Sif Fled to the Red Tide Fief?

The aroma of grilled fish filled the air.

The women carried out platter after platter of freshly cooked fish.

The residents sat together, holding freshly grilled fish as they ate and chatted, breaking into laughter now and then.

"To our great lord!" someone shouted.

Everyone raised their cups and eagerly echoed, "To our great lord!"

Cups clinked, and laughter rose all around.

Seated at the head of the gathering, Louis watched it all, a smile creeping onto his lips.

Compared with the open clashes and hidden schemes at noble banquets in the south, he much preferred laughing, singing, and dancing around a bonfire with ordinary residents here.

Perhaps the wine had gone to his head, for Louis casually accepted a wooden instrument from a Knight.

His slender fingers plucked its strings, drawing out a sequence of clear notes as he sang a little tune from his homeland, Earth:

"Edelweiss, edelweiss, every morning you greet me... bless my homeland forever."

The square instantly fell silent. Everyone held their breath and listened, as though transported to that distant place.

As the final note faded, cheers erupted like a surging tide!

"One more!" someone called out first.

"Our lord sings so well!"

"One more!"

"A toast to our lord!"

Soon, everyone in the square joined in the clamor, and even the most reserved Knights couldn't help laughing.

Louis shook his head with a chuckle, grabbed a piece of grilled fish, and took a bite, letting the laughter and cheers drift through the night.

When Louis woke the next day, morning light was already spilling through the gaps in the curtains, and a trace of smoke from last night's bonfire still lingered in the room.

"...I probably drank a little too much." He rubbed his temples and let out a weary sigh.

Normally, he woke before dawn and practiced his breathing technique to cultivate his Battle Aura.

But he had enjoyed himself so thoroughly last night that he had indulged in a rare lie-in this morning.

He instinctively reached out beside him, only relaxing once he confirmed that the other half of the bed was empty.

Good. I didn't do anything I shouldn't have.

After washing up, Louis sat cross-legged on his bed, drew a deep breath, and slowly began practicing the Tide Breathing Technique.

Battle Aura flowed slowly through his veins, but Louis could clearly feel the stagnation in it.

It was still the same bottleneck. As a Mid-Rank Official Knight, he couldn't advance an inch.

Damn it, when will I finally break through?

I've followed the strictest training regimen, but my aptitude is just too mediocre.

Raising his rank through training alone was far more difficult for him than for others.

If only I could find something else like Northern Crystal Cod...

You useless system, give me something to work with.

With that rather pathetic thought, he opened the Intelligence System to see what noteworthy information had appeared in today's update.

[1: After the feast, Agricultural Officer Mick proposed to Tanya, and she accepted.]

[2: Cold Fang, the icefield wolf cub, defeated all the other wolf cubs raised in the Red Tide Fief and became their wolf king.]

[3: Sif, formerly the young princess of the Cold Moon Tribe, has fled to the Red Tide Fief. Starving and freezing, she has collapsed unconscious in the wilderness. At five this afternoon, passing Frostfrozen White Bears will feast on her.]

The first report made him raise his eyebrows slightly. That old rascal Mick had actually found love at his age?!

The Agricultural Officer spent all day with the soil, his mind occupied entirely with improving the land and increasing crop yields.

Louis hadn't expected him to quietly pull off something so momentous.

He remembered Tanya. She was a native widow in her early thirties with three children, resilient in character and capable in her work.

It was quite a surprise that Mick had managed to win her over.

"Well, congratulations are in order. Looks like the Red Tide Fief might gain a few more residents." He chuckled and shook his head, happy for his old companion.

The second report was much as he had expected.

Cold Fang had indeed lived up to his hopes, distinguishing itself among the cubs and becoming their wolf king!

Louis had been confident in the cub from the start.

After all, this young wolf possessed an innate air of wild, untamable majesty.

Its build, demeanor, and gaze all differed from those of other icefield wolf cubs its age. Its rise to lead the pack had been entirely expected.

"Excellent." Louis nodded in satisfaction. "That's the war wolf I chose."

But when his gaze reached the third report, his smile vanished instantly.

The Cold Moon Tribe's young princess, Sif?

She fled to the Red Tide Fief?

The report made Louis's heart sink.

The Intelligence System had been sending him daily reports about the Cold Moon Tribe.

Ever since the old chieftain died, the tribe had descended into utter chaos.

The old chieftain's family had been purged, the council of elders had lost its authority, and the commanders were each gathering supporters as factional struggles grew increasingly fierce...

If he had to sum it up in one sentence:

The entire Cold Moon Tribe was a complete mess.

Even so, Louis hadn't expected its young princess to flee to the Red Tide Fief, only to collapse unconscious.

Worst of all, she would become dinner for Frostfrozen White Bears at five that afternoon!

"What kind of mess is this?" Louis rubbed his brow and sighed.

Louis had only two choices before him.

Save her, or leave her.

He pondered for a long while, tapping his fingertips lightly on the table.

Leave her?

After all, the Cold Moon Tribe's affairs were incredibly complicated, and there was a small chance that Sif's arrival could bring a host of unforeseen troubles.

Besides, she's already lying unconscious in the wilderness, and she'll be dinner for Frostfrozen White Bears at five. Once she's dead, that'll be the end of it. It has nothing to do with me.

In the end, however, Louis decided to act.

The idea was distant and wildly impractical.

But what if I become strong enough one day to bring the Cold Moon Tribe under my control in Sif's name?

And since Sif has already fled to the vicinity of the Red Tide Fief, that means she's far removed from the Cold Moon Tribe's power struggles. Saving her shouldn't pose much risk.

Securing a strong claim at relatively little cost-that looks like a good deal no matter how I view it.

Of course, it was still too early to consider such things.

"Lambert." Louis summoned his guardian Knight.

Lambert soon entered and bowed his head respectfully. "My lord?"

"I'm going hunting. Have someone make the preparations," Louis said casually.

Lambert paused, looking at his lord in surprise.

Ever since arriving in the Red Tide Fief, this young lord had been occupied with the fief's affairs from morning until night.

Never mind hunting-he hadn't even had time for a morning stroll. Yet today, he suddenly seemed eager to go on a hunt?

Of course, spending one's days eating, drinking, and seeking amusement was normal enough for a noble.

As a competent attendant, Lambert asked no further questions. He simply nodded and replied, "Understood. I'll arrange for the hunters and Knights at once."

With that, he turned and left to make the arrangements.