The meeting ended.
But the consequences of that meeting had only begun.
Within Frostbound Coast.
The wheels of preparation immediately started turning.
Orders were issued.
Departments mobilized.
Officials hurried through administrative buildings carrying stacks of documents.
Messengers mounted horses.
Magic communication towers transmitted announcements.
Merchants copied notices.
Guilds received proposals.
Bankers reviewed investment frameworks.
And within three days.
The news escaped Frostbound Coast.
Within seven days.
The entire Northern Region knew.
Within two weeks.
The entire Empire was talking about only one thing.
Frostbound Coast.
Again.
Inside taverns.
Merchant halls.
Noble estates.
Adventurer guilds.
Mage towers.
Military forts.
Academic institutions.
Everyone discussed the same announcements.
The first announcement.
External investment is open for Frostbound Coast's new projects.
The second announcement.
Investment will be permanently closed after external ownership reaches forty percent.
The third announcement.
The oceans and unknown territories beyond the northern seas are officially open for exploration.
The fourth announcement.
Frostbound Coast will provide ships, equipment, maps, and logistical support to explorers.
The fifth announcement.
Treasures discovered will be purchased immediately, with fifty percent of their value paid to explorers.
And just like that.
The Empire exploded.
Eastern Merchant Confederation
Inside a massive merchant guild headquarters.
Several wealthy merchants sat around a long table.
An elderly merchant slammed the announcement paper against the table.
"Forty percent?"
Another merchant nodded.
"Forty percent."
The elderly merchant frowned.
"Only forty?"
A younger merchant laughed.
"You sound disappointed."
"I am disappointed."
The old merchant rubbed his forehead.
"Do you understand what this means?"
The younger merchant leaned forward.
"What?"
The old merchant pointed at the paper.
"It means Frostbound Coast doesn't need us."
Silence.
The room froze.
The younger merchant blinked.
Then slowly realized.
Yes.
That was exactly what it meant.
If Kel truly needed investors desperately...
He would offer majority ownership.
Instead.
He capped ownership.
Meaning Frostbound Coast wanted partners.
Not masters.
The old merchant sighed.
"That boy is dangerous."
Another merchant nodded.
"Dangerous?"
The old merchant laughed.
"To negotiate against."
Everyone nodded immediately.
Nobody disagreed.
Southern Noble Territory
Inside a noble estate.
Several lords gathered for afternoon tea.
One noble read the announcement.
Then frowned.
"Open exploration?"
Another noble nodded.
"Apparently."
The first noble scoffed.
"Has he gone mad?"
A third noble laughed.
"You said the same thing about glowing roads."
The first noble immediately became quiet.
The third noble continued.
"You also said the same thing about heating plants."
Silence.
The first noble looked away.
The third noble smiled.
"And you definitely said the same thing about ocean domestication."
Several nobles laughed.
The first noble sighed.
"Fine."
Another sigh.
"I admit it."
The room waited.
The noble rubbed his temples.
"Every time I think that boy has gone insane..."
Another.
"He somehow proves me wrong."
The room erupted with laughter.
Because everyone felt the same.
Imperial Adventurer Guild Headquarters
The announcement created complete chaos.
Absolute chaos.
Adventurers flooded guild halls.
Quest boards became crowded.
Tables became occupied.
Arguments erupted everywhere.
One veteran adventurer slammed his mug onto a table.
"Free exploration support?"
Another nodded.
"Ships too."
The veteran blinked.
"Ships?"
"Ships."
"Actual ships?"
"Actual ships."
The veteran looked offended.
"Do you know how much ships cost?"
"Yes."
"Then why is Frostbound Coast providing them?"
Nobody knew.
That was the problem.
Nobody understood.
A young adventurer suddenly shouted.
"I'M GOING."
Everyone turned.
The young man stood proudly.
"I'm going to Frostbound Coast."
Another adventurer immediately stood.
"Me too."
Then another.
"And me."
Then another.
"And me."
Within minutes.
Half the tavern had decided to leave.
The guild receptionist watched the scene.
Then sighed.
"Poor Frostbound Coast."
Her coworker blinked.
"Why?"
The receptionist pointed.
"Look at them."
Dozens of overconfident adventurers.
The coworker immediately understood.
"Ah."
Imperial Mage Tower
Inside a grand library.
Several Archmages sat around a circular table.
One elderly Archmage looked up from the announcement.
Then laughed.
The sound echoed throughout the library.
The younger mages stared.
"Master?"
The old Archmage handed them the paper.
"Read."
They did.
Several minutes later.
One young mage frowned.
"This seems profitable."
Another nodded.
"Very profitable."
The old Archmage smiled.
"That's not the interesting part."
The younger mages looked confused.
The old Archmage pointed at the investment structure.
"Read carefully."
They did.
Then one suddenly froze.
"Oh."
Another froze.
"Oh."
A third froze.
"Oh."
The Archmage nodded.
"Exactly."
The younger mages exchanged looks.
Because they finally understood.
The investment system wasn't designed to raise money.
It was designed to maintain control.
The old Archmage smiled.
"That boy thinks like a ruler."
Then paused.
"No."
Another smile.
"He thinks like someone building a nation."
Western Port Cities
The announcement regarding ocean exploration hit hardest here.
Sailors lost their minds.
Completely.
Inside harbors.
Taverns.
Docks.
People discussed nothing else.
One captain slammed the paper onto a crate.
"Open ocean exploration!"
Another captain nodded excitedly.
"Uncharted territories!"
A third captain looked thoughtful.
"Treasure."
The first captain grinned.
"Treasure."
The second captain grinned.
"Lots of treasure."
The third captain grinned.
"Potentially very large amounts of treasure."
The three captains looked at one another.
Then simultaneously shouted.
"WE'RE GOING TO FROSTBOUND COAST!"
Nearby sailors cheered.
Several merchants immediately started calculating profits.
Shipbuilders smiled.
Suppliers smiled.
Everyone smelled opportunity.
House Rosenfeld
Center of North.
Inside the main ducal estate.
Duke Aktaris Rosenfeld sat quietly.
A fresh report rested in his hands.
The room remained silent.
Several family members sat nearby.
Nobody interrupted.
Eventually.
One younger sibling asked.
"What did brother do this time?"
The Duke slowly lowered the report.
Then sighed.
A long sigh.
The kind of sigh only fathers could produce.
"He opened the northern ocean."
Silence.
The room froze.
Then one sibling asked.
"Is that allowed?"
The Duke looked at the ceiling.
Then honestly answered.
"I don't know."
The room erupted into laughter.
Even Aktaris smiled.
Because somehow.
That answer felt appropriate whenever Kel was involved.
Frostbound Coast
Meanwhile.
The territory itself experienced unprecedented growth.
Investment applications flooded administrative buildings.
Merchant caravans arrived daily.
Nobles arrived.
Organizations arrived.
Researchers arrived.
Adventurers arrived.
Sailors arrived.
Explorers arrived.
Dreamers arrived.
Everyone arrived.
The city became busier than ever.
And throughout all of it.
Kel remained completely unaware of the panic he had created.
Inside his office.
The Count sat reviewing construction reports.
Road progress.
District progress.
Bank progress.
Infrastructure progress.
Nothing unusual.
Then suddenly.
Seiren's voice echoed inside his mind.
"You know the Empire is going insane, right?"
Kel continued reading.
"About what?"
The Guardian stared through their connection.
"About your announcements."
Kel blinked.
Then looked genuinely confused.
"Why?"
Silence.
Long silence.
Then Seiren sighed.
A very deep sigh.
"Sometimes I genuinely forget you're strange."
Kel tilted his head.
"What did I do?"
The Guardian almost laughed.
Almost.
"You announced opportunities."
Kel nodded.
"Yes."
"Huge opportunities."
"Yes."
"Empire-changing opportunities."
"Possibly."
Seiren buried her face in her hands.
Because to Kel.
Opening unknown oceans.
Creating exploration industries.
Building a regional banking system.
Launching massive investment projects.
Apparently qualified as merely:
"Possibly."
Meanwhile.
Outside his office.
Thousands of people traveled toward Frostbound Coast.
Drawn by dreams.
Drawn by opportunities.
Drawn by ambition.
And as the northern winds carried snow across the expanding territory.
One thing became increasingly clear.
Frostbound Coast was no longer a remote frontier.
No longer a frozen wasteland.
No longer a forgotten territory.
It had become the center of attention.
And the entire Empire was beginning to move toward it.