Volume 25: Struggling Against the Current

Chapter 1: Sailing Against the Wind

Winter in Seiphus remained a formidable threat to the homeless, with cold northern winds blowing in from the Mogan Wastelands. Even with the moderating influence of warm, moist air from the Abyssal Sea, the cold was still piercing to the bone. Of course, this was already quite mild compared to Poznan and Silesia further north.

The merchants and nobles in Seiphus City waited for the arrival of their new lord. To their disappointment, as spring approached, not a trace of the lord was in sight. Apart from occasional news from Odessa merchants about Komer traveling between Odessa, Brus, and Matdan, the residents of Seiphus City realized that their once-proud city was no longer the heart of Homer. A sense of anxious loss filled the hearts of all Seiphusians.

Changes began to emerge gradually. Komer was tolerant; he endured the Seiphusians’ arrogant attitude because he came from Seiphus himself and knew the weakness hidden beneath their pride. Only when they realized that Homer would continue to function without Seiphus would they shed their false pretenses. Komer had time, and he had many other things to attend to. At least for now, he saw no need to quarrel with those Seiphusians.

Support from the Anson family became apparent after Komer expressed interest in marrying Lenta. The attitude of Homer’s nobles shifted somewhat. Even among the most stubborn Seiphusians, some nobles began to secretly go to Ugru or Brus to pledge loyalty to Komer. Not everyone could maintain their personal dignity like Sir Ramla. The cruel realities were enough to break many people’s wills—either they were eliminated or they adapted to the times.

Komer had no intention of marrying Lenta right away. In his view, an immediate marriage might yield quicker results, but it also had its drawbacks, especially in terms of avoiding many troubles. It was better to achieve the goal gradually in a more subtle way, making it easier for people to accept.

He now has more important matters to attend to, such as gradually bringing the barbarians under his rule from two aspects. Although this goal won’t show obvious results in the short term, the Sanjia tribe has already taken the first step. Whether they admit it or not, the warriors of the Sanjia tribe have become more accustomed to life in Homer and the Caucasus territories. Especially with such generous treatment, they hardly have any worries. Apart from a somewhat questionable moral justification, the warriors of the Sanjia tribe are almost ready to submit willingly to Komer’s rule.

The outstanding performance of the barbarians also stimulated the desire of the half-orcs to perform as well. The surge in people joining their ranks caught both Komer and Fran by surprise. In fact, Komer had no intention of expanding his army any further. In his view, as long as this army of barbarians could be used at will, there was no need to expand the force of the half-orc troops. However, there were significant variables at play, and Komer couldn’t tolerate such uncertainties. He would rather spend more money and time to ensure his power was more solid.

The collapse of the Philip family plunged many knights loyal to it into despair. Without a lord to serve, they were confused and troubled. Especially since Komer refused even to set foot in Cyprus, they felt even more bored. Cyprus actually existed in a semi-autonomous state. Although it was nominally under Komer’s rule, his authority extended only beyond the city itself before he arrived there. Both nobles and merchants desired to hold power firmly in their own hands, but they knew that without the title of a lord, none of them could truly achieve this.

Without a foundation for survival and psychological reliance, the knights began to degenerate—drinking, causing trouble, fighting, and disrupting law and order. All these problems came to light at once. For the citizens, the behavior of the knights also caused frustration. Cyprus seemed like a deserted and forgotten city, gradually fading from people’s attention on the continent—a situation the Cypriots, especially the merchants, could not accept.

Zelin calmly observed the somewhat prominent young man before him. There was no trace of unruliness in him, yet his gentle and humble expression made Zelin’s heart grow even colder. The more artificial he seemed, the more it indicated the great ambitions hidden beneath his outwardly harmless appearance. Anyone who met him for the first time would likely be deceived by his seemingly innocent demeanor. Was his own overly naive daughter the same?

Komer also remained silent. He felt as though he were under scrutiny, and indeed, to marry someone else’s daughter required a certain price. The fact that they agreed to meet here already meant a significant concession on their part.

This was a small town at the border between Homer and Galle. The busy canal and the numerous towns along it provided a foundation for survival, and this town was no exception. The only difference was that less than three miles eastward lay Homer’s territory.

“You want to marry Vero?” Zelin asked calmly, resting a hand on his chin.

“It’s not completely unrealistic, is it?” Komer replied in a similarly calm tone.

“But I heard that Princess Lenta has no intention of marrying you?” Zelin tilted his slightly aged head slightly.

“Is that so? Well, it seems there’s no truth to it yet.” Komer wanted to deny it, but then thought it was unnecessary and would only make him seem despicable, so he gave an ambiguous response.

“Lenta is the most beautiful among all, and the Anson family wields great influence. How can you ignore these factors? I don’t think you can give up all of this right now.” Zelin smirked slightly, mocking him.

“Hehe, Duke, I know my own strengths. There are indeed many who oppose me in Homer, but just as many who like me. Besides, haven’t you noticed that I can live freely in the Caucasus even without Homer’s support? Perhaps Ugru and Matdan aren’t as advanced as Cyprus and Odessa now, but who can say they won’t surpass them in three or five years?” Komer laughed. “It seems the Duke hasn’t had the chance to visit Ugru and Matdan yet. I think if you took the time to go there, your opinion might change.”

Zelin had to admit that what the other party said was true. The changes in the Caucasus were no secret. Although Zelin had not seen them with his own eyes, reports from all sides confirmed the truth of their words. The massive influx of immigrants from the north had revitalized the Caucasus, while Leon’s coal and iron resources, along with the half-orc labor force, had further strengthened its economy. In fact, even Zelin himself was more optimistic about the Caucasus’s future, especially after it successfully brought the barbarians under control—this advantage became even more evident.

“You mean you can give up Homer?” Zelin remained unmoved.

“Did I say that?” Komer retorted. “Does the Grand Duke still think Philip can make a comeback?”

Zelin shook his head. He knew full well that Philip had no chance left; otherwise, the Order of Rebirth would not have withdrawn silently.

“Then who does the Grand Duke think can possess Homer? The Ferdinand family or the Hainé family? I doubt they would even dare to accept it if I gave it to them. Right now, they should focus more on dealing with the provocations from the orcs.” Komer’s madness began to show through his words.

Zelin finally sensed the subtle power emanating from the other party. Komer, who now held Homer, the Caucasus, and even the southern Flanders territories, was no longer the humble country noble from Viro’s birthday banquet. Although he still appeared obedient, his inherent toughness had quietly emerged. To be precise, he had become a true great lord within the Kingdom of Nicomedia—provided that kingdom still existed. In fact, Zelin also knew that Komer’s influence in the Kingdom of Nicomedia already surpassed that of the heirs of the Romanov families, Kakiya and Hoffman. Even Zelin himself might not be a match for him. At this point, Kakiya and Hoffman had no choice but to act according to Komer’s wishes.

Zerin was also aware of the marriage laws on the continent—marriage between equals was a rule that must be followed. Comer’s current status made it appropriate for him to marry Vero, but the issue was that Comer owned three territories and held noble titles granted by two countries, which brought many uncertainties to his marriage. For political reasons, it was highly likely he would have multiple marriages, and this was exactly what concerned Zerin the most. As a noble lord, from Comer’s perspective, Zerin understood that choosing suitable multiple marriages would be more beneficial for Comer’s current situation, especially since his foundation wasn’t strong. Whether it was the rumored marriage alliance with the Romanov family or the engagement in Bessarabia, these matters were all quite important for Comer at the moment. To establish a firm foothold in Nicosia, these steps seemed indispensable.

The problem was that this matter was tied to Vero, which made it tricky for Zerin.

Comer observed quietly this nobleman from Nicosia, known for his cunning. Undoubtedly, Vero was his treasure, and his affection for her was genuine. Yet Vero eventually had to get married. If a suitable and compatible husband could be found for her, he believed he could accept it. Comer also understood what the other party was worried about. At this point, he couldn’t make any promises beyond his limits, and he believed that if the other party truly cared about Vero, they would understand his difficulties as well.

“Comer, to be honest, I greatly admire your abilities, and Vero is deeply in love with you. I can also sense your feelings for her. It could be said that if the two of you were to marry, it would be a quite perfect union. But I see ambition in your eyes—you won’t be satisfied with the status quo; you have greater ambitions. Although I can’t determine what else you might plan, I’m sure you won’t stop here. And if you want to move forward, you’ll need more help. Would you refuse a marriage that brings benefits? I’m referring to other marriages.”

Zerin remained silent for a long time before finally revealing his concern. This was the crucial point of the conversation. By bringing up his doubts so openly, Zerin naturally hoped to get a clear answer from Comer.

Comer’s calm gaze shifted slightly. Denying it would only make the other party look down on him, and there was no need to deny it anyway, as it was an inevitable fact. Deception might cover things up for a while, but it would harm one’s reputation—this wasn’t appropriate.

“Duke, thank you for your honesty. I must admit I’m very troubled by this issue. I don’t want to hide anything—I have other ideas. Surely you wouldn’t have stopped at this point at my age either?” Komer raised his glass to conceal the fluctuations in his emotions, but the strange glint in his eyes made Zelin sense the danger he was in. “The orcs have pushed their forces deep into the kingdom’s heartland. We have no idea what their next insane goal might be. The rulers who support our mortal world are all hiding behind their shells, too afraid to take risks, content only with surviving. The Light Church can no longer fulfill the responsibilities it once promised to the kingdom. In fact, I even suspect some of them are deliberately orchestrating all this. They have tarnished their reputation as guardians of us mortals. Now, I believe only we can take on the responsibility of saving ourselves. So, even if no one understands, I will continue on my own path.”

Zelin’s heart trembled slightly. The overwhelming presence in the other man’s words left him feeling almost breathless. Such arrogance, such dominance, such boldness—was he really getting old, or was it the other man’s aggressive attitude pressing down on his overly cautious mindset? Or was it both?

“Komer, are you saying it’s your role to restore the Romanoff family’s reputation?” Zelin blurted out these words instinctively. In truth, he knew this was already his most tactful way of asking, with its meaning clearly exposed.

“Perhaps. Things change constantly. All I can say is that I will strive for my own goals. I won’t yield to external pressures, nor will I pay attention to those trivial gossip. One must forge their own path.” Komer suddenly shed his earlier imposing demeanor and smiled faintly. “Duke, please trust my feelings for Vero. I promise that in every way, she will be the flower at the center of my care. I will never let her suffer any harm.”