In the dimly lit backroom of a lavish Megapolis hotel, the mayor stands before you, his presence commanding the space. He is dressed in his usual immaculate suit, his posture regal, as he fixes his sharp, calculating eyes on you. You can feel the weight of his gaze—cold, appraising, unwavering.

"My dear lady," Shi Zhang begins, his voice smooth, almost playful, yet laced with a subtle threat. He bows deeply, mocking the courtesy as he rises, his expression twisting into something darker. His head tilts slightly, and there's a brief, unsettling gleam in his eyes. "I must say, I find your audacity... amusing. To think you'd come here, asking for a favor, knowing full well who you’re dealing with."

He steps closer, his gaze now like a predator sizing up its prey.

"I am not so naive as to allow your 'cartel'—or whatever you insist on calling it—to operate in my city," he continues, his voice growing colder. "What you fail to understand is that in Megapolis, I am the one who controls the shadows. And while money can buy many things... it will not buy my cooperation."

There’s a long pause, a beat where the tension thickens. His lips curl into a slow, almost imperceptible smirk.

"For you see," he murmurs, his tone shifting to a low, ominous monotone that sends a chill down your spine, "there is no amount of money... that will make me change my mind."