The Villain's Ledger Has No Heroes Chapter 21: The Price of a Black Token

The capital charged visitors three different prices for crossing its western gate. Merchants paid a transit duty, pilgrims bought a certificate of religious purpose, and officials surrendered the better part of their morning to an inspection of seals. Shen Qiao, who had so far failed to become any of those things permanently, was charged all three. "A provisional collector is an official," he…