The celebration continued deep into the night.
Outside the mansion, Frostbound Coast shimmered beneath the winter darkness.
Roads illuminated by enchanted streetlights stretched like glowing rivers through the city.
Warm settlements radiated soft heat across the frozen landscape.
Trade caravans continued arriving even at night.
Visitors wandered the streets.
Merchants exchanged goods.
Scholars discussed research.
Travelers spread stories.
Everything moved.
Everything grew.
Everything expanded.
And everyone knew why.
Count Kel Rosenfeld.
The fifteen-year-old ruler who had transformed a frozen wasteland into one of the fastest-growing territories in the North.
Inside the ballroom, dozens of nobles watched him.
Some with admiration.
Some with curiosity.
Some with calculations hidden behind smiles.
And many noblewomen...
Watched him with entirely different intentions.
Near one side of the ballroom, three young noble ladies stood together.
All beautifully dressed.
All carrying carefully practiced smiles.
All pretending they weren't observing Kel.
Unfortunately.
Everyone could tell.
"He really is handsome."
One noblewoman whispered.
The second immediately nodded.
"And capable."
The third sighed.
"Very capable."
The first lady looked toward the enormous mana crystal standing at the center of the ballroom.
Then toward the windows overlooking Frostbound Coast.
Then toward Kel.
"Four months."
The others understood immediately.
Four months.
Only four months.
And Frostbound Coast had already become one of the most talked-about territories in the Empire.
The second noblewoman crossed her arms.
"And eighty percent of his projects aren't even finished."
The first lady nearly groaned.
"Why did you remind me?"
The third lady sighed.
"Because that is the frightening part."
Silence followed.
Because everyone knew.
What people currently witnessed was only twenty percent of Kel's vision.
Only twenty percent.
That fact alone made countless nobles lose sleep.
The first lady stared at Kel.
"If this is twenty percent..."
The second continued.
"Then what happens when he finishes everything?"
Nobody answered.
Because nobody knew.
And that uncertainty made Kel even more attractive.
Not merely because of wealth.
Not merely because of status.
Potential.
Unlimited potential.
Many noblewomen saw themselves becoming the future Lady of Frostbound Coast.
The future wife of one of the Empire's most influential figures.
The future matriarch of a rising power.
Unfortunately for them.
Kel wasn't paying attention.
Not even slightly.
At this very moment, the young Count was standing beside Lyra while discussing infrastructure expansion with three merchants, two researchers, and a regional trade representative.
The noblewomen watched helplessly.
One finally gathered courage.
"I'll approach him."
The others immediately stared.
"You?"
The noblewoman proudly lifted her chin.
"Me."
Several minutes later.
She returned.
Defeated.
The other two immediately surrounded her.
"What happened?"
"Did you talk to him?"
"Did he compliment your dress?"
The noblewoman stared blankly into space.
"He asked if my family's territory produced timber."
Silence.
"...What?"
"He asked if we produced timber."
The noblewoman sounded emotionally damaged.
Then continued.
"Then he asked how much surplus lumber we could export annually."
The others blinked.
The first noblewoman continued.
"Then he proposed a transportation contract."
"..."
"..."
"..."
The three women collectively realized they were competing against roads.
Meanwhile.
Kel was completely unaware.
Or perhaps he was aware.
And simply didn't care.
Lyra stood beside him.
Listening.
Observing.
Learning.
The ancient serpent had lived centuries.
Yet tonight she felt like a student.
Because Kel's conversations were unlike anything she had ever witnessed.
A merchant approached.
The man bowed.
"My Lord."
Kel nodded.
"Guildmaster."
The merchant smiled.
"I would like exclusive rights to distribute mana crystals to western territories."
A reasonable proposal.
The merchant continued.
"We will handle transportation."
Another.
"Security."
Another.
"Storage."
Another.
"In exchange for forty percent of exported stock."
Several merchants nearby nodded.
Reasonable.
Very reasonable.
Then Kel smiled.
The smile immediately made Lyra suspicious.
Because she had already learned.
Whenever Kel smiled like that...
Someone was about to lose a negotiation.
The Count spoke calmly.
"I agree."
The merchant brightened.
Then Kel continued.
"Provided your guild establishes permanent logistics centers in Frostbound Coast."
The merchant paused.
Kel continued.
"Train local workers."
Another.
"Transfer transportation knowledge."
Another.
"Build five storage facilities."
Another.
"And commit to a ten-year operational contract."
The merchant frowned.
Calculating.
Then Kel continued.
"In exchange."
Another.
"You receive forty-five percent export priority."
The merchant froze.
The number increased.
The conditions increased.
The benefits increased.
Everything increased.
The merchant started calculating.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Then somehow...
The proposal looked profitable.
Very profitable.
The merchant slowly nodded.
"I accept."
Lyra stared.
The merchant left looking happy.
The serpent woman immediately spoke.
"That contract benefits you more."
Kel took a sip of juice.
"It benefits Frostbound Coast more."
The distinction confused her.
Then another visitor arrived.
This time from a Mage Tower.
An elderly mage wearing crimson robes approached.
"My Lord."
Kel greeted him politely.
"Tower Master."
The elderly mage smiled.
"Our organization wishes to establish a branch."
Kel nodded.
"I expected as much."
The mage laughed.
"The mana crystal mine is attractive."
Another.
"The growing population is attractive."
Another.
"The tourism is attractive."
Another.
"The research opportunities are attractive."
The old mage sighed.
"Everything is attractive."
Kel smiled.
"Then let's discuss terms."
The negotiations began.
For nearly thirty minutes.
Lyra listened silently.
And became increasingly horrified.
Because Kel somehow negotiated like a predator hunting prey.
Politely.
Respectfully.
Elegantly.
Yet mercilessly.
The Mage Tower requested land.
Kel requested scholarships.
The Mage Tower requested tax reductions.
Kel requested public research funding.
The Mage Tower requested priority access to mana crystals.
Kel requested magical education programs.
The conversation continued.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
Eventually.
The Mage Tower received everything it wanted.
And somehow Frostbound Coast received even more.
The elderly mage stared at the final proposal.
Confused.
Very confused.
Because according to mathematics...
The deal heavily favored Frostbound Coast.
Yet somehow...
It still looked profitable.
Very profitable.
The mage eventually signed.
Then left smiling.
Lyra stared.
Again.
The serpent woman finally whispered.
"How?"
Kel looked toward her.
"How what?"
"The deal."
A pause.
"The previous deal."
Another.
"The deal before that."
Another.
"Every deal."
Kel seemed genuinely confused.
"I simply align interests."
The answer sounded suspiciously simple.
Lyra frowned.
"No."
Kel blinked.
"No?"
The serpent crossed her arms.
"That's not normal."
The Count laughed.
A quiet laugh.
Then spoke.
"Everyone wants profit."
A pause.
"Everyone wants growth."
Another.
"Everyone wants security."
Another.
"Everyone wants opportunity."
Another.
"If I provide those things."
Another.
"They willingly help me."
The explanation sounded simple.
Yet somehow terrifying.
Because he wasn't forcing people.
He wasn't manipulating people.
He wasn't tricking people.
He was simply creating situations where helping Frostbound Coast helped them.
The realization felt dangerous.
Far beneath Scarder Lake.
Seiren's voice appeared.
"Now you understand."
Lyra mentally sighed.
"Understand what?"
The Guardian laughed softly.
"Why politicians fear him."
The serpent couldn't disagree.
Back inside the ballroom.
The negotiations continued.
Organization after organization approached.
Researchers.
Investors.
Builders.
Scholars.
Trade guilds.
Mage Towers.
Exploration companies.
Engineering associations.
Every group wanted something.
Every group left with contracts.
Every group looked satisfied.
Yet somehow...
Frostbound Coast benefited the most.
By midnight.
Even Lyra stopped trying to understand.
Because every conversation followed the same pattern.
Someone proposed terms.
Kel listened.
Kel adjusted terms.
Kel improved terms.
Then somehow...
The other party left happier than before.
Despite giving away more than they originally intended.
At one point.
Even Lyra asked.
"Do you ever lose negotiations?"
Kel thought for a moment.
Then answered honestly.
"Of course."
The serpent looked surprised.
"Really?"
Kel nodded.
"Sometimes."
A pause.
"I meet people who refuse profit."
Another.
"Those negotiations are difficult."
Lyra immediately started laughing.
For the first time that night.
A genuine laugh.
Several nearby nobles stared.
Because the terrifying Guardian of Frostbound Coast was laughing.
Kel looked confused.
"What?"
Lyra shook her head.
"Nothing."
The serpent smiled.
Then looked across the ballroom.
The growing city.
The gathered guests.
The endless opportunities.
The countless contracts.
And the young Count standing calmly at the center of it all.
For the first time.
She truly understood why Frostbound Coast had transformed so quickly.
Because while others saw roads.
Kel saw networks.
While others saw mines.
Kel saw industries.
While others saw contracts.
Kel saw futures.
And somehow...
He convinced everyone else to build those futures alongside him.