SNAP!
The barbed iron whip tore through the freezing air, striking the frosted stone floor an inch from the old woman’s bare feet.
“Did you hear me, old beggar?!” Warden Jin-Suo roared, his heavy golden fur robes rustling as he stomped forward. “The directors are hosting the Annual Chaos Dividend Gala in two hours! Every executive needs a pure celestial-silk robe stitched with real starlight! If you miss quota, I will dip you in liquid ice and use you as a coat rack!”
A system identification window snapped into focus in Lin Mo’s vision:
[TARGET: WARDEN JIN-SUO]
[IDENTITY: CHIEF OVERSEER OF PLUNDER-HEAVEN WALL #3 (WALL OF FREEZING POVERTY)]
[GOODNESS SCORE: -89/100 (PREDATORY LUXURY CARTEL SLAVER)]
Down inside the icy cage of Wall Number Three, Matriarch Xi-Ling did not cry out.
