Chapter 142: Chapter 138: Emily’s Adventure

When Emily first stepped into the Red Tide Territory, she didn’t hold much expectation in her heart.

After all, she had read the previous reports about the Red Tide Territory before coming here, and it was nothing more than one of the Northern Territory’s remote corners.

She had been accustomed to the harsh and desolate North since her childhood while following her father.

Even with a Lord, what could be different?

In fact, when she first reached the border, all she saw were vast tracts of barren land, bleached pale and lifeless by wind and snow, with almost no signs of habitation.

She was almost certain this place wouldn’t be much different from other territories, desolate and lifeless, perhaps with a few broken wooden houses stuck in the snow at most.

But as the carriage went deeper, her thoughts began to waver.

The scene before her eyes started to change; Emily looked out through the carriage window into the distance, expecting only bleak Northern vistas, yet unexpectedly catching a glimpse of an unusual sight.

The residential area of Red Tide Territory faintly appeared in her vision.

From afar, it was no longer the makeshift and shabby camp she had imagined, but carried a sense of unexpected order.

The entire district’s outline was clear, with grid-like streets paved in an orderly fashion.

Those semi-subterranean houses were arrayed in undulating patterns upon the dim gray Northern land.

Although it was hard to see the details, there was an unmistakable sense of precision.

More surprisingly, the market’s outline was vaguely visible at the town’s center.

The market’s awnings and densely packed stalls connected like adornments.

Above the sprawling workshop district, wisps of white smoke occasionally rose.

Even from a distance, she could almost feel that faint but continuous bustle and vitality.

Emily held her breath slightly.

She had seen too many Northern settlements, accustomed to chaos, decay, and a dreary atmosphere.

But from a distant perspective, this place seemed like…

A flower quietly blooming in the wild land.

As the carriage approached, the outline of Red Tide Territory became even clearer.

Streets were no longer distant lines but tangible scenes presented before her eyes.

Emily found that the shock she had felt while observing from afar was only the beginning.

As those blurry outlines became incredibly clear, it was almost unbelievable to her eyes.

The cobblestone street was wide and smooth, wheels rolling over them made a solid sound, with not a hint of mud or looseness.

Simple wooden post markers stood along the roadsides, the edges clean and crisp, with no sense of disorder.

Further in, row after row of semi-subterranean houses clung to low hillsides, stone walls thick, and roofs covered with insulating thick grass.

Though they weren’t pretty, they gave an astonishing sense of solidity and durability.

Even the houses at the very edge were orderly and intact, without a trace of dilapidation.

“Oh my…” Nora pressed against the window, almost whispering in surprise, “Is this really a Northern village?!”

Emily didn’t respond, simply staring out the window.

Those houses and streets were not façades for inspection, nor a temporary tidying up, but exuded stability from the root.

Her gaze fell on the people on the streets, and a peculiar feeling surged inside her.

A few rosy-cheeked children chased a clucking fowl at the street corner, their laughter so clear it seemed almost unreal.

At the roadside, an elderly woman with white hair carried a heavy basket, exchanging goods with neighbors in good spirits.

Men and women passing by in the streets all bore sincere ease on their faces.

It was not the apathetic numbness seen elsewhere in the Northern Territory, nor the forced smiles borne out of survival.

But genuine, peaceful expressions.

“They don’t look like they just scraped through winter,” Nora murmured, a hint of incredulity in her voice.

Emily nodded slightly.

Indeed, she was all too familiar with scenes from other Northern Territories.

Winter just ended, and logically, at this time, residents should be gaunt, listless, many struggling even to stand.

But the people here…

Both in complexion and spirit, exuded an unbelievable abundance.

Her gaze swept over the not-so-distant market, where several vendors were loudly hawking goods.

There were even cured meats, some scattered cloth, goods far more plentiful than she imagined.

Further in was the workshop district, the blacksmith’s forge crackled, the sound of iron striking rhythmically and clearly, the sawing of wood trickling in, the air filled with the scent of sawdust and iron.

All of this… felt too unreal.

The thought Emily had suppressed for so long finally surfaced.

If this wasn’t a miracle, then it was a near-crazy level of governance.

Not any kind, mortal can’t accomplish.

“Is this really the Northern Territory?” Nora asked again, her eyes full of complexity.

Emily took a deep breath, withdrew her gaze, and spoke softly, “Yes, here is the Northern Territory, it’s Red Tide Territory.”

She could feel that her little bit of precaution and vigilance towards Louis.

At this moment, a tear was forcibly made, and another deeper emotion of curiosity and shiver was rapidly spreading.

She really wanted to know, on what basis this man could perform such a miracle in this dead land.

The caravan stopped slowly, several guards standing at the street corner had already noticed them and vigilantly stepped forward to block the way.

“Who is it?” the leading guard asked in a deep voice, his gaze sweeping between the caravan and a few companions.

Nora quickly leaned out from the car, with a perfectly measured smile on her face.

Raised her hands to signal harmless: “Don’t misunderstand. We are merchants from elsewhere, wanting to find some business here. Specially came to visit… wonder if there is an opportunity to meet your lord?”

The guard squinted slightly, stared at Nora for a moment as if judging the truth, then nodded without asking anything more.

“Wait.” He said, turned, and walked swiftly towards the town, apparently went to report.

Emily slightly straightened herself in the carriage, looked through the curtain at the back of that guard: “The discipline is quite good.”

Nora withdrew her gaze, laughed softly, “Surprisingly no difficulty, seems quite orderly.”

During the waiting interval, Emily didn’t remain idle, continued to carefully observe the surrounding scene through the window.

Busy figures were all over the street

Someone wielded a broom, slowly swept clean the residual snow from the street corners.

Someone was arranging chairs and tables, wiped each wooden table to a bright shine, neatly arranged in the empty space.

There was also a group of young adults working together to build a simple wooden stage, discussing while building it, with uncontrollable excited smiles on their faces.

At the streets and alleys, red and gold ribbons danced in the wind, a vivid flag was hung high.

The flag of Red Tide Territory with the red background and golden sun shimmered in the sunlight, while the black-red crescent flag of the Calvin Family was also present, adding a bit of solemnity.

The whole town seemed to be immersed in a warm and festive atmosphere, as if even the air was filled with a faint joy.

Nora widened her eyes, became enchanted by the sight, couldn’t help but quietly admire: “It’s really interesting… Are they holding some celebration? Seems even livelier than our festival at Frost Halberd City.”

Emily nodded, with a bit of confusion in her mind, finally couldn’t resist asking: “Could you please tell, what are you preparing for?”

A middle-aged villager, who was carrying decorations, heard Emily’s question, set down the item with a cheery smile.

He wiped his sweat and answered with unconcealed pride: “Ah, we are preparing for the New Year’s Eve tomorrow!

Celebrate the first anniversary of Red Tide Territory’s establishment, hah, and with Lord Louis becoming a Viscount, we must celebrate well!”

“Viscount?” Emily was stunned for a moment, with a flash of disbelief in her eyes, “He… is already a Viscount?”

The villager nodded with a smile: “Indeed, this time last year we had nothing here, just a barren land.

It was Lord Louis, he saved us! At that time, survival was difficult, it was he who pulled us out of the mire, that’s why we have the good days now.”

A young woman beside him joined, smiling: “Yes, Lord Louis is very good to us.

Not only did he give us houses to live in, food to eat, but also taught us how to sustain ourselves. Over the year, we’ve nearly forgotten those anxious days!”

“Look at that flag.” The middle-aged villager pointed to the waving red-gold sun flag, his eyes filled with genuine admiration.

“To us, Lord Louis is like that sun, lighting the way for us unfortunate souls.

The lord’s grace is immeasurable!”

As they said these words, their faces bore genuine smiles, with light shimmering at the bottom of their eyes.

It was an appreciation and respect stemming from the heart.

Emily watched quietly, her heart unable to find calm.

Last year he was just the Baron of Expansion… less than a year to become a Viscount?

This speed is simply incredible.

Moreover, she used to think that this Northern Territory wasteland would not be much different from other places, merely a renamed barren land.

But now, the street, this vitality, the smiles in the eyes of the residents, completely overturned her cognition.

What surprised her most was Louis’s prestige here.

That affection almost carried a sense of worship.

She had only seen this kind from those who revered her father, Duke Edmund, in his lands.

But now, this group of ordinary civilians displayed an expression about Louis that was even more sincere and enthusiastic than those subjects who worshipped the Duke.

“Lord Louis is like the sun…”

That sentence still echoed in her ears, making her heart ripple with an indescribable complex feeling.

It’s no longer a simple issue of governance or whether people can be adequately fed… it’s a complete win of hearts.

Emily slightly inhaled, her eyes full of curiosity: “Louis Calvin, what kind of person are you…

Coming to the Northern Territory for just a year, and to achieve this level.”

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