The morning after the establishment of Frostbound Coast's new administrative departments was unlike any other in the territory's recent history.
For decades, the city had moved slowly.
Like an old machine burdened by rust.
Every decision required approval.
Every project encountered delays.
Every opportunity disappeared beneath layers of inefficiency.
But today...
The machine had begun moving.
And once a machine began moving...
It became difficult to stop.
The city streets were crowded from dawn.
Snow still covered rooftops.
The northern wind still swept through the avenues.
The weather remained as harsh as ever.
Yet the atmosphere felt different.
Purposeful.
Energetic.
Alive.
At the newly established Administrative Hall, hundreds of applicants had gathered before sunrise.
Workers.
Merchants.
Scholars.
Veterans.
Accountants.
Builders.
Surveyors.
Craftsmen.
Young men and women hoping to join the new departments.
The line stretched far down the street.
Yet nobody complained.
Because everyone understood something.
Count Kel Rosenfeld was building something.
And they wanted to become part of it.
Unfortunately for them...
The recruitment process was brutal.
Inside the Resource Management Department.
An elderly merchant wiped sweat from his forehead.
The examiner calmly reviewed his records.
"Twenty-three years of warehouse management?"
"Yes."
The merchant smiled confidently.
The examiner nodded.
Then asked.
"If a storage facility loses three percent of inventory annually due to spoilage, while transportation costs increase by seven percent during winter, which strategy reduces overall losses most effectively?"
The merchant froze.
His smile disappeared.
"...What?"
The examiner wrote something.
Rejected.
"Next."
In another room.
A former noble clerk sat proudly.
His clothes were expensive.
His posture confident.
The examiner glanced at his qualifications.
Then asked.
"If two departments disagree regarding resource allocation during a crisis, what procedure should be followed?"
The clerk laughed.
"Simple. Ask the Count."
The examiner stared.
Then quietly wrote another note.
Rejected.
The clerk looked stunned.
"Rejected?"
The examiner nodded.
"The Count specifically created departments to avoid needing his approval for every issue."
The noble clerk's expression collapsed.
Throughout the city.
Similar scenes repeated.
Many applicants arrived.
Few succeeded.
The standards were extremely high.
Kel had specifically written one instruction.
Competence before connections.
The departments obeyed without compromise.
By evening.
The number of accepted applicants was shockingly low.
Yet nobody complained.
Because the quality was extraordinary.
Meanwhile...
The organizations had arrived.
Exactly as Kel predicted.
The Resource Management Department building had become the busiest location in the entire city.
Representatives from merchant guilds.
Trading companies.
Research institutions.
Alchemy associations.
Hunter organizations.
Resource procurement firms.
Every waiting room was full.
Several representatives appeared irritated.
Others appeared confused.
Some looked offended.
A wealthy merchant frowned.
"We've been waiting for two hours."
Another representative sighed.
"Apparently everyone waits."
The merchant looked around.
Then immediately became silent.
Because several major organizations were also waiting.
Organizations much larger than his own.
Yet none received special treatment.
Inside the negotiation chambers.
The discussions continued relentlessly.
Yet something unusual occurred.
Count Kel never appeared.
Not once.
A representative from the Alchemist Society blinked.
"Where is Count Rosenfeld?"
The department officer calmly answered.
"Busy."
The representative frowned.
"Then who negotiates?"
The officer pointed toward himself.
"We do."
Silence.
The representative stared.
Then laughed.
Then stopped laughing when nobody joined him.
"...You're serious?"
"We are authorized."
The official handed over a document.
"The Department Head possesses signing authority delegated by the Count."
The representative read it.
Then read it again.
Then a third time.
His expression became strange.
Because it was legitimate.
Perfectly legitimate.
Similar reactions occurred throughout the building.
Many organizations expected personal negotiations with the Count.
Instead they found themselves negotiating with trained administrators.
Administrators who knew every detail.
Every resource quantity.
Every logistical route.
Every projected harvest.
Every contract clause.
Every contingency.
The representatives gradually realized something terrifying.
The departments were competent.
Extremely competent.
One merchant eventually muttered.
"...This territory is becoming dangerous."
His assistant looked confused.
"Dangerous?"
The merchant nodded.
"A territory with resources is valuable."
"A territory with competent administration is powerful."
He looked toward the negotiation rooms.
"This place is becoming both."
While all of this happened...
The person responsible for the chaos wasn't even present.
Far from the city.
Far from negotiations.
Far from administration.
Kel rode through snow-covered roads toward the coast.
The journey lasted several hours.
Gradually the environment changed.
Dense forests became sparse.
Frozen hills gave way to rocky terrain.
The scent of pine disappeared.
Replaced by something else.
Salt.
Cold.
Ancient.
Eventually...
The ocean appeared.
Kel stopped his horse.
The northern sea stretched endlessly before him.
Dark blue waters extended toward the horizon.
Massive waves crashed against black cliffs.
The sound echoed continuously.
Thunderous.
Ancient.
Relentless.
Above the sea, countless seabirds circled through the gray skies.
The scene was magnificent.
And terrifying.
Several accompanying knights stood quietly.
Even they couldn't help admiring the view.
One veteran finally spoke.
"My Lord."
Kel looked toward him.
The knight pointed toward the ocean.
"Most people avoid these waters."
Kel nodded.
"Because of sea monsters."
"Yes."
The veteran's expression darkened.
"Fishing boats disappear every year."
"Merchant vessels too."
"Entire crews vanish."
The sound of crashing waves filled the silence.
Kel observed the ocean.
His expression remained calm.
But his thoughts moved rapidly.
Very rapidly.
Most people saw danger.
Kel saw potential.
Enormous potential.
Perhaps greater than the forests.
Perhaps greater than the mountains.
Perhaps greater than Frostbound Coast itself.
The ocean contained resources.
Fish.
Minerals.
Alchemy ingredients.
Rare plants.
Deep-sea treasures.
Trade routes.
Transportation routes.
Unknown discoveries.
And monsters.
Countless monsters.
A faint smile appeared.
The accompanying knights suddenly felt concerned.
Because they had learned something over the past few weeks.
Whenever Lord Kel smiled like that...
Something ambitious was about to happen.
Far beneath Scarder Lake.
Seiren observed through their connection.
Then her voice echoed inside his mind.
"I recognize that expression."
Kel watched the waves.
"Do you?"
The Guardian sighed.
"You found another project."
A faint chuckle escaped him.
"Several."
Seiren immediately regretted asking.
Kel stepped toward the cliff's edge.
The ocean wind swept through his silver hair.
His coat fluttered violently.
The waves below crashed endlessly against the rocks.
The scene felt ancient.
Almost primordial.
As though civilization held no authority here.
Only nature.
Only survival.
Only power.
The young Count quietly observed.
Then spoke.
Mostly to himself.
"Interesting."
The nearby knights looked confused.
"What is, my Lord?"
Kel pointed toward the horizon.
"The future."
The answer somehow failed to clarify anything.
One knight hesitated.
Then asked.
"My Lord."
Kel looked toward him.
The veteran swallowed.
"What exactly are we doing here?"
The surrounding knights immediately became interested.
An excellent question.
Kel's answer arrived immediately.
"Ocean development."
The knights blinked.
Silence followed.
Then more silence.
Then even more silence.
Eventually one knight carefully asked.
"...Ocean development?"
Kel nodded.
"Yes."
Another knight rubbed his forehead.
"What does that mean?"
Kel looked toward the endless sea.
His golden eyes reflected the waves.
"It means we hunt hostile sea monsters."
The knights nodded.
Reasonable.
Then Kel continued.
"It means we harvest ocean resources."
Still reasonable.
Then—
"It means we domesticate suitable species."
Several knights nearly choked.
Again?
More monsters?
Kel ignored their reactions.
His thoughts continued moving.
"Transportation."
"Fishing support."
"Resource gathering."
"Maritime scouting."
"Future naval applications."
The surrounding knights stared.
Because they suddenly realized something.
Their lord wasn't looking at the ocean.
He was looking through it.
Toward possibilities nobody else considered.
A massive wave crashed below.
White foam exploded against black stone.
The sea roared.
Yet Kel remained motionless.
Watching.
Thinking.
Planning.
Far beneath the ancient waters of Scarder Lake...
Seiren became silent.
Then finally asked.
"How many projects are you currently planning?"
Kel thought briefly.
Then answered honestly.
"I'm not entirely sure anymore."
The Guardian immediately laughed.
A long laugh.
A genuine laugh.
Because somehow...
That answer perfectly summarized Kel Rosenfeld.
The wind continued blowing.
The waves continued crashing.
The ocean stretched endlessly before him.
Most people saw an untamed sea.
Most people saw danger.
Most people saw uncertainty.
Kel saw roads.
Resources.
Trade.
Ships.
Settlements.
Ports.
Sea monsters transformed into assets.
Entire industries waiting to be born.
The forests had been the first frontier.
The ocean would become the second.
And standing upon the frozen cliffs of Frostbound Coast...
The young Count quietly began planning another transformation.
One that would eventually reach far beyond the boundaries of his territory.
Because the wilderness was not the only thing waiting to be conquered.
The sea was waiting as well.
And Kel Rosenfeld had finally noticed it.