Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 87 Red Tide Territory, Your Lord Has Returned
"I have awakened my bloodline talent."

"what?"

Lambert stopped in his tracks, as if he had heard something unbelievable.

After a moment, the shock subsided, leaving only heartfelt joy for Louis.

"Don't tell anyone," Lambert whispered a reminder. "Bloodline talent... can be a lifesaver in a critical moment. Keep it a secret as long as you can."

Louis nodded. "I know."

He knew perfectly well that the fewer people who knew about this, the better.

Tell Lambert it's simply because of trust.

For Lambert, he was more than just an elite knight.

For the original owner, Lambert was more like a mentor and father figure, teaching him combat skills from a young age.

Moreover, he sacrificed so much for Louis. As a high-ranking elite knight of the Calvin family, he could have stayed in the family and enjoyed a life of luxury, but he insisted on following him to this poor and dangerous northern border.

He didn't leave Louis when he was at his lowest point, and that alone makes him trustworthy.

Of course, there's another small reason.

Bloodline awakening is such a cool thing, it's reasonable for Louis to want to show off a little, right?

On the other hand, Lambert had mixed feelings.

Before coming to the North, he saw Louis as just an introverted nobleman with mediocre talent.

To be honest, Lambert didn't have high hopes for him either.

When he followed him to the North, he only wanted to protect the life of the child he had watched grow up and prevent the Calvin family from being disgraced.

But what he didn't expect was that the young master who used to hide in the corner of the training ground and daydream would become like a dragon entering the sea in this war-torn land.

Not only did he manage his territory perfectly, but he was also able to lead his troops to defeat the enemy, win over the hearts of the people, and become a true lord.

Even their bloodline talent has now awakened.

Lambert was delighted and genuinely proud of Louis.

But deep down, a sense of unfamiliarity also surfaced.

“Oh, right.” Louis seemed to suddenly remember something, turned to look at Lambert and smiled.

"I hunted three Frostmane Tundra Rabbits today. I ate one and just in time for a breakthrough."

"You've been stuck at the high-level elite level for almost five years now, haven't you?" Louis said casually. "Take one and eat it."

Lambert's eyes widened, and for a moment he was speechless.

Having been stuck in a bottleneck for so long, he had considered using external resources to break through.

But given how rare and precious the Frosty-maned Tundra Rabbit is, he wouldn't even dare to dream of it.

"I..." He suddenly knelt down on one knee, his eyes reddening, "Thank you, sir..."

Louis sighed and reached out to help him up: "Why are you being so polite with me?"

That evening, Lambert quietly drank the bowl of rabbit soup.

Battle energy surged and churned within his body, his blood vessels vibrated, and his energy surged like thunder.

Finally, a low growl escaped from his throat.

The bottleneck that had remained untouched for five years was shattered at this moment.

Lambert, promoted to Extraordinary Knight!
He was also the first extraordinary knight of the Crimson Tide Territory.

If Louis had the cheat code to see the attribute panel, he would see that Lambert's loyalty was already at its maximum.

…………

On the way back, although there were some gains, rare resources like the Frostmane Tundra Rabbit did not reappear.

So the group didn't delay any longer and set off directly back to Red Tide Territory.

Meanwhile, the Red Tide Territory was already in an uproar.

The news that the lord had not only survived but also made great contributions in battle shocked the entire territory.

For the first time ever, the city even gave everyone a day off. People spontaneously gathered at the city gate and along the main road, making the entire territory as lively as if it were a festival.

Everyone's face was filled with anticipation, yet also concealed some unease.

They feared that if the young lord died or became incapacitated, the land would likely return to those dark days of cold, hunger, and vulnerability to attack.

So they waited, hoped, and even with a touch of believer-like devotion.

Until this moment, he appeared.

Louis, riding on horseback, wore a red and black military uniform and stood tall and straight.

The crowd fell into a deathly silence.

Immediately afterwards, thunderous cheers erupted.

"It's our Lord Louis!"

"He's back!! Our sun has returned!"

"It's him! It's him! Our heroic lord!"

The noise was deafening.

They were so moved that tears welled up in their eyes, and some even knelt on the ground with their hands clasped together.

The children sat on the shoulders of adults, waving strips of cloth with red edges.

Bradley, the old butler, stepped out from the crowd. His hair was completely white, but his steps were steady, and his eyes were slightly red with emotion.

“Welcome back, sir,” he said softly, his voice barely concealing his joy.

He had also worried that Louis might have died on the battlefield. When the battle report reached Red Tide Territory, he was still somewhat incredulous, given how glorious the victory had been.

When he first arrived in the Red Tide Territory, he felt that one day this young man would soar to great heights, but he never expected that day to come so soon.

Louis dismounted, opened his arms, and gave him a gentle hug.

“You’ve had a tough time, Bradley,” Louis said softly. “I’m back.”

Bradley took a deep breath, his eyes slightly red: "It's good that you're back...it's good that you're back, sir."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Louis returned to his horse, while Bradley personally led the horse alongside him.

As Louis walked toward the Red Tide Territory residential area, the cheers from both sides of the street grew louder.

Petals were tossed down from the roof, raining down on Louis's path.

The people of Red Tide Territory are welcoming their hero with the utmost devotion.

Will stared intently at the radiant figure riding a tall horse amidst the crowd.

That's Lord Louis, the man he wants to follow for life, and he's working towards that goal.

Two months ago, he was just a little kid who stumbled and fell on the training field, and was ridiculed for not even being able to hold a sword properly.

Now he is a high-ranking apprentice knight.

The knights who taught him were astonished: "Of all the knights I have ever taught, none are as talented as you, and none are as diligent as you."

Will simply smiled and continued practicing his swordplay, because he had a clear goal in mind.

“One day…” Will murmured, his voice drowned out by the cheers of the crowd, “I too will don the red and black riding robes and become a knight by Lord Louis’s side.”

Louis slowly dismounted in the center of town and surveyed the enthusiastic crowd of his subjects.

He raised his hand and gestured for everyone to be quiet.

The previously boisterous crowd quieted down within a few breaths.

“Red Tide Territory, your lord has returned.”

Without any lengthy explanation, Louis simply said one sentence, and the entire town erupted like a volcano.

Applause, cheers, shouts, and tears mingled together, sweeping across the scene like waves.

"Lord Louis!! Welcome home!!"

(End of this chapter)