Meeting the Mayor

Arthur, however, remained entirely unbothered. His expression didn't shift, his stride didn't break. If anything, a small, knowing smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Now, that's an interesting thing to say," Arthur mused, his tone casual, yet laced with something dangerous.

The guards stiffened slightly, but stood their ground.

Adam studied the scene, his own brow furrowing.

'So it's true…'

Arthur had claimed earlier that the mayor had tried to bribe him. That their previous meeting had ended with an unspoken threat rather than mutual respect.

Adam had assumed Arthur was lying, but the scene in front of him was telling him otherwise.

The tension, the way the guards were acting, the sheer hostility they exuded—it wasn't just standard protocol.

It was personal.

They expected Arthur to be too afraid to return.

They expected him to obey whatever warning had been issued.

Yet here he was.