Free Web NovelThe morning light in the North still arrived late.
Snow piled up silently outside the window, and light filtered through the heavy curtains, a faint white.
Louis woke up and turned his head. Emily was curled up in the blankets to his left, her blue hair spread on the pillow, a faint smile on her lips.
Sif, to his right, was sleeping with her arms wrapped around his, her silver-white hair newly trimmed short and fanned out at her neck, her brows slightly furrowed as if dreaming.
Louis looked at them, his expression unconsciously softening.
Only their breathing and the soft crackle of the fireplace could be heard in the room, making it too warm to disturb.
Louis gently got up, putting on his outer robe, careful not to disturb them.
Candlelight flickered by the fireplace, and the air was filled with a faint scent of pine resin.
He raised his hand and summoned the familiar blue light, a faint energy fluctuation spreading through the air.
Daily Intelligence System Update Complete
1: The Fourth Prince, Rhine, bribed Mace, the Head of the Censorate, who agreed to propose the restoration of the Electorate system at next year's Dragon Throne Council.
2: Duke Calvin decided to separate Louis from the Calvin Merchant Guild, redrafting the contract with a partnership framework.
3: Sif is pregnant and will give birth to a daughter for Louis Calvin in ten months.
Louis stared at the first item, his brow slightly raised.
The Electorate system was an old system dating back to the founding emperor's era.
The eight great families at that time were known as Electors, the earliest vassals to follow the founding emperor, and they were granted the sacred right to elect the emperor at the empire's inception.
Each family possessed vast territories, independent legions, and seats in the political assembly, serving as pillars of imperial politics.
Whenever the throne was vacant, they would elect a new king at the Dragon Throne Council through voting or strategic alliances based on the imperial bloodline.
Those meetings often lasted for days or even weeks, filled with transactions, marriages, and oaths.
The initial imperial power was not divinely bestowed but established by these eight families.
Because of this, the Electorate system was once regarded as the highest symbol of aristocratic order.
Later, several generations of emperors successively curtailed feudal lords, abolished dukes, and rebuilt direct legions, uprooting the Electorate system, leaving only the names of the eight great families, but no longer allowing them to meddle in the succession of the throne.
Today, the eight families are already broken and incomplete; some have dwindling bloodlines, some have declining influence, and some, though listed, are not as powerful as the new nobles.
Proposing the restoration of the Electorate system in such an era sounds like reclaiming dignity for the old nobility, but in reality, everyone knows it's impossible to go back.
The imperial family would not recognize it, nor would equally powerful new nobles.
Even the few remaining families themselves might not truly have the courage to sit at a table again and divide the realm.
So this is more like a banner intentionally raised.
To buy time, incite ambition, stir up the situation, make the Ministry of Military Affairs and the old nobility suspicious of each other, and delay the true succession struggle from settling.
Louis quickly understood the implications and murmured, “Rhine... it seems you’re really anxious.”
For him, such imperial capital infighting was far from the North.
As long as the situation continued to be muddled, the North would have more time to solidify its roots, which was a good thing for him.
“You all keep making trouble. I, a mere Count, will just continue building the empire.”
Then Louis’s gaze fell on the second item.
2: Duke Calvin decided to separate Louis from the Calvin Merchant Guild, redrafting the contract with a partnership framework.
“Partnership?” He chuckled softly, a hint of coldness in his tone.
He had, of course, long anticipated this moment.
The Duke’s trust had never truly existed; the so-called separation was merely a delayed ceremony.
The consequences of this action were almost predetermined: the Calvin Family would view Red Tide as an independent economic entity outside the family, and the family merchant guild's circulation network would be forced to contract.
In the short term, Red Tide's trade channels might be constrained, but Louis was not flustered.
He had made ample preparations: the North's independent trade system, the financial system controlled by the Red Tide Council Hall, and the fact that most of the Calvin Merchant Guild members in the North still relied on Red Tide, all would allow him to continue operating even after losing the Calvin Merchant Guild's support.
Louis knew this was just a family test: whether he would rejoin the family system or become completely independent.
And for him, the choice was already clear.
Red Tide must become more independent, completely separated from the Calvin Family's control.
As for fully integrating into the Calvin Family, that had never been an option since he arrived in the North.
He slightly raised his hand, brought up Red Tide's financial charts, and watching the series of steadily growing data, his lips slowly curved upwards.
However, he also understood that this freedom from the family was not without cost.
Red Tide still relied on some of the Calvin Merchant Guild's channels in the imperial capital, especially for importing southern food and luxury goods.
“It seems I still rely on them too much.”
He had already started making a list in his mind.
Instead of passively waiting for the family to withdraw support, it was better to use this opportunity to completely decouple.
However, he also knew that for at least the next year, Red Tide would still need to rely on some of the Calvin Merchant Guild's channels.
Imperial currency circulation, port cargo transshipment, and the import of luxury goods from the Southeast.
These were still in the family's hands. If he turned against them now, Red Tide would fall into a dual predicament of funds and circulation.
“I can’t break ties immediately,” he mused, tapping his fingertips on the table.
“Stabilize for a year, expand the shipping lines from Dawn Harbor, and find a few more outlets.”
Several names flashed through his mind: the Federation Merchant Guild, the North Sea Free Port, and even the periphery smuggling routes of the Church.
“Later, let’s have a meeting,” he said softly.
It was time to plan the next step, allowing Red Tide to gradually break away from the family’s shadow and move towards true independence while maintaining its dignity.
The moment he saw the third piece of intelligence, he froze for a moment.
3: Sif is pregnant and will give birth to a daughter for Louis Calvin in ten months.
He was stunned for a few seconds, then a smile slowly appeared on his face. The smile spread little by little until his eyes became gentle. ƒreewebɳovel.com
“...Really?” he murmured softly, his heart suddenly quickening.
He turned his head to look at the bed.
Sif’s silver hair was disheveled, and she was still sound asleep, clutching a pillow, her eyelashes trembling slightly.
At this moment, Louis felt a warmth in his heart.
He couldn't help but walk back, lean down, put one arm around Emily, and the other around Sif, holding both of them in his embrace.
Emily stirred softly in her sleep, half-opening her eyes to look at him, with a hint of playfulness, and teased softly, “Lord Louis, so early again, trying to catch us off guard?”
Sif rubbed against his chest, groggily opening her eyes.
“Louis?” Her voice was soft, laced with sleepiness.
“It’s nothing,” Louis said softly with a smile, his tone so gentle it almost contained laughter, “It’s just... I’m happy.”
He cupped Sif’s chin with one hand, gently placed a kiss on her lips, then turned and pressed a deeper kiss on Emily’s forehead.
Both of them froze almost simultaneously, their faces flushing.
“Louis, why are you so... unusual today?” Emily said, half-teasing, half-complaining, yet snuggling closer.
Sif looked up to ask but was gently pulled into his embrace, her forehead resting against his neck.
“It’s nothing,” Louis said softly, “I just feel... exceptionally good today.”
He lowered his head and kissed them again, this time deeper, longer.
The three of them intimately intertwined for a while longer, and after some time, Louis got up and put on his outer robe.
After an hour of cultivation as usual, he washed and changed, arranging his cloak and collar with their help.
When he walked out of the bedroom, the scent of bread and meat soup already wafted through the corridor.
At the breakfast table, Emily smiled as she served him soup, and Sif occasionally glanced up at him, but also quietly cut his bread for him.
After breakfast, the guards were already lined up at the door.
Louis put on his cloak and turned to instruct, “Weil, call Bradley and Desland, the Head of the Commerce Department. We’ll have a meeting.”
...In the office, Louis stood by the window, his back to the firelight, contemplating things as he watched the bustling crowd outside.
Soon after, Bradley and Desland were led into the study by a guard.
Both looked reserved, knowing that anything that made Louis call an impromptu meeting must be serious.
“Information has come from the family,” Louis began, with a hint of chill, “Duke Calvin intends to renegotiate trade agreements and Red Tide trade terms, under a partnership framework, not as a direct part of the family.”
He paused, his gaze sweeping between the two, as if observing their expressions.
“This means Red Tide either returns to the ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) family system, accepting their directives, or is completely excluded, no longer able to use family resources.”
Bradley lowered his head. As the Calvin Family’s Old Butler, he naturally knew what this meant, and he was now leaning towards Red Tide.
He said in a low voice, “Then what is Lord Louis’s intention?”
“My intention,” Louis slowly stated, “is that Red Tide will not turn back.”
Desland’s palms were sweating, his breathing slightly ragged.
He also came from the Calvin Merchant Guild as a steward and was now the Head of the Commerce Department in Red Tide. He was very grateful for Louis’s promotion and would certainly not side with the Calvin Family.
Louis noticed their tension and softened his tone.
“There’s no need to be nervous,” he said calmly, “I anticipated this conflict long ago.
From the day the Red Tide Council Hall was established a year ago, I said that Red Tide must be able to survive without the family.”
Bradley looked up, seemingly recalling that exact event: “Lord Louis indeed had plans early on.”
At the time, everyone thought he was pushing financial reforms; no one realized that was actually the first step towards de-familialization.
“I knew that as Red Tide continued to grow, the family would eventually make a move,” Louis continued. “They came a little earlier than I expected.
So I proactively courted members of the merchant guild. Eighty percent of the core staff in the North’s merchant guild branch have secretly joined the Red Tide system.
I had their families live in Red Tide City, their children attend school, enter workshops, and receive dividends and subsidies from the Council Hall. They naturally understand who to listen to now.”
Desland took a breath and whispered, “And almost all goods from the North have been rerouted through Red Tide’s ledgers. Grains, charcoal, magma essence, furs, ores—all circulate within the Council Hall’s system.”
“Exactly,” Louis nodded. “More than half of the Northern territories’ taxes and settlements are on our books. Even external nobles bypass the family merchant guild and trade directly with Red Tide.”
He turned to look at the two of them: “I’ve been gradually separating from the Calvin Merchant Guild’s system, expecting to complete it within two years, but I didn’t expect them to cut ties now. They might have sensed something.
Ultimately, it’s my responsibility. I was too cautious and didn’t lay out alternative routes sooner.
So, what we need to discuss now is how to respond.”
Bradley pondered for a moment before speaking: “I suggest we secretly and completely delineate Red Tide’s merchant guild system from the Calvin Merchant Guild.
We need to first identify who truly works for Red Tide and who still belongs to the Calvin Family faction.”
He paused and continued, “We can also contact the external Northern nobles with whom we have close cooperation. They all rely on our minerals.
If we can sign direct agreements with them, we can maintain trade lines even if we bypass the Calvin Family.”
Desland shook his head, cautiously adding, “But in the short term, we still can’t do without the Calvin Merchant Guild’s shipping routes, especially the sea transport from Dawn Harbor. We still need to use their ports to transship goods.
But Lord Louis is right, we can no longer be entirely dependent. We must quickly find alternative main trade routes to ensure future autonomy.”
Louis nodded: “Hmm.”
Bradley suddenly thought of something and said with a slight excitement, “I do have a candidate, and that is Count Harvey. He is one of the representatives of the New Nobles Alliance in the Empire and a competitor to the Calvin Family in trade routes.
If we can secretly cooperate with him, we can not only share risks but also open new sea access. Not to mention, you have an excellent relationship with his second son, Young Master Yoen.” ƒreewebɳovel.com
Louis was momentarily stunned, thought of the chubby young man, and then laughed aloud: “I actually overlooked him.”
Bradley also smiled, “That’s because you are too focused on Red Tide’s affairs, and didn’t think of this aspect.”
At this moment, Desland said softly, “Perhaps... we could also contact foreign merchant guilds. Although the risk is high, establishing secret trade lines would also be a way.”
The three of them were silent for a moment, only the fireplace occasionally crackled softly.
Louis slowly smiled: “This path is illegal; imperial law defines such actions as grave crimes. But just like the prohibition on slave trading, everyone knows it’s merely a rule written for commoners, and no one truly abides by it.”
He picked up his cup and took a sip of cold water: “Especially the great nobles; they have countless merchant guilds and estates abroad. Even the Calvin Family already has several branches established outside.”
He looked up at the two of them, his tone a bit more relaxed: “In other words, this danger... is just a scary-looking facade.”
Bradley nodded, and Desland chuckled softly.
Finally, Louis put down his cup, his gaze sweeping between the two: “As for the other arrangements, you two will proceed as planned. For external contacts, I will handle it.
I will talk to Yoen, and perhaps I can also use Count Harvey’s connections to sound out those foreign merchant guilds.”
Bradley and Desland exchanged glances, then responded in unison: “Yes, Lord Louis.”
