Lord of Winter: Beginning with Daily Intelligence - Chapter 583 - 348: Alchemy Master (Part 2)
Chapter 583: Chapter 348: Alchemy Master (Part 2)
He was born in the Jade Federation, a commercial federation where the rich live lavishly and the poor are like dust.
People there regard money as blood, with social class almost engraved into their bones.
Merian’s brother was sold to pay off the family’s debts, becoming a chanting puppet, a slave transformed by alchemy, stripped of will.
That scene cast a lifelong shadow over him.
He was different from his brother, showcasing an astonishing memory from a young age.
The Green Tide Guild discovered him, took him away, praising his extraordinary talent.
In his youth, the Green Tide Guild selected him to take away, and since then, he has been confined to a laboratory among reagents.
Decades have passed, and now he is nearing sixty, nominally a Great Alchemist of the Jade Federation, with considerable academic prestige.
But before the guild, he remains just a researcher who obeys orders.
Merian is timid, never debates, and doesn’t dare to resist.
Wherever the guild sends him, he goes, never asking why.
When the Northern Territory sampling task was issued, he didn’t even dare hesitate, just nodded, signed, and was taken aboard a ship.
That obedience had long become instinct, like a deeper shackle.
And this time, setting out, Merian never imagined trouble would arise.
On the day the ship set sail, the sky was overcast; he just held the sample box in his room, silently praying for the task to end quickly.
Afterward, things became blurry, only fragments remained in his mind.
Collisions, screams, firelight, dense fog, and that scorching bloody smell.
He doesn’t remember how he survived, only recalls that moment, his mind went blank.
All reason, research, companions, dignity, were submerged by fear, leaving only one thought, which was survival.
Now he can only stare blankly at the iron chain by his feet.
The memory surged back repeatedly like a tide, making him afraid to breathe too deeply.
Suddenly a low explosion sounded from outside the ship, like someone ignited thunder under the sea.
The entire cell shook violently, dust and wood chips fell from the ceiling.
Merian lifted his head, eyes fixated on the door’s crack.
Outside came short footsteps, followed by metal clashes and agonizing screams.
His breath stopped, throat parched, that sound chaotic, hurried, like the whole ship being torn apart.
Countless possibilities flashed through his mind.
Could it be other pirates? Or perhaps the Federation sent someone to rescue him?
The thought barely emerged and his heart briefly held hope, but it was soon drowned by new fear.
What if it’s not a rescue?
If the attackers outside saw him, deemed him useless, would they kill him outright?
The footsteps grew closer, accompanied by heavy impacts.
Merian curled tighter, body pressed against the cold wooden wall.
The iron chain beside him shook uncontrollably, only then did he realize it wasn’t the ship swaying but himself trembling.
Soon, the door was smashed open, firelight flooding in.
He instinctively squinted, only to see a group of iron-clad people walk in.
The sound of metal plates scraping echoed in the cramped cabin, their footsteps steady and orderly.
Someone stretched out a hand to unlock his chain, not roughly, yet without warmth.
Merian was lifted up, almost supported as he was led out of the cell.
He looked up wanting to see their faces, but saw only shadows under the visors.
These were neither Federation soldiers nor pirates. He had never seen this armor style, faintly red amidst the black.
……
As the fog dispersed, fragments of wood and charred canvas still drifted on the sea surface.
Dawn Port’s dike remained intact, a night-long battle hadn’t inflicted any damage on the port.
Because the battle happened not in the port area but in the offshore undercurrent belt.
Marine soldiers and craftsmen were orderly preparing salvage work, several small boats glided along the sea mist, retrieving debris to see what could be found.
By the next day’s noon, Eliot hurried with a report.
“The battle results have been cleaned up, sir,” Eliot said, with a barely contained excitement on his face.
“This experiment was highly successful, all data recorded. Dawn’s main cannon accuracy maintained at over ninety percent, armor pressure test passed, ship operation stable, no instance of loss of control.”
Louis nodded slightly: “Very good.”
“Additionally,” Eliot opened a scroll, “the captured pirates have all been interrogated.
They come from the Steel Tooth Mad King’s fleet, this action was an independent fleet of his, aiming to seize a Jade Federation merchant ship and transfer the cargo and personnel to the Mad King.”
Louis raised an eyebrow: “Jade Federation?”
“The target might be some kind of alchemy material, we’ve also taken it, and one person claims the Mad King is hiding around the Ice Abyss Islands in the Northern Sea, but the intelligence is uncertain.
And this attack on Dawn Port was a private action, lacking the Mad King’s official orders.”
“Display those executed for all to see.” Louis’ tone was flat, “Hang them outside the port, could reassure the residents a bit, letting them know this port is not something anyone can touch.”
“Understood, sir.”
Louis turned, his tone becoming lower: “After winter next year, we should take the initiative to strike. If Steel Tooth Mad King’s forces are not eradicated, the route to the Southeast New Province will never be safe. Eliot, make solid preparations.”
Eliot’s expression jolted, then he straightened up: “Yes, sir. I believe the Dawn’s fleet can withstand any enemy.”
Louis smiled faintly, refocusing his gaze.
Just then, Eliot recalled another matter, hesitated briefly before speaking: “There are also a few rescued Federation Commerce Association personnel, sir.
Per your orders, they’ve been arranged to rest in the port administration’s infirmary, we haven’t conversed much with them. If you’d like to see them, I can arrange it now.”
“I’ll go after the meeting concludes.”
“Yes.” Eliot nodded, bowed, and retreated.
……
Louis rode along the port road, wind blowing from the sea carrying salt and fishy scent.
Dawn Port loomed in the morning mist, the sound of hammers striking still audible from afar.
It was becoming a rising port city, dikes firm, docks aligned, new workshops’ rooftops still emitting white smoke.
Hooves clacked crisply on cobblestones; Louis’s mind was calculating that intelligence.
[1: Merian Schmidt, an Alchemy Master from the Jade Federation Bi Chao Guild, on the pirate ship near Dawn Port.]
Beyond that, the system provided no further intelligence.
Yet the term Alchemy Master was enough to tempt any Lord, such people barely appeared in the Northern Territory, let alone for him to encounter.
If truly retained, the Red Tide City’s alchemy systems could advance ten years.
Louis had already decided, even if he doesn’t want to stay, he must be retained.
But he knew pressing too hard could backfire.
If such a timid researcher were frightened, even the smartest mind would be useless.
Thus he decided to employ gentler methods.
The infirmary was suffused with the scent of herbs and sea salt.
A few rescued wounded from the pirate ship leaned against the wall, faces pale, lowly groaning.
While Merian sat in the corner, expression dazed, fingers unconsciously rubbing his clothes.
Louis recognized him at once; after all, the others were young, clearly alchemy apprentices.
On the other side, Merian sensed someone approaching, slightly lifted his head, used peripheral vision to scrutinize the young man in black noble attire.
The man bore a smile, yet conveyed an undeniable sense of pressure.
Merian immediately lowered his head, dared not look further but began calculating internally; this person should be the leader here and appears not to be bad.
If he interrogates, should he use a fake name? Then use money to ransom himself out? He had already composed several arguments mentally.
But the young man stopped before him, directly stated: “Merian Schmidt, Great Alchemist. Alchemist under the Jade Federation Bi Chao Guild, correct?”
Merian stiffened completely, facial color changed drastically.
