"Uh...greetings, my Lords," Nathan managed to bow quickly.

But his mind was already racing.

What do they want?

Did we do something wrong?

Is Brother Alex is going to have a trouble?

He has every right to be worried people like Nathan didn't just run into the county magistrate casually.

One can consider himself lucky if you saw him from a distance once or twice in your whole life.

And now he was standing right there in front of Nathan's door.

Magistrate Sai smiled genuinely and a bit of the warmth in his voice, trying to act polite,

"Is Young Master Alex present?"

"He is!" Nathan's voice came out a little too fast. He nodded, trying to keep his composure trying hard to not look nervous but clearly failing at it.

Of course they are here for Brother Alex. Who else?

Who else would they come for?

His chest swelled a little with pride.

Look at this, it is his Boss, even the county magistrate has to brave the storm to meet him just like a normal person.

He stepped aside to let them holding the door open. "Please, come in."

In the courtyard the reaction of the gang members were was immediate.

"Look they are officials!"

"Wait. That's not just any officials. That's Magistrate Sai. And the sheriff!"

"Why would they come here?"

"Are you serious? Obviously, they are here for Big Boss."

The Viper Syndicate members exchanged glances with each other some are nervous, some are excited.

In Ironhold, government officials wore robes that marked their rank clearly so it is easy for them to understand their identity at a glance.

And after the magistrate's very public failure to bring rain at the south gate ceremony a few days ago, half the city had memorized what he looked like.

"The county magistrate..." Mr. Hartwell voice was barely a whisper.

His face had gone pale.

The sheer gap in status between them made him feel small, insignificant.

Like he was standing in the presence of someone from another world entirely.

He turned to his daughter with a clear urgency in his voice. "Lucy. Go prepare tea. Check it properly serve only proper Tea and bring some snacks too.

Whatever we have decent in the kitchen, bring it also."

"Yes, Father." Lucy understood immediately

She did not ask anymore questions and quickly ran to search for the things.

---------

"Young Master Alex," Sheriff Bowen greeted him warmly striding forward with a grin so wide it looked like it might split his face in half. "It's good to see you again."

"Back at the banquet do you remember how I have told everyone you would definitely succeed.

I just knew it.

And look here we are! The rain is falling, and I was absolutely right! Hahahaha!"

The more he looked at Alex, the more pleased he seemed. Like he'd just discovered a prize horse or a winning hand in a card game.

"Your Excellency is far too kind," Alex replied smoothly, bowing with just the right amount of respect. Not too much to look submissive. Not too little to look arrogant.

You knew I would succeed? As if I would believe it.

Even a dog would not believe it.

Alex thought keeping his face neutral.

If you have believed in me, why did you station your soldiers outside ready to drag me away if I failed?

He did not believe a single word in him there is no difference in him and the politician in his world.

In the world of politics and power, truth was a rare commodity that you may not find even searching with a lantern.

Most of what people said was an act to look innocent.

All their moves have a hidden calculative plan behind their simple actions.

"Hahaha!" Sheriff Bowen continued to laugh clearly reading the distance that the man was trying to maintain but he chooses to ignore it, gesturing toward the man beside him he began to introduce him.

"Your Excellency, this is the remarkable Young Master Alex I have been telling you about earlier."

Then he looked back at Alex, his smile never fading. "And Young Master Alex, allow me to introduce County Magistrate Sai. The moment he heard you have succeeded in bringing the rain, he insisted we come see you immediately.

In the middle of this storm, no less."

Alex bowed again this time a little deeper. "I pay my respects to the County Magistrate."

Magistrate Sai studied him for a long moment, his expression thoughtful.

When he finally spoke, there was something like approval in his voice. "Young Master Alex.

You are younger than I expected you to be. And you are quite composed for someone your age."

He nodded slowly, as if confirming something to himself.

A man who can summon rain from nothing but clear skies and stand before high officials without trembling this is no ordinary person.

This is someone with real ability a person with confidence.

"Your Excellency flatters me," Alex said, his tone modest but steady.

Then he tilted his head slightly, letting just a hint of curiosity show. "But I have to ask you what brings you both here today? In weather like this, no less."

"Ah, yes. Coming back to Business," Sheriff Bowen said, and his grin somehow got even wider. "Very important business, in fact."

He looked like a man who had just won a gamble.

Like everything he would been hoping for had suddenly fallen into place.

"My Lords," Mr. Hartwell voice cut in but in a polite but a little shaky voice trying hard to not look nervous.

At some point of time he appeared at the entrance of the house, bowing low. "I have prepared tea and refreshments inside. It's wet and windy out here. Please guest come in, sit. Be comfortable and then talk the details inside."

--------------

Inside the room atmosphere shifted.

The storm raging outside was muffled now, reduced to a distant roar beyond the walls.

The warmth of the house, the smell of tea, the soft light it all felt surreal compared to the chaos outside.

They quickly settled into their seats.

Lucy placed cups in front of each of them, her hands steady despite the tension in the room.

The magistrate took a polite sip.

Sheriff Bowen did the same.

Then Alex leaned forward slightly, resting his hands on his knees.

"So," he said. "This important matter you mentioned, Sheriff Bowen. What exactly is it?"

"Do you recall what I promised you previously?" Sheriff Bowen began.

Not waiting for him to answer he continued, "I said that if you could successfully pray for rain and demonstrate some ability of genuine merit, I would recommend you to the county magistrate for the position of official legal advisor myself, have I not?"

"On our journey here just moments ago, the magistrate agreed to this recommendation."

"If you accept this appointment now, you will become the first official legal advisor serving Ironhold."

"Now you have to just say a yes and you will be a person above all but under one person."

Sheriff Bowen looked at Alex with an encouraging smile plastered on his face.

For more than ten years, no individual had been qualified for the position of legal advisor. The post had remained vacant with no one holding the office for far too long.

If Alex was willing to accept, he would indeed become the first legal advisor appointed since Magistrate Sai had assumed his current position.

Magistrate Sai also regarded Alex with a warm smile, his eyes overflowing with genuine appreciation and respect.

Hearing the declaration all have different thoughts in their minds.

"Incredible!"

"Big Boss is going to become an official legal advisor!"

Outside the house, the Viper Syndicate members who were listening intently to the conversation showed expressions of absolute shock on their faces as they looked at each other with amazement.

They all knew that a legal advisor held extremely high rank and authority. An advisor to the city could handle any matter, possessing authority equivalent to the sheriff himself.

"Brother Alex is going to become an official advisor," Lucy thought happily, her eyes filled with surprise and happiness for Alex's good fortune.

But simultaneously, another feeling emerged in her heart a slight sense of loss and melancholy.

Will Brother Alex have any time to see me in the future once he assumes such an important position?

"Lucy, do not worry yourself unnecessarily," her father said gently.

As a father, Mr. Hartwell could perceive exactly what Lucy was thinking at a single glance, and he spoke to her with a reassuring smile.

During this long period spent in Alex's company, Lucy's heart had become completely devoted to him.

How could Mr. Hartwell not recognize this obvious affection as her father?

However, at this critical moment, Alex's response shocked everyone present.

Alex shook his head firmly and refused the generous offer from both the county magistrate and the sheriff. "My talents and knowledge are extremely limited and insufficient. So I am sorry to say, as I am not qualified to serve as an official legal advisor to this distinguished city."

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