Red Tide Fief

Based on the location Louis had chosen, he successfully secured three hundred square kilometers of land in the Northern Frontier as his initial pioneering territory.

He named it the Red Tide Fief.

For one thing, the Calvin Family's crest was crimson.

For another, it commemorated the homeland he could never return to.

In Duke Edmund's eyes, this land was merely somewhat more habitable than the rest of the Northern Frontier.

But to Louis, who had the Daily Intelligence System, it was practically the Vatican of the Northern Frontier-the home of the gods of luck!

First, schools of fish migrated through the rivers within the fief to spawn every spring and autumn, giving him an incredibly reliable food source.

Fish was rich in calories and protein. It could not only feed his people, but even help his soldiers replenish their strength.

He could even hope for magical fish such as Northern Crystal Cod.

Second, the fief actually had geothermal vents, something akin to a miracle in the Northern Frontier.

They could warm the surrounding soil enough to grow some cold-resistant crops, and even help people survive the harshest winters.

Those crops, combined with fish, would be enough to feed his people, with surplus left over to sell.

After all, food was the most expensive commodity in the Northern Frontier.

And those geothermal vents had also created several small hot springs!

When the Northern Frontier's winds chilled people to the bone and everyone else shivered in the cold, he could soak in a hot spring and sip hot soup. Just imagining it felt wonderful.

Yet what truly made his heart race was the territory's mineral wealth.

The ordinary cold iron ore hardly needed mentioning. It was fairly common in the Northern Frontier and an essential material for forging weapons and armor.

But an undiscovered demon marrow vein was also hidden at the edge of the fief!

Demon marrow was similar to sulfur from his previous life. It was a key material for making explosives and highly sought after by alchemists.

Of course, he did not yet have the resources to mine it. He was also still weak, making him an easy target for anyone who coveted it.

One day, he would use it to shake the entire world.

Blowing up knights with magical gunpowder-how exciting!

Abundant food, warm geothermal vents, mineral deposits, demon marrow... this place was practically a gift from heaven. It hardly seemed like somewhere that should exist in the Northern Frontier.

And his instincts told him that the Red Tide Fief's potential went far beyond that.

Seeing Louis standing frozen with his pioneering charter in hand, the smile still lingering on his lips,

Duke Edmund could not resist teasing him. "Shall I keep you here for a meal?"

Only then did Louis snap out of his euphoria. He gave a light cough and composed himself.

There was still one thing he had to do before leaving.

He raised a hand, signaling his knights to carry in two chests.

When the first chest opened, three live Northern Crystal Cod came into view, their silvery-white scales shimmering faintly in the firelight.

Duke Edmund's eyes lit up!

Northern Crystal Cod!

Even as governor of the Northern Frontier, he struggled to obtain such rarities, yet this lad had brought three at once?!

Not only was their flesh delicious, but more importantly, the essence in their bones could strengthen a knight's physique and vital energy. It was especially useful for knights stuck at a bottleneck.

His daughter happened to be stuck at the threshold of Elite Knight Initial Rank. With these Northern Crystal Cod to help her, her chances of breaking through would improve greatly.

Before he could speak, however, Louis smiled and said, "These three fish are my introductory gift to you, Your Grace."

Duke Edmund paused, then looked at the young man with mixed feelings.

He was giving away something so precious just like that?

Was this lad really so generous?

Even for him, resources this valuable could only be found by a stroke of luck, let alone casually given away.

Before the duke could think further, however, Louis opened the second chest-

Inside were another three Northern Crystal Cod.

This time, Louis grinned. "These three are for trading."

"You crafty lad." Duke Edmund finally laughed, a hint of appreciation in his voice. "Tell me, what do you want?"

Louis answered without hesitation. "I need people. Slaves, soldiers, craftsmen, and knights."

Hearing this, Edmund became certain of one thing: this young man had not come to the Northern Frontier to idle away his days and wait for death.

He truly wanted to develop his territory and establish a power of his own in this bitterly cold land!

A trace of amusement flickered in Edmund's eyes. "How many do you want?"

"The more people, the better. Of course, I won't let you lose out, Your Grace." Louis smiled faintly.

"Hah, asking for the moon, are you? Buy your own slaves at the slave market. As for soldiers, I can give you fifty."

"One hundred and fifty." Louis held up his fingers.

"Too greedy." Edmund shook his head. "One hundred and twenty at most. I happen to have a batch of recruits who haven't finished training. You're not getting veterans. I'll give you thirty craftsmen, too. Ask for any more and you must think I'm running a charity."

Louis sighed and nodded. "All right. What about knights? Ideally, they'd all be Official Knights."

Edmund scoffed. "Official Knights? Dream on."

Louis continued, "What about apprentice knights, then?"

The duke's fingers stilled. He considered for a moment before finally saying, "Ten apprentice knights and three Official Knights. They'll follow your orders, but their loyalty must remain with the Northern Frontier."

The corners of Louis's mouth lifted, and he extended his hand. "Deal."

Edmund glanced at him and smiled as they shook hands. "You crafty lad. Don't die too soon."

After some bargaining, Louis had successfully exchanged six Northern Crystal Cod for the personnel he needed most.

Louis looked at the list before him, the corners of his mouth rising slightly.

One hundred and twenty soldiers. Although they had not undergone rigorous training, they were at least usable men. With enough drilling, they could form a competent garrison.

Thirty craftsmen. Though few in number, they were enough to build houses, roads, and basic infrastructure, laying the foundations of the Red Tide Fief.

And ten apprentice knights and three Official Knights, greatly bolstering his contingent of knights.

Louis thought the deal had gone better than expected. Duke Edmund had been far more generous than he had imagined.

In any case, he had obtained what he needed most.

After signing the territory contract, Edmund looked up at Louis, who was still standing there, and smiled faintly. "The deal is done. Why are you still here? Waiting for me to throw you a farewell banquet?"

Louis smiled and turned to leave.

"However..." Edmund suddenly paused, then said meaningfully, "You'd best visit the slave market and buy some slaves to take back. With your territory in its current state, relying on displaced people alone won't be enough."

Louis raised an eyebrow slightly. Even without that reminder, he would have gone to take a look.

After all, two talented individuals were waiting for him at the slave market.

Edmund instructed the official standing nearby, "Take him there. Make sure those swindlers don't fleece him."

"Yes, my lord." The official bowed slightly, then gestured for Louis to follow.

Louis thanked him. "Then thank you for your kindness, Your Grace."

The duke waved a hand, dismissing him.