"They would have to either lease the land from you or get your signed permission."
"You would hold the power of life and death over all comrcial activities on that land."
"You would be a god there."
After writing these three points, Leo pushed the sheet of paper across the table to Morganfield.
It was all there in black and white.
What was written on it wasn’t just ordinary business terms, but a detailed instruction manual on how to sell off the city’s sovereignty.
Morganfield picked up the paper.
He looked up, sizing up the young man before him with a completely new perspective.
He had always thought Leo Wallace was a radical idealist, a street fighter who had risen by inciting populism.
He had thought that even if this young man had learned to compromise, it would only be to engage in the usual quid pro quo of politics, trading power for money.
But he was wrong.
When it ca to selling off state assets, this young man was more ruthless than the greediest capitalist and more professional than the most seasoned lawyer.
He didn’t just understand politics; he understood even better how to exploit legal loopholes to build an indestructible comrcial empire.
If this plan were truly carried out, the Morganfield Family would have a complete lock on Pittsburgh’s economic lifeline for the next half-century.
This was far, far more than what he had originally wanted.
Morganfield stared at the paper, filled with monopolistic clauses, for a long ti.
"Leo, these three points are indeed legally perfect."
Morganfield extended a finger and flicked the paper, making a crisp sound.
"But on a practical level, this is pure fantasy."
He looked up, his eyes locking onto Leo’s.
"Do you think this is a hundred years ago? Do you think that just because City Hall stamps a docunt, I can do whatever I want on the streets?"
"We still have the Federal Governnt over our heads. We have the antitrust division, the Federal Trade Commission, and the FBI."
"Such a blatant monopoly, such a naked transfer of benefits—the mont it starts, it will definitely attract those hounds from Washington. They’ll put my accounts under a microscope and investigate every single transaction record for this piece of land."
Morganfield let out a cold laugh.
"You’re just a mayor, Leo. In Pittsburgh, you might call the shots, but to those federal agents, your executive orders aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on."
"Do you have what it takes to block a subpoena from the Departnt of Justice? Do you have what it takes to handle an antitrust investigation?"
"If you can’t, then this piece of paper is just a one-way ticket to prison for ."
Facing the oligarch’s skepticism, Leo’s expression remained perfectly calm.
"Of course I can’t do that," Leo admitted frankly. "I’m just a mayor. My reach doesn’t extend to the Departnt of Justice in Washington."
"But there is a senator who can."
Morganfield raised an eyebrow, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
"Are you talking about Sanders?"
"That old man from Vermont? Don’t be ridiculous. He’s certainly loud in the Senate, but he’s an outsider."
"He has no friends in the Departnt of Justice, and he has no roots in Pennsylvania. Once the Federation Agencies really start investigating, he won’t be able to do anything besides complain about it on TV."
"No, Douglas."
Leo leaned forward, his voice low.
"The senator I’m talking about isn’t Sanders."
"Then who?" Morganfield chuckled. "Surely you don’t an Warren?"
Leo shook his head. "I an John Murphy."
Morganfield was stunned.
"Murphy?" He frowned, as if making sure he’d heard the na correctly. "The John Murphy who’s just been coasting in the House of Representatives? He’s just a representative."
"Not for long."
Leo’s gaze sharpened.
"As I just said, this five-hundred-million-US-Dollar bond isn’t just for building the port. It’s also the seed money for John Murphy’s campaign for a US Senate seat from Pennsylvania."
"We are pushing him into that position."
Morganfield was silent for a mont, then shook his head.
"This is absurd. Senator Warren is a Republican and an old friend of mine for many years. He has deep roots in Washington and a seat on the Judiciary Committee. Why would I betray a current ally for a Murphy whose future is uncertain?"
"Because Warren won’t be a senator for much longer."
Leo’s voice was so calm it was chilling.
Morganfield narrowed his eyes. "What makes you say that? Your confidence?"
"Because I’m standing behind Murphy." Leo leaned forward again. "And because of the Democratic Party’s determination to take back Pennsylvania this ti."
"Douglas, you may not have realized yet what a high price the Democratic Party is willing to pay to win Pennsylvania, this key swing state, in the upcoming midterm elections."
"This isn’t just Murphy’s fight alone. Sanders, the Progressive super PACs, and even the Establishnt Faction that usually only cares about Wall Street—they’ve all reached a consensus: Pennsylvania must turn blue."
"Massive funding, top-tier campaign teams, plus statewide mobilization of the unions. When all this force cos together, even a veteran politician like Warren won’t be able to stand against the tide."
Leo extended a finger and tapped it lightly on the table.
"Warren will lose. It’s not a question of probability, it’s a question of ti. If you continue to bet on him, the day he loses the election, you’ll truly be all alone in Washington."
"On what grounds?" Morganfield set down his cigar.
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