Read Novel Full Chapter 646 - 377: Becoming the Sun of the Northern Territory
Chapter 646: Chapter 377: Becoming the Sun of the Northern Territory
Nightfall has fully descended, and the giant bonfire at the center of Fierce Tide Square has been lit.
Flames lick the sky, illuminating the banner of Red Tide and casting a glow upon the snow.
Figures densely packed in the square form several layers of circles: craftsmen, knights, soldiers, merchants, civilians, apprentices...
Mary’s family stands among the crowd, Yini rides on her father’s shoulders, holding a small Red Tide flag.
The light of the flames illuminates every face, as if the whole city is ablaze.
Louis, clad in a Red Tide cloak, ascends the steps, followed by Bradley, Lambert, and several knight representatives.
He wears no medals, bears no ceremonial guard, only a simple sword resting by his side.
When he appears, the cheers in the square nearly overturn the snowy night.
"Long live Red Tide!"
"Long live Lord Louis!"
"Red Tide will never extinguish!"
Voices rise and fall, overlapping into a deafening tide.
The young knights raise their swords in salute, children wave small flags, and the elderly wipe away tears.
The entire city is boiling, the cries rolling like waves from the heart of the crowd, lingering for a long time.
They are so excited because this lord not only kept them alive, but also gave them their first dignified life.
A few years ago, many among them were starving in the snow, serving as servants in the old nobility’s estates, or fleeing amidst war.
Now they have warm houses, ample food, jobs with pay, and schools where their children can learn literacy.
To them, all this should have belonged only to the nobility, yet Louis allowed ordinary people to possess it too.
It’s for this reason that in their hearts, he is not just a lord, but like a sun illuminating the long night.
Moreover, Louis had not appeared in public for a long time, an entire year during which many only saw his name in rumors and notices. Now, seeing him stand in the firelight felt like beholding a savior.
Louis raised his hand, gradually quieting the noise.
Despite having experienced countless such scenes, seeing the crowd’s enthusiastic cheers and the respect shining in countless eyes, his chest still tightened slightly.
He gently breathed in, calming his emotions, took a step forward, and used magic to spread his voice through the night:
"Another spring has arrived, and in the past year, we have had no wars, no famines, no exiles. This is a great thing in the Northern Territory."
Laughter erupted from the crowd, and some eyes turned red.
Louis paused briefly, his tone resolute and powerful: "Your hard work has brought peace. This is the glory of Red Tide, belonging to me, and to each one of you.
It belongs to those who sweat in the workshop, to those who unload at the port, to those who never rest before the furnace..."
Applause and cheers rang out once more, surging like waves over the square.
Soldiers raised their swords in respect, craftsmen waved their hats, children’s laughter interspersed with shouts, merging into a warm frenzy.
Louis watched all this, a momentary soft light flashed in his eyes, he nodded slightly, raised his hand in gesture, and the applause and cheers were gradually subdued by his calm presence.
At that moment, the square’s cacophony seemed to be smoothed by some invisible force, people’s attention once again converged on the lord.
His voice slowly deepened, yet clearer: "I know, many of you have lived well this year, with bread, with warm houses.
But in other places in the Northern Territory, our brothers and sisters still search for firewood in the cold wind, still boil weeds in icy water.
They don’t know that in the Northern Territory, there is a city called Red Tide, where children can eat hot porridge every day."
The crowd quieted, faces under the firelight slightly lowered, elderly women tightly held their children, afraid they might endure past hardships again.
The air was filled with a heavy mood, as if everyone’s past had been reopened.
Pete felt his chest tighten, recalling that winter when his mother froze to death in the cold night, that impotent memory still stung painfully.
Louis looked over the crowd, his tone becoming firm once again: "The meaning of Red Tide is not for us to enjoy alone, but to let the entire Northern Territory regain happiness. Therefore, I need your strength.
In two days, the administrative square will announce a new spring recruitment order. We will dispatch new construction teams, new physicians, craftsmen, apprentices, guards to rebuild villages and towns buried by snow across the Northern Territory. Whoever wishes to go, register."
He raised his hand, pointing toward the distant dark horizon: "Over there, people are waiting for us to bring them sunshine. If Red Tide has a savior, then the savior is every person willing to act.
Go forth! You become the sun of the Northern Territory, to illuminate those still in darkness!"
He gently lowered his hand, his tone returned to calm: "The sunlight of Red Tide shouldn’t warm ourselves alone."
The crowd erupted once more into enthusiastic applause and cheers, many deeply moved by his words.
Mary looked down at Yini, thinking the child is still too young, or she herself would do something.
And Pete stood not far away, fists clenched, eyes shining with determined light.
Applause and cheers lingered, people’s faces carrying tears but full of smiles.
Firelight flickered, illuminating their faces, lighting up the entire square.
The flame representing hope swayed in the wind, reflecting every person’s figure.
The Spring Festival night reached its most feverish peak at this moment.
......
On the first morning after the Spring Festival ended, Red Tide City was gently wrapped in the spring snow and the after warmth of the hearth.