The cold wind blew in from outside the council hall, but what made the nobles tremble more than the chill were the words Louis had just tossed onto the table.

Each sentence felt like ice water dousing their hearts.

"Civil war in the Imperial Capital... supply lines cut... no buyers for ore... forced taxes..."

These words, which had always seemed distant and something that only appeared in the political gossip of the Imperial Capital, suddenly became a noose around their necks.

The Northern Territory, a bitter cold land that had barely survived for hundreds of years thanks to the South’s grain supply, what if it were abandoned by the Empire?

It would be no different from an old, abandoned person thrown into a snow pit.

The conference hall instantly turned into chaos, with the noise growing louder and more disordered, as if the collapse of the Empire was already at the gates of Frost Halberd City.

Yet Louis merely watched quietly, lifting his hand and tapping the table twice lightly when the uproar was about to reach the roof.

The crisp knocks instantly silenced the room.

Louis stood up, his hands resting on the long table, his stance steady like a monument: "Lords who have joined the Red Tide system, you need not fear. The dividends will continue, and we will face the coming hardships together."

With those words, the nobles belonging to the Red Tide faction collectively breathed a sigh of relief.

Some even blushed as if they were being rescued from drowning.

After all, the profitability of Red Tide was astonishing; even a third of what they’re receiving now was still like manna from heaven for them.

"A smaller share is fine, considering these are extraordinary times and circumstances... we all understand."

"Continuing to receive dividends is a huge blessing."

"Lord Louis’s kindness is unforgettable."

Some were even moved to the point of tears.

However, the small lords who hadn’t joined the Red Tide system... their faces turned an ashen stew of despair.

Some were already struggling to make ends meet and had hoped to use this Northern Territory reconstruction meeting to seek Louis’s favor and join the Red Tide system for a share of the spoils.

If the Empire descended into chaos, they had no idea what to do.

Some depended on Southern trade routes or orders from the Imperial Capital to survive as well.

If the Empire became chaotic, their territories would immediately have their throats constricted, making it difficult to even sustain the most basic survival.

Thus, the meeting’s atmosphere was split in two: one side, although still troubled, found solace in the Red Tide, and even carried a slight hint of schadenfreude.

The other side was completely disoriented, panicking as if they were about to freeze to death in the snow, almost crawling toward Louis, their mouths full of pleas and words of self-preservation.

Louis did not immediately respond.

He simply looked around at them quietly, his gaze devoid of anger, yet making their hearts painfully clench.

Then, he smiled lightly: "I am not a philanthropist."

This opening chilled many a noble’s spine.

Yet the next line, like the sun’s first rise in winter: "But I am willing to give you one last chance."

Everyone held their breath.

"After the meeting, you can register the resources of your territory with Bradley. If they have value... you may join the Red Tide system.

But the terms will not be as favorable as before. After all, I have said before that the sooner you join, the better the conditions."

Then, he shifted his tone, as cold as a frost blade in the winter night: "As for those with no resources... think carefully about what you are worth yourselves.

You don’t have much time left. You can choose to die silently with the Empire... or you can follow me, and survive with dignity in this chaotic world."

For a moment, the hall was dead silent.

The nobles lowered their heads one after another.

But in their hearts, they were all thinking the same thought: "How can we align ourselves with this new Lord of the North?"

With all the groundwork laid, the smart ones knew that as long as they flew the Red Tide’s banner, even if half of the Empire collapsed, they could at least still fill their bellies and stay alive.

Following the Empire? That would be waiting for death.

In the vast conference hall, the only person without fear or panic was but one.

Louis leaned back in the main seat, like a chess player who had just cleaned up the board, with a faint curve at the corner of his mouth.

This meeting, from the initial chaos to the current silence... was the rhythm he desired.

Seizing the tightly controlled atmosphere, Louis stood up and adjusted his sleeves.

Even this slight movement made the dozens of nobles’ hearts tighten, unconsciously straightening their backs.

"There is one more thing," he said lightly, as though dropping a stone into the air of the conference hall, creating ripples.

"As just mentioned, the Empire is plunging into the vortex of civil war. The Northern Territory cannot remain unscathed."

With those words, the slightly relaxed nobles tensed once more.

Louis braced his hands on the table, his tone firmer: "To prevent the southern flames of war from reaching us, and to prevent more Ackmans from arising, I propose the formation of the Northern Joint Defense Corps."

His gaze like a blade swept across each noble: "I will ensure the safety and interests of all your territories."

With those words, the conference hall fell into absolute stillness.

Everyone understood that Louis didn’t just want cooperation, but military command over the entire Northern Territory.

This included each family’s knight order... all to be under his command.

For the Northern Territory, such a thing had never happened in a millennium.

Knights were a noble’s dignity, a symbol of identity, the final card.

Handing them over, they’d feel like tigers without teeth, empty shells.