Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 91 Genius Boy
Just as Sif's cheeks flushed and her ears burned, and she was trying to find an excuse to explain herself, there was a knock on the door.

"Report, sir, the chef has arrived." A knight guard pushed open the door and entered.

Louis turned around and casually said, "Let him in."

A short while later, a cook wearing an apron carefully carried in a wooden tray: "The rabbit soup is here! It's been simmering for four hours."

This is the rabbit soup Louis asked him to make last night.

Sif glanced at the soup and immediately noticed that it was unusual; it looked very expensive.

"Put it on the table," Louis casually ordered, then turned to the guard and said, "Go find Barnes and have him bring Wel here."

"Yes, sir." The guard bowed and left.

Once the room quieted down again, he turned to look at Sif, as if he had just remembered her.

"What...were you trying to say just now?"

Sif was instantly aroused again, her face turning even redder.

"N-nothing!" She quickly lowered her head, her voice so fast it was almost inaudible.

Louis nodded, without giving it much thought, and began flipping through the documents on the table.

He watched intently, his brow furrowed, completely ignoring the conversation that had just taken it seriously.

Sif finally breathed a sigh of relief, took a step back while holding onto the edge of the table, and felt that her heartbeat had finally slowed down.

But the red mark on the tips of her ears lingered for a long time.

Not long after, footsteps came from outside the door.

"Reporting, sir, Barnes has arrived."

Then the door was quickly pushed open, and an old knight stepped into the room, followed by a boy whose figure had not yet grown up.

"My lord, I knew you sent me here with men because you'd heard about this kid's performance."

Barnes grinned and patted the boy beside him on the shoulder: "This kid, Will, is the most talented trainee knight I've ever trained."

"I served as a knight instructor for the Calvin family for ten years, teaching no fewer than two hundred students. I've seen talented, hardworking, and noble-born individuals, but never! Never! Anyone could be like him."

He lowered his voice, as if discussing some forbidden secret.

"Within two months, Will went from a little kid whose bloodline hadn't even been awakened to a high-ranking apprentice knight!"

It wasn't due to divine blessing or the accumulation of resources, but purely due to some kind of innate talent that I can't even see clearly and a fierce determination.

Several times during my night patrols, I saw him practicing with his sword alone, covered in injuries, yet still practicing, and the next day he would still be standing at the front of the line.

Hearing the teacher's praise, the boy did not become arrogant, but instead became even more reserved.

He stepped forward without a word, knelt on one knee, and said with almost pious reverence, "Lord Louis."

He raised his head, and the intense light in his eyes was almost too dazzling to look directly at.

Those were the eyes of faith, the gratitude etched into their very bones.

Will knew that it was this young nobleman who had bought him and his mother from the slave traders, abolished their slave status, pulled them out of the mire of fate, and promised them a future.

From that moment on, Louis became the only sun in his heart.

If enemies attack, he will shield his lord from every blade and every arrow.

Louis looked quietly at Wel, who was kneeling on the ground.

His expression didn't change much; he simply nodded, his eyes remaining calm.

But I was genuinely surprised.

He's already a high-level trainee? It's only been two months... He knew Will was a "gifted monster," but when he actually saw the experience bar flashing green all the way up, he was still a little stunned.

However, what Louis cared about more than talent was Will's eyes.

That kind of fervent, devout light, even bordering on faith.

Since arriving in the North, he has gradually become accustomed to this kind of gaze.

Those originally destitute indigenous people, escaped slaves, and refugees struggling to survive in the ruins...

They placed their hopes on him, responding to his kindness in the simplest and most direct way, willing to give everything for him, even their lives.

Louis looked at Will and silently made a judgment in his mind: Loyalty... well, probably over 90. He should be a grateful person.

“Stand up,” Louis said calmly.

But as if he had received some kind of divine revelation, Will stood up with his back straight and his whole body was almost glowing.

“Rabbit soup, very nourishing.” Louis casually pointed to the wooden bowl on the table and said to Weil, “You should drink it.”

The soup was almost ice-blue, with a faint luster, like the lake water under the northern night sky, gently rippling with a chill.

Barnes glanced at it, hesitated, and then leaned forward to take a look.

"This...this...Sir, what is this...?"

His voice trembled, as if he doubted his own eyes.

"Frosty-maned tundra rabbit." Louis answered casually, glancing down at the documents.

"This...this...this isn't appropriate!" Barnes stammered. "This kind of thing would cost at least several thousand gold coins at an auction house! How can we give it to Will?"

“What’s inappropriate?” Louis said without looking up. “Just let him thank me properly.”

"What are you standing there for, kid? Quickly thank the lord!" Barnes turned around and slapped Will, almost making him kneel down. "This is a treasure I've never even dreamed of drinking!"

Will then realized what was happening and immediately knelt down with a thud.

"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir! Thank you..." He kowtowed more than a dozen times in one breath, his forehead turning red.

Louis then reached out and helped him up.

"This stuff is good, but more importantly, you need to show some skill that's worthy of this soup."

Will looked up, tears streaming down his face, and nodded between sobs, "Sir! I will definitely do it!"

Sif, who was standing to the side, also widened her eyes.

She looked at the bowl of rabbit soup, then at Will's excited expression, then at the calm Louis, her face full of surprise.

She never imagined that Louis would give something so precious to a boy from a humble background.

"Stop arguing." Louis pushed the bowl forward. "Drink it while it's hot."

"Yes!"

Will held the wooden bowl in both hands, carefully brought it to his lips, and took a deep breath.

It was cool with a hint of sweetness, as if my entire internal organs were being washed by the snow water, followed by a burst of heat from my chest!

"Ugh!" He shuddered, pain and surprise flashing in his eyes, and he could barely hold the bowl.

It felt like something inside my body had suddenly ignited.

A burst of fiery energy rose from his abdomen, surged through his blood vessels, and rapidly rushed to his limbs and bones!
"Don't move!" Barnes urged. "Don't move! Cross your legs, close your eyes, and follow the breathing method I taught you. You must stabilize your breath and not let your fighting spirit run wild!"

(End of this chapter)