Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 126 Crimson Tide Knights, Attack!
After the Red Tide Territory's supply convoy successfully escaped danger, the Red-Cloaked Knight immediately ordered: "Everyone, take cover! Don't move for now, wait for me to return!"

He waved his hand, signaling the remaining knights and soldiers to hide in a dense forest.

He took a deep breath, and his red battle aura erupted instantly, propelling him out of the forest like a gust of wind.

They raced along the path, heading straight for Red Tide Territory.

"I must inform Lord Louis as soon as possible!" he thought to himself, pushing himself to the limit.

……

There was a sound of hurried footsteps outside the door.

"Lord Louis!" The red-cloaked knight entered breathlessly, knelt on one knee, and looked anxious. "Something has happened! Yesterday, the grain convoy was ambushed while crossing the Deer Forest, and the grain was stolen. We suspect it was the Snowsworn!"

As he spoke, he looked up to observe Louis's reaction, thinking that the adults would surely be furious upon hearing this.

Unexpectedly, Louis simply turned his head slightly, showing no surprise whatsoever.

"Oh?" He slowly set down his teacup, his gaze calm as still water. "A Snowsworn? Wearing a mask?"

“Yes, sir!” The red-cloaked knight was sweating profusely. “Their aura was dark blue, they wore black masks, and they killed several soldiers, but the rest of us have safely retreated.”

"Hmm." Louis responded casually, as if he already knew these details, not even bothering to lift his eyelids.

He looked down and straightened his cuffs, then casually said, "He's not a Snow Oath Taker at all."

"Huh?" The red-cloaked knight was taken aback. "But...they..."

Louis raised his head, a slight smile playing on his lips, a cold glint in his eyes: "The Snowsworn never wear masks. They kill so that you'll remember who did it."

The red-cloaked knight's expression changed: "Who...who is that?"

“I know who did it.” Louis interrupted him, raising his head, a cold glint in his eyes, and a mocking smile playing on his lips.

The red-cloaked knight looked puzzled but didn't dare ask any more questions.

In fact, Louis was fully aware of the whole story and didn't need the Cavaliers' notification at all.

This morning, he learned of this intelligence through the daily intelligence system.

[1: Baron McKinney will ambush the Red Tide Territory's grain convoy in the southern canyon of Deerwood today, disguised as bandits.]

"Ha, someone actually dared to rob my grain and kill my men..." A cold glint flashed in Louis's eyes, his voice as cold as if it were frosty.

"Looks like he's really tired of living. Tell Lambert to come to the study immediately."

"Yes!" the guard replied and left.

A short while later, hurried footsteps sounded outside, and Lambert rushed in, covered in snow: "Sir, you wanted to see me?"

“Summon two hundred knights.” Louis slowly rose to his feet. “I will personally lead the team to McKinney’s territory.”

Lambert was somewhat taken aback and couldn't help but look up at Louis.

Although this young lord was decisive and stern, he always believed in restraint and rationality and never took the initiative to act rashly.

He's actually going to lead the troops himself this time?
But he didn't ask any more questions, he just lowered his head and replied forcefully, "Yes, sir!"

Lambert immediately turned and rushed out of the hall to begin the urgent mobilization of the Knights.

Before long, the Crimson Tide Knights had quickly assembled.

Two hundred fully armed knights stood in formation on the snow, their black and red cloaks fluttering in the wind.

"Take your positions!" Lambert shouted, and the red-cloaked knights quickly formed ranks, their eyes sharp as blades.

The castle gates slowly opened, and Louis rode out, his black and red cloak fluttering in the wind and snow. "Let's go."

Louis gave the order in a cold voice, cracked his whip, and spurred his horse forward.

Beside him, Wel followed closely, his face beaming with undisguised excitement; this was his first time accompanying the army on a campaign.

The armor weighed heavily on his shoulders, the warhorse's breath exhaled hot air, and Wel's heart pounded like a war drum.

He couldn't help but look up at Louis beside him, only to see that the cold-faced lord was expressionless.

"We must do something to serve Lord Louis!" Will gripped the reins tightly, his eyes gleaming with eager anticipation.

He was already imagining himself charging into battle on horseback and slaying enemy generals.

The procession was vast and impressive, the sound of horses' hooves shaking the entire land.

The elite knights of Crimson Tide Territory surged forth like a red and black iron torrent in the cold wind, heading towards the impending reckoning.

…………

McKinney was lounging on a large chaise lounge, a glass of wine raised high, his laughter echoing through the castle hall.

"Hahaha! Today was truly exhilarating! Brothers, come on, drink! This is the spoils we deserve!" he shouted, raising his glass and downing the strong liquor in one gulp, his face beaming with pride.

The knights nearby burst into laughter and toasted each other.

Several men even took off their armor and were fooling around with a few maids, filling the entire hall with an atmosphere of debauchery and pleasure.

"Hmph, what's with the Red Tide Territory's strength? It's just good luck! That Baron Louis is nothing!"

McKinney tilted his head back and gulped down a mouthful of wine, then laughed sarcastically: "The Duke of Edmund must be blind to have made him governor."

"Tsk, he's just a little kid from the South, so naive! He won't last until next year!"

The knights standing nearby joined in the laughter: "That's right, no one is as good as the master. Today we really made him run around in circles!"

"Red Tide Knights? What a joke! They're all spineless cowards. If they hadn't run fast, they would have been dead by our swords long ago!"

McKinney said smugly, "Sooner or later he'll be kneeling before me, licking my boots!"

Suddenly, the hall door was kicked open with a bang.

"What is that?!" He frowned.

Before the outburst could even begin, his old butler came stumbling in, his face deathly pale, his voice trembling:
"Your Excellency, this is terrible! A large group of enemies is approaching, and they're almost at the castle gates!!"

The glass slipped from McKinney's hand, smashed on the ground, and shattered.

He sat bolt upright, disbelief in his eyes: "A Snowsworn?!"

"No...no!" the butler stammered. "It's...it looks like...the cavalry of the Red Tide Territory!"

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

McKinney jumped up from his chair, his voice trembling: "How...how is this possible? We've been discovered? Wasn't our operation flawless?!"

Not only McKinney, but the knights who were previously laughing and joking in the hall all changed their expressions.

The surrounding noise abruptly ceased, turning into a deathly silence.

Coming to his senses, McKinney staggered to the window on one side of the hall, shakily pushed open the heavy wooden frame, and peered out.

(End of this chapter)