Chapter 828: Volume 25, Rowing Against the Current, - 15, The Regular Cast
A dense gloom had spread between Komer and the Chief of the Sanjia Tribe, and even after Dvanch and his two companions had left, it lingered stubbornly. Cross-armed and watching the resolute figure of Dvanch departing, Komer felt a tinge of regret. He hadn’t wanted to confront the issue in this way, but if the other side insisted on forcing his hand, he certainly wouldn’t mind.
"Lord, it seems we have underestimated the will of the barbarians after all," Neptune, standing behind Komer, said with some dissatisfaction. His brown hair was neatly brushed, and the fitting half-coat he wore clung to his slightly thin body, which still looked well-proportioned. The spirited gray eyes above his straight nose gave off an impression of vitality.
"Hmph, understandable. Having lived freely on the Cordillera Wilderness for hundreds of years, they wouldn’t bow their heads just because of a few threats from us. If they did, they wouldn’t be barbarians, nor would they have endured under the blockade of mortals for so long. The Sanjia Tribe is not like those smaller tribes. They have their principles. To break those principles, we need time and opportunity."
Komer was unfazed by this, as it was within his expectations. Dvanch was tough and stubborn, Bellamong was cunning yet principled, and only Cisse seemed more lively among them. Cisse’s liveliness, however, was predicated on the unyielding stance of the other two tribes, enabling him to extract as many benefits as possible for the Gapeng Tribe.
"Indeed, dealing with these barbarians is not the work of a single day. It’s just that this way, it’s dragging on too long," Neptune also expressed his regret.
"How are things in Flanders?" Komer abruptly changed the subject, "You’ve returned this time, and I have an important task for you, but that place will be our important base in the south, and we cannot afford any oversight. You must make sure everything is well-arranged."
Seeing Komer’s steady gaze turning to him, Neptune straightened his face and said proudly, "Sir, you can rest assured. The situation in Flanders is relatively stable for now, and the Sanwa Tribe has also started to align with us. To fight for the leadership of the Barbarian Alliance, the Carlo Tribe has to condescend to seek our support. At this moment, Flanders is at its best developmental opportunity in years. If it were not for something particularly important, I think it would be better for me to stay in Flanders for another two years. Just two years, and I am confident that I can completely divide those barbarians and ensure they can never unite against us again."
"Good, it is fine that you have this confidence, but you must find a balance. We need to support them to a certain extent, but we cannot allow them to develop the strength to overlook us. We also need to foster a delicate balance among them, so that any party must rely on us to take the lead and initiative. Only this way, they will have to keep depending on us," Komer replied.