Free Web NovelLouis awoke from his dream, and before his eyelids were fully open, the warm sensation beside him reached his senses first.
It was soft, warm, and carried a faint, lingering fragrance, mixed with the subtle scent of pine wood in the sunlight.
He blinked, slowly turned his head, and saw a familiar spread of blue hair quietly laid out on the pillow, the slightly fanned strands gently rising and falling with her breath.
Emily was still pressed against him, not even a twitch of her brow.
Louis blinked silently, then sighed with a touch of helplessness: “Ah, for the great cause of making babies, you’ve worked hard.”
He grumbled a bit, but serious matters were pressing.
He carefully sat up from Emily’s side, taking care not to disturb her.
The greyish morning light filtered in through the window, and even with the underfloor heating, the air still carried a crisp, chilly scent.
Winter had truly arrived, and it would be a difficult one, several times harder than last year.
He grabbed the gloves and outer robe from the bedside, put them on, and exhaled a puff of white mist when he reached the brazier.
“Time to check today’s luck,” he said, gently extending his right hand and waving it slightly in the air.
A translucent blue-white light interface appeared, hovering before him, with text rapidly arranging itself on the screen.
“Daily Intelligence Update Complete”
“1: Yesterday’s Dragon Throne Council decided to establish the Northern Territory Post-Disaster Reconstruction General Office, creating a reconstruction system for the Northern Territory led by Duke Edmund and supervised by the Imperial Capital.”
“2: The Emperor’s Sixth Prince, Asta August, will lead the pioneering efforts in the Northern Territory as a model for reconstruction.”
“3: There is lava moss at the edge of the geothermal fissures in Red Tide Territory, which is dark red, burns at high temperatures with little smoke, and can be used for heating.”
Louis stared at the first message, his eyes narrowing slightly, then a slight curve appeared on his lips.
“It really happened.”
His mind flashed back to the correspondence with his father a few days prior.
That letter, though restrained in its wording, subtly hinted at the likely outcome of the Dragon Throne Council.
It seemed everything had now settled.
Duke Edmund’s position was secured.
For Louis, this was a “major event” of profound significance.
The resources and power center of the Northern Territory had not been completely taken by the Imperial Capital, but rather structured under a system “led by local nobles” for distribution.
And he was one of the existing vassals in the Northern Territory with the largest territory, most populous, and strongest military, allowing him to acquire significant resources and rights.
“Since the stage is set, I should put on a good show,” he murmured.
Then he shifted his gaze to the second item, somewhat surprised.
The Emperor’s Sixth Prince, Asta August, will lead the pioneering efforts in the Northern Territory.
Of this Sixth Prince, he had very few impressions.
This Prince named Asta August had almost never appeared publicly in a high-profile manner, nor did he have any distinguished achievements.
“Could the Emperor have other motives for sending him north first? Is it a demonstration? Or an exile? Is it a strategic test, or a tempering?”
Louis tapped his fingers lightly, not rushing to a conclusion.
A Prince dispatched to the Northern Territory couldn't just be a facade.
Even if he didn't represent the main imperial power faction, there must be a purpose, though it might also just be an anchor set by the Emperor, used to constrain other nobles as a “vanguard.”
He was silent for a moment, then chuckled to himself: “No matter which answer it is—I’ll have to deal with him.”
However, there was no need to be too anxious; he would simply deal with him according to his personality when the time came.
Then he looked at the third item.
Lava moss.
The intelligence stated that it was a rare geothermal organism, growing on high-temperature fissures, with high combustion efficiency, extremely difficult to extinguish, and almost smokeless, making it ideal for heating and cooking in bunkers and cold-shelter houses.
Louis’s eyes lit up slightly: “That’s a good resource.”
A few days ago, Bradley reported that winter fuel was in short supply and coal reserves were insufficient.
And Fireback Turtle could not maintain the normal operation of all civilian residences.
Red Tide Territory was fortunate to have natural geothermal heat, but other territories around him were somewhat lacking in thermal energy. “So it was right next to the geothermal fissures all along, truly a case of being blind to what’s right in front of you. I’ll send people to collect it later.”
Louis closed the intelligence system, took a deep breath, put on his outer robe, and walked to the window, opening a crack for ventilation.
Outside, the cold was still biting, and white snow covered the rooftops of Red Tide City.
Then he sat back on the edge of the bed, closed his eyes, and began his daily cultivation.
First, the Tidal Breathing Technique, mobilizing fighting qi to circulate orderly within his body, rising and falling like tides, allowing his body to be re-energized with each breath.
Then he transitioned to the Original Meditation Technique, letting his magic power sink deep into his consciousness, operating steadily and regularly, constructing layers of clear spell paths in his mind.
Two hours later, he slowly opened his eyes.
Outside the window, the sky had brightened further.
He stood up, stretched his limbs, and with his cultivation complete, his mind was clearer than when he had first woken up.
A slight rustle came from the other side of the bed; Emily was awake too.
He turned his head to see Emily gently propping herself up, her silver-blue hair cascading over her shoulders, still sleepy and somewhat languid.
But her movements were swift; in just a few breaths, she had sat up, gathered her hair, and swung her legs off the bed.
“You’re up so early,” she rubbed her eyes, her voice still a little hoarse, but her eyes were clear.
“It’s a habit,” Louis said calmly, standing up and picking up his outer robe from the side to put it on.
Emily had already walked to the dressing mirror, sat down, and began to prepare her makeup for the day.
Her practiced movements and her still-delicate bare face showed that she was already accustomed to this daily rhythm of life.
As she drew her eyebrows, she spoke: “Today’s itinerary has been planned. It’s been over a month since we finalized the winter strategy.
It’s time to go out and see if these arrangements have truly been implemented.”
She turned her face to look at him, her tone a few shades lighter: “And it’s also time to let the people see if you, their Lord, are still alive, isn’t it?”
Louis smiled slightly, put on his outer robe, fastened his collar, and adjusted the buckles on his cuffs.
“Very good.”
He walked to the window and pushed open the heavy wooden frame.
Outside, the cold wind assaulted him, but the sunlight pierced through the clouds, illuminating the melting ground beneath the snow in the distance of Red Tide City and the slowly rising smoke from chimneys.
After a simple wash, Emily and Louis left the room together. They walked through the corridor and arrived at the small dining room in the side hall of the Red Tide City main building.
Breakfast was already prepared.
There were no silver platters or jade ware, no exquisite spices or sugared fruit preserves. Instead, there were a few slices of rye bread, a steaming pot of coarse grain porridge, and a small dish of pickled bear meat slices and some root vegetable stew.
Compared to the grandeur of noble residences in the past, the breakfast before them seemed almost “meager.”
Emily glanced at Louis beside her, said nothing, but silently sat down and accepted the wooden bowl handed to her by a servant.
“The taste isn’t great, indeed,” Louis said blandly, biting into a piece of bread, then shrugged, “But then, we can’t be too extravagant in our current state.”
Emily chuckled softly: “Leading by example, are we?”
Louis didn’t respond, simply leaving a mouthful of porridge, chewing slowly, as if he wasn’t eating food, but a heavy responsibility.
He silently sighed in his heart: Truly a good Lord.
Saying it, he even found it a little amusing himself.
At this time of approaching winter and strained resources, every simple meal was a signal to others: if even the Lord eats like this, you naturally cannot complain.
After breakfast, Louis and Emily changed into light armor and thick cloaks.
The cloaks were wrapped in a thick layer of animal fur, providing both warmth and sufficient flexibility.
Emily wore gloves, her hair pinned up, with only a few strands of blue hair falling along her neck, making her appear neat and capable.
At the entrance of the main building, the personal guard had long been waiting.
“Depart.”
As Louis’s words fell, everyone responded and formed ranks.
Iron boots crunched on snow, armor plates clinked softly, and a dozen or so fully armored personal knight guards lined up and marched, clearing the way for their Lord’s street patrol.
Among them, the most eye-catching was naturally the young man riding on the left front, with a straight posture and vibrant spirit—Weil.
He wore a slightly oversized helmet, and the light armor beneath his cloak shimmered faintly in the sunlight. His brows and eyes revealed an undeniable excitement and pride. For him, patrolling with Lord Louis was the highest honor.
He occasionally turned his head to look at Louis, his gaze much like a small hound trying to wag its tail, full of suppressed reverence and excitement.
“You’re walking quite proudly, aren’t you?” Louis glanced at him, suddenly a little amused. “Tell me, what stage of cultivation have you reached now?”
Weil immediately turned, like a student whose name had been called, first scratching the back of his head, revealing a slightly embarrassed smile: “I just broke through over two months ago, and now I’m a Mid-tier Elite Knight, Lord!”
As his words fell, the personal guard instantly quieted.
Even Emily raised an eyebrow slightly, unable to resist looking back at him.
“You’re already a Mid-tier Elite Knight?” She rarely showed surprise. “You’re only thirteen, aren’t you?”
Weil puffed out his chest, hastily correcting: “I’m already fourteen, Lord!”
“Fourteen-year-old Mid-tier Elite Knight—”
Emily murmured, “There are probably only a few in the entire Empire.”
Louis also showed a slight smile, his tone tinged with a hint of teasing: “He’s been cultivating from an Apprentice Knight to now for less than two years.”
Emily said in surprise: “That’s simply a genius among geniuses.”
Upon hearing this, Weil’s back straightened even further, and the flush on his face was almost impossible to hide.
“It seems in a few more days, your realm will surpass mine,” Louis said with a smile, without a hint of jealousy in his tone, but rather like an elder brother encouraging his younger sibling.
Upon hearing this, Weil’s face immediately fell, and he waved his hands frantically: “No, no, Lord Louis—then I’ll cultivate ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) a bit slower and wait for you to break through before I catch up.”
This silly response amused everyone, and a burst of laughter erupted within the team.
“You foolish boy,” an older Knight said with a chuckle, shaking his head, “Our Lord Louis is respected not because of his combat aura realm.”
“Exactly.” Louis also nodded with a smile, “If you truly want to repay me, don’t think about waiting for me. Getting stronger as quickly as possible is the greatest return you can give me.”
Weil paused, then nodded heavily, the longing in his eyes becoming even more resolute.
He whispered, “I will, Lord Louis. I will definitely not disappoint you.”
The patrol team slowly trudged through the snow. The winter snow was very thick, making a dull, compacted sound with each step.
The snow on both sides of the street had already turned to ice, but as soon as Louis appeared, the air seemed to become less biting.
The residents of Red Tide City stopped their work one by one, emerging from wooden houses, stalls, street corners, and sheds, either standing still, running over, kneeling, or shouting loudly.
“It’s the Lord! It’s Lord Louis!”
Someone was so excited they nearly rushed forward. After being gently held back by the personal guards, they still clasped their hands together, kneeling in the snow with tear-filled eyes.
“My son was sick and survived; they said it was a doctor you sent—Lord Louis, I... I really don’t know how to thank you...”
A woman cried as she held up a coarse cloth scarf, as if offering all that she possessed.
Louis frowned slightly but did not evade. He simply reached out and gently supported her shoulder, pressing the scarf back down.
“Living well is the best reward you can give me,” he said, his voice low but weighty.
Emily walked beside him, not particularly surprised; she had witnessed these scenes several times before.
And as Louis’s wife, she also received the same respect.
She knew that the Red Tide people’s reverence for Louis was not based on noble lineage or ceremony.
They did not worship a noble; they had faith in Louis Calvin.
Emily’s gaze was gentle as she looked at the old farmers, artisans, hunters, and children.
She watched their eyes when they looked at Louis; there was no fear, only respect, reliance, and a deep sense of security emanating from their hearts.
“In their hearts, you are no longer a noble, but a kind of faith,” she murmured softly, though not loud enough for Louis to hear.
Weil, on the other hand, stood almost ramrod straight, as if worried he wasn’t worthy of standing beside Louis. His eyes glowed, but he couldn’t help but grin.
Thus, amidst the reverence and gazes of the people along the way, Louis and his entourage arrived at their first destination for the day’s inspection: the construction site of the semi-underground communal dwellings, located outside the residential area and currently under construction.
This area was originally a forest, now leveled and neat.
Rows of new house foundations were scattered in an orderly fashion, with mud walls and wooden beams already taking shape, as if new life was growing out of the snow.
The structure of these semi-underground houses was very practical.
About one-third was sunk into the permafrost, cleverly utilizing ground temperature for insulation.
The framework was supported by logs, and the walls were made of interwoven willow branches, then repeatedly plastered and compacted with a mixture of grass and mud. The final layer of windproof fabric had not yet been added, but it was already clear that this would be a good dwelling to withstand the harsh winter. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
“Originally, we planned to build forty pilot units,” Mike, cloaked, stood by a temporary shed, holding blueprints and giving Louis a brief report, his eyes full of enthusiasm. “Now, in less than a month, half the progress has been completed.” freёweɓnovel.com
Not far away, by a steaming boiler, dozens of artisans and residents were working in an orderly fashion: sawing wood, transporting mud, weaving willow, and applying plaster.
Everything was well-organized.
On the construction site, workers were divided into groups of twenty, led by experienced craftsmen, which not only ensured high efficiency but also good order.
This was precisely Louis’s “work-for-relief” policy: the homeless could find shelter, the able-bodied could find work, and those willing to sweat could exchange their labor for food and housing.
“No one is worried about being driven out anymore,” Mike said with a firm gaze. “Lord Louis, this is more powerful than any speech.”
Hearing that the Lord had personally arrived, the entire construction site instantly became like a pot into which hot water had been poured, and everyone worked with even more vigor.
“Quick, clear up that pile of ash on the roof!”
“Lend me the hoe, if Lord Louis sees us working slowly here—”
Although the workers’ faces were covered in sweat, they smiled, as if they had never felt such drive.
Louis looked around, nodded, and then suddenly walked to a construction pit where the foundation was still being dug. Without saying much, he simply took a shovel, rolled up his sleeves, bent down, and dug into the frozen soil.
“. . . Ah? Lord Louis—you—don’t—!”
Mike was startled and quickly tried to stop him, but Emily held him back. She smiled faintly: “Let him be.”
Although it was just for show, Louis’s movements were not exaggerated.
He dug earnestly, turning the soil shovel by shovel, occasionally chatting with a few young, strong men beside him.
Louis’s personal act of digging the soil was like a spark, instantly igniting the atmosphere of the entire construction site.
The previously slightly tired workers seemed to be infused with new strength; their voices grew louder, and their hoes swung with even more vigor.
“We can’t fall behind, Lord Louis is even doing it!”
“Quick, let’s get this framework up first, and after we finish this building, we’ll go help the neighbors!”
“Hey! Give me another load of mud, I can still plaster two more walls here!”
Someone shouted with a laugh while working, “When this building is finished, I’ll be the first to live in it! I’ll definitely tell my children that this is a home I built with my own hands, a home that Lord Louis helped dig the foundation for!”
Shouts, laughter, and the clatter of wood echoed across the site, mingling with the cooking smoke and the warmth in the cold wind, creating a long-lost sense of liveliness and energy.
Even a burly man belted out a Northern folk song, carrying a wooden beam in rhythm.
Children on the other side were also infected, helping the adults pass tools and untangle ropes, their faces flushed with excitement.
In this way, Louis and his group stayed on the construction site, working for more than ten minutes.
Although it was only symbolic—shoveling a few scoops of dirt and helping to move a few logs—
the atmosphere had already been ignited. The workers toiled with fervor, and even the cold wind was somewhat dispelled by their enthusiasm.
“Let’s stop here for now, or we’ll truly be kept to build the roof,” Louis said with a smile, standing up and waving to everyone.
“Thank you, Lord Louis! Take care, Lord Louis!”
“Come visit often!”
Everyone waved goodbye with smiles, their spirits as high as after winning a battle.
Louis, Emily, and the personal guards turned and left, continuing to the next inspection point.
On the way, they passed a Fireback Turtle mobile supply station.
It was an open space with several rows of metal racks. Several massive Fireback Turtles lay quietly on the racks, faint reddish glowing patterns visible on their shells, as if they could emit heat at any moment.
Knights were carefully pushing the nearly fully charged Fireback Turtles, secured in transport sleds with cold iron frames, into carriages, preparing to send them to the settlements around Red Tide.
“So, these are Fireback Turtles,” Emily said, a hint of novelty in her eyes as she saw these creatures up close for the first time.
Of course, she had heard their names and knew they were special resource creatures unique to Red Tide.
They were said to be slow and have low aggressiveness, yet they could store a large amount of heat, acting as a combination of mobile heating and a boiler.
However, in the past, this system was not under her management but was handled by Bradley for specific allocation.
She walked forward and gently reached out to touch the surface of the shell, which resembled solidified lava.
“Madam, be careful, it’s a bit hot!” a Knight quickly warned. Emily immediately pulled her hand back, indeed feeling a wave of heat approaching, her fingertips turning slightly red.
“. . . They’re really alive,” she whispered, a trace of surprise and admiration in her voice.
Louis stepped forward and explained, “They’re not in a fully activated state, just at their normal temperature, but their body heat is alarmingly high. Once loaded, each one can provide a week’s worth of heat.”
Emily nodded gently, then looked at the convoys of carriages carrying Fireback Turtles departing, and couldn’t help but ask, “Is this enough to help everyone get through the whole winter?”
Louis smiled slightly but did not immediately answer.
He glanced at the distant geothermal area: “Not enough. Fireback Turtles lay eggs slowly and have a long breeding cycle, so relying on them as the main heat source is ultimately a drop in the bucket.”
“Then what should we do?” Emily looked at him, her eyes unconsciously showing some concern.
“I’m already working on a solution,” Louis said, turning back with a smile. “I’ve sent a few Knights to investigate the distribution of exotic plants near the lava fissures. Perhaps there’s a new heating method. Just wait a bit; there should be results in a couple of days.”
Emily paused, then gave a soft smile.
“You always have a way,” she said softly, almost to herself. “You always find a way to make everyone live a little better.”
Louis did not respond, simply watching the departing Fireback Turtle convoy quietly for a moment before turning around and raising his hand to signal everyone to continue forward. “Let’s go, next location,” he said calmly. “The pilot planting in the greenhouses should have results by now.”
The personal guards immediately followed, their steps brisk and their formations orderly.
