Chapter 276 - 17: When There is Water, Channels Will Be Formed
Although he had already mentally prepared himself, Komer couldn’t help but feel somewhat ashamed in the face of the straightforward Half-Beastmen’s candid speech. Wasn’t the aim of his own manipulative strategies precisely to achieve this effect? But then he thought, given the current situation in Leon, if Caucasus did not intervene, it was probably no exaggeration to say that the place might become a paradise for riots. Just as the other party had said, making tens of thousands of so-called liberated Half-beastman slaves adapt to a life of being managed and restrained again and, more importantly, making them realize that only through labor could they earn their bread was no easy task. It would take no small amount of effort for him to accomplish this.
"Mr. Dragumo, you seem a bit impetuous. Leon belongs to the Kingdom of Nicosia, it belongs to Homer, or you could say it belongs to Duke Philip, and you might even say it still belongs to Count Boninski since the Kingdom Star Chamber Court hasn’t officially stripped him of his noble and lordship status, but it does not belong to you, nor to me. Legally speaking, you are currently still a bunch of rebellious thugs in secular society, and not at all recognized by society. Although the reasons that led you to initiate the uprising are understandable, they do not serve as legal justification. Those self-liberated slaves also will not be protected by the law, as no lord has accepted them as Free Citizens, and they lack the legal procedures necessary to become Free Citizens. In secular society, they remain slaves, moreover, insurgent slaves who may be executed without any reason or rationale. I can understand your feelings. The situation in the Mandu Region is unstable; the people need food. I have already agreed to provide a batch of aid, so you don’t need to try to win my favor in this manner. I think I am more suited to managing a relatively stable Caucasus."
Komer’s words appeared very calm and systematically arranged. He had learned to perform under any circumstances, in any environment - something that seemed to be a fine quality that a noble ought to possess. Komer found that he was particularly talented in this respect.
"Oh, Lord Baron, I think you misunderstand me. As I just said, I can’t represent all our brothers and sisters in Leon, but I can represent those who are now living in the Mandu Region. Perhaps the legal and secular matters you just mentioned are important to you, but for us Half-Beastmen who have always lived at the bottom of society and could face death at any moment, they are irrelevant. How can a person whose right to life can be stripped away at any time still care about such so-called legal and moral matters? Hence, I want you to understand something, Lord Baron. We, who are now living in Mandu, hope that Mandu will accept your rule. We will regard you as our master, just as the citizens of Caucasus do, and will follow your orders without betrayal. I can swear on the War God Mars on behalf of my brothers and sisters that as long as you accept us and give us a chance to live."
The Half-beastman spoke these words with considerable emotion, and Komer, who had prepared himself for a long discussion, found that his cultivation was still not perfected; at least, after the other’s speech, he couldn’t bring himself to outright refuse the request. To tell the truth, deep down, he had already accepted them, as this was all part of his grand design.
Still, Komer lowered his head and remained silent for a long time as if weighing the various consequences and implications of this decision, while the Half-beastman watched him with a tense and worried gaze, fearing that he would still face rejection.
As Komer slowly raised his well-groomed head, Dragumo’s heart began to thump wildly. When he saw that hint of a helpless yet touched wry smile on the other’s face, he knew his request had finally been granted. His heart could now settle down. The burden that had weighed on him could finally be lifted. For Dragumo, this was an immense relief for both body and mind; he hadn’t been able to sleep peacefully for a long time, which, for a Half-beastman, was undoubtedly an unbearably painful thing.