Chapter 20: The Barefoot Society
Staring intently into the other person’s eyes, Komer seemed determined to see through their thoughts. “Mr. Kafli, it’s hard for me to believe you’re just an ordinary merchant. Are all merchants in the Barefoot Society this shrewd?”
Kafli wasn’t surprised that Komer had figured out his identity. After all, a ring already said much, and he had never intended to hide his membership in the Barefoot Society.
“My lord, the Barefoot Society is merely an organization for mutual assistance. It doesn’t hold any special significance. Initially, it was formed by small merchants and traders who came together to share resources and help one another. Of course, as the organization grew, many of its members expanded their businesses, but they still remained part of the society, willingly helping others without expectation of reward. This reflects our motto: helping one another, regardless of size or wealth.” A proud expression appeared on Kafli’s face. “Of course, members primarily rely on themselves. They only turn to the organization when they lack the capacity to handle a particular business.”
“Enough, Mr. Kafli. I have no interest in learning about the rules of your Barefoot Society. Your society has a good reputation, and I believe we can work well together.” Komer smiled and clapped his hands. “Do you have any ideas about the person I’m meeting tomorrow?”
“Duke Teyz has been the Minister of Internal Affairs for several years now. He’s very cautious and much more steady than the other ministers in the kingdom. He’s also an indispensable figure to His Majesty the King. However, his caution is actually a boon for us. As long as we can convince him that our actions will benefit the kingdom’s reputation, he’ll agree without needing further persuasion.” Kafli was both satisfied and slightly surprised by Komer’s quick understanding.
Duke Tez looked at the young lord before him with curiosity—a lord from one of the most remote and desolate regions in the Homer area. His dark black pupils emitted a faint glow, and his pale face bore some resemblance to Ramla. Was this the reckless scoundrel who had infuriated Philip to the point of being exiled for several years? Tez was quite familiar with the situation in the Homer area, though he made exceptions for remote places like the Caucasus. How had this small lord from the Caucasus managed to get his subordinates to arrange a meeting with him? He wondered how much money must have been spent to persuade those greedy men. Although Tez himself was very proper, he knew his subordinates were not so clean, but he didn’t intend to interfere. Everyone had their own way of life, and as long as it wasn’t excessive, he would turn a blind eye and pretend not to know.
“Lord Baron, you said you wish to take in some refugees from the Duchy of Mellen as well as from Main and Susor?” After hearing Komer explain his purpose, the Minister of Internal Affairs glanced doubtfully at Komer’s calm face before raising his slightly silver-white eyebrows in surprise and asking, “Could you tell me more about your thoughts and intentions?”
“Of course. My Lord Duke, although I haven’t been in the Caucasus for long, you must be aware that it is located in the southern borderlands, with a backward economy and sparse population. It is far inferior to the neighboring Leon region. Yet it is still part of the kingdom, and as its new lord, it is my responsibility to make it prosper. The Caucasus has a warm climate and many fertile wastelands, yet even including the Caucasus itself, it cannot produce enough food and must import it from elsewhere—this is simply unimaginable. I think we can definitely cultivate those wastelands, though this will require sufficient labor force. Additionally, several new mines have been discovered in the Caucasus, and developing them will also need a large number of strong workers. So when I heard that the invasions by the beastmen have led to the destruction of some of the kingdom’s allies, forcing large numbers of refugees to flee southward to the kingdom, and that the kingdom faces difficulties in accommodating them for various reasons, I thought this might be an opportunity to help the kingdom ease its burdens. It would allow us to solve some of its current problems, and at the same time, the Caucasus could gain some cheap labor force. That’s why I dared to come to the capital to see you, Minister.”
Komer delivered the prepared speech fluently. His polite and refined demeanor gave him a very good first impression on Duke Tez.
Comer’s tempting plan indeed caught the Minister of the Interior’s interest. The refugee issue in the western allied countries was currently a major headache for His Majesty the King. Southern nations such as Medea, the Netherlands, and Naples had consistently refused to allow refugees into their territories, claiming that even the kingdom itself did not provide aid for them. The kingdom’s finances were already at their limit; without contributions from several powerful lords, it could barely function, let alone afford to support those refugees. Although they had once been allies of the kingdom in fighting off orc invasions, those alliances no longer existed, and now they expected the kingdom to pay huge sums of money. Given His Majesty’s personality, this was a difficult request. Yet the appearance of this man before him moved Duke Teyz.
“Very good, Baron. Your thoughts are commendable, and your willingness to share the kingdom’s burdens is truly praiseworthy. The kingdom is indeed struggling with what to do about these refugees. But with such a large number, I wonder how many people your Caucasus region can accommodate?” the Minister of the Interior asked Comer tentatively. He had already sensed that Comer’s ambitions were great, but this was a good opportunity to find a solution. Although Grand Duke Philip had tried through various channels to dissuade anyone from supporting this man, Philip was not well-liked—neither by him nor by His Majesty. This man was growing more ambitious, even allying with other powerful lords to demand the abolition of the Edict of Utrecht, which angered His Majesty greatly. If this could be accomplished successfully, His Majesty would likely be very pleased.
Interpreting the hidden meaning in the minister’s words, Comer was intrigued. It seemed the Minister of the Interior had no objections to him taking in refugees but was rather interested in how many he could accommodate in his territory. However, with hundreds of thousands of refugees, even if he had great ambitions, it was impossible to handle such a large number. It was still uncertain whether this was a blessing or a curse.
“Duke, Caucasus has poor infrastructure. Although I made some preparations before coming to the capital, it can accommodate at most thirty thousand people. Even then, I’m not sure if I can ensure they survive the winter. Fortunately, the winters in Caucasus aren’t too harsh; compared to the north, it’s more like spring there,” Comer said casually, bringing up the winter as a reminder.
A chill ran through Taze’s heart as he felt even more admiration for the young man before him—this guy actually used the winter climate as a reminder to himself. Indeed, winter here was no easy season, and it would be extremely difficult for these refugees to survive.
“Oh, My Lord Baron, as far as I know, the Caucasus region is vast, sparsely populated, with many wastelands available for cultivation, making it fully capable of accommodating more refugees. Since you are now a vassal of His Majesty the King, you should consider how to share his burdens. Currently, refugees from allied nations are gathering at the borders, seeking aid, while other countries are also watching the kingdom’s actions, putting great political and moral pressure on it. Yet, My Lord Baron, you must be aware that the kingdom is still fighting off the orcish attacks in the north, which consumes considerable resources, leaving it unable to handle the additional burden of resettling these refugees. Meanwhile, some domestic lords ignore the overall situation and focus only on their own interests, even refusing to accept some of His Majesty’s requests. This makes me wonder if these lords have forgotten the oaths they took when receiving their titles from His Majesty.” The Minister of Internal Affairs spoke in a somewhat sharp tone, his voice tinged with emotion, but his good upbringing quickly helped him control his feelings. “I hope My Lord Baron can set an example for the other lords of the kingdom and do your utmost to share the responsibilities with His Majesty.”