The Vastness of Magical Destiny

Chapter 68 - 68 20 Barefoot Society

?Chapter 68: Chapter 20: Barefoot Society Chapter 68: Chapter 20: Barefoot Society Staring intently into the other’s eyes, Komer seemed to want to see through the thoughts in the other’s heart. “Mr. Caffrey, it’s hard for me to believe that you are just an ordinary merchant. Are all merchants of the Barefoot Society so astute?”

Caffrey was not surprised that Komer had seen through his identity. After all, a ring could explain a lot, and he had never intended to deliberately conceal that he was a member of the Barefoot Society.

“Your baron, the Barefoot Society is merely a mutual aid organization, which in itself has no special significance. Our organization’s initial purpose was for some small merchants and traders to organize spontaneously, helping each other out. Of course, the organization has developed since then, many of the original members have grown their businesses, but they still remain in the organization and selflessly offer help to other members. This reflects our organization’s tenet, that no matter the size of wealth, we help each other.”

A proud look appeared on Caffrey’s face, “Of course, members mainly rely on themselves, only seeking help from the organization when their own abilities are insufficient to bear or undertake a certain business deal.”

“All right, Mr. Caffrey, I have no interest in understanding the Barefoot Society’s rules of conduct. Your society has a good reputation, and I believe we can work together pleasantly.” Komer smiled and clapped his hands, “Do you have any impression of the person I am going to meet tomorrow?”

“Although Duke Tez has been the Internal Affairs Manager for some years, he is very cautious and much more stable than the other ministers of the kingdom, and he is also an indispensable figure to His Majesty the King. However, the fact that he is overly cautious is also good for us. As long as we can make him understand that what we do can help enhance the kingdom’s reputation, without further effort on our part, he will agree.” Caffrey was satisfied with how quickly Komer was getting into the groove, albeit with a hint of surprise.

Duke Tez looked curiously at the young lord before him, a lord from the most remote and desolate territory of the Homer region, his deep black pupils emitting a faint, dark gleam. The pale face seemed somewhat similar to the features of Ramla. Was this the reckless libertine who had exasperated Philip to the bone and had been exiled for years?

Tez was quite familiar with the situation in the Homer region, excluding, of course, the remote places like Caucasus. He wondered how much money this minor lord from Caucasus had spent to convince his greedy subordinates to arrange a meeting with him. Although Tez was very upright himself, he knew his entourage was not as clean, but he did not intend to intervene. Everyone has their own way of living, and as long as it wasn’t excessive, he would turn a blind eye and pretend not to know.

“Your Excellency the Baron, you say you hope to accept a portion of refugees from Myron Duchy as well as from Meine and Susoer?” After listening to Komer’s intent, the Internal Affairs Manager’s doubtful gaze circled twice over Komer’s calm face and then he raised his slightly silver brows in surprise, asking, “Could I hear your thoughts and intentions?”

“Certainly, Your Grace. Although I have not been in the Caucasus for a long time, you are probably aware that the Caucasus region, being on the southern border, is economically backward and sparsely populated. It lags far behind the neighboring Leon Region. However, it is still a territory of the kingdom, and as a newly appointed lord, I have the responsibility to make it prosper.”

“The climate of the Caucasus is warm, and there is much arable wasteland. Yet, including the Caucasus itself, food cannot be self-sufficed and must be purchased from elsewhere, which is simply unimaginable. I think we can fully exploit those wastelands, of course, this requires sufficient labor. Moreover, we in the Caucasus have recently discovered Several Mines, and if they are to be developed, we also need a large amount of robust labor force…”

“So when I heard that the invasions of the beastmen led to the destruction of some of the kingdom’s allies, and a large number of refugees had to flee their homes to the South and the kingdom, and that the kingdom was having difficulty accommodating them due to various reasons, I thought perhaps this was an opportunity for the kingdom to alleviate some of its existing troubles. Not only can we help the kingdom solve some immediate difficulties and troubles, but Our Caucasus could also obtain some inexpensive labor. Therefore, I took the liberty of coming to the Royal City to see the Great Manager,” Komer concluded.

Komer fluently delivered the set of remarks he had prepared in advance, appearing cultured and refined. He made a very good first impression on Duke Tez.

Komer’s enticing plan indeed touched the heart of the Internal Affairs Manager. The refugee issue from the western allies was now giving His Majesty the King a major headache. Countries like Medea, Netherland, and Naples in the South had been refusing entry to refugees on the grounds that even the kingdom itself hadn’t provided aid for them. The kingdom’s finances were now at a breaking point. If it were not for the donation from several Great Lords, the kingdom wouldn’t even be able to maintain normal operations, let alone support those refugees with funds.

Though they had once been allied citizens who stood with the kingdom against the invasion of the beastmen, the alliances were now non-existent. Expecting the kingdom to spend enormous sums of money on them was a difficult matter, given His Majesty’s character. However, Duke Tez was moved by the proposition presented by the man before him.

“Very well, Your Baron’s idea is commendable, and the fact that you are willing to share the kingdom’s concerns is even more admirable. The kingdom is indeed troubled by the issue of where to settle this batch of refugees, but given their large number, I’m curious as to how many people Your Caucasus is willing to accept?” the Internal Affairs Manager probed Komer tentatively.

He had already sensed that the other party had a big appetite, but this seemed like a good opportunity for relief. Though Grand Duke Philip had gone through many intermediaries to lobby against this man’s support, Philip was not well-liked, neither by himself nor by His Majesty the King. They didn’t have much regard for him.

The individual was now getting more demanding, even joining forces with several other Great Lords to call for the repeal of the “Utrecht Decree,” which greatly annoyed His Majesty. If this matter could be well handled, His Majesty would likely be very pleased to see it happen.

Komer felt a stir in his heart as he figured out the hidden meaning behind the other man’s words. It seemed the Internal Affairs Manager had no objections to his acceptance of refugees; instead, he was quite interested in how many refugees his territories could accommodate. However, with the refugee numbers as high as several hundred thousand, even if he had a big appetite, he couldn’t possibly swallow such a large piece, not knowing whether it was a cake or a poison.

“His Grace, the infrastructure of the Caucasus is too poor. Although I made some preparations before coming to the Royal City, the maximum number of people the Caucasus can accept is 30,000. Even then, I’m not sure if they can make it through this winter. Fortunately, the winters in the Caucasus aren’t too cold; compared to the North, their winter is more like spring,” Komer subtly mentioned winter to remind the other party.

Feeling a chill in his heart, Tez grew to appreciate the young man before him even more. This fellow was clever to use the winter climate as a reminder. And indeed, what this fellow said was true; winter here is not a good season, and these refugees would have a hard time surviving it.

“Oh, Your Excellency, as I know, Caucasus has a vast territory with sparse population and many wastelands available for cultivation. It could completely accept more refugees. Now that you are a noble enfeoffed by His Majesty the King, you should consider more on how to alleviate His Majesty’s worries.”

“At the moment, refugees from the allied nations are amassed at the border regions, seeking assistance, and other countries are also paying attention to the kingdom’s actions, bringing significant political and moral pressure to the kingdom. But Your Excellency must also be aware that the kingdom is still fending off the beastmen’s invasion in the North, spending a considerable amount, and simply lacks the capacity to bear the burden of settling these refugees. Yet some lords within the country disregard the bigger picture, caring only for their own interests and declining to accept some of the king’s demands, making me doubt whether these lords have forgotten the oaths they made when they accepted His Majesty the King’s enfeoffment.”

The Internal Affairs Manager’s words became somewhat sharper, and his tone was tinged with a faint sense of agitation. However, his good upbringing quickly allowed him to regain control of his emotions, “I hope Your Excellency could set an example for the other lords of the kingdom and strive to share the responsibilities for His Majesty to the utmost.”