February.

The footsteps of winter walking on the ground are nearing their end.

And at this time, it's also when Ronald returns to Waterfall City once again.

However, unlike the expedition team when they left, they have added a new member on their return journey—Nicole.

Due to being separated from her companions earlier during underground actions.

This investigator girl did not follow other investigators back to Brelentwich but stayed behind with Ronald, helping to deal with the remaining issues on the Arctic continent.

Until everything was over, they began the journey back to the civilized world together.

Thus, without any urgent matters prompting them.

They embarked on their final journey, now walking on the path back to Waterfall City, finally seeing signs of human presence around.

Behind the expedition team.

Lay the Arctic, long disappeared from sight.

If one were to summarize, this was undoubtedly a successful experience, both for the expedition team members and those casters like Ronald.

On the expedition side, guarded by a divine artifact like the Absolute Sea Lantern, they naturally reached the world's pole smoothly.

Whereas Ronald and Nicole, having dealt with the last few predatory entities split from Bai Chuan, confirmed that the Dust Beast was truly completely sealed, showing no signs of awakening.

"Costate, are we near Waterfall City?"

"Didn't you say we'd reach it soon when we saw traces of human presence!"

As a group of people returned from the cold northern tundra to the civilized world, walking beside a river showing signs of thawing, Nicole heard the sound of rivers converging ahead.

Having long heard of Waterfall City's reputed name, Nicole was spirited.

However, her query at this moment was not directed at Ronald.

But at Costate, the silent and reticent companion always present within the team.

The investigator girl seemed to have a great interest in Ronald's maid and liked sticking around Costate, interacting with her in various exchanges throughout this half-month journey.

According to Nicole's own words.

She really admired Costate's silent yet especially responsible character, wanting to befriend this maid.

Regarding this situation...

Ronald was very glad to see it.

Not only does such exchange improve the relationship between Nicole and Costate, but considering that the maid is currently developing her personality, this unique response is indeed a good thing.

Over this half-month.

Although Costate became increasingly adept at interacting with Nicole, Ronald felt that his maid behaved somewhat peculiarly, often performing very special actions for no apparent reason.

Just like the previous night before sleep.

He even saw Costate, having just finished talking with Nicole, return to the tent without attending to his sleep immediately, instead, propping her chin and gazing at the stars above, seemingly pondering deep and profound things.

"Miss Nicole, we should be about an hour's journey from Waterfall City."

"According to the previous plan, the expedition team will send the large antelope back to the breeding grounds and settle the guide's fees while we need to proceed to the hotel for communication, and also contact the local press to announce humanity's successful reach of the world's North Pole to the public."

"Is that so..." Nicole nods slightly.

"I'm truly sorry to trouble you with these matters," Costate briefly introduced to Nicole the expedition team's upcoming plans. Almost as soon as the maid's words fell, Giovanni walking at the front of the team also said, "However, I still need to report to the government offices, really can't make time in the short term."

The information revealed within the dialogue was actually all arranged by Giovanni, the leader of the expedition team.

A month of interaction, this explorer has already grown quite trusting of Ronald.

Even willing to entrust tasks like contacting the press for Ronald to handle.

...

Costate's judgment of the journey was very accurate.

An hour later, Entrode's administrative center came into view, simultaneously the endless line of waterfall also appeared before everyone.

"Wow—!"

"This waterfall is just too massive!"

The other team members, having departed from Waterfall City, naturally were not moved by this familiar sight after seeing it countless times.

Only Nicole seemed different within the team.

This girl, who has followed her teacher since childhood to cultivate mysterious spells, visited many places in the world, but during her growing period, Entrode was still engulfed in war.

Naturally, Nicole's teacher couldn't possibly take her to places like this to broaden her horizons.

Therefore, upon seeing this wonder of nature before her eyes, Nicole couldn't suppress her excitement, and ran out from the team, rushing forward for a better view to properly savor the breathtaking natural spectacle ahead.

Seeing Nicole's excited expression, other team members merely responded with smiles.

On the return journey, everyone understood what this young girl's personality was like, thus quite tolerant of Nicole's behavior of leaving the group independently.

"..."

A few minutes later passed.

As the team caught up with Nicole, sprinting ahead, this investigator girl had already picked a very favorable location, sitting quietly on a rock, watching the waterfall ahead.

"You've arrived?"

Noticing the company of her companions from the expedition team reaching her side, Nicole immediately got off the rock, then patted the dust off her clothes.

"Honestly, this place indeed looks quite breathtaking."

"In today's world, there's definitely no other place that can offer such magnificent and splendid scenery!"

Ronald also nodded:

"Exactly, didn't you ask me before about Waterfall City while underground?"

"Just as you see now, this city is established in a very cold region, which also affects the local residents... huh?"

Ronald was about to introduce the city normally to Nicole.

Yet upon seeing the scene below, his speech abruptly halted at the initial remark.

For just in one month's time.

The city built around the lake below the waterfall has already presented a starkly different image from when he left.

In the southeastern direction of Waterfall City, an entire section of the city turned into ruins.

Not the slightest sign of human activity could be seen.

It seemed... as if war had just ravaged this place!

"Entrode truly deserves to be a regime established amid war!"

While Ronald was speechless, Nicole didn't perceive this change.

The investigator girl stood at her original spot, nodding her head and praising the city below with a very approving tone:

"In such a place, my impression of ordinary citizens could not possibly handle management. Entrode's administrators indeed have some remarkable skills!"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.