There's a specific reason why I'm feeling this kind of fear about any contact with this woman: my political skills are terrible. I'm good at articulating idiotic plans and making them work, but when it comes to a negotiation, I get tangled up in everything I say.

There's more, too. I have no idea what this woman, or villain, is capable of. For heaven's sake, I don't even know her name, let alone what card she has up her sleeve! Not having read all of Sword of The Iron Maiden has started giving me a headache right now, of all times...

The Mayor called me into her office, which I promptly followed because I need to escape from here as soon as possible... Not ironically, I prefer to be near a villain than Leonhardt. At least I know she doesn't want to immediately sleep with me like that retarded Golden Retriever.

A cup of tea lands right in front of me, while she pours one for herself, using a certain class that I've only seen in human nobles of the aristocracy. This is weird... I mean, the Imperial City doesn't have a problem with the involvement of other species, but demi-humans often get screwed over quite a bit here. The case of Moriah, and also the elves I rescued from the auction house, were a representation of that.

What I want to understand is: how did this woman, being a dwarf, rise to the position of Mayor? Don't get me wrong, but there's something strange about this. The common mindset of several imperial nationalists wanting human purity in politics would greatly hinder her public career, so how did this come to pass?

"I want you to know that I am honored to see you here, Mister Moonlight" the dwarf says, lightly blowing on her tea. "Your act of heroism quickly reached Mastan. If I may ask, where are you heading?"

"To the north. The King sent me there."

"Oh, that news is quite a surprise. The King really has different strategies than I imagine... well, you must have stopped here because it's on the way, so I also wanted to know the reason why you came to the city hall. It wouldn't be to collect some money with royal influence, would it?"

Her eyes fill with a certain greed. I forgot to mention, but this office is strangely luxurious, with a chest leaning against the wall that I could swear was nearly exploding with gold coins. Furthermore, there are framed paintings containing jewels, a pen on the desk so black it seems to camouflage into the wood, and other interesting things in a similar style.

Well, well, well, she talks about me that way, but I bet every single thing in here was paid for with the cash of honest workers, of decent men around here like that old man who had a cockroach instead of a mustache!

"Wrong, Lady... ehh..."

"Ophelia, call me Ophelia."

"Yes, Lady Ophelia. As I was saying, the reason I am here is because of a problem with the price of certain... services."

"Such as? I believe you could buy anything without a problem with the King's support."

"You see, I went to rent some horses because we need to go as fast as possible to the conflict in the north, and when I spoke with the owner, he showed me that the price was very high!"

"How high?"

"A shit-ton of money!"

She frowns, wanting to understand what the hell I meant by that. It's not hard to understand that I'm saying it costs a fortune!

"I see, and you came to the city hall to...?"

"To complain about it and demand an explanation. It is unacceptable that a local business has such an exorbitant price and that the taxes are so high!"

"Hmmm, you are right... but, unfortunately, due to Mastan's situation, I cannot change this."

What do you mean? You are literally the mayor, you have to do something! She gets up from the cushioned sofa and walks behind the office desk, pointing out something through the window that I can't see very well because of the sunlight.

I decided to go over there and check, only to see the supposed shantytown from before highlighted amidst the city's metal constructions. It's strange to see that, because it's clear it was built in a hurry and haphazardly to accommodate as many people as possible, but it didn't work out so well.

"Currently, the city has been going through dark times, Mister Moonlight."

"Like what? Something related to illegal activity?"

"Something similar. At the top of that district, a certain Orc has taken over the region and has been using the residents as meat shields for certain... businesses. Due to the way the place is structured, the authorities cannot combat her, and this has greatly impacted the local economy."

She clicks her tongue, clearly dissatisfied with the situation.

"She has been selling drugs to several residents and workers, creating an epidemic that has made many of them incapable of working because of the drugs. Now, taxes have started to rise because we need to provide support to people in this situation."

Hmmm, she's not as bad as I thought. Yes, if it's as bad as Ophelia is saying, it means there's no way out of this. Drugs really mess with a person's head, if it affects too many people, it can even ruin the reputation of an entire community. In other words, we are officially dealing with a drug trafficker...

I have some inside knowledge of the rest of the story. The trafficker controls an illegal business from the top and uses that influence to control the residents, as well as hiding in a natural fortress in the middle of the city. It's difficult to catch him because of the confusing, labyrinthine structure of the region, and it's easy to hide and evade authorities. Throwing a bomb at the place isn't an option either, besides, it would send several innocents to a better place.

I stayed there for a while longer, watching Ophelia stir her tea with surgical calm. I had come in thinking she was a monster in a cape and top hat, but in the end, it wasn't quite like that. Not that she was a saint: she was cold, calculating, and had that glint in her eyes that signals profit. But a villain? Not exactly. A villain has a genocidal plan and a theatrical laugh, like Moriah.

Ophelia has spreadsheets, lawyers, and concern for budgetary balance, nothing to do with the stereotypical character one initially thinks of. It's still enough to make me uncomfortable all the same, of course.

I had the idea of calling Leonhardt to solve the problem, but the more it ran through my head, the more I understood that involving the inquisitor would only mess up that city more. Leonhardt opens his mouth, and by some magic, half the population decides to wave a flag, but they only wave the flag because we're talking about a killing machine with a sword and countless plot armors. A thousand times better to avoid that piece.

Ophelia rested her elbows on the desk, looked at me through those round glasses, and said, straight up:

"I can make the municipal horses available to your group. I'll give you a discount" She made signs with her fingers, as if brushing gold dust from the air. "But I can't subsidize everything. If the Imperial City covers part of it, I can handle the rest."

She was practical: she pointed out the logistics, listed the costs, talked about the Orc in the high district watching everything, and how revenue plummeted with the epidemic. Her offer, though cold, was a step down from the stable's extortion.

Hmmm, I'm still working on this. Would practicality be better, or refusing out of pride and spending the night in a place that practically controls the city's trenches? No, it won't be the same thing, so I think it's better to choose pragmatism. I can't waste any more time in Mastan, I'm going to have many problems to solve in the north, and I want to finish with Victorian one way or another.

"Alright" I finally replied. "I will send a letter to the Duke and ask him to send you some support. I will also pay for the horses you loan me with the money I have, that should be enough to hold things together in this city. I appreciate the honesty."

She inclined her head, giving a short, professional nod.

"I will thank the Imperial City. And, Mister Moonlight... take care in the north."

I left the city hall with a less suffocating weight. The dwarf woman there kept staring at me with a nasty look the whole time, even tempting me to order the mayor to send her to a dungeon for contempt of authority. Not that I had the power, but let's face it, having the power to screw over those you hate is too good.

I walked through the local market, breathing the city's dirty air, which somehow sounded less hostile after that conversation. Ophelia wasn't quite what I envisioned, she must still be doing a lot of wrong things under the table, because that's how politics works, but she's at least trying to fight this crisis, so I'll give her credit.

Almost back at the airship landing strip, I ran into Elizia, sitting on a low wall while wrapping an apple in a napkin. She looked at me out of the corner of her eye, arched her eyebrow, and smiled in the way that always made me... comfortable.

"Hello, sweetie, how did it go?"

"I survived" I replied, shifting the weight of the subject onto my shoulder. "She offered horses for a less murderous price, but she wants the Duke's support. I'll check with him. She also talked about a drug trafficker and how much trouble she's been causing, it seems the situation is serious here..."

Elizia stood up, stretching her legs as if the entire place were a catwalk just for her.

"I see, so that means she lied very well, and you believed her."

"That's right... Wait, what?"

"What do you mean 'What'? She lied. There is no trafficker, that was just a tactic to gain your empathy and make you easily accept the negotiation."

"Elizia, are you serious?"

"Of course I am, why would I lie to you, sweetie? I have my contacts, they told me everything and even where to get horses at an accessible price for us... but as for what she told you, 90% must be a lie."

What a bitch of a dwarf! She fooled me like that!

"Tell me everything you found out, Elizia!"

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