Lord of Winter: Beginning with Daily Intelligence-Chapter 602 - 357: Conspiracy

The inner castle of Frost Dragon Territory, the northern cold wind barred by heavy curtains outside the door.

Astha Augustus stood by the map, with a deliberate smile: "I am grateful for your presence."

The guests were few, all old nobility of the Northern Territory, Holmes, Klan, Bolton, Harlov, Simon.

The door closed, and the attendant withdrew.

Astha raised his glass, his posture slightly lowered: "As the Royal Reconstruction Envoy of the Northern Territory, I first toast to you all. This meeting would be impossible without you."

Holmes spoke first: "We are here because the Northern Territory cannot be handed over to a young man at will. He’s done well in the Southeast, but he does not value us."

Klan agreed: "I heard he’s set up some council, where even grain has to be purchased according to accounts. The Red Tide provides funding but no privileges. We old nobility are treated like novelties."

Bolton muttered: "And this year’s aid has to be bought, and for grain in my domain, I still need his vouchers, absurd!"

Astha quickly responded: "I understand everyone’s thoughts. Although Lord Louis has made significant contributions to rebuilding the Northern Territory, it can’t just be dictated by him and Carl. That’s why I’m here to set the rules together with you."

He opened the small box he brought, and a few precious magic stones glimmered under the light.

"This is merely a present." He mellowed his tone, "What truly matters are what you deserve, priority in resource allocation, trade privileges... all documented, signed by me, and submitted to the Imperial Capital."

Harlov looked at the magic stones but held back: "We want southern merchandise, quality salt, winter grain, and tax reductions."

Astha immediately nodded: "All negotiable, your demands, I will send back to the Imperial Capital and report them one by one."

Simon raised his eyes: "That young lord..."

Astha smiled: "As long as he needs recognition from the Imperial Capital. Rest assured, as long as you’re behind me, I won’t let him suppress the old nobility of the Northern Territory."

The room went silent for a moment.

Klan set down his glass, lowering his voice: "If he only plays king in the Southeast, we can pretend not to see. But now, he’s reaching into our territory... he’s no Duke Edmund."

At this time Sai Fu spoke from the shadows: "I understand your worries, you’re not in the Southeast, naturally not bound by his council. But once that young man’s influence expands, even the wine you buy for banquets will require forms."

Everyone showed ugly expressions.

Holmes snorted: "Then don’t let him in."

Astha quickly agreed: "That’s precisely why I’m here, we want cooperation, not conquest. This reconstruction meeting is not for deprivation but to ensure voices including yours are heard in the Northern Territory." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

He pushed the dossier over: "I’m proposing three items, resource priority sequence, trade priority list, and supervisory rights to the reconstruction meeting. You all have voting rights, reconstruction starts with you, you come first."

Bolton looked at the wax seal: "Can you protect us?"

"I am from the Royal Family."

Harlov slowly said: "We don’t want it to end in blood, but we also don’t want to be treated as slaves by him. We are the old families of the Northern Territory."

"I understand." Astha smiled slightly, "Your dignity, I will ensure it."

Klan closed the magic stone box and pushed it back to Astha: "We want passes, checkpoints, winter grain seals, and your say in the Imperial Capital."

Astha accepted with both hands, his tone gentle: "You will have them. I only ask for your support."

He placed his hand back on the map, his fingertip landing on that red mark in the southeast corner: "He does well there, but the Northern Territory isn’t just the Southeast, you shouldn’t be ignored."

Bolton said in a deep voice: "Then, please have the envoy speak for us."

Astha smiled: "It’s my duty."

The wind seeped through the cracks, the flames flickered, Sai Fu went up to close the window, and the room fell silent once more.

Harlov raised his glass: "For respect."

Klan continued: "For autonomy."

Holmes toasted Astha: "For the Northern Territory, not to fall into the hands of one person."

Astha clinked glasses with them, his smile soft: "And for the future of the Northern Territory."

The wine in the cups was cleanly downed, the nobles exchanged glances and nodded, each taking a magic stone.

Before dispersing, Astha delivered five letters into their hands, containing the seating arrangement, speaking order, and timing of standing for the meeting.

The doors opened and closed one by one, the cold air rushing in and being blocked again, leaving only Astha and Sai Fu in the room.

Sai Fu said: "They won’t fight for you."

"I know." Astha looked at the map, his voice lighter, "I never intended to buy lives, I just want them to nod under the lamp. The rest, leave it to my maneuvering.

As for that young lord... we’ll discuss the Lord of the North only after he understands what royal power means."

Astha looked up, asking toward the wall nearby: "Has he set out?"

Sai Fu, always in the shadows of the room, stepped forward, placing a scroll of letters on the table: "The Red Tide’s banner is already moving from the north east, heading toward Frost Dragon Territory. The entourage... is as many as seven hundred."

"Seven hundred?" Astha raised an eyebrow, a touch of disdain in his tone, "He sure knows how to put on a show."

Sai Fu said in a low voice: "It’s not a ceremony guard, it’s a real accompanying force. Three hundred Red Tide Knights, along with a whole team of civil servants, and some nobility joining him, greeted by citizens along the way, quite a scene."

Astha picked up the wine cup, unable to conceal the envy in his tone: "He enjoys being seen."

Sai Fu continued: "Like a parade-style celebration."