Old Mr. Hunter was the oldest resident of Gale Town in the Sebins domain of North County, and he was highly respected.
Of course, that was not merely because of his age, good humor, and kindness. The mayor of Gale Town was his adopted son, the Constable was another of his adopted sons, and the Tax Collector was his third adopted son.
Today, the three adopted sons had gathered to celebrate their foster father's seventieth birthday.
Food and drink posed no problem whatsoever for the three leading men of Gale Town.
Even fresh fruit and vegetables, rarely seen during North County's winters, were easy for these three men to obtain. But their father had "run away from home."
"My dear sons, your old dad is off to the Red Rose Restaurant in South Los for Casu Marzu Cheese."
Reading the note, the three leading men of Gale Town exchanged glances, then all smiled wryly.
None of the three was surprised that their father knew about a restaurant in South Los.
Since fully retiring, their father had devoted himself entirely to eating. Every day, he asked around for delicious food, then set off with a servant.
But this time, he had not brought a servant. And wasn't he going a little too far?
"Don't worry. Dad will be fine.
He's much wiser than we are.
Besides, surely you don't think anyone can push him around just because he's seventy?"
The eldest brother, Gale Town's mayor, smiled as he spoke.
"Of course not.
But I'm still a little worried about Dad going out alone.
I'd like to send a team to follow him discreetly."
The second brother, Gale Town's Constable, did not disagree with his elder brother, but he remained deeply worried.
"We can't use anyone openly associated with us. That Count