Led by Gepard, the group crossed the valley and finally entered Belobog.
The city built amid wind and snow was enormous, and once they stepped inside, it proved far more awe-inspiring than the view from afar.
The most obvious changes were as follows:
First, the weather.
Once they entered Belobog, the wind and snow vanished. The sky changed from a blanket of gray to pale blue, with a few wan clouds drifting across it and mild sunlight shining down.
Most of the steam pipes that had looked like spiderwebs from afar ran across the rooftops of interconnected buildings, so they did not obscure much of the city's sky.
Second, the temperature.
The temperature inside Belobog was vastly different from that of the snowfields outside. Jiang Yu and the others could clearly feel it rising. Although snow still lay piled up here and it still felt cold, it was far better than the seemingly lethal chill outside.
Finally, the buildings.
From afar, Belobog had looked like a pitch-black city of steel. Once inside, however, they discovered that this fortress amid the Eternal Freeze actually had some relatively vibrant colors.
There were pedestrians on the streets, trains in the city, and posters on the walls.
Despite the harsh conditions, the people here seemed to maintain a relatively comfortable standard of living. They even had enough resources to spare for entertainment.
The sight made the members of the Trailblaze team regard Gepard and the Silvermane Guards with newfound respect. They clearly deserved much of the credit for making the residential district look this way.
Gepard led everyone into the city, and with him guiding them, their entry went smoothly.
They now walked along gray stone paving laid with tracks. Gepard was in front, the Trailblaze team followed behind him, and the Silvermane Guards brought up the rear.
Feeling the change in temperature, March 7th looked pleasantly surprised. "It doesn't seem so cold now that we're inside!"
Gepard turned back to explain, "...Because you're in Belobog, humanity's last bastion."
"The last bastion?" March 7th sounded puzzled.
Gepard folded his arms and sighed.
Dan Heng remained silent. Comparing the conditions inside and outside, he could already piece together the general picture.
Meanwhile, Stelle and Jiang Yu kept their eyes on Sampo to prevent him from escaping.
They still did not know whether Credits could be spent on this planet. Even if they could, the exchange rate was another unknown, and they did not have much spending money to begin with.
Sampo was a criminal being pursued personally by a captain of the guards, after all. Surely he was worth some kind of reward?
If they could not get a single penny for him, the two of them would have to condemn the Supreme Guardian's stinginess and Uncle Cold Legs' uselessness.
In an even tone, Gepard gave March 7th an account of the planet's history.
"Long ago, monsters from beyond the heavens set the planet ablaze. The land became scorched earth, filled with burning lava and churning black smoke.
"At that moment of life or death, the Eternal Freeze suddenly descended-the raging winds came without warning, and the invading Antimatter Legion was buried beneath blizzards. Only Belobog remained-
"The steadfast Architects built this city. Under the protection of Qlipoth the Preservation, Belobog remains forever warm, though beset by wind and snow."
March 7th listened attentively to Gepard's account, her eyes slowly narrowing.
"...He talks so strangely," she whispered.
Dan Heng closed his eyes and said calmly, "That isn't the tone he used earlier. He's probably quoting a passage from some historical text."
Jiang Yu leaned over to join their whispered discussion. "He sounds like an elderly history teacher telling you myths to fill the last few useless minutes of class."
Stelle shook her head and whispered, "I think Mr. Welt's stories are more interesting."
"Oh..." Understanding dawned on March 7th's face. "Then why is he telling us all this?"
"Because you asked."
Before anyone else could answer, Gepard answered March 7th's question himself.
"Uh..."
March 7th had not expected him to hear her even when she spoke so quietly, and she gave an awkward smile.
Beside her, Dan Heng and Stelle both pressed a hand to their foreheads in exasperation.
"So, next time, we shouldn't conspire right in front of him," Jiang Yu said.
"You want there to be a next time?!" March 7th retorted.
Expressionless, Gepard turned and continued leading the way.
These outsiders seemed a little too unruly for his liking.
Of course, that did not include the quiet, stony-faced young man.
Eventually, Gepard brought everyone to the edge of the plaza in the Administrative District.
An enormous, oddly shaped structure stood at the very center of the plaza.
It appeared to be a monument composed of two parts-a gear symbolizing knowledge and industrial power, and a giant ice crystal symbolizing the Eternal Freeze. The two parts interlocked tightly, with the ice crystal encasing the gear and the gear restraining the ice crystal.
The monument's design surely held some symbolic meaning, such as resistance and an unyielding spirit.
Jiang Yu, however, was more interested in what material the ice crystal was made from. It was beautiful, clear and translucent, shimmering with iridescent light.
Belobog's distinctive architecture, clothing, and cultural arts combined to create its unique cityscape.
Everyone looked around as they walked, drawn to the sights.
The ever-reliable Dan Heng began asking about other matters.
"We saw many Fragmentum creatures on our way here... Do you know anything about them?"
"You actually know..." Gepard instinctively showed a hint of surprise, but quickly regained his composure and told Dan Heng:
"There are many threats besides the Eternal Freeze, and they are one of them.
"The Silvermane Guards have been fighting them all this time, but the situation isn't promising... After you meet the Supreme Guardian, I hope to ask for your thoughts on this matter.
"We lack information."
As he spoke, Gepard glanced back.
His gaze first settled on Jiang Yu, then slowly moved down to the "portable heater" in Jiang Yu's hand.
As a captain of the Silvermane Guards, he naturally knew what it was. It was only thanks to Gepard leading the way that Jiang Yu had been able to bring it into the city so easily.
Gepard found this puzzling...
From what he had observed so far, these outsiders seemed to be... treating Fragmentum creatures as tools...?
Gepard led the group onward, finally stopping before a grand staircase.
The stairs were long and wide, with perhaps dozens or hundreds of steps leading up to a towering building that looked like a castle.
"We're here."
Gepard addressed the group.
Before you continue