Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 319 Spies of the Silver Plate Guild

In the afternoon, the commercial square of Chichao City was bustling with people, with wooden stalls lined up and covered with brightly colored flags.

The aroma of stewed meat, the steam from baked flatbread, and the colors of southern brocade intertwined, creating a bustling atmosphere reminiscent of a market in the capital.

In the bustling crowd, two businessmen from the south were huddled together chatting.

"Phew, the north wind is cold, but this city is even more bustling than the one I saw at the east gate of the capital." The old merchant patted the wine bag beside him, his eyes full of surprise.

"Who would have thought? We thought the Northern Territory was long gone. After two great calamities, the whole empire was saying that only bones remained here. I never imagined there would be a place like this that could support so many people!"

Another portly businessman stroked his beard, his tone full of emotion.

They were all merchant caravans from the southwestern province of the empire. When fellow countrymen saw each other, their eyes would well up with tears, so they gathered their stalls together and chatted from time to time.

Several bolts of silk from the south were displayed on the stall, their lustrous sheen still shimmering in the cold wind.

Pedestrians stopped to look at him, and occasionally took out silver coins to negotiate.

Behind them, a thin assistant silently arranged the fabric, never uttering a word, observing everything with indifferent eyes.

“Let me tell you, if you really want to do business, this place is better than Frostspear City. They’re even struggling to eat their food there, but here, the people actually have spare money and dare to buy our stuff.”

The portly merchant lowered his voice, his belly jiggling with laughter: "Hmm, indeed, grain is the most reliable asset."

The old merchant nodded, looking at the bustling crowd, and couldn't help but sigh, "It's strange that there's a place like this in the North..."

As the conversation continued, night fell, and the lights in the commercial plaza of Red Tide City gradually went out.

One by one, the stalls were packed up, and the shouts gradually faded into the distance, leaving only the sound of the patrolling knights' iron boots.

The two merchants finished packing the last few bolts of silk, placed them in wooden crates, wrapped them tightly in canvas, bid each other farewell, and their figures disappeared into the crowd.

The fat merchant and his men did not choose a bustling tavern, but instead turned into a secluded alley to a remote residence. This was an early collective dwelling built by the Red Tide, some of which were not demolished and were given to traveling merchants from other places, mainly because the rent was cheap.

The heavy wooden door closed, candles were lit, and the atmosphere instantly changed completely.

The fat merchant, who had been covered in sweat and laughing non-stop, immediately stopped smiling, lowered his body, and became respectful, even somewhat fearful.

“My lord, Red Tide City is indeed completely different from the Northern Territory.”

When he spoke, he didn't dare to look directly into his rather thin deputy's eyes.

The thin man, who had been silent all day, finally raised his head.

The firelight illuminated a cold, hard face, with sharp, piercing eyes and a sinister air that made one afraid to look directly at him.

His name is Anthony, a senior agent of the Silver Disc Guild in the Emerald Federation.

He has now taken over the affairs of the entire northern border of the empire.

His predecessor, Karan, died mysteriously in an operation two years ago.

But the guild did not abandon this land, because of the rumored huge mineral veins buried under the permafrost.

If they could control the undeveloped mines in the northern border of the Empire, it would mean being able to rival the Azure Radiance Guild and even rewrite the power landscape within the Federation.

That's why Anthony was needed to take charge here. He is known for his meticulousness and was therefore specifically chosen to be sent here to take over Karan's mess.

The portly scout bent over and whispered his reports, detailing what he had learned in the Red Tide:
"I've been lying low in Red Tide City for over a year, arriving here as a merchant after the insect plague. But something's increasingly wrong with Red Tide City."

The granaries are overflowing, and the people even have money to buy silk—it's unbelievable…

Anthony listened without saying a word, occasionally nodding slightly in response.

He believes that too much talk leads to mistakes, and caution is in his nature; even long-time subordinates cannot be trusted.

Red Tide City...

Anthony was able to see the clues after just one day of observation.

The streets are well-ordered, the security is strict, and the warehouse accounts are made public; all aspects are precise and in place.

This is by no means a stroke of "good luck" out of thin air, but rather the result of a very strong overall coordination behind the scenes.

The main reason is Louis, the great Red Tide Lord in the mouths of his people.

Before Anthony arrived, he had already reviewed the other party's information.

The most insignificant son in the Calvin family was abandoned and sent to the North to start a new life.

Yet, in just a few years, he made a series of meritorious contributions, even playing an important role in the insect plague and the barbarian invasion.

He was highly regarded by the old Duke Edmund, who took him as his son-in-law and even handed over the actual control of the North to him before his death.

"Such a person should not be underestimated," Anthony murmured to himself.

He originally had another secret mission on this trip.

This was to establish contact with that high-ranking pawn hidden within the empire.

However, the situation in Red Tide City is far more complicated than expected, and taking rash action may expose our whereabouts.

"It's always better to be cautious." This is his only motto throughout his life.

So Anthony made a decision in his heart: contact with that piece... would be put on hold for now. He would wait until he moved to a more secluded place before making his move.

The main purpose of this mission is to explore the secrets of the Crimson Tide Lord.

The subordinates' reports gradually stopped, and only the crackling of the candlelight remained in the room.

Anthony listened quietly, expressionless, until the other person was completely silent before he slowly spoke.

"I understand." His voice was low, but devoid of any emotion.

He paused, as if pondering for a moment, then added briefly, "I'll be visiting other places tomorrow. You all proceed as usual, and don't give anything away. Now go and get some rest."

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and walked into the inner room without saying another word.

Silence fell again in the room, with only the subordinates responding in hushed tones, their foreheads beaded with cold sweat, barely daring to breathe loudly.

…………

Late at night, candlelight flickered in the dilapidated little house, but Anthony still hadn't closed his eyes.

A thick stack of papers lay spread out on the table, containing fragmented intelligence gathered by the spies who had previously disguised themselves as merchants: Red Tide's grain prices, goods allocation, and knight patrol routes...

He then labeled and analyzed everything one by one.

"The granary's accounts are publicly available, and the contracts are clearly marked... This system is even more tightly controlled than that under the rule of the nobility in the capital. It won't be easy to target it."

A chilling thought crossed his mind, and he was about to devise a plan for planting spies when…

Suddenly, a strange killing intent pierced his heart like a sharp blade.

Anthony looked up abruptly, his pupils contracting sharply.

His instincts as a super knight instantly raised an alarm.

The next moment, "Boom!"

The wooden wall shattered, dust flew everywhere, and the door was kicked away, crashing into the stone wall and breaking apart with a bang.

Half of the house tilted as it shook violently, and dust fell in a clatter.

Anthony's heart tightened suddenly, but his body reacted even faster than his mind, and his fighting spirit ignited instantly!
Silver flames erupted around him, and he swiftly retreated to a corner of the room.

On the other side, a metal cabinet in the corner of the room suddenly cracked open, and three tall, black-armored knights stepped out at the same time.

"click, click"

The sound of heavy armor rubbing together was chilling; their eyes were empty, yet their bodies exuded a terrifying aura.

Each one is an extraordinary knight-level battle puppet that has been modified with guild potions and runes.

Following closely behind, a dozen or so gray-armored guards of slightly lower strength also appeared, their eyes equally empty. Yet their movements were perfectly synchronized, like puppets.

Anthony shouted in a low voice, "Charge out!" With a roar, the war puppets stepped out in unison, their silver battle aura surging, and the room was instantly filled with what seemed like a whirlwind.

However, the enemy arrived faster than he had anticipated.

Several figures suddenly leaped into the broken walls, their fighting spirit burning into a dazzling blue light in the darkness.

That aura was sharp, composed, and ruthless.

Anthony felt a chill run down his spine.

"All of them are above the extraordinary level?!"

Blue light and silver flames intertwined instantly, and the battle erupted without any warning.

An attacker suddenly fell, his long sword slicing through the air.

The black-armored war puppet swung its greatsword to block the attack, and in an instant, a thunderous clang of metal clashing erupted, sparks flying everywhere.

However, the next moment, the sharp edge of the blue battle aura directly cleaved through the battle puppet's armor.

The modified knight, which the guild regarded as a priceless treasure, had its chest and steel explode, and it fell heavily to the ground, its body convulsing and shattering.

"What!" Anthony's pupils contracted sharply.

Before he could react, another attacker had already slipped into the gray-armored guards like a phantom.

The blade flashed like lightning, and blue battle aura tore through the air, leaving behind a trail of blood mist and metal fragments.

The gray-armored guards attacked in unison, but were completely overwhelmed in an instant, their blood staining the stone ground.

Within a few short breaths, the entire room had been transformed into a living hell.

Anthony gritted his teeth and roared, his fighting spirit surging wildly. He charged forward like a silver comet, tearing open a gap in his path, attempting to escape through the side window.

However, an overwhelming pressure suddenly rushed over.

Another blue figure appeared ahead, its blade slicing through the night with a chilling whistle.

Anthony managed to parry with his sword, but felt a jolt in his arm, as if his bones were about to crack.

The next instant, his left knee was kicked hard, and he fell to the ground.

"what--!"

The excruciating pain caused him to break out in a cold sweat, but his consciousness was forcibly suppressed.

He struggled frantically, his silver battle aura burning in his chest, but it was instantly crushed by the combined attack of several blue auras.

Immediately afterwards, a blade was pressed against his neck, and several chains were fastened at the same time, binding him tightly.

Anthony was breathing heavily, his chest heaving violently.

It’s over.

His heart was filled with desolation.

Why was he exposed? Was it betrayal by that fat merchant's subordinate? Or was it a spy sent from the capital who stabbed him in the back? Or perhaps... the Crimson Tide Territory had been watching him all along?
My mind was full of questions, but I could never find out.

The enemy didn't give him a chance to speak; the final heavy blow landed on the back of his neck, and everything went black before his eyes.

Anthony's body fell heavily to the ground, his silver battle aura dissipating like smoke into the night.

All around was silent, with only the broken wooden beams swaying gently.

The leading blue-armored knight slowly sheathed his sword, removed his face covering, revealing a cold and hard face.

It was none other than Ferran, the leader of the Cold Iron Knights.

He stepped forward, knelt slightly, and said in a relaxed tone, "Reporting to the lord, the mission is complete."

He paused, glanced at the unconscious prisoner on the ground, and added with a hint of helplessness:
"However, one of his men, not knowing his own strength, broke his leg."

Louis, who was watching from the sidelines, raised his chin, a smile on his face, but his expression remained calm and composed.

He shook his head, his tone relaxed: "It's alright. As long as he can still speak."

Ferran grinned. "That's good. As for interrogation, that can be left to us. The Knights have the best interrogators in the North."

Louis raised an eyebrow and chuckled with admiration, “As expected of the strongest knightly order in the North, they even have all these equipment.”

Ferran bowed and smiled, then ordered his men to drag away the unconscious Anthony and the other prisoners.

This scene was actually within Louis's expectations.

He had long known through the daily intelligence system that there were spies from the Silver Plate Guild lurking in the city.

However, instead of alerting the fish, he patiently laid out the line, waiting for the big fish to surface on its own.

Now, Anthony, the leader of the North, has finally been captured, carrying with him an unfinished secret mission.

“Perfect.” Louis thought to himself, a smile playing on his lips. “When the distinguished guests from the capital arrive in a few days, I will show them Red Tide’s welcoming gift.”

Around the dilapidated house, many residents, awakened by the noise, peeked out, their whispers rising and falling.

"Is this... catching a thief?"

"Look, the Knights! And... the Lord!"

Someone recognized the tall, imposing figure and exclaimed in surprise, immediately attracting even more people.

The streets and alleys under the cover of night were soon crowded with onlookers, and their shouts gradually gathered together.

"Lord Lord!"

"Lord Louis!"

They waved, cheered enthusiastically, and looked on with respect.

After all, apart from the government office, very few people have been able to see this lord in person recently.

Faced with this sudden crowd, Louis raised his hand slightly and said gently, "Everyone, please disperse. It's just catching some bad guys, no need to make a fuss. Go back early and get some rest."

After saying this, he mounted his horse, his cloak fluttering in the wind, and led the group away.

…………

The winter wind howled, and the procession stretched for miles.

A carriage adorned with black and gold patterns slowly rolled along the rugged mountain road, with riders in front and behind forming a square formation, showcasing the majesty of the empire.

Thick snow covered the official road, and the horses' hooves often sank deep into it, causing the animals pulling the carts to pant heavily.

Occasionally, the wheels would slip, and the attendants would have to get off and push, getting their legs covered in mud and snow.

Sitting in the spacious carriage, Camille covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief and frowned as she looked out the window.

In the distance are snow-covered ruins and broken walls, with a few charred wooden stakes occasionally visible, marking the villages destroyed by insect plagues and war.

"What a horrible place," he couldn't help but mutter, his eyes filled with disgust and impatience.

"The capital city wouldn't even keep me, yet they sent me to the northern border... a special envoy? Ha, it's more like I've been exiled."

The attendants looked at each other, not daring to say a word.

The investiture ceremony was originally supposed to be held in the capital or at least in a designated city.

However, the emperor's whereabouts are currently unknown, and the northern border is in ruins. Frostspear City has not yet been fully rebuilt, so they had no choice but to settle for second best and hold the event at Red Tide.

Camille's dissatisfaction grew even stronger: "The North is in such a state of ruin, why would it need a permanent presence? Frostspear City, that half-ruined fortress, is going to be my base for the next few years?"

In fact, this job was not forced upon him, but rather he volunteered for it himself.

(End of this chapter)