Chapter 26 - The Mayor

The piece of paper that I was holding, which had information about the fox meat mission, fell out of my hands and landed on the inn's floor.

A class? Really? It was finally time? For a moment I thought I did not hear correctly.

"You heard-o correctly," Jack said when he saw how shocked I was from what he told me.

Now, that was exciting. Getting my class was a huge deal, as this would get me even stronger than I currently was. I wondered what my options would be and how each one would affect me.

"Sorry Wrel," I said. "I'll probably have to take this on another time." I picked up the piece of paper that I dropped on the floor and gave it back to her. "Seems like it is time for you to go for that walk you were talking about."

"Maybe I'll leave it for when you come back, there are some other interesting ones I want to check here. I'll probably head out with Tim and Sanor. These two could definitely use some practice in strategic positioning. Maybe an [Exp] boost too," she said as she pinned the mission back on the board.

"Well then, seems like the fox meat will have to wait for now." I said and then turned to Jack. "So, what do we do? Do we have to go in the backyard and meditate? Is it somewhere in my blue screen? Is someone coming from the chimney with the gift of a class? If so, maybe we should prepare some ale and some meat."

"Ohoho! None of-o the above," Jack laughed from his belly. "Go pick-o your-o sword-o and-o let's-o go. We are heading-o to the mayor's-o office"

"The mayor? Really? What are we going to do there? What does he have to do with anything?"

"She has-o to do with-o everything-o! You cannot-o get-o a class-o without-o the mayor's-o blessing-o. That-o is-o the only way."

"Wow, as if mayors were not important already. Okay, let me go get my weapon and I'll meet you at the entrance in a few minutes."

Running towards the stairs, I saw Kiril sitting on the counter and talking to the innkeeper in broken sign language.

Seems like they will become good friends.

I went upstairs, picked up Illuminator and attached it and its scabbard on my left hip before flying back down the stairs to the front entrance to meet Jack.

"You are going-o out-o like this-o?" he said when he saw me ready to leave.

"Yeah, why? What's wrong?"

"You are dressed-o as-o the scoundrel-o," he pointed out.

"Well, yeah. These clothes look cool. They are much more comfortable than the clothes I spawned with, too. After all, I am the scoundrel."

"That-o was-o yesterday."

"I liked it. I think I'll keep the title."

"Okay, if that's-o what-o you want-o. Let's-o go then-o!"

----------------------------------------

In the City of Prosper, the mayor was selected a bit differently than how most people would expect.

Instead of elections and votes and all that boring stuff, the City of Prosper went against the status quo and did things its own way.

Now, one may wonder what that way actually is. Could it be that the most just person was the right candidate for that position? That is not a bad idea, but was also not the case.

Maybe it came down to culture. An elegant city like that surely should have a leader with exceptional poetic skills, lute proficiency, and the ability to make tea like no one else. Such a leader would indeed fit the City of Prosper, but that was not the case, either.

Maybe it came down to wits? One cannot possibly rule a city effectively without exceptional mental capabilities. And yet, that was also wrong.

There was but one correct answer: Carnage.

To become the new mayor of the City of Prosper, you would need to challenge the current mayor in a battle to the death and kill them. No surrenders or feelings are allowed. If you let them live, you both go to jail for life. In that case, a new mayor would have to be selected through a battle between all of the city's strongest people.

A lot of people criticized this way of election, and it was indeed a bit too bloodletting, but at least it ensured that the City of Prosper always had a strong leader, which inspired confidence in their decisions by the rest of the people.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

----------------------------------------

"So, we are meeting the mayor, huh? I wonder what she looks like," I said to Jack as we were walking down the streets of the City of Prosper.

"Oh, right-o, about-o that-o, you may be surprised-o by her-o, but-o try to act-o normal-o. Okay?"

"Really? Surprised by what?"

"You'll-o see."

"Pfft... fine..."

After walking a bit more, we finally reached the city hall. It was by far the most impressive building I had seen thus far. It was entirely white. No golden details in this one, except for the doors. It was wide enough to take the space of two buildings and, although not very tall, it gave a prestigious feeling.

To enter the building, you needed to walk up two dozens of stairs that ended up in front of two impressive pillars in the shape of two of the city's most renown warriors. Almost like the statue in the center of the city, just a bit smaller.

And finally, there was the golden entrance door in front of us. Behind it was hiding the mayor. And along with the mayor, my class. I could barely wait to go in, but as per usual, I let Jack go first; him being the guy that knew better how things work around here.

"After you," I said as I stepped to the side, gesturing with my hands the direction for Jack.

"Oh no, you go first-o this-o time. It-o is-o your-o big-o moment-o, I can't-o steal-o it-o," he said awkwardly. A singular drop of sweat ran from his forehead down his right cheek as he took a step back.

"Oh but I insist. You are bigger, older, stronger, higher level, have more prestige and can actually grow a beard; you go first."

"No no no," he said. "You are younger-o, you have a fire in-o your-o eyes-o and-o this-o is-o a moment-o that-o will-o impact-o the rest-o of-o your-o life; you go first-o"

I went behind Jack and started pushing him, which yielded zero results, as it felt like trying to push an immovable object.

"No, you have to go first! Come on!"

But he did not budge.

"Okay, fine..." I said. "I guess I'll go first. Although you should."

I walked up to the gigantic golden door and pushed it open. It needed an inconvenient amount of effort and I had to lean towards it and use my own weight to get it to open up completely.

Stepping inside, there was a huge hall unfolding in front of my eyes. A room big enough to easily fit more than three times the Peacemakers' guild. And yet it was empty, with the exception of a throne-like chair far back, where the mayor would sit.

The floor was so clean it was almost shining and the slightly stained glass on the windows was one of the rare times you saw a color other than white, gold, and blue in the City of prosper. The room's expanse made the effect of all these even more impactful to my eyes.

I took a few slow steps inside, still in awe of what I was seeing. And deep inside the room, the mayor was... not there.

I looked around and yet I could not see anyone; it was a completely empty room. Maybe the mayor was away. It would not be surprising to me if we needed to arrange a hearing to meet her.

Turning around and looking back at Jack, who was still standing outside of the hall, I shrugged, letting him know that the mayor was not there and that I did not know what we should do.

Suddenly, I felt something forcefully falling on my shoulders, knocking me down. Now, weighting on my back, completely immobilizing me.

"Idiot," a voice said.

The mayor was waiting on a small inner balcony above the door all this time and was waiting for the next person that would be naïve enough to enter the room without having their guard up.

"So that's what you meant when you said I might be surprised..." I said, looking at Jack, still being on the floor with the mayor's entire weight holding me down.

He still did not say anything and instead, he just gave me a 'thumbs up' and an awkward smile.

The mayor finally decided to get up and it felt like I got a weight off my shoulders, even though it was actually off my back.

"Get up, idiot," the mayor said.

The tone was awfully familiar and I did not like this whatsoever. It reminded me of a certain someone that I would love to punch in the stomach. Just once. Just to see what it would feel like. But she was still stronger than me, so I couldn't.

I got up and intuitively patted my clothes to get off any dust they had gathered from the floor, but it was so clean there actually wasn't any. I then turned around to face the mayor.

"Wow," I said.

I knew that she sounded like Guen, but I did not expect her to look like her too. They looked eerily similar. The only difference was that the mayor was built like a lumberjack, compared to Guen's noodly frame. She was a bit taller and looked a good two weeks older than Guen; maybe half an extra wrinkle on her face.

The way I was looking at her betrayed that I was astonished by the similarity of the two.

"What's wrong?" the mayor said. "Did the hit give you a concussion, stupid?"

"No, miss mayor... your majesty..." I was struggling to find the right way to address her. How does one even call a mayor?

"Call me holy overlord," she said, putting me out of my struggle.

"No, holy overlord, I did not have a concussion. And I am not stupid. But you remind me an awful lot of a weird Elf I know."

"Guen the Elf?" she guessed. "They have told me that before, although we are nothing alike; she is a prick."

"Said the woman that fell from the sky and called me an idiot for not expecting that," I mumbled to myself.

A quick slap sent me flying to the wall on my right, hitting my back and falling back down.

"I did not hear what you said but I could tell it was something stupid, stupid. Oh, and that Elf, Guen? She happens to be my daughter."

"Well, that explains everything," I said as I wiped with my cloak a drop of blood that was running down from my lip.

Jack also finally decided it was safe for him to step in and he did, closing the door behind him.

"Hello, holy overlord-o. Long-o time no see," he said as he took a bow.

"Oh, hi Jack. What is wrong? Is someone complaining about a broken jaw again? Is it this guy?"

"No, miss-o holy overlord-o, we are here for-o another-o reason-o this-o time."

"Huh?"

"We are here to give Jinden-o—the Anthir-o you just-o sent-o flying-o—a class-o. It-o is-o time he evolved-o"

She turned and looked at me as I was still trying to get up. This time I almost did get a slight concussion.

"Is he worthy?"

"He is-o, holy overlord-o"

"Very well," she said.

She turned at me and signaled me to come closer.

"Get over here, youngling."

I approached carefully, this time ready for any upcoming surprises.

She extended her arm for a handshake and I held it. Her grip started getting stronger and stronger and when I looked at her, a grin was forming on her face, getting wider and wider.

"Let's fight!" she said.

"What!? No! Why would we—" I tried to make sense of the situation but a quick kick in the stomach interrupted me and sent me a couple of meters back. I wasn't so ready after all.

A fire had already been lit in the mayor's eyes as she made her weapon appear from her pouch; a big, heavy mace.

"And don't hold back. Or you just may die."