Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 33 The Snow Oath

Louis watched as the Snowsworn were dragged away to be executed not far away, while Jon chattered beside him.

The guy was now filled with adoration, his eyes shining like a puppy seeing its owner, circling around Louis and even wagging his tail.

Yorn smiled obsequiously: "Boss! If it weren't for you this time, I probably would have lost my life to these thugs!"

You're truly like a second parent to me! Back in the capital, I knew you were no ordinary person! And now I know you really are!

"Stop flattering me." Louis glanced at him, frowning. "What are you doing here?"

“Huh? Didn’t I come here to be a pioneer lord?” Yorn said matter-of-factly.

Louis stared at him with some doubt: "Given your qualifications, you shouldn't have been sent to the North."

Jon pursed his lips and answered matter-of-factly, "I applied to come here."

"Huh?" Louis was taken aback by his words, wondering if he had misheard.

“Anyway, I won’t get any of the benefits from my family, so I might as well go somewhere far away,” Yorn shrugged and said casually.

"And you're here too. I figured it's better to hang out with the boss than to be a boring little son at home."

"Did your husband agree?"

“Of course I disagreed! But I submitted a request to expand the territory, and the emperor approved it quickly.” Yorn snorted smugly. “Now I have no choice but to come.”

Louis paused for a moment: "..."

He actually delivered the North, which others would avoid at all costs, to his doorstep?

“I’ve already chosen a territory next to yours. From now on, we brothers will dominate the North and make those who look down on us unable to reach us!” Yorn patted his shoulder and leaned closer with a grin.

These words amused Louis, who shook his head and asked, "Alright, how many resources and men did you bring?"

“You underestimate me. How could I not be prepared?” Yorn patted his round belly, looking confident.

"More than 600 people, including craftsmen, soldiers and serfs, are basically self-sufficient. The old man will send some more over later."

Then he looked around, leaned closer to Louis, and lowered his voice, saying, "And I also have ten thousand gold coins."

Louis was stunned for a moment, feeling as if he had been struck by lightning.

Ten thousand? That's twenty times his current wealth!
"Truly worthy of being a newly minted tycoon," Louis couldn't help but exclaim.

Jon chuckled, clearly quite proud of his wealth.

He pulled out a heavy gold bag and slapped it into Louis's hand: "This is just a small token, boss, you have to accept it, otherwise I'll feel bad!"

Louis looked down at the huge bag of gold coins, estimating there were over a hundred. His lips twitched slightly as he looked up at Yorn: "Do you take me for a mercenary?"

"Don't say that! This is my way of showing respect to our boss!" Yorn waved his hands repeatedly, his face serious. "You saved my life, what are these few gold coins?"

Louis sighed helplessly, but still put the gold coins away, since he was indeed a bit poor right now.

"Why don't you come to my place first, and grab a nice meal while you're there?"

Yorn waved his hand: "No, I need to settle my people first."

"Okay, come over when you're done with your work."

Louis then chatted with Jon for a while before preparing to lead the team back to Red Tide Territory.

Yorn stood in front of the camp, laughing and waving: "Take care, boss! I'll come find you for a drink after I've settled in!"

Louis glanced back at him, smiled, and said nothing more before leading his knights away on horseback.

Jon watched them go.

Only after the group disappeared into the mountain path did he turn his gaze away and excitedly roar at his knights, "Full speed ahead towards our territory! Let's begin our conquest!" The knights looked at each other, and could only respond helplessly.

…………

A cold wind howled past, and the Snowsworn's secret headquarters was hidden among the mountains of the North.

Several nobles of the Ironblood Empire were hanging upside down on the eerie altar, writhing in agony.

Their mouths were gagged with rags, leaving them only able to stare wide-eyed in despair, and their bodies bore several conspicuous wounds.

Blood seeped from the wound, slowly flowing down his cheek into the altar carved with eerie runes.

"Ancient God of the Cold Abyss, please grant us the blessing of vengeance..." the priest chanted in a low voice.

Suddenly, a nauseating, low, writhing sound came from underground, seemingly in response to the priest's prayer.

Immediately afterwards, a chilling cold emanated from the crack.

The corpses on the altar began to wither rapidly, their flesh and blood seemingly being devoured by an invisible force.

The nobleman's eyes bulged, blood flowed from his seven orifices, and he was reduced to a withered corpse.

Standing high above, Hiro coldly surveyed everything on the altar, his face expressionless.

His gaze fell on the pool of blood, as if through it he could see his mother lying in that pool of blood many years ago.

Forty years ago, the iron cavalry of the empire trampled their homeland and burned their royal court.

As a child, he huddled in the shadows, watching helplessly as his mother was dragged away by soldiers and pierced by swords, his eyes filled with resentment and pain.

Thinking of this, his fingertips tightened slightly, and a murderous intent surged within him.

Elder Grom walked slowly, wearing a heavy gray animal skin cloak, his cloudy eyes filled with deep worry.

“Hiro, one troop hasn’t returned.” His voice was tinged with unease.

Hiro withdrew his gaze from the altar and said in a low voice, "I understand."

Elder Grom remained silent for a moment before finally speaking: "If this continues, we will eventually be in trouble."

Hiro gave him a cold glance: "A blood debt must be repaid in blood."

Grom sighed, then said in a low voice, "That barbarian witch has ill intentions. She's just using our hatred to pave the way for her tribe!"

Hiro's gaze was icy, his voice low: "What does it matter if she can give us weapons, give us a chance for revenge?"

"And what have we gained? I only see our warriors dwindling!" Grom slammed his cane down, his tone unusually sharp.

"Enough!" Hiro's face darkened.

Grom wanted to say something more, but Heero waved his hand and said coldly, "Take him away."

Two Snowsworn warriors immediately stepped forward, grabbed Grom's arms tightly, and dragged him backward.

Grom didn't struggle, but just stared intently at Hiro, finally sneering, "You'll regret this."

Hiro didn't look at him again, but turned back to look at the dying embers of the campfire.

The image of my mother dying flashed before my eyes again: pools of blood, cries, and the cold laughter of imperial soldiers…

"Blood debt...blood must be repaid." He murmured again, his voice low and cold like a chilling wind.

The fire was completely extinguished, and Hero's gaze disappeared into the night.

(End of this chapter)