As night fell, pale snowflakes drifted down from the sky.
The mountains and tree branches were blanketed in thick snow, adding to the chill in the air.
Near the harbor, rows of simple factories stood neatly arranged, while tall buildings loomed faintly in the snowy distance.
Along the roads, many people in blue uniforms patrolled.
Inside a small inn by the harbor on the outskirts of the Land of Waves.
The room was filled with a thin layer of steam, like a veil enveloping the space.
As the steam rose, a rich aroma began to spread through the room. The scent of spices and fresh ingredients tantalized the taste buds, making mouths water even from a distance.
On this cold winter night, a few people sat around a small stove, its flames burning brightly, casting a warm glow. They were enjoying a delicious hot pot, the ingredients in the pot boiling and releasing strands of steam, along with waves of enticing fragrance.
"I didn't expect that entering the Land of Waves now requires a pass."
An elderly man with gray hair and blue glasses took a sip of the hot tea in his hand and sighed.
"Hmm!" A young man swallowed a mouthful of beef and also showed a look of surprise. "I didn't expect the Land of Waves to change so much. The last time I came here with the director to shoot scenes, this place was still quite poor and chaotic. I remember when we were looking for extras, many people said they'd do anything as long as we gave them food."
"I wonder what caused such a huge change in this country." The old man mused, taking a puff of his cigarette, his face filled with curiosity.
"Haha, of course, it's all thanks to our current leader."
A bold and hearty voice suddenly interrupted their conversation.
They turned to see a burly middle-aged man walking in, his lips curled into a wide smile, his face unable to hide his joy.
"Welcome back, Father."
The innkeeper, who had been cleaning the hall, smiled as she saw the man coming in.
"Tsunami, where's my precious grandson?" The man asked with a laugh.
The woman named Tsunami sighed helplessly. "I took Inari to see the school today. He played too much and fell asleep right after dinner."
"Hahaha, the school is a great place. I was one of the people who helped build it. Did you take him to see the building I worked on?" The man's face was filled with pride.
Tsunami couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Yes, yes, and we saw your name on it too."
"That's good, that's good. When that kid starts school, he can tell his friends that his grandfather built that building. I even have a labor medal given to me by the leader himself."
"Alright, alright, I get it."
Hearing her father's words, though Tsunami's expression showed some exasperation, there was also a hint of pride.
The old man by the stove, seeing that the man had finished his conversation, quickly moved over to make room and invited him to sit.
"Friend, could you spare some time to tell us outsiders more about the leader of the Land of Waves?"
As a director and screenwriter, he couldn't help but feel deeply interested in someone who had led an impoverished poor nation back to prosperity.
If this story were adapted into a movie, it might be an even greater work than the current 'Princess Gale' they were filming.
"Hahaha, friends from afar, my name is Tazuna."
The burly man didn't stand on ceremony. After introducing himself, he sat down next to the old man and began to speak.
"In that case, let me tell you about our great leader of the Land of Waves."
Everyone showed curious expressions, even Fujikaze Yukie, who had been quietly eating her food, looked up with interest.
Tazuna's eyes widened with enthusiasm as he carefully recalled the details, as if afraid he might accidentally say something wrong and tarnish the image of the great figure in his heart. Then he began to speak.
"It was about half a year ago. Back then, the entire Land of Waves was controlled by an evil merchant named Gato. He was a man rotten to the core."
"He controlled all the shipping routes in the Land of Waves' waters. Only his ships were allowed to sail, and other ships from the island had to pay exorbitant fees to go out to sea. Whether it was transporting food or people leaving the island, he monopolized everything."
"Do you know? Back then, even a simple loaf of bread was something many people couldn't afford. Everyone went hungry and cold, worried that they might not wake up the next morning. My son-in-law... he was beaten to death for standing up to that bastard. "
As he spoke, Tazuna's face showed unmistakable despair and anger, but it quickly turned into a simple and unpretentious smile.
"But after the leader came, everything changed."
"The leader overthrew Gato, who had controlled the Land of Waves, and began rebuilding the country. Roads were built, houses constructed, factories established, schools opened, and hospitals set up. Everyone in the Land of Waves got a job, and with jobs came food and shelter."
As he spoke, Tazuna's eyes began to redden. "Now, no one has to worry about going hungry. Even in winter like this, we don't fear the cold. We can even afford to eat beef. We no longer have to live like we used to, when even bread was a luxury."
"Life keeps getting better. Since the leader arrived, clear skies have come to the Land of Waves."
As his words fell, everyone looked at Tazuna's simple yet sincere smile and fell silent.
They could all see the deep respect this middle-aged man had for the leader of the Land of Waves in his eyes. It was the respect from the heart.
Finally, the old man with white hair broke the silence, raising his glass and saying with a smile, "In that case, let's toast to the rebirth of the Land of Waves and to its great leader! "
In the end, the old man invited Tazuna to join them for dinner.
During the meal, they also learned more about the various interesting anecdotes that had occurred in the Land of Waves over the past six months.
---
Late at night.
Fujikaze Yukie, or rather, Kazahana Koyuki, stood on the balcony of the inn, dressed in a cherry-pink down jacket, gazing at the city still illuminated by lights amidst the snow.
It wasn't too late, and many children were still discussing the various new things they had experienced at school with their parents.
After hearing Tazuna's stories about the leader of the Land of Waves during dinner, Koyuki felt a rare stirring in her heart.
'The Land of Snow...'
Yukie thought of her own country, 'I should have been the rightful heir to that nation, but...'
'Kazahana Doto...'
After thinking for a long time, as she looked at the snowy scenery before her, which is so similar to that of the Land of Snow, her body began to tremble.
The palace engulfed in flames, Doto's ferocious face, and her father lying in a pool of blood.
The nightmarish scenes from the past seemed to reappear before her eyes, and the intense fear made her tremble even more violently.
Her body curled up slightly, and she clutched her chest as if struggling to breathe.
But then, a hand rested on her shoulder, and a warm, gentle energy flowed into her body, dispelling the fear in her heart. Before she could thank the person, a voice spoke.
"Princess Koyuki, the snow here in the Land of Waves is different from that of the Land of Snow."