Lord of Winter: Beginning with Daily Intelligence Chapter 771 - 428: New Intelligence
Previously on Lord of Winter: Beginning with Daily Intelligence...
Dawn was breaking when Louis stirred, yet it already felt late for him. His eyes opened, fixing on the ceiling beams.
Trimmed with polished dark wood and accented with embedded copper strips at the joints for both structural integrity and decoration, the beams still bore the embossed patterns of the old nobility. This place had once been the primary estate of the Count of Black Iron, an ancient castle that was now entirely under Louis's control.
While it couldn't compare to Red Tide Castle, a marvel of the Northern Territory, it served its purpose. Louis was utilizing it as a temporary office and living quarters.
He had bypassed Gray Rock Castle specifically because its stone crevices held a lingering scent of blood, a stain that simple cleaning couldn't erase.
Giving it little further thought, Louis shifted slightly. Sif, with her white long hair, was still fast asleep beside him. Her strands lay upon the pillow, possessing a natural, cool sheen, and her closed eyelids cast faint shadows beneath them.
With gentle movements, Louis reached out and adjusted the quilt over her shoulder. Sif stirred subtly but remained asleep.
Emily and the veteran butler, Bradley, were stationed in Red Tide City, managing the Northern Territory, which was now operating smoothly under the Red Tide system. Their presence there was sufficient.
Meanwhile, Sif had accompanied him to Gray Rock Province to assist with administrative tasks and personal matters.
Louis sat up, effortlessly donned a robe hanging from a chair, and walked to the window. His fingertips briefly traced the aged wood grain of the window frame.
The mornings in Gray Rock always carried a distinct chill, as if it seeped through every crack in the stone.
This was Black Iron Land, the central city of Gray Rock Province. Richly nourished by iron ore and coal veins, its city gates, granaries, workshops, and barracks were now bedecked with new banners.
A soft exhale escaped Louis as he mentally pushed aside distracting thoughts. "Let's see what today's luck brings," he murmured.
He extended his right hand, waving it through the air. A transparent interface materialized before him, shimmering like ice just before it freezes, its text scrolling rapidly before settling into place.
[Daily Intelligence Update Complete]
[1: Kaelin has detained the Thirty-third Legion's commander, Adrian Kress, and intends to publicly execute him within three days in Black Iron Land. This move is designed to signify the dismantling of his military authority and the severing of old command structures.]
Louis read the first update, his expression unmoving. Kaelin had indeed made his move.
The detention and planned public execution of the Seventh Legion's commander was more than just a purge. Duke Remont had likely not yet returned to the Imperial Capital, making the timing of this action highly significant.
This indicated Kaelin had abandoned any pretense of negotiation with Duke Remont and was intent on swiftly eliminating as many potential opponents as possible.
Kress was merely the first domino; subsequently, legions, indecisive nobles, or those still loyal to Remont would be compelled to choose sides. They would either align with Kaelin or face public execution themselves, a process that would continue until Duke Remont's return to the Imperial Capital.
This decisive action was bound to result in short-term instability, fostering internal distrust, secret alliances, and possibly even preemptive uprisings.
Gray Rock Province was poised to descend into greater chaos, which Louis saw as a positive development.
It revealed Kaelin's lack of faith in the military's loyalty and demonstrated that the Old Empire's system could no longer be sustained by established rules, but only by brutal force.
Upon Duke Remont's return to the Imperial Capital, the atmosphere would undoubtedly be thick with simmering tensions, potentially erupting into bloodshed.
Louis felt a flicker of satisfaction; the wolves were already beginning to turn on each other.
He had no intention of intervening, content to watch them tear each other apart. The Red Tide's role was simply to prepare the infrastructure, supply provisions, and secure the city gates while the internal conflicts raged.
Louis considered the possibility of recruiting some talented individuals during this turmoil and mentally made a note.
[2: The eastern Red Earth Slope in Gray Rock Province contains surface layers of volcanic ash and deeper deposits of highly active volcanic ash. These materials exhibit water-hardening properties and can be experimentally fired with limestone.]
Louis focused on the second entry. Red Earth Slope—he recalled its appearance on the map, a dark region with soil that seemed baked by fire.
Previously, the local nobles had only seen it as a source of fertile soil, digging up ash to scatter on their fields for marginal gains. However, this intelligence report highlighted a different kind of value.
He quickly cross-referenced the materials mentioned with their potential uses. Limestone was abundant throughout Gray Rock Province.
If the volcanic ash deposits hold true activity, with the correct proportion and sufficient heat, they could be used to fire a water-resistant binding agent. This wouldn't be a weak mortar, but rather a material capable of hardening even in the presence of moisture. Its implications were immediately clear to him. Docks, riverbanks, bridge supports, the foundations of warehouses, and the walls of military encampments... Once the Gray Rock Province could independently produce this substance, the pace of all construction projects would be revolutionized. And this benefit wouldn't be confined to Gray Rock Province alone; it would extend to roads and storage facilities throughout the Northern Territory, making the coming decade significantly more manageable once implemented. Louis reached for the intelligence notebook on his desk, the tip of his pen poised above the paper. "Designate Red Earth Slope as a critical strategic material site for the province. Dispatch artisan and alchemy furnace teams to conduct experimental firings to ascertain the optimal ratio. Assign a contingent of knights to secure the mining zone and the transportation route. Begin with sample batches, then proceed to mass transport for the Black Iron Land workshops." In Louis's estimation, Gray Rock Province was an untapped reservoir of riches. On the surface, it appeared to be merely a land repeatedly plundered and exploited by the Old Empire. However, as the Daily Intelligence System consistently delivered its reports, it became evident that the wealth buried beneath far surpassed any official ledgers. He discovered blind spots left by the former aristocracy, geological strata that had been overlooked, and unclaimed resources tucked away in forgotten corners—all gradually being brought to light. Ever since he took up his post in the province, he had consistently unearthed one or two new findings each day from the intelligence reports. While not always spectacular, these discoveries proved to be remarkably practical.