Lin Songmei had to pat herself on the back. Under her supervision, she prevented Han Youhong and Wang Taigang from causing a disaster in the kitchen. In fact, Yan Mingqing and Zhao Liying had already patted her on the back for how well she did.

It was really a mystery. Some reason, Youhong didn’t know how to cook a dish that didn’t involve lychee. Great for Youhong, sure, but no one else was really looking for a five course lychee-based meal. Taigang, on the other hand, kept trying to add protein powder into everything they were cooking. Sure, more protein didn’t hurt, but a protein powder infused steak was... just not what anyone else was looking for.

It didn’t matter now though. Dinner had been good and there wasn’t much else to say. Following their meal, the party had spent some time playing the bricklaying game in a coop multiplayer mode. It wasn’t the main game, but an auxiliary mode where it was a lot shorter and private. Sort of like a civilization building game?

At least, that’s what Songmei had heard Mingqing and the others describe it as.

Fun nonetheless. That's all Songmei had to say about it. She wasn’t experienced enough with gaming to offer any sort of further input, opinion, or just thought in general.

However, with the alarm she set on her terminal going off, Songmei had steered everyone away from playing more games and into listening to the mayor give his speech.

“Why is it so... late?” Youhong ventured, propping his chin onto his hand as he took a seat on the couch. “To talk like that one character from earlier ‘I ain’t ever seen a mayor talk this late.’”

Shrugging, Mingqing pulled Songmei just a little closer to her—something Songmei of course had no complaints about—and pointed to the projection now floating in the air. “We’ll find out won’t we? I’m glad they’re progressive enough to at least live stream it.”

“Yeah, the city I’m from never did that...” Songmei murmured before looking towards Taigang. “You’re recording it aren’t you?

Nodding, Taigang pointed to the small red dot at the corner of the projection. “Better to be safe than sorry, yeah. Who knows what wild stuff the mayor’s gonna say. I feel like he’s probably gone wacko.”

Giving Taigang a double thumbs up, Songmei ignored the look Liying was giving her and snuggled up a little closer to Mingqing.

With the livestream’s waiting screen counting down the seconds before the mayor began his speech, the screen shifted to the Central District’s vast city hall. A podium sat in the center of the frame, planted in the middle of the stage with a microphone jutting upward. Still empty for now, the only sounds being conveyed through the livestream were the nervous and confused murmurs of the audience.

For the most part, Songmei assumed the audience was made up of media people, but, as someone who was never very civic-minded, she had no clue who was attending in person.

As the timer—now in the top left corner—hit zero however, camera flashes began showing up on screen as the mayor strode out from the side with a slight swagger and confident gait. Coming to a stop by the podium, a small posse followed the mayor, lining up in a horizontal line behind him.

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Planting one hand on either side of the podium, the mayor—now with a very... different... look—leaned over the microphone, proclaiming. [I have some large news to announce. I have achieved what no mayor before me has. I have begun a new era of Westriver.]

Shaking her head, Songmei had to take a moment to register the mayor’s words. The problem was... he looked so different. His hair, though still gray, was now a full-head of hair. His eyes were sharper. His body was leaner. More than anything though... were the scars. His two matching scars? The ones running down each side of his face?

Gone.

Of course, the sense of slight discomfort didn’t end there. Songmei couldn’t help but notice a couple new figures standing at the front of the posse with wide smiles on their faces.

Avarice and Pride. Both had their arms behind their back and stood there with smug smiles, ones reminiscent of a child who managed to sneak into an off limits area.

[I know I look different,] The mayor shrugged, speaking with his usual slow, casual tone. [I have taken some medication given to me by our city’s new benefactors. And and... calm down, calm down. I know you all may be surprised to hear the words ‘new benefactors’ come out of my mouth.]

Waiting for the crowd’s murmurs to die down, a slight grimace of annoyance flashed across the mayor’s face. [I’m sure you’re all aware of the gargantuan sects that currently... or well, did sponsor us: Starlight Lake and the Pavilion of Radiant Shadows. However, I’m sure you’re also aware of the injustices they inflict upon our city. Every. Single. Day.]

Turning her head to look at the other four disciples in the room with her, Liying was greeted with four faces of confusion as her “What injustices...” trailed out of her mouth.

“Yeah, I have no clue either to be honest,” Youhong tapped his chin. “The sect’s provide the city with a lot of manpower, a lot of economic stimulation, safety, and more? There’s a lot of benefits to be had...”

“Maybe he’s talking about the disciples with big egos who annoy or metaphorically step on everyone else?” Mingqing pondered out loud. “Then again, they don’t do it to non-cultivators, which is the main audience base the mayor panders to...”

With the mayor continuing on with some fluff, Liying shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. We all know the mayor’s speech is going to be an empty power grab. So no need to analyze it too much.”

As the mayor fell quiet though, Songmei listened in as the conversation in the apartment died down as well. [I’ve enacted what some may call... a drastic change. I don’t want to worry any of you though. None of it will have a negative impact on you all. You, the common person, the backbone of the city, the true residents of the area, have nothing to worry about.]

Taking a deep breath, the mayor cracked the sides of the podium with the strength of his grip. [I will be freeing the city. I will be purging all the upstart cultivators who step on our land. Starlight Lake, Pavilion of Radiant Shadows? Take this as a warning. I will be capturing all your disciples. Everyone else? Just stay inside for the next few days, weeks, or months, depending on how long this takes. As long as you are not affiliated with any sects, you will be fine.]

“He seems kinda delusional, don’t you think?” Youhong broke the silence as the mayor let his words fall. “Like... isn’t he barely in the realm of foundation establishment? The moment any of our masters get here, it’s all over. In fact, all it’d take is some of the older disciples of our sects could resolve this all on their own...”

“Well, he’s not dumb... and I assume he’s not delusional. Maybe the medicine he took messed with him?” Songmei murmured, squinting her eyes at him. “He’s probably got a backup plan... or some ulterior motive.”

With everyone agreeing, a long sigh escaped everyone’s mouths. Alertness was now the minimum, but beyond paying attention to their own safety, they also had to now figure out whatever plan the mayor was trying to enact behind the scenes.

If only Songmei had Liu Xueli’s power to dodge troublesome work...