"President Xu, do you see that river up ahead? That's the Banao River, the largest river in our Northeastern Province. After flowing through the entire province, it continues east through the Drake Duchy and the Feno Kingdom before finally joining the Skane River," Count Longley explained enthusiastically, pointing at a silver ribbon of water ahead.
Xu Yi looked up at the shimmering river, its surface reflecting countless flecks of sunlight, and felt puzzled.
"Aren't winters in the north extremely cold? Why hasn't this river frozen over?"
Count Longley laughed. "That's the Banao River's most distinctive feature. Although it's in the north of the kingdom, it never freezes in winter."
"Why is that?" Xu Yi asked curiously.
Although the northern part of the Lampari Kingdom was not quite the northernmost region of the continent, winter temperatures there could already drop to ten or twenty degrees below zero. The Banao River was not particularly wide, so by all rights, it should have frozen over.
Count Longley chuckled. "You'll understand in a little while."
Xu Yi couldn't help rolling his eyes. He hadn't expected Count Longley to have the bad habit of keeping people in suspense.
The carriage carried them along a bumpy country dirt road, eventually stopping in a small, ordinary village.
As soon as Count Longley stepped out of the carriage, a crowd gathered around him.
"City Lord, you're here again!"
"City Lord, have you come for another bath?"
"City Lord, the weather's lovely today. Perfect for a nice long soak."
"That's right, City Lord. It's been days since your last visit. Come, come, come. Have a meal at our house first. I hunted a horned deer in the mountains just yesterday. I've still got a leg left, so you've come at just the right time."
"City Lord, I want some