The Vastness of Magical Destiny

Chapter 84 - 84 Twelve The Big Trade (3)

?Chapter 84: Chapter Twelve: The Big Trade (3) Chapter 84: Chapter Twelve: The Big Trade (3) “Your Excellency, Baron, what is the meaning of this?” Viscount Kleyan, who always took pride in his elegance, suddenly became agitated. “Haven’t we been in discussions? How can you use such language to threaten us?”

“I apologize, Viscount Kleyan,” Komer said, restraining the joy in his heart but displaying righteous indignation on his face as he bowed politely. “Perhaps it was your dismissive alms-like treatment that caused me to lose my composure, for which I apologize. However, I believe our negotiations can go no further, as there is a significant gap in the importance we assign to this matter. It seems to me that you do not regard the refugees from our allied countries as equal citizens.”

The Representatives of the Three Countries looked at each other, naturally aware that their counterpart was dissatisfied with the sum, but they hadn’t expected him to be so troublesome—now erupting in anger, now speaking honeyed words, leaving them dazed and with the impression that he was full of threats. However, if their demands exceeded the limits of what they could bear, there was nothing the Representatives of the Three Countries could do.

“Your Excellency, Baron, why don’t you present your views, so that we may consider them? What do you think?” A Netherlander, with a serious expression, spoke up and also turned his eyes to the silent Duke Tez. “And Your Grace, what is your opinion?”

“Your Excellency, Baron, Mr. Selibas makes a sensible suggestion. Why don’t you share your thoughts with us so that we may have a clearer understanding?” Duke Tez nodded, and a wisp of smoke from his sandalwood pipe veiled his face, which bore a somewhat fluctuating expression.

“Gentlemen, I have come here intending to recruit thirty thousand robust free laborers. I believe that out of the one hundred and fifty thousand people, it is definitely possible to find thirty thousand laborers who, I think, should not be paid a gold shield, as I will take responsibility for all their living difficulties.” Komer’s words caused a stir amongst those present. Was this man genuinely so generous and untroubled about the money, or was that why he was so agitated?

Only Duke Tez knew this was just a smokescreen, and what would come next would surely cause the Representatives of the Three Countries to choke.

“However, the remaining one hundred and twenty thousand people, mostly the elderly, women, and children, are, to put it bluntly but objectively, nothing but consuming burdens. Think about it, gentlemen—the Caucasus lies in a remote area with almost non-existent infrastructure. The indigenous population is less than ten thousand; how can that possibly suffice to prepare the necessary materials in a short period? There’s plenty of wilderness, but it needs clearing and cultivation, mines are not yet developed, and houses, fuel, food, clothing—nearly everything must be transported from the outside. By the latest, next year’s harvest season, these people will be nothing but a waste of resources. Their survival will also compete for the indigenous people’s resources; as a Lord, that is something I must consider carefully.” Komer began to set the trap.

“Although your words are somewhat harsh, Baron Komer, they are not without reason. As the families of laborers, they indeed cannot rely on themselves for survival in the short term. This is precisely why our Three Kingdoms have prepared a financial subsidy for you. However, we fear the amount cannot meet your expectations,” Viscount Kleyan maintained throughout his impeccable gentlemanly demeanor.

“Mr. Kleyan, I believe that the level of attention the Three Kingdoms have for these refugees is influencing your stance,” Komer said with a darkening expression, his voice turning cold, “Consider what would happen if these refugees were to flood into your lands. Think of the trouble and future problems they would bring to your kingdoms. And if they are left to endure the harsh winter on the border areas, I suspect of the more than two hundred thousand people, at most only one hundred thousand might survive. Frankly, next year the beastmen might not need to exert much effort—every kingdom in the Northern Alliance would open their doors to them, because the allies that they had once defended at the cost of their own potential downfall would not even take care of their own subjects. I imagine this would send a chill down the spine of every Great Lord in the North.”

The representatives of the Three Countries couldn’t help but turn pale at Komer’s words, which hit a sensitive spot. The Northern Alliance, though made up of dozens of kingdoms, duchies, and city-states of varying sizes, is implicitly divided into two major factions. One faction is the moderate camp led by the Kingdom of Nicosia, while the other is the Holy Teaching faction, which revolves around the Kingdom of Knossos and Attica Duchy to the west, with the seat of the Church of Light located in the southern part of Attica Duchy. One of the main responsibilities of the Northern Alliance’s establishment was to fend off the endless southern invasions by the beastmen from the Wilderness. However, in recent years, the beastmen seem to have developed a preference for attacking the lands of the moderate camp—launching assaults on the borders of the central region nations—while the Holy Teaching faction’s territories to the west have seen significantly less large-scale invasion, mostly small bands of beastmen making incursions and looting.

The Three Kingdoms, along with the Kingdom of Nicosia, are considered the core strength of the moderate camp. They adopt a tolerant policy towards religion. Although the Church of Light still plays a pivotal role within the moderate nations, these countries do not hinder other sects from preaching within their territories, and they even provide subconscious support. This stands in contrast to the policy of the Holy Teaching faction, which advocates the Church of Light as the only legitimate religion within their lands. This has led to verbal confrontations between the two sides. Even though it hasn’t yet impacted inter-kingdom relations, over time, barriers have clearly formed between the two factions.

This year’s frenzied invasions by the beastmen led to the downfall of Myron Duchy, and the Meine and Susoer city-states, severely impacting the survival of the moderate camp. The Kingdom of Nicosia had no choice but to start a comprehensive expansion of its military. Already stretching its finances thin, the kingdom not only took out loans from the Great Lords within, but also borrowed a considerable sum of funds from several wealthier allies. Fortunately, the allies understood the gravity of the situation—with the notion of ‘when the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold,’ they generously opened their coffers. However, when it came to funding the refugee situation, such generosity seemed to meet a stumbling block.

Although Komer’s words may have been an exaggeration, they forced the Three Countries’ representatives to consider the will of the allied nations’ citizenry. If they were to lose public support, and if the other city-states and countries within the North that were still desperately resisting were to lose their fighting spirit, the Three Kingdoms in the Central Region would likely face a dire beastmen invasion themselves.

“Baron Komer, I think we don’t need to beat around the bush,” Baron Buhaz, with his background as a merchant, seemed to grasp Komer’s intentions and after a glance at Duke Tez, who had been maintaining a wait-and-see attitude, he finally laid his cards on the table, “Let’s discuss your price. I believe we can find a result that both parties can accept. After all, the goal of the Kingdom of Nicosia and our Three Kingdoms is the same—to solve the survival issues of this batch of refugees. I’m certain no one wants to see them come to misfortune.”

“Heh-heh, ever straightforward, Mr. Buhaz,” Komer remarked slowly, articulating his demand, “For the twelve thousand elderly, women, and children, I hope you could grant a financial subsidy of thirty gold shields per person, so that Caucasus will have the means to provide them with a satisfactory living environment.”

Almost simultaneously, the representatives of the Three Countries gasped in surprise. After exchanging looks, they all shook their heads, indicating they couldn’t accept such terms. Thirty gold shields per person—for one hundred and twenty thousand people—meant a total expenditure of 3,600,000 gold shields. It was a staggering sum, and although the Three Kingdoms had the means to provide it, they did not believe the situation warranted such a massive expense.