Chapter 22: As You Wish

Watching Lenta’s graceful figure slowly disappear through the door, Komer’s sneer never faded. Different paths, different homes—this bitch really had some talent for acting. Witches have no compassion, actors have no loyalty; it seemed this woman had both traits. The only thing that could bind her was power and profit.

After sending Lenta off to rest, Komer sent for Rebrí andRebrí andFranlan -> Rebrí and Franlan. His pace quickened—many things were developing faster than he had expected.

Rebrí andRebrí andFranlan -> Rebrí and Franlan listened quietly as Komer explained Lenta’s purpose. They were indifferent to the bait Komer had offered. Poznan or Silesia—those were matters for later. What needed to be decided now was which area to attack first and how to deal with the possibility of an alliance against them, especially the threat from the Gallics.

“Does Nissa Ferdinand really trust our promises?”Rebrí andFranlan -> Rebrí and Franlan clearly still doubted the Ferdinand family’s loyalty. In his view, as long as one’s mind was sound, they couldn’t possibly trust Homer’s sincerity—there were too many examples of those who were betrayed.

“Hmph. Though not everyone dares to play such a risky game, Nissa might think she’s among the best at it.” Komer smiled sinisterly. “He thinks he can rest easy with the dual guarantees of the Light Church and the orcs. I’ll tell him that traitors are often allies.”

“The orcs probably won’t attack Silesia just yet, right? Their rule in the kingdom’s north isn’t stable, and their assimilation policies have only just begun to show results. That’s why they’re in peace with Silesia.”Rebrí andFranlan -> Rebrí and Franlan discussed the matter factually, disagreeing with Komer’s view. He couldn’t be sure about the Light Church, but he knew well about the orcs. “Attacking Silesia now might bring immediate gains, but it would harm their long-term plans. There are wise ones among the orcs—they should see that. That’s also why Nissa dares to shake hands with us.”

“Hmm,Rebrí andFranlan -> Rebrí and Franlan, you’re right under normal circumstances. But in certain situations, it might not be so. Yet now isn’t the time to consider that. You’ll understand the nuances later.” Komer smiled faintly. “The orcs won’t touch them for now, but in the future? Hmph, who can say?”

Fran didn’t say another word. He understood Comer’s tactics well—this lord hid many unknown secrets, and he wouldn’t reveal them unless necessary. All he needed to do was prepare specific strategies and execute them properly.
“The turmoil within the Light Church continues. The Salvation Society is performing remarkably well. It’s surprising—Welch is such a master strategist, having built the Salvation Society into a strong force. If Julius doesn’t step in, I think this chaos will persist for a long time. This is our opportunity, isn’t it?” Comer asked Rebrí with a smile.
“Welch’s cunning and experience exceed my imagination. I still can’t believe Welch Medoff is the mastermind behind the Salvation Society. That Clark Dawes is also a leading figure among the younger generation of the Light Church. Neither the Pericles Church faction in Frenst nor the Saint Basil Church faction in Vazinki has anyone who can compare to him. Clark is a genius who excels in both magic and martial arts. I once thought he might become the second Caesar, but I’m not sure how he’s performed over the years.”
Rebrí’s words were filled with emotion. The Light Church had many talented people. Under Pope Julius, various factions were filled with capable individuals. Although they had degenerated spiritually, it didn’t significantly affect their strength—at least for now, they still maintained their dominant position.
“Caesar… Heh, Rebrí, is the leader of the Wind Riders truly invincible? What about Trajan? How does Trajan compare to him?” Comer asked with great interest.
“Trajan is only half as good as Caesar. If Michelangelo and Trajan could combine perfectly, maybe they could challenge Caesar,” Rebrí said with a bitter smile. “I’ve never seen anyone with such exceptional talent in both martial arts and magic. Caesar is unique—unrepeatable.”
Comer’s expression darkened. The Light Church had many strong figures, and its centuries-long foundation couldn’t be shaken overnight. He also understood that if it weren’t for the internal conflicts within them, the Dark faction wouldn’t have had a chance to rise. But it wasn’t irreversible—strongers were forged through countless battles. Sorenberg and Vladkov might still be far behind, but hope wasn’t lost. With proper training, Shatima could also become a formidable force. Besides, he didn’t plan to confront the entire Light Church head-on anyway.

After a long while, Komer finally exhaled deeply. “It seems we have a long way to go; we can only move forward step by step.”
“Komer, don’t lose heart. The Light Church’s enemies aren’t just us. Our greater task now is to strengthen ourselves in every aspect. Only by achieving greater success in secular matters can we attract more talents. Relying solely on our own forces won’t be enough to bring down this giant of the Light Church, even though it’s already weak.” Rebrí comforted him.
“Of course, that’s exactly what we need to strive for now.” Komer rallied himself. “Fran, what do you think of Leclerc?”
“He’s recovering quite fast. I didn’t expect Mr. Leclerc to have such high prestige within the Homer Knights. He’s more than capable of holding more important positions.” Fran’s praise was sincere.
“What about the Stormtrooper Corps and the Rocksteady Corps?”
“Similarly satisfactory. Their morale is high, their equipment is in order, and they’re well-trained. They say the scent of the enemy’s corpses is pleasing—they seem eager for war.”
For the usually modest Fran to speak so highly of his army, they must be quite satisfied.
“What about the Ghost Monkey Corps and the Feathered Wings Corps?”
“Well, barely satisfactory. But I think war is the best way to help them grow.” Fran nodded firmly.
“Hehe, Rebrí, is our combined mage corps also ready?”
“As you wish, my lord.”