The Vastness of Magical Destiny

Chapter 66 - 66 18 Versailles (1)

?Chapter 66: Chapter 18 Versailles (1) Chapter 66: Chapter 18 Versailles (1) “Baron Sir, although the Caucasus isn’t as terrifying as people commonly imagine, there indeed exist many factors that the average person would dread, such as the hostile relations filled with enmity between the barbarians in the south and the mortals. In the east, not only do Wicked Dragons lurk at sea, but what’s more frightening is that it’s said pirates frequently come ashore. In the surrounding mountains, all sorts of magical beasts can be found. Speaking of your castle, Damarlinsk Castle, just mentioning it makes one’s heart tremble with fear of ill omen, as every lord’s bizarre encounters seem to be related to this castle. I hope you can give up this castle and stay as far away from it as possible.”

Even for merchants who often traveled to and from the Caucasus, the mention of Damarlinsk Castle still sent shivers down their spines.

“Heh, thank you for your concern. Do I seem like a reckless man to you? Rest assured, I won’t go looking for trouble without an absolute certainty,” Komer said with a laugh as he patted the other party’s shoulder.

“Hehe, Baron Sir, you and I are partners, and we have a long time to cooperate in the future. I wouldn’t want my partner to suffer any mishaps.” Seeing that Komer’s words seemed to carry a certain confidence and he had no intention of giving up that dreadful castle, Caffrey was a bit worried.

However, he also knew that this Baron Sir had a mysterious side, especially after learning that the other party had repelled the gray wolf pack’s attack, the ambush of the Fallen Knight, and the pursuit of the Leon Gang.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Caffrey, history will prove that our cooperation will be an absolutely wise choice. Let’s focus more on how to convince the kingdom’s officials. Without their approval, our grand plan may not necessarily be able to proceed smoothly,” Komer said, shifting the topic with a smile.

“Hmm, there’s no need for the Baron Sir to worry too much about that. I’m more familiar with the ins and outs of those officials in Jazair than you are. As long as there’s money, there’s nothing that can’t be done, and besides, this doesn’t go against the kingdom’s interests. The population in the Caucasus is sparse, and there is a need for a labor force. As a feudal lord, you also have the responsibility to promote economic development and increase tax revenue in your territory. That way, you can also pay more tribute to the kingdom. With refugees lingering in the border region and the chill of winter approaching, a humanitarian disaster could easily occur, so I think there shouldn’t be much difficulty with this matter. They simply need to issue a document asking for the refugees in the transit region to be accommodated. Nonetheless, I hope that the Baron Sir can use this opportunity to get acquainted with some high-ranking officials and nobility in the kingdom, which may provide much help to you in the future.”

Caffrey wasn’t too worried about this point. It was a win-win situation, and no one would be foolish enough to oppose such a matter.

“I hope so. It’s just that Grand Duke Philip may not wish to see this unfold,” Komer said, not without worry.

“Well, this is the main purpose of your trip to Jazair, Baron Sir, to remove the obstructions of Grand Duke Philip. However, the Grand Duke has many enemies in Jazair. Even His Majesty the King seems to hold no great affection for him, and the forces allied with the Church of Light despise him even more. If you make good use of this, you should be able to achieve a satisfactory outcome,” Caffrey said, thoroughly familiar with the situation in Jazair, speaking with authority.

“I understand, thank you for the reminder.”

The Busen Plain, which was in the off-farming season, seemed somewhat desolate. The horse-drawn carriage raced down the Avenue, passing through the Busen Plain and heading northwest into the territory of another great noble of the Kingdom of Nicosia, Duke Zellin.

The terrain here was as flat and fertile as that of Busen Plain, also serving as the empire’s granary.

The vast plains stretched for hundreds of miles, flying past one’s eyes. After several days of hard travel, one could finally see a swath of houses nestled among the golden maple forest on the distant hills. That was King’s favorite hunting manor—Versailles.

After nearly one hundred years of development, the Versailles in the south of Jazair had transformed from an initial small farmstead into a hunting manor famous throughout the Blue Continent.

His Majesty the King often entertained nobles, ministers, and foreign envoys here, indulging in wine and pleasure. The ladies either secreted in the countless guest rooms to meet with lovers or gathered to gamble wildly, while the nobles would occasionally bring in boys for lascivious play.

Hunting bears and deer, masquerade balls, wife-swapping games, nude hot spring baths, and noble duels—all took place here, even boasting a small-scale beast-fighting arena. Not only could one witness ferocious beasts fighting each other, but also battles between men and beasts, and even gladiators among themselves, could be firsthand experienced here. These kaleidoscopic court dramas played out all day, producing echoes of history in their wake.

And the ministers and nobles felt honored to be summoned here by the King, even if it cost them a fortune.

But this was the glimmer of the past. Although the hunting manor maintained its former glory on the surface, due to nearly twenty years of constant warfare in the north and the beastmen’s yearly raids depleting the kingdom’s treasury, even His Majesty the King had to borrow from big merchants and usurers to make ends meet.

The pension for the annually slain soldiers alone was enough to make the kingdom’s Finance Minister cough blood. Yet, in the face of the beastmen’s incursions, no one dared to take it lightly, for without the soldiers’ defense at the northern border, who could sleep soundly at night?

With the kingdom’s finances drying up, reforms had to be enacted, starting with the issuance of the “Utrecht Decree,” which declared that all ennobled lords were firstly the King’s vassals before those of their original lords. Regardless of their rank, all lords had to first ensure that they paid a significant tribute to the Central Kingdom.

This decree caused great opposition among some of the Great Lords, who declared their rejection of this imperial edict from the Central Kingdom. However, as the warfare in the north intensified and military expenses grew progressively, the situation became unsustainable, and the northern nobles gradually accepted the decree. In contrast, the southern nobles still retained their objections, leaving other lords to carefully navigate between the Great Lords and the king.

To save expenses, many leisure and entertainment amenities at the hunting manor were cut back, and His Majesty the King’s visits here also decreased. Nevertheless, on weekends and holidays, His Majesty still favored coming here, for even a king needed necessary rest and entertainment.

Throughout the journey, Komer obtained these details from Caffrey, who seemed well-versed in the affairs of Jazair. This piqued Komer’s curiosity, as while a merchant should understand some necessary aspects of life in the Royal City, few were as knowledgeable as Caffrey. However, since Caffrey seemed unwilling to talk about his origins, Komer refrained from inquiring further.