Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 349 Alchemy Master
The sea was ablaze, and the flames pierced through the fog, reflecting off the hull of the Dawn, turning it a fiery red like molten metal.

Louis stood at the observation window of the command cabin, quietly watching the sea torn apart by artillery fire.

After each salvo, the recorder stood by, noting the hit rate, cabin temperature, and armor protection.

The writing on the paper grew denser and denser, the sound of the pen rubbing against the paper drowned out by a low rumble.

Without asking, Louis could judge the outcome from the frequency of the vibrations and the response of the rudder speed: accurate firepower, smooth driving, and no change in armor.

Everything exceeded his expectations; the Dawn's performance not only met the design specifications but also far surpassed the calculated values.

A sense of satisfaction rose in Louis's heart. This ship was among the first of Red Tide's ships, and with experience gained, future designs would only be better.

Bernard, standing beside him, stared through the observation scope, the sea torn apart by the firelight making him almost forget to breathe.

The Dawn's gunfire flickered in the fog, each salvo like a thunderbolt, shaking the entire sea surface to its core.

Just where they could see, a pirate ship was hit by a magic bomb. The entire ship exploded as if it had been ripped open from the inside, and flames shot out from the hull, turning the surrounding seawater dark red.

The wooden plank and the figure were thrown into the air together, disintegrating in the flames.

Another pirate ship tried to evade, but was hit in the stern by the Dawn's secondary guns.

In a flash of light, the seawater churned, and the wreckage tumbled among the waves.

Bernard could almost hear the sound of wood breaking in the distance.

He had never imagined that the ship he built would have such power, like a giant beast that had been awakened, pressing down on him and making his heart tremble.

Bernard instinctively gripped the railing, his throat bobbing: "My God... its firepower is... is this really the ship we built?"

Louis did not answer, but calmly watched the flagship that had been forced into the encirclement, pointing out some of its shortcomings:
"The rudder response is two seconds faster than expected. Next round, we will adjust the launch rhythm and see if continuous firing will cause vapor pressure imbalance."

"Yes, sir." The recorder quickly wrote it down.

On the other command platform, Elliott was issuing a new firing order.

His voice remained the same, but Louis could hear the tension in it, as if he was carefully trying to do everything perfectly.

He whispered to Will, "Don't make him too nervous."

"Understood." Wel nodded and relayed the order.

The battle lasted for nearly five minutes. Six Dawn-class ships advanced in a circle, their cannons rhythmically pressing down on the pirate fleet.

The pirates' retaliatory shells struck the Dawn's hull, only sending up sparks, leaving no trace.

Elliott glanced back from the control panel, his expression tense.

After a brief hesitation, he walked toward the observation window and lowered his voice, "Sir, shall we proceed with the boarding operation?"

Louis didn't turn around, only staring at the churning sea of ​​fire: "You decide for yourself."

Elliott paused, took a deep breath, turned back to the command platform, and loudly ordered, "Boarding crew, prepare for action!"

As the signal flags were raised, the ship shook, and the boarding bridge was lowered.

The Crimson Tide Knights leaped onto the enemy ship across the iron bridge, their shouts clearly rang out: "Hands on your heads and crouch down! Otherwise, you'll be executed on the spot!"

A few minutes later, the boarding bridge was lowered, and the Crimson Tide Knights leaped onto the enemy ship, their shouts clearly audible: "Hands on your heads and crouch down! Otherwise, you'll be executed on the spot!"

The firelight flickered in the fog, and the glint of swords followed.

Elliott stood on the deck, watching the battle unfold on the main ship. Only after the last pirate was subdued did he lower the command flag in his hand and let out a deep breath.

“It’s over,” he said softly.

Louis didn't respond immediately, but stared at the still-smoking wrecked ship: "Fight the fire, salvage, blockade the sea. No surviving vessel is allowed to leave."

"Understood," Elliot replied.

When the hatch opened, the wind carrying the smell of gunpowder rushed in.

Louis looked up toward the harbor; the firelight had already illuminated half the sky.

The dam was crowded with people, including laborers, guards, and craftsmen.

Most of them had heard that pirates were out in the harbor that night and had sneaked out to watch the excitement.

Louis did not stop them.

In his view, it was a good thing that these people were able to witness the power of the Dawn firsthand.

Those who once toiled day and night hammering iron plates and moving timber are now witnessing the power they created burning at sea.

Initially, the onlookers simply watched quietly, fearing that Dawn Harbor would fall.

But the silence was immediately broken when those black sailboats were shattered and bursts of fire rolled across the sea.

Some people started clapping, some raised their arms and shouted loudly, and cheers spread from one end of the dam to the other.

"Long live the Dawn!" "Long live Dawn Harbor!" "Long live Lord Louis!"

Elliott stepped forward, still looking somewhat nervous: "Everything is under control, sir."

Louis looked at the cheering crowd, his expression calm, but he breathed a slight sigh of relief: "Well done, Dawnport can get a good night's sleep tonight."

The sea outside the harbor was still burning, with shimmering fog and rising white smoke.

The Dawn ship drifted silently between fire and fog.

On the shore, a young shipbuilder looked at the silhouette of the ship, his eyes gleaming, and whispered, "The ships we build... can swallow the sea."

…………

Merian was locked in a damp cell, his hands and feet chained, curled up in a corner, his back against the cold wooden wall.

The walls were seeping water, the lights were dim, and the air smelled of alcohol.

Each time a wave crashed against the hull, the iron chains would sway gently, as if reminding him that he was still alive.

He was born in the Emerald Federation, a commercial federation where the rich lived extravagantly and the poor were as worthless as dust.

The people there treat money like blood, and class distinctions are almost ingrained in their bones.

Merian's brother was sold into becoming a chanting doll because his family couldn't pay their debts. Dolls are slaves who have been transformed by alchemy and lost their will.

That scene became a shadow over his entire life.

Unlike his brother, he displayed an amazing memory from a young age.

The members of the Azure Tide Guild discovered him, took him away, and praised his extraordinary talent.

He was chosen and taken away by the Bichao Guild when he was a teenager, and has been locked in a laboratory and piles of reagents ever since.

Decades have passed, and now he is nearly sixty years old. He is nominally the Grand Alchemist of the Emerald Federation and is highly respected in academia.

But in the presence of the guild, he remained merely a researcher who obeyed orders.

Merian was timid; he never argued or dared to resist.

He went wherever the guild told him to go, without ever asking why.

When the sampling mission in the North was assigned, he didn't even dare to hesitate. He simply nodded, signed the document, and was then escorted onto the ship.

That obedience had long become instinct, like a deeper shackle.

Merian never expected anything to go wrong on this trip.

On the day the ship set sail, the sky was overcast. He simply stayed in his room with the sample box, silently praying that the mission would end soon.

What happened after that became blurry, with only fragments remaining in my mind.

Impact, screams, flames, thick fog, and the scorching smell of blood. He didn't remember how he survived; he only remembered that moment when his mind went completely blank.

All reason, research, companionship, and dignity were overwhelmed by fear, leaving only one thought: to survive.

Now he can only stare blankly at the iron chains at his feet.

That memory kept surging up like a tide, making him afraid to even breathe too deeply.

Suddenly a low explosion came from outside the ship, like someone had lit a muffled thunder on the seabed.

The entire cell shook violently, and dust and sawdust fell from the ceiling.

Merian looked up, his eyes fixed on the crack in the door.

Short footsteps came from outside, followed by the clanging of metal and a painful scream.

His breath hitched, his throat went dry, and his voice was chaotic and rapid, as if the entire ship was being torn apart.

Countless possibilities flashed through his mind.

Are they other pirates? Or have the Federation sent people to rescue me?

The thought briefly gave him a glimmer of hope, but that hope was quickly overwhelmed by new fear.

What if it's not a rescue?
If the attackers outside see him and think he's useless, will they just kill him?

The footsteps grew closer, accompanied by heavy thuds.

Merian curled up even tighter, pressing his body against the cold wooden wall.

The chains were shaking incessantly at his feet, and he realized that it wasn't the ship rocking, but himself that was shaking.

Soon after, the door was kicked open, and the firelight shone in.

He squinted instinctively and saw a group of people wearing iron armor walk in.

The sound of metal plates scraping against each other echoed in the cramped compartment, their footsteps steady and orderly.

Someone reached out and unlocked his chains; the action was not rough, but it was utterly devoid of warmth.

Merian was pulled up and almost helped out of the cell.

He looked up, trying to see their faces clearly, but could only see the shadows beneath their masks.

These people were neither Federation soldiers nor pirates; their armor was the kind he had never seen before, a dark color with a faint red tinge.

…………

When the fog cleared, bits of wood and charred canvas were still floating on the sea.

The seawall of Dawn Harbor remained intact; a battle that lasted all night had not caused the port any damage.

Because that battle did not take place in the port area, but in the undercurrents of the open sea.

The sailors and craftsmen at sea were preparing for the salvage operation in an orderly manner. Several small boats glided out along the sea fog to salvage the broken ship and bring it back to see what was inside.

By noon the next day, Elliott rushed over with the report.

“The spoils have been cleared, sir,” Elliot said, his expression revealing barely concealed excitement.

"The experiment was a great success, and all the data has been recorded. The main gun hit rate of the Dawn has remained stable at over 90%, the armor pressure resistance test has been passed, the hull is operating stably, and there has not been a single instance of loss of control."

Louis nodded slightly: "Very good."

“In addition,” Elliott opened the scroll, “all the captured pirates have been interrogated.”

They were from the Steel-Toothed Mad King's fleet. This operation was carried out by an independent flotilla under his command, with the objective of intercepting a merchant ship from the Emerald Federation and returning the cargo and personnel to the Mad King.

Louis raised an eyebrow: "The Emerald Federation?"

"The target may be some kind of alchemical material. We have taken the items. There is also a person who said that the Mad King is hiding in the Ice Abyss Islands area of ​​the North Sea, but the intelligence is uncertain."

Their attack on Dawn Harbor was a private operation, carried out without the Mad King's official orders.

“Let those people be beheaded and their heads displayed to the public.” Louis said calmly. “Hanging them outside the port will reassure the residents and let them know that this port is not a place anyone can mess with.”

"Understood, my lord."

Louis turned around, his tone lowering further: "After next winter, we should take the initiative. If the power of the Steel Fang Mad King is not eradicated, the shipping route to the Southeast New Province will never be safe. Elliott, prepare well."

Elliott's expression shifted, and he straightened up: "Yes, sir. I believe the Dawn's fleet can handle any enemy."

Louis smiled faintly and turned his gaze back.

Just then, Elliott remembered something else and, after a moment's hesitation, said, "There are still a few Federal Chamber of Commerce personnel who have been rescued, sir."

As per your orders, he has been arranged to rest in the port authority's medical ward. We haven't spoken much with him. If you wish to see him, I can prepare now.

"I'll go over after the meeting."

"Yes." Elio nodded, bowed, and withdrew.

…………

Louis rode his horse along the harbor road, the wind blowing in from the sea, carrying the smell of fish and dampness.

Dawn Harbor was faintly visible in the morning mist, and the sound of hammers could be heard in the distance.

This is already a rising port city, with sturdy dikes, rows of docks, and white smoke rising from the rooftops of newly built workshops.

The horse's hooves clattered on the stone slabs, but Louis's mind was preoccupied with the intelligence he had gathered.

[1: Merian Schmidt, an alchemist from the Emerald Tide Guild of the Emerald Federation, is on a pirate ship near Dawn Harbor.]

Aside from that, the system has no further information.

But the word "master alchemist" is enough to tempt any leader; such a person is almost never seen in the North, let alone encountered.

If they can truly stay, then a certain system of alchemy in Crimson Tide City could be advanced by ten years.

Louis had already made up his mind; even if he didn't want to stay, he had to.

But he also knew that pushing too hard would backfire.

Even the most brilliant mind is useless if a timid researcher is frightened.

So he decided to try to use gentler methods.

The medical room was filled with the smell of herbs and sea salt.

Several wounded men rescued from the pirate ship leaned against the wall, pale-faced and groaning softly.

Merian sat in the corner, his expression blank, his fingers still unconsciously twisting the hem of his clothes.

Louis recognized him at a glance; after all, the others were all young and obviously alchemy apprentices.

On the other side, Merian noticed someone approaching, raised his head slightly, and glanced at the young man in black noble attire out of the corner of his eye.

The man had a smile on his face, but he exuded an undeniable sense of oppression.

Merian immediately lowered his head, not daring to look any longer, but he was already calculating in his mind that this person should be the leader here, and he didn't seem like a bad person.

If he were to question him, perhaps he should give a false name? And then use money to ransom himself? He had already come up with several excuses in his mind.

But the young man stopped in front of him and said directly, "Merian Schmidt, the Grand Alchemist. An alchemist under the Azure Tide Guild of the Emerald Federation, right?"

Meili froze, her expression completely changing.

(End of this chapter)