Chapter 9: Conquest

“Fran, perhaps it’s time for me to meet Mr. LeClair. He has always been my idol since my youth. The last time I was in the Pubber’s Lounge, it was thanks to his help that I managed to escape from those guys from the Light Church.” Comer said thoughtfully, “I wonder if now is the best time for me to enter Cyprus?”
“My lord, if you truly intend to take over the Homer Knights and reorganize them, Mr. LeClair would be an excellent asset. As long as you can convince him to serve you wholeheartedly, I think it won’t be difficult for the Homer Knights to make a comeback. I believe that’s when it would be most appropriate for you to enter Cyprus City,” Fran replied after some thought. “Isn’t it good to keep the people of Cyprus in a state of anxiety? They need to realize that without Cyprus, Homer remains Homer—perhaps even better. Only then can we strip away those nobles’ hypocritical masks and the merchants’ pretentious superiority.”
“Hmm, there’s some truth to that. I don’t like Cyprus; there’s not much there for me to cherish. But the knights of Cyprus are a rare treasure, especially for me now, Fran. Do you understand?” Comer gazed into the distance with a deep look in his eyes.
“My lord, I understand. Maintaining the necessary balance is the best strategy for keeping a regime stable. You now control too many complex territories and the forces within them, so it’s even more important to strike the right balance.”
Fran was clearly no longer the former head of the infantry regiment in the Merlen Duchy. Under Comer’s influence, he had grown increasingly accustomed to this lord’s style. Never putting all one’s eggs in one basket had always been Comer’s principle—half-orcs were one egg, barbarians were another, and the indigenous people of the Caucasus were yet another. Eggs vary in size, and eggshells vary in thickness. Now, the Odessa merchants’ “egg” had also been added to the basket, and it seemed inevitable that the Homer Knights’ “egg” would follow. This was the political art Comer often talked about.
Comer increasingly appreciated Fran’s understanding. As a military leader, one didn’t necessarily need to be an expert in politics, but having some awareness in this area was undoubtedly advantageous, at least it saved him a lot of effort in giving instructions.

“Lord Leclerc, you’ve arrived! Please come in quickly!” Neither Shatima nor Fran had ever seen Komer treat anyone with such courtesy. Even Leclerc himself hadn’t expected Komer to wait for him outside the lord’s mansion, which shocked him greatly. No matter what Komer had been like before, he was no longer the reckless young man of old. Even if he remained a frivolous person at heart, having the title of lord added to his status made a huge difference—he was now a true noble, not just someone wearing a noble title superficially.

Leclerc stopped in his tracks and examined carefully the man before him. His appearance hadn’t changed much from before—still the same troublemaker. Aside from a hint of composure in his features, everything seemed the same, especially that hint of gloom, which was still quite evident. It was said that this man had used this alluringly melancholic expression to seduce countless ignorant girls in Cyprus, earning him the title of the top wolf among them.

“Lord Viscount, I am not worthy of such a title from you. It should be me who meets you first.” Though his heart was filled with mixed emotions, Leclerc didn’t want to disregard the proper etiquette. After all, this man was now the recognized Lord of Homer by both the Royal Court of Nicosia and the Romanov family. As long as he remained part of Homer, this relationship could not be denied.

“Lord Leclerc, please don’t say that. In my heart, you will always be my idol. At least the image of Knight Leclerc will always remain in my heart,” Komer said sincerely, without any pretense. Even Fran and Shatima were surprised by Komer’s extraordinary praise. This was no ordinary compliment. At least up to now, Fran had never heard Komer praise anyone so highly. Komer wasn’t someone who liked to flatter others—he never had. It was difficult to earn his praise, and Fran knew this better than anyone.

Leclerc was equally shocked by Komer’s words. He watched Komer’s expression carefully to see if he was mocking him with sarcasm. But what he saw was Komer’s honest and sincere gaze, free from any deceit or pretense. This calmed Leclerc a bit, at least reducing some of the frustration he felt upon being invited here.

“Lord Leclerc, there’s no need for you to look at me that way. People grow and mature over time. The foolish days of the past should remain in memory only. Comer is no longer the ignorant boy he used to be. I’ve learned a lot over these years, yet your opinion of me hasn’t changed at all. Although I was often invited by you to Cyprus to learn from you back then, I was full of resentment toward you. But now I understand that you weren’t trying to show off or vent anything; rather, you wanted us to follow the right path. I think I’m now moving forward in the way you once hoped.”

Speaking with a smile, Comer appeared very approachable, yet without any condescending attitude. Leclerc found his perception of this man gradually changing. The other man was right—people do change. At least the person before him was definitely not the Comer of old. It was a new Comer, one who already possessed the stature to lead all of Homer.

After a moment of silence, Leclerc realized that all his previous preparations seemed meaningless. He was facing an adult man who fully understood what he was doing and what he wanted to do—without any arrogance or the common flaws of nobles. To be precise, compared to Philip, this young man not only had more vitality and perseverance but also seemed to have a broader vision and higher aspirations than the conservative and narrow-minded Philip. Could this be the reason why Comer replaced Philip?

“Vice Count Comer, what do you need me to do for you? Is it really as Miss Chastima said—rebuilding the Order of Homer Knights? Aren’t you worried that the establishment of such an order might pose a challenge and threat to you, even possibly costing you control over Homer?” Leclerc seemed to suddenly become very talkative, throwing out sharp and provocative questions one after another, unhesitatingly touching on the most sensitive issues for a newly risen ruler.

“Hehe, Lord Leclerc, you still have the same temper as before—unchanged at all. I’m relieved. Your questions are sharp and straightforward, so I have no intention of hiding or avoiding anything. If I said I wasn’t worried about rebuilding the Order of Homer, no one would believe me. Yet I still think it’s necessary to rebuild the Order. I’ve always believed that the Order of Homer isn’t the private army of any one person or family; it represents the honor of knights—neither mine alone nor that of the Philip family. It is the true representative of the knightly class throughout the Homer region. Its actions can either uphold the honor of Homer’s knights or tarnish their reputation. But to be honest, I haven’t seen the previous members of the Order truly uphold that honor. So I feel it’s my duty and responsibility as the current lord of Homer to ensure its glory shines throughout Nicosia and even the entire continent.”

His speech, delivered in one flowing rush, stunned Leclerc, leaving him little time to process it. Yet Comer’s blunt words still caused him pain. He could faintly grasp the meaning behind Comer’s words: the Order of Homer had failed to set an example worthy of respect among the people, especially in the face of the orcs’ massive invasion. The knights had done nothing, even retreating cowardly within Homer—something that filled Leclerc with shame as well.

“So, Mr. Leclerc, I hope you’ll take on this heavy responsibility and rebuild a true Order of Homer that can stand the test of time, so that history may witness the glory of our knights of Homer. I don’t expect you to follow my orders and commands blindly, but I hope you’ll obey your own conscience and the codes of knighthood. I believe you can do this.” Comer’s words were filled with firm conviction, clearly expressing his intentions.

Leclerc remained silent for a long time, head bowed in deep thought. Was he moved by Comer’s words, or did he feel troubled or even disdainful? Comer calmly stared at Leclerc’s changing expression. Shatima and Fran had already been completely captivated by Comer’s charismatic speech, especially Shatima, whose gaze toward him was filled with passion—so intense that even Comer could feel its heat.

“Lord Komer, you have convinced me. I accept your arrangements and invitation.” LeClair’s face showed no sign of ease or joy, but rather seriousness and caution. To Komer’s eyes, it was an implicit nod—this knight, though still eager for power, had retained his knightly principles. It was precisely such people he needed most. As long as he possessed these two fundamental qualities, there was no need to worry that he would escape his control.