When leaving Father's study, Willis did not look back.

The heavy wooden door slowly closed behind him, yet he had no intention of walking away.

He just stood quietly under the sunlight at the end of the corridor, his gaze slightly solemn as he looked at the sky, pondering what he should do next.

His brother, Pal, stood a few steps away, and the two exchanged a glance, but neither spoke.

Although they shared the same father, they were unfamiliar with each other.

Especially in this vast Calvin Clan.

Many brothers, and factions everywhere.

Willis, however, had no faction or foundation to speak of.

His mother was a common woman, or rather, a maid who caught Father's fancy on a whim.

Beautiful and gentle, but lowly in status.

She received little privilege within the family and was not involved in any family affairs.

Thus, Willis had no maternal siblings, nor much access to family resources. Even at communal meals, he quietly sat in the most inconspicuous seat in the corner.

Moreover, his mother passed away due to illness when he was twelve.

Since then, he became even more silent, only quietly obeying orders and completing tasks within the family Knight Order.

Willis's goal has always been straightforward.

He didn't want to meddle in the family's convoluted struggles or engage in the intrigues among brothers.

He just wanted to be a dutiful warrior under the Calvin banner, fighting and steadily accumulating merits on the battlefield, perhaps earning a small title in this lifetime, and living his life in peace.

For this, he has given much.

He quietly perused the tactical notes of the Calvin ancestors in the library, delved into battle array changes and terrain combat techniques, even spent his own money consulting retired knights, following them to practice cavalry skills and learn troop leadership...

Gradually, Willis's efforts bore fruit.

He stood out in several of the clan's military exams, finally catching Father's attention, and family resources began to lean towards him.

He thought perhaps in a few more years, he could really make something of himself.

But he didn't expect this chance to "stand out" to come so swiftly.

Father instructed him to go to the Northern Territory, to serve as a Baron of Expansion.

Officially it's a title, but he knows well this is actually exile, a test.

The Northern Territory is icy and barren, surrounded by powerful enemies, resource-scarce, to survive there, even just "survive," is a difficult feat.

But Willis did not shrink back, understanding this as both a crisis and an opportunity.

He recalled Louis, that brother who was also born of a common mother and had always remained silent in the family.

Yet in just a year, he amassed a vast territory in the Northern Territory, ascended to the position of Prefect, becoming the clan's Standard-Bearer in the Northern Territory.

He does not envy him, instead he feels inspired.

Willis Calvin will also carve out a realm truly belonging to himself there.

From that day on, he never again left the library.

He took down the topmost, already faded covered "Imperial North Border Defense Chronicles," meticulously opened it.

Then he took "Northern Grain Management Rules," "Snowfield Military Uniform Record," "Border Battle Strategy Notes"...

He had only one week, this sole opportunity would not be wasted.

...

Meanwhile, another person bound for the Northern Territory—Pal Calvin, was bright-eyed the moment he heard the command.

"Finally it's my turn." He could hardly suppress the smile at the corner of his mouth.

To seal the frontier and be granted a title, the chance to unify the barren borders...

This is the stage of his dreams!

Since childhood, Pal has always been one of those most favored within the clan.

Smart, diligent, especially in terms of tactical warfare, virtually a "genius" level existence.

None of the mentors who taught him failed to exclaim in private: "This kid has boundless prospects."

Not to mention, his mother hails from the renowned Ailanto Clan in the Southeast.

Though not among the Eight Great Clans of the Empire, they control two significant ports, a status not to be underestimated.

His two sisters have long been married into other noble houses.

And his maternal brother, Seldon Calvin, now controls nearly thirty percent of the family's business operations, being an indisputable figure of real power.

Such upbringing, such background, Pal has never bowed his head.

Upon hearing Louis has now become the Prefect of the Northern Territory, he merely scoffed: "Louis? That presence so negligible it makes one forget? Ha, merely lucky he got this far."

He is utterly unyielding.

Clearly, when Louis was dispatched to the Northern Territory, he even mocked that it was a suicidal undertaking.

And what was the outcome?

Now that "invisible man" he always looked down on, has become a new noble in the Northern Territory.

To say he isn't jealous is false, to say he doesn't feel uneasy is even more deceitful.

Pal has always believed, aside from those few truly powerful elder brothers, other siblings in the family are insignificant.

Louis? Even more of a joke.

But despite his arrogance, Pal was no fool.

He knew well what the Northern Territory was, not the comfort zone of the Imperial Capital.

Even he clearly understood that once he went there, without some real skills and preparation, he could be devoured by that icy land in no time.

So Pal secretly sought out his second brother, Seldon, and his mother, planning to secure some "seed funding" for himself.

In the study, the firelight was warm and yellow, the flames in the fireplace licking the logs, casting the family crest on the wall into alternating light and shadow.

Holding the order, Pal reported excitedly to the two, "Father is sending me to the Northern Territory to open up lands!"

His mother's face changed instantly, and she sat up abruptly, "The Northern Territory? You must be joking!"

Pal nodded, eyes sparkling.

His mother frowned deeply, her voice trembling, "That place is hell! It's freezing and full of madmen. You're going there to die! I must see your father and have someone else go."

Pal immediately retorted, "Even that useless wastrel Louis became a prefect there, so I can certainly succeed."

Seldon half-reclined on the chairback, his slender fingers rhythmically tapping the armrest, his gaze settled on his younger brother, with a slight furrow in his brow.

The name Louis, as it emerged from Pal's mouth.

What surfaced in his mind was no longer that silent and almost invisible eighth son of the family.

When Louis first went to the Northern Territory, he had attempted to eliminate that inconspicuous potential rival.

After the attempt failed, he didn't give it much thought; it was just a negligible move.

But who would have thought, the scene he least wanted to see appeared— that rejected family member rose rapidly in a miraculous way.

Seldon slightly squinted his eyes, and the rhythm of his fingers tapping stopped.

He now even suspected that Louis's "inept performance" in the family all these years might have been feigned.

That guy…was he waiting for an opportunity all along?

Waiting to break free from the family's restraints, waiting for a battleground where he could risk everything?

Though with Louis's current ability, he wasn't threatening Seldon's quest for the duke position yet, he could no longer be dismissed as before.

His gaze came back to Pal in front of him, his maternal brother.

Ambitious, with high aspirations, ability…hmm, some, but far from managing the situation.

In simple terms, a typical case of "aiming too high, but lacking in execution."

Seldon knew very well: with Pal's skills, should he recklessly venture into the Northern Territory, he'd likely never return, perishing without a trace.

He took a deep breath and looked at Pal, "Listen, once you reach the Northern Territory, don't act recklessly, stay low-key and practical. If you really run into trouble… don't hesitate to cooperate with Louis.

He has his ways to survive until now. Don't underestimate him, but be cautious."

Pal nodded, "Understood, second brother."

But his expression showed no sign of taking it to heart, with a hint of defiance in his eyes.

Seldon saw through it clearly, let out a cold hum, and tapped the desk again, "I'm not joking, don't gamble with your life. The Northern Territory is not the same as here."

Pal pursed his lips in defiance, a trace of stubbornness on his face, but ultimately said nothing more.

Seldon glanced at him, then turned to his mother, whose eyes were red.

He sighed, "Mother, you know father's decision; no one can change it once he decides.

All we can do is quickly prepare resources for Pal so he can settle down and nothing really happens."

At these words, Pal's eyes immediately brightened.

This was what he was waiting for from them, he didn't care about the rest of the conversation.

His mother wiped away her tears, nodded, her voice trembling, "Yes, yes…prepare quickly, give him whatever we can, more confidence is always good."

With that, she personally went back to her bedroom to have the knights bring two heavy chests and pushed them in front of Pal: "Here are eight thousand gold coins, and also a batch of refined rice and dry provisions from Ailanto Port. I'll have someone escort them to the Northern Territory."

Seldon continued, "I've chosen five veteran stewards to accompany you, all insiders, skilled in logistics and supply management. Just take good care of them, and they can ensure you won't starve.

Plus, I'll assign thirty official knights from my guards to you, together with the support father provides...it should at least let you establish a foothold in the Northern Territory."

He paused here, giving Pal a look, "What a pity..."

The mother took over, sighing, "In the Northern Territory, you have no close allies, no foundation, everything must depend on yourself."

Pal looked down at the chests, his mouth curling into a slightly contemptuous smile, "Relying on myself is enough."

He truly believed that.

In his eyes, this was really nothing.

The Northern Territory? Just a desolate, cold place.

Others feared it, but he did not.

Especially upon seeing this pile of resources before him, his worries completely vanished.

Eight thousand gold coins, a batch of refined rice and dry provisions, dozens of official knights, and five veteran stewards in charge of logistics.

This setup was the best treatment the family could offer.

He couldn't help but let out a cold chuckle: wasn't Louis just lucky?

Back when he ventured north, with less than a thousand gold coins and barely over forty knights, he dared to charge ahead recklessly.

And now, what did he have?

With his father's and brother's support combined, he had at least five or six times Louis's strength, and several times the money.

If Louis could make himself a prefect in the Northern Territory, then for him, a genius with these resources, wasn't it a matter of dominance?

Seldon watched his lighthearted demeanor, inwardly frowning with unease but said nothing more.

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