Klippfort Council Chamber.
The city-builder councilors were still arguing endlessly over the Interastral Peace Corporation's acquisition proposal.
They each held their own opinions. Should they throw themselves into the company's embrace, or keep their planet's fate in their own hands? They had yet to make up their minds.
The voting results gathered by March 7th and Stelle had also been submitted to the newly appointed Great Guardian seated at the head of the chamber, Bronya Rand.
Meanwhile, Bai Heng sat in the administrative square before Klippfort, leisurely enjoying breakfast tea.
As he ate two slices of golden-brown raspberry toast and drank a cup of rich butter coffee, he rested the back of his hand against his cheek and browsed the voting results obtained after hacking into Belobog's database.
Topaz had sent him a message early that morning:
Topaz: I need to inspect the armory left behind in the Underworld seven hundred years ago. Bai Heng, go serve as a witness and witness their final decision.
So Bai Heng had come here, sent a listening device into the Klippfort Council Chamber, and enjoyed breakfast while listening in on the meeting.
At dawn, the long, melodious chimes in the administrative square rang out once more.
Warm breezes dyed the morning glow, lending Belobog's dawn its distinctive languid hues. Fine threads of snow drifted down along the eaves of the city-state.
The morning market had only just begun to bustle, and the streets of the small city gradually filled with people. Several newsboys carrying rolled-up newspapers hurried between storefronts.
"Fresh Belobog pickled fish! Just one Winter City Shield per pound!"
"Extra! Extra! Belobog Morning News!"
Bai Heng bought a newspaper and gave it a quick glance.
Most of it was boring gossip, such as: Jerries Wolf, son of Fingelte Wolf, Belobog's Minister