Chapter 5: Betrayal at City Hall

Soon, storms brew in the city. The First Son, seeing the Mayor’s son still hasn’t been punished, loses patience. He assumes the Mayor can’t bring himself to cut his son out for good, so he steps up.

He tells the Mayor, “Dad, if you want to get rid of Eric (the cut-out son), you don’t have to do it yourself. I may have my flaws, but I’m willing to relieve you of this burden. The youngest councilman once met that fortune-teller Zachary Miles, who said he’ll be greatly favored in the future, so you don’t need to worry about an heir.”

The Mayor is shaken but doesn’t move. He stares at the First Son, seeing the steel in his eyes.

The Mayor wants to ask—sons, how did it come to this?

He wants to ask himself—he’s run a thriving city, been a loving father, so how did he end up with a son like this?

Before he can speak, anger surges to his head. He shoves the First Son aside, points at him, and curses: “Vicious and ignorant! If you and the youngest councilman really conspire to get rid of Eric, you’re traitors—disrespecting your father and betraying the family, unforgivable!”

The First Son leaves in disgrace.

You’re watching the whole thing, snickering. You know the First Son is finished, and the youngest councilman won’t fare well either. Sure enough, a few days later, the Mayor summons everyone to City Hall.

You spot the youngest councilman and decide to seize the chance to pick his brain. Your own circle is deserted—you’re no threat. So you sidle over and ask, “Ethan, you handled the Finance Office case more gently than I did. Aren’t you afraid Dad will blame you?”

Ethan smiles: “Dad’s a good man. I follow his example. The Finance Office was given to Larry Pratt because of Second Brother. Back then, he was still the Mayor’s son, and Larry did as he pleased—Dad pretended not to notice. Now that Dad’s handed it to me, what matters isn’t the past, but the future.”

You’re enlightened—makes perfect sense.

But that logic quickly falls apart.

The Mayor first asks Ethan how the Finance Office case is going.

Ethan submits a report with only a fraction of Larry Pratt’s embezzlement. As for the rest—whether it went to the Ninth Brother’s business or got laundered for certain council members—the Mayor doesn’t want to know.

The Mayor’s face is like stone.

Ethan suddenly senses something’s wrong.

Then the Mayor’s voice rings out, calm but simmering with anger: “Larry Pratt’s corruption is known to all. You all brush me off, claim the credit for yourselves—aren’t you afraid I’ll have your heads?”

As he speaks, his calm voice turns to thunder, shaking the hall.

Ethan kneels, pale, unable to understand how things went wrong. Dad gave him the case—shouldn’t that be enough?

He never imagined the First Son’s outburst would change everything.

The Mayor scans his sons, takes a deep breath, and points at Ethan: “When I cut Eric out, I told you—anyone who schemes for him is a traitor. Ethan is sly and ambitious, allied with the First Son’s faction, plotting against Eric…”

At this, Ethan looks bewildered, turning to the First Son.

The First Son blinks, innocent.

“Lock up Ethan, send him to the city attorney for trial.”

The Mayor’s voice is heavy with exhaustion, but none of the sons notice. With Ethan locked up, it’s just like when Eric was cut out—how could he ever rise again?

Ninth and Fourteenth Sons exchange a glance. Ninth grits his teeth: “If we don’t speak up now, when will we?”

Fourteenth nods hard.

Ethan tries to stop them, but it’s too late.

They step forward, kneel, and say Ethan had no such intentions—they’ll vouch for him.

The Mayor, already suppressing his anger, finally explodes: “You think you’re all heroes, bound by loyalty? To me, it’s just the loyalty of outlaws—are you hoping Ethan becomes the new heir and, when I’m gone, rewards you as princes? Is that it?”

Ninth Son trembles, too scared to speak.

Fourteenth, hot-blooded as ever, swears: “If I ever seek to become an heir by relying on others, may I die to prove my loyalty!”

The Mayor laughs bitterly, throws his pen at Fourteenth: “Fine, then die!”

As things threaten to spiral out of control, Fifth Son rushes over to hold the Mayor back, begging for mercy. You stifle your laughter and kneel with the others to plead as well.

Fourteenth’s gaze drifts your way; you don’t even look at him.

Sure, you’re full siblings, but you didn’t grow up together—the original host was never close to him. Besides, he’s siding with Ethan. The fact that you’re not laughing in his face is restraint enough.

But you can’t hold it in, and the Mayor notices.

The Mayor points at you and curses: “Harrison, you’re still laughing? You fired your second brother’s men, and you don’t even have the loyalty of outlaws. Like your second brother, you’re cold and heartless—get out, all of you!”

You: ...

Damn, just spectating and I get caught in the crossfire?

That day, the Mayor has you and Fourteenth beaten with twenty strokes (metaphorically—think a serious dressing down), and banishes the First, Ninth, and Fourteenth Sons from City Hall. Later, he strips Ethan of his council seat for listening to the mad words of Zachary Miles, leaving him a minor city employee.

You’re benched. Officially.

Thirteenth Brother comes to visit, eyes full of desolation: “Harrison, how did we end up like this?”

You blink, smile at him: “Don’t worry, I’ve got a cheat.”

Thirteenth Brother:

Close the door, go to bed, call the system.

System: “Host, do you wish to reload at the newbie trial…”

You: “Shut up. Start, start, start.” Let’s get this over with.