Chapter 955: Chapter 148: But Mick Went Too Far, and Anna Rushed to the Detective Agency
The frost covering the glass obscured the outside world.
Opening the wooden door, the cold sea wind that blew into the Captain’s Cabin woke everyone up.
“It’s so cold here.”
The cold wind whipped across the cheeks, making it hard to breathe. Katerina had to retreat into the Captain’s Cabin and shut the wooden door.
After putting on an overcoat and wrapping herself in a wool blanket, she opened the wooden door again, and Ophelia walked out of the Captain’s Cabin with her.
Shadows appeared outside the window, gradually becoming clearer.
Ophelia emitted heat, melting the snow and frost on the glass, wiping it dry.
The brown land and rivers appeared in the distance.
“Yawn… the big ship says the river passage is too narrow to enter.” The big sister climbed out of the hood and said.
Katerina, wrapped in the returning cold wind, returned to the Captain’s Cabin, saying the same: “The river passage is very narrow; we might have to walk.”
The temperature outside was just a few degrees or even lower. To prepare for the journey ahead, they prepared a pot of heartwarming hot soup and asked Merchant Anthony to bring back some clothes—even though Ophelia said it wouldn’t feel cold staying by her side.
As the hot soup was about to boil, Merchant Anthony took out clothes from his backpack and two pieces of news from Vena Ice-Free Port.
The first news was that a blizzard struck Vena Ice-Free Port two days ago, collapsing many houses and causing 106 civilian casualties. The cold spell is moving south and is expected to reach the Ailen Peninsula in the next two days.
Back on the Main Affinity Continent, everyone had already encountered the cold spell.
The second news was a reply from Nasram Alaya’s daughter, Monique Alaya. She was very grateful to Lu Li for bringing back her missing father’s letter, and she, along with her husband and family members, welcomed Lu Li to visit.
“Send a copy of the Vena Ice-Free Port newspaper every day from now on.”
Said Lu Li after reading the letter.
Merchant Anthony noted it down and did not discuss payment anymore.
Perhaps seeing Lu Li is the only Exorcist or realizing that Lu Li’s contribution points are nearing the concept of “infinite,” he no longer mentioned the cost of each transaction.
Food, kerosene, clothing—such supplies piled up in the merchant’s “backpack.” Just in case, Lu Li and the others each carried some fluorite and canned food.
Lu Li left the black crow on Andrea. It would monitor the birth of the mist tide. If the mist tide emerged, it would chase and notify everyone.
After drinking the heat-spreading meat soup, they donned wind-resistant cloaks, took a wooden boat to shore, and stepped into the wilderness where the cold wind howled.
Andrea emitted her warmth generously, inevitably making the Sanity Value Counter tick frequently, but it also dispelled the malevolent gaze hidden in the wilderness.
Even Puxiu revealed its new distorted tail, following closely by the cloak-wrapped Lu Li and Katerina, making their team look as “unapproachable” as possible from inside out.
Andrea’s joining made the journey across the wilderness no longer full of crises. At least for now, the only obstacle on their path was the blizzard that came with the cold wind.
The moaning wind swept across the earth, tilting and blowing through the snowflakes, forming white lines, reducing visibility to just a dozen meters.
The Heath River beside them prevented them from getting lost in the blizzard as they moved upstream.
Snowflakes landed on their bodies, melting and soaking their clothes, taking away body heat. Katerina had already started shivering in the blizzard.
Lu Li approached Ophelia and said, “Ophelia, a bit warmer.”
The seams of Ophelia’s charred body lit up with a dark red glow, radiating heat like a bonfire.
But in the ravaging blizzard, even a bonfire struggled not to freeze.
They were warm only on the side facing Ophelia; elsewhere was still bone-chillingly cold.
After two hours of marching in the blizzard, they had to warm their frozen bodies at a wind-sheltering spot formed by rocks. Even Puxiu’s fur condensed icicle-like beads of ice.
After drying their clothes and drinking hot soup to warm their seemingly frozen insides, they ventured into the blizzard again.
Throughout the day, they covered less than 30 miles, and the gradually dropping temperature indicated they were nearing the blizzard’s center and that nightfall was approaching.
There were still nearly three hours before dusk, but darkness would arrive earlier in the blizzard, leaving them at most two hours.
A choice arose. Should they continue to risk finding a shelter for the night before dark, or stay and head east a few miles to Boyd Village?
“Of course, to the village, I’m so cold I’m actually feeling warm…” Katerina found it unbearable to withstand the invasion of severe cold.
Whoosh—
Lu Li unfolded the map, the storm competing to snatch it away.
Ophelia approached to shield them from the wind and snow.
“Let’s go to Boyd Village.” Lu Li put away the map, leaving the compass.
But even with the compass, they still got lost in the blizzard several times, finally relying on more detailed maps brought by Merchant Anthony, barely using landmarks to enter Boyd Village.
Amidst the gloom shrouded by the blizzard, Boyd Village was just a shadowy silhouette. They entered a house at the village’s edge, out of the raging storm.
Because of Ophelia, they didn’t light a campfire, maintaining only two oil lamps and fluorite for illumination.
“Hope tomorrow will be good weather.” Changing out of soaked clothes, Katerina wiped her hair and drank the hot water next to the campfire-like Ophelia.
“Maybe it will be worse.”
Wet black hair hung over his forehead as Lu Li read the information sent from Vena Ice-Free Port.
The snowfall at Vena Ice-Free Port continued. Scholars had already claimed it to be the first snow of the Harsh Winter Season, predicting the earth would be frozen throughout the long season. The strange creatures would either go into hibernation or forage more frequently.
“It’s better than pushing on with the journey.” Katerina removed her boots, revealing swollen, wrinkled pale feet. “We need to light a fire.”
Although Ophelia was more efficient than a campfire, they couldn’t possibly warm their feet by her.
The abandoned house had a fireplace. They dismantled tables and chairs, cleared the chimney, and lit the fireplace.
The fireplace, warmer and brighter than fluorite and flames, was lit, making everyone relax due to the campfire.
After a brief rest and meal, the tired people fell into a deep sleep, occasionally awakened by the harsher midnight gale and blizzard outside the house.
The next morning, people woke up gradually.
Lu Li opened the door, letting the thick snow accumulated outside spill into the house.
The ground was covered with white snow, sporadic flakes falling, the distant scenery shrouded in fog.
Before the new blizzard arrived, they left the small house, stepping into the pale wilderness.
Peace lasted until noon when the blizzard hit again.
Despite encountering the first blizzard of the Harsh Winter Season, they remained fortunate—the Light Thief did not appear, nor did the mist tide emerge.
More importantly, in the afternoon, the travelers were stopped by a massive shadow emerging in the snowstorm.
They had reached Reilston City.
Ophelia brought news of strange creatures occupying the city, so they carefully hid in a small house on the outskirts, waiting for nightfall and dawn.
Then, tomorrow, they would arrive at the excavation site known as the Bottom of Sugla, in the Tashuphik region.