it was clear he would remain invincible among the contenders for the throne.
“Mr. Muktese, please forgive me for appearing before you in this guise. Truth is, I’ve held some distrust toward you before, but after meeting you, I realize my worries were unfounded. So, I offer my apologies here.” After a brief thought, Komer chose to admit his weakness first. It was much better to bring it up himself rather than let the other party expose it.
“Oh, Viscount Komer, I really didn’t expect this. I had my doubts as soon as I entered, but Pilo didn’t clearly tell me whether you would come in person. I wasn’t sure, but it seems Pilo’s judgment is indeed good.” The old man wasn’t upset by Komer’s initial deception; instead, he understood Komer’s caution. In such turbulent times, everyone needed to be extremely careful, even merchants like himself who were seen as opportunists.
“To receive such praise from Mr. Muktese, Komer was secretly delighted. It meant they likely had much to discuss, didn’t it?” At this point, Komer no longer had the patience to beat around the bush. Since Pilo had introduced this man to him so formally, it was likely he had some connection to Kajia. However, given the current unstable situation, this man didn’t dare to take reckless risks. Komer’s main goal now was to strengthen the other man’s confidence.
“Mr. Viscount doesn’t seem to be the kind of person who gets impatient. Why is he so hasty today?” Taking a sip of his coffee, the old man exuded an air of dignity that had nothing to do with a slave trader or usurer. Yet Komer knew this was merely an appearance. As one of the kingdom’s top slave traders, he had a special relationship with Matthew, who held military power in the kingdom. Moreover, due to his heavy borrowing from the kingdom’s treasury, he had complicated ties with both the finance minister and the interior minister. However, because of his common origins, he was constantly slandered and suppressed by the nobles of the kingdom. Even those high-ranking officials who wanted to reward him by granting him noble status were helpless.
The other man’s words made Komer uneasy as well. There was more to his words than met the eye. Although Pilo had already hinted something, this man wanted to wait until the last moment to take a stance, which was absolutely disadvantageous for Kakiya, who was already at a disadvantage. Komer had already invested heavily in Kakiya, so there could be no room for mistakes. Moreover, after his arrival in Jazair, Mahagumi brought some bad news: it seemed Galle had reached some kind of deal with Hoffman, and the Zuck Valley was likely to fall into the hands of some noble allied with Zelin. This made Komer even more anxious.
“Mr. Muktese, although I’ll stay in Jazair for another two days, I don’t want to waste my time on meaningless small talk. If we consider the dividing line, it seems I’ve already taken a clear side, while you still seem undecided. It seems you’ve trampled on that dividing line—what seems like a good idea. But we both know that once involved, no one can walk away unscathed. As for me, at worst I can return to my remote hometown. As for you, if someone stirs up trouble, I believe your good days in Jazair will be over. I’ve heard that you disappointed many people in Paluka Bay. Now, just like you, they’re all watching everything around them closely. Do you really think everything you’ve done is flawless?”
Komer’s sharp words pierced through Muktese’s thick armor of pretense. As a merchant of humble origin and, moreover, a somewhat detestable slave trader, Muktese was well aware that many wanted him dead and would seize his wealth at the first opportunity. He had spent a fortune trying to please both sides just to see more clearly. But now it seemed even this distant lord from the Caucasus knew of this, meaning his earlier assumptions had indeed been naive.
Noticing that the other man seemed shaken, Komer intensified his attack: “Mr. Muktese, actually, we share the same plight. We both know why we made such choices. Kakiya is clearly not the best candidate; she holds no advantages over Hoffman, and the nobles despise her due to her lineage—yet that’s precisely why we chose her. I never hide my origins; the Lessor family has never received any recognition from the kingdom, so I can only rely on my own efforts. The Norinwa family, too, has received not a single reward from the kingdom despite their great contributions. The reason is simple: they have no ties to the nobility and fundamentally reject anyone deemed of inferior bloodline, even as many so-called nobles end up begging on the streets.”
“Mr. Komer, what are you trying to say?” Muktese was finally moved. Whether nobles or merchants, they were accustomed to hiding their true intentions behind false pretenses, always speaking in veiled terms to conceal their real motives. In this regard, nobles and merchants were no different. Komer’s straightforward approach actually gave Muktese a rare sense of clarity.
“It’s simple, Mr. Muktese. I want you to understand that if you choose Hoffman, you’ll never receive true respect. When they need the Norlinwa family, they might bring you on board, but they won’t remember them when real benefits are at stake. By staying neutral like this, you’ll only fail to earn goodwill from either side. Even if one side comes to power, they’ll still doubt you—something a wise person wouldn’t do. Your only choice is Kajia. If she comes to power, she’ll need merchants like you, who aren’t of noble birth, to help her gain a firm foothold. The nobles’ hostility toward her won’t dissipate easily; they could overthrow her at any time. So she has to rely on you. Do you understand what ‘rely on’ means?” As he said this last sentence, Komer winked at Muktese.
Muktese carefully considered the meaning of “rely on” in Komer’s words. Clearly, the other party shared the same intention. The word “rely on” had many meanings—it could mean valuing or respecting someone, or it could mean depending on them. For merchants, depending on others meant seizing the opportunity to gain more wealth and political power. But Kajia surely wasn’t easy to handle either, and whether such benefits would be possible remained uncertain.
“Mr. Komer, thank you for your honesty and openness. To be honest, I really enjoy these productive conversations with you. Even if this conversation isn’t very pleasant or doesn’t yield results that satisfy us both, I still hope we can cooperate in the future. I understand your intentions, but as a merchant, my priority is to minimize risks while maximizing profits. So I may need to think more carefully about many things than you do. Please understand my concerns,” Muktese said slowly.
“Hah! Minimize risks while maximizing profits?! How can such a good thing exist in the world?! Tell me, I want to do that too!” Komer’s words were filled with sarcasm. “Risk and profit are always proportional—even a fool knows that! Mr. Muktese, if you still can’t see the situation clearly and haven’t made up your mind, I can only feel sorry for you. But let me tell you—losing such an opportunity might make you regret it for the rest of your life.”
The strong tone in Komer’s words seemed to affect the other party. Although Muktese’s expression remained calm, the movement in his eyes showed that he wasn’t as indifferent as he appeared.
“Mr. Komer, I’m curious about your great confidence in Kakiya. I don’t know where that confidence comes from—could it be personal feelings affecting your judgment? Judging from your past behavior, I don’t think you’re that kind of person. I won’t deny that, from a personal standpoint, I also prefer Kakiya to take charge. But as the leader of the Norinwa family, I must consider the interests of the entire family. Right now, no matter how you look at it, Hoffman’s rise is inevitable. The only obstacles are General Matthew and Lord Taze, who haven’t yet made their decisions. We all know why they’re hesitant, and it won’t make any difference. Do you really think that by joining forces we can change this situation?” Muktese finally spoke his mind, his gaze fixed on Komer.