Free Web NovelWhen Louis woke up, the usual quiet was not by his side.
He turned his head to look, and Emily was leaning against the pillow, half-asleep, half-awake, coaxing the baby.
The five-month-old infant, however, wasn't crying; he just stared at him with wide, wet eyes, quietly, as if contemplating the three great questions of life.
Louis chuckled softly, leaned over and kissed Emily's forehead, and whispered, "I'll take him, you get some more sleep."
Emily nodded, handed the baby to him, snuggled back into the pillow, and soon drifted back into a light sleep.
Louis picked up the infant; the small body nestled softly in his arm, and plump fingers clutched at the lapel of his shirt, not with great strength, but held tightly.
"You're even earlier than I am," Louis chuckled softly twice, then, holding the baby, hummed a tune and gently rocked him before raising his hand and swiping it through the air.
A familiar "whoosh" sound, barely audible, rang out, and a translucent light screen unfolded before him.
【Daily Intelligence Update Complete】
【1: Duke Raymond is secretly mobilizing the Third Legion under his command, without reporting to the Imperial Capital.】
【2: Kosa Coldtooth possesses Peak Knight potential.】
【3: A veteran squad under the "Steel-Fanged Mad King" of the North Sea is en route to Dawn Harbor to plunder ships, arriving in fifteen days.】
Louis sat on the edge of the bed, holding the baby, and glanced at the first item, his expression unperturbed.
"Another one," he said blandly.
Since the Emperor's disappearance, he had seen countless intelligence reports on the movements of the empire's high-ranking officials.
Who was mobilizing troops, who was expanding their forces, who was forming alliances with whom—there were new variables almost every day.
The powder keg of power was already laid, waiting for a spark to fall and blow the entire empire to pieces.
However, this time it was different.
"Spencer Raymond..." He murmured the name, took out a small booklet from the bedside table, and turned to Duke Raymond's page: the youngest duke in the empire, thirty-six years old, current head of the Raymond family, whose territory was located between the Northern Region and the Southeast Province, known for a strong and conservative military reputation, and currently allied with the Fourth Prince.
Louis then noted after this paragraph: secretly mobilizing the Third Legion under his command, without reporting to the Imperial Capital.
"We'll have to deal with him sooner or later," he said softly.
His pen underlined the words "mobilizing troops without reporting," then he closed the notebook and continued to the next piece of intelligence.
The second piece of intelligence, however, made him raise an eyebrow, his eyes brightening a little.
【2: Kosa Coldtooth, after initial assessment, possesses Peak Knight potential.】
"Kosa Coldtooth..."
He remembered that name.
This barbarian youth was one of the first outstanding students from Border Guard Village to come to Red Tide, and Louis had met him just four days ago.
Tall, with a steady aura, he didn't talk much during training but was almost always in the top three in every assessment.
He hadn't expected him to be the second knight with Peak potential after Weil. Louis stroked the baby's soft hair and pondered for a moment: "Red Tide finally has its second Peak potential candidate."
But he wasn't too worried about his barbarian identity; facts had long proven that the Red Tide Territory's system was the strongest tool for assimilation.
"It just needs time," he whispered. "Let Bruch and Halom put more effort into him. Once he's integrated enough, bring him to my side, just like Weil, to feel the warm light of the Northern Region sun."
Thinking of this, he looked down at the small infant in his arms. The little one was biting his own tiny fist, his eyes rolling, clearly wide awake.
"Are you also feeling your old father's light?" Louis asked him with a smile. "If you were a little older, I'd let you try the dripping blood stone too."
The little infant, of course, didn't understand, raising his small hands and waving them, which made Louis chuckle.
【3: A veteran squad under the "Iron-Fanged King" of the North Sea is en route to Dawn Harbor to plunder ships, arriving in fifteen days.】
The third piece of intelligence made Louis's eyes change slightly, but only for an instant.
"The veteran squad under the Steel-Fanged Mad King has indeed set their sights on us."
He pondered for a moment, his gaze deepening.
Iron-Fanged King Kavil, this North Sea pirate king known as the "Steel-Fanged Mad King," was one of the most troublesome presences along the Northern Region coast. Not only was he cruel and tyrannical, but he was also famous for his hundreds of small raiding ships, which roamed the North Sea like a pack of wolves, plundering countless merchant fleets, fishing boats, and isolated ports every year, for decades. The Imperial Navy had attempted to encircle and suppress him many times, but always returned empty-handed.
Once the Breaking Waves Bay opened for navigation, Dawn Harbor, as a burgeoning trade hub, was bound to become one of this mad king's primary targets.
The current arrival was a veteran reconnaissance squad under his command. While it didn't necessarily mean he himself was about to move, it undoubtedly signified that Dawn Harbor's existence had entered the purview of that black-sailed force.
Louis was not flustered; he merely frowned slightly.
"But it's just a detachment after all. Even if Kavil truly comes with his fleet, there's no need to be alarmed.
We'll meet force with force, and water with earth. As long as they dare to approach, we'll make them understand that Dawn Harbor is not their hunting ground."
He got up and placed the baby back in Emily's arms, saying softly, "Tomorrow, I should go to Dawn Harbor."
Emily nodded gently, the infant's small hands still waving in the air, as if still longing for his father's embrace.
The light outside the window was already clear; a new day had begun.
Before departing, Louis summoned several key staff members individually.
First was Bradley.
"The autumn harvest season is coming, and I might not be back, so pay attention," Louis said, glancing over the agricultural report spread out before him. "Order an early inventory and estimated yield of farmlands everywhere, especially paying close attention to Wheat Wave Territory."
Bradley stood by, quickly taking notes: "Understood, Lord Louis."
"Stockpiling winter supplies must start now," Louis continued. "Granaries, salt, fuel, warm fabrics—prepare Red Tide's portion in advance. As for supplies for other territories in the Northern Region, we'll decide when I return."
Bradley nodded, responding in a deep voice: "Understood, I will personally oversee it."
After giving these instructions, Louis then called for Hamilton.
The young craftsman wore a greasy leather apron, his hair somewhat matted to his forehead with sweat.
Upon seeing Louis, he nervously rubbed his hands, his voice soft: "Lord Louis, that—we've started mass production of the steam loom."
"Very good," Louis nodded, a look of affirmation in his eyes. "You're doing well, Hamilton."
Hamilton shyly lowered his head: "Actually, actually, Mr. Mike helped me a lot. I—I just modified it according to the blueprints..."
Louis smiled: "Next, I hope you focus on the direction of power propulsion."
The young man looked up, a little hesitant: "Are—are you referring to the land-based steamships?"
Louis nodded: "But I heard you've encountered a bottleneck with marine steam engines?"
Hamilton scratched his head: "For marine use, the heat output isn't enough to drive the propeller blades. If there's too much cargo, it can't move at all."
"Then try ground-priority steam vehicles," Louis suggested. "No need to achieve everything at once; start with what's easy."
Hamilton's eyes lit up immediately: "I understand! I—I'll try to draw a new design in the next few days."
"Don't rush, take your time. But don't stop thinking."
"Understood, Lord Louis!"
Next was Bruch, who was now in charge of training Apprentice Knights and was summoned by Louis.
The burly Bruch stood ramrod straight as soon as he entered: "Lord Louis, did you call for me?"
"From now on, the management of the training camp will be elevated by one level," Louis said in a deep voice. "Focus on three types of people: those showing signs of breakthroughs, those with abnormal discipline, and those of barbarian origin."
"Especially that Sako," Louis nodded. "I think he has potential, strong explosive power. You need to keep an eye on him."
Bruch frowned: "Sako? Of barbarian origin."
"That's why you need to keep an eye on him," Louis softened his tone. "If people of barbarian origin are isolated before they are accepted, they will instinctively retreat into their tribal shell, and then we will never be able to keep them."
Bruch took a deep breath and nodded heavily: "Understood, Lord Louis. I will arrange for Halom to assist."
"Mm," Louis responded.
Bruch bowed slightly and turned to leave.
Finally, Louis donned his cloak and walked out of the main hall. The elite escort team waiting outside was already fully prepared.
This team consisted of eighteen carefully selected members from the Red Tide Knights, fifteen of whom were High-ranking Elite Knights and three were Transcendent.
Each was equipped with full battle gear and battlefield-use magic-blast grenades, moving in unified rhythm.
Such a knight squad could almost traverse the entire Northern Region unhindered.
Louis walked to the door, glanced at them, and nodded slightly: "Depart."
In the early morning, the fog had not yet completely dispersed, and the outline of Shadow Valley was vaguely visible in front of the knight squad.
A dozen or so riders advanced slowly, with thick stone posts and simple wooden fences along the roadside, and the distant mountains still maintained the weathered appearance of old tombs.
However, the outer sentry posts, traps, and beacons had long transformed it into a secret stronghold of the Red Tide Territory.
Louis reined in his mount, overlooking from a high point on the hillside.
The valley entrance had three alert defense lines; though their appearance was deliberately kept simple, they concealed hidden mechanisms.
The outermost layer consisted of cheval de frise disguised as old wooden stakes and tripwire alarm devices. The middle zone concealed multiple buried magic-blast traps, capable of directional strikes against large groups of targets.
The inner circle was manned by two carefully selected patrol knights, who rotated frequently and whose routes intersected, sufficient to detect abnormal movements at the first instance.
"It's more standardized than before," he commented softly. Before his attendants could announce, light footsteps were heard from the entrance of the Shadow Valley camp.
Arian, cloaked, arrived quickly, a touch of travel dust on his face, but he was very excited.
The chief in charge of Shadow Valley, one of the earliest loyal followers of the Red Tide Territory, now bowed respectfully: "Lord Louis, I didn't expect you to visit today."
"Just passing by," Louis dismounted, tucking his gloves into his belt. "How are the recent promotion situations?"
"Reporting as follows," Arian pulled out a brief pamphlet from his cloak. "Over the past three weeks, a total of three have broken through to become Transcendent Knights, and seventeen have broken through to become Elite Knights.
One individual, who had suffered a mental breakdown during the low-temperature sensory trial, successfully advanced after we adjusted the pace and potion ratios and re-participated."
His speech was not fast, but his words carried a certain confidence, clearly very satisfied with the current process.
Louis flipped through the roster, nodding with satisfaction.
Breaking through to Transcendent was not an easy feat; most Elite Knights, even if they spent their entire lives, failed to cross that threshold.
But in this Shadow Valley, three had succeeded in just one month, an achievement that could be called unique in the entire empire.
Not to mention the many more certificates of successful promotion to Elite, each representing future potential.
Among these people, a few would truly grow to become the backbone supporting Red Tide, and they would surely remember who gave them this opportunity.
True loyalty is not won by oaths, but by faith and the grace of changing one's destiny.
And these knights, forged in this way, would one day repay this investment with loyalty, even their lives.
Louis thought to himself, it seems this spiritual forge is indeed worth investing so much resources and manpower into.
Arian tentatively said, "If you have time, I suggest you personally observe the latest round of training procedures at the altar. It has been adjusted again ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ since your last visit."
Louis smiled: "I had that in mind. Weil is also going to attempt a breakthrough this time."
"Weil?" Arian was startled, then looked in surprise at the silent young guard. "He's already at the critical point?"
"Almost," Weil scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "Actually, it's just a little bit more; I just haven't had the nerve to say anything."
"That's truly—" Arian rarely showed such a surprised expression. "To step into Transcendent at such a young age, you're the first among this group in Red Tide."
Louis patted Weil's shoulder: "He's no worse than anyone else. This is a good opportunity for us to see the actual results of the spiritual forge."
"Understood," Arian's smile became serious. "I'll take you there now."
Arian personally led the way, and Louis and his entourage successively entered several core areas, starting with the Shadow Moss cultivation room.
In the semi-enclosed greenhouse, three types of Shadow Moss were meticulously planted in designated areas: the catalytic type for purifying breakthrough potions, the anti-illusion type for fumigation protection, and the focused type as a key ingredient for "mental shock bombs."
Several alchemists were sealing the extracted viscous liquid into transparent vials and placing them into wooden boxes marked with batch numbers. freewebnσvel.cøm
Louis approached to observe, picking up a vial of potion and gently shaking it in the light.
The color was stable, the concentration even, clearly of excellent quality.
"Very good," he nodded softly, his expression amiable. "This batch of catalysts turned out well."
Arian replied with a smile: "After we adjusted the formula to a more stable range, the yield increased by nearly ten percent."
Next, they entered the Lizard Beast Control Area.
Inside a spacious grotto, two Soul-Devouring Lizard Beast, fitted with control devices, were undergoing mental manipulation training.
One of them growled, releasing a shockwave, while several knight apprentices observed the interference range and waveform distribution from behind.
Finally, they arrived at the Central Altar Area, the Will Breakthrough Training Room. freeweɓnovel.cøm
In the center of the stone-structured domed hall, a low-temperature crystal platform stood quietly, surrounded by magic energy conduits and protective runes. Several auxiliary knights were conducting pre-checks.
Louis stood by the threshold, observing for a moment, and sighed softly: "It's truly not easy to transform a pile of wasteland into what it is now."
He turned to Arian, smiling: "The overall process is already very mature. You've done very well."
"Thanks to Lord Louis's trust," Arian's tone softened, and he bowed slightly. Louis patted Weil's shoulder, his voice gentle and filled with expectation: "Go in. We're all rooting for you."
