"Look at this. The protection equipment in the most critical place in the entire city has even rusted to this state. How long has it been since you last maintained it?"
He stepped forward and shouted with a look of heartbroken indignation.
"Now look at the guards outside! Neglecting their duties! Is this acceptable?"
"I have no doubt that even a trash picker could sneak into this room with nothing but a screwdriver and tamper with Chernobog's lifeline!!"
"Look at you! How can Ursus ever prosper with vermin like you lot around?"
"Yes, yes, yes... Your criticism is entirely justified..."
The factory director hurriedly apologized. He understood how this worked.
A new official taking office always had to establish his authority.
He would admit fault first, then think about what benefits he could offer later...
..
Tick.
Tick.
"?"
What was that sound?
The city lord froze for a moment, then looked toward the main switch box beside him.
"A sound? What sound are you referring to?"
The factory director stepped forward and pricked up his ears.
"...It sounds like the ticking of an alarm clock."
"An alarm clock? Isn't this main switch operated by a key? Why would it make an alarm clock sound?"
"..."
"Wait..."
A terrible premonition slowly rose in his mind.
"Could it be—"
Tick—
The hand completed its final expected rotation, then struck the bell, unleashing an ear-splitting ring.
And... the impacts and vibrations were transferred into the crude glass liquor bottles tied together beside it.
"BOOM!!!!!!!!!!"
Inside the Ursus police station.
The police chief stared repeatedly at the surveillance feeds on the screen.
The murderer of the previous city lord had yet to be found... and quite a few surveillance devices in the city had long since been scrapped.
If the culprit