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The screen displayed a map, pinpointing the mayor\'s luxurious abode – a place far removed from the crowded city.

______

Mayor\'s Residence!

Within the welcoming confines of the Hasting residence, the air was filled with the comforting aroma of Grace\'s cooking. Grace, Mayor Hasting\'s wife, entered the living area where her daughter Amelia was engrossed in her studies.

The affection between them was evident in the gentle ease of their interaction.

"Zoe, you\'ve been at those notes for hours," Grace observed, her voice laced with maternal concern as she glanced over her daughter\'s shoulder at the scattered university papers.

Zoe looked up, a hint of fatigue in her eyes tempered by determination. "I have a big exam coming up, Mom. It\'s on urban development and policy – you know, stuff Dad deals with, but from a theoretical perspective."

Grace smiled, her pride in her daughter evident. "Just like your father, always so dedicated. But even he takes a break now and then," she said, moving to sit beside Zoe. "How about you join me for a cup of tea? Mom is making your favorite – lemon and ginger."

Zoe hesitated, then closed her tablet with a soft click. "That sounds really nice, Mom. Thanks," she replied, her smile a mirror of her mother\'s. As they settled into the comfortable sofa, the tension in Zoe\'s shoulders eased.

Grace\'s gaze softened as she watched her daughter. "I always admire how hard you work, but remember, it\'s important to find balance. Your father might rule the city, but in this house, we make time for each other."

Zoe leaned against her mother, the warmth between them a stark contrast to the public image of Mayor Hasting. "I know, Mom. It\'s just that sometimes, I feel like there\'s so much to learn, to understand. Especially if I want to make a real difference, unlike..." Her voice trailed off, not wanting to complete the sentence.

Grace nodded, understanding the unspoken words. "You will make your own path, Zoe. You have a heart that sees beyond power and politics. That\'s a rare thing in our world."

The peaceful atmosphere in the living room was abruptly shattered as the sound of footsteps echoed down the stairs.

??

Grace and Zoe exchanged puzzled looks, their tranquility giving way to confusion.

"Huh?" Grace uttered, her expression shifting to one of concern.

"Hm?" Zoe echoed, her curiosity piqued as she tried to peer past her mother.

They both watched, bewildered, as a man they didn\'t recognize descended the stairs. His presence was unexpected, his arrival unannounced. The intrusion sent a ripple of alarm through them.

"Who are you?" Grace asked firmly, her maternal instinct kicking in as she stood and positioned herself protectively in front of Zoe.

Wang Xiao surveyed the mother and daughter with a disarming smile, his demeanor casual yet imposing. "Didn\'t expect the mayor to keep goods at home..." he chuckled, his words laced with an unsettling laugh.

Grace\'s heart raced at his remark, the red glint in Wang Xiao\'s eyes sending a chill down her spine.

His appearance and demeanor were like that of a demon, and she realized, with a sinking feeling, that they might be in danger.

Four hours later!

Tthe night had deepened into the quiet hours, Mayor Hasting staggered into his house, the effects of the evening\'s indulgences evident in his unsteady gait and slurred words.

The house, usually filled with the gentle sounds of his family, was eerily silent, causing a frown to crease his inebriated features.

"Grace? Zoe?" he called out, his voice echoing through the empty halls. There was no response, only the sound of his own heavy footsteps.

He squinted, trying to focus as he made his way through the darkened house.

As he stumbled into the living room, the absence of his wife and daughter sent a wave of confusion through his foggy mind. "Where is everyone?" he muttered to himself, struggling to piece together the silence that greeted him.

Growing more agitated, Mayor Hasting clumsily ascended the stairs, his thoughts jumbled but fixated on one concern.

Reaching the top, he headed straight for his study, the only place in the house where his true self – the one hidden from public view – was laid bare.

Pushing the door open, he flicked on the light and quickly scanned the room.

His eyes were drawn to the safe where he kept his most confidential documents – evidence of the dark deeds that underpinned his political life.

He stumbled towards the safe, his hands shaking as he keyed in the combination. "Can\'t let anyone find this... can\'t risk it..." he mumbled to himself, the fear of exposure momentarily clearing the fog of alcohol.

As the safe door swung open, he let out a sigh of relief. Everything was in place, his secrets still securely locked away. But the relief was short-lived as the reality of the empty house crept back into his awareness.

He staggered back, collapsing into his leather chair, his mind racing. "What\'s going on here? Where\'s my family?" The questions spun in his head, each one amplifying his growing sense of dread.

The mayor leaned forward, burying his face in his hands.

The night\'s drinking had numbed him, but now a different kind of unease was taking hold.

"So... Your are back..."

!!

The unexpected voice shattered the uneasy silence, causing Mayor Hasting\'s heart to leap into his throat. Startled, he lurched upright in his chair, his eyes darting around the dimly lit room.

"W-Who?" he stammered, the alcohol-induced fog in his brain struggling to process this new threat.

B-Rumble!

A flash of lightning briefly illuminated the room, revealing the figure of Wang Xiao standing at the window. His hair fluttered in the breeze from the open window, the storm outside casting his features in a dramatic light.

Mayor Hasting\'s eyes widened in recognition and fear. The man from the photographs, the one he had been warned about, now stood in his own study. His mind raced, trying to piece together how this could have happened, how his sanctum had been breached.

He muttered, his voice a mix of dread and disbelief. "What are you doing in my house? How did you get in here?"

Wang Xiao\'s expression was unreadable, a calm contrast to the storm raging outside. "I have my ways, Mayor," he said coolly. "And I have some questions for you. It\'s about time we had a little chat, don\'t you think?"

The mayor\'s initial shock gave way to a defensive posture. He was used to being in control, used to being the one asking the questions, not the one answering them. But in this moment, in the presence of this enigmatic figure, his usual confidence was shaken.

"What do you want? Money? I can give you money," the mayor blurted out, reaching for the familiar solution to all his problems.

Wang Xiao shook his head, a slight smirk playing on his lips. "It\'s not about money, Mayor Hasting. It\'s about your sins..."

"S-Sins?" Mayor Hasting\'s voice trembled, his earlier bravado evaporating as a cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

The term \'sins\' echoed ominously in the room, a stark reminder of the numerous shady dealings and moral compromises that paved his path to power.

Wang Xiao gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, his gaze fixed intently on the mayor.

The air in the room seemed to grow heavier and—

Booom!

In a sudden and shocking turn of events, both of Mayor Hasting\'s hand palms exploded in a burst of pain and horror.

"Ah?.... Arghhh!"

He screamed, the sound raw and filled with agony, as he stared in disbelief at his mangled hands.

Blood splattered the rich furnishings of the study, the stark red a shocking contrast to the subdued elegance of the room. Mayor Hasting\'s face contorted in pain, his eyes wide with shock and fear.

"What have you done?!" he yelled, his voice laced with pain and disbelief. He looked up at Wang Xiao, his eyes brimming with tears of pain, searching for an answer, for any kind of reasoning behind this sudden, brutal act.

Wang Xiao\'s demeanor remained eerily composed, his tone almost philosophical, as he observed the mayor\'s agony. "It\'s alright, we humans often forget that each one of us has committed our fair share of sins. And sometimes, those sins come back to bite us."

"No one is a saint, Mayor," he continued, his voice carrying a hint of cold finality. "Your sins, in particular, were far too severe. You dared to plot against me."

"AHH! WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!? I don\'t know anything!"