Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 384 The Birth of Louis's Daughter
The chill of the early morning seeped into the room, the fireplace still glowing with warmth, but it couldn't dispel the stillness of the snow outside the window.

Sif lay on her side next to Louis, her short white hair now shoulder-length with a few strands scattered on the pillow. Her breathing was steady, but her eyes still held that wild sharpness.

Her ten-month-old belly was noticeably protruding, but it did not diminish her figure; on the contrary, it made her strength even more apparent.

Louis glanced at her briefly, his fingers pausing slightly near her lower abdomen.

It should be in the next few days.

He suppressed the fleeting tension that crossed his heart, quietly got out of bed, put on a thick robe, and walked to the window.

The rooftops of Red Tide City were covered in a pale white layer of fog and snow, while in the distance, the chimneys of the steam workshops were emitting wisps of smoke.

Louis raised his right hand and flicked his fingers slightly.

A familiar soft chime rang out. A pale blue, semi-transparent light curtain spread out in the air.

[Daily intelligence update complete]

[1: The Raymond family has been lobbying Seventh Army Commander Ackerman Grell with promises of land profits, trade route revenue, and future rewards. According to intelligence reports, they have begun secret meetings with Grell's representatives.]

[2: The Dawn Harbor caravan arrived safely at the Jade Federation's Azure Tide Guild. The goods sold smoothly, and the guild leader spoke highly of the mineral quality and expressed a willingness to strengthen long-term cooperation.]

[3: The Red Tide Machine Building Team has completed the first-generation prototype of the steam-powered tank. Its performance is stable and it is ready for trial use.]

[4: Sif had a good pregnancy and gave birth to a baby girl today.]

Louis's gaze lingered on the first intelligence report for a few seconds. Since the Dragon Throne Conference ended, the political situation in the Empire had been like a boulder thrown into the deep sea, sinking further every day.

But Louis possessed the golden finger of daily intelligence, which was almost equivalent to having a third eye, allowing him to overlook the flow of the entire power structure from the far north, far from the capital, in a way that resembled a god's-eye view.

The three princes are now using their own unique skills to win over the empire's nobles and legion commanders.

The fifth prince, on the other hand, took a more roundabout approach, trying to get closer to the Calvin family step by step and to bring the entire Southeast Province under his control.

But the most conspicuous and dangerous force was not these princes, but Duke Reddt of the Redmond family.

Louis slowly exhaled, tapping his fingertips lightly on the edge of the light screen.

Although Redt may still be using the title of the Second Prince, he has long since extended his reach into the Imperial Military, with the Seventh Legion and the Southwest Reserve Army becoming his targets for probing.

While the legion commanders verbally supported the royal family, they were all secretly plotting which side to bet on in the future.

To make matters worse, the Seventh Army is stationed on the northern border.

Nominally, it was there to guard the frigid border, but in reality, it was more like an eye that the Empire had left in the north.

Although Louis had made the entire North as quiet as a solid iron plate, this one eye was always watching him. It was not enough to threaten the Red Tide, but it could always find some trouble.

The Empire never trusted the North, so that eye would never be taken back.

The empire's military power is now like an old net stretched to its limit; it will break at the slightest tug.

Everyone is waiting for that breaking point—perhaps the Regent's downfall, perhaps a legion's out-of-control action, or perhaps one of the princes suddenly revealing his true trump card.

Louis knew very well that Redtt had no intention of becoming a subject; the man's actions were entirely aimed at establishing his own military power, and he hoped to grab the biggest share once the empire fell apart.

Louis appeared calm on the surface, but a growing sense of crisis was creeping in.

The Northern Territory is far from the capital and seems to be uninvolved, but once the chaos really erupts, the Northern Territory will be drawn in whether it likes it or not.

If the Red Tide cannot establish a firm foothold, once the empire's last thread breaks, the North will be like a tree uprooted and dragged away by a storm.

Therefore, he had to move faster than everyone else. Granaries, mines, railways, armaments, schools…

These seemingly smooth-progressing construction projects are actually treading on the edge of time at every step.

He must ensure that the Red Tide has a complete framework that can operate independently, be armed independently, and be supplied independently before the empire completely falls apart.

"The North must become fully independent before chaos ensues."

Louis repeated the sentence to himself, as if giving himself a final command.

As long as the Red Tide system remains stable, he can keep the North outside of the blizzard and no longer be swept up by the ups and downs of the capital.

Louis must now accelerate down this path without delay.

When Louis looked at the second point, his emotions were calmer than when he looked at the part about the imperial politics, and there was even a hint of calculation in his eyes.

[2: The Dawn Harbor caravan arrived safely at the Jade Federation's Azure Tide Guild. The goods sold smoothly, and the guild leader spoke highly of the mineral quality and expressed a willingness to strengthen long-term cooperation.]

The fact that Shuguang Port was able to successfully connect with the federal ports indicates that the foreign trade routes he had been laying out for a whole year were finally beginning to take shape.

The fact that Red Tide's minerals, cold iron ingots, and furs can fetch good prices in the Federation shows that for the first time, the Northern Industrial System has truly gained initiative in its external operations, rather than being dependent on or parasitic on anyone else.

"The guild master is satisfied..." Louis murmured to himself, his words carrying a profound meaning.

More importantly, this breakthrough is not just a breakthrough for the Bichao Guild alone.

The cooperation plan between the Red Radiance Guild and the Starfall Guild has been finalized, and two caravans dispatched by Dawn Harbor are making preparations for their departure.

If these three maritime trade routes are successfully established, Red Tide's foreign trade system can officially break free from the old network of the Calvin Merchant Guild and form a stable cycle independent of the Empire.

As for Count Harvey, he ostensibly used the pretext of sponsoring Jon to make two trips back and forth, but the supplies he sent were not only of excellent quality, but also at extremely low prices.

This attitude is clearly not simply well-intentioned, but rather an attempt to bet on the future of the North in advance, leaving themselves a way out.

As long as the Federation continues to maintain this cooperative stance, the Calvin Chamber of Commerce's control over the North will be completely loosened.

Even if they realized it, they would have no time to interfere with the trade routes in the North. The Red Tide took advantage of this gap to gradually pull the economic chain of the North out of Calvin's hands.

"This line must be pushed forward." Louis thought to himself, then looked at the next line.

[3: The Red Tide Machine Building Team has completed the first-generation prototype of the steam-powered tank. Its performance is stable and it is ready for trial use.]

More than a year has passed since the first steam train was tested in the North.

Now that the prototype of the tank has finally been unveiled, it marks the second step forward for the entire steam power system.

Louis didn't really understand its principles or its actual performance. All he could do was draw a rough outline of the tank from his memory for the machine-building team, hoping to give them some direction.

But as for how to make it and what shape it should look like, he could only leave it to the craftsmen to figure out slowly.

Of course, Louis needs to find some time to go and check on the progress in person before deciding on the next step.

[4: Sif had a good pregnancy and gave birth to a baby girl today.]

Upon seeing this, Louis felt a slight jolt in his heart.

Louis had been telling himself these days that Sif was as strong as a she-wolf in the snowfield, but when it came to pregnancy, no one could say for sure.

He knew her physique was far superior to that of ordinary people, but when the moment of delivery actually arrived, he realized that he had been worried all along.

A long-lost joy rose in my chest, like adding fuel to a fire.

He rarely allowed himself to have these emotions, but at this moment he couldn't suppress them.

Sif is safe, the baby is safe—this is the best and most crucial piece of information he has received in recent days.

No matter how chaotic the North is or how perilous the Empire is, at least he still has them here waiting for him.

Louis rubbed his temples and exhaled softly, as if letting his joy slowly subside: "...Very good."

The next moment, his eyes regained that familiar focus and decisiveness.

His family's safety is his reason to keep going, not an excuse to stop.

Louis had just turned off the daily intelligence screen, but the clues about the prince, the legion, the guild, and the port were still swirling in his mind.

But physical training never stops because of political situations.

The fighting spirit circulated slowly along the familiar path, like the tide rising and falling between flesh and blood, and the warmth gradually spread from the chest to the limbs.

Halfway through his cultivation, Louis suddenly heard a soft rustling sound from the blanket behind him.

The voice wasn't loud, but it pierced his attention like a fine needle. Louis opened his eyes and turned to look.

Sif stirred slightly on the bed, her brows furrowing gently, as if pulled from her slumber, and instinctively gasped.

Louis initially thought she was just feeling the heat from the fire and was about to get up to turn off the vents to cool the room down.

The next moment, Sif's breathing became noticeably erratic.

She gripped the edge of the bed beside her, her cheeks damp with cold sweat, which she pressed against her neck.

“Louis…” Sif’s voice was a little hoarse, but she tried to keep it low, as if afraid of disturbing something, “I… am going into labor.”

Louis stood up almost instantly, his composure during cultivation shattered by a single strike.

He walked to the bedside, held her shoulders, and felt the barely controlled trembling beneath her muscles.

Sif held her breath, sweat beading on her forehead, but she forced a smile and tried to maintain her usual composure.

"It's okay, I can handle it," she said softly, but her eyes were as sharp as they were before she went into battle.

Louis didn't say anything more, but turned around and opened the door: "Go and inform Dr. Elena to prepare the delivery room immediately. Also, call Emily here."

The maid, who was standing not far away, changed her expression upon hearing this. She quickly bowed and agreed, then practically ran away and disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Inside the room, Sif tried to sit up on her own, but her movements became stiff due to the pulling on her abdomen.

Louis turned around and helped her adjust her posture.

He could feel the intense tension emanating from her, a tension even stronger than when she wore animal hide armor and wielded a battle axe.

"Don't push yourself," Louis said in a low voice.

Sif forced a smile: "I don't want you to see me looking too disheveled."

"You looked pretty pathetic fighting those two snow boars," Louis joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Sif snorted and was about to retort when another wave of pain exploded in her abdomen, causing her fingers to involuntarily tighten around the blanket.

Because Sif was about to give birth, Louis arranged for the healer Elena to be in the room next to his own, and soon Elena was invited into the room.

This middle-aged female doctor was not tall, but she moved nimbly. Her hair was neatly tied back, and her apron was adorned with needles, thread, and small scissors.

As soon as she entered the room, she glanced at Sif's face and breathing, and then decisively ordered, "Take her to the delivery room."

Unlike Emily, Sif came from the barbarian tribe and did not care about the old customs of the empire, nor did she care about the traditions such as the male head of the household avoiding the birthing room.

But Elena insisted on her own rules.

“It’s not for you,” she said calmly, checking Sif’s pulse. “It’s for her. Only essential people should be in the delivery room. The closer you are to her, the more likely she is to be distracted.”

Louis looked at Sif.

Sif glanced at him, then, panting, gestured towards the door with her eyes: "Go ahead. I'll be fine."

Louis gently squeezed her hand, but ultimately withdrew.

Emily had already arrived at the other end of the corridor, wearing an outer robe and with her blue hair tied up in a mess, clearly having gotten up in a hurry.

Upon hearing the situation, she didn't hesitate at all, quickly went into the room, and closed the door behind her.

The moment the door closed in front of him, Louis truly realized that there was nothing he could do.

He could only stand under the eaves.

The corridor wasn't cold; the oil lamps on the walls and the stove near the delivery room made it warm and cozy, but his hands were very stiff.

The sounds coming from behind the door weren't loud, but each one struck a nerve.

There was Elena's deep and calm commanding voice, Emily's soft soothing words, and Sif's occasional muffled groans that she couldn't suppress.

Louis stood there, his back ramrod straight, as if facing some unseen enemy.

He knew Sif was strong, that her bloodline, physique, and fighting spirit were far beyond those of ordinary people, but pregnancy was never a battlefield where strength could exhaust all the risks.

Despite the daily intelligence system telling him that the delivery would go smoothly, he couldn't help feeling nervous.

Louis clenched and unclenched his fist, walked to the end of the corridor and turned back, over and over again, but his steps never strayed more than ten steps from the door.

Fortunately, the time frame wasn't long enough to be unbearably agonizing.

After an unknown amount of time, the scent of incense gradually wafted out from under the door, carrying a comforting herbal fragrance.

Finally, a voice with a gentle smile came from inside the door: "Baby girl! Mother and daughter are safe!"

These few simple words seemed to drain all the strength from Louis's back.

He stood there, leaning back slightly, as if released from an invisible bowstring.

The door was pushed open a crack.

Elena poked her head out, her face showing professional fatigue, but she couldn't help but smile: "My lord, you may come in."

The moment Louis stepped into the room, the light from the fireplace bathed him.

Sif leaned against the headboard, her forehead still damp with sweat, her white hair disheveled from being wiped, but her face was not sickly pale, but rather relaxed after weakness.

When she saw him, a faint smile appeared on her lips, and she was holding a small package in her arms.

Emily coughed lightly and tactfully led the others out of the room, closing the door behind her, leaving only the crackling of the fireplace in the room.

As Louis approached, Sif slightly raised her hand, making room for the package a little.

“Look.” Her voice was still a little hoarse, but with a rare gentleness, “our daughter.”

The baby was wrapped in soft cloth, with only a rosy little face showing.

She didn't seem to have fully adapted to this world yet; her eyes were only slightly open, as if startled by the light from the fire, or perhaps instinctively observing something.

Louis looked down at those small eyes.

The empire is in turmoil, and the situation after the Dragon Throne Conference is like a chessboard that has been shattered, with each piece rolling with sharp edges.

And it was precisely at this moment that she arrived.

The more this was the case, the less Louis wanted her to be dragged into those messy storms.

“Name…” Sif leaned against the pillow, her voice slightly unsteady, “Come on.”

Louis remained silent for a moment.

The firelight danced in his eyes, casting a softer glow.

“Aurelia,” he said softly.

The name rolled around in my mouth, neither like the wild name of a barbarian nor the gorgeous long names of noble ladies in the capital. Its pronunciation was gentle, yet it carried a sense of peace and light.

Sif repeated herself, slowly enunciating each syllable: "Aurelia...our daughter."

After she finished speaking, she seemed to truly relax, resting her head gently on Louis's shoulder, her eyelids drooping with exhaustion.

Louis supported her shoulder with one hand and carefully took the small package with the other.

The baby stirred in his arms and made a barely audible nasal sound.

The fire in the stove was bright, and the wind and snow were still pounding against the wall in the distance, but they were far away.

“Welcome to Red Tide,” Louis said softly.

He knew that the outside world wouldn't become gentler just because a child was born.

But at least in this fortress, in this fire-lit room, there is a small place tonight that is truly warm and peaceful.

(End of this chapter)