Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 103 Attack
The next second, several crows swooped down from the branches, and in that instant, a sharp cry pierced the air.

The lead warhorse's neck exploded, blood gushing out like a fountain, and it collapsed heavily to the ground with a neigh.

"There's an ambush!!"

"Get your weapons!"

But they had only just drawn half of their short swords when an attack from the forest swept in like an ice storm.

Several figures shot out of the bushes like arrows, their blades flashing.

Before some people could even react, they were pierced through the back by spears and fell into the fallen leaves, still convulsing.

One of them tried to jump off his horse and escape, but a flying rope caught his ankle and dragged him into the bushes. In the blink of an eye, all that remained was a pool of blood.

"Ahhh!"

"Do not kill me!"

The screams of horses and humans filled the air, creating a chaotic scene.

Just two minutes.

Baron Vera's "brothers" lay sprawled on the ground, some dead, some unconscious.

Baron Vera hid behind a pile of saddles, trembling and muttering to himself, "A nobleman... I am a nobleman... You cannot kill a nobleman..."

A Snowsworn with a face full of scars walked over, dragging a large sword, and sneered, "Hehehe! We're killing nobles!"

Another Snow Oath member chimed in, "That bastard... let's just kill him and avenge Barnes's vengeful spirit!"

"Wait." A woman's voice, clear and cold as snow, rang out.

That was the leader of the Snow Oath, wearing a black cloak, his bow still drawn, but his eyes sharper than a knife.

She was extremely beautiful, but devoid of any warmth, like a meticulously sculpted snow sculpture: "We're not here to vent our anger, we're here to find sacrifices."

"Why go to such lengths when you could just arrest a few civilians?" someone retorted.

“You don’t understand.” The leading woman’s gaze swept over the crowd. “Only the blood of sin can awaken the ancient god.”

She walked up to Baron Vera.

He was so terrified he wet himself, a puddle of yellow fluid between his legs, his mouth trembling as he stammered, "Don't kill me... I have money... I have land... I can..."

"Let's make a deal." The woman's voice suddenly softened, but it sent chills down one's spine even further.

"Find five Iron-Blooded Nobles for us. Once you find them, I'll let you go."

Baron Vera, overjoyed at being granted a pardon, kowtowed profusely, "That's easy! I know! I know where there are many nobles! I'll take you there!"

That face was etched with obsequiousness and a survivalist greed, like a dog eyeing a bone.

The Snow Oathtakers laughed again.

This time, however, they looked at it more like a pig waiting to be slaughtered.

…………

The battle of Snow Eagle City seemed to sweep through the upper echelons of Snow Peak County.

The old nobles of Xuefeng County have almost all died.

The few who were lucky enough to survive were mostly executed by order of Duke Edmund, along with their entire families.

All that remained were scraps.

Nephews and nieces from collateral branches, daughters who married out, and several heirs who hadn't even fully grown up were hastily pushed into the position of family head.

The territory was inherited, but most of them had little real power.

But the soldiers? They're all gone.

Food? We're almost out of food.

Power? Ha, what a joke.

Some fiefdoms were suffering from famine, and the people were so hungry that they had to forge iron pots to eat. Other fiefdoms had been occupied by refugees, and the city gates had been taken over by refugees.

I've even heard that some have secretly surrendered to the Snow Oath.

Strangely, these newly nobles didn't seem too alarmed.

On the contrary... they were somewhat excited. They weren't even direct descendants to begin with, and now they could become dukes—it wasn't a bad deal.

As long as the title in the North remains, there is a chance to make a comeback.

A dog can turn into a wolf if it can turn the tide of a war.

But there's still one thing they really can't swallow.

The order from the prefect of Xuefeng County has been issued.

The new sheriff was named Louis Calvin.

He has indeed made contributions, which is acknowledged by everyone.

But the prefect? ​​A young baron from the south? Ruling over the entire Xuefeng County?
This means that these newly appointed heads of the family will all be under the control of this southerner.

And become his vassal?

What a joke! They've been taught since childhood that these Southerners are all treacherous and cowardly cowards.

But no one dared to speak their mind.

Because at the very bottom of the appointment letter was a heavy sealing wax stamp.

That was the seal of the Duke of Edmund.

Everyone understood that this meant: even if you were dissatisfied, you had to smile as if you were congratulating your own father on becoming the prefect.

So before formally visiting the "new governor," the new nobles of the North secretly gathered together to discuss how to treat him.

The person who convened this secret meeting was Viscount Firth.

He was the nephew of the late Earl of Firth. Although the Earl's title was stripped by the Governor, the remaining Viscount title naturally fell to him.

Moreover, in terms of lineage, seniority, and past reputation, he remains the most influential among this group of "new elites."

Even though the Firth family had been severely weakened, other nobles still held him in some respect and some fear.

After all, many of them had received favors from the Firth family, and some were even vassals of the Firth family.

Viscount Firth, wearing a dark gray cloak, sat in the main seat with a solemn expression.

"That's about enough people." He glanced around, his voice low. "Besides Baron Vera, no one else has arrived?"

"They said they would come with us before we set off, but then they disappeared. I guess they got delayed on the way."

"Ha, maybe he's off having fun somewhere again," someone sneered, their tone laced with disdain.

“He’s really lucky,” another young nobleman squinted. “He wasn’t even qualified to be included in the family tree before, but now he’s a full baron… Luck is something that can sometimes make you envious.”

Everyone laughed, but the laughter quickly faded.

No one responded.

The atmosphere at this small gathering was a bit awkward and somewhat oppressive.

They all knew the real purpose of this gathering.

Before formally visiting the new Sheriff, Louis Calvin, they adopted a unified stance and banded together for mutual support.

“Let’s all say something,” Viscount Firth finally spoke, his voice low and hoarse. “Everyone can see the current situation clearly.”

He looked at everyone with icy eyes, "If we don't unite, we'll only be left with the Southerners being picked off one by one."

After a moment of silence, the first to speak was a baron with a slightly sallow complexion and a thin build.

"First of all, how exactly should we deal with that 'Southern Prefect'? Should we show respect? Or should we maintain a reserved attitude?"

He tapped his knuckles on the table occasionally as he spoke, a hint of probing in his eyes: "We are the true masters of Xuefeng County, generation after generation."

Another newly appointed viscount scoffed: "But the appointment letter states that he is the governor of our entire Snow Peak County. In other words, theoretically we are all under his jurisdiction."

This remark plunged the room into an awkward silence once again.

No one wanted to admit this reality, but the document bearing the Duke of Edmund's seal was like a thorn stuck in everyone's heart.

At this moment, Viscount Firth slowly rose and glanced around: "That's precisely why we need to unify our stance."

(End of this chapter)