Lord of Winter: Beginning with Daily Intelligence Chapter 774 - 429: May the Sun Shine on Gray Rock_2

As these words were spoken, many people unconsciously adjusted their posture, standing a little straighter.

"It will be arduous, and it will be difficult." However, I can assure you, the Red Tide will never let down any who strive.

The accomplishments you forge here will directly shape your destinies.

Whether you desire prestige, riches, or a place in the annals of history, Gray Rock Province is your launching point."

This time, no laughter erupted, but Pete felt a tightening sensation within his chest.

It was no longer solely about repaying a debt or a simple personal allegiance to Louis, but a profound sense of purpose that now guided him.

He suddenly understood that he was not merely aiding unknown countrymen, but also ascending a singular path that belonged entirely to him.

No command was issued.

Chief Steward Green of Gray Rock Province was the first to rise, placing his right hand over his left chest, uttering, "May the Sun grace Gray Rock!"

Pete followed, and then a wave of others joined in.

Approximately three hundred Red Tide officials stood in unison; their movements, though not perfectly synchronized, were imbued with an unwavering resolve.

Each individual placed their right hand over their left chest, proclaiming, "May the Sun grace Gray Rock!"

The collective cry reverberated beneath the vast ceiling, causing the crystal chandelier to quiver subtly.

Louis, bathed in the morning light, offered a slight nod to the assembled group.

In that instant, he appeared like a figure sculpted from light, yet devoid of any air of arrogance or distance.

Once the assembly concluded, the immense doors were once again swung open.

A gust of cold wind swept into the hall as Pete stepped out.

Beyond the threshold, in the square, a multitude of Gray Rock's common folk had gathered, their attire threadbare, their gazes vacant and listless.

They had no inkling of the proceedings within, their attention instinctively drawn to the group clad in dark uniforms.

Pete paused for a moment, observing them, and a powerful, unfamiliar surge of emotion welled up within his heart.

"Just wait," he thought, "we are bringing the Sun."

......

The heavy oak doors swung shut behind them, the hinges emitting a low, resonant thud, completely muffling the din from the five hundred outside.

The meeting chamber fell into a profound silence, broken only by the crackling symphony of logs burning in the fireplace.

Distinct from the bustling large hall, this was a more intimate meeting room.

A long, polished black walnut conference table occupied the center, exuding quiet dignity.

Louis was seated at the head of the table, with Green positioned to his left.

This Chief Steward of Gray Rock, a former Knight who had once managed the Mai Lang Territory, now represented the apex of Red Tide's administrative authority within Gray Rock Province.

Though his posture was upright, his hands were unconsciously clasped, betraying no hint of unease on his composed features.

Arranged along both sides of the table were perhaps a dozen individuals.

Each was a high-ranking official or technical expert from the Red Tide headquarters, having been summoned from hundreds of miles away; they had occupied the front two rows of the larger assembly hall.

Their capabilities had been rigorously tested and proven effective within the Northern Territory many times over.

Green drew a slow breath and gently pushed a black ledger, its cover worn and frayed, towards the center of the table.

"Lord Louis," he began, his voice low, "the situation is far more dire than we had initially anticipated."

He paused, as if searching for the most accurate descriptor.

"This isn't merely chaos," Green finally stated, "it is a desolate wasteland."

The ledger, its aged pages curled at the edges, was opened to reveal densely packed script.

"In his preparations to assault the Imperial Capital, Raymond liquidated all the province's documented iron ore reserves," Green explained, turning the pages, his tone growing increasingly cold. "Undeterred, he then depleted the province's coffers to secure the allegiance of several legion commanders.

To amass necessary provisions, he imposed severe, retroactive taxes upon the populace, and in his quest for armaments, he commanded the repurposing of farmers' plows and domestic ironware into weapons."

A collective clenching of fists rippled around the conference table.

"Young and able-bodied men were conscripted without exception," Green continued. "Currently, the province is populated only by the infirm, the elderly, the weak, or those condemned to work in the mines."

He closed the ledger, his voice regaining a steady cadence.

"In essence," Green declared, meeting Louis's gaze, "the present condition of Gray Rock Province is such that its warehouses cannot sustain even a single rodent, and its blacksmiths lack the materials to forge a single nail. Our task of supporting these two hundred thousand souls and revitalizing production is akin to ascending to the heavens."

Louis did not open the ledger; instead, he stated, "A predicament is termed a 'mess' precisely because its preceding steward proved inept."

His gaze swept across the faces seated on either side of the conference table. "That is why I have convened you, the specialists. Share your insights."

Valentine, the Director of Mining, was the first to speak.

He was a veteran artisan, having dedicated his life to the mines, his hands as gnarled and rough as weathered stone. It was evident that he had mentally dissected Gray Rock's subterranean wealth countless times.

"I have surveyed numerous primary mines, you see." His voice was forthright, devoid of any exaggeration. "The conditions encountered are significantly more dire than those in the Northern Territory. Ventilation is practically nonexistent, and the drainage relies solely upon arduous manual labor."

He took a brief pause, as though a memory had surfaced, causing the edges of his lips to curve upward involuntarily.

"Naturally," he then remarked, "no location on this earth could ever truly rival the mines of the Northern Territory in terms of their sophistication."

Gentle laughter resonated within the confines of the conference room.

Valentine swiftly regained his composure, his demeanor turning serious once more.

"However, the core issue does not lie with the ore veins." He uplifted his gaze to meet Louis's, asserting, "Upon close examination, the ore strata within Gray Rock exhibit excellent orientations and orderly arrangement. Should we implement the mining methodologies from the Northern Territory, their sheer magnitude could potentially even eclipse that of the Northern Territory."

Raising two short, stout fingers, he tapped them upon the surface of the table. "We are deficient in merely two aspects: ventilation and drainage."

"The fundamental challenge remains one of power," Valentine declared, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Extensive machinery, such as steam-powered rock crushers or water pumps, cannot procure suitable fuel sources in this locale. Were we to utilize Qi Pulse stones, they would necessitate transportation from the Northern Territory, incurring an exorbitant cost that would render sustained, long-term operations unfeasible."