The night had slowly fallen, and pale snowflakes fluttered down from the sky.
Thick white snow accumulated on the mountains and branches, adding to the chill.
Near the Seaport, rows of simple factories were neatly arranged, and many tall houses on the island were faintly visible in the wind and snow.
Along both sides of the road, many people in blue uniforms patrolled.
Outside Wave Country, in the lobby of an inn near the Seaport.
A thin layer of water vapor permeated the room, enveloping the entire space like a light veil.
As the mist rose, a rich aroma quietly spread throughout the room. The scent of spices and fresh ingredients tantalized the taste buds, making one's mouth water even from a distance.
On this cold winter night, several people in the room sat around a small brazier, the fire blazing and emitting a warm glow. They were enjoying a delicious hot pot, the bubbling ingredients steaming and releasing an enticing aroma.
"I didn't expect that a Pass is now required to enter Wave Country."
An elderly man with graying hair and blue glasses gently sipped his hot tea, a look of melancholy on his face.
"Mmm!" A young man swallowed the beef in his mouth, also revealing a surprised expression, and said.
"I didn't expect Wave Country to change so much. The last time I came here with the director to scout locations, this place was quite poor and chaotic. I remember when we were looking for extras, many people said they would do anything as long as they were given food."
"I wonder what caused such a big change in this country."
The old man took another puff of his cigarette, his face filled with curiosity.
"Haha, of course, it's all thanks to our current Leader."
In the midst of their conversation, a rough and hearty voice suddenly rang out.
The others looked over and saw a burly middle-aged Han walking in, the corners of his mouth raised high, his face filled with irrepressible joy.
"Welcome back, Father."
The landlady, Tsunami, who was cleaning in the lobby, also revealed a smile when she saw the Han enter.
"Tsunami, where's my precious grandson?" the Han asked with a smile.
The landlady named Tsunami also looked helpless: "Today, I took Inari to the School to take a look. He played too much and fell asleep right after dinner."
"Hahaha, the School is a good place. I was one of the members when it was built. Did you take him to see the building I built?" The Han's face was filled with pride.
Tsunami couldn't help but roll her eyes: "I saw it, I even saw the name you left on it."
"That's good, that's good. When that little brat goes to School in the future, he can tell his friends that his grandfather built that building. I even have a Labor Medal personally issued by the Leader."
"Okay, okay, I know."
Hearing her father's words, Tsunami's expression was a bit troubled, but also carried a hint of pride.
The old man by the brazier saw that they had finished talking, and quickly moved his position, freeing up a seat, and then invited the Han.
"Friend, would you mind taking a moment to tell us outsiders about this Leader of Wave Country?"
Leading a poor country back to prosperity, as a director and screenwriter, he couldn't help but feel a strong interest.
If it were adapted into a movie, it would probably be a greater work than the Wind and Cloud Princess currently being filmed.
"Hahaha, friends from afar, I am Tazuna."
The large man was not pretentious, first introducing himself, and then sitting down next to the old man, he said.
"Since that's the case, then let me tell you about our Wave Country's great Leader."
Everyone showed curious expressions, even Fujikaze Yukie, who had been eating her food quietly on the side, showed an inquiring look.
Tazuna also slowly widened his bright eyes, first carefully recalling, as if afraid of accidentally saying something wrong and defiling the great existence in his heart, before he began to speak.
"That seems to have been half a year ago, when the entire Wave Country was controlled by an evil merchant named Gato, a guy rotten to the core."
"He controlled all the shipping lanes in the Wave Country's waters, only allowing his own ships to sail on the routes, and ships from other islands had to pay him exorbitant fees to go to sea, and whether it was transporting food or people going out, it was all monopolized by him alone."
"Do you know? At that time, even an ordinary loaf of bread was unaffordable for many people. Everyone had to endure hunger and cold every day, worrying that one night would pass and they would never wake up the next day. My son-in-law was beaten to death for resisting that bastard merchant."
When talking about this, Tazuna's face showed undisguised despair and anger, but soon he revealed a plain and simple smile.
"But, ever since the Leader came, everything has been completely different."
"The Leader drove Gato, who originally controlled Wave Country, off the stage, and then began to rebuild Wave Country, building roads, building houses, building factories, running schools, building hospitals. Everyone in Wave Country has their own job, and with a job, they have food and shelter."
As he spoke, Tazuna's eyes began to turn slightly red: "Now, everyone no longer has to worry about going hungry, and even in this kind of winter, they don't have to be afraid of the cold, and even beef can be eaten. We no longer have to live the kind of life where we can't even afford bread."
"Life is getting better and better, the Leader has come, and the bright sky of Wave Country has also arrived."
The voice fell.
Everyone looked at the simple and sincere smile on Tazuna's face, and they were all silent.
They could all see the deep respect he had for the Wave Country's Leader in the eyes of this middle-aged man, this was a respect from the bottom of his heart.
In the end, it was the white-haired old man who broke the silence, raised his glass, and said with a smile.
"Since that's the case, then let us toast to the rebirth of Wave Country, to the great Leader of Wave Country, cheers!"
Finally, the old man invited Tazuna to enjoy dinner together.
At the same time, he also gained more anecdotes about what had happened in Wave Country in the past six months.
...
At night.
Fujikaze Yukie, or rather, Kazahana Koyuki, was now wearing a cherry-pink down jacket, standing on the balcony of the hotel, looking out at the city in the distance, which was still brightly lit in the wind and snow.
It was not late yet, and many children were still discussing various new things at school with their parents.
After listening to Tazuna's story about the Wave Country's Leader at dinner, Kazahana Koyuki felt a long-lost touch in her heart.
Land of Snow...
Kazahana Koyuki thought of her country, she should be the rightful heir to that country, but...
Kazahana Dotō...
After thinking for a long time, looking at the snow scene in front of her that was somewhat similar to the Land of Snow, her body couldn't help but tremble.
The palace engulfed by flames, Kazahana Dotō's hideous face, and her father who fell in a pool of blood.
Those nightmarish scenes from the past seemed to reappear before her eyes, and the intense fear made her body tremble even more violently.
Her body curled up slightly, arching, clutching her chest as if she couldn't breathe.
Just then, a hand rested on her shoulder, and warm, gentle energy entered her body, helping her dispel the fear in her heart. Before she could thank him,
"Princess Koyuki, the snow in this Wave Country is still different from that in the Land of Snow."
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