Chapter Thirteen: Development Plan

Hess’s arrival was not a surprise to Komer. After demonstrating his own strength, Komer believed that a wise veteran adventurer like Hess could see clearly the future trends of this land. Although Komer had no intention of confronting the pirate forces behind Kudan for now, he was undoubtedly the true legal owner of this land, a fact that gave him an inherent advantage over any other force.

After a thorough discussion, Komer revealed his preliminary plans without reservation. The veteran adventurer was astonished by Komer’s ambitious plans. Though he believed Komer had sufficient strength, developing iron ore at the edge of the barbarian lands would not only expose him to the danger of ogres but also likely provoke those barbarians, who were already unfriendly toward mortals. In Hess’s view, this was a foolish move.

The slender cigar exuded a faint fragrance in the air. The two had exchanged views on many matters, but Hess remained skeptical about Komer’s plans. It wasn’t the first time he had heard of ogres—these mutated monsters not only possessed considerable intelligence but also displayed combat prowess beyond what ordinary people could handle. Hess thought it was unwise for Komer to take such a risk.

“Lord, ogres are not as easy to deal with as you might think. Although I know you are highly skilled in magic, have you considered that there will surely be more than one ogre? They usually live in groups of two or three. I don’t think you can handle them alone, and even your guards would find it difficult to assist you in such an uneven battle. I suggest you reconsider this matter carefully,” Hess said, shaking the cigar between his index finger and thumb with a serious expression.

He came to visit Komer only after careful consideration. After their last meeting in the morning, he discussed what he had seen and heard with his son, which piqued his son’s strong interest. Komer’s mysterious behavior and background greatly intrigued Neptune, who asked his father to have a serious talk with Komer, especially regarding the future development of Caucasus. His son’s dissatisfaction with Caucasus’s current state deeply moved Hess; he didn’t want his son to travel far from home, but since his son was already tired of Caucasus—where, in his words, the life was suffocating and the culture, arts, and entertainment were dull, making it no different from a weed-covered wasteland—with nothing worth staying for except for the occasional breath of fresh air brought by outsiders, it was like a prison that trapped people—his son’s words inspired Hess greatly. It was time for change in Caucasus, and perhaps the arrival of the new lord could be an opportunity. That’s why, at his son’s insistence, Hess made this visit.

But he never expected this young lord to have such crazy plans—not only to use those runaway slaves hiding in the mountains but also to develop the iron ore in those remote areas. Although the plan was ambitious, it was fraught with dangers. How to resolve the issue of slavery was a difficult problem, and Komer hadn’t mentioned it to him. Moreover, the iron ore wasn’t easy to exploit; just dealing with the ogres required careful thought.

“Mr. Hess, please be assured. I wouldn’t take such risks if I wasn’t confident. Believe me, if I can’t even solve this problem, I think any attempt to develop Caucasus would be nothing but a fantasy,” Komer said with a loud laugh, trying to reassure him.

“But my lord, the ogres must not be underestimated. We really need to be careful,” Hess said, lowering his head as if deep in thought. Finally, he raised his head and said firmly, “Since my lord has made up his mind, I, Hess, won’t want to fall behind. Let me and a few of my friends accompany you.”

Hearing this, Komer laughed and waved his hand, saying, “Mr. Hess, you’ve misunderstood. Although I do hope to get your help, it’s not on this matter. I need your support in other areas as well. As your son, Mr. Neptune, said, our Caucasus region has vast land, fertile soil, and abundant resources, but it lacks a large population and vitality. Just look—there are hundreds of miles of farmland and forests from Matdan to Ugru, which can be developed for farming or logging, providing ample employment for many people. Mines also require labor. If we succeed in developing our mines, I even think our Caucasus should have a larger iron-smelting workshop. With a growing population, commerce will also need to develop. Only through this cycle can our Caucasus embark on a path of progress. I believe the first step for our Caucasus to develop is to significantly increase its population, but it takes a long time for the population to grow naturally, and we can’t afford to wait. Mr. Hess, you’ve traveled far and seen much, so I’d like to hear your thoughts—any good ideas on how we might attract more people?”
Listening to the young lord’s ambitious development plans, Hess found his mind struggling to keep up. Perhaps he was indeed getting old; even his own son said his ways were outdated. Times were changing, and if one didn’t progress, they would be left behind. No wonder the new lord was so eager to find alternative paths.
“My lord, the population issue is likely difficult to resolve in a short time. Although my region doesn’t have a large population, we’re not short of labor. Don’t you already have ways to deal with those runaway slaves? They should be able to provide sufficient labor for your mines. Isn’t that enough?” Hess asked, puzzled.
“Of course not! Mr. Hess, my plan isn’t just about developing one mine. Though our Caucasus is located in a remote part of the south, I don’t think we should be considered inferior. Caucasus shouldn’t be synonymous with poverty, backwardness, and desolation. I hope that one day, our Caucasus will become a place envied by people across the continent,” Komer said, standing up and pacing around before speaking proudly.

“But my lord, though your idea is good, although there are no restrictions on population movement along the roads and in various regions, it’s actually not easy to get people to leave their homes and come to the Caucasus. Aside from those slaves fleeing their masters, I can hardly believe anyone would willingly come here.” Hess thought the lord seemed too crazy and somewhat irrational; he shrugged, indicating he couldn’t accept his view.

“Hehe, Mr. Hess, solutions are created by people. Our reputation abroad in the Caucasus is indeed not very satisfactory, but we can change that by using propaganda. Aren’t the current residents in this territory living here happily? Most of them weren’t originally from here either. I think as long as we can motivate them to encourage their relatives and friends to spread the word, it should have a good effect. Of course, this requires your help and cooperation, along with that of your friends,” Komer said confidently, winking with a smile.

It was clear the lord was quite confident and must have his own plans. Hess couldn’t help but ask, “My lord, could you elaborate on your plans?”