The Vastness of Magical Destiny

Chapter 61 - 61 13 Development Plan

?Chapter 61: Chapter 13: Development Plan Chapter 61: Chapter 13: Development Plan Hesse’s arrival did not surprise Komer. After demonstrating his own strength, Komer believed that a smart old adventurer like Hesse could clearly see the future trend of this land. Although Komer had no intention of confronting the pirate forces behind Kudan for the time being, there was no doubt that Komer was the true and legitimate owner of the land. Inherently, any power would be inferior to his.

After a profound conversation, Komer revealed his initial plan to Hesse without any reservation. The old adventurer was astonished by Komer’s grand scheme. Although he believed in Komer’s strength, developing a fine iron mine on the edge of the Barbarian Territory wasn’t only dangerous because of the ogres, but also it risked enraging the Barbarians who were not friendly towards mortals to begin with. In Hesse’s opinion, it was an unwise move.

The slender cigar smoke wafted faintly in the air as the two exchanged views on many aspects. However, Hesse remained doubtful of Komer’s plan. He was not hearing about ogres for the first time; these mutant magical beasts were not only intelligent, but their combat strength was not something ordinary people could handle. Hesse felt that it wasn’t worth it for Komer to take such a risk.

“Lord, ogres are not as easy to deal with as you imagine. Although I know your magic is quite accomplished, have you considered that there will definitely be more than one ogre? They usually live in groups of two or three, and I don’t think you can handle them alone. Fighters like your Guard can hardly be of any help in such asymmetric combat. I suggest you reconsider this matter,” Hesse said seriously.

Gently tapping the cigar between his index finger and thumb, a serious expression appeared on Hesse’s face.

He had come to visit Komer after careful consideration. After their last encounter in the morning, he had shared his observations and what he had seen with his son, which sparked intense interest in his son.

Komer’s enigmatic background and past deeds greatly intrigued Neptune. He asked his father to have a thorough talk with Komer, especially regarding the future developmental prospects of Caucasus.

Neptune’s dissatisfaction with the current state of Caucasus made Hesse empathetic; he did not want his son to travel far from home. Yet, his son was already weary of Caucasus. To him, the dull life was suffocating, and the bland culture and entertainment made Caucasus no different from a weed-infested wilderness. There was nothing here worth lingering for, except for a breath of fresh air occasionally brought by some adventurers from outside. It was like a cage that imprisoned people.

His son’s words struck a chord with Hesse. It was time for a change in Caucasus. Perhaps the arrival of the new lord was an opportunity. Thus, at his son’s insistence, Hesse made this visit.

But he hadn’t expected that the young lord would have such a wild plan, which involved not only employing the fugitive slaves hidden in the mountains but also developing the fine iron mine in the borderlands.

While the plan was grandiose, it was fraught with danger. How to resolve the slave status issue was a conundrum, Komer had not mentioned. Furthermore, developing the fine iron mine wasn’t a straightforward task, and the threat posed by the ogres required careful consideration.

“Mr. Hesse, rest assured, I wouldn’t take the risk if I weren’t confident. Please believe me, if I can’t solve this problem, developing Caucasus would be but a castle in the air,” Komer said with a reassuring laugh.

“But, Sir, one must not underestimate the ogres, they truly require caution,” Hesse said, his head drooping as if contemplating something. Finally, he lifted his head and made up his mind. “Since you have decided, I, Hesse, do not want to be left behind. Let me and a few of my friends accompany you on this journey.”

Hearing this, Komer laughed, waving his hand dismissively, “Mr. Hesse, you misunderstand. Although I hope for your help, it is not with this matter. I need your support in other areas. As your son, Mr. Neptune, said, our Caucasus is vast with fertile land and abundant resources, yet sparsely populated, lacking vitality.”

“Look, from Mattdam to Ugru, there’s plenty of land and forest over a hundred miles, suitable for both reclaiming fields and establishing logging yards, capable of absorbing many people. The mines also need people. If our mine development succeeds, I even think Caucasus ought to have a larger ironworks. As the population grows, so must commerce. Only then can our Caucasus embark on a path of development,” Komer explained.

“To me, the most pressing issue for the growth of Caucasus is a substantial increase in population. However, it takes time for a population to grow naturally, and we in Caucasus can’t wait. Mr. Hesse, you have traveled far and wide, with broad knowledge, so I’d like to hear your opinion—do you have good methods to attract more population for us?” Komer asked earnestly.

Listening to the young lord’s ambitious development plan, Hesse found he was struggling to keep up. Perhaps he had indeed grown old, even his own son said his thoughts were outdated. Times were changing, stagnation meant being abandoned by progress. No wonder the new lord was so fervently seeking a different path.

“Sir, the population issue is difficult to solve in a short time. While there aren’t many people here, there is no lack of labor. Haven’t you figured out how to deal with those runaway slaves? They should be able to provide sufficient labor for your mines. Don’t you think it’s enough?” Hesse asked, puzzled.

“Of course not! Mr. Hesse, my plans extend far beyond developing just one mine. Though Caucasus is situated in a remote area to the south, I don’t believe we should be considered inferior. Caucasus should not become synonymous with poverty, backwardness, and desolation. I hope that one day Caucasus will be a region envied by all on the Continent,” Komer declared emphatically as he rose and turned around.

“But Lord, your ideas are commendable; however, although countries don’t prohibit population movement, realistically speaking, it’s not easy to induce people to leave their hometowns and come to Caucasus. Apart from slaves evading their owners, I can hardly believe anyone would voluntarily come here,” Hesse contended, shrugging his shoulders in disapproval.

Hesse felt that the lord was becoming too zealous, bordering on irrational, and he couldn’t acquiesce to his view.

“Heh, Mr. Hesse, solutions are devised by people. It’s true that our reputation abroad could be better, but we can change that using propaganda techniques. Aren’t the current residents of our land living and working in peace? Most of them were not indigenous to this place. I believe that if we can fully mobilize their enthusiasm and have them promote our land to their relatives and friends, it should have a significant effect. Of course, this will require help and cooperation from you and your friends,” confidently suggested Komer with a wink.

Watching the self-assured lord, it was evident he had some plans of his own. Hesse couldn’t help but ask, “Lord, could you elaborate on your plans?”