Lord of Winter: Beginning with Daily Intelligence Chapter 773 - 429: May the Sun Shine Upon Gray Rock

The Grand Assembly Hall of Black Iron was so packed with five hundred hardwood chairs that moving even a shoulder required careful consideration of others’ expressions.

At this precise moment, the side door creaked open.

Sunlight sliced through the gap in the door as Louis stepped onto the stage, bathing in the morning radiance pouring in from the windows.

He was clad in a dark cloak, devoid of any flamboyant embroidery or unnecessary adornments, secured only by a simple insignia at the collar.

His silhouette was sharply defined by the morning light that cascaded upon his shoulders.

The previously clamorous noise within the hall naturally hushed into silence.

Louis stood tall, his gaze sweeping over the audience below – five hundred faces, nearly touching, a mix of youth and weariness, some sharp-eyed, others not yet fully present…

He surveyed the scene, a slight curve gracing his lips, a gentle smile appearing as he spoke: "It is good that we all needed to squeeze together. In the early, tempestuous nights of the Northern Territory, this is precisely how we huddled, seeking warmth."

Upon hearing his words, a few individuals in the front row subconsciously shifted their shoulders, as if his statement had unlocked buried memories.

"A few short years ago, the Northern Territory was a place where life barely clung on," Louis continued, his voice maintaining a moderate volume, "The winds were so fierce they could knock a person down, and the snow so deep it could entomb bodies. Yet now, we have factories spewing steam, floors radiating warmth, and schools where our children receive an education."

He paused, allowing the vivid imagery to settle in their minds.

"Some attribute this transformation to a miracle wrought by Louis." He then shook his head, adding, "No, they are mistaken; this is the miracle of Red Tide."

The instant his voice ceased, a profound silence fell over the hall.

"This honor is mine, and it is for this banner," Louis declared, raising a hand to point towards the insignia behind him, "But even more so… it belongs to each and every one of you present, to every drop of sweat you have poured."

Pete felt a warmth spread through his chest, his back instinctively straightening.

Those seated around him mirrored his posture, sitting upright as their eyes grew brighter, their leaning against the chair backs forgotten.

Even the most thoroughly exhausted among them found it difficult to dispute that their collective efforts over the past years had yielded significant results.

Louis did not allow this moment of shared sentiment to linger indefinitely.

He subtly altered his tone, his voice becoming lighter as he said, "However, I have heard that the people of Gray Rock Province express pity for us."

A ripple of bewilderment passed through the audience.

"They say, 'Poor Northern folk, living amidst endless ice and snow, surely they must gnaw on tree bark daily.'"

As soon as he finished, muffled laughter began to surface.

Louis made no move to quell their amusement, simply offering a faint smile: "Tell me, is the winter of Red Tide truly that cold?"

This single question seemed to unleash a torrent of unrestrained mirth.

Unified and confident laughter erupted throughout the hall.

"Cold?" A representative from the Craftsman’s Office half-rose from his seat, his voice booming, "Sir, our heating is so effective that we find ourselves opening the windows at night!"

"Gnawing tree bark?" Another official chimed in, chuckling heartily and slapping his knee, "We are utterly tired of eating meat!"

The waves of laughter swelled, rising ever higher, an unintentional yet remarkably cohesive chorus.

A few elderly nobles, seated against the wall, exchanged subtle glances, their expressions unreadable.

The resounding laughter felt like a direct rebuke, a burning humiliation.

This place they had dismissed as a desolate wasteland was, unexpectedly, more prosperous than the very province they took such pride in?

The ingrained sense of superiority, cultivated since childhood, was utterly overturned in that very moment.

Listening intently, Pete realized at some point that the tension in his shoulders had completely dissipated.

He observed that many Red Tide officials nearby displayed similar expressions, their previous tautness softening.

Within that shared laughter resided a nostalgic remembrance of arduous times, coupled with a profound pride that no longer felt the need for validation.

As the laughter gradually subsided, the smile on Louis’s face faded with it.

He stood upon the podium, the morning sunlight still illuminating the high windows behind him, but his tone abruptly shifted, becoming grave, tinged with a restrained empathy.

"But is this truly something to laugh about?" He paused briefly, his gaze alighting on the faces in the hall that had not yet fully relaxed, "No. This is, in fact, deeply sorrowful."

The assembly hall descended once more into silence.

"While we enjoy the warmth of our heating and the bounty of our meals in the Northern Territory, here, in Gray Rock Province, hundreds of thousands languish, facing death within the confines of the mine shafts."

Louis’s voice, though not loud, carried immense weight, "They are neither indolent nor foolish; they have simply been indoctrinated from birth to believe that the world is inherently bleak, that hunger is divinely ordained, and that mere survival is a matter of sheer chance."

His voice remained steady, yet every syllable resonated with clarity: "Such arrogance and ignorance embody the true essence of winter."

A heavy stillness descended upon the hall.

Louis took a step forward, gesturing expansively to the gathered crowd.

"We have not come to seize territory, nor to pilfer mere trinkets," he declared, his eyes scanning the faces of the Red Tide officials. "Our purpose is to usher in the radiant sun of Red Tide to this desolate region.

We aim to enlighten the inhabitants of Gray Rock, showing them that despite the biting winter, warmth in life is attainable, and though destiny may be cruel, human dignity can prevail."

He paused, allowing his words to sink in without further explanation.

"This is the sacred mission entrusted to Red Tide!"

The hall remained utterly silent.

The fervent passion that had ignited moments before now settled into a profound weight within each individual's heart, shaped by Louis's declaration.

Swiftly, Louis reined in the building atmosphere, preventing it from descending into somberness.

"Naturally, aiding others cannot be achieved through fervor alone," his tone shifted, becoming composed. "Every one of you present has endured the harsh tempests and biting snows of the Northern Territory."

He nodded, as if confirming an undeniable truth.

"You must learn to adapt to the local environment, discovering methods to transform these barren lands into sources of sustenance, and mastering the art of fortifying yourselves with stone."