"This building is mostly just rooms apart from the office and reception lounge." Mike pushed open a door, revealing an empty room inside, "Although they haven't been decorated yet, do you want to design them yourself?"

The rooms were much larger than those on the second floor, clearly intended for important people or guests of the territory. The master bedroom, where Louis stayed, was particularly outrageously large.

Louis waved his hand lightly, "There's no need for it to be too complicated, as long as it's livable and usable, simple is better."

Mike nodded, "Alright then, I'll go with the standards of the Northern Lords."

While speaking, Louis suddenly turned his head and looked at Sif beside him, "By the way, you have to come here to work frequently, why not just move in? It'll save you the daily commute. I'll leave a room for you on the third floor."

Sif was slightly stunned and instinctively wanted to refuse.

But when she spoke, she said, "...Ok."

Her voice wasn't loud but was very clear, and a slight unnatural redness crept onto her cheeks.

She mentally justified: It's just for the convenience of work, and... it's really warm here... not for any other reasons.

Mike coughed nonchalantly from the side, silently shifting his gaze away.

Then, the group continued up the stairs.

The wind on the fourth floor hit their faces instantly, carrying the unique chill and openness of high places.

"This up here is our Red Tide Territory's last line of defense." Mike patted the stone wall beside him with pride in his voice, "No matter who comes, they'll hit a wall here."

He raised his hand to point at the top of the wall, offering a subtle compliment, "These arrow slits, they're the angled structures you designed, invisible from the outside.

But on our side, the view is clear. Before the enemy gets close, they'd already be hit by an arrow. It's a genius design."

Louis just lightly waved his hand, but his eyes were obviously pleased.

"This way." Mike led the group around a corner, pointing to a few wooden frames, "These are the pre-set positions for siege engines. They're not installed yet, but I've left spaces ready, so when they're placed, it'll be ready to engage."

Then he walked to the edge of the roof and pointed at several concealed pipe interfaces under the eaves.

"These are the boiling oil outlets from your draft designs. Once the enemy gets close to climbing the walls, we'll pour hot oil down and let them know what regret means."

Louis glanced at the inconspicuous pipe outlets, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes, "Looks good, even more refined than the original drawing."

"Besides," Mike pointed at wooden beams lining the stone walls, "we can temporarily mount crossbows here, or even roll stones."

Then he gestured downward, "Look down, the southern mountain path and the northern tree line are all visible.

If the wind rises and snow falls, we can hang windbreak curtains and cold-resistant covers. We can hold this position for ten days or half a month without shivering."

Finally, he looked at Louis, full of pride, "Rest assured, my Lord. As long as a hundred men guard this building, even thousands can't breach it."

The wind whistled through the stone walls.

But standing on the top floor of this fortress, everyone felt an inner peace akin to a mountain.

After making a complete circuit, Louis already had an answer in his mind.

This new fortress was even better than he had expected.

Safe, comfortable.

A stable heat source in winter, and good ventilation in summer.

The sturdy walls and watch posts formed a complete defense line, while the inner living area was warm and tranquil, like a sanctuary in the snowfield.

Moreover, the aesthetics of this fortress suited his taste, simple yet not crude, solid yet not oppressive.

Louis strolled along the highlands of Earth Tower Castle, his gaze sweeping over layers of thick stone walls, surrounding hot water pipes, and the patrol posts glimmering cold in the distant forest.

From these arrangements, one could see the dedication of Mike and the other craftsmen.

"Very good, very good, safe, comfortable, and perfectly to my liking." Louis sincerely praised.

Mike, standing by his side, had been somewhat tense waiting for the evaluation, and upon hearing this, finally let out a long sigh, as if a stone had hit the ground.

"It's my great honor to meet your satisfaction, and we merely tried our best to execute your vision. The real brilliance is your design and concept.

From channeling hot springs for geothermal regulation to the overall layout, it's simply a genius design."

Louis chuckled and patted his shoulder, "Don't be too modest. Without you and your men laying each brick, the best ideas are just empty talk."

"It's what I should do." Mike straightened his back.

Louis then spoke sternly, "Don't slack on the final touches, polish the details. I'm planning to move in a few days."

Mike nodded repeatedly, "Understood! I'll personally supervise the work, check over everything again, and not leave a single flaw!"

...

Autumn was deepening, the wind carrying a bone-chilling cold.

A group of several dozen riders moved along the winding dirt road through the woods, their hoofbeats steady and leisurely.

At the front was a young knight dressed in a black cloak.

He had handsome features, but couldn't hide the smugness at the corner of his mouth.

He was the newly-appointed Baron Vira.

Originally, he was just the Villa Family's third son, and an illegitimate one at that.

He couldn't even appear at the territory's banquets, and the family's servants regarded him as thin air.

So Vira simply abandoned those tasks and lived idly in Frost Halberd City.

But who could have expected this?

The great battle of Snow Eagle City took his father's life, along with his first and second brothers', leaving not even bodies to be found.

For most, it was a devastating disaster, but for him?

It was like a dream.

The title, the lands, the family, the treasury, all fell into his hands alone.

"Hahaha! The heavens really have eyes this time!" Vira suddenly burst into laughter, startling a horse nearby into a snort.

In excitement, he couldn't help patting his flask by his waist, then shouted back to the group of knights behind him, "When we return, I'll knight you as my territory knights, with cushy positions, plenty of booze, and women, nothing will be lacking!"

"Ah, we must thank Lord Baron for your generosity!"

"Hahaha, then we'll each have a house, eat meat every day, and sleep with women!"

The group was full of laughter, drinking, boasting, swearing, it was very lively.

"Hey, old Vira, is your dad's young wife still around?"

"Hehe, I don't know..." Baron Vira's lips curled, his gaze drifting, "That woman... sigh, she's quite a beauty. A slim waist and long legs, just makes one feel tense all over."

"Aren't you a bit nasty, even thinking about your father's wife?"

"My father's dead, so what? Now he's gone, and taking care of a stepmother is what a filial son like me should do."

He laughed lecherously, his body tensing, utterly failing to hide his thoughts about the "stepmother."

The group behind erupted into laughter, crude jokes flying everywhere.

But no one noticed the few figures silently gliding through the unremarkable forest depths.

The wind slightly intensified, leaves swirling in the air.

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