There is a reason for everything, but no concrete evidence.
——Arthur Agaresovich Hastings
"Imperial Envoy?"
"Imperial Envoy!"
"The Imperial Envoy will personally inspect!"
The mayor deliberately paused for a moment, then continued to add: "It's not just the Imperial Envoy, but he's also from St. Petersburg, and he's hiding his name, carrying the Emperor's secret edict on him!"
This news spread like a thunderclap, quickly across the warm reception room of the City Hall, even tearing through the fierce blizzard, shaking the muddy alleys and dilapidated wooden houses along the streets.
The officials scrambled like a swarm of scattered bees, bustling around in a state of indescribable shock and panic.
The Postmaster, a fat middle-aged man, sat beside the mayor, pressing one hand on the red waistcoat stretched to the point of bursting by his big belly, panting heavily while holding a brightly polished copper tobacco pipe in the other hand.
