Chapter 176: The Purge: The Mayor’s Dilemma
Earlier that morning, Hook and Ruffus, riding in an ordinary-looking carriage, entered the mayor’s sprawling estate southeast of the town center. The mansion seemed to be glowing in the late morning as sunlight was reflected off the surrounding canyon walls.
"Did you see that?" he said, a note of awe in his voice.
Ruffus squinted toward the horizon, brushing a hand over his stubbled jaw. "What?"
"There," Hook gestured. "The way the mansion gleams."
Ruffus asked narrowing his eyes. "Ah, I see it. The mansion seemed to be glowing."
Indeed, the mayor’s home—grand and palatial with tall white columns and terraced balconies—glimmered beneath the morning sun. The canyon walls around it acted like mirrors, casting golden light across the estate, making it seem to radiate its own power.
"Ah, the look of wealth and power. Just how wonderful it is to be the most powerful person in town." Hook looked at the mansion with greed in his eyes. He scratched the bridge of his nose absently, his mind already racing through calculations.
"How much are giving to the mayor as his share on the restaurant and the brothel?"
"The same as always," Ruffus replied. "Thirty percent. That’s 300 silver ingots... and this week’s signature menu from the restaurant—pan-seared venison with spiced pears, rice wine from the southern slopes."