The Vastness of Magical Destiny

Chapter 102 - 102 1 Immigrants

?Chapter 102: Chapter 1 Immigrants Chapter 102: Chapter 1 Immigrants The ceaseless stream of people and carts stretched into an endless procession from the far end of the avenue to the tail of the road, with the neighing of horses and the bellowing of oxen. Their noises intermingled with the cries of children, the turning of wagon wheels, the coughs of the elderly, the curses of women, and the calls of men, conjuring a sonata that was harmonious yet complex, rolling slowly forward along the avenue.

The sky was somewhat gloomy, reflecting Komer’s current mood. The excitement of gaining more than a hundred thousand citizens had long since disappeared, replaced by endless worry and anxiety. The undulating stream of people before him was just a part of the first wave of immigrants heading towards Caucasus, all one hundred and fifty thousand of them. It was impossible for all to depart at once, given the constraints of available carts and the logistics along the way, so they had to be broken into groups and depart in stages.

Naturally, Komer became the guide for the first pioneering group. Although he was not familiar with the road himself, almost everyone regarded him as their reliance, being the lord. Fran was left behind to guide the second batch of refugees, and his unique status quickly won him recognition from the refugees of Myron Duchy, which greatly facilitated his communication with them. At least the people from his homeland held great respect for this former infantry division commander who had been valiantly injured and captured in the defense of Mycenae. Although the kingdom had fallen and the war was lost, the simple folk from his hometown couldn’t blame the brave soldiers, and this renewed Fran’s belief that not all was bleak in the skies of life.

However, at this moment, Komer’s heart was indeed clouded with gloom. He had no idea how the preparations by Puber and Hesse in Caucasus had been progressing during his one-month absence. When it was confirmed that the number of immigrants would reach one hundred and fifty thousand, Komer had the mercenary guild in Versailles dispatch the news and the initial preparation plans urgently via letter. There were countless aspects to address including the initial food, housing, and land preparations. The thought of such a large-scale influx of people to the usually desolate Caucasus, and whether the indigenous people would be overwhelmed by the sudden change, gave Komer a headache. He wasn’t clear about what the eventual outcome would be, but having reached this point, there was no going back, and he could only move forward resolutely.

The desolate autumn wind blew across the wilderness, whipping up a flurry of withered grass and leaves, allowing one to sense the approach of winter. The winters of the Blue Continent’s northern regions were cold, particularly the chill winds from the Northern Wasteland. Mortals simply could not live in the wild like the beastmen do. This is the disparity that caused the western nations of the Blue Continent to defend passively against the threat of the Northern Beastmen, relying on a network of fortresses and organized defense systems. Perhaps this is just the distinction nature has created among all creatures. If beastmen possessed the intelligence and shrewdness unique to mortals or if mortals had the robust physique and stamina of beastmen, perhaps one race would have by now enslaved the other, Komer thought to himself.

“Sir, it seems you are troubled by something?” The voice beside him broke Komer’s contemplation. Inside the spacious horse-drawn carriage, Komer was not alone. Besides him, there was another, a gentleman-like man. The middle-aged man sitting across from him looked somewhat staid, with a square face, neatly-trimmed mustaches, thick eyebrows, grey eyes, and a conspicuously crooked nose as if it had healed poorly after an injury, which made it slightly out of place. His deep black robe, faded with wear, seemed rather shabby.

“Oh, Reese sir, I am indeed troubled by some matters; I didn’t expect you to notice.” Komer didn’t wish to hide his concerns. The gentleman-looking middle-aged man was one of the few trustworthy people among the over one hundred thousand refugees that would be resettling in his territory.

Reese hailed from the Myron Duchy, and he was an old acquaintance of Fran’s. As a low-ranking judicial officer of humble origins, he had witnessed the valiant resistance mounted by Myron soldiers during the siege of Mycenae. However, the overwhelming disparity in power meant their sacrifice did not translate into victory. With Mycenae’s fall, Reese fled south with his family, much like the other refugees, all the way to the southern border region.

The spots reserved in Netherland, Medea, and Naples naturally did not include a place for Reese and his family. The tens of thousands of spots had already been completely occupied by the various nobles and their extended kin. This was precisely what Komer wished to see. He only needed loyal servants in his territory, not the maggot-like nobles. Even though nobles might bring more money and wealth, given the choice, Komer would rather have a stable territory. Wealth could be created with diligent hands, but a settled and submissive condition couldn’t be bought with money, especially when the proportion of original inhabitants in his territory was extremely low.

Fran played a significant role in fostering a trusting friendship between Komer and Reese. Reese greatly admired Fran’s character, a high-ranking infantry officer from Myron Duchy, and Fran likewise respected the clean and upright judicial officer for his integrity. Being uncorrupted in the similar quagmire of bureaucracy and holding the public’s respect and trust despite a future devoid of promotions, these aspects further Reese’s standing among the common people. Myron’s admiration for Komer also directly influenced Reese’s perception, and subsequent candid encounters with Komer only increased the judicial officer’s fondness and trust in the lord.