Harrisburg. The Lieutenant Governor's Office.
Aston Monroe stood before the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, looking down on the city's administrative center.
The coffee cup in his hand was still hot, but the warmth in his heart was slowly fading.
He had thought this would be a perfect surgical strike.
Freeze their funds, launch an audit, and crush those country bumpkins under the guise of compliance.
Within the framework of law and procedure, he was unassailable.
Faced with the surging tide of online public opinion, his stance remained firm.
"Tell the press office to keep emphasizing our position," Monroe ordered, turning to face Paul Turner. "This is about protecting taxpayers' money and preventing the misuse of local funds. We must uphold the spirit of the law and not be held hostage by populism."
Turner stood on the other side of the desk, his expression grim.
He was holding a tablet, its screen displaying a series of red warning data.
