Lord of Winter: Beginning with Daily Intelligence - Chapter 520 - 318: Spy of the Silver Plate Guild (Part 2)
Chapter 520: Chapter 318: Spy of the Silver Plate Guild (Part 2)
“I understand everything.” The voice was deep but devoid of any emotion.
He paused, seemingly contemplating for a moment, then briefly added, “Tomorrow I’ll wander elsewhere. You all carry on as usual, without any slip-ups. Go rest early now.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he turned around and walked into the inner room without saying another word.
The room fell silent again, leaving only the subdued responses of his subordinates. Cold sweat formed on their foreheads, and they dared not breathe too loudly.
……
Late at night, the flickering candlelight cast shadows across the dilapidated shack, and Anthony was still awake.
Spread out on the table was a thick stack of papers, previously gathered covertly by spies disguised as merchants, noting down fragmented intel: Red Tide’s grain prices, goods allocation, knight patrol routes…
He had annotated and analyzed everything.
“The grain storage ledger and contract marks are clear… This system is tighter than that under the nobility of the Imperial Capital. It’s not easy to target.”
Cold thoughts surfaced in his mind, and just as he was about to devise how to plant spies…
Suddenly, an unfamiliar intent to kill pierced his heart like a blade.
Anthony’s head shot up, his pupils contracting sharply.
As an Extraordinary Knight, his instinct instantly sounded the alarm.
In the next moment, “Boom!”
The wooden wall exploded, dust spilled, and the door was kicked off, crashing against the stone wall with a resounding smash.
Half the house tilted violently amid the tremors, dust showering down.
Anthony’s heart clenched fiercely, but his body reacted faster than his mind, and his Fighting Energy ignited instantly!
Silvery flames burst forth around him, his figure blurred, and he darted swiftly to the corner of the room.
In the opposite corner, the iron cabinet exploded open, and three towering black-armored knights stepped out simultaneously.
“Creak, creak”
The sound of their heavy armor scraping was icy, their eyes hollow, but their bodies emanated a terrifying aura.
Each of them was an Extraordinary Knight-level battle puppet, modified with guild potions and runes.
Hot on their heels, over ten gray-armored guards also appeared, their eyes equally devoid of emotion, yet their movements were synchronized, like puppets.
Anthony shouted in a low voice, “Break out!”
Amid the roar, the battle puppets marched in unison, and silvery Fighting Energy surged forth, like a whirlwind sweeping through the room.
However, the enemy was quicker than he anticipated.
Through the shattered wall, several figures suddenly leaped in, their Fighting Energy burning into a glaring blue light in the night.
Their aura was sharp, steady, and ruthless.
Anthony felt a sudden chill in his heart.
“All above the Extraordinary?!”
Blue light and silver flames intertwined instantly, and the combat erupted without prelude.
An attacker descended suddenly, his long blade slicing through the air.
The black-armored battle puppet swung a giant sword to parry, erupting in a metallic clash and sending sparks flying.
Yet in the next moment, the edge of the blue Fighting Energy sliced through the puppet’s armor.
The guild’s prized modified knight, its chest exploded along with the steel, collapsing heavily, its body convulsing and shattering.
“What!” Anthony’s pupils contracted sharply.
Before he could react, another attacker flickered through the gray-armored guards like a phantom.
The blade flashed like lightning, blue Fighting Energy tore through the air, leaving a mist of blood and shards of metal.
The guards’ synchronized attacks crumbled in an instant, staining the stone floor with blood.
In a matter of seconds, the entire room had turned into a purgatory.
Anthony gritted his teeth and roared, Fighting Energy surged, and he rushed forward like a silver comet, forcibly creating a gap, attempting to escape through the side window.
Yet a mountainous pressure suddenly bore down on him.
Another blue figure appeared ahead, its blade slicing through the night air with a chilling whistle.
Anthony barely managed to block with his sword, feeling his arm tremble as if his bones would crack.
The next instant, his left knee was struck hard, sending him sprawling to the ground.
“Ah—!”
The intense pain brought out cold sweat all over him, yet his consciousness was forcibly suppressed.
He struggled frantically, the silver Fighting Energy burning in his chest, only to be immediately snuffed out by the encircling blue auras.
Next, a blade pressed against his throat, and several chains locked him down tightly, binding him firmly.
Anthony gasped heavily, his chest heaving violently.
It’s over.
His heart was filled with despair.
Why did I get exposed? Was it the betrayal of the subordinate of that fat merchant? Or a spy sent by the Imperial Capital secretly stabbing me in the back? Or is it… the Red Tide Territory had been watching me all along?
His heart was full of question marks, but he ultimately had no way of knowing.
The enemy didn’t give him a chance to speak, delivering a final heavy blow to the back of his neck, and his vision went black.
Anthony’s body fell heavily to the ground, his silver fighting energy dissipating like smoke in the night.
The surroundings were silent, only the remnants of the wooden beams lightly swaying.
The blue-armored knight who led slowly sheathed his sword and took off his armored helmet, revealing a hard and cold face.
It was none other than the captain of the Cold Iron Knight Order—Felan.
He stepped forward, slightly bent a knee, his tone carrying a bit of ease: “Report, Lord, the mission is accomplished.”
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the unconscious captive on the ground, adding somewhat helplessly:
“However… one of my men was careless and broke his leg.”
The young lord, standing aside observing the battle, lifted his chin, his expression carrying a hint of a smile, yet his brows and eyes remained calm as always.
Louis shook his head lightly, his tone relaxed: “It’s okay. As long as his mouth can still talk, it’s fine.”
Felan curled his lips: “That’s good. As for the interrogation, we can handle that too. The Knight Order has the finest interrogators.”
Louis raised his eyebrows and chuckled admiringly: “No wonder it’s the strongest Knight Order in the Northern Territory, equipped with everything.”
Felan bowed with a smile and ordered his men to drag the unconscious Anthony and the other captives away.
This scene was actually already in Louis’s prediction.
Through the Daily Intelligence System, he had long learned that spies from the Silver Plate Guild were lurking in this city.
He didn’t scare the snake away, but patiently laid the line, waiting for the big fish to surface by itself.
Now, Anthony, the person in charge of the Northern Territory, was finally caught, still carrying his unfinished secret mission.
“Just right.” Louis murmured in his mind, a smile curling at the corner of his lips, “In a few days, the distinguished guests from the Imperial Capital will arrive, and I’ll let them see the Red Tide’s welcome gift.”
Around the ruined house, some residents awoken by the commotion poked their heads out, whispers rising and falling.
“Is this… catching thieves?”
“Look, people from the Knight Order! And… the Lord!”
Someone recognized the tall figure and exclaimed in surprise, immediately drawing more people.
The street and alley under the night quickly filled with curious onlookers, the voices gradually converging.
“Lord!”
“Lord Louis!”
They waved, their cheers enthusiastic, with respect shining in their eyes.
After all, apart from the Government Hall, recently few people could see this lord in person.
Faced with this sudden crowding, Louis raised his hand slightly, his expression gentle as he said: “Everyone disperse now. Just catching some bad guys, no need to be alarmed. Go home early and rest early.”
With that said, he mounted his horse, his cloak fluttering, leading the whole group away.
……
Winter wind howling, the procession stretched for miles.
The carriage adorned with black and gold motifs slowly rolled across the rugged mountain path, front and rear guards forming a square formation, flags fluttering, showcasing the Empire’s majesty.
Thick snow covered the official road, the hooves often sinking deep into it, the animals pulling the carriage panting like oxen.
Occasionally, when the wheels slipped, the attendants had to get down to push and edge them, their legs deep in mud and snow.
Sitting in the wide carriage, Camille covered his mouth and nose with a handkerchief, frowning as he looked out the window.
In the distance were the ruins and broken walls covered by snow, occasionally a few charred wooden stakes could be seen, remnants of villages destroyed by pest and war.
“Truly a ghostly place.” He couldn’t help but mutter under his breath, his eyes full of disgust and impatience.
“Not staying in the Imperial Capital, and yet they sent me to the Northern Territory… Inspector Envoy? Ha, feels more like exile.”
The attendants exchanged glances, not daring to speak.
The ceremony was originally supposed to be held in the Imperial Capital or at least in an agent city.
But now the Emperor’s whereabouts were unknown, and the Northern Territory was a mess, Frost Halberd City yet to be completely rebuilt, eventually deciding on holding it in Red Tide.
Camille’s heart was even more dissatisfied: “The Northern Territory is in such ruin, does it still require a permanent post? Frost Halberd City, that half-ruined fortress, is going to be my station for the next few years?”
But in truth, this assignment wasn’t forced upon him, but he himself volunteered to take it.
