Secret

Reeva glanced at the two figures looming behind Wanmer—the merchant, Landlong, and the man he now knew as the mayor. His mind raced, trying to keep up with the depth of their infiltration. The city was on lockdown, controlled from the inside by this cult. Not only that, but the church, which should have been their strongest ally, seemed to be compromised.

Reeva clenched his fists, his thoughts spinning. How deep does this go? The mayor's calm demeanor was unnerving, especially as he spoke about death as if it were a gift.

"Nice to meet you, Mayor," Reeva said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He needed to buy time, but the tension in the room was thick enough to cut.

"The honor is all mine, young one," Wanmer replied with a serene smile as if Reeva's attitude meant nothing to him. "I'm glad we could meet before this place becomes a paradise. It's unfortunate you can't see the truth."