48 The Mayor’s Dilemma

“Goddammit!” the Mayor shouted and banged the table in front of him in frustration. “How are they still not satisfied? I did what is best for them.”

He was angry that even after the announcements he made regarding the census hadn’t affected the public perception at all.

“Weren’t they starting to calm down? What’s up with this rebel force? What’s up with this female equality? How is it that these people are suddenly acting up so much,” the mayor thought.

He sat in the warm, brightly lit room with his hand and his head. He was stressing so much about it that he didn’t know what to do.

He tried to understand why these people were being so stubborn. Why were they trying to fight him so much? Revenge for their dead kids? He wasn’t the one that forced them out to fight. Those kids were the ones that made the choice to join the Defenders themselves.

Where were the parents when those kids decided that? Why was he being blamed now?

“Unless…” a thought came to his mind. “Someone is riling them up. These docile townsfolks have never been so proactive, and yet they are now starting up a resistance? There has to be a main culprit.”

He needed to find that person.

His frustration lowered a little after guessing what was most likely going on. ‘I will have to find out who is doing all this,’ he thought. ‘Thankfully, they don’t know much yet.’

Even with the knowledge that Bradley had, the main offender would not be able to do anything at all. What were they going to do? Kill his 3 candidates?

When he thought that, the old man’s heart skipped a beat in fear. ‘What if they do that?’ he thought. ‘If the 3 die then… no, I can’t let that happen.’

“What’s got you so worried?” a voice spoke from behind him.

“Who?” the Mayor quickly turned around and found a young lady with an apple in one hand and a book in the other.

The young lady had fair skin and a small, cute face along with very dark eyes. She was no taller than 5 and a half feet, with her stark silver hair coming down to half her height.

She looked rather young as if she was no older than 20 years old. She wore a black dress with a red inner shirt that made her look quite feminine as well.

A simple smile hung on her face as if the content she read from the book made her rather happy.

“Oh, I didn’t see you come in,” the mayor said to the woman. “Can’t you learn to knock?”

“Nope,” the girl said. “Why? You got something to hide?”

The mayor started feeling slightly frustrated. “What are you doing here?” he asked.

“Why? Can I not be here?” the girl asked. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t aware this was your house.”

The mayor tried to control his anger. She was always like this ever since she was a child. She always loved doing things that made annoyed him to no end.

“What are you doing awake? Shouldn’t you be sleeping right now?” he asked the lady.

“I found this book and started reading it,” the girl said. “It’s quite interesting actually. Have you read it? I decided to sleep after I finished it.”

18:03

The old man narrowed his eyes and looked at the book. “Doesn’t that book have like 4 more books in the series?” he asked. As soon as he did, he regretted speaking at all.

“Oh,” the girl didn’t let slide the implications of those words. “That means I will have to wake up much longer then.”

“Just go to sleep,” the old man shouted and stood up to leave.

“Hahaha, I was joking, okay? Come back,” she said.

The old man looked at the girl who took another bite of the apple while swinging her legs alternatively.

He sat back down on the chair with a sigh.

“So, who was that kid just now?” she asked. “I didn’t think you would let someone come in this late.”

“You saw him? He was here to tell me a few things,” the old man said. “It’s annoying out in the town right now.”

“Want my help?” the girl asked.

“Absolutely not,” the old man said. “I don’t want any bloodshed.” .

“Okay,” the girl simply shrugged. “You still haven’t told me who he is. No one is allowed inside this late.”

“He’s…” the old man hesitated. “He’s one of my candidates.”

“Oh?” the girl stopped chewing her apple for a second before resuming. “Right, I forgot how old you were already.”

She looked him up and down before nodding to herself. “Hmm, he does fit the criteria. Why not just choose him then? Is something stopping you?”

“It doesn’t feel like a good time for a Mayor change,” the old man said. “Doing it right in the middle of all this problem.”

“I do have an idea,” the girl said. “Want my help?”

“Does it include killing people? Then no,” the mayor said.

“Tsk!” the girl looked away. “Then when should I do that? I am tired of waiting.”

“You are still young, you shouldn’t be tired of waiting,” the old man said. “You can do it when you’re a little older.”

“So you’re going to make me wait so many more years, huh?” the girl said. “Then I have a suggestion for your current problem,” the girl asked. “Everyone is angry at you because you made a mistake. So if you just apologize and resign after naming someone else the new Mayor, they will forget about it all in just a few days.”

“They will look forward to the new Mayor’s rule and no one will continue hating you or causing more problems,” the girl said.

“Hmm…” the Mayor’s eyes widened. “That’s… not a bad idea. I can make Bradley the new mayor, and everyone will stop hating me.”

“See? I was quite helpful,” the girl said. “Now give me my reward.”

“You’re getting nothing,” the old man said and walked away. “Go back and sleep. It’s my time for bed.”