Louis awoke from his dream, his eyelids not yet fully open, when the warmth beside him first registered in his perception.

It was soft, hot, with a faint lingering fragrance mixed with the subtle scent of pine under the sunlight.

He blinked and slowly turned his head, seeing a familiar blue long hair quietly spread across the pillow, gently rising and falling with her breath.

Emily lay motionless in his arms, not even twitching her eyebrows.

Louis blinked silently, sighed a bit helplessly, "Ah, it's hard work for the grand cause of making babies."

He made a little quip, but the main matters were pressing.

He cautiously sat up from Emily's side, careful not to disturb her.

The gray-white morning light from outside filtered in, and even with geothermal heating, a brisk chill permeated the air.

Winter truly had arrived, and it would be a tough one, several times harder than last year.

He grabbed the gloves and cloak from the bedside, dressed them properly, and exhaled a white mist as he walked to the brazier.

"Time to see today's fortune," he said softly, extending his right hand gently in the air.

A semi-transparent blue-white light interface appeared, hovering in front of him, as text rapidly arranged itself on the screen.

[Daily Intelligence Update Complete]

[1: Yesterday's Dragon Throne meeting decided to establish the Northern Rebuilding Directorate, with a rebuilding system led by Duke Edmund and supervised by the Imperial Capital.]

[2: The Emperor's Sixth Prince, Astha August, will first head to the north for pioneering as an example for reconstruction.]

[3: Near the thermal fissures in the Red Tide Territory, lava moss is present, dark red, burning with high heat and little smoke, usable for warmth.]

Louis fixed his eyes on the first piece of information, his gaze slightly concentrated, then a hint of a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"It happened as expected."

The previous days' correspondence with his father flashed through his mind.

The letter's wordings were restrained but subtly hinted at the possible outcome of the Dragon Throne meeting.

It seemed everything had settled now.

Duke Edmund's position was secured.

This was a matter of profound significance for Louis.

The resources and power center of the Northern Territory had not been entirely taken by the Imperial Capital but were distributed within a "local nobility-led" system.

He was among the existing vassals in the Northern Territory with the widest lands, most population, and strongest military force, acquiring considerable resources and rights.

"Since the stage is set, I should give a good performance," he murmured.

Then he shifted his gaze to the second entry, somewhat astonished.

The Emperor's Sixth Prince, Astha August, would first head north.

Impressions of this Sixth Prince were vague in his mind.

Astha August, this prince, had rarely made high-profile appearances and had no outstanding achievements.

"The Emperor is sending him northward first... could there be some other motives? A demonstration? Or an exile? A setup probe, or a honing?"

Louis tapped his finger, not rushing to a conclusion.

A prince dispatched to the Northern Territory couldn't possibly be just a decoy.

Even if he didn't represent the main royal faction, he surely had a purpose, but maybe, the Emperor was merely placing an anchor to check other nobles as a "vanguard."

He stood silent for a moment, then softly chuckled to himself, "No matter which answer it is... I'll have to deal with him."

But there was no need to stress too much; interacting based on his personality would suffice when the time came.

Then he glanced at the third entry.

Lava moss.

According to the intelligence, it was a rare geothermal vegetation growing on high-temperature fissures, highly efficient in burning, almost impossible to extinguish, with virtually no smoke, making it ideal for heating and cooking in bunkers and rest houses.

Louis's eyes slightly brightened, "That is indeed a good resource."

Previously, Bradley had reported an urgent need for winter fuel, with insufficient charcoal stocks.

And the Fire-backed Turtle couldn't maintain normal operations for all dwellings.

The Red Tide Territory was fortunate to have natural geothermal energy, but surrounding territories suffered some energy shortages.

"So it's right by the geothermal fissure… an oversight indeed; I should send someone to retrieve it later."

Louis closed the intelligence system, took a deep breath, donned his cloak, and walked to the window to open a crack for fresh air.

The cold still lingered outside, with white snow covering the rooftops of Red Tide City.

He then sat back on the bed's edge, closed his eyes, and began his daily cultivation.

First, the Tidal Breathing Technique, circulating the Fighting Energy within his body in an orderly manner, rising and falling like tides, rejuvenating his body with strength through exhalation and inhalation.

Then he switched to Primordial Meditation Technique, letting the magic power sink deep into his consciousness, running stably and rhythmically, constructing layer upon layer of spell paths in his mind.

After two hours, he slowly opened his eyes.

The light outside the window had brightened a bit.

He stood up, stretched his muscles, feeling clearer and more invigorated than waking.

From the other side of the bed came a faint sound, indicating that Emily was also awake.

He glanced sideways, seeing Emily gently propping herself up, her silver-blue strands falling along her shoulders, still drowsy with a tad of laziness.

But her movements were swift, for just in a few breaths, she was already sitting up, tucking her hair, and flipping out of bed.

"You're up early," she said, rubbing her eyes, voice still a bit hoarse but her gaze clear.

"Used to it," Louis replied blandly, standing up, taking a cloak from the side to put on.

Emily had already approached the vanity mirror, sat down, and began to prepare today's makeup.

Her skilled movements and that still delicate bare face revealed she had long been accustomed to the rhythm of today's life.

As she drew her eyebrows, she said, "The schedule for today is already planned. It's past the month for setting our winter strategy, so it's time to go out and see if these arrangements have truly been implemented."

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