Led by Gepard, the group crossed the valley and finally entered Belobog.
This city built amid wind and snow was unusually large, and once they entered its interior, the shock it brought far exceeded what they felt when looking down at it from afar.
The most obvious changes were the following.
First was the weather.
After entering Belobog, the wind and snow disappeared. The sky changed from a hazy, gray sheet into a pale blue, with thin, gloomy-looking clouds drifting across it. Sunlight that wasn't very strong shone down.
And the steam pipes that looked like a spiderweb from a bird's-eye view mostly extended across the rooftops of the connected houses, so they didn't block the sky above the city on a large scale.
Next was the temperature.
The temperature inside Belobog was very different from the snowy plains outside. Nero and the others could clearly feel the rise in warmth. Even though there was still piled-up snow here, and it still felt cold, compared to the kind of freezing temperature outside that felt like it could kill a person, this was already much better.
Finally, the buildings.
From the outside, when looking down, Belobog looked like a pitch-black fortress of steel. But after entering the city, they discovered that this fortress in the middle of the cold wave actually had relatively bright colors inside.
There were pedestrians on the road, trains in the city, and posters on the walls.
Even though the environment for survival was harsh, the people living in the city seemed to still maintain a relatively comfortable standard of living, and even had the energy to develop entertainment.
This sight made the members of the Trailblaze Squad glance at Gepard and the Silvermane Guard with newfound respect. Seeing a residential area achieve this state was undoubtedly thanks to their efforts.
Gepard led the group into the city. With him guiding the way, entering the city went extremely smoothly.
Everyone was now walking on a gray stone pavement laid with tracks. Gepard walked in front, the Trailblaze Squad followed behind him, and the Silvermane Guard soldiers were at the very back.
Feeling the change in temperature, March showed an expression of surprise and said, "It doesn't seem that cold after entering the city!"
Gepard turned his head and explained, "…Because you're in Belobog, humanity's final bastion."
"Final bastion?" March looked puzzled.
Gepard crossed his arms and let out a sigh.
Dan Heng still didn't speak. From comparing the inner and outer environments, he could completely guess some general conclusions.
Stelle and Nero were currently staring at Sampo, preventing him from running away.
Whether credit points could be used on this planet was still unknown, and even if they could, they didn't know the exchange rate. Besides, they didn't have much pocket money to begin with.
Sampo was at least a criminal personally pursued by a lieutenant of the Silvermane Guard, so he should be worth something, right?
If he couldn't even exchange for a single cent, then the two of them were going to accuse the Supreme Guardian of being stingy and Uncle Cold-Legs of being useless.
At this moment, Gepard spoke calmly, explaining the planet's history to March.
"A long time ago, monsters from beyond the sky set the planet ablaze. The land became scorched earth, filled with burning magma and boiling black smoke."
"In the moment between life and death, the cold wave suddenly descended, the sweeping gale came without warning, the invading legion was buried beneath the blizzard, and only Belobog remained."
"The resolute city-builders established this city. Under the protection of Preservation's Qlipoth, Belobog, though harassed by wind and snow, remains forever warm."
March listened very seriously to Gepard's narration, slowly narrowing her eyes.
She whispered, "…He talks really weird."
Dan Heng closed his eyes and said calmly, "That's not his usual tone. He's probably quoting something from a classic text."
Nero leaned his head in and joined the quiet discussion, "It sounds like an old history teacher telling a mythology story during leftover class time."
Stelle shook her head and whispered, "I think Mr. Welt's stories are more interesting."
"Oh…" March showed a look of sudden realization.
"Then why did he tell us all that?"
"Because you asked." Before anyone else answered, Gepard replied first.
"Uh…"
March didn't expect him to hear her even when she spoke that quietly, and she showed an awkward smile.
Dan Heng and Stelle both put a hand to their foreheads, feeling helpless.
"So that means, next time we shouldn't plot in front of him," Nero said.
"You want a next time?!" March retorted.
Gepard kept a blank expression, turned around, and continued leading the way.
These outsiders in front of him seemed… a little too unpredictable.
Of course, the silent, cold-faced young man wasn't included.
Finally, Gepard led everyone to the edge of a plaza in the Administrative District.
A massive and strangely shaped object was placed at the center of the plaza.
It seemed to be a monument, composed of two parts, the gear symbolizing knowledge and industrial power, and the giant ice crystal symbolizing the cold wave. The two parts were tightly interlocked, the ice crystal wrapping the gear, the gear restraining the ice crystal.
The monument must have symbolic meaning for being designed this way, something like resistance, an unyielding spirit.
But Nero was more interested in what material the ice crystal was made of, because it was very beautiful, looking crystal clear and shimmering with multicolored light.
Belobog's unique architectural style, clothing, and cultural art all formed the distinctive landscape of the city.
The group walked while looking around, drawn in by the scenery.
Reliable Teacher Dan Heng chose this moment to start asking other questions.
"When we came here, we saw many Fragmentum creatures… do you know anything about them?"
"You actually know…" Gepard instinctively felt a bit shocked, but quickly regained his calm demeanor and said to Dan Heng, "There are many threats outside the cold wave. They are one of them."
"The Silvermane Guard has been fighting them, but the situation isn't optimistic… Once we meet the Supreme Guardian, I hope I can ask for your opinions on this matter."
"We lack information."
While speaking, Gepard turned his head to look back.
His gaze first fell on Nero, then slowly lowered to the "portable heater" in Nero's hands.
As a lieutenant of the Silvermane Guard, he naturally knew what that was. And it was thanks to Gepard leading them that Nero could so easily bring that thing into the city.
Gepard felt confused about this…
Judging from his observations so far, these outsiders seemed… to treat Fragmentum creatures as tools…?
Gepard continued leading the group forward, and eventually stopped in front of a grand staircase.
The staircase was extremely long and wide, maybe dozens or hundreds of steps, rising all the way up, eventually leading to a tall building that looked like a castle.
"We're here."
Gepard said to the group.
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