Chapter 8: Containment

Komer fell silent. Of course, he could ignore those guys from the Gothenburg Knights Order. He already had control over two powerful factions—the Homer Knights Order and the Wave Knights Order. Meanwhile, the Katyn Knights kept trying to ingratiate themselves with him in hopes of gaining acceptance. A single Gothenburg Knights Order group couldn’t cause any trouble; a little pressure would be enough to make them obey his commands.
The problem lay with the forces behind them. The Gothenburg nobility had always been staunch supporters of the Romanov dynasty. Even after Hoffman stepped back from the scene, many still clung to their loyalty. It wasn’t until Kakiya’s political show came to an end that they finally lowered their heads in disappointment. In other words, they had never truly supported him sincerely; they had only followed him out of necessity.
Komer didn’t mind this. He knew it would take time, but if some people tried to reverse history or even establish a decentralized system like in the old Romanov era, he would never allow it.
“What exactly do those guys want? Do they really think they can act as they did before?”
“Lord, not exactly. After all, they were the last to submit to you. Perhaps they need some formal gestures to calm their unsettled hearts. I think their intentions might be understandable, but they’ve chosen the wrong methods.”
“Hmph. So I think we need to show them who’s in charge.”
“Lord, a combination of kindness and firmness is the best way to resolve issues.”
Komer nodded silently. Mahagumi was quite perceptive, having fully grasped his tactics. His suggestions always suited his preferences.
Vladkov sighed. He wondered how much longer this dull period would last. He really regretted making this trip.
Those cold and arrogant elves didn’t suit Vladkov’s taste at all. He had clearly come to help them, with Fenitz even acting as a mediator. Yet these guys still treated him and his group as nothing more than Assyrians, which filled Vladkov with anger.

Even he himself was so dissatisfied; one could only imagine how the others felt. The mages and knights had already suggested leaving this damned place, as their primary goal had been achieved—the alliance between the Assyrians and dark elves had been shattered. At least the dark elves dismissed the Assyrians’ strength as insignificant. The Assyrians, who were once considered immensely powerful, couldn’t even mount a proper counterattack, which made them reconsider whether cooperating with the Assyrians was wise.

Vladkov hoped the dark elves would hold such views, as it would gradually undermine the image the Assyrians had painstakingly built. Without the guidance of the dark elves, the Assyrians in the Mistflower Hills would be like blind men on blind horses, no longer formidable. Similarly, the dark elves would be powerless without Assyrian support.

Vladkov wanted this situation to continue, though he knew it was unlikely. Although the Assyrians had not yet reacted, Vladkov understood that as long as they didn’t abandon their plan to expand eastward, they would need to restore their reputation. His Black Flame Knights and mages would then have to stay here and continuously strengthen their presence.

The lord’s orders had arrived, and their content greatly surprised Vladkov. Initially, when leaving, the lord had only wanted his Black Flame Knights to crush the alliance between the Assyrians and dark elves, relieve pressure on the forest elves, prevent the dark elves from dominating the elven race, and turn the Mistflower Hills into a land route for the Assyrians to expand into the southern lands.

But now, the lord wanted the Black Flame Knights and mages to continue their mission here, and even make it more complex. For some reason, the lord wanted them to stay in the Mistflower Hills for a while longer and even establish a temporary base there. Could it be that the lord intended to extend his influence here? His ambitions seemed rather excessive.

Vladkov himself had no particular objection to this task, but the gloomy atmosphere in the Mistflower Hills was unbearable for him. The Black Flame Knights and mages felt even more stifled, living among elves with almost no common language, as if in a primitive forest—utterly desolate.

Fortunately, the lord was quite reasonable. Haireding and the others had already built a simple small dock on the coast at the edge of the Misty Flower Hills, where ordinary ships could barely dock. Various supplies were continuously brought in from Sifnos Island and other cities in the Southern Mid-Sea, and the expansion speed even exceeded that of the colonies on the Vast Continent. No matter how desolate this place was, once people settled there, more would follow, especially in a region long dominated by the elves. When mortals established a foothold here and merchant ships kept arriving to deliver goods, it inevitably attracted merchants eager to seize business opportunities. However, this wasn’t good news for Vladkov, as it meant he might have to stay longer. “Mr. Vladkov, you don’t seem in a good mood?” A voice from behind made Vladkov shrug and turn around. Though he disliked interacting with people, this guy was an exception. “Mr. Drake, do you like staying in this hellhole?” “No, no. It’s too desolate and remote. I don’t like it here. Although elf women have a unique scent—rumored to be as wild and untamable as little wild cats—they really tickle a man’s heart.” With thick, curly brown-red beard, Drake unbuttoned his shirt and grinned, offering a bag of wine. “How about a bag?” “Oh, thanks. I don’t like strong liquor,” Vladkov shook his head. “I have no idea what elf women smell like. If you want to find out, you can give it a try.” “Heh, I think it must be quite distinctive. Otherwise, how would that forest elf have captivated the lord, who’s surrounded by beauties?” Drake’s eyes were filled with envy. “A woman like Princess Lenta is a true beauty. Look at her breasts, her ass—wow, so tempting. If I could spend two nights with such a woman, it’d be worth losing two years of my life.” Vladkov almost laughed, but his usual aloofness concealed his peculiar expression. “Drake, be careful with what you say. The lord won’t be happy to hear you coveting his women. If you want women, there are plenty in Cyprus, Gothenburg, and Gutenberg—whatever kind you want, there’s one.” “Hehe, but none with status like Princess Lenta.” “So you like a woman’s status rather than her person? That’s going to be tricky.”

“Not really, but Princess Lenta’s peerless beauty is truly one in a million.” Drake took a big gulp of wine awkwardly to cover up his embarrassment.
“Hehe, which woman by the lord’s side doesn’t have her own unique charm? Otherwise, how would the lord even take a interest in her?” Vladkov smiled faintly. “Haven’t you heard that the empress of the Undersea World also has an ambiguous relationship with the lord?”
“Huh? Really?” Drake became instantly interested. “Vladkov, tell me, what exactly is going on? That red-haired witch is undoubtedly the queen of the Undersea World—even Haideling dares not confront her head-on. If the lord could get her into bed, I, Drake, would truly be convinced.”
“I don’t know the specifics. If you want to know, you’ll have to ask the lord himself. But the last time the lord was forced to flee to the Southern Undersea World by those in the Inquisition, he seemed to be involved with that red-haired empress in some complicated way. Otherwise, how could you guys establish a foothold on Sifnos Island, and why would the Karr fleet help you resist Demisheme’s forces?” Vladkov felt he was becoming noisy too after staying in this hellish place for so long.
“Hehe, who would dare ask such things? Probably only the boss when he’s as drunk as the lord.” Drake shrugged. “It’s fine not to ask. At least the Karr fleet and we get along well for now.”
“By the way, with your boss going to such lengths to transport supplies ship after ship, does he really plan to turn this hellish place into a base?” Vladkov asked, rolling his eyes.
“Hmm, hard to say. It’s the boss’s arrangement, probably also the lord’s. As for the lord’s true intentions, even our boss might not know. But now, aside from our people, some outsiders are starting to arrive too. That’s a good sign—at least it adds a bit of liveliness here.” Drake shook his head.
“Hmph, the lord really has the energy to spare—even bothering such a remote place. Is the scent of elf women that good?” Vladkov also felt disheartened. “It’s tough for us. Those damned Assyrians still haven’t shown any sign, forcing us to wait here in agony.”
“Hehe, Vladkov, I’m afraid this situation won’t last long. The Assyrians will likely strike soon.”
“Oh, do you have any news?” Vladkov perked up.

“Well, some merchants and shipowners have brought news from the west. The Assyrians are furious; they won’t give up so easily. I reckon they’ll take action soon.”
“Oh, that’s great. I’ve been looking forward to it for so long. Staying here in this dull place is making me feel like I’m rusting away. I’ve been waiting ages. Hopefully, those who come won’t be too disappointing.” Vladkov stretched his body, his face showing anticipation.