Another year had begun.
Before the excitement of the New Year had faded across the Sains Continent, news broke in the Candel Empire that drew countless people's attention.
In early February, a mass incident suddenly occurred in a small town under the jurisdiction of Claira City in the Candel Empire's northern province.
The town's residents had all fallen unconscious on the same day and remained that way for three full days before gradually waking up.
Although the residents showed no physical problems after waking, the incident caused a sensation throughout the Candel Empire's northern province.
The northern province's Governor's Mansion took the matter very seriously and, under orders from the Empire Parliament, launched a detailed investigation.
Ultimately, after inquiries on several fronts, the findings proved somewhat unexpected.
The northern province's Governor's Mansion actually attributed the mass loss of consciousness to the magic air conditioners used in every household in the town.
The investigation showed that, after operating for long periods, the magic air conditioners in these residents' homes gradually affected their surroundings. As those effects accumulated, they eventually altered even the air itself.
Under normal circumstances, this was harmless, but once it reached a certain threshold, it could cause people to temporarily lose consciousness.
The magic air conditioners used by the town's residents had originally not reached that threshold. However, winter on the Sains Continent was much colder that year than in previous years, leading to a sharp increase in their use. The effects quickly accumulated to a dangerous level, ultimately causing the mass loss of consciousness.
Many people still had doubts about this explanation.
According to the investigation, all the magic air conditioners used by the town's residents had been manufactured by the same merchant guild.
Naturally, it was not the Xinfei Merchant Guild, but a merchant guild in