The Vastness of Magical Destiny

Renta sneered inwardly, feeling that her brother seemed to be getting somewhat hysterical. If that fellow from Caucasus was so submissive, Hoffman was certainly overestimating his own abilities and charisma.

Now, the kingdom was a colossus with feet of clay, perilously close to collapse at the slightest push, but a kingdom’s downfall was an unwelcome prospect for both the Church of Light and the Four Great Lords, as well as the other countries in the Northern Alliance.

They did not wish for the kingdom to prosper, but that did not mean they wanted it to disintegrate completely. Such an event would plunge the northern reaches into utter chaos, exposing the entire northern plains to the blades of the beastmen. Without the kingdom’s martial power to counterbalance, both the nations bordering Nicosia in the Northern Alliance and the Four Great Lords would face the threat of being ravaged by the beastmen. Conversely, their reluctance to see the kingdom’s fall did not equate with a desire for its resurgence. What they wanted most was a kingdom that was weak yet still capable of combat so that the Church of Light could slowly implement their policies of state religion relying on the central kingdom’s dependence, while the Four Great Lords could rely on the kingdom as a barrier between themselves and the beastmen, a sentiment shared by the countries of the Northern Alliance.

The Kingdom of Nicosia had already become a mere pawn in the chess game of these power alliances, functioning as they wished, a truth that couldn’t help but evoke sadness. More pitifully, it seemed Hoffman chose to turn a blind eye, or was indifferent, still hoping that small aristocrats like Komer would unite in loyalty to him, serving the kingdom. Did he really think the kingdom’s cause or the noble blood of the Romanov family could inspire unending, unregretful devotion?

But it wasn’t she who wielded this power, it was Hoffman, and now her fate seemed inextricably tied to his, forcing her to fret, plan, and travel on his behalf.

"Hoffman, I can go to Mainz, but I must remind you not to trust that guy too much. I don’t see him as one willing to lie low. Utilization is fine, but there has to be a limit. You can’t put all your hopes on these people, or you’ll deeply regret it," Renta said coolly as she adjusted her skirt, "Let’s not end up making a wedding dress for someone else with our efforts."

Komer, who had relaxed, seemed to become somewhat indolent. The construction of the second Magic-armed gun was delayed, mainly because Komer hoped to have more time to unwind. With its own Magic-armed gun, the Gray Skull fleet seemed to have surged in momentum. According to the news from the Hayreddin Fleet, Gray Skull’s fleet had engaged the Red-haired Witch Katerina’s fleet twice in the North Mediterranean within three months, each claiming victories. However, the Magic-armed gun had severely damaged a main battleship of Katerina’s fleet, gradually undermining the previously dominant Katerina fleet’s advantage, pressuring them into a defensive stance.

Although Gray Skull was more urgent for the second Magic-armed gun, Komer did not want to satisfy their request too quickly and even thought about delaying the signed agreement. This made Gray Skull’s messenger come to Ugru almost weekly to hasten the process, while Gray Skull tried its best to meet Komer’s somewhat unreasonable minor demands.

The relationship with Homer had also reached a delicate state. It seemed to have forgotten that to its south lay a land that was once directly under its jurisdiction, and now even Bruce Fortress had fallen into the hands of opponents, firmly guarding the mouth of the Great Greenland Forest Plank Road that stretched between the south and Homer. With unclear intentions, Homer neither rebuilt a fortress at the northern end of the Greenland Forest Plank Road nor sealed it, perhaps realizing that since the blockade at the Mouth of Nissai River had been lifted, blocking the Greenland Forest Plank Road was meaningless.