As the entire Northern Territory became blanketed with snow, winter truly arrived.

Although there had been previous snowfalls, the temperature would rise afterward, so it wasn't strictly winter yet.

When true winter came to the Northern Territory, everyone clearly realized that the previous snowfalls were indeed not winter, merely an appetizer before the main course.

With the arrival of winter in the Northern Territory, the temperature plummeted directly to twenty degrees below zero.

"Ah~ achoo! Why is it so cold!" Weir, wrapped in a thick coat all over her body, looked like a bloated dumpling as she complained about the bad weather to Perfikot: "If the Northern Territory is this cold in winter, why did you choose to build the shelter here? Shouldn't the site be somewhere further south?"

"Southern regions don't have suitable locations. After all, most zones between the equator and the tropics are oceanic, and the available land areas are mostly desert, lacking resources. Building shelters in those places requires the Empire to invest even more resources." Perfikot answered Weir briefly while busy with her tasks.

The desk was piled high with paperwork needing attention, as far more issues surfaced in the Northern Territory with winter's arrival.

Even though the officials of the Northern Territory had worked as hard as possible, the volume of files on Perfikot's desk continued to increase.

You should know her desk was moved from Brandelis Manor in Langton. In Perfikot's previous impression, the massive desk used by her grandfather's generation was spacious enough for her to roll around on.

But now, this huge desk that could serve as a bed is covered with various files, materials, and design drawings, looking like it was messed up by a lazy girl who likes to scatter things everywhere but hates tidying.

However, neither Weir nor Perfikot minded this in the slightest; this is simply how they are when working.

Many times, when an Alchemist needs to research something, they spread out all the documents around them to facilitate reference.

All the drawings are also spread out nearby, not only for comparison but also for direct modifications.

Including areas for drawing, office work, and experiments, even if there were a bed in place of the desk, it would also be piled with various items.

Fortunately, Perfikot is not one to carelessly toss things around. Although she covers the desk with stuff, every item has its place systematically. While it looks chaotic, Perfikot can easily reach out and grab whatever she needs immediately.

This habit helps place a multitude of items within easy reach, though it might appear disorderly to someone unfamiliar with her system.

Evidently, the old butler by Perfikot's side is a man who has been with her for years, who essentially watched her grow up, and he fully understands her habits, so he never messes with her belongings.

And Beifa? How can one be sure an Alchemy Puppet would feel bothered by a messy desk and want to tidy it up?

If Beifa were ever to have such emotions, Perfikot wouldn't care about a tidy desk at all—she'd be more concerned about how Beifa developed feelings.

You need to know she uses a purely mechanical differential engine in Beifa, which doesn't have program errors that could lead to emotional development.

If there were a program error, the gears and levers inside the differential engine would all jam, leading only to mechanical failure, not feelings.

And so, Perfikot's desk remains in its state of perpetual disorder.

Except for the daily arrival of new documents and the departure of completed ones, the desk remains in this condition almost permanently.

Most of the maids in the Lord's manor are prohibited from entering Perfikot's office; only a few who once served as maids in Brandelis Manor and earned the old butler's trust can enter.

Even so, they don't have permission to touch Perfikot's desk—they can only help tidy up the office space.

Currently, in the office, apart from Weir curled up in thick winter clothing by the fireplace, there are only Perfikot at her desk reviewing files and Beifa making tea for her.

"Get Beifa to make me a cup of hot tea too. It's unbearably cold this winter! I don't know how people will survive if temperatures continue to drop!" complained Weir, her body regressing to a child's state, making her more sensitive to cold than ordinary people.

Perfikot, long accustomed to the Northern Territory's winter and being an Alchemist who transformed her clothes to be lightweight yet warm, seems underdressed but doesn't feel cold.

"That's why I ordered the excavation of underground shelters, which ordinary folks can use to escape this cold winter," replied Perfikot, turning her gaze to the window. The snowfall offered a stunningly beautiful scene; the entire city lay beneath a blanket of white snow, appearing serene and pure.

But Perfikot was keenly aware that her citizens were suffering from the cold.

It wasn't that Perfikot was stingy, nor had the Northern Territory become insufficient to provide Chernobyl with adequate fuel. Rather, some people still had to brave the cold and work outdoors instead of staying at home where it was warm and cozy.

Chernobyl was a new city, with winterizing the homes receiving special emphasis from Perfikot's previous efforts, thus providing decent thermal protection.

However, there was no such thermal protection for streets, factories, or other locations.

Factories, particularly, due to the need for machinery installation, are built with large-span structures; the interiors are spacious. Coupled with factory owners' reluctance or inability to install heating, the factory floor rarely feels warmer than the outside air.

Except for specialized factories like foundries or metal processing plants, which need substantial heat for metal piece heating.

Naturally, under certain legal regulations enacted in the Northern Territory, factory owners are still compelled to set furnaces by the workstations to prevent workers from freezing or falling ill.

Otherwise, they would face fines and imprisonment far costlier than setting a few furnaces.

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