Winter was the harshest season in the North. The howling wind was as sharp as knife blades; ice frozen solid was difficult to break even with a hammer; the snow-covered land was nearly impassable to any vehicle—not to mention the most lethal, bone-piercing cold.
At the coldest times, if you carried a cup of hot water outside, walked once around the house, and then poured it out, what trickled down would be cool water mixed with rustling ice chips. It would not even scatter upon hitting the ground, instead freezing into a little icicle.
Trying to hold outdoor activities in such terrifying weather? That was like the God of Longevity hanging himself—you were tired of living.
But outdoor activities could be held in Void City. Thanks to His Majesty Void Mask's divine barrier, the bitter cold was kept outside. It was not as though the city was not cold, but the temperature was not so low as to be unbearable. As long as one did not court death by running around in summer clothes, even ordinary autumn clothing was enough to ward off the cold for a short while. As for those dressed for winter, many could not help taking off a layer or two to avoid getting uncomfortably warm.
"December 25th, Year 20 of the Republican Calendar. Clear. Outdoor temperature: five degrees. Northeasterly wind, force two. Air quality: good." Combrona wrote those words at the top of the daily government affairs record, then sent the sheet to the archives.
As the City Administration Office's duty officer for the week, he would be getting off work later than usual for six straight days and would have to come in for overtime on the weekend. Delivering this record to the archives every day was an important part of his duty.
Once