CHAPTER 1 - Chapter 1: Daily Intelligence System
A biting wind howled, carrying snowflakes that slapped against the withered tree trunks lining the road. Louis sat in a rickety carriage, its wheels creaking dully as they rolled over frozen earth.
He looked down at the Northland Frontier Development Charter in his hands, stamped with the royal seal, and smiled bitterly.
Three months ago, a dump truck had sent him straight to another world his soul transmigrated into the body of Louis Calvin, son of Duke Calvin.
Yet before he could enjoy even a single day of privilege as nobility, he'd been appointed as a Frontier Baron and ordered to develop his own territory in the Northlands.
This was no blessing.
The Northlands remained frozen year-round barren, desolate, and constantly threatened by Frost Giants. It was no place for civilized living.
Though the empire nominally controlled the region, vast areas remained under the sway of Snow Kingdom remnants. Just two years prior, a massive rebellion had nearly severed the Northlands from imperial rule, quelled only at tremendous cost.
The empire thus realized relying solely on Northland nobles couldn't ensure lasting stability.
Hence the emperor ordered scions of major houses to the frontier as Development Lords exchanging land grants for their efforts in securing the borders.
It also conveniently weakened certain noble factions. Two birds with one stone.
Of course, the nobles weren't fools. Most simply dispatched their least valuable family members to humor the emperor.
Louis was one such discard.
As the most useless among Duke Calvin's twelve sons, he'd been the obvious choice.
After receiving the charter, his family provided him with 800 gold coins, several carts of provisions, three elite knights, ten regular knights, and thirty squires then hurried him out the door.
This meager escort made it clear the duke had no expectations for his worthless son's survival in the Northlands.
As long as Louis didn't die en route, perishing in the frontier would count as mission accomplished. Participation was all that mattered.
No one believed Louis could survive the Northlands not even himself.
How could a freshly graduated office drone suddenly thrive in this frozen, danger-infested hellscape?
Louis tugged his cloak tighter, but the bone-deep cold persisted.
He couldn't help muttering: "Damn it, don't transmigrators always get cheat abilities? Where's mine?"
As if responding, a mechanical female voice echoed in his mind:
"Daily Intelligence System loading..."
Louis froze. Before he could react, a flood of system information poured into his consciousness.
The Daily Intelligence System.
Each day, it would randomly provide several intelligence reports relevant to him covering resource locations, people's secrets, even future events...
For a frontier lord, this was the perfect tool.
The Northlands brimmed with uncertainties both dangers and opportunities. Here, daily intelligence to avoid threats and secure resources would pave his road to becoming a powerful lord.
More crucially, even in worst-case scenarios, advance warnings would let him escape.
Understanding this, Louis could no longer suppress his exhilaration. A faint chuckle escaped him.
His bleak future as a lord finally held a glimmer of hope!
"Daily Intelligence System loaded successfully!"
A translucent screen materialized before his eyes, text rapidly scrolling across it:
[Daily Intelligence Updated]
[1: At noon today, the Ironblood Empire's Third Prince will fall into a manure pit during stable inspections and drown victim of sabotage.]
[2: Duke Calvin's tenth daughter is born, inheriting the "Burst" bloodline talent.]
[3: At dawn, a school of Northern Crystal Snowfish will surface in an ice river fissure three kilometers west.]
[4: Knight Roy has mixed Frost Scorpion venom into your dinner stew.]
...
Thrilled, Louis read each item carefully.
The first two offered little immediate help mere psychological comforts amidst adversity. Like schadenfreude over the third prince's political misfortune.
Or renewed amazement at his father's... prolific virility.
But his gaze locked onto the third entry.
"Northern Crystal Snowfish!" These were exceptionally rare treasures.
Before departing, Louis had studied Northlands lore to avoid helplessness. He recognized these fish they thrived in frigid waters, their flesh delectable.
Most importantly, their bones contained a unique substance that purified impurities in knights' bloodlines, enhancing their strength.
Priceless on the market!
This wasn't just about good eating it meant wealth, connections, and combat power!
The system's timing was perfect. Just as he'd despaired over surviving the Northlands, opportunity knocked.
Calming himself, Louis kept reading then his smile abruptly stiffened.
"Knight Roy has mixed Frost Scorpion venom into your dinner stew."
Louis's Adam's apple bobbed. His eyes darted toward the knights preparing camp around a bonfire some pitching tents, others unloading horses.
Several tended a large pot where meat and vegetables simmered, steam rising into the cold night.
A thick-featured knight stirred the ste Roy.
Ice crept down Louis's spine.
A knight assigned by his family was trying to kill him?!
He'd assumed these knights merely disdained him while obeying orders. But one had already decided to send him to the afterlife!
Exile to this godforsaken land was bad enough. Now assassination attempts before even arriving?
Damn it all.
Thank the heavens for the Daily Intelligence System. Without it, he'd be dining with death tonight.
A knight's voice carried through the carriage curtains, wind howling behind it: "My lord, dinner is served."
Louis adjusted his collar, then slowly drew aside the curtain and stepped out.
Firelight illuminated the camp, the iron pot's stew bubbling fiercely.
Its rich aroma cut through the cold, stirring appetite despite everything.
The knights sat around the fire, waiting. By tradition, the lord ate first.
Louis scanned the group, then smiled faintly as his gaze returned to the pot.