As white snow fell, the old year passed, and a new year was about to begin.
For people in most parts of this world, it had been a chaotic year. The conflict between the Sasha Alliance and the Duchy of Seth had ultimately escalated into a war that engulfed almost the entire world. Nearly every side had suffered grievously. The Duchy of Seth had been annexed by the Sasha Alliance, but the alliance had paid a terrible price and was now scrambling to deal with attacks and resistance from remnants of Seth's forces throughout its territory. The Kingdom of Kront had annexed Francis, while the Olucci Empire, having suffered heavy losses, had withdrawn from the war because of internal unrest. Yet Kront had not had the last laugh either. The Empire had destroyed Kront's capital, Derrin, and declared itself the victor. For the time being, the fighting had come to an end.
Although many of Kront's cities had yet to be occupied by the Empire, now that Derrin had been utterly destroyed, all that awaited those cities was the Queen's ultimatum.
Submit or be destroyed.
Which they chose was their own business.
After all the exhausting running around he had done during the second half of the year, Li Wei had also returned home to enjoy some rare leisure time. Ever since the Empire entered the war, he had been run off his feet and had rarely come home. Now that he had finally more or less sorted everything out, he could at last return home, sit beside the warm fireplace, leisurely warm himself by the fire, and spend some time with the girls. Naturally, they were delighted to have him back. Alice and Sophia were sitting on either side of him, while Katie lounged on the sofa and yawned.