Walking through the streets of Purgatory during the evening was interesting. People were out and about, relaxing or running last minute errands before the next day. It was tempting to walk over to Hero’s Plaza, but I had been by that location several times in the past.

I stopped by a portrait store, which was open. “Welcome, welcome, interested in a portrait?” the woman running the place asked. I thought back to another woman who did drawings for my outfits.

“Yes, the price?” I asked.

“For a simple one, only 450 points, and the price goes up from there to 50,000 points,” the woman explained.

“That much?” I asked in surprise.

“For my time, supplies, yes. It is a great way to decorate your home. And I am one of the best in the city,” she said with a smile. This area of Purgatory did cater to some of the wealthier people, since it was on one of the main streets.

“A simple, one of me,” I said and pulled out a 450 point crystal and handed it over.

“This won’t take long, just have a seat,” she said.

“It seems like there are no problems with your shop?” I asked as I took my seat.

“Just purchasing a plot was expensive, and I need to have a store if I want to keep it, but I am retired. Used to be a level 3 grinder,” the woman said.

“Wow, that is impressive, so you have skills and stats?” I asked as she began looking at my face and drawing on a sheet of paper with a pencil.

“No skills, just stats. I saved up to be able to afford this place. I don’t like fighting. But with the war, there was no other option. Drawing portraits is a great way to make some income, without being too busy, and to pass the time. What about you?”

“Just trying to make my way. Came to Purgatory to see how it is. No crime or anything?” I asked.

“No one dares. Things might happen in other cities, but with the Imperial Army and many former retirees like myself, this city is incredibly safe. Also, the Emperor. I met him once, an amazing man,” she said.

“Really? That must have been amazing,” I replied.

“It was. You kind of look like him. But your energy signature doesn’t match. You have decent stats, but anyone with any skill will be able to tell you aren’t the same people,” she explained.

“Ah, well that is a shame. It was suggested I could be a body double or an actor,” I replied.

“Pfft, he doesn’t need a body double, but maybe an actor. And done,” she said and held out a sheet of paper with a pencil drawing of my face.

“This is well done. Thanks,” I said.

“Not a problem, tell everyone where you got your portrait,” the woman said with a smile. I left her shop, my guards loitering around outside. We continued to walk around, and I took a look at several shops. There was a game shop, a puzzle shop, and countless other businesses. Most of them run by members of the military who had been paid with housing instead of crystals at the end of the war.

That was probably Clarissa’s doing in order to help manage the budget and create a larger economy in Purgatory. With only basic necessities like food and clothing being required, people could stay a long time without having to worry about getting crystals. It was a huge advantage to the first people who had managed to get property, but it also spread the wealth of property out into the population.

In time Purgatory would fill up and people would begin renting out their homes. Or they might not. The total size of the city was quite big and there were cheap apartments being built as part of the growing plan that Doctor Katz was implementing.

A way to pack in even more people into the city, which would fund the economic development in turn. We continued to walk around the city, and I saw several people moving about with carts towards the plaza and bringing goods back from the plaza after purchasing them from the system store.

I noted some people getting food deliveries, probably a service, so they didn’t have to wait in the individual lines, which were always long. Two pillars were reserved for individual people, with a 1 minute use time per person. Often people would be willing to sell their spot in the line for a 5 pointer. These were the retired people who used the line as a gathering place to meet and chat, while making pocket change.

Then there were the four pillars reserved for businesses. Carts would be pulled up. The cart puller would purchase goods, and a team standing near the pillars would quickly load the goods up before being transported away by the cart puller. The final two pillars were for government business and also elite grinders.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Clarissa’s people had arranged everything to run like clockwork including quickly counting out crystals to pay the tax. There were scales set up at the ratio of 3 to 10, with standard bags people were supposed to use, they could pick up at the start of the lines.

People knew about the tax, so prepared ahead of time to separate out their crystals as needed, often keeping the tax bags with them. The only thing special about the bags was that they were marked in appearance and would weigh the same. That way a person could quickly put their bags on the scale and it would be level. The guards would ensure there were crystals in the bags and the denomination, but they wouldn’t have to tediously count them out anymore.

The tax bag was then emptied into a chest to be counted by someone else, while the bag a person was using was checked against prepared standard bags, to make sure nothing was going on. The final check added time, but it was under a minute, which allowed the line to keep moving, with the bottleneck being the pillars themselves.

I continued to just meander around the city, when I heard bells chime across the city. That was the sound of curfew. For two hours. Everyone had to get off the streets or remain in the plaza. The guards would sweep the streets for homeless people, troublemakers, and people camping out in the unclaimed parts of the city.

This was also something I wanted to experience, to check on the health of my Empire. A patrol group of guards quickly descended upon me and my three companions. “You are all in violation of the curfew. Do you have documentation to show you should be out at this time?” I asked.

“I am sorry, we were new to Purgatory, curfew?” I asked.

“Ignorance is not an excuse unfortunately. Any resistance will be met with lethal force. You will be brought before a judge to answer for your crime and processed immediately.”

“I surrender. We can pay a fee or something?” I asked.

“Yes, or you might be let off with a very stern warning or kicked out of the city. It depends on how you plead your case. My men will be behind you, please follow me,” the guard captain said.

“Of course. We won’t cause any trouble. Sorry for making your life difficult,” I said.

“Thank you for cooperating. Too many idiots try to resist, which makes a mess,” he said.

“You are strong?” I asked.

“Yes, we can handle up to level 3 grinders. Anything above that, well they have permission to be out and about. And most of those people tend to dress a bit more than standard gray,” he said.

“Oh, I thought it was just the style of Purgatory?” I asked.

“There is a color coded style required of all residents and a nation wide edict about symbols. If you are looking to upgrade your wardrobe, I suggest you consult with a professional. There are many stores that are open during the day,” he said.

“I might do that. Um, what kind of fine can I expect?” I asked.

“Probably 500 points, per person. So, 2,000 for all of you. If you can’t pay, then it is up to the judge, they have a range of options. Being polite helps,” the guard captain said.

“You are really helpful,” I said with a bit of surprise.

“Not fighting is great, and with four of you, this will make my numbers look good. Better than fighting or being in the Army. De-escalation and talking to people are our main options. Most people like you, just make a mistake. If you were a resident, we could let you off with a stern warning and note it down, but as out of towners, the curfew is quite strict,” he explained.

“I completely understand. It is nice things are so well run,” I replied.

“Keeps things manageable. Lots of people think they kill one monster, they are the next Emperor, those are the worst. You can go a lot further keeping a calm head, so thank you,” he told me. We made our way to the courthouse building and he followed us in. His team would keep an eye on us until the judge ruled, in case we became violent.

“I am Judge Washington,” an older black man said while sitting behind a table. “Captain, what is the charge?”

“Curfew violation for these four, but they cooperated completely. Non-residents. No violence and polite,” the guard captain said.

“Very well, in that case I am inclined to be lenient, 1,000 points for all of you, which would be half the regular fine, and the rest of the night in jail. If you protest, it will only get worse from here, that is as much as I can extend leniency,” Judge Washington said.

“Thank you, your honor,” I replied.

“It is either Judge, or Judge Washington. No special mode of address is required in this court. The fee?” he asked. I pulled out a 3,600 point crystal and handed it over. His eyes went wide. “You are a level four grinder?” he asked me.

“No. And I will pay the fee. I was violating the law,” I replied. He gave me a smile at that. There was shouting as another group came in and two men who were beaten up were dragged in.

“Very well, you can have change made with the clerk to the side,” the Judge said. I nodded and stepped to the side to get change, while I listened in to the next case.

“Two belligerents were fighting in a bar, after curfew. Refused to cooperate, and attacked officers. No skills were used but they both have stats,” the guard captain dragging the two in said.

“Before I issue my verdict, do you have anything either of you wish to say?” the judge asked.

“He started it! He threw the first punch,” one man pointed at the other.

“You waved your arm and knocked my drink all over me, you started it. If you can’t hold your beer, then you shouldn’t drink,” the other man said.

“You scum sucking piece of shit-“

“Silence,” the judge said and both of them kept arguing. The judge waved his hand and the guards began beating the two men up. They quickly fell on the floor where they received several kicks.

“This is a courtroom of order and law, not of idiots. You are both fined 5,000 points,” the Judge said. The guards lifted the broken men off the ground. “Do you have the points?” they both shook their heads and gave a mumbled negative.

“Will anyone else be able to pay for either of you? Or do you own anything of value to be used as compensation?” the Judge asked, and they both shook their heads.

“Due to your violent nature and resistance against the city guards, you are both declared criminals. With no ability to pay, your stat points indicating both of you are an uncontrolled danger, or any other mitigating factors that might incline me to grant leniency. Both of you are sentenced to immediate death,” Judge Washington said with a stern voice. The guards behind them quickly reached around their necks and snapped them with a sharp twist.