The Vastness of Magical Destiny

Chapter 64 - 64 16 Refugees

?Chapter 64: Chapter 16: Refugees Chapter 64: Chapter 16: Refugees In the following days, Komer engaged in deep discussions with Caffrey, who had already expressed a willingness to cooperate. Caffrey sent swift horses north to inform his partners and friends of the situation on his side, and at the same time, began to assist Komer in contacting Naples, Medea, and Netherland to lay the groundwork in advance.

During their leisure, Komer and his companions inquired about the war situation in the north.

According to information obtained by Caffrey, this year the Beastmen had become unusually ferocious and violent, attacking the Mortal Countries in the south from several directions. Besides The Kingdom of Nicosia, which was just able to hold its own, after the fall of Myron Duchy, both Meine City-State and Susoer City-State were successively overrun by the Beastman Army. The northern part of the western Blue Continent was in a state of alarm and despondency.

The Beastmen continued to burn, kill, pillage, and take a large number of people as slaves. All wealth was plundered by them, and cities were intentionally destroyed by the beastmen, no longer capable of bearing the responsibility of resisting invasions. This was also the primary reason for the large number of Refugees who had no choice but to leave their homes in search of new beginnings.

The replies from Caffrey’s friends and partners came quickly, and in just over a week, Caffrey received responses and other news.

The situation in the north hadn’t changed much; the onslaught of the Beastmen had diminished, but areas like Meine, Susoer, and Myron had turned into ruins and were no longer able to accommodate the Refugees, whose lives had become exceedingly difficult.

Meanwhile, their southern neighboring countries still hadn’t agreed on how to handle these Refugee problems. Several neighbors were passing the responsibility to each other, and The Kingdom of Nicosia also indicated it could not take on so many refugees, offering only some financial aid at most, and hoped the Refugees would return to their homeland and restart their lives.

But from the Refugees’ point of view, this was clearly sending them back to become slaves to the beastmen, to be mercilessly enslaved, which was met with firm resistance from the Refugees, and the situation was trending toward further deterioration.

After much thought, Komer decided to head north as soon as possible with Caffrey to recruit labor. Of course, many tasks within his own territory also needed to be initiated immediately.

Hesse finally decided to support Komer. In addition to mobilizing everyone to promote Komer’s new initiative, he sent his son to Komer, asking Neptune to follow Komer and Puber and learn well, hoping his son would live a life different from his own.

The actions of Hesse brought much relief to Komer’s heart. With Hesse’s support, especially in the town of Ugru, things became much easier for Komer, and it was very beneficial for building his own authority among the Indigenous People.

When Fran learned of the tragic conditions of the people in his homeland, the tough Warrior, who had never shed a tear, couldn’t help but kneel before Komer with tears streaming down his face, begging Komer to head north as soon as possible to rescue those still wandering helplessly and awaiting help. Winter was fast approaching, and without sufficient clothing, food, or shelter, the elderly and children would be hard-pressed to survive the harsh northern cold.

Komer quickly laid out a plan. On one hand, he arranged for the fleeing slaves to be relocated as soon as possible, using them as labor to repair the roads surrounding Ugru. On the other hand, he began a large-scale operation for felling and mining stone from the surrounding mountains, to ensure that once he returned from the north with the newly recruited people, he could quickly settle the Refugees and avoid any last-minute rush.

But once the Refugees arrived, the food supply for the winter was another major issue. After consulting with Puber, Komer approached Hesse to discuss a loan, using shares in the Fine iron mine as collateral, borrowing 50,000 Gold Shield from Hesse, and delegating Neptune to use these funds to procure as much food as possible in preparation for the impending wave of Refugees. Hesse readily agreed to the transaction.

Meanwhile, Komer also allowed Puber to recruit a batch of soldiers from among the escaping slaves who had migrated out, to start their training. After all, once a large-scale influx into the Caucasus from the south begins, although it’s still unknown exactly how many would come to the Caucasus, it’s certain to bring a plethora of security issues. Not making advance preparations would definitely lead to numerous headaches.

Ilot’s job remained to lead the guards in protecting the Dwarf as he continued exploring the wilderness within the territory, hoping to find other mineral deposits, especially coal mines. Without coal, Komer’s plans to establish iron foundries and iron workshops in Ugru were nothing but talk. Even the coal needed for Maximi’s small-scale blacksmith shop had to be bought from Leon, and just the freight cost was significant.

“Father, you wanted to see me?” Dressed in a pure white silk gown with a luxurious velvet cape draped over, a V-shaped neckline revealing a stretch of creamy skin, and matching lace trimming the edges with roiling wave patterns, the girl resembled a princess from the heavenly realm with a swan-like graceful neck adorned with a string of uniform pearls, accentuating her radiant and enchanting visage. Her satin-smooth hair was styled into an elegant courtly bun, and her azure eyes sparkled with defiance, every gesture steeped in a noble restraint.

“Yes, how have you and Prince Hoffman been recently? Why haven’t I seen him come to Cyprus lately?” Philip Duke’s ruddy face shimmered with a moist luster as he sat back in his upholstered armchair, his magnificent ducal robes meticulously arranged. As the ruler of the Homer region, he looked at his youngest daughter with some concern.

“Nothing much, it’s still the same. Perhaps he will come to Cyprus next week. I don’t want to go to Jazair; the court atmosphere there is too oppressive and suffocating, those poor ladies spend all day talking about nothing but the weather, vacations, and banquets, seemingly without any other topics of conversation.” The girl shrugged, casually picking up a stack of newspapers from her father’s desk. “What’s up, did something happen?”

“No, nothing. I just hadn’t seen Prince Hoffman in a while and thought something might have happened between you two. Maybe I’m being too sensitive,” the old man shook his head and said with self-deprecating humor, “Perhaps the father is truly getting old.”

“What could possibly go wrong? It was he who actively came to Cyprus to propose to father. Father even rejected Prince Thomas because of him.” A flash of discomfort crossed the girl’s face, with a trace of coldness flickering in her eyes, “Has father heard something?”

“No, I was just worried about those past issues with you. That son from Ramla has already arrived in the Caucasus. It seems the kid has some luck; I heard he escaped a bandit attack in Leon, and now he’s even recruiting labor to develop mines,” said the old man with a hint of mockery on his face, “He really thinks he can make something of himself in the Caucasus.”

“Father, I don’t want to hear that man’s name. What he does in the Caucasus has nothing to do with me. Wasn’t it you who banished him to the Caucasus? He’s like a cockroach that manages to survive wherever he goes,” the girl said with some discomfort, her words containing a veiled dissatisfaction with her father.

“But Tracy, have you ever thought that having him stay in Cyprus would be worse for your reputation? Sending him off to some remote and backward place, what could he possibly achieve? Developing a mine? I’ll tell you, the barbarians will take his life. If he really provokes a war with the barbarians, we won’t need to intervene; the Kingdom Star Chamber Court will sentence him to death,” said the old man, his deep grey eyes flashing with icy cruelty.

“Father, I think it’s utterly unnecessary. Wouldn’t it be easier to deal with him in Cyprus?” the girl said dismissively.

“No, Cyprus is a land of law, not suitable for such extreme measures. Besides, if he were to disappear or die in Cyprus, it could be used against you by those with ulterior motives, notably impacting your reputation, especially now. However, he can’t stay in the city of Cyprus; hence, sending him to the Caucasus is the best choice. Maybe in a couple of days, the curse of the demons from Damarlinsk Castle will descend upon him. Just let him live a few more days,” the Duke said, gently stroking his daughter’s hair, his eyes revealing a ruthless glint, “No one is an exception to the god’s curse.”