At the entrance of the town hall, Xia Ya ran into a familiar face.
It was Simon, the lawyer invited to handle tax matters.
"Why is it you again??"
Simon shuddered in fright, standing at the bottom of the steps, suddenly not wanting to go to work.
Ever since he gave away 15% of his shares yesterday, he hadn't stopped investigating Xia Ya.
Despite using all the resources at his disposal, Simon couldn't find a shred of useful information about Xia Ya, only knowing he ca from a Starter Village where Chosen Ones appeared.
When he tried to investigate further about what a Chosen One was, he faced strong interference from the Church of Judgnt.
"The Holy Spirit grants us Chosen Ones to fight Synlos, and you bunch of nobodies think you can investigate them??"
He couldn't afford to provoke them.
Then Simon learned from rumors just how terrifying the Chosen Ones were—a group of people with anecdotes spreading from every village.
They did nothing but three things: eat, sleep, and fight monsters, born for this purpose.
Fighting monsters for copper coins...
Fighting monsters for equipnt...
Fighting monsters to improve local reputation...
They were a group that upheld utilitarianism above all, with extre violent tendencies, and were fearless of death.
Simon's head was spinning; he felt he might have encountered an anomaly among them—a Chosen One who was good at using his brain, so he didn't plan to pursue the matter... but the other party actually blocked him at the door! It was simply too much! Did they think he wouldn't dare to run away??
"What do you want?"
Simon was at his wit's end.
When he saw the priestess girl behind Xia Ya, his heart sank.
It's over...
The other party wouldn't even spare the mascot of Astan City; with such a greedy nature, would he let him go?
Wait, could it be that old guy Burkeville discovered sothing?? Unable to openly act against him, he might as well use him to make trouble??
Unlike Mia, Simon had a strong ability for divergent thinking, imagining all sorts of scenarios from just a few clues.
In an instant, he even imagined Burkeville's slightly sinister laughter, as if a shadow was hovering behind Xia Ya, with the Governor chuckling sinisterly: Don't you know I know you stole my money, surprised?
Damn... it's really possible!
Xia Ya just glanced at him and sighed lightly.
This crafty lawyer, who should have been a novelist, was probably indulging in conspiracy theories again; complex thinkers indeed make everything complex.
It was really just a coincidence.
But it was just as well, saving him a lot of words. Simon had already completed the process of self-persuasion in an instant, and now he would agree to any request.
Find the original at "pawread".
Xia Ya stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder: "Bring three strong n and co with to make trouble."
"Huh?"
At the ntion of making trouble, Simon suddenly felt lighter, no longer sweating coldly, his heart no longer racing, and he could stand straight.
"You... you're really not here for ?"
Xia Ya shrugged: "I just randomly picked so people to issue invoices, and happened to run into you."
"Issue invoices?"
"Yes, issue invoices."
Simon's glasses glead, deep in thought.
In the entire Astan City, there were at most four places needing a priest's involvent and the town hall's active dispatch to issue invoices, but three of them had connections with Burkeville and had already been notified at the town hall... leaving only one lurking in the dark, like a festering sore...
"Are you talking about... the underground at the shantytown drainage?"
Xia Ya snapped his fingers.
"As expected of Mr. Simon."
"You should have said so earlier!"
Simon quickly regained his professional deanor, turned back into the town hall, and a few minutes later, ca out with three strong n whose chest muscles were about to burst through their suits, striding out with vigor.
"Let's go! Issue invoices!"
...
Shantytown drainage.
A group of six stood outside the foul-slling drainage, Mia holding a staff as tall as a person, chanting prayers in a low voice, the strong power of holy light gathering before her.
Xia Ya discreetly shielded Yveline, holding her hand tightly.
Then, Mia's spell was fully prepared, and a massive "Great Dispel" was cast.
The skill na of a level 50 priest was so plain, yet the effect was remarkable.
It was like a true one-second original image technique.
Turning off filters, smoothing, highlights, and acne removal.
With one big dispel, all the magical disguises at the sewer entrance were stripped clean: the flowing sewage stopped, replaced by a constantly shrinking, vanishing portal and the crooked passage behind it.
Soon, the portal, losing its magical source, also vanished, and the group passed through the passage unimpeded, stopping at a large iron door.
"Bang bang bang"
Simon stepped forward to knock.
"Who is it?"
Maka's voice sounded sowhat exasperated, clearly aware of the disruption the mont the teleportation array was destroyed.
"Simon Jonia from the town hall, also serving as a tax officer."
"This is my own ho! I've paid all the taxes I owe!"
Simon smiled warmly, cleared his throat, and began:
"Mr. Maka, residing in the illegal structure at Shantytown Drainage No. 14, according to the Lugor Kingdom's 'Public Building Facilities Maintenance Ordinance' and Astan City's related infrastructure managent regulations, your building violates the following points: one, illegal... two, usage...
"...
"... In summary, you need to open the door, allow us to check for illegal renovations inside, and pay a certain fine. Of course, if you have any unregistered illegal residents inside, please transfer them to the town hall for detention and review before paying the head tax. The personnel review rules are as follows:
"...
"... In summary, please cooperate with our law enforcent work, otherwise any actions will be considered a provocation against the highest governor of Astan City, Lord Burkeville. All enforcent actions are conducted under the supervision of the Church of Judgnt to ensure the legality and reasonableness of the process."
As expected of a professional, although Xia Ya could also say this, without the skill's support, it didn't have the sa intimidating effect as Simon's. After he finished speaking, Maka behind the door was silent for a long ti, not making a sound.
If it were soone else, he might still argue.
But now, he directly went to make arrangents.
After a while, the door opened.
The iron door had a combination lock similar to a safe, with precise components clicking and clacking.
As soon as the door opened, the characteristic humid and warm air of the Fight Club rushed in; this was Maka's ho and the control center for the facilities around the arena.
The gamblers had unsurprisingly slipped out through the small door, and through the transparent viewing wall in front, the arena outside was empty.
"It's you!"
Upon seeing Xia Ya, Maka beca agitated.
"You're the one who brought the tax office here!"
Xia Ya said nothing, only giving him an innocent look, indicating he should glance at Simon.
The tax officer's sharp gaze was piercing through the lenses, watching Maka's every move.
"Mr. Maka, can I interpret that as you threatening a lawful citizen?"
"I..."
"You have the right to argue, but I will record everything you say."
Maka glared fiercely at Xia Ya, no longer speaking.
During that ti, Maka clearly hadn't been idle; he had hidden the illegal "items," including but not limited to "Rage Potion," "Bloodmalt Ale," and "Ice Phantom Grass Elixir."
All three served as both potions and drinks, and all had an intoxicating effect.
For gamblers, nothing was more taboo than getting intoxicated.
There were also a number of enforcers of unknown origin.
The Security Bureau of Astan City couldn't possibly ignore such a high-threat group of enforcers lurking beneath the city, but Maka was confident.
His confidence ca from intellectual superiority.
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