Although the hottest days of the year should have passed according to the season, for some unknown reason, the weather is getting hotter and hotter. If a few weeks ago the day could be described as a steamer, it is now an oven.

I don't know if it's because of psychological factors, but the scorching air seems to have a burning smell. The heat, combined with the bad news of the bandits' alliance, attributed the unusually hot weather to a sign of impending disaster, and even rumors that the thieves were about to attack Mandi Gaza.

Perhaps it was because of the sweltering heat, which dried people's wills and left them without a trace of energy, and because of this, although panic was spread everywhere, no one was seen migrating because of panic. There were not even a few pedestrians or carriages to be seen on the road under the scorching sun, except for the occasional sight of a tired caravan approaching listlessly along the road, but the guards and patrolling officers, in this strangely dreary weather, still insisted on doing their duty—the city defense was being cut off, unless they did not want to eat this bowl of rice again.

Of course, the city is still relatively lively, protected by strong walls, whether it is a merchant or a commoner, they feel more at ease, but the weather is too hot, and there are few pedestrians, cars and horses, and at this time there is a beautiful looking carriage, which is heading towards the town hall in the hot sun.

Four heavily armed half-orc guards, led by two knights, followed the carriage. Spiritedly, he walked towards the town hall.

"No parking here! This is the city hall, and people are free to enter! When the carriage approached the gate, a soldier of the city defense standing guard shouted to stop him.

"Bold!"

One of the knights stepped forward and shouted, "It's Lord Hughes, the councillor, sitting in the car. ”

"I'm sorry, Knight! I'm sorry, Your Excellency! The soldier was startled and apologized.

"You don't have to apologize, you're doing your duty. But next time you have to be gentle, most of the people who come here have something to do. There was a clear voice in the carriage, and then the door opened. Hughes stepped out of the car.

"Yes. My lord! Seeing that the other party did not mean to punish himself. The soldier breathed a sigh of relief, and was terrified.

Petro. Hughes gestured to the coachman and walked towards the building, followed by two knights and four orc guards. The coachman drove the carriage to the parking space and parked it. Sit there and wait.

Stay until Petro. The figures of Hughes and the others disappeared behind the door. Several other soldiers of the city defense army began to praise the good fortune of the soldier just now...... Just the day before, a soldier of the city defense army who had offended an official had been whipped more than 10 times and is still recuperating at home.

However. Good luck is not for everyone, and at this moment, in an office at the city hall, three of the top officials of the finance department of the city hall of Mandi Gaza are staring at a certificate of authorization with sad faces...... Two of them were Hathaway's acquaintances, Aaron, the treasurer. Baron Jeramy, Shani. Baron Brett, and the other chubby, Mediterranean-haired officer was Blake. Lord Weir.

"Has the authenticity of this power of attorney been confirmed?" Black. Will asked, with some uncertainty on his face.

"There is no doubt that Mr. Hughes is indeed a political officer appointed by the lord himself, and the signature and seal on it are fine." Aaron. Jerami said indifferently.

"I'm sure Mr. Hughes himself is fine, but there is no financial verification on the warrant. Your Excellency, the situation outside is so tense now, and the lord is bedridden, how can he send someone to check the finances? "Blake. Will asked suspiciously.

"Your Excellency, what do you think you should do?" Aaron. Jerami asked slowly.

"Let that Mr. Hughes slow down a little, since the lord can't come forward, we will jointly send a letter to Zoro. His Excellency Baron Bell wrote an urgent report asking him to verify as far as he could see if such a thing had happened. "Blake. Will hurriedly said.

"Lord Veil, please recognize the fact that since the Lord came to the Cordillera Territory to officially take charge of the affairs of the territory, whether it is Solo. Neither Baron Bell nor the Camille family have the right to interfere in the affairs of the Lord's Palace, what do you think will be the result of such a request? "Aaron. Jerami said angrily.

"That's right! This kind of thing, if he were to ask His Excellency Baron Bell again, would cause him trouble. "Shani. Brett said.

Hearing this, Blake. Vel was speechless, and the room fell silent.

"It seems that we can only do what Mr. Hughes asks." Shani. Brett looked helpless.

"Lord Veil, we've paid the salaries of the city guards and the city hall officials in a timely manner, haven't we? Have you and your subordinates embezzled public funds or committed fraud? "Aaron. Jeramy asked.

"Nope...... How is this possible? "Blake. Immediately, cold sweat broke out on Will's forehead.

"If that's the case, why are you so worried and afraid?" Aaron. Jerami asked coldly.

"Well, of course, of course, let's do what the two adults want, I still have some things to deal with." Black. With a forced smile, Will hurried out of the room.

"Lord Vail seems to be a little too nervous." Shani. Brett shook his head.

"Lord Vail is so nervous for his reasons, and it is for this reason that he desperately wants to be able to prevent the work of checking the financial books. I believe that he left in a hurry at this moment, perhaps to arrange how his officials should respond. It's a pity that there are many people in the finance department that he can't command. You and I, since we haven't done anything that requires fear, why should we accompany him to do that extremely risky deed? "Aaron. Jerami said indifferently.

"I understand, Lord Lord wants to start with finances and cut off the wings of those two people, but now that rumors are spreading, will this be detrimental to the stability of the territory?" Shani. Brett said with some concern.

"You and I don't need to worry about this matter, naturally there are people who should worry about it, we just need not to let ourselves get involved in this turmoil." The treasurer said calmly, "Lord Weir can't make a mess of the accounts, you take Mr. Hughes to check the accounts yourself." ”

"Do I need to do something? Although this matter will not be on our heads, it is hard to say whether Lord Will will jump over the wall and get the two of us involved. "Shani. Brett frowned slightly.

"Even if he doesn't bite the two of us, as long as there is a problem in the account, I'm afraid the two of us won't be able to get out of it, and I believe that the lord will deal with it fairly and strictly."

Aaron. Jerami paused slightly, "Well, you have Lord Veil and his men under watch, lest these guys be confused and do something stupid." ”

Shani. Brett nodded repeatedly, a look on his face.

The spacious room, at the moment, exuded a choking smell, it was the dust of adulthood, plus the mold was unbearable.

But compared to the hot weather outside, the smell may be a little better. Of course, if it weren't for the strange alchemy product in the middle of the room that exuded a chill, I'm afraid no one would have been able to stay in this room for so long.

At this moment, eight financial professionals from Heidelberg sat in this room with doors and windows tightly closed, facing the thick stack of financial books, nervously busy.

The reason why the doors and windows of this room are tightly closed is because of the fear that someone will do something, but fortunately, Hathaway has fully considered the weather and the environment, and specially designed an alchemical product that can cool down and filter the air, although the working environment is a little simpler, for the sake of the high salary, no one will complain.

However, at this time, the financial officer who presided over the audit was desperately wiping the sweat from his head, and his heart was full of shock and fear. On the table in front of him, there was a long list of names and amounts, and when all the financial staff submitted their audit results, he was already sweating - all in a cold sweat!

"Let's stop."

The financial officer at the head said in a deep voice, with a bit of coldness in his voice, like a lone wolf finding its prey.

The others immediately stopped what they were doing and looked at the financial officer who was in charge of the audit with some trepidation.

"I think everyone knows what this is all about, but the responsibility for this matter is not ours, so we just need to report the matter truthfully, and how to deal with it has nothing to do with us, so we don't have to be nervous."

After the initial shock, he was already able to control his emotions very well, so his composure made the others feel very calm.

"Our city is really full of disabled people, and those who pay pensions to the 'disabled' are really kind people!" I don't know who whispered, and his tone was full of mockery.

It was a bad joke, but no one thought it was funny at this time, and they all nodded silently.

"How many items have been found so far?" The financial officer in charge of the verification asked in a low voice.

"Four thousand three hundred and eighty-six." A financial officer next to him summed up the number and said.

Hearing this number, everyone present changed their faces slightly.

"How many books have you checked?" The financial officer in charge of the verification asked in a low voice.

"One year."

"Half a year."

"Seven months."

"Half-year ......"

After reading the financial statements in front of them, the financial personnel in charge of the audit replied one after another. (To be continued......)