Chapter 599 - 355: Warm Welcome (Part 2)

Louis shook his head gently, a smile still lingering at the corners of his lips: "You’re still the same as ever."

"That’s because the boss taught me well." Yorn puffed up his chest, his tone as serious as making a vow.

The two walked side by side, laughing, their steps as natural as they were years ago in the Imperial Capital’s training grounds.

With the Red Tide Knight Order escorting them on both sides, the residents of Silver Ridge Hill spontaneously cleared the path.

Some offered bread, others handed over hot wine, but more just silently watched the back of that Lord.

......

The air in the hall was warm and bright, with towering walls draped with red and blue banners, and flames gently dancing on metal lamp stands.

The main banquet hall of Silver Ridge Hill was not bustling at this moment; there was only a long table and two people sitting across from each other.

The table was adorned with rare delicacies from the Northern Territory: roasted Frost Mane Bear, Snowfield Lizard soup, salt rock venison steak, and fine wine sent from the South.

A faint aroma of stewed meat wafted through the air, the hearth melting the shadows at the table corners into a soft red glow.

Outside, knights and officials were feasting by the bonfire in the snow, while inside the hall, there were only Louis, Yorn, and a few servants.

"I originally wanted to have a big banquet with everyone in town, but you insisted on keeping it low-key." Yorn laughed and shook his head, raising his glass, "It’s alright, I can have a good drink with you, boss."

As he raised his glass, his tone carried a mix of pride and gratitude: "Boss, this toast is for the rescue two years ago. If it weren’t for you, I’d have gone to see the Dragon Ancestor."

Louis smiled as their glasses clinked, causing the wine to splash a little: "You cried your heart out back then."

"That was just emotional release." Yorn glared at him, but couldn’t help laughing, "When you saved me, my pants had frozen stiff."

The two exchanged a smile, their laughter echoing in the spacious hall.

After a round of drinks, Yorn waved for a servant to clear the cold dishes and personally introduced the food on the table: "This Frost Mane Bear was hunted last month, that pot of Snowfield Lizard soup..."

Louis scooped a spoonful of soup and nodded: "I never imagined your place could eat more lavishly than the Red Tide."

Yorn proudly tapped the table: "It’s all thanks to your supply system; I’m just taking advantage."

Firelight reflected off his round frame, his gold-trimmed suit a bit tight, making him look like a merry wine barrel.

Louis looked at him, shaking his head and chuckling: "In that outfit, even the bears would be scared to come near."

"It’s ceremonial!" Yorn patted his chest, "Gotta let the boss know I’m honestly waiting for your visit."

The conversation slowly drifted to old times.

Yorn reminisced about their time at the Imperial Capital, speaking of how they were once bullied by noble children at the academy and how they secretly sneaked to the riverside at night for a drink, only to be caught by their mentor.

Those old stories felt like jokes in his mouth, loud enough to drown out the crackling of the fireplace.

The laughter gradually subsided, leaving only the sound of the fire’s flickering.

In the silence, Yorn spoke in a lower tone: "The messenger from the Imperial Capital relayed news recently, saying it’s getting increasingly chaotic over there. Have you heard?"

Louis nodded, not hiding anything: "The Emperor disappeared, Princes are fighting, the Dragon Throne meeting has sidelined imperial power. The backbone of the Empire is already broken."

"Those nouveau riches still pretend everything is calm," Yorn sighed, "My father even received a letter from them recently, talking about maintaining loyalty and stable trade routes."

Louis lightly tapped his fingers on the table, his tone steady: "They wish for stability, but the world is no longer stable. For the Northern Territory to survive, it must learn to breathe on its own before the Imperial Capital falls."

Yorn was silent for a moment, looking at him, half-understanding, then raising his glass: "Boss, whatever you decide to do, I’ll follow your lead."

Louis clinked glasses with him: "I hope you truly understand the weight of those words."

Both downed their drinks.

Firelight shone on their faces; Louis’s gaze was calm as ice, while Yorn’s expression was fervent and sincere.

Then Yorn suddenly laughed and cursed: "Honestly, at that Chongqing meeting, I should’ve cursed back on your behalf. What Sixth Prince—what a joke! The meeting should’ve been in Red Tide City, not in Frost Dragon Territory."

Louis chuckled lightly: "Whether you curse or not doesn’t change anything. The outcome is already set, and I can just watch whatever show they’re putting on."

"I’ve got to vent a little," Yorn waved his big hand, "His airs aren’t even worth discussing."

Louis didn’t reply, just watched the flames in the fireplace, while his thoughts dwelled on the more distant situation.

The Empire’s map, the Northern Territory’s circumstances, the Red Tide’s territory.

Firelight flickered in his eyes, seemingly reflecting an indefinable ambition.

He put down his glass and spoke earnestly: "As long as the Northern Territory stands firm, the chaos in the Imperial Capital isn’t necessarily a bad thing."

Yorn didn’t fully understand, but smiled and filled his glass again: "Then let’s do it!"

"Let’s do it."

Their glasses clinked together, producing a crisp sound.

One bore calculation and clarity, the other trust and passion.

Yorn silently vowed: no matter how the Empire crumbles, he would follow this friend.

The next morning, as the snow began to melt, the Red Tide’s flag still fluttered atop Silver Ridge Hill’s Main Castle.

After a night’s rest, Louis set out with accompanying officials, Yorn, and personal guards to inspect various areas.

The workshops lining the street had already opened.

The forge’s fire was blazing, craftsmen were hammering out Red Tide–style agricultural tools, their sounds crisp and in rhythm.

Miners were switching shifts, carrying standardized numbered buckets.

Clerks in front of the snow houses were cataloging the quantity of minerals entering and leaving, the ledgers filled with uniform forms printed by the Red Tide’s management offices.

The road was tidy, and the queues orderly; even seeing the Lord arrive didn’t stop them from working. They simply bowed and then returned to their tasks, as someone had informed them beforehand.

Yorn was all smiles as he pointed out the surroundings, "Boss, look at this! All built in your style! These two years haven’t been in vain."

Louis looked around while flipping through the data brief handed by Bradley.

The accounts were clear, the dispatch of resources almost synchronized with the Red Tide Territory; tax records, allocation ratios, storage plans—all looked like replicas of the Red Tide.

"Impressive efficiency," Louis praised.

Yorn laughed more brightly, patting his saddle: "As long as you’re satisfied, that’s good. All these officials are genuinely convinced by you. Back then, they dreaded the Red Tide directors, but now they vie to enforce the regulations."

Kossa and Gray riding slightly behind were somewhat accustomed to such a scene, especially since the Super City dwarfs this place a hundredfold.

The miners and craftsmen, upon seeing Louis, showed genuine gratitude and respect in their eyes.

Gray whispered: "They truly regard the boss as a god."

Kossa nodded: "In Red Tide City, this sight was familiar... They truly believe from the heart."

Louis looked ahead at the semi-underground communal building.

Warm air emanated from underground ducts, children wrote at the windowsill, and women hung clothes to dry.

The walls were plastered with the Red Tide-issued "Simplified Civil Regulations" and slogans declaring "Everyone learns, all are children of the Red Tide."

Louis nodded slightly: "Seems like the replication of the system is indeed effective. Population stability, normal production, even vagrants are beginning to settle."

An accompanying scribe added: "The mineral output increased by thirty percent, primarily due to the Red Tide-style resource coordination and unified storage. Winter provisions still rely on the Red Tide but are well-distributed."

Louis softly said: "Reliance is also a form of stability."

Yorn enthusiastically introduced: "Boss, look at these main roads, these geothermal channels—all modeled after the Red Tide!

Once, the area was all mud pits; now the snow melts faster here than anywhere else, and the inhabitants praise it."

Louis smiled at him: "Well done, seems like you’ve grasped the core essence of the Red Tide."

Yorn grinned broadly, his tone filled with pride: "Yes, with the Red Tide system supporting us, I sleep soundly."

Kossa and Gray exchanged a glance, even feeling somewhat moved.

They journeyed from Red Tide City and experienced firsthand the significance of Red Tide to the Northern Territory.

It represents not just order but a hope that sustains life.

Louis withdrew his gaze, silently appraising: The governance results of these affiliated territories have already proven the complete feasibility of the Red Tide model, providing confidence for broader future promotion.

Whether they realize it or not, this model will eventually weave the entire Northern Territory into a unified entity.