Back To Work
The following takes place following: Goblin of Peace
For the past three weeks, Master Devlin had been buried in repairs at Devlin Manor. With no internet, television, or phone reception, he’d embraced the quiet: patching walls, restoring floorboards, and breathing life back into the long-neglected house. It had been a rare stretch of solitude—no headlines, no interruptions.
This morning, with the worst of the work behind him, he headed down into Waldron to pick up supplies. On his way through the square, a newspaper stand caught his eye. There it was—bold, front and centre in The Waldopolis Chronicle:
“Mayor Travers Defiant Amidst Plummeting Approval Ratings”
He paused, bought a copy, and headed outside, finding a nearby bench. Settling in, he unfolded the paper and began to read the article.
Mayor Travers Defiant Amidst Plummeting Approval Ratings
By Jennifer Weary | The Waldopolis Chronicle
Mayor Harris Travers issued a defiant address via his Traverscast platform late last night, denouncing what he described as “fake news” and “crooked, misleading pollsters who speak out of turn.” He asserted confidently, “Real Waldonians know a good thing when they see it—especially a national treasure such as Travers—and they will trust the plan.”
His remarks follow the release of Sunday’s Wallop poll, which places his approval rating at a stark 17%. Travers, who assumed office by default after all other candidates were incapacitated, has faced persistent allegations of misconduct and controversial leadership decisions. The most recent flashpoint: the costly and widely criticized relocation of the Mayor’s office to the Widdlington Citadel, a move that appears to have exacerbated public dissatisfaction.
The mayor’s tenure has been marked by a series of public health and infrastructure challenges, including the "Super Flu" epidemic two months ago and the ongoing “Barnacle Crisis” currently affecting the city. Despite these emergencies, constituents have expressed frustration over what many perceive as the mayor’s distant and disengaged leadership style.
Critics note that Travers is rarely seen in public. Since relocating to the penthouse suite on the 127th floor of the Citadel, his primary form of communication has been through Traverscast, a broadcasting initiative recently expanded citywide after a pilot in Little Akiba—yet another taxpayer-funded project drawing scrutiny.
Local business owners also report difficulties engaging with the administration, citing broken promises on accessibility and support. Marina Wentworth, 59, of consultancy firm Wentworth & Mallow, stated:
“I’ve been trying to get a meeting for weeks, but my appointment requests keep being refused. Every time I turn up, I’m stopped at the lobby. Meanwhile, there’s a steady stream of attractive young women heading upstairs like it’s some kind of conveyor belt. What on earth is going on up there? It’s completely disgraceful.”
One apparent exception to his inaccessibility is his continued presence at local gentlemen’s clubs, most notably The Sass Hole in Wallywood, which Travers has openly endorsed.
A regular patron, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted:
“Yeah, I see him at the Sass Hole Lounge all the time. Usually drunk. He’s pretty generous though—buys everyone a round when he comes in. I dunno what people are complaining about; he seems to be living up to his promise of supporting local business.”
While club proprietor Chantelle Devereux declined a formal interview, she described Travers as a “damn fine Mayor” and added that “his help has been invaluable.”
Nevertheless, public sentiment tells a different story. With approval ratings at historic lows and mounting criticism across the city, the position of Mayor Travers—technically unelected—appears increasingly tenuous.
The Master sighed and shook his head. Looked like it was time he returned to Widdlington.
****
The Master lands at the top citadel and storms straight down to Mayors office. He finds Ermintrude at the reception desk outside. There's also a number of attractive women sitting in the waiting area.
Ermintrude: Oh hi Master Devlin! Welcome back! Did you have a nice holiday?
Master Devlin: Oh, Ermintrude. Hello. You're working here again?
Ermintrude: That's right.
Master Devlin: I see... I'd heard you might be leaving. That you and Goblin Slayer were going back to your own realm.
Ermintrude: Well, we did actually try to leave but um... We couldn't actually figure out how... Then Mr Travers offered me this job after the previous receptionist quit.
Master Devlin: Oh I see... Yes I understand it can be quite tricky to leave unless Ed wants you to.
Ermintrude: Ed?
Master Devlin: Yes but it doesn't matter. Anyway, I really must see Travers...
Ermintrude: Oh you can’t go in just now he’s with a …
The Master storms into Travers' office while he is receiving an oil change. The Master recoils in disgust.
Travers: Hellooo Master Devlin...
The Master turns to see a very disturbed Mr Konrad sitting in the corner, staring into space.
Master Devlin: good lord Mr Konrad… you are in here too… while he is…
Mr Konrad: Mayor Travers said it was to help with my recovery. I don’t know why.
The girl grabs her dress to cover herself and scampers off out the door.
Travers: Nice, Master Devlin. First you abandon me and now you interrupt my oil change...
The Master slams the Waldopolis Chronicle down on Travers desk.
Master Devlin: What the fuck is this Travers?
Travers: What, what... this? Filthy gutter trash press, Master Devlin. Nothing more. You know how it is—these pinko, commie rats have nothing better to do than complain about my hands-off approach. Plus, they just can't stand the fact that a fine, upstanding huhwite goblin of good character—such as me, Mr. Travers—is mayor. They want that Jay-Quellin Jones woman. Apparently, they didn't get the memo about her untimely death—thanks, of course, to Mr. Boothe.
I mean, look at this... they say I’m never around, that I don’t support local businesses—and then they quote some fella confirming the opposite! It’s all just a big joke, Master Devlin. I wouldn’t worry about it.
Travers walks over to the balcony and looks down upon the city from up in the clouds.
Travers:These...people...Are speaking out of turn...They don't even know what's good for them. But Mayor Travers does
Master Devlin: An upstanding goblin of good character huh? I just walked in on you being fellated by some broad off the street and you encouraging Mr Konrad to sit and watch.
Ermintrude (over the tannoy): Mayor Travers, your wife is on the phone.
Travers: Ha ha my wife...MY WIFE?? ahem...Uh, put her through, Ermintrude..
Travers nervously fixes his hair and tie as he picks up the receiver, forgetting that it's not a video call
Travers: Hello Mrs Travers, It is me, your husband! Mayor Travers.
Comical high pitched sqeaking voice is heard from the handset.
Master Devlin: You call your wife Mrs Travers?
Travers: (covering microphone) Sometimes...The Travers household is rather formal
Mr Konrad's phone pings. He looks at the notification, sighs then turns on the TV.
Travers: Geez louise... That's all I need...
Master Devlin: Barnacles huh? They’ve not been in these parts in over a millennia...How long have you been keeping this from me Travers? Or have you not been paying attention? You know what, don’t answer. I already know what you’ve been doing
Travers pulls the phone away from his ear. Cartoonish telephone voice sqeaking continues to come from the loudspeaker
Travers: You haven't been here, master devlin! You left, remember?
Master Devlin: I was on holiday, but you could have sent word
Travers: We tried! We called the maldives! I had Mr boothe call every hotel You weren't there...
Master Devlin: Yes well, The editor interfered with my travel plans... But anyway, Is it true? Have you done nothing?
Travers: I dont know what I'm supposed to do... They just appeared! This is your department...
The phone squeaks louder.
Travers: Just a second...Sorry, Mrs Travers...Something's come up...And Master devlin just showed up. We've got some important things to deal with. I'll talk to you later...Ok..Yes fine...Fine...No, wear that other thing. The frilly one. Yeah... Alright....Good bye...
Travers puts the phone down.
Travers: Mrs Travers says "Hi, Senpai"...
Master Devlin: I will visit her later. We need to deal with this...
Travers: Like I said, I'm not sure how. We're kind of in a jam here.
Master Devlin: Why didn’t you call the Masters Council for help?
Travers: I asked master Ron. He wasn't much help
Master Devlin: Well of course he wasn’t, what were you asking him for? He’s a senile old fool
Travers: He was the only one we could find, Besides, you don't know the whole picture! We've got the weasel, David Rubin-Goldenstein, weaponising the law against us... We tried to get a clean up crew to remove the barnacles but now he's suing the city on their behalf...We're tied up in legal disputes. Something that gutter trash press neglect to report...
Master Devlin: I see...
Travers: Apparently the barnacles have interdimensional rights. We can't kill them or deport them, It seems. He has these radical judges activists judeges sympathetic to his insanity...
Master Devlin: The Masters Council can veto such rulings.
Travers: Well good...Perhaps they'd like to get involved then
Master Devlin: Well Im here now. Let’s attend to the barnacle matter first, then we’ll attend to Goldenstein. He’s becoming a real nuisance.
Travers: Well I guess it's time for another speech. Need to reassure the people... You can help write it now that you're here...
Master Devlin: Hrmm... Fine...
Season 7 continues in THE MILF vs THE MAYOR