The first rays of morning sunlight slanted over the eastern horizon, reflecting off the Black Rice Wasteland in a dazzling expanse of white.
Snow had fallen all night. Although it had stopped before dawn, a thick layer still covered the ground. When Cook stepped into it, his entire lower leg sank beneath the surface.
Shaking his head, Cook pulled his right foot out of the snow and continued trudging around the perimeter of the Nonferrous Metals Smelting Factory.
As the manager of this Nonferrous Metals Smelting Factory, which the Xinfei Merchant Guild had established outside the Worrel Werewolf Tribe, Cook naturally bore more responsibility than the others. Even on the first day of the New Year, he had chosen to remain at his post. His first task after getting up was to inspect the entire factory.
However, the factory had shut down several days earlier for the New Year holiday, and hardly anyone remained. Cook made his usual rounds, found nothing amiss, and finished his work for the day.
He was debating whether to return to his warm dormitory, equipped with a Magic Air Conditioner, and go back to sleep, or visit the mine on the other side to check on things, when a werewolf came running over from the Worrel Werewolf Tribe in long strides.
Cook looked closely and recognized Wolf, who worked as a porter at the factory. He raised a hand in greeting. "Hey, Wolf! It's the first day of the New Year. Why are you coming to the factory instead of staying home with your wife and children?"
Wolf opened his wolfish jaws in a hearty laugh, ran over, and grabbed Cook's arm. "Factory Manager Cook, the chieftain sent me to invite you over to the tribe. Come on."
"Visit your tribe?" Cook paused. "But I'm