Lord of Winter: Beginning with Daily Intelligence - Chapter 463 - 292: Entrusting the Orphan (Part 2)

Chapter 463: Chapter 292: Entrusting the Orphan (Part 2)

Edmund raised an eyebrow, “So, are you willing?”

Louis paused and said, “Willing to work for the Northern Territory, but that doesn’t mean I’m willing to stand on the frontline.

I’m not native to the Northern Territory, and I’m a direct descendant of the Calvin Family. If the Duke truly wants to hand over the Governorship to me, I’m afraid not only the Northern Territory, but even the Imperial Capital would be unsettled.”

Edmund was noncommittal, “The Governorship of the North… is not something I can give to just anyone.”

Louis slightly raised his eyebrows, something stirred in his heart.

Edmund put down his wine glass and said slowly, “But now, the situation is different. The Emperor is missing.”

Louis’s expression shook, his brows furrowed, showing the appropriate amount of shock, “You said… what?”

“The news just came through the Gale Bird, not many people know yet. But… I trust you.”

Louis’s face turned solemn, remaining silent.

“This matter can no longer be concealed. His Majesty, along with the First Legion, the Dragon Blood Legion, and the Imperial Guard… all disappeared without a trace.”

Edmund’s voice was hoarse, as if recounting the collapse of a massive structure.

“By now, the Imperial Capital must already be in chaos,” he continued, “The Noble Council is vying for power, the military is in disarray, there is no appointed successor… I’m afraid it will be chaotic for several years.”

Louis’s expression grew heavier, as though the weight of this news pressed down on him, making it hard to breathe.

After a while, he asked softly, “Then… what about us in the Northern Territory?”

“That’s exactly what I wanted to talk about.” Edmund looked straight into his eyes, his gaze piercing through the firelight and growing especially sharp.

“They will fight among themselves for years. The Northern Territory, being on the fringes and of little importance, by then, the Imperial Capital won’t be able to manage. If I die, they won’t have the right to immediately appoint a new Governor.

At most, they’ll set up a Northern Reconstruction Affairs Council, just an empty title. What you need to do is to establish yourself firmly amidst this situation, grasp the real power of the Northern Territory.

I’ll make sure all those still loyal to me will support you. Just take this authority, don’t worry about anything else.”

Louis opened his mouth as if to say something, but was interrupted by Edmund raising his hand.

“Don’t decline,” Edmund’s tone was firm, his eyes carrying a kind of calmness between life and death, “I’ve seen too many nobles, knights, commanders… but you are the one with the greatest ability to govern.”

He slowly stood up, leaning on a wooden staff and taking a couple of steps, as if suppressing some emotion within his heart.

“I didn’t choose you just for the Northern Territory.”

His voice suddenly softened, like an old man recounting past events.

“My children… my eldest son died in battle, my second son is just one year old, my eldest daughter married to the Southern Territory and hasn’t returned for twelve years, we’ve become strangers. My most beloved youngest daughter is now your wife.”

Louis was shocked inside, but said nothing.

“My branch of the family… is almost withered, and the rest of the Edmund Clan has no promising members.” Edmund’s voice had a trace of tiredness, along with a decisive calmness, “I want to preserve not just the Northern Territory, but also the spark of the Edmund family.”

He turned around, gazing at Louis.

“So, I’m temporarily handing over the position of Lord of the North to you. This is a gamble, I bet you can hold it.”

The room was silent, with only the crackling of the fire as a whisper.

At this moment, however, Louis’s mind had already begun to race rapidly.

It was time to evaluate this game of power.

Edmund was critically ill, the Empire was shaken, the Emperor missing, the legions in chaos… the entire situation had entered a “grey period of rising power.”

He had the Daily Intelligence System to glimpse the future and the foundation of the Red Tide to stabilize the rear.

And the Northern Territory was now waiting, whoever could grasp the opportunity for vitality would hold the future.

But this path was by no means smooth.

The Third and Ninth Legions of the Empire remained, their military power hard to shake, the Sixth Prince Astha was eyeing intently, the Southern Pioneer Nobles were also aggressive, the shadows of the Old Northern vassals had not dispersed, each held schemes, none were benevolent.

“Can I really handle all this?” Louis whispered in his heart.

But this voice did not linger long before it was replaced by a deeper thought: You are a transmigrator, if you can’t handle this situation, how can you hope to become a God?

He chuckled self-deprecatingly in his heart, the brief hesitation like ice breaking, revealing the fiery flow beneath.

Louis finally spoke, his tone firm, “If you trust me, then I will not disgrace this trust.”

Edmund gazed at him, a hint of relief floating in his eyes.

“Good.” He raised his glass, lightly clinking it, the two cups producing a crisp sound.

“For as long as I have time left, I’ll protect you as long as I can; how far you go depends on your own ability.”

Louis nodded silently, raising his head to drink the strong liquor in his cup.

At that moment, he finally took up this baton of fate, and the destiny of the Northern Territory was rewritten from here.

……

The early spring nights in Frost Halberd City still carried a chill, but the inner hall deep within the Governor’s Mansion was lit warmly, like embers after a snowfall.

It was the tenth day after the war had ended, and Louis did not return to the Red Tide immediately, but stayed in Frost Halberd City.

Officially for recuperation, but in reality participating in something more complex than battle—the future trajectory of the Northern Territory.

Duke Edmund’s health was deteriorating every day, yet he did not slow down one bit, calling Louis into the study almost daily.

Sometimes to drink, sometimes to take medicinal tea, sometimes wearing a wolf fur cloak, leaning on the sofa with eyes closed to give instructions.

He deliberately or inadvertently brought Louis into the center of Northern Territory affairs.

“The Frost Feather Knight Order over there… you have to keep an eye on it, the deputy commander is loyal, but his vision isn’t broad enough.”

“Don’t rely entirely on the Empire for grain transportation routes, open a path through the old roads of Redrock and Sever Peak; after the locust disaster, that area is actually safer.”

“These few, I will allow you to meet individually, they are reliable.”

As he spoke, he introduced Louis, one by one, to the old subordinates and vassal nobles he had accumulated over his lifetime, like an elderly mafia godfather entrusting his empire to his successor.

Louis always agreed with a smile, but inside, he felt the weight of trust that carried a poignant sense of “entrusting one’s legacy.”

Before the reconstruction meetings, Duke Edmund did not call all his subordinates at once, but with extreme caution, summoned them in batches, separately.

At night, in his study, he called in his core generals, the nobles of the Old North, and vassals one by one, personally informing them of his decision to “entrust the North to Louis.”

Most had long been aware of the Duke’s severe injury, so although the news was filled with grief, they raised no objections.

In their eyes, although Louis was young, his achievements over the past few years were clear, and the governance of the Red Tide had a good reputation.

More importantly, they generally believed this was only a temporary entrustment.

Once young Edmond grew up, power would ultimately return to the Duke’s line.

Of course, not everyone was convinced.

Some families remaining from the Old North, superficially bowed in agreement but harbored discontent deep down.

They were suspicious of this Southern noble’s child, “After the Duke’s death, the North will descend into chaos, then will be our true opportunity.”

These thoughts, of course, were well hidden.

But on that half-transparent blue screen, everything had already been laid bare.

Louis recorded them all, who could be used, who could not, was now clear.

……

Several days later, Emily finally arrived in Frost Halberd City.

She wore a thick cloak, her face slightly flushed, yet couldn’t quite conceal the slight bulge in her abdomen.

“You hurried over like this, are you mad?” Edmund frowned, his words harsh but full of concern.

Emily gently held her father’s emaciated hand, “I couldn’t rest easy without seeing you.”

That night the family gathered around the table.

The young son Isaac nestled in his mother’s arms, yawning.

Lady Irina personally served the soup pot, chiding Emily for her fatigue, and refilled Louis’s bowl three times.

The firelight cast a warm and soft glow on everyone’s faces.

This was the most peaceful and warm night Edmund had experienced in years.

He didn’t even prepare for the Northern Reconstruction Meeting personally, leaving all the arrangements to Louis.