Free Web NovelViscount Firth sneered, “We are Snowpeak’s true masters. We have managed this place for over a hundred years; the people are with us, and they remember our kindness.
As long as we survive this winter, as long as we raise the call, everything will return to our hands.”
He swept his gaze across the room, his eyes lingering on the faces of several hesitant new nobles.
“What does a southern boy, who got his title by luck, know about governance? His barony is smaller than my stable.”
Several people couldn’t help but laugh, and someone added, “I heard that although he comes from a prominent family, he’s just a good-for-nothing thrown to the Northern Frontier.”
“He’s just lucky, born into a good family, stumbled upon military merits, and then got a County Governor title.”
“But luck, you know, eventually runs out.”
Viscount Firth waved his hand, his tone becoming more relaxed: “I believe that feigning compliance is the most secure approach.
Whatever he says, we’ll listen. As for doing it or not? There are plenty of excuses: disaster victims, military unrest, freezing weather.
We are local Northern Frontier nobles; who would dare to truly hold us accountable? Northern Frontier nobles have been intermarrying for so many years that we’re already one big family.
If he dares to touch a single hair on us, let’s see how many people turn against him.”
All the nobles present nodded, agreeing that it made sense.
With a conclusion reached, the laughter in the room quickly grew lighter, and the air was filled with a certain smug and inflated feeling.
“Come, a toast to the true masters of our Snowpeak’s future!”
They clinked cups, their laughter growing more unrestrained, completely unaware that an unusual chill was faintly emanating from the wind outside the house.
Outside the manor, a group of figures stealthily lurked.
The leading woman wore a black feather cloak, a bow in hand, her expression as calm as ice.
Baron Vera bowed, pointing to the brightly lit mansion in the distance, his voice trembling, “It’s there; many Northern Frontier nobles are gathering tonight.”
He tried to force a smile to please the cold-faced woman: “Didn’t I keep my word? Five? There are at least ten in there, all with titles. Are you satisfied?”
The woman glanced at him indifferently, saying nothing, only waving her hand gently.
Several Snowsworn swept out like ghosts.
Only a dozen knights were slacking off on the manor’s periphery, drinking wine and dozing against the wall.
With a few soft thuds, several feathered arrows silently pierced their throats.
The remaining few were choked unconscious from behind before they could react.
“These can still be used,” the woman said softly. “Take them back; they can be sacrificed. Don’t waste them.”
Then, under the cover of night, dozens of dark figures suddenly leaped out and burst into the banquet hall.
Someone had just raised a cup when they were knocked unconscious by a palm strike.
Someone who dared to draw a sword to resist was immediately cut down, blood splattering on the tablecloth and silver utensils.
“Enemy attack!!”
“Guards, guards!!”
Screams erupted, and the hall descended into chaos, nobles fleeing in disarray.
But they had long been numbed by alcohol and their vigilance lowered; for a time, no one could organize effective resistance.
A few bolder ones tried to rush towards the door, but as soon as they opened it, they were cut down by the Snowsworn waiting outside.
“Leave them alive,” the woman reminded again. “Capture everyone you can and bring them back.”
She walked step by step into the hall, looking at the nobles struggling and wailing on the ground, without a trace of pity in her eyes.
“These are the nobles of the Iron-Blood Empire? How ridiculous.”
Baron Vera hid behind the leading woman, bent over like a panting old dog, his lips uncontrollably curving upward.
“Hmph, serves you right for looking down on me.”
He watched those nobles, their faces filled with terror, being dragged out of the hall, their hair disheveled, crying and begging for mercy, some even having wet their pants.
Vera couldn’t help but lick his chapped lips, his eyes full of lewd triumph.
He had already begun to fantasize about how he would redecorate his main residence, count his treasury, and arrange for a few concubines after returning to his fief.
Until a cold voice fell: “These people are not enough.”
“— Huh?” Vera stiffened suddenly, as if a bucket of snow water had been poured over his head.
“You, you said what?” His voice trembled, and he involuntarily shrank backward.
The leading woman slowly turned her head and glanced at him, her gaze like an icy blade, lightly tracing Vera’s neck.
“These people,” her voice was low and cold, “are not enough to buy your life.”
The air suddenly froze.
Vera felt his legs give out, and he fell to his knees with a thud, like an old dog whose neck had been squeezed.
“I, I, I can take you to find other nobles! Really!” He scrambled and crawled to the woman’s feet, his voice tearful, “I know them, I even have a list!”
No one responded to him; the Snowsworn merely watched the pathetic performance with cold sneers.
“For example—for example, that ‘County Governor’!” He suddenly looked up, his voice rising, as if he had found a life raft, “Louis! Yes, that boy from the south!
He’s the newly appointed County Governor; all the ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) nobles of Snowpeak County will go to visit him. You can also wait there for him!”
The woman narrowed her eyes slightly, seemingly finally taking a little interest in what he said.
She took two steps closer, looking down at the man lying on the ground. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
“Are you sure?”
Vera repeatedly kowtowed, his head red from the impact: “I can lead the way! I know where he lives, I can even pretend to visit, I have a fief, I have a reason to approach him!”
“Don’t kill me, don’t kill me!”
Snot and tears smeared his face, but a twisted smile he couldn’t suppress still lingered on his lips.
Just give me another chance, and I can sell anyone. The first ray of sunlight in the morning streamed into the room through the bronze window.
Louis sat up from the large but simple bed, rubbing his forehead; his head was still a bit heavy.
Last night was his first night in this fortress.
The room wasn't extravagant, but it was far from shabby.
The floor was made of smoothly polished oak planks, warm and comfortable underfoot.
A row of low bookshelves stood against the wall, while on the table were ink and parchment transported from the south, next to a silver-inlaid pen holder.
A huge beast hide rug, from a giant winter bear, covered the center, its fur grayish-white, soft and silent to walk on.
The fireplace beside it had gone out, but the room remained warm; heat slowly rose from the floor and stone troughs in the corners, driven by hot spring currents, a winter blessing even imperial capital nobles might not enjoy.
Compared to the luxurious, gold-and-silver-adorned bedrooms in the capital, Red Tide Fortress lacked the ostentation but possessed more stability and thoughtfulness.
Louis narrowed his eyes and murmured, “It’s quite nice.”
But even with the change of environment, the first thing he did upon waking in the morning remained unchanged.
He yawned and casually opened the Daily Intelligence System; a translucent screen appeared before his eyes, with several lines of text rapidly appearing on it.
【Daily Intelligence Update Complete】
