Perfikot's destination for this trip is now the Northern Territory's capital city that has completed its initial construction.

This city is situated between Beloburg and Eagle's Beak Cliff, while to the east of this city, closer to the coastline, lies the Northern Territory's industrial center.

Perfikot didn't intervene much in the development of this city; she merely planned the city's construction. Regarding the city's design, construction, and subsequent arrangements, she hardly interfered.

Her only concern was the pace of the city's construction, and she presented her requirements during the initial design and planning phase.

These requirements, of course, included reserving underground space to build shelters, as no matter how well the above-ground buildings are constructed, they can't compare to underground shelters in the snow and wind.

The city planners and designers obviously listened to Perfikot's demands; they had no choice.

The Northern Territory is Perfikot's domain. As the Lord of the North, she ordered the construction of this city, and she is the project's sole client.

If she isn't satisfied, rebuilding would be the least concern. Thus, all of Perfikot's requirements were fully met.

For example, the seemingly absurd request to place as much of the city underground as possible, build massive shelters underground, and address issues of insulation against minus forty degree cold within the city's buildings, among others...

Some of these requirements were understandable, but others left people scratching their heads.

After all, even though the winter climate in the Northern Territory is cold, the capital's region doesn't reach minus forty degrees in winter.

As for the design of the underground shelters, it left the city planners baffled, as they had never encountered such a city.

But Perfikot imposed her demands and issued strict orders, so they had no choice but to comply.

Thus, from the outside, houses in this new Northern Territory capital seem to have only one or two stories and are built very low. Apart from the sharply pointed tops, they appear as if they're specifically built for dwarves.

However, upon entering these buildings, one can find a world of difference inside.

Typically, aside from the ground level, these buildings have at least two to three stories underground, which constitute the main part of these structures.

And usually, the underground parts have a much larger footprint than those above ground.

Within the central part of the circular city layout, space is reserved for the Energy Tower, while the city is arranged like concentric rings surrounding the central Energy Tower, appearing like countless rings.

Perfikot did not offer any evaluation for this design; she merely checked it out, and finding no issues, she allowed them to proceed with construction.

Not only the Northern Territory's capital but also Beloburg, the Industrial Center, and nearly all settlements currently on the Northern Territory's lands follow this Fjord Town-inspired model in layout, differing only in details.

The ground surface of the city can't be entirely devoid of structures. Though Perfikot plans for everyone to live underground to avoid the snow and wind, some functional buildings must remain above ground.

Even for ordinary residential buildings, if they can retain one level above ground, it would aid sunlight and air penetration into the subterranean space.

From the portions that have been built, this design presents no problems. However, how much it can withstand the snow and wind, or how strong its capacity to resist them is, Perfikot feels that the snowstorm this winter will need to test it out.

"This winter will soon arrive!" Perfikot muttered to herself, as she began worrying about this year's winter.

This is already the penultimate winter before the apocalypse. After this winter, only a year remains until the apocalypse arrives.

According to Perfikot's predictions, the Imperial Center is likely to announce the news of the apocalyptic winter this season, probably within the next few months.

As the foremost Lord of the Northern Territory, Perfikot believes it's necessary to make preparations in advance.

Because after this winter, she must officially begin facing the apocalyptic winter.

The foundational preparations over the past two years are largely completed, but how effective they will be, even Perfikot doesn't have complete confidence.

The preparations she's currently able to make are based on data derived from predictions, and once the apocalyptic winter arrives, whether conditions will deteriorate is something no one can ensure.

Therefore, Perfikot feels a bit uncertain.

However, she doesn't express this concern and anxiety on her face right now. Ultimately, it's just a worry of hers, and showing it in the current situation wouldn't benefit the fight against the apocalyptic winter.

After all, the entire Empire is watching her. If she lacks sufficient confidence and assurance, how can she instill confidence in others?

With that consideration in mind, when Perfikot arrived at the Northern Territory's capital to attend the city's inauguration ceremony, her face exuded confidence and vitality.

Just like the rumors about her, a genius towering above all, lavishly displaying her heavenly presence, altering the world as if painting on a canvas.

This Perfikot should be confident and disdainful of everything. For a genius like her, this is how she should appear in the eyes of the common folk.

Perfikot doesn't intend to correct others' perceptions of her. If such perceptions facilitate her in being heard, maintaining such an image isn't necessarily a bad choice.

The Northern Territory's capital currently seems more like a small town; its scale is linked to population. Although the Imperial Center has started sending people to the Northern Territory, constrained by transport capacity issues, the population growth in the Northern Territory hasn't been fast.

As of now, this newly built city only hosts a bit over ten thousand people, not even filling the residential zones already constructed within.

But these are temporary conditions. Perfikot can foresee that once the news of the apocalyptic winter is announced, this city will quickly become crowded, and even the underground shelters will be full.

At that time, she'll be concerned with managing population density, not worrying about a lack of people in the city.

As Perfikot pondered these matters and considered what name to give this new city, suddenly a dusty knight came to her side. After passing through the guard's check and announcement, this knight reported bad news to Perfikot: "A peculiar epidemic has appeared in a settlement. Many of the residents are experiencing horrifying hallucinations, seeing themselves burned by fierce flames, and their limbs have started blackening and decaying, with muscles bursting, like charred coal..."