Chapter 136

Winter

Although the country is surrounded by ice and snow in the winter, it is not as desolate as Dragonspine. Instead, it is quite prosperous, and people enjoy the benefits brought by the ice and snow.

Despite not being self-sufficient in food, commerce in Snezhnaya is second only to Liyue.

Snezhnaya's civilian technology has created a very convenient transportation system, and steam-powered transportation machines can be seen everywhere, reminiscent of a steampunk world.

Due to the demand for food and various civilian goods, there are many commercial transactions with almost all six other nations.

In terms of high-level combat power, the Cryo Archon, Tsaritsa, is not the most powerful among the Seven Archons, but in terms of civilian influence, she has developed forces across the Seven Nations.

The most notable of these is the 'Northland Bank.'

Although the 'Northland Bank' does not have the right to mint Mora, it can use the wealth of an entire nation to open branches throughout the continent of Teyvat. Essentially, wherever there are townspeople, there is a presence of 'Northland Bank.'

Even the largest bank in Liyue is a branch of 'Northland Bank.'

Complementing the 'Northland Bank' is the 'Snezhnaya Trading Company,' an organization of merchants from Snezhnaya.

The 'Snezhnaya Trading Company' profits from price differences through the circulation of goods between nations, thereby avoiding the need to sell local specialties to sustain Snezhnaya.

Additionally, there is the 'Adventurers' Guild,' the largest organization in Teyvat, which also originates from Snezhnaya. Its primary goal is to collect information on the main routes of Teyvat, forming an extensive intelligence network.

The president of the 'Adventurers' Guild' is Sandrone, the seventh Harbinger of the Fatui.

Speaking of Sandrone, we must also mention Fontaine's Narcissus Cross Institute.

In an attempt to save Fontaine, five individuals embarked on a plan of salvation.

Because each of the five had differing ideas on how to save Fontaine, a conflict erupted during a duel between Alan and René within Erinas' body. The explosion affected Alan's sister, Marianne, causing her death.

After Marianne died, Alan used the pure water spirit body obtained from Dean Lilith to separate Marianne's consciousness.

Since both sides were seriously injured during the duel, Marianne's consciousness was stripped and dispersed. Part of her consciousness was transformed into the pure water spirit 'Ann,' while another part was taken by Funai and placed in the ruins of Suigen Yard.

To resurrect his sister, Alan resumed research on mechanical life, which he had previously abandoned. He sought to extract his sister's consciousness that had merged into the fetal sea water and reincarnate it in a mechanical body.

Although Alan managed to create a mechanical body for his sister, there was no time to extract Marianne's consciousness, and due to his grave injuries, he was unable to complete the plan.

After Alan's death, the mechanical body of his sister awakened several years later and subsequently left Fontaine.

The consciousness born from this mechanical body inherited Alan's last wish—to resurrect Marianne.

Not long after, the 'Adventurers' Guild' began spreading across Teyvat from Snezhnaya.

Sandrone's ultimate goal is to find a way to resurrect Marianne.

Providing information for Snezhnaya is simply part of her duties.

Half of the Fatui Harbingers joined Snezhnaya with their own objectives.

As a result, all of the Harbingers have their own agendas and do not see each other as colleagues in the same organization.

Winter City

This is a style different from the rest of the Seven Nations.

In the world of ice and snow, steam-powered transport vehicles move along the wide streets—not only freight vehicles but also public transportation for civilians.

The residents of Winter City live as usual, with living conditions comparable to those of the residents of Fontaine.

In the center of Winter City stands a palace with an icy blue facade that resembles a church, its surface covered in a thin layer of ice.

There are no guards here, and it seems deserted.

But in truth, there are no guards because no one would dare desecrate the beloved Queen of Snezhnaya, and travelers and merchants who visit are careful not to show disrespect before the palace of the Archon.

Only those summoned by the Queen may enter.

The day-to-day administration of Snezhnaya falls to the fifth Harbinger, "The Rooster," Pulcinella, who oversees all aspects of Snezhnaya as the mayor and regularly reports to the Queen.

He, Childe, and several other Harbingers are fully devoted to the Queen.

He is also Snezhnaya's highest-ranking diplomat, equivalent to Ningguang among the Liyue Qixing.

Currently, he was reporting to the Tsaritsa on the latest information from Teyvat, collected by the 'Adventurers' Guild' and 'The Fatui.'

Pulcinella wore a top hat, carried a cane, and sported a mustache. He looked like an elderly man in his sixties or seventies. He wasn't a typical human but rather resembled a goblin.

He bowed respectfully to the Archon sitting on the throne at the highest point in the hall.

"With the two mysterious phenomena that occurred in Teyvat, the environment and ecology of the nations seemed to have changed.

"The corruption of the Abyss, demonic remnants, and other malign influences were all swept away under the two colorful auroras.

"Additionally, major events have taken place in Inazuma, Fontaine, and Sumeru..."

The Tsaritsa, with her waist-length silver hair and gentle demeanor, was not cold. Anyone who saw her would recognize her as a kind god.

As she listened to the report, the Tsaritsa was worried.

Her subordinates couldn't sense the changes in the world, but as the Cryo Archon, she could.

The world of Teyvat had already changed when the first colorful aurora appeared.

After the second colorful aurora, all ailments in the world were wiped away.

Then, the world became unimaginably solid and powerful, and the 'False Sky' turned into a real starry sky.

Moreover, Teyvat had gained a new 'Ice Law,' but she, as the Cryo Archon, could not use it. It was a law that overpowered her.

Before the appearance of the colorful auroras, there was always an incomprehensible pillar of light that connected the heavens and the earth.

Afterward, wherever the pillar of light appeared, another incident involving the activation of the 'Loom of Fate' would follow, resurrecting individuals who had been dead for centuries or demonic gods.

This, she knew, was the authority of Celestia.

The Tsaritsa raised her head, gazing worriedly at the sky through the skylight.

"The principles of Celestia have awakened and grown stronger than before... haven't they?"

As if in response to her thoughts, a change occurred.

Rumble, rumble, rumble.

Above Winter City, the sky, originally covered in wind and snow, suddenly began to rotate. The sound of thunder and lightning echoed throughout the city and the vast area surrounding it.

This area was as large as Dragonspine.

From the perspective of those on the ground, the entire sky seemed to be rotating.

The Cryo Archon, Tsaritsa, stared blankly at the spinning sky outside the window.