Lord of Winter: Beginning with Daily Intelligence - Chapter 635 - 371: The Dawn Fleet Arrives (Part 2)
Chapter 635: Chapter 371: The Dawn Fleet Arrives (Part 2)
The Red Tide Fleet swept through almost crushingly, dismissing these small sea bandits.
Alvin watched the white smoke rising from the cannon muzzles, a surge of respect welling up in his heart.
The Northern Territory never established a port due to unsuitable terrain and rampant piracy, and it was now safely passed thanks to the weapons and systems designed by that Lord.
On other calm days, seemingly uneventful, the Red Tide’s power was most eloquently demonstrated.
The ship strictly followed the “Red Tide Navigation Log,” with duties in the third-class cabins, labor and food distribution, night prayers, and safety bells, everything in order.
The sea breeze at night was painfully cold, yet the sailors could still smile and drink their soup.
No theft, no fighting, even the sick could handle light duties in rotation.
An old sailor leaned against the rail and sighed, “On a Red Tide ship, you can sleep at ease.”
Alvin remembered these moments, his heart tightening.
He looked at the steady progress of the Dawn, understanding that it was not luck, but the constant protection of that Lord.
And they did not disappoint, completing their mission.
Alvin looked towards the distant port, raised his hand, and shouted a high command: “Pass the order to all ships, form ranks and prepare to dock!”
The helm turned slowly, the gigantic ship as stable as a mountain, cleaving the waves.
The metal armor of the nine warships reflected dazzling light, like nine spears departing from the Northern Territory, piercing towards the Southeast Province’s coast.
……
The morning sea fog had not fully lifted, yet the waters outside Vero Port were already boiling.
The port’s lighthouse guard, Knight Darlin, squinted, seeing a glimmer of gold rising on the distant sea line.
Initially an illusion reflected in the fog, the light gradually formed a tidy metal outline under the sun.
The waves lifted by the ship’s bow rolled layer upon layer, like a snowfield advancing.
“Is that a fleet?” Darlin murmured.
As the sunlight completely pierced the fog curtain, the outlines of nine warships appeared.
They formed a formation like nine giant beasts, their hulls inlaid with gold, flags burning with the red tide emblem.
Darlin’s breath hitched: “Is this… the Empire’s fleet? No, I haven’t seen that flag before.”
The signalman’s voice beside him trembled, “Sir, should we sound the defense bell?”
Darlin gritted his teeth and shouted, “Light the red signal, full port alert!”
The lighthouse’s red light flickered in the fog, defense ships whistled, the dock’s whistle sounded in succession.
Workers were ordered to evacuate, all cargo operations at the port halted instantly.
People looked up at the sea, seeing nine warships steadily approaching, their masts towering, hulls as heavy as mountains.
“Too many… a full nine capital ships!” someone exclaimed.
Darlin rode down the lighthouse steps, barely having time to align his armor, rushing straight to the Port Affairs Hall, drenched in mist.
“Lord Herman! A whole fleet has arrived offshore, at least nine capital ships! No notice received!”
The Port Affairs Hall’s head, Herman Kelvin, was handling documents, looked up at the sound, his brows furrowed: “Nine ships? What a joke, the Imperial capital’s fleet doesn’t have such a large formation…”
Herman stood up, walked to the balcony, and looked towards the distant sea line.
In that moment, he almost forgot to breathe, nine warships with red flags lined perfectly, the metal emblems on their bows shining in the sun, like nine burning suns.
“That is… the Red Tide’s banner?” Herman muttered, then realized, “Louis Calvin… that is the eighth young master’s, no, Count Calvin’s fleet!”
He immediately ordered, “Open the port channel! All hands prepare to receive the Red Tide expeditionary envoy!”
……
The port’s bell echoed in the sea breeze.
The dock’s workers and merchants all laid down their work, looking up to gaze at the steel torrent.
The Dawn led at the front, the Dawn and Tide flanking, with the other Dawn-class escort ships following closely.
The nine gigantic ships entered the port side by side, the wooden breakwaters moaning against the surging waves, the metallic sheen reflecting on the sea, as if the port were enveloped in a red glow.
The Dawn docked first, anchor chains plunged into the water, the roar shaking the entire dock.
On the deck, Red Tide knights stood in solemn formation, their armor glinting, expressions calm.
“My God… that’s not the Empire’s ship, it’s from the Northern Territory!”
“Northern Territory? That permafrost land? They’ve actually built such a fleet?”
Herman personally led the team to greet them.
Arwin, draped in a Red Tide cloak, slowly disembarked from the Dawn’s plank. His boots made a crisp metallic sound on the dock, and his entourage followed in sync.
Herman was the first to bow: “Welcome to Vero Port.”
Arwin smiled in return: “On behalf of Lord Louis, we bring greetings and goods from the Northern Territory.”
As crates of cargo were hoisted and placed steadily on the dock, sunlight reflected the Red Tide seal and numbers on the crate surfaces.
The port recorder hurried to the front and pried open the crates with a crowbar.
Herman stood frozen in place, almost unable to believe the piles of goods and minerals before him.
The crates were filled with rare minerals from the Northern Territory.
Qi Vein Stone, Demon Marrow Ore, Flint Marrow Oil, Burnt Ember Iron.
Every item radiated a dazzling brilliance; these resources, extremely precious in the South, were now laid before them.
Subsequently, various weapons and fabrics, along with neatly stacked magical beast furs, piled up like mountains, awe-inspiring.
“Are these… all transported from the Northern Territory?” The port recorder’s hand trembled slightly as he looked incredulously at the fortune before him.
He quickly calculated with his fingers, his voice low but undeniable: “This must be worth… at least half a province’s trade volume!”
A low murmur of astonishment burst from the crowd, and the port’s atmosphere seemed compressed into a heavy weight, hanging heavily on everyone’s hearts.
Herman remained rooted in place, his face a mix of longing and anxiety.
Since the Northern Territory previously lacked ports and could only transport by land, they had never seen so many rare resources from there.
Moreover, these were not just Northern resources; they symbolized the rise of Red Tide’s power.
The fleet Louis Calvin brought far exceeded his previous expectations in scale and strength.
Once everything was arranged, he turned back to the Port Affairs Hall, quickly walked to the desk.
Herman picked up a quill, his handwriting slightly trembling, swiftly writing a letter to the Duke.
…
As night fell over the port, the bonfires on the dock reflected off the water, the flickering firelight illuminating the busy figures.
The workers continued methodically transporting the crates of goods, the crew cleaned the deck, the night wind carried the scent of salt.
“Arwin?! You… you are Arwin?”
A voice of surprised shout reached Arwin’s ears. He turned at the sound and saw that familiar face, a faint smile on his lips.
It was Tolan, his cousin, also a knight, who had originally been the one to take him aboard the ship.
Arwin stepped forward, gently patting Tolan’s shoulder: “It’s me, Brother Tolan.”
Tolan’s eyes carried a hint of complexity, suddenly recalling past events.
“Back then, on the Calvin Clan’s ship, you offended quite a few people. You were supposed to be executed.
It was me… I pleaded for you, used some old connections, and finally got you to accompany Lord Louis to the Northern Territory.
Didn’t expect, old friend, that you could lead such a large fleet back.”
Gratitude appeared on Arwin’s face, nodding slightly: “Indeed, thanks to Lord Louis, and thanks to you for your help.”
Then he lowered his head and took out a pouch of gold coins from his waist, gently handing it to Tolan: “I owe my present to your help back then. Without your plea, I would have disappeared long ago.”
Tolan was momentarily stunned, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, quickly waving his hand: “Too valuable, Arwin, I cannot accept.”
Arwin smiled, still insisting: “Without you pleading for me back then, I might be a corpse at sea now.”
Tolan reluctantly accepted the gold coins, his eyes showing a touch of complexity: “Alright, since you insist, I won’t refuse.”
He then half-jokingly said: “Had I known, I would have gone with you to the Northern Territory back then.”
Arwin raised an eyebrow, smiling in response: “It’s not too late now, join me, there’s a place for you.”
Tolan thought for a moment, shaking his head: “Forget it, forget it, the Northern storms are too fierce, I’ll stay here.”
He suddenly leaned closer, lowering his voice, jokingly whispered in Arwin’s ear: “But, if Lord Louis becomes the Calvin Family’s Patriarch someday, then we could work side by side again.”
The two exchanged a momentary glance, laughing aloud together.
Tolan took it as a casual joke.
While Arwin laughed, he silently remembered this remark, feeling that maybe, one day, this joke might actually come true.
