Chapter 330: Volume 5: Lord’s Path - 15: Determination
Jiangshan had nothing but respect and questions for his boss. In just three years of exile, he had changed so much; it wasn’t surprising. People grow and mature, and three years of being exposed to the elements like never before certainly turned an ignorant youth into a man. Ilot had felt this the first time they met upon returning to Cyprus, but what puzzled him was that in just these past few months, his boss kept giving him fresh impressions. Whether it was his exceptional magic skills, his views on the current state of the Continent, or the guidance he provided today on martial skills improvement, all made him feel a profound respect. And this feeling was for someone who had grown up with him since childhood, which left Ilot inexorably moved.
However, emotions aside, Komer’s guidance indeed showed him a clear path through the fog on his journey to improve his martial arts. Ilot could faintly sense that he might have touched upon the crux of his current plateau. With targeted refinement, he would surely break through this stage and take his martial arts to the next level.
Seeing his companion quietly contemplating with his hand on his sword, Komer did not disturb him and hung his head, preoccupied with his thoughts. The arrival of these more than one hundred thousand immigrants would certainly turn Caucasus into a highlight of the Homer region. Although Philip had refrained from confronting him immediately due to not wanting to break ties with the Central Kingdom just yet, the subsequent restrictions and pressures were likely unavoidable. This thought made Komer feel somewhat troubled.
As a new establishment, Caucasus relied heavily on support from the outside world, especially in transportation—it was a major weakness. Not only were the roads in poor condition, but transporting various materials also required passing through the Leon Region, then through Bruce Fortress, and finally crossing the Greenland Great Forest to enter the Busen Plain. It was no wonder that Philip, the old thief, didn’t take his activities in Caucasus seriously. Leon was the territory of his confidant Boninski, and control over Bruce Fortress meant Philip had a stranglehold on him. If he wanted to take action against him, all he needed to do was firmly control Bruce, leaving him powerless.
Although he had passed through Bruce in a hurry, Komer noticed that its army had at least doubled in size, clearly aimed at him. It seemed only a matter of time before Philip would make his move. How to break free from this cage of shackles needed serious consideration for the future. But now, there was no time to think about that. Ensuring the one hundred and fifty thousand refugees safely survive the winter and settle down was the immediate priority. If he succeeded in these two aspects, all other problems would no longer be issues.
He casually pulled up two blades of grass and chewed them in his mouth, the bitter taste seemingly reflecting his current predicament. Being a lord was not as glorious as he had imagined. Of course, if one could sit in the position of a lord over places like the Busen Plain or Gutenberg, life would be vastly different. Unfortunately, this was Caucasus, where endless troubles were yet to come.
Sheathing his sword, Ilot came out of his deep thoughts, his face alight with joy and excitement. While his contemplation may not have led him to the secrets of advancing, Komer’s guidance had indeed provided a beacon in his mind. As long as he followed this direction, advancing to the next stage seemed just around the corner.
"Ilot, it looks like you’ve had quite the breakthrough. Does improving your martial arts truly captivate you that much?" Komer’s lips curled into a rare smile as he looked thoughtfully, weighing his words carefully.
"Haha, Boss, you know me, I don’t have many other interests. In this life, my only skill lies in martial arts, and I just want to make a breakthrough in it. I’m already of age, yet my Fighting Qi is still at the beginner level. When I look at those Thunderhorse Knights, I wonder how long it will take me to catch up to them?" Ilot’s face wore a trace of discontent and regret, "Boss, your level of magic must be at least that of a Mage, right? Three years ago, you knew nothing. I don’t mean to be rude, but back then I could take on three of you alone. But now, in three years, your magic has reached the realm of a Mage. Heh, I know that even entering the stage of a Magic Apprentice takes three years, and it takes at least five to eight years to advance from an apprentice to a Magician. Going from a Magician to a Mage requires someone with considerable magical aptitude to overcome that hurdle. With a good talent, it takes at least eight to fifteen years. Boss, what takes an ordinary person sixteen years of effort and cultivation, you achieved in three years. How on earth did you do it?"