Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 350 Merian and Cavill

"Merian Schmidt, the Grand Alchemist. An alchemist under the Azure Tide Guild of the Emerald Federation, right?"

The air seemed to freeze in that instant.

Merian's heart tightened. He had never said his name, no one had ever asked, and even the young alchemy apprentices only knew him as a researcher.

But the person in front of him stripped him bare of all his identities as soon as he opened his mouth.

His mind raced: Who said that? Could it be one of the apprentices who were captured? Or had the guild already betrayed him?
He wanted to explain, to say it was just a misunderstanding, but his throat felt blocked, and he couldn't make a sound.

Fear crept in little by little.

This feeling of powerlessness was not unfamiliar to him. He had experienced this suffocating feeling whenever his superiors questioned him in a cold voice at the research institute of the Bichao Guild, but this time it was more thorough.

Although Louis's gaze wasn't sharp, and even carried a hint of patience, his calm demeanor was breathtaking.

He observed the great alchemist before him and quickly weighed his options in his mind.

This man is clearly timid; he doesn't even dare to look directly at me. Threatening or interrogating him will only cause Merian to completely break down. It's better to use another method.

So Louis changed to a gentler tone: "Actually, the Azure Tide Guild sold you to me a long time ago. I also spent a lot of money to buy a great alchemist."

Merian stared at him blankly, as if he didn't quite understand the meaning of those words.

So that's really how it is. He was indeed sold off, and this is very much in line with the Chamber of Commerce's characteristic of prioritizing its own interests.

The person in front of me clearly has his own destiny in his hands.

If I were truly sold to him, my only way out would be to prove that I still have value.

He had been in the guild for decades and knew how to please those in power, as well as how to survive only by making others see his usefulness.

Merian hesitated for a moment, his voice trembling: "I... specialize in bio-alchemy. I can study the circulation of magic elements within living organisms, and I can also adjust the adaptive structures of parasites... I understand regeneration mechanisms..."

Louis listened intently, his gaze shifting from cold to interested. He appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was in turmoil.

He was not an expert in alchemy, but only knew a little from old books and reports.

Even he understood that the words "biological alchemy" represented astonishing potential.

That wasn't just simple potion-making; it was research that touched the very foundation of life.

He tried to piece together those fragmented concepts in his mind: to make the potion stop bleeding and heal wounds more quickly, to make magical beasts obey commands, and to make knights last longer in battle...

These concepts may still be far from actual alchemical achievements, but these alone are enough to change the technology of the Red Tide Territory.

If they could master this knowledge, even in its most basic application, it would double their survival advantage within the empire.

However, he also wondered to himself: Why would the Bichao Guild send such a person out to sea?

An alchemist who can study the origin of life is not sent out randomly.

Countless questions swirled in his mind: Was it internal strife? Some kind of federal conspiracy? Or some special mission? And why were they kidnapped by pirates?
But Louis quickly put these questions out of his mind, since they weren't really that important to him.

Merian is now in his hands, in the most remote corner of the Empire, a hundred and eight thousand miles away from the Federation.

Even if the Emerald Federation were to invade, they wouldn't be able to reach this place. If they sent out a small special forces unit, his knights could easily wipe them out.

Thinking of this, the surging excitement in his heart gradually subsided.

After listening to Merian's flustered utterances of terms Louis didn't understand, Louis calmly took over the conversation and praised him:
"As expected of the money I spent to get it from those misers in the Azure Tide Guild, it seems this deal was worth it."

Merrian felt a sinking feeling in his chest, his eyes dimmed, and the humiliation of being traded as an object churned within him. He was actually feeling terrible, but he dared not refute it.

He spent almost his entire life confined to the laboratory, never venturing into the world of power, and was utterly defenseless against lies and scheming.

He couldn't tell whether what he said was true or false, so he could only choose to believe it.

Louis noticed the change in his expression and changed his tone accordingly: "I'm curious, why did the Azure Tide Guild send you to the Northern Territory? A researcher like you should be kept in the Federation's deep laboratories."

Merian hesitated for a moment before carefully speaking: "It's a long story. Several hundred years ago, the Abyss Clan, also known as the Fishmen..."

They were once a marine race with their own language and social structure. They were skilled in alchemy and underwater crafts, and even left behind a recipe for rune alloys.

But later the multitude fell into perpetual madness, with only a few retaining fragments of wisdom. The guild suspected that this degeneration was not natural corruption.

Merian's voice trailed off as he continued, "My task is to extract the magical nerve nuclei from the merfolk's brains that haven't completely collapsed and send them back to the Azure Tide Guild for research on the so-called sanity restoration agent."

They wanted to find a way to restore the merfolk's sanity and make them obey humans... I thought it was just academic research at the time.

Then, he cautiously looked up at Louis: "I didn't expect it to be sold to you."

Louis remained expressionless, but he had already silently memorized every word.

He was astonished by the weight of this mission, which directly concerned ancient secrets.

Louis paused for a moment before asking calmly, "So... is the extraction complete?"

Merian shook his head, looking frightened: "No, we were kidnapped by pirates as soon as we arrived in the North. The samples, equipment, and personnel were all lost."

Louis sighed softly, as if regretting it, or perhaps expecting it all along: "Then let's not rush it. You can study other things first, and we can talk about sampling next year when conditions are right. Red Tide City has plenty of alchemical materials and manpower."

His tone softened, becoming gentler: "I will prepare a laboratory, assistants, and resources for you. You can continue your research here without constraints. Red Tide respects knowledge, and it also respects those who make knowledge flourish."

Merian listened, but hardly absorbed a single word.

At that moment, he had only one thought in his mind: to survive. As long as he wasn't thrown into the sea, he would agree to anything.

He nodded repeatedly, bowing slightly as if afraid that his voice might also anger the other party.

Louis smiled slightly as he looked at him. "Go and rest, Master Merian. There's no rush with the experiment."

After the door closed, Merian's shoulders finally relaxed, and he felt as if all his strength had been drained away.

He felt a sense of bewilderment, yet also a vague sense of absurd relief.

I'm glad I survived.

Oh well, moving from one lab to another is just changing locations to continue working.

As for the Azure Tide Guild and the Emerald Federation... he never truly cherished that place.

…………

Night fell over the sea, and the waves crashed against the hull of the ironclad warship, creating a low, echoing sound.

Several lamps were lit on the deck, their lights flickering in the wind.

Cavill Irontooth stood in front of the helm, half his face hidden in shadow, the other half of his metal prosthetic jaw gleaming coldly in the firelight.

He silently bit down on an iron pipe until, with a snap, the pipe broke off.

He casually tossed the fragments into the sea, his voice as cold as the wind: "It's been a week, and there's still no signal?"

The adjutant stood not far away: "Yes, sir. The bone-sawing squad hasn't sent back any signals."

Cavill chuckled, a hoarse and short laugh.

He clenched his metal prosthetic jaw with a sharp crack, the sound of metal scraping against his teeth sending a chill down one's spine. Then he slammed his fist on the wheel rail, sending rust and wood chips flying, and the lieutenant instinctively took a step back.

"Maybe?" he repeated in a low voice, but without any anger.

After a moment of silence, he looked up at the dark sea in the distance, his tone slowing, "What did I tell them before they set sail?"

The adjutant hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "Take the target and come back immediately."

“Then he wouldn’t have died at the hands of the Empire,” Cavill said calmly.

He didn't think that a fool like Bagg could cause any trouble. If he were really acting recklessly, he would have been able to send out a signal.

Moreover, the empire's northern border has virtually no naval forces; otherwise, it wouldn't have been able to roam freely here for so long.

The intelligence for this operation was provided by the Ash Guild.

Those people had been secretly plotting to seize the Grand Alchemist from the Azure Tide Guild and make him serve the Ashes Guild.

They gave Carville the route, the ship type, and the window of opportunity, in exchange for more funds and port concessions if he could capture the target alive.

The traitor within the Azure Tide Guild leaked the Grand Alchemist's itinerary precisely to facilitate this operation.

Cavill's mind raced with countless possibilities:

Was it the Empire that intervened?
Was it another guild that beat them to it? That means the Ash Guild leaked their plans before they even made a move.

Or is the Ash Guild secretly cleaning up their tracks?
The more I think about it, the more confused I get; my head hurts like it's being hit by a hammer.

Cavill squinted his only eye and muttered, "Could the guild be taking me for a fool?"

The Ash Guild, merchants who claim to control the Federation.

Cavill understood that his ability to become the Mad King was not due to madness, but rather to knowing who to bow to.

His fleet, gunboats, and base all depended on the Ashes Guild for funding.

I am nothing more than a piece on that group of people's chessboard.

If this mission fails, he knows what will happen: the guild will say "funding terminated".

As a result, funding will be cut off, the place where they sell stolen goods will disappear, and their subordinates will fall apart within a few months.

Cavill inhaled a breath of cold air, letting out a short, metallic scraping sound from his throat.

"Send reconnaissance ships to search the entire area. Find even the smallest piece of canvas."

"Yes, sir!" The adjutant immediately bowed and withdrew.

The wind grew stronger, causing the lights on the deck to sway violently.

Cavill stood alone, tapping his fingers lightly on the railing.

He knew he couldn't let anyone see his unease.

A mad king may go mad, but he cannot show weakness.

The wind howled, the ship shook, and no one dared to look at him.

…………

The administrative building of Shuguang Port stood quietly in the wind and snow.

The lights shone through the windowpanes, illuminating the conference room with warmth and brightness, and a sense of accomplishment filled the air.

Louis sat in the main seat, his gaze sweeping over the people present, his expression calm.

He stayed in Dawn Harbor for another two months, during which the construction in the new city yielded new results, and it was time to hold one last meeting before leaving.

“We’re not going to beat around the bush, we’ll get straight to the point,” Louis said.

Russell was the first to stand up and report, his voice carrying a southern accent: "The port project is 99% complete, and the breakwater, berths, and slipway system are all in use."

The cold storage facility in the cargo handling area was topped out last night, with only the exterior finishing remaining. The winter frost protection layer on the tracks has been reinforced, and the pressure test has been passed.

Louis nodded slightly: "Safety first, do another spot check."

“Understood, sir.” Russell bowed in response, a hint of pride in his eyes.

When it was Bernard's turn to speak, the old craftsman tightened his coat slightly: "The Dawn series of ships have all completed sea trials, and the experimental ships Dawn and Tide have also been assembled."

However, due to the unmelted sea ice, sea trials have not yet been conducted; a full-scale test is planned for the spring tide.

Louis nodded, his tone approving: "Very good. Don't rush to build new ships, you can rest for a while first."

Bernard smiled slightly, and his tense shoulders relaxed a little.

Elliott, who had been sitting near the fireplace, listened to their reports before standing up:

"The Hong Kong Defence Fleet has completed three rounds of drills, mainly training in night combat and naval assault. The gun positions have been maintained, and the coastal defense line can withstand a medium-sized attack."

“Very good.” Louis smiled slightly. “Dawn Harbor was able to get through the winter safely thanks to your preparations.”

Then it was Ruida's turn. Holding the ledger, she spoke clearly: "The winter house is all completed, and the remaining materials have been transferred to the public warehouse."

Food supplies are plentiful; the transport ship from Red Tide City arrived last night, and the harvest from McDonald's has also arrived, enough to last the entire winter. Bathhouses, hospitals, theaters, and laundries are all operating normally.

Louis leaned back in his chair, looking a little more relaxed: "Very good, Rida, keep it up."

She smiled slightly and solemnly replied, "Yes, sir."

The atmosphere in the conference room gradually lightened.

Russell was reviewing the construction drawings, Bernard was quietly confirming the shipbuilding progress with his deputy, and Rida was organizing the people's livelihood accounts.

Louis looked around and sighed with satisfaction: "It seems that Dawn Harbor will finally be able to stabilize this winter."

He stood up, put on his coat, and said in his usual calm tone, "Next year, we need more than just port construction. As soon as spring arrives, the merchant fleet will set sail. And if the pirates are still around then, we should deal with them."

Elliott immediately stood up and bowed: "We are ready at any time."

“Don’t be too nervous,” Louis smiled. “You’ll be busy once the snow melts.”

He paused, his gaze softening slightly: "These past two months have been tough on you all. The port's success today is not due to miracles, but entirely to the efforts of each and every one of you."

Everyone stood up and bowed, their voices in unison: "Yes, sir."

After the meeting, everyone left one after another.

Louis remained in the hall, gazing at the snow line outside the window.

The lighthouse beams swept across the sea, illuminating the outline of Dawn Harbor.

He said softly, "Winter is coming soon, it's time to go back to Red Tide, otherwise Orsus might not recognize his father."

(End of this chapter)