The Western Mountain was roughly three thousand feet tall. It was steep and precipitous.

It was early in the morning, and the skies weren’t yet fully bright.

A crowd mulled about the foot of the mountain. There were people all over the place, all of them talking in hushed whispers, their expressions filled with anticipation.

News of the Imperatorial Province’s upcoming Tea Party had long since caused a widespread uproar, and throughout the province, factions both big and small were paying attention. All of them knew that the results of today’s Tea Party would determine who became the province’s next governor.

The competition over the seat of provincial governor had even triggered a clash between the second and sixth imperial princes! How could the factions occupying various regions of the Imperatorial Province’s six prefectures not pay attention? 

The appointment of a new governor would inevitably shake things up; this would affect all of them. 

A group of elite soldiers of the Redscale Army stood guard by the entrance to the mountain path. All of them were clad in Redscale Armor, and they each carried a Redscale Saber. Their formation was dense as a forest, solemn, and intimidating. 

And the man in...