Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 52 Ice and Fire

Louis led the group into the Magic Marrow Factory, where a pungent smell of alchemy immediately assaulted their senses.

He raised his hand in greeting: "Good morning."

In the corner, Hilko, with dark circles under his eyes, listlessly glanced up at the despicable slave owner.

"Good morning, sir." His voice carried a hint of complaint as he casually handed over a rough earthenware jar the size of a fist.

Louis took the heavy jar, which looked plain and unadorned. A strip of linen was stuck in the mouth of the jar, and it looked so rough that it seemed to have been made casually.

He frowned: "That's it?"

Hilko explained lazily, "Don't be fooled by its ordinary appearance; it's full of dangerous items inside."

It was completely filled with magic marrow, ice-armored bear crystal slag, and fireweed.

Its power is considerable. Of course, given more time, I can make it even more refined, and its power will be even greater.

“Since you put it that way, let’s try one out,” Louis raised an eyebrow and looked at the experimental field that had already been prepared.

Several magical beasts were tied up in various places on the field, struggling and letting out uneasy roars.

The knights donned special protective masks, lit the fuses, and launched the magic fire projectiles.

The earthenware jar spun in the air, tracing an arc, and landed precisely in the center of the experimental field.

boom! !

Phase One: Cold Explosion!
The moment the Demon Flame Bullet exploded, a flash of blue light appeared, the Ice Armor Bear crystal shattered, and an extremely cold airflow was released!
The air suddenly contracted, as if the entire space had been violently pulled tight by an invisible hand.

The fur of several magical beasts instantly frosted over, and their limbs twitched and curled up.

Then, they were dragged towards the core of the explosion by that strong suction force!
They let out piercing howls, their hooves digging wildly at the ground, but they were powerless to break free.

Phase Two: Explosion!
Just as they were about to break free from the cold wave, the next wave of disaster struck.

The demonic marrow suddenly ignited, and violent flames burst forth.

The edelweiss fluff seemed to be catalyzed by some invisible force, frantically devouring the oxygen in the air!

The flames clung tightly to the monster's body like a flowing liquid, spreading along its fur.

Like a bloodthirsty venomous snake, it burrows into every crevice of the skin, frantically gnawing at the flesh.

"Ouch——!!"

The eyes of a monster were scorched by flames and exploded instantly. Its bodily fluids evaporated into a wisp of white smoke, and the hot air exhaled from its mouth and nose instantly turned into dry dust.

The air was filled with the stench of burning and charring, making one want to vomit.

Phase Three: Poisoning!

Black smoke rose slowly.

This is no ordinary ember, but a highly toxic gas released after the magic marrow burns!
The first monster to be affected convulsed violently, its limbs twitching wildly, and a squeezing howl came from its throat.

The flesh on the wound began to fester rapidly, as if torn apart by an invisible hand, revealing the stark white bones.

They struggled, roared, and rolled around, but eventually... they fell silent.

Ashes scattered, and the air was filled with a strong smell of sulfur and burnt stench that lingered for a long time.

The scene was a complete mess, with charred remains embedded in the soil.

Even the soil was scorched to a dark brown, faintly glowing with an eerie light; this land seemed to have been tainted by death.

Louis stood there, silently gazing at the mess, remaining silent for a long time.

Sif's face turned pale, and she couldn't help but clench her fists.

She had witnessed fighting and bloodshed, and had even been on the battlefield herself.

But she had never seen such carnage before.

Silent and still, yet utterly stripping away all life.

Hilko wore a strange expression, a mixture of smugness and heartache.

He blinked his bloodshot eyes, rubbed his sore neck, and sighed: "This power is indeed impressive... but sir, the material cost for just one is a full four hundred gold coins."

He looked at the scorched earth as if it were a pile of burning, glittering coins, feeling immense heartache, as if it were his own money that had been spent.

Upon hearing this, Louis finally came to his senses and turned to ask, "How many are still alive?"

“Seven,” Hilko sighed. “Any more and we won’t have enough materials. After all, you only brought a small amount of Ice Armor Bear Crystals.”

"Where's the name?"

"I haven't thought about it yet."

Louis surveyed the desolate land, his gaze sweeping over the still-burning black embers, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Let's call it 'A World of Ice and Fire'.

Hilko nodded, thinking the name was quite fitting.

Louis reached out and gently patted the rough clay pot containing the bomb.

This weapon was his last trump card.

…………

Count Firth sat on the ornate chair in the Earl's mansion, his fingers unconsciously rubbing his thick chin, his face filled with anxiety.

"Damn trash! Commanding bandit suppression... I know nothing about this stuff!"

He was clearly quite taken aback by this sudden assignment.

He inherited the title from his father less than two years ago, and now he's already preparing to wipe out the Snow Oath?

Are you kidding me?
He had often heard of the cruel name of the Snow Oath Slayer.

His father was the former Earl of Firth.

He was a highly decorated general of the North, who ruled Snowpeak County for decades and struck fear into the hearts of the northern tribes.

But what about himself?
He was just a fat man who was forced to inherit a title; he couldn't even ride a horse steadily, let alone lead troops into battle!
“My Lord, this might be an opportunity.”

The one speaking was his strategist, a man with a calculating look on his face.

“Think about it, the extermination of the Snowsworn is Duke Edmund’s order, and all the nobles of the North must respond, especially those pioneer nobles from the South.”

Count Firth frowned: "What do you mean?"

The strategist leaned closer and said, "You can just send them to their deaths."

These nobles from the south were already weak and their foundations were not yet secure.

This operation to wipe out the Snowsworn is extremely risky. If arranged properly, they can be given the most dangerous tasks to deplete their forces.

"Once they have suffered heavy losses, you can then, as a count, take over their territories and resources. Why not do it?"

Earl Firth's eyes widened. So that's how it's done?

The strategist continued to embellish the story: "Moreover, as you know, the old nobles of the North have no fondness for these Southerners."

If the Southerners are completely wiped out, the North will be completely returned to the hands of the true Northerners.

And what do those nobles who look down on you, those who think you only succeeded to the throne because of your father's influence and have no ability to govern Xuefeng County, think?
They could only admit they had misjudged him; you are the true ruler of Xuefeng County!

Count Firth remained silent for a few seconds.

Then a sinister smile appeared on his face.

"Makes sense."

He raised his glass and gently swirled the liquid inside.

He had already pictured in his mind the scene of those southern nobles being swallowed by ice and snow, and the scene of himself being admired by thousands.

"Okay, then we'll do it your way."

(End of this chapter)