Chapter 14: Subjugation

When the Laurent family’s notices recruiting large numbers of laborers spread throughout the Cordillera Wasteland from north to south, it immediately caused a stir in the region—even greater than the shock caused by the news of building this transcontinental road itself.
Building this road held no direct personal benefit for those living under the protection of the larger tribes, but the large-scale recruitment of laborers was of great significance to the smaller tribes. The prosperity of the Sanjia tribe drew envy from many, and many small tribes migrated northward under its magnetic appeal, even at the cost of abandoning their original homelands. Now, with this road set to be built right through their lands, this appeal became almost irresistible.
Dozens of registration points for road construction were crowded with ragged barbarians. Although the pay for building the road seemed low by the standards of ordinary people in the Caucasus or the Southern Mediterranean regions, Komer had announced that food and other necessities would be gradually released throughout the Cordillera Wasteland. Thus, having a stable job meant that a family would no longer face the threat of hunger, especially during this harsh winter.
As per Komer’s orders, the Laurent family took the lead in recruiting barbarian laborers. But Komer also imposed certain conditions on them: they had to gradually instill in these barbarians, who were slowly integrating into human society, the concept of submission. They were to use this opportunity to build the road to make these barbarians realize how hard it was to afford food, to weaken their tribal identities, and to make them accept that the Cordillera Wasteland was now a special territory belonging to Nicotia, with barbarians merely being one of its many races.
The storm stirred up by the smaller tribes quickly spread to the larger tribes of the New Alliance. While these tribal leaders were still debating how to deal with the second wave of trouble brought about by humans, their subjects had already begun to turn against them.
Under the pressure of survival, especially with the alliance no longer directly opposing humans, the options for strong laborers were severely limited. At such a time, the road construction industry became the only choice for these barbarians, who had only physical strength but lacked skills to make a living.

Komer believed that the subtle effects might not be apparent at first, but after two or three years, these minor changes would gradually accumulate, eventually forming a massive force that would completely shatter the customs and shackles that had confined the barbarians for hundreds of years. Only then would the barbarians truly become pawns in their own hands, at their disposal. For now, these pawns still needed to be properly trained.

In the campaign against the Cordillera Wasteland, the Minglan Knights and the Black Flame Knights only truly played a role in one battle, yet that single battle was enough to ensure their place in history. It was this assault, which seemed more like a tactical maneuver, that utterly crushed the arrogant barbarians. This also led the Carter tribe to finally decide to betray their alliance—a significance that only Komer understood.

The Black Flame Knights remained in Antwerp. For Vladkov, it served as an ideal stronghold facing the south. The scattered beliefs and complex religious views made the south the perfect place for the Black Flame Knights to strengthen their forces. Unlike traditional territorial knight orders like the Minglan Knights, which had an inherent pool of knightly recruits, the Black Flame Knights relied on gaining fame rather than a specific direction to attract more attention, which was precisely what enabled them to recruit followers.

The Minglan Knights, of course, returned to Nicosia. Knights who had proven their worth needed the recognition of their lords. Although this southern campaign did not yield particularly glorious victories, it was sufficient for the knights—they had fulfilled their duties, and it was time for their lords to keep their promises.

Komer generously kept his word.

The grand celebrations held in Groningen and Silesia quickly spread the joy of victory throughout Nicosia. Returning home in glory was undoubtedly the most splendid moment for the knights. To walk proudly onto the docks and into the city streets, surrounded by the praise of the nobility and the admiring gazes of the young women, and to feel the cheers of the people—this was almost the ultimate fulfillment of chivalric ideals. What more could the knights possibly desire?

The knights who performed outstandingly in the war were awarded the Second-Class Brown Bear Medal. Although this medal originated with Komer, it received unanimous approval from several judges of the Court of Stars in Nicosia who were now idle. This also symbolized Komer’s first significant step in replacing the Romanov family. After losing its traditional royal authority, the Kingdom of Nicosia could only rely on these judges of the Court of Stars to fill the void. Although many still questioned their authority, it did not hinder Komer’s good cooperation with them. For the knights, the title of judges of the Court of Stars was sufficient—it at least symbolized that Komer, who had firmly established his lordly status, was not an usurper. As for his actual power, no one could now challenge Komer’s position in Nicosia. These seemingly trivial tactics easily won over the nobles who were still wavering in their loyalty. The Knights of Minglan represented a large social group, and the middle and lower-ranking nobles of Poznan and Silesia had long had close ties with the nobles of Homer and Calais. Though they did not go so far as to risk their lives for one another, they shared a sense of mutual prosperity and hardship. Seeing the younger nobles of Poznan and Silesia enjoying such glory, the nobles of Homer could not help but feel deeply neglected. Brief neglect was tolerable, but prolonged and hopeless persistence was nothing but stubbornness. The nobles’ obstinacy manifested more in specific areas rather than a deliberate refusal to follow the current trend.