Chapter 22: Mangrove Forest
Komer stood upright by the window, seemingly captivated by the scenery outside. His tall figure stood out prominently in the mage’s robe, which rippled slightly in the breeze.
“We can’t keep doing nothing while this situation continues, Komer. Otherwise, all our efforts so far will be in vain.” His voice was slightly deep but magnetic, pleasant to hear. Lenta stared at his back with her green eyes. Though he didn’t turn around, she was sure he could sense her anger and determination. If he didn’t give her a clear explanation, she would never leave—she couldn’t let her hard work go to waste.
“Komer, are you hearing me? Answer me!” Lenta raised her voice, her chest heaving. It was outrageous! She was babbling like a petty woman here, while he remained silent, staring out the window. It was unbearable.
“Calm down, calm down—stay calm.” Finally, Komer turned around, his expression eerily calm. “Lenta, believe me—I share your feelings, but I’m different from you. I have to considerthe whole of Nicosia, not just the north.”
“What do you mean?” Lenta bit her lip.
“Welch is a old fox. He’s managed to hide so well right under Frenst and Vazinki’s noses. Do you think it’s just because he’s good at enduring? No. In terms of assessing situations, he’s even better than us.” Komer spoke leisurely, showing no sign that they were discussing an important issue related to his territory. “Right now, both the Saint Basil and Pericles factions are unusually silent. Even those from the Tribunal, who were once at odds with Welch, seem calm now. Why?”
“Why?” Lenta repeated instinctively before realizing her mistake. She raised her voice in response, “What else could it be? They want us to take action against the Salvation Society.”
“Yes, then why should we fall for their trick?” Komer asked with a smile.
“Hmph! So we’re just going to sit back and watch the Salvation Society’s influence spread? Giving up out of fear will only make things worse,” Lenta said disdainfully.
“I never said I would give up. What belongs to us can’t be taken away by anyone, let alone given up,” Komer replied firmly. “Do you think the Salvation Society can take anything from us? I don’t think so. Whatever they get is something I’m willing to give—or, to put it bluntly, something I bestow. If they think they can push further, I can take back whatever I’ve given them at any time.”
A hint of a smug smile finally appeared on Lenta’s lips. “Komer, I wasn’t wrong about you. You’ll never let anyone share power with you. You’ve never had true allies, and you never need them.”
“Is that so? Then do you think that’s an advantage or a disadvantage?” Komer realized he had fallen for this woman’s trick—her anger and impulsiveness earlier were just acts to make him reveal himself. But he didn’t care.
“For a strong person, it’s an advantage; for a weak person, it’s a disadvantage. Do you think this trait is an advantage or a disadvantage for you?” Lenta asked playfully, her mischievous expression something Komer had never seen before.
“Different people see it differently,” Komer replied without directly answering her question. “Lenta, did you rush all the way to Gothenburg just for this issue?”
“Do you think this is simple?” Lenta countered.
“Well, it depends. If it’s just about worrying about the expansion of the Salvation Society’s power, it does seem a bit concerning. But considering the current situation around us, there’s no need to panic. As I said, existence is justified. The Salvation Society’s ability to show off their true strength so quickly is the result of long-term buildup. I even think it’s a good thing—at least it allows us to understand their true strength better, right? As for what will happen in the future, we can wait and see. The Light Church hopes we’ll immediately go to war with the Salvation Society, while we hope the Light Church continues to fight them. It seems this gives the Salvation Society a good opportunity, so we need to take measures to force them to follow the path we’ve set for them.”
Komer spoke calmly, even with a hint of ease, which made Lenta feel resentful. How could this guy always maintain such a composed attitude?
“Can you share the specific strategies?”
“Not for now, but you’ll be able to see it soon,” Komer kept things mysterious. “Don’t be upset; I only have some preliminary ideas. Once I have more developed plans, I’ll need your help in refining them, and the final implementation will also fall on you.”
Komer’s first two sentences angered Lenta, but his subsequent words immediately turned her anger into joy.
Vladkov walked through the damp shrubbery, looking around. It was still a low, endless expanse of shrubs with no roads—only the need to navigate through this annoying bushland. The humid climate was extremely uncomfortable, especially as his clothes became sticky and unpleasant. Vladkov wondered if he should stop and light a couple of bonfires to drive away the dampness.
Since landing along the coast of the Storm Ocean and entering the territory of the elves, Vladkov felt as if he had stepped onto a desolate wasteland. Even the Cordillera Wasteland was far better than this place. He couldn’t imagine how a girl like Finitz could live in such a barbaric land.
“Miss Finitz, are you sure we should go this way?”
“Mr. Vladkov, please trust my memory. To avoid being discovered by other elves, we must follow this untraveled path into the mangrove forest—that’s where our forest elves truly belong.” Finitz could also sense the impatience of the members of the Black Flame Knights and the magicians. These people didn’t have much patience, and their purpose here wasn’t just to help their own people; many of them seemed to want to use this opportunity to hone their skills.