The dawn pierced through the clouds, scattering over the earth.
Frost Halberd City gradually receded, as the carriage slowly made its way out of the valley under the layers of knight escorts.
In the distance, flags waved, with Red Tide’s red banner like blazing flas, fluttering fiercely in the cold morning wind.
Inside the carriage, it was warm and tranquil.
Emily leaned against a cushion, her hand lightly covering her lower abdon, eyes closed in rest.
Louis sat next to her, his palm gently clasped with hers, appearing outwardly serene with his eyes closed, as if he were also resting.
In truth, his mind had never truly quieted, organizing the gains from this war.
Louis was not a narcissistic person, but at this mont he had to admit, this aid to the Battle of Frost Halberd had garnered him far more than expected.
Duke Edmund not only entrusted him with the Northern Territory’s future in public but also let him take charge at the reconstruction etings, be it epidemic prevention or the allocation of provisions.
Not to ntion acquiring the Broken Blade Knight Order.
This was the elite ace of Frost Halberd City, over a thousand knights like an iron torrent, now lined up behind their carriage, treading the earth, protecting him and Emily as they returned to Red Tide.
And among the Duke’s promises were also Cold Iron and Silver Fang, totaling over three thousand awaiting transfer.
With these knights added to his own current knights, there were a total of five thousand knights.
Right now, in the entire Northern Territory, only he possessed such military strength.
There were also the rewards from the Imperial Capital, which he had to wait for until the political situation stabilized. Louis believed that with the dual operation of the Edmund and Calvin Clans, his reward would definitely not be insignificant.
Of course, in this battle, Louis gained more than just power; he also enhanced his own strength.
Although the Burning Pain Vine Court invasion was proactive, it was purified through the Primordial Heart and integrated into himself.
Body enhancent, potential burst, magic power reconstruction...
The most crucial point was that, so far, there were no side effects; he wasn’t entangled in vines, nor did he lose control or go berserk.
And, Louis had already felt that as his magic increased, these abilities would beco stronger.
He still rembered that mont on the battlefield when Titus fought fourteen Transcendent Knights alone; maybe one day he could be just as formidable.
However, these were all deserved; after all, he had stopped Titus from sweeping across the entire Northern Territory.
If the Barbarian race had successfully enraged the entire Northern Territory and invaded other provinces south of it, without the Emperor or the three critical legions, with the nobility fighting their own battles, the entire Empire might not have held.
"Round it off... Did I save the world?"
Of course, Louis only thought about this in his mind; it was too juvenile.
But he couldn’t help but laugh internally.
Emily looked up at him, sensing sothing: "Did you just laugh?"
"...No." Louis coughed lightly: "Just thinking... there’s still a lot to do next. For instance, how to use this victory to expand my territory and influence."
Emily had already recovered from the grief of farewell, speaking with interest, "Then tell about it."
Without hesitation, Louis said, "Although the demise of the Barbarian race was an unexpected disaster, this crisis made the Northern Territory unusually free of enemies.
The remaining Barbarians no longer pose a threat; the savage shadow that lood over the Northern Territory for hundreds of years has dramatically ended.
Unless a natural disaster on the scale of the Nest descends once more, the Northern Territory will enter a true period of peace.
Moreover, with the Imperial Capital currently amid a power vacuum, unable to attend to this remote wilderness, this is a trendous opportunity. If I can rise to the occasion..."
Emily leaned against Louis’s shoulder, feeling his fingers rhythmically tapping on her leg as if pondering sothing.
He looked up at him, a subtle sharpness on his youthful face.
"...Then what are you planning to do next?" she asked softly.
Louis pondered for a mont, then opened his palm as if unveiling a map of the future: "I want to turn Red Tide Territory into the true number one city in all of the Northern Territory."
Emily was slightly taken aback.
"I plan to reorganize the layout of Red Tide Main City; Governnt Hall, schools, barracks, workshops, central market... none of these can be absent.
Red Tide is just the beginning. Mai Lang Territory, as the agricultural center, cultivating wheat, raising horses, and breeding cattle should also undergo a large-scale expansion and update.
As for Star Forging Territory... it’s obviously not just mining, I plan to add alchemy workshops, large furnaces, tallurgy subplants, turning it into the industrial hub of the entire Northern Territory."
"Are you talking about city integration?" Emily responded softly.
"Exactly, and the three locations shouldn’t rely rely on caravans. I also plan to build roads that link them together." At this point, Louis suddenly seed to think of sothing, smiling as he said, "To beco wealthy, first build roads."
Emily chuckled, "Luckily, you’re talking about roads, not walls."
"Walls have to be built too, and not just city walls." Louis raised his eyebrows.
"I don’t only want three cities but more. A port city must be established along the coast to connect trade routes to the South and the Imperial Capital. Between Star Forging and Red Tide, another craftsman city will be built to centrally manage skills and labor."
"That’s a lot of cities to build," Emily said softly, yet her tone revealed no concern, only reassurance.
"Soday, the Northern Province will beco one of the strongest provinces in the Empire." Louis spoke firmly, "I want to show the Empire’s nobility that even what they call a border wilderness can be orderly and have a future."
Emily watched him speak eloquently, her heartbeat quickening slightly.
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