The Vastness of Magical Destiny-Chapter 144 - Seven Cunning Seizure 2

Chapter 144: Chapter Seven: Cunning Seizure 2

Chapter 144 -Seven: Cunning Seizure 2

“Mr. Wollin, I think there might be some misunderstanding. Bahomon is my territory, including this land under your feet right now. I believe I do not need to report my actions on my own land to anyone, but as a friend, I am still more than willing to let you know what I intend to do. I had actually planned to visit you as well, but luckily it’s an old friend that’s spared me a lot of trouble. I am planning to develop an iron mine here and then, relying on this mine, build a town. Many immigrants have moved into my territory, and they are all refugees without a proper source of livelihood. They need work to sustain themselves and their families, and as their lord, it is both my responsibility and duty to ensure they have what they need to work and live. As for the weapon issue you mentioned, I think you might be somewhat confused. They do have a small amount of weaponry, but that’s for self-defense, as this region is still quite dangerous—like the ogres we see before us. The rest should be mining tools. I wonder if this explanation satisfies Mr. Volen?”

Komer’s words were soft yet firm, and he even took the opportunity to extend the boundary by twenty miles in one breath. Although this area was a desolate wilderness in the eyes of many, if Bahomon flourished, it was only a matter of time before it would be developed, not to mention he harbored even greater ambitions, which for now were not yet ripe to be revealed.

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“What? Your territory?” the burly man was taken aback, he had thought that the other party was referring to the currently populated areas, but then he heard that even the land he stood on belonged to the other party—how could this not shock and anger him. Although barbarians didn’t have a concept of territory as complete and defined as mortals, they were still clear about the issue of sovereignty. The burly man knew that although this land had always been remote and seldom patrolled, at most it could be considered a borderland of ambiguous ownership, not abruptly someone else’s territory.

“Yes, Mr. Wollin, this land must belong to our Caucasus. Otherwise, why would I bother to come here and eradicate ogres? If it were not my territory, I don’t think I would bother risking my life for someone else’s land, would I?” Komer maintained his cheerful demeanor, looking every inch the sincere man.

The naturally unsophisticated Barbarians seemed somewhat unsure of what to do. This region had indeed never had its boundaries officially demarcated. However, once they learned of the ogres’ appearance and the large number of mortals moving to the north, they came in search, only to discover boundary markers and stakes that had apparently been placed there unknown when. With the markers and stakes showing signs of heavy rust, they must have been there for at least decades. Of course, they were unaware that Komer had concocted a corrosive fluid that could easily make various items look like antiques of great age, and Puber, reportedly an expert in forging antique counterfeits, teamed up to create these signposts and stakes.

“Your Lordship, as far as I am aware, this region has always been undetermined. The land you claim as yours probably falls under that category. To arbitrarily claim such an undetermined land as your own—such an explanation we cannot accept.” Seeing the other’s smiling and pleasant demeanor, the burly man just couldn’t bring himself to use harsh words, but his tone was considerably firmer.

“Hehe, I have long known that nobles are quite reasonable and keep their word. Mr. Wollin, saying that seems like you’re saying I’m being unreasonable. How about this, we both present our evidence, and see who is right and who is wrong. Truth will out, as they say, and fairness lies in people’s hearts. Mr. Wollin, what do you think?” Komer waved his hand, and Ylot produced an ancient sheepskin map that had been prepared earlier, while Komer took out a map drawn on sturdy parchment from his person, “Mr. Wollin, please look. This is the original sheepskin map of the Caucasus from one hundred and sixty years ago preserved by the Caucasus Prefecture, and this one was remade twenty years ago, showing the entire geography of the Caucasus. You can check the date of the maps. Surely these cannot be falsified by us, right? Please, Mr. Wollin, bring out the map preserved by the nobles, and let us have a look. I think this is how we can settle our differences.”

Accepting the map from Komer with a mix of trust and doubt, the burly man gestured for two Barbarians to help verify its accuracy. Komer and Ilot exchanged knowing smiles only they could understand, remaining calm and collected as they awaited the result of the verification.

After scrutinizing the maps over and over, the Barbarians were unable to find any discrepancies between the two versions. However, when Komer pressed the burly man to present a map to confirm their claims, the man found himself caught in a dilemma. They had a map, which he had the fortune of seeing once, but the only map the Barbarians had was always kept within the Tribal Alliance. How could they obtain it? Moreover, how could it compare to the two detailed maps Komer held? A mere shift of a finger on their map could signify a hundred miles of difference. How could it stand as evidence? The Barbarians living in the borderlands mostly relied on their memory to determine their territory.

Seeing the awkward and embarrassed expression on the burly man’s face, Komer couldn’t help but feel immensely satisfied inside, though he maintained a sincere demeanour on the outside. He stepped forward and said, “Mr. Wollin, I think this is not surprising. Nobles are not accustomed to using maps, and in the past, this land was neglected by both nobles and us Caucasians. Hence, it has led to the uncertainty of its boundaries. As far as I am aware, the region that Mr. Wollin mentioned as not yet officially claimed is about ten miles from here, which is also marked on the map. We can completely resolve this through negotiations. I believe that the nobles did not intentionally make this error, and I, on behalf of the Caucasus people, welcome the noble people to visit and trade on my land.”

Komer’s humble tone eased the dissatisfaction and resentment in the burly man’s heart. Hearing that there was another piece of land whose ownership was yet to be determined, he became anxious again. Fortunately, Komer’s attitude was exceptionally amiable, quite unlike any other mortals he had encountered, which left the burly man unsure on how to handle the current vexing issue.

The roaring of the Ogres once again diverted everyone’s attention. Eight Ogres, two males and six females, among them two female Ogres lay dead on the ground, evidently killed by Barbarian Warriors. However, the Barbarians paid a heavy toll too, with more than thirty of their warriors slain by the sharp claws and teeth of the Ogres. Shattered limbs and torn bodies were scattered across a space more than ten meters around.

It was clear that the Barbarians didn’t have many effective methods to deal with the tough-skinned, invulnerable Magical Beasts. They did not expect to encounter Ogres here, and the two Earthwalking Dragon Warriors, originally meant to showcase their martial power, immediately became the main force in slaughtering the monsters. Nevertheless, the attack group of eight Ogres proved to be a formidable challenge for the Barbarian Soldiers. The large encirclement was always vulnerable to breaches, and the agile Ogres, as wise as they come, constantly used distraction tactics to exploit the Barbarians’ defensive gaps, before choosing the perfect moment to launch their surprise attacks. Almost every ambush ended with a Barbarian Soldier falling prey to their sharp talons, and the poisonous gases emitted from the glands under their arms made it increasingly difficult for the Barbarian Warriors, holding their breath, to maintain the somewhat fragile encirclement.