The cold evening air filled Charles home as he and Vera sat, nursing his physical and emotional wounds. The encounter at the private jet and the subsequent showdown at his hotel had left him battered and bruised, but more determined than ever. Ice packs and pain relief medications were hastily put to use as they talked about their next line of action. However, a call disrupted their conversation and it was from the manager of his hotel. He hesitated for a moment before picking up the call. The voice on the other end was urgent, and it carried news that churned his stomach. “Mr. Charles.” The manager said urgently. “We have a problem. Some government officials are here and they are trying to shut down the hotel. In fact, they are already evacuating everybody and I decided to call you.” Charles rose from his seat immediately, his hands trembling with fury. “Who is in charge of this evacuation?” “I don’t know Sir!” The manager replied. “They are not even permitting me to ask questions. If you try to question them, they will bundle you out of the hotel.” “Stay there!” Charles told him. “I will be in the next five minutes.” The pit in Charles's stomach grew deeper as he immediately recognized the hand behind this heavy-handed action – the city’s local governor, who had shown no qualms about abusing his power and influence. Without a moment's hesitation, Charles turned to Vera, his eyes ablaze with anger. "We have to go to the hotel right now. The governor is trying to shut it down because of what happened this afternoon. I won't let them shut it down without a fight." “Oh my God.” Vera exclaimed. “This is terrible.” “We won’t let him have his way. We will stop him.” Vera nodded, her unwavering support evident in her eyes. Together, they left their home and made their way to his hotel, As they arrived at the hotel, a swarm of government officials, lawyers, and security personnel descended upon the property, executing the governor's orders with an air of unquestioning authority. It was clear that they were acting on the governor's command. Amidst the chaos, Charles spotted the man who had disrupted his life, the governor. His face was contorted with anger, and his presence loomed large at the entrance to the hotel. Charles's heart raced as he approached the governor, his voice determined and unwavering. "Governor," Charles began, "I demand to see the permit that gives you the right to shut down my business. I’m quite sure that my hotel has not violated any rules.” The governor's lips curled into a malevolent smile as he handed over the permit. Charles's hands shook with a mix of rage and disbelief as he read the contents. The permit accused him of conducting illegal activities in his hotel, a claim that was not only untrue but also absurd. With a controlled yet incensed tone, Charles retorted, "This is a blatant lie, and you know it. I have never conducted illegal activities in my hotel." The governor's laughter, mocking and triumphant, sliced through the air like a knife. "You brought this upon yourself, Charles. That is the consequences of going against a powerful man like me," he sneered, reveling in the pain he had inflicted upon Charles. “This is cruelty.” Charles answered. “You don’t have any rights to do this to me. And you lied against me and my business. You’ll regret this when everyone finds out the truth.” The governor scoffed and waved off Charles' words. “Do you think anyone would believe you? You? A common man in this city? No one would take your words over mine. After all, I’m the governor and you’re……Remind me who you are again?” “You will pay for this!” The memory of the governor's cruelty and the physical injuries he had sustained from their earlier encounter flooded back to Charles's mind. He could no longer contain his anger, but he knew that retaliating in that moment would not be wise. It was clear that the governor held all the cards and was prepared to use his influence without remorse. With gritted teeth, Charles turned and stormed away from his company, leaving it in the hands of the government officials. His heart was heavy with frustration, but he knew that this battle was far from over. The governor had struck a blow, but Charles was determined to rise again, stronger and more determined than ever. “Stay here and observe what’s happening.” He instructed Vera. “I’m going to handle this.” “Where are you going?” She asked but he walked away without any response. Driving away from the hotel, Charles's mind raced with thoughts of revenge, justice, and redemption. He knew that he couldn't fight this battle alone; he needed allies who believed in his cause and were willing to stand with him against the governor's tyranny. His determination led him straight to the headquarters of the People's Leadership Committee party. Bursting through the doors, he found the receptionist. “Excuse me but I'd like to see the president of this party.” He demanded. The receptionist, taken aback by the urgency of his words, exhaled. “I’m sorry but the president is in a meeting with other members of the party. In fact, this meeting is one of the most important meetings for him.” But Charles wasn’t ready to listen to her. He immediately turned toward the room which he suspected the meeting was taking place in. “Please sir, come back!” The receptionist yelled but he barged into the room. Immediately, all eyes fell on him and silence rested across the room. The committee members, initially taken aback by his sudden and resolute entrance, quickly exchanged knowing glances. One of them, an elder statesman of the party, finally spoke up, "Who are you and what are you doing in here?” “My name is Charles Lincoln and I'd like to run for the position of city governor in the next election.” He said. “I want to take down George, that corrupt man, but I need a reliable party.” There was a brief moment of silence before laughter erupted in the room. Charles was confused by their reaction and wondered what was so funny. Finally, one of the statesmen said, “My dear, you have spirit, I'll give you that. But you should know that Mr. George has held that position for six years, and no one has been able to defeat him. You might be wasting your time. He is a corrupt man who will use any means to get what he wants.” Charles, his eyes burning with unshakable determination, responded, "I believe in the power of change. I've seen what injustice can do, and I won't let it stand. I'm ready to fight for the betterment of this city, no matter how long it takes or how difficult it may be." The committee members, their initial laughter subsiding, recognized the sincerity in Charles's words. They had encountered countless aspiring politicians, but there was something in Charles's resolve that made them pause and consider. “And why is it so important for you to take down this man? From your reaction, he must have done something terrible to you.” “He is abusing his rights as governor and he is currently trying to shut down my hotel because I stood up to his injustice. I have enough money to support this party. I know this is one of the most respectable and transparent parties in the city. I want us to take this position from George.” The elder statesman spoke again, this time with a more serious tone, "Very well, Charles. If you're willing to dedicate yourself to this cause, we will support you. But be prepared for a grueling battle, and don't underestimate the power and influence of your opponent, Mr. George." Charles nodded, his eyes reflecting the unwavering determination that had led him to this point. He knew that the road ahead would be filled with obstacles, but he was prepared to face the uphill battle, to overcome the odds, and to prove that even the longest-standing politicians could be challenged. “Before you join the party, you must pay a registration fee of $5 million dollars. This money goes into our campaigns and improvement of the party.” The president said, rising to shake Charles’s hand. “Money is not the problem.” Charles responded. “I can pay immediately.” As he stood before the party's president, he was impressed that his commitment was unwavering. The president explained, "Charles, to join the party and run as a candidate, the registration fee and the form together cost $50 million dollars." Charles nodded, understanding the significance of this investment in his political journey. Without hesitation, he reached for his card and declared, "I'm ready to pay the fee and fill out the form. I want you all to know that I’m determined to take down George. All I need is your support.” The party members present were taken aback by his immediate response and determination. Murmurs and whispers rippled through the room as they watched Charles make the payment. Some couldn't help but comment on his wealth and determination. One party member whispered to another, "He's not holding back, is he? That's a lot of money." Another responded, "It's motivating to see someone who's not afraid to stand up to George. Maybe he's the change we've been waiting for." The president, after confirming the payment, handed Charles the form. "Welcome to our party, Charles. You've made a significant commitment to this cause, and we're thrilled to have you as part of our team." Charles took the form with a sense of purpose and determination. "I'm ready to fight for justice and accountability in this city. George must step down from his position so that this city will be free from his tyranny.” With the form in hand, he was told to present it to Mr. George, the governor, in his hotel. The message was clear: as an aspiring Governor, George did not have the authority to interfere with Charles's business. The president emphasized, "Your rights as an aspiring candidate should be respected. You are under the protection of our party. Once George sees this form, he will have no choice but to leave your business alone. You are now protected.” “Thank you very much.” Charles said. “Everything about this party is contained in that file; our meeting days, rules, regulations, and members. We hope to see you at our next meeting. For now, go and save your company from that wicked man.” “I will definitely be here.” Charles answered and turned to the rest of the members. “Thank you for giving me this chance.” Then he exited the room with a broad smile on his face. Leaving the party headquarters, Charles was filled with a sense of accomplishment. He finally had the protection of a party and now, George or any other politician would not trample on his rights. Driving back to the hotel, the system’s screen appeared before his eyes. [You have successfully completed the task. You will receive 2 black card points. You can choose to purchase the following skills; Bronze: Super Mind Intelligence. Silver; Instant Charm Skills. Gold; Speak And Obey Skills] Charles smiled as he reviewed the skills the system had offered him. He was going to need them to win against George in the next election. “That man will cry when I take his position from him. He will regret ever messing with me.” He said to himself.