Chapter 263 The Lieutenant Mayor

• The military stronghold, Fort Cromwell, loomed over Springfield like a steel monolith. Its gray, impenetrable walls blended into the smoky sky of the industrial city. It looked like a monstrous building in a dystopian future.
• Amelia Briar’s car was finally allowed inside after scrutiny of her visiting papers. Apparently, Springfield’s Mayor did not allow non-citizens to enter the city without permission. After all, it was the country’s largest supplier of firearms.
• Inside the stronghold, the air was sharp with the tang of metal. Amelia kept reminding herself that this was a place built for war, not comfort. She stood in a sterile chamber, her arms crossed as two lady soldiers faced her. Their uniforms were crisp, and their expressions blank.