Count Ramla Reese seemed to harbor some guilt towards Komer and generously offered him five thousand golden shields in financial aid. Komer didn't want to accept what seemed like charity, but due to practical considerations and the advice from Ilot and Puber to accept this modest sum, he eventually agreed. It allowed Komer to scrape by until he could secure an income from his territory, and it seemed to ease the relationship between father and son.
The arrival of Prince Hoffman and Princess Renta in Cyprus City became the talk of the upper echelons of society there, overshadowing the simultaneous visit from the Rosenborg Kingdom's two royal personages, which seemed to garner far less attention.
Every evening's ball was flooded with colorful stories, and Viscount Conan, brimming with joy, frequented these events when he was off duty from the Knights regiment. His youth and handsomeness, combined with his status as the legitimate heir of the Reese Family, made him an object of desire for the city's young ladies, while the covetous gazes of noblewomen stalked his every move. Even without the title of Count Ramla's eldest son, he was the idol these women longed for.
Watching the constant bustle at the Count's Mansion door from a distance, Komer stood impassively, discerning the passersby. Having been gone from Cyprus City for too long, many things had blurred in his memory. Now, he had to return and acclimate himself once again.
Although the Caucasus was hundreds of miles away, it still lay within the Homer region and under Grand Duke Philip's domain. Maintaining essential contacts with officials and nobles was necessary. Of course, at a ball like today's, a petty Baron had no standing, and Komer could only quietly wait outside for someone he intended to meet.
"Boss, will that kid you're waiting for even show up? What's the point of waiting for him?"
Impatiently pacing behind Komer, Ilot stood under the shade of trees far from the scene, enduring the wait. The setting sun still tried its best to scatter its light and heat, and the oppressive warmth was unpleasant. Ilot, already slightly overweight, was drenched in sweat.
"Hmm, he should come. He's returning to Rosenborg tomorrow. Seems his luck in Cyprus wasn't great this time. The Duke appears to favor marrying Princess Tracy to Prince Hoffman," Komer replied indifferently. "I just want to give him a gift, that's all."
"Boss, do you know Tracy has returned?" Puber was startled. He was keenly aware of the emotional entanglements between his boss and Tracy. He had known about Tracy's return from Jazair to Cyprus early on but hadn't mentioned it to his boss, not wanting to disturb Komer's mood with past events.
"Yes, I know. I even saw her on Coastal Avenue once. It was through Tracy that I got to know Prince Hoffman and Prince Thomas," Komer said, his tone as flat as plain water, as if Tracy were an inconsequential passerby.
"Boss, what gift do you plan to give Thomas? And why give it to him instead of someone else?" Ilot deliberately steered the conversation away.
"It's nothing special, just a magic crossbow. I've heard he has a great fondness for magic crafts and magic weapons, and he is obsessed with the finest. I reckon this piece here will cheer him up. I do hope he enjoys his time in Cyprus, but given the current situation, it seems things are not going too well," Komer casually pulled out the exquisite crossbow case and handed it to Ilot.
Drawing a sharp breath, Ilot carefully opened the case lid, revealing that it was made of sand-sink wood, the arrowheads of fire gold, the shafts of Sunwood, and feathers from the tails of wind chime birds. My goodness, this truly is a rare treasure. Ilot played with the crossbow case in his hands, reluctant to put it down for a long while. Although as a warrior, he didn't particularly like this type of weapon which bordered on being a hidden weapon, he only felt the method of firing was somewhat insidious. But compared to his own life, that was nothing at all.
"Ilot, if this was a few days ago, you could take it if you wanted, but now, this is a gift for Prince Thomas. The Duchy of Rosenbourg is just upstream of the Catania River, and our Caucasus is downstream, with an uninhabited swamp area in between. If we could utilize the carrying capacity of the Catania River, maybe our lives would improve a bit," Komer knew exactly what the expression on his companion's face meant and preemptively cut off any hope of keeping the weapon.
"No, boss, you've got it wrong. Although this gadget is exquisite, it's more suited for someone like Puber, who doesn't have much martial power. As for me, charging headfirst is more my specialty. But don't you think giving away such an item to that Prince Thomas is too generous? This could fetch several thousand golden shields in a pawnshop, couldn't it?" Ilot shook his head reluctantly and licked his thick lips, clearly reluctant to part with it.
Puber also closely examined the handy crossbow. This device was much more delicate than the hiding crossbow in his sleeve. The magic metal used in the spring mechanism greatly enhanced the magic power of the crossbow bolts, which were even made with materials containing magic elements, significantly increasing their speed, accuracy, and attack power. What's more remarkable was the ingenious craftsmanship, making it seem less a lethal weapon and more a miraculous piece of art.
"Boss, are you thinking of getting a foothold in the Rosenborg Kingdom? But it seems like the Catania River has never had a trade route before—the whole middle area is a swamp, inhabited by the terrifying Jellyfish People. No one has ever dared to pass through that section of the river. How did you come up with this idea?" Puber, who seemed to have already prepared for his role as Administrative Officer for the Caucasus Region, had a thorough understanding of the surrounding environment.
"The fact that it has never been done does not mean it cannot be done. The Jellyfish People only live in the swamps; they almost never go on land and rarely enter the Catania River. It seems that opening the river route doesn't conflict with the Jellyfish People, and maybe we'll have a chance to accomplish this in the future. Otherwise, we'll genuinely be starving to death in the Caucasus," Komer replied.
The Caucasus was already the most remote and southern part of the Homer region; further south lay the complex terrain of the Cordillera Wilderness, home to barbarians. Southward still was the obstruction of the Baden Gold Mountain Range. To the east stretched vast primal forests that extended to the seashore, with only a small plain at the mouth of the river, which also happened to be where the population of the entire Caucasus Region was concentrated. Northward was the route to the kingdom's central area, with rugged, broken terrain, economic backwardness, and outdated transport. The only way out seemed to be to the east, covered entirely by a huge swamp area, making it an extremely isolated place. Only sea transportation and river navigation offered viable solutions to these problems.
Puber had many more questions, but on second thought, now was not the time for discussion. Komer must have had his reasons for this plan, so he held his tongue and said no more.