A biting cold wind swept across the land, carrying ice and snow as it lashed against the dead tree trunks lining the roadside.
Louis sat inside a swaying carriage, its wheels groaning dully as they rolled over the frozen earth. He lowered his gaze to the document in his hand—the Northern Lord's Development Permit, stamped with the royal seal—and a bitter smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Three months ago, he had been struck by a dump truck and transmigrated into another world, possessing the body of Louis Calvin, the son of Duke Calvin.
However, after being reborn as a so-called Celestial Dragon, he hadn't even enjoyed a single day of luxury before being appointed a Frontier Baron and ordered to develop territory in the Northern Region.
This was not good news.
The Northern Region was frozen all year round—barren, desolate, and constantly threatened by Glacier Orcs from the north. It was no place for humans to live.
Although the Iron-Blood Empire nominally controlled the region, vast areas were still under the influence of the Snow Country's remnants. Just two years earlier, a large-scale rebellion had nearly caused the Northern Region to break away from the Empire entirely, and it was only suppressed at an enormous cost.
It was then that the Empire realized that relying solely on military garrisons could not ensure long-term stability.
Thus, the Emperor issued an order: the sons of various noble families were to be sent to the Northern Region to serve as Frontier Lords. They would exchange their own strength and resources for territory, stabilizing the frontier in the process.
At the same time, this policy conveniently weakened the influence of powerful noble families—killing two birds with one stone.
Of course, the nobles were not fools. They could clearly see the Emperor's intentions, so most families merely sent their "odds and ends" to appease him.
Louis was one of those expendable pieces.
As the least promising of Duke Calvin's twelve sons, he naturally became the prime candidate for this assignment.
After issuing him the Development Permit, the family provided eight hundred gold coins, several carts of grain, three Elite Knights, ten Formal Knights, and thirty Apprentice Knights, then urged him to depart as quickly as possible.
Looking at this lineup, it was obvious that Duke Calvin had no intention of letting his useless son establish himself in the Northern Region.
As long as Louis didn't die on the road, that was good enough. If he died in the North, it would still count as having "completed the mission." Participation was what mattered.
No one believed Louis could survive in the Northern Region—including Louis himself.
How could a fresh graduate, suddenly thrown into a frozen, dangerous, godforsaken land, possibly survive?
Louis pulled his cloak tighter around himself, but it did nothing to ward off the bone-chilling cold. He couldn't help muttering a curse under his breath.
"Damn it. Didn't they say every transmigrator gets a golden finger? Why do I have nothing?"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a mechanical female voice echoed in his mind.
"Daily Intelligence System loading…"
Louis froze. Before he could react, a flood of information surged into his consciousness.
Daily Intelligence System.
Every day, the system would randomly push several pieces of intelligence related to him. These could include resource locations, personal secrets, or even future events.
For a Frontier Lord, this golden finger was nothing short of perfect.
The Northern Region was a land of uncertainty—filled with deadly dangers, but also immense opportunities. In such an environment, the Daily Intelligence System would continuously provide crucial information, helping him avoid risks and seize valuable chances.
It effectively paved a broad and open road toward becoming a powerful Lord.
More importantly, even in the worst-case scenario, the system's warnings could allow him to escape danger in advance.
After fully understanding the system's functions, Louis could no longer suppress the excitement surging in his heart. A soft laugh escaped his lips.
At last, a glimmer of hope had appeared in the dark, endless journey of a Frontier Lord.
"Daily Intelligence System loading complete!"
As the prompt sounded, a semi-transparent light screen materialized before Louis's eyes. Several lines of text flickered rapidly across it.
[Daily Intelligence Update Complete]
[1: The Third Prince of the Iron-Blood Empire was framed and drowned in a cesspit today at noon while inspecting the stables.]
[2: Duke Calvin's tenth daughter has been born, possessing the 'Burst' talent within her bloodline.]
[3: A school of Northern Crystal Cod will appear at dawn in an ice-river crevice three kilometers west of your location.]
[4: Knight Roy will mix Frost Scorpion venom into your dinner stew.]
Filled with anticipation, Louis read through each piece of intelligence from top to bottom.
The first two entries weren't particularly useful to his current situation. At best, they provided a bit of psychological consolation.
For instance, he could mock the Third Prince's tragic misfortune in court politics.
Or marvel once again at his father's astonishing vitality and seemingly endless fertility.
However, when his gaze landed on the third piece of intelligence, his eyes widened.
"A school of Northern Crystal Cod will appear at dawn…"
Northern Crystal Cod!
This was a rare and precious resource.
Before departing for the Northern Region, Louis had forced himself to study as much information as possible rather than sit idly by. This fish had been mentioned among the materials he read.
Northern Crystal Cod lived in extremely cold waters, and their flesh was not only delicious but highly nutritious. More importantly, their bones contained a special substance capable of purifying impurities within a Knight's bloodline, enhancing their physical strength.
Such an item was priceless on the market.
This wasn't merely about food—it was an opportunity to earn gold, build connections, and even strengthen combat power.
The system had appeared at the perfect moment. He had been worrying about how to establish himself in the Northern Region, and now a clear opportunity had dropped into his lap.
Taking a deep breath, Louis calmed himself and continued reading.
Then his smile abruptly froze.
"Knight Roy will mix Frost Scorpion venom into your dinner stew."
Louis swallowed hard as a chill ran down his spine. His gaze instinctively swept toward the busy Knights not far away.
They were setting up camp around a bonfire. Some were pitching tents, while others unloaded equipment from the horses.
Several Knights responsible for cooking were preparing dinner, tossing chopped meat and wild vegetables into a large iron pot. Steam rose slowly into the cold night air.
A Knight with an honest, unremarkable face crouched beside the pot, stirring the stew.
It was Roy.
Louis felt as though icy water had been poured down his back.
A Formal Knight sent by his own family was planning to poison him?
He had assumed that even if these Knights looked down on him, they would still obey his authority as their Lord. He never imagined that someone would attempt to kill him before they even reached the Northern Region.
Being exiled to such a desolate land was already miserable enough—but to be murdered before arriving?
It was impossible to guard against.
Fortunately, he had the Daily Intelligence System. Otherwise, he would have died without ever understanding why.
A Knight's voice called out from outside the carriage, mixed with the howling wind.
"My Lord, dinner is ready."
Louis straightened his collar, then slowly lifted the curtain and stepped down from the carriage.
Firelight illuminated the campsite, reflecting off the bubbling stew in the iron pot. The rich aroma, mingling with the icy wind, drifted into his nostrils and stirred a faint trace of appetite.
The Knights were seated around the bonfire, yet none had begun eating.
According to custom, as the Lord, Louis had to eat first before anyone else could touch their food.
His gaze swept calmly over the assembled Knights before finally returning to the steaming pot.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.