Once upon a time.
Deep in the Northern Border Province stood a city-state called Banderra.
It towered several thousand meters above sea level, nestled among towering mountains and surrounded by steep cliffs and treacherous peaks that formed a natural barrier.
In this vast world of ice and snow, eternal wind and snow intertwined as biting frost howled.
On the snowy plains several thousand meters south of Banderra City, snowflakes drifted down from the sky like groups of weightless spirits dancing gracefully, either floating toward the boundless earth or vanishing into bottomless mountain ravines.
The sled pulled by a black Demon Realm Moon Shadow Fox tore through the tranquility, leaving a conspicuous trail of golden flames across the flawless snow.
"We're here."
The sled driven by Lanchi slowly came to a stop beside a frozen lake.
The surface of the lake was smooth as a mirror, perfectly reflecting the pale sky.
Several towering trees stood by the lakeshore, their branches resembling coiling dragons. Thick layers of snow covered them, draping them in translucent cloaks of jade-like blossoms.
As the sled came to a halt, two figures jumped off.
"Judging by the timing, the investigation team set out much earlier than we did. If they took a similar route, we should have been able to gather at least some information about their return along the way."
As Lanchi instructed Cat Boss to put away the portable, high-durability sled, he gazed pensively at the distant city and muttered to himself.
Amid the vast wind and snow, Banderra City had become a dark-gray giant carved into the ice field. It stood unshaken, while snowflakes flying through the sky landed on its towering steel walls, never managing to whiten them in the slightest.
He had thought that seeing a large city-state would make things much