After dozens of days of travel, Louis finally arrived at the Red Tide Territory with his convoy.
What greeted them was a lifeless wilderness.
"What a backwater," a knight from the South muttered as he looked at the scene before him.
Louis did not respond. He dismounted from his horse and slowly surveyed his surroundings.
Barren. Dilapidated. Devoid of life.
The land stretched endlessly before them, desolate and bleak. Even weeds were rare here, as if life itself had abandoned this place long ago. It was, without question, a forsaken territory.
Yet Louis, who possessed an intelligence system, knew better.
This land was a sleeping giant—a stock with enormous potential.
Geothermal heat, rich mineral deposits, abundant fisheries, and vast tracts of land suitable for cultivation all lay hidden beneath its harsh exterior. As long as someone was willing to invest time and effort into developing it, this place would inevitably become a land of wealth.
"This place will, sooner or later, become the richest territory in the North," Louis murmured softly, as if making a promise to himself.
Without wasting any time, he began issuing orders.
"Set up temporary tents first. Once the living area is confirmed, we'll begin constructing permanent houses. Start felling trees immediately to prepare materials."
"Search along the river for water sources. Make sure everyone has enough drinking water and food supplies!"
"Clear an open area and establish a simple training ground. The soldiers must not neglect their training!"
One command followed another.
Soldiers and slaves quickly sprang into action, moving with renewed purpose. The sounds of axes striking wood and shouted instructions soon echoed across the land. For the first time in years—perhaps decades—life was being breathed into this long-silent territory.
As the new Lord of the Red Tide Territory, Louis knew he needed a thorough understanding of the land before formulating a long-term development plan. With that in mind, he spent the next few days personally inspecting the territory.
When Louis reached the southern edge of the land, he noticed wisps of steam slowly rising from patches where the snow had already melted.
He quickened his pace, knelt down, and placed his hand against the ground.
Warm.
"A geothermal vent?" Surprise flashed through his eyes.
The intelligence system had indicated the presence of geothermal resources here, and now it was confirmed. In the harsh climate of the North, geothermal heat was an asset of incalculable value.
If properly developed, it could provide warmth to residents throughout the winter and even support agricultural efforts during the short growing season.
What surprised him even more was the discovery of several hot springs nearby.
Hot springs… in the North.
The combination felt almost unreal.
Imagining himself soaking in a hot spring amid the icy wilderness—while other lords shivered miserably in the cold—Louis couldn't help but smile. The contrast alone was deeply satisfying.
Without hesitation, he decided that his future manor would be built near these hot springs.
Next, Louis made his way to the river. The thick ice that once sealed its surface had begun to crack, and dark water flowed slowly beneath. A few birds perched along the riverbank, occasionally diving into the water to snatch fish that had yet to fully awaken from winter dormancy.
Although the current number of fish was not impressive, the intelligence system confirmed that once spring arrived, this river would become a prime breeding ground. In time, it would provide a stable and reliable food source for the territory.
As Louis considered how best to utilize this natural advantage, a group of scout knights he had dispatched earlier returned in a hurry, their expressions filled with excitement.
"My Lord," one of them reported, breathing heavily, "we discovered a cold iron ore vein deep within the mountains to the northwest!"
Another added, "And even deeper inside, we found an ore that emits a dark red glow. We suspect it's a magic marrow mine!"
Lambert gasped. "A magic marrow mine?! If that's true, that's practically a mountain of gold!"
Louis nodded calmly.
He had already learned of this ore vein through his intelligence system, so the news did not surprise him.
The value of magic marrow ore was beyond question. However, given the current state of the territory, mining it would be extremely difficult. Still, as long as development continued steadily, this resource would one day become the most important foundation of the Red Tide Territory.
After completing their inspection, both Louis and his knights felt a surge of confidence.
The intelligence system had not been wrong.
This land truly was filled with hope.
Yet compared to its vast potential, the present reality was painfully harsh.
When they entered the aboriginal settlement, they were confronted by a scene of utter decay.
Stagnant water pooled across the ground, mixing with rotting mud. The air was heavy with a damp, foul stench. Crude wooden shacks and mud-and-thatch houses leaned precariously, as though they might collapse at any moment.
Most of the inhabitants were elderly people, women, and children.
They were thin and frail, wrapped in patched-together rags that did little to protect them from the northern cold.
"Was this place ever properly managed?" Louis frowned as he took in the scene.
"The original acting official ran away long ago," an aboriginal replied quietly.
Several small, scrawny children peeked out from behind a doorway. Their cheeks were red from the cold as they huddled together, hiding in the shadows while watching Louis and his entourage with fearful eyes.
Their gazes were filled with timidity and wariness—fear born from years of suffering.
Louis felt a tightness in his chest.
Having grown up under a red education, he simply could not bear to see children living in such conditions.
He dismounted, reached into his pocket, and took out some dry rations. Walking over, he knelt down and extended the food toward them.
"Take it. Eat."
The children hesitated, staring at him as though he were some kind of trap. None of them dared to move.
Yet the aroma of the rations was irresistible. Their throats bobbed as they swallowed instinctively.
"Eat," Louis said again, his voice gentle.
Finally, hunger overcame fear.
The children rushed forward, grabbing the food from his hands and stuffing it into their mouths as if afraid it might vanish in the next second.
As Louis watched them, he noticed something strange.
One small boy did not immediately eat his portion.
Instead, he carefully hid the ration inside his tattered clothes.
"Why aren't you eating?" Louis asked, kneeling down beside him.
The boy looked up, his dirty face tense with fear. In a timid, childish voice, he answered, "I… I want to save it to eat with Mama."
Louis froze.
In that moment, he remembered how the nobles of the South fed their dogs the finest cuts of meat.
And yet here, a child treasured a single piece of dry ration enough to save it for his mother.
The contrast was unbearable.
A deep sense of responsibility welled up inside him.
Scanning the surrounding villagers—hungry, cold, and hopeless—Louis straightened and spoke loudly.
"All who are willing to work may come to my construction site," he announced. "I will provide food, shelter, and a chance to live."
The aborigines exchanged glances, their expressions numb and weary.
They had suffered too much and trusted no one anymore.
But when they looked at the children eating for the first time in who knows how long, something stirred within them.
At last, they nodded.
They would try.
After all, no outcome could possibly be worse than this.
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