Lord of Winter: Beginning with Daily Intelligence - Chapter 697 - 394: The Chess Player

Chapter 697: Chapter 394: The Chess Player

In the dead of night, the warmth left by the departing family lingered in the study.

But once the door was gently closed, this warmth receded like the tide, leaving only a lamp casting Louis’s shadow long and slender.

He sat alone at the desk, the gentleness in his eyes gradually fading away, replaced by the calmness unique to a Lord.

That temperament was like a blade sheathed again, unseen but carrying a distinct aura.

A knock sounded at the door.

Bradley entered, holding a letter sealed with dark red fire lacquer.

The fire lacquer seal bore the tidal emblem of the Calvin Clan, the family’s highest-level urgent secret letter.

“Sir, it’s a personal letter from the Duke.”

Louis looked up, his expression calm, devoid of any emotion fluctuation, not even displaying surprise.

Because half a month ago, the Daily Intelligence System had already updated relevant intelligence.

Duke Calvin had a secret meeting with Church Court’s Special Envoy Salomon, reaching a secret agreement to provide funds for Louis to disrupt the Northern Territory and constrain the Imperial Northern Army.

Now this letter was merely a belated prop in the script.

But Louis still took the letter, casually picked up the paper cutter, and unfolded the letter.

The contents brought an inexplicable feeling of an old actor repeating an old routine.

The gist of the letter: The Empire is in turmoil, and this is the Calvin Clan’s chance to return to the summit.

Louis, you are the family’s sharpest sword, the hope of the Northern Territory.

For the Northern Territory and the family, you should cut off the Imperial Northern Army’s supplies and create border friction.

Once successful, the family will fully support you to become the true king of the Northern Territory.

Beautiful rhetoric, exaggerated vision, ambiguous promises.

But the Duke never mentioned a word about the huge military funds from the Church Court.

After reading the letter, a cool smile slowly appeared on Louis’s lips.

In others’ eyes, this letter was his father’s entrustment to his son, the family’s trust.

But in his eyes, it was nothing short of a pathetic clown performance.

“Real silver and gold first into your own treasury, then have me use Red Tide Territory’s blood to fulfill your dream… Father, do you think I don’t understand, or do you think I will pretend not to understand?”

Louis’s eyes carried an indifference and disinterest after seeing through the scheming.

Louis handed the letter to Bradley, “Have a look; this is my father’s grand plan.”

Bradley took the letter and read line by line, his brow furrowing tighter and tighter.

He didn’t know the military funds were secretly taken by the Duke, but he was smart enough to see the danger this posed to Red Tide Territory.

Cutting off supplies, provoking the Northern Army, this was strapping the entire Red Tide Territory to a powder keg.

This wasn’t supporting Louis but pushing him off a cliff.

The old butler’s hand trembled slightly as he held the letter; he knew the cunning of his former master.

“Young Master,” Bradley lowered his voice, “this matter… the risk is too great. Although the Empire is chaotic now, the Northern Army is still a steel army. As soon as we touch the supplies, they will label Red Tide a rebel. No matter how good the family’s promise, we have to survive that first blow.”

Louis laughed softly, saying casually, “You see it too? He’s trying to catch a white wolf with empty hands.”

Louis casually crumpled the letter and tossed it into the nearby trash can.

“Since Father thinks I can handle things on my own,” Louis stood, his gaze falling on the enormous map of the Northern Territory on the wall, “then I’ll do it my way.”

But it will no longer be the Calvin Clan deciding for him, but him deciding for the entire Northern Territory.

“Bradley, the reason Father is in such a hurry to jump out at this critical moment is because he smells blood.”

The night was silent, the only sound in the study was the flickering of the fireplace.

Louis stood by the window, his silhouette stretching out. His tone was unhurried, yet it sent a chill down one’s spine.

Bradley was stunned, “Young Master’s meaning…?”

Louis looked up, gazing at the distant dark sky, as if he could see through the darkness to the chaos of the Imperial Capital.

“My intelligence source tells me the Regent King is about to die.”

“What…” Bradley’s breath caught, nearly unable to steady his voice.

In the current situation, the Regent King was the last pillar of order for the Empire.

Once he falls, the princes will tear each other apart, and the legion commanders will each raise their flags to declare independence. The Empire will crack from top to bottom like a great house from which the steel beams have been removed.

Louis continued, “Once the Regent King dies, the South will be in chaos, the Imperial Capital even more so. And in the Northern Territory… those legion commanders will smell opportunity; they’ll test the waters and form alliances.”

Bradley bowed his head, cold sweat beading on his temple, “This… the Empire splitting, has it really…?”

“It’s a foregone conclusion.” Louis’s calm was terrifying, “Duke Calvin is only one of those who smelled the scent earlier. But since he wants to speculate, I will also speculate.”

He slowly turned around, his steps steady and composed, walking toward the map of the Northern Territory.

The firelight illuminated the vast sheepskin map: mountains, valleys, provinces, castles…

As former noble territories of the North lay scattered across it like chess pieces.

Louis raised his hand, his fingertips falling in the center of the map.

“But who will I bet on?” he asked gently.

Bradley’s Adam’s apple rolled, “You… bet on?”

Louis smiled slightly, his eyes sharp as an unsheathed blade, “I bet on myself.”

It wasn’t arrogance, but a confidence naturally accumulated after countless victories and calculations.

“If the Empire is going to collapse, let it collapse. The important thing is the Northern Territory must become solid as an iron board in chaos.”

His tone wasn’t high, but each word struck Bradley’s heart like a nail.