Rise of the Northern Warlord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

As the bandit suppression date approached, Vaerik led several knights carrying two heavy chests, walking directly toward the magical marrow factory near the mining area, which was also the alchemical workshop.

This factory was built by Hilco and three newly arrived alchemical apprentices.

Calling it a factory was actually just several crude sheds, with alchemical equipment transported from the Southeastern Province placed around them.

Though conditions were crude, they were sufficient to give initial form to the magical marrow refining process.

"Lord, your timing is perfect." Hilco lazily leaned against a wooden post.

Since Crimson Tide Domain now had more talent, he didn’t need to be so busy. He looked more spirited than before, but still appeared lazy.

"The first batch of magical marrow has just been refined."

Hearing this, Vaerik immediately became interested, his gaze falling on a heavy wooden barrel.

The barrel was filled with deep purple powder, luster flowing slightly, looking fine and smooth, faintly transparent with traces of magical fluctuations.

Vaerik reached out to grab a bit—his fingertips felt extremely smooth texture. He couldn’t help but sigh and ask: "This is magical marrow?"

"Correct." Hilco reached out and patted the wooden barrel. "This barrel is worth at least fifty gold coins at market price."

Vaerik’s eyes changed slightly.

Fifty gold coins was no small sum—enough to buy one hundred slaves or support two formal knights for a year.

And this was just the result of small-scale trial refining.

Thinking of the massive magical marrow mine in his territory, Vaerik’s mood became increasingly excited.

But he also clearly understood that truly scaled production still had many difficulties to overcome.

Mining magical marrow ore itself was full of risks—slight carelessness could trigger collapses. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

Moreover, their current equipment and manpower were far insufficient.

This barrel of magical marrow was already the total output from a week’s work.

"Well done."

Vaerik immediately pulled out twenty gold coins and handed them to Hilco, then gave each of the three alchemical apprentices ten gold coins.

When they received the gold coins, all were stunned, then became excited—this was a huge sum for them. They all expressed gratitude to Vaerik.

"Thank you, Lord!"

But moments later, one apprentice quietly muttered: "But in this place, where can we spend these gold coins?"

The surrounding people fell silent for a moment, then couldn’t help but laugh.

After laughing, Vaerik got down to business with Hilco.

He reached out and patted the wooden barrel, asking directly: "Hilco, can this stuff be used to make flame bombs?"

After hearing this question, Hilco frowned slightly, pondering for a moment before answering:

"The key materials for flame bombs aren’t just magical marrow—we also need ignition cores and other materials. Currently, Crimson Tide Domain has none of these materials."

"I see..." Vaerik then coughed lightly, signaling the knights behind him to open the two heavy chests they had brought.

The wooden chest lids were lifted, rich magical aura rushing forth.

The chests were filled with deep blue crystals.

These were the crystal spikes extracted from ice-armored bear bodies, containing extremely strong energy fluctuations.

Hilco and the three alchemical apprentices were stunned, their eyes widening, breathing becoming rapid.

"These... these are superior alchemical materials!" an apprentice shouted excitedly. "If properly utilized, they’re sufficient to create high-grade magical tools!"

Hilco came to his senses, asking uncertainly: "You want to..."

Vaerik patted the chest: "Adding this, can flame bombs be made now?"

Hilco was stunned, then nodded dumbly.

But the next second, he shook his head vigorously, showing an incredulous expression: "No, no, this... this is too wasteful! Magical marrow is already precious enough, and now adding ice-armored bear crystals?

Using these two top-grade materials to make flame bombs... this is simply reckless waste!

If these materials were used for weapons, armor, magical tools, their value would far exceed ordinary flame bombs!"

Hearing this, Vaerik waved his hand dismissively: "As long as it can be done, you make them quickly. I need them urgently."

Hilco sighed: "Since the lord has said so, we’ll complete it quickly."

"I need them by the day after tomorrow at the latest." Vaerik drew a deadline.

Hilco’s mouth twitched. He wanted to say more, but ultimately just helplessly shrugged, then waved his hand for the alchemical apprentices to immediately begin research work.

Vaerik stood aside, watching the busy figures of the alchemical apprentices with interest.

Just as an apprentice carefully poured deep purple magical marrow powder into an alchemical bottle, urgent hoofbeats suddenly came from outside.

"Lord!"

A knight rode in quickly, dismounted, and knelt on one knee: "Duke Edmund’s messenger has arrived, waiting at the territory entrance!"

Vaerik sighed: "What must come, still comes."

He turned to straighten his cloak, nodding to the knight: "Take me there."

Outside Crimson Tide Domain’s council hall, a knight wearing a deep blue cloak was waiting.

He was a formal knight, his armor engraved with Duke Edmund’s family emblem, clearly no ordinary attendant messenger.

Seeing Vaerik arrive, this knight immediately knelt on one knee, firmly repeating Duke Edmund’s words:

"Lord Vaerik Tudor, Duke Edmund has ordered the assembly of all Northern Province lords to immediately marshal troops and dispatch forces to eliminate the Snow Swearers rebels!"

Speaking thus, he took a letter sealed with the duke’s seal from his waist, presenting it with both hands.

Vaerik took the envelope, opened it, and quickly scanned the contents.

The letter’s tone was extremely stern, clearly stipulating assembly time and commanding all Northern Province lords to personally lead troops to the assembly point.

Each lord must deploy a certain number of soldiers—any delays or disobedience would be considered betrayal of the empire.

At the letter’s end, Vaerik’s assembly point was specifically marked: Snow Eagle City.

Snow Eagle City was an important military fortress in the Northern Province, also Earl Foss’s territory.

Earl Foss was also the prefect of Snow Peak Prefecture, responsible for governing all small territories throughout Snow Peak Prefecture.

Crimson Tide Domain was nominally one of his jurisdictions.

However, due to pioneering lords enjoying tax exemption policies and the Northern Province being truly too vast, Vaerik had yet to formally deal with this earl.

Vaerik closed the letter, looked up at the messenger and said: "I will arrive at the assembly point on time."

Hearing this, the knight bowed, then immediately turned and left, riding quickly toward the next territory.

Only after the knight’s figure disappeared in the distance did Vaerik lower his head again, carefully rereading the letter and calculating time.

There were still several days to prepare before the official expedition.