And below the military banner sat a towering, imposing man.

Duke Edmund, Lord of the North, the true master of the entire Northern Territory.

His face seemed carved from stone, and the scar that meandered from his left eye to his jaw added a chilling aura of menace.

Even sitting still, he exuded an inescapable sense of pressure.

Pal's gaze intensified, immediately discarding his earlier flippancy. He replaced it with a well-drilled smile, bowed slightly, and respectfully handed over the pioneering credentials sealed with the Royal Family's crest.

"The Calvin Clan, Pal Calvin, reporting in."

Willis followed suit, his movements swift but his expression unchanged, silently presenting his document.

"Willis Calvin." He spoke simply, without any unnecessary words.

Edmond took the documents, glanced at the seals, and his eyebrows twitched slightly, his tone noticeably softened: "Oh—he's from the Calvin Family… Louis's older brother, I see."

In that instant, even his scarred face drew a slight smile.

That momentarily, the ferocious scar on his face seemed to soften as well, even showing a rare smile.

Pal was stunned, his eye twitching involuntarily.

Did he just… address Louis by his first name? And he even remembers their younger brother?

He couldn't help but click his tongue in thought, since when did Louis have such a deep connection with the Governor?

After a few exchanges of pleasantries, Duke Edmund waved to have a detailed map of the Northern Territory brought over, which covered almost the entire tabletop when spread out.

"Apart from the areas marked in red, you can choose anywhere else," he said, his tone indifferent.

Pal's eyes lit up immediately: "This… so many places are still available? I thought last year's batch had already taken them all."

Duke Edmund chuckled lightly, his tone tinged with coldness: "Indeed, quite a few 'Pioneer Nobles' came last year… but alas, winter and war show no mercy. Most of them perished."

Pal's expression faltered, wanting to say something, but in the end, he awkwardly scratched the tip of his nose.

Willis, however, remained calm, carefully scrutinizing the markings on the map.

He knew deep down that Edmond was right.

These "available areas" seemed enticing but were mostly empty lands cleansed by blood and fire.

"These positions," Edmond pointed thick fingers at several spots in Snow Peak County, "are close to your brother Louis's area, relatively rich in resources, and considerable for a good start."

Though he spoke nonchalantly, there was a clear hint of "you might consider these first."

Because of Louis, he had a favorable impression of the Calvin Clan's youths, hence his few extra words.

Before stepping into the Governor's Mansion, Pal had already turned that map of the Northern Territory over in his mind hundreds of times.

He didn't genuinely care about which land was more fertile or which area was richer in resources.

For him, the most crucial thing was who controlled the territory.

"Snow Peak County? Ha." He sneered internally, not even glancing at that region.

As if I could possibly run to Louis's territory?

Pal considered himself far superior to his brother. In background, in appearance, in experience, even in his relationship with their father…

He always felt that Louis was nothing more than an unimportant wastrel.

Just his luck to happen upon the pioneering policy, clinching a Commandery Princess title in this freezing, godforsaken place.

If it came to strength, how could he possibly rank beneath him?

"I came to the North to make my mark, not to be someone's sidekick."

So he set his sights beyond Snow Peak County, on the Eastern Frozen Rock Valley, the Northwestern Wolf Plain Slope, and even further at Foggy Hill.

These places were desolate and scarcely populated, but they also meant freedom and opportunities.

Pal had even thought it through: if maneuvered correctly, his territory could become a new trading hub in the North in the future.

Once the routes were opened, coupled with his family's background, in a few years, he could have his fief, with a Count's title.

By then, their father should view him in a different light.

As for that so-called "Commandery Princess brother"?

He'd probably end up as some noble's vassal, spending his life with a few fishing villages and valley shacks. Just staying out of bankruptcy would be fortunate.

With such thoughts, Pal's lips curled slightly, displaying an expression of "aiming high".

He pulled the map closer, fixing his finger decisively on a spot: "Here, looks quite good."

Edmond followed his direction; it was a region south of the Cold Mist River, near the Wolf Plain Slope.

The terrain had some variations, but the south had a river, and the west a mountain, rumored to have rich iron deposits, while the river could lead to the faraway Frost Forest Plain, making it a region with both resource and transport potential.

"Oh, here…" The Duke nodded, his tone neutral, "The Cold Mist River is a good river, with plenty of forests nearby, making hunting and wood gathering convenient.

The mineral veins at the mountain's base… haven't been fully explored yet; there might be a bit of luck."

He didn't explicitly state his opinion but revealed a faint hint of observer's intent, like watching a young man eager to spread his wings, though he didn't voice the underlying risks.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, repeating slowly: "Are you sure you want it here?"

Pal displayed a confident smile, arms crossed, nodding firmly: "Of course."

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