C13 The Current Situation of the Middle Continent

The Middle Continent, a vast expanse of the Sudimant Continent, remained largely untamed and undeveloped. Nations from the four Human Clan continents dispatched their lords to oversee the new territories they had won through conquest.

Yet, the Middle Continent's harsh environment, coupled with the influence of its primitive societal backdrop, made development efforts exceedingly challenging. Many lords, unable to endure the hardships or collect taxes, eventually abandoned their posts and fled back to their homelands.

Some arrived in the Middle Continent with the sole intention of making a quick profit before absconding. Not a few lords sought to exploit the situation for their own gain, only to flee once they had done so. Others came merely to pad their political resumes and amass capital, taking a cursory glance at their domains before departing, serving as lords in name only, with some never even setting foot on their fiefs.

Regardless of the type, each lord passed the deteriorating situation onto their successor, creating a vicious cycle of neglect. No one wanted to shoulder the burden of development. After all, lords needed to make a living; they couldn't sustain their domains on goodwill alone.

In the current climate of the Middle Continent, without innovative strategies, lords were expected to personally fund the initial stages of their fiefdoms' development. Facing the likelihood of a total loss, few had the courage to make such a risky investment.

As the Human Clan's four continents ventured into the Middle Continent to carve out their own territories, they covertly hoped to transplant their own social and political systems through the governance established by their lords. They aimed to influence the Middle Continent's primitive social structure, fostering rapid transition and evolution.

However, the North Continent's efforts proved least effective. Despite having the most advanced commercial economy among the Human Clan continents, the leap from a primitive to a capitalist society was too vast and proved unworkable in the Middle Continent.

The root of the issue lay in the North Continent's internal strife, where new nobility clashed with the old, distracting from the sustained capital investment needed in the Middle Continent market. If one were willing to invest heavily and continuously, the financial might could potentially elevate the primitive society to a capitalist level. Skipping several stages of societal development wasn't out of the question—if one were willing to pay the price, miracles could indeed occur.

The East Continent's efforts were also faltering. The concept of a religious nation faced resistance at every turn in the Middle Continent, where the indigenous people were still in the primitive stages of society, with scattered tribes and diverse beliefs. Compounded by language barriers, the Bright Church struggled to spread its message. The church's leadership and the rulers of the East Continent's empire were wavering at the decision-making level, uncertain whether to ramp up their propaganda efforts and launch a large-scale missionary campaign in the Middle Continent.

Many of the Middle Continent's natives were not of the pure Human Clan but belonged to different races, clashing with the Bright Church's core doctrines. The church's teachings forbade proselytizing to non-humans, treating them akin to heathens.

Bound by these doctrines, the Bright Church found itself unable to fully commit to preaching in the Middle Continent. Hesitation meant potential defeat, leaving the East Continent's achievements comparable to those of the North Continent.

The South Continent boasted the greatest success, smoothly transitioning from primitive society to slavery, which was more readily accepted in the Middle Continent. The West Continent came next, where the feudal land system was simply a step beyond slavery and still amenable to promotion.

Consequently, as the Middle Continent's influence expanded, the most intense conflicts arose between the lords from the South and West Continents. The root of their strife was the clash between slavery and feudalism—one sought to capture populations, while the other needed people to cultivate new lands. These fundamental disputes were irreconcilable and seemed destined to be resolved only through war.

Prince Ostar, adorned in lavish attire, stepped onto Magyr Pier. His first impression of the Middle Continent was reminiscent of Africa on Earth, marked by a similar climate and barrenness.

Stepping off the "Victoria" merchant ship, they were greeted by a stifling wave of heat. Chris and her two fellow Exclusive Maidservants donned sun-shielding cloaks, resembling the conservative dress of ancient Arabian women venturing outdoors, just shy of veiling their faces entirely.

The architecture at Magyr Pier was rudimentary, to say the least. Yet, the small town adjacent to the pier was considered one of the larger settlements in the Middle Continent at this stage. Much of the Middle Continent remained untouched and undeveloped, lacking even a single proper village. Many fiefdoms existed in name only, often corresponding to vast swathes of untamed wilderness.

"Lord Ostar, there's a heavy malevolence emanating from the people here; be cautious," warned Yulia.

"Thank you for the heads-up, Yulia. And you, try to keep your impulses in check. No need for unnecessary bloodshed; there will be other opportunities," Ostar replied.

At Magyr Pier, Yulia, one of Prince Ostar's maidservants, used her unique abilities to detect the perilous atmosphere. Ostar himself was well aware that the Middle Continent, being unclaimed territory, was inherently disorderly. The docks and cities, serving as communal hubs, attracted a diverse array of individuals from various backgrounds. The environment was complex and fraught with challenges, characterized by a blend of reputable and unsavory elements.

Ostar opted for discretion. He approached a seemingly eloquent vendor on the street to inquire about his domain. Prior to his departure, Ostar had secured a map from the empire indicating the location of his territory, a short distance from Magyr Pier.

However, upon arrival, consulting locals for the precise route proved more reliable, as the maps of this strange world lacked detail and often omitted crucial information.

"Brother, what are you looking to purchase? Aside from slaves, you can find most goods from the Middle Continent here," the vendor offered.

"I'm interested in information. Do you know the way to the Bloomfield Region? I have business there," Ostar inquired.

"The Bloomfield Region! Brother, are you certain you wish to venture there? It's an undeveloped, barbaric land," the vendor hesitated.

Initially reluctant to engage with Ostar, the vendor's attitude shifted dramatically upon receiving a generous gold coin. His demeanor brightened, and he eagerly shared his knowledge about the area.

Indeed, the Bloomfield Domain was real, yet it was fraught with danger, an untamed territory. The region was expansive, home to over ten thousand indigenous inhabitants, and rife with acute tribal conflicts.

At the outset, the Oberiske Empire's expeditionary forces suffered repeated defeats in their attempt to conquer this region, with countless soldiers killed or wounded. Emperor Augustus VIII's once illustrious reputation nearly crumbled in the Bloomfield Domain. Despite the loss of several Imperial Army Marshals and high-ranking generals, the Imperial Army failed to fully subjugate the entire Bloomfield Domain.

Ultimately, the Oberiske Empire's expeditionary force reluctantly raised an imperial flag on the outskirts and deluded themselves into declaring a unilateral military victory. The grim toll of tens of thousands of casualties was hushed up to preserve the Emperor's prestige, and the news never reached the West Continent.

The citizens of the Oberiske Empire remained oblivious to the disastrous defeat their army had suffered—a fact that was no secret in the Middle Continent, where many were aware of the setback. Witnessing the humbling of the Oberiske Empire's forces, the dominant power of the West Continent, other empires' expeditionary forces heeded the warning and abandoned any ambitions or actions toward that region.

"Ah, that area is notorious for its fierce locals—it's practically a haven for troublemakers. I wonder which unfortunate lord will end up with that hot potato. Truth be told, even bandits and robbers steer clear of it. There were tales of some who, disbelieving in curses, went there to extort protection money, only to never return with their skulls intact. Brother, are you okay? You look quite pale."

"No... I'm fine. It's just the heat getting to me. Thanks for the information. We'll do business again sometime."

"Sure thing, pleasure doing business with you!"

After parting ways with the merchant, Ostar's face was etched with gloom. Though he had secured the correct route to the Bloomfield Territory, it seemed Emperor Augustus VIII of the Oberiske Empire had intentionally set a trap for his own son. With no clear details provided, he had been led to believe his fief was merely an ordinary region, not warranting an armed escort—so he had brought only three maidservants.

"Lord Ostar, don't lose heart! We're here to support you."

"That's right, since I'm already here, I might as well take a look."

Comforted by Chris, Ostar's mood improved slightly. With his three maidservants possessing ceiling-level combat abilities, not having an army wasn't much of an issue. It just lacked the imposing presence that an army would have provided.

Once he had composed himself, Ostar spent a gold coin at the Magyr Pier market to purchase a carriage. Following the directions given by a merchant he had spoken with earlier, he set off for the Bloomfield Domain to inspect his new territory.

In the Middle Continent, prices were generally low, making a gold coin's purchasing power quite significant. The seller not only provided the carriage but also included six high-quality warhorses specifically bred for pulling carriages, and returned fifty silver coins in change to Ostar—a true bargain. On the West Continent, a single gold coin would never stretch that far, certainly not enough to buy several high-quality warhorses, much less receive change.

The journey to the Bloomfield Territory was remarkably peaceful. Ostar's carriage encountered no robbers or bandits, sparing him many potential headaches.

Upon reaching Bloomfield, the only issue was the discomfort caused by the bumpy, poorly maintained roads; he didn't come across a single thief. It appeared the rumors were accurate—no thief would dare risk their life in such a perilous area.

The Bloomfield Territory was exactly as Ostar had anticipated. Despite being well-informed and prepared, the sight that greeted him on the outskirts was still somewhat embarrassing. The lone flag of the Oberiske Empire stood in the outer region, in a land where the native inhabitants had never truly submitted. The vast territory and abundant resources were of no use when dealing with such defiant locals. The lord's seal Ostar carried was likely to be as unrecognized as a mere toy.

In the West Continent, deep within the Sun Palace of the capital city Onisret, in the Oberiske Empire, Emperor Augustus VIII sat in his office behind the main hall, his face etched with complexity as he perused the top-secret report before him.

These are the Emperor's Dark Guards, tasked with covertly investigating the activities of the royal family members. Kneeling before the Emperor are several figures clad in black, the nocturnal attire of the Dark Guard, whom the Emperor has been clandestinely cultivating for years. All members of the royal family and the nobility within the Imperial City are under his watchful eye, their every move monitored to gather the latest intelligence—except for Empress Marguerite III, whose own formidable power makes her beyond surveillance.

"Ostar getting cozy with the Pirate Queen on a merchant vessel? That man has never picked up any good habits, always getting into mischief with Prince Oser. It seems a doting mother does indeed spoil her children."

"Your Majesty, shall we continue to keep an eye on the Third Prince going forward?"

"There's no need. With the chaos in Bloomfield, the boy is likely to tire of the hardships and return within days to seek solace from the Queen. Your efforts are better spent covertly supporting Prince Osd."

"Understood, Your Majesty. We will follow your wise directive."