One month later!
It had been one month since the night Leo Dragomir had walked into Baron Volkov's banquet hall and painted the walls with the blood of traitors.
And in that one month, the city of Auravale had transformed from a dying ember into a blazing beacon of prosperity.
The walls, once crumbling and manned by sleepy, corrupt guards, were now reinforced with stone, and was being patrolled by Blackfang bandits who looked like they would stab you for littering.
The administration, under Seraphine's ruthless efficiency, ran like a clock. There were no bribes, no delays, and no mercy for incompetence.
But the real magic was the Golden Edict.
"No Taxes for One Year."
When Leo had announced it from the balcony of the Lord's Mansion, the cheer from the crowd had been loud enough to shake the mountains.
The merchants loved him. The peasants worshiped him. And thanks to the Totem of Terror quietly humming in the town square, they feared him.
