Chapter 8: Revelation

“Exaggerating, exaggerating.” In response to the other party’s furious provocation, Komer remained calm, his face still wearing a gentle smile. “There are no personal motives behind my inviting you two here. I won’t lie even in front of you—currently, the situation in Nicosia is chaotic and unclear. As a member of Nicosia, I believe, just like you two, it’s necessary for me to step forward and clarify the situation, contributing to a better future for Nicosia.”
Hearing his arrogant words, Matthew felt frustrated and at a loss for words. This guy spoke as if he were a great leader concerned for all people, with an unshakable audacity. He showed no shame in his ruthless actions, and his skills were truly unmatched—someone needed to test him. But in a world where the victor takes all, he had already succeeded, so such words couldn’t really be considered defiance.
Taze smiled as he watched his old friend argue with Komer. He was well aware of Komer’s cunning and sharpness. Matthew had no chance of winning a verbal battle against him. However, the two of them hadn’t come here to argue either; they each had their own motives.
Nicosia had been in decline for too long. Since the Romanov family had lost its right to revive Nicosia, Taze and Matthew weren’t narrow-minded. If there was truly a suitable candidate, they wouldn’t hesitate to support them—provided that person met their standards. Although this guy seemed excellent in every regard, it was precisely because of his often unexpected and ingenious tactics that Taze and Matthew were skeptical. That’s why they came without hesitation when invited by Komer. They also needed time and opportunity to observe closely what kind of person he really was—whether he was an ambitious yet incompetent fool or a shrewd and determined doer. That was the purpose of their visit.
“Is that so? It seems Lord Komer has a great deal of ambition and concern for the country’s affairs. But I can’t understand—wasn’t it Lord Komer who created today’s chaos? How can he now put on an act of pitying the people?” Now that the masks had been dropped, Matthew was even more unreserved, directly addressing topics Komer couldn’t avoid. “Has the Romanov family truly become so corrupt that Lord Komer must bury it?”

He never expected General Matthew, who had remarkable military talent, to be so eloquent as well, and he showed no hesitation in pointing out his own flaws, almost accusing himself of being a traitor to the country. Comer found this rather interesting—only through arguments with such people could his own thinking truly be stimulated; being surrounded by flattery all day long would almost stifle his mind.

“General Matthew, what’s your view on the orc invasion? Do you think, given their current way of life in the kingdom’s north, the kingdom will completely assimilate them, or will we end up being transformed by them?” Comer asked in return.

After a moment of pause, Matthew replied cautiously, “I’m afraid it will be difficult for either side to conquer the other. The orcs will undoubtedly absorb many of our cultural advantages, but their wild and violent nature is likely beyond the control of our mortal civilization. To truly make them submit, we’ll probably need to use overwhelming force to make them understand.”

“With the orcs’ current strength, do you think Nicomia has a chance of driving them back to the Morgan Wasteland? They’re currently relatively calm. Do you think they’ll stay that way, or will they be satisfied with the status quo and stop attacking us?”

Comer’s two questions left Matthew in silence. Though he had no good feelings toward Comer, he had to admit that even Nicomia, once united under the Romanov dynasty, couldn’t do this, let alone the now fragmented Nicomia. If anyone really had a chance, it might be this man before him—but only if he gained greater power, which wasn’t what Matthew desired.

Worse still, the orcs were no longer the once shortsighted and fickle creatures they used to be. They had undergone a sudden qualitative change, with their mindset also advancing dramatically, as evidenced by their ability to establish and maintain control in Jazair. The calmness they showed now was merely an illusion—they wouldn’t stay calm forever. They had never been content to be alone, and their current calmness was just a wait for a better opportunity to amass even more strength. Judging by their actions in Jazair, while absorbing the essence of mortal civilization, they were also skillfully creating a reality that would gradually make the complacent mortals accept and adapt to this mixed existence, achieving a subtle but profound effect—something that Matthew and his allies could absolutely not tolerate.

“Mr. Taze, Mr. Matthew, we all know the answer. I don’t expect to gain everyone’s support, and I’m aware that many still long for the good times of the Romanov era. But we can see that the last glory of the Romanovs has passed; all that remains are ruins and desolation. I won’t tolerate orcs building their own empires on the foundation of our civilization, nor will I allow foreign forces to dominate our territory in Nicosia. Nicosia belongs to us, the people of Nicosia. I believe you both agree with this, which is why I’ve decided to stand up for it.”

Komer appeared calm and magnanimous. He didn’t hide his ambitions and desires. To win these two men’s support, it was better to openly reveal his thoughts. “I also don’t deny that I’m pursuing greater power. Only by gaining more power can I wield more influence and have the means to realize my dreams. I think, as long as my dreams don’t conflict with yours, given your character, you should support me in doing something that benefits others without harming them.”

Both Taze and Matthew were shocked by Komer’s bold revelation. To take on the responsibility for Nicosia in place of the Romanovs—this was something countless people wanted to say and do, but no one dared to express it in public. Yet this guy dared to proclaim it so openly. Nicosia wasn’t the Cordillera Wasteland or the Mogan Wasteland, where force could decide everything. This was a civilization passed down through generations of mortals. Was he crazy or confident?