Chapter 43: Chapter 43: The Second Letter from the Northern Territory

The candlelight flickered, illuminating the letter spread out on the desk. The handwriting was neat, matching the character of the cautious and prudent old butler, Bradley.

Duke Calvin’s gaze fell on the beginning of the letter, and he had only modest expectations for this son.

However, as he delved deeper into the words, the Duke’s initially indifferent expression gradually tightened, and his brow slowly furrowed.

“Outperforming other pioneer territories?”

Agricultural breakthrough, crops maturing ahead of schedule?

Solving the housing problem more efficiently than established territories?

The Demon Marrow Ore not only being successfully mined but also having a scientific mining plan in place?

Even slave management optimized to the point where no flaws can be found?

Especially the part about the grain yield supporting an additional 1,500 slaves, which gave him pause.

He sat up a bit, glanced at Bradley’s signature.

If it weren’t Bradley, the family’s most loyal old butler, who wrote the letter, he would have suspected the writer was bought off.

But his gaze did not leave the letter as he continued reading.

Duke Calvin quickly discovered that Louis’s leadership was evident not just in policy, but also in his personal charisma.

He did not rely on the family’s prestige but instead on his ability, winning the heartfelt following of the entire territory’s people.

Especially when Duke Calvin read about the near-fanatical respect the residents of Red Tide Territory had for Louis.

“Fanatical? Is it that exaggerated?”

Even the Duke had to admit that, in his impression, few Lords in the entire Ironblood Empire could achieve this.

He originally only intended for Louis to fend for himself in the Northern Territory while extracting the last bit of value.

Who knew this kid would actually make a name for himself?

Indeed, his “many children, many fortunes” plan was correct, Duke Calvin thought proudly.

Like a lottery; the more you enter, the more likely you’ll win a few prizes.

He continued reading, and at the part about the Demon Marrow Ore, Duke Calvin’s gaze paused slightly, showing a tinge of intrigue in his eyes.

The sales rights of the Demon Marrow Ore were transferred to the family in exchange for support while retaining processing technology.

“This kid’s ambition is indeed big.”

He certainly knew what this meant.

Louis did not want to be overly constrained by the family; he was trying to preserve his independence.

The Duke sneered: “He’s quite bold.”

However, he did not dislike it.

On the contrary, he even found it somewhat interesting.

Red Tide Territory, located in the Northern Territory, seemed barren and desolate, but if managed well, it could become a formidable local power.

Louis’s willingness to transfer sales rights to the family indicated he understood he still needed the Calvin Family’s protection for now.

But his refusal to give up processing rights signaled he was planning for the future.

Once the time was ripe, the Demon Marrow economy of Red Tide Territory could fully detach from the family, even potentially having independent influence in the future market.

A pioneer lord born into nobility often chooses to wholly depend on the family, but Louis did not do so.

Of course, just this was not enough to make the Duke view him in a completely different light.

Louis has yet to truly establish a foothold in the Northern Territory, and the benefits of the Demon Marrow Ore have not been fully realized.

With the ever-changing landscape of the Northern Territory, his future remains uncertain.

But Louis indeed gave him an unexpected surprise this time.

He primarily valued Louis’s potential; as for some resources in Red Tide Territory, they did not yet catch his full attention.

Perhaps he should reconsider the value of this son.

The Duke held the letter, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, his gaze wandering between the lines.

Bradley’s appraisal was unexpectedly high, even giving him a sense of absurdity.

But regardless, the facts were before him.

A child he never really regarded showed more capability on the barren land of the Northern Territory than expected.

The most important point: the Northern Territory is, after all, too far from the Southeast Province.

The land of Red Tide Territory, though full of potential, is too distant from the family core; fully supporting it seems unrealistic.

The present Red Tide Territory, like a seed yet to sprout, has potential but is also fraught with uncertainty.

Excessive support might lead Louis into opportunism, possibly not adapting to the harsh environment of the Northern Territory.

Moreover, with Louis’s attitude towards the benefits of the Demon Marrow Ore, he seemingly does not want the family to excessively involve in his territory.

The Duke sat in front of his desk, eyes again fixed on Bradley’s letter.

“Maintaining the family’s influence, yet not overly interfering…” he gently tapped the table, murmuring.

Financial support will be given, but not much; he decided to continue allocating 1,000 to 1,500 gold coins.

This amount of money is enough to keep Red Tide Territory stable, but for expansion?

Louis must find his own ways to earn money, to ponder how to let the territory sustain more people.

Learn to augment income and reduce expenditure, not just rely on family aid to scrape by.

By letting him lack money, forcing him to think, only then can his true abilities be seen.

Some military support is necessary, too; the Duke decided to allocate him two more squads of knights.

Nominally to protect the Demon Marrow Ore, but in reality, leaving him a trump card to prevent him from being stomped out right at the beginning.

This contingent in the Northern Territory can’t support any grandeur but at least prevents Red Tide Territory from being overturned by any random bandit.

If Louis truly has the ability, the knights he holds are enough for him to stabilize the situation, perhaps even develop his own power based on this.

But if he can’t even protect the territory with this bit of family support…

Then there’s nothing more to say, not worth further investment.

As for talent support, Louis can handle agriculture, deal with basic infrastructure, and even plan mineral development, proving he has a certain management talent.

The Duke will only send a few alchemy apprentices to assist him with the basic technology of Demon Marrow refinement, leaving the rest to him to figure out.

He has to recruit people, trade his limited resources for cooperation, learn how to swim in the quagmire of reality, instead of sitting back waiting for the family to spoon-feed him.

And for political support, he won’t give Louis any formal political backing, nor will he restrict his dealings with powers in the Northern Territory.

Who he wants to ally with, how he wants to establish himself locally, is entirely up to him.

But the premise is, do not cause trouble for the family.

It’s like placing a chess piece on the battlefield, to see if he can charge forward or be used as a stepping stone and trampled below by others.

If he can’t withstand this bit of pressure, it only proves Louis never had the capability, and perishing in the Northern Territory would be fitting.

He certainly won’t waste resources on a useless child.

Anyhow, he has many children, what difference does one or two make?

The family’s lineage never lacks; what it lacks are capable, ambitious people.

But since Louis made it this far, earning such high praise from Bradley.

It proves he has some skills and carries a bit of pride.

Very well, then demonstrate some true skills and show him.

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