Chapter 290 - 10 Division
As the ship passed by Gutenberg, Komer finally suppressed his desire and abandoned the idea of going to the Archduke’s Mansion. He was not the same as he had been half a year ago. The relationship between Duke Zellin and Philip seemed to have gotten closer due to the need to confront the Central Kingdom, and he did not dare to take the risk. Vero’s cheerful and generous nature made it hard to hide her excitement when she was with him. Taking Vero to the Java Swamp seemed somewhat unrealistic. Komer was even more worried that if Vero knew his destination, she would insist on going. Thus, Komer chose to avoid it and decided to wait until his trip to the Java Swamp was over.
Exiting the Gutenberg Canal into the Dniester River waterway, heading upstream from here enters the important member country of the Northern Alliance—the Duchy of Basarabia. The beautiful and fertile Buzak Plains were known as the corner of paradise, supposedly a fertile land specially left to the Basarabians by the Creator God.
"Who has seen that place? Its natural abundance makes the wood trees lush and the land fertile. It is a place full of vibrant greenery, pleasant to the eye..." The high-pitched singing of a carefree bard echoed on both banks of the river, entrancing everyone, including Komer and Lome, as well as Rebry and Hayreddin, except for Reese who still maintained his indifferent demeanor.
Traveling slowly westward along the Dniester River, the pace of the passenger ship noticeably slowed, for it was going against the current and had to rely on the porters’ help when there was no wind. The fertile chernozem plain, the dense forests, the gentle hills, and the scattered lakes—this was the Buzak Plain. Compared to the Galle Plain and the Busen Plain, the land here was even more fertile, with black soil so rich that it seemed to ooze oil upon the slightest step, and any grain seeds tossed down would yield an ample return, even without any care or attention.
"Mr. Reese?!" When a somewhat familiar voice came from behind, Komer turned around in surprise. The reddish-brown hair stood out in the crowd, and he did not expect to encounter this person here. The large, prominent nose moved with his breathing, while the meticulous dress indicated he was a shrewd businessman.
"Oh, Mr. Piro, I didn’t expect to meet you here. It’s been a long time. How is Mr. Jack doing? I’m really sorry, I haven’t been back to Cyprus for quite some time." Seeing that Komer had run into an acquaintance, everyone who had come with him also stopped. Meeting the other party on the main streets of Kishnioff was unexpected for Komer. It appeared that the business of the Feller Family was not just ordinarily complex, as they even had connections in Basarabia, which only indicated the family’s complexity.
Kishnioff is the capital of the Duchy of Basarabia. It is not only an important grain trade center but also famous for its grape wine. Stork Wine is said to be the exclusive grape wine of the courts of the Northern Alliance countries. Among the common people, the price of this wine is staggeringly high, at 60 Gold Shields per barrel, and still, it is in great demand with limited availability.
"Ha ha, Mr. Reese, you’re now a lord in Caucasus, and as for Cyprus, it’s better not to return if you can avoid it," Piro said, with his hawkish nose giving Komer the impression of a false nose. However, the warmth on his face was quite comforting to Komer.