Chapter 653 - 304: Order at the Dining Table

Harrisburg, the Red Dress Club.

This was the state capital’s most exclusive private club, and tonight, its largest banquet hall had been booked for a private event.

A long dining table was draped in a linen tablecloth, laden with exquisite silverware and crystal glasses.

Candle flames flickered gently in the faint breeze, illuminating every face.

Seated at the head of the table was, of course, Leo Wallace.

He looked relaxed, holding a glass of champagne, his head tilted as he listened to Evelyn, who sat beside him.

Evelyn Saint Cloud wore a deep purple evening gown tonight, a diamond necklace gracing her neck.

She was the sole representative of capital at this banquet.

The sides of the table were filled with the key figures who had contributed to this victory.

Ethan Hawke was clinking glasses with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dante Russo.

"Dante, that was a beautiful strike of the gavel," Ethan said with a smile. "I’d bet that was the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard."

Russo roared with laughter, the ruddy glow on his face appearing especially oily in the candlelight.

"That’s because Leo gave me a good gavel," Russo said, lowering his voice. "About the nomination for that district... no problems from Washington, right?"

"Don’t worry." Ethan cut into a piece of steak. "The chairman has already signed off. As soon as you announce your candidacy, party resources will flow into your account like tap water."

Russo nodded in satisfaction and drained his glass.

On the other side, Ron Smith and Joe Byers were studying the menu.

"This caviar isn’t bad," Joe Byers said, scooping up a large spoonful. He ignored all etiquette and shoveled it straight into his mouth. "Heard it’s two hundred US dollars an ounce?"

"Have some class, Old Joe," Ron Smith said, taking a puff of his cigar. "Don’t act like some country bumpkin who’s never eaten before."

He turned his head to look at Marcus Thorne, who was seated across from him.

"Marcus, about the site for that data center, could you reconsider Erie?" Ron asked tentatively. "We have existing factory buildings over there, plus cheap electricity."

Marcus pushed up his glasses, a polite yet distant smile on his face.

"Mayor Ron, this was decided by an algorithm." Marcus tapped his head. "The data center needs the best possible cooling environment. The current model shows that an abandoned mine deep in the Appalachian Mountains is the optimal solution."

"However..." Marcus’s tone shifted. "That industrial park for mechanical processing in Erie... we could upgrade its network bandwidth and give it priority access to our supercomputing center."

Ron’s eyes lit up.

"Done."

This was the tone of the dinner.

On the surface, everyone was clinking glasses and making toasts, chatting about fine food and the weather.

But beneath the crisp clinking of glasses and the scraping of knives and forks, a network of interests covering all of Pennsylvania was being rapidly woven and reinforced.

Every exchanged glance, every seemingly casual joke, was deciding the flow of hundreds of millions of US dollars, the rise or fall of a city, the future of a politician.

Leo sat there, watching it all.

He didn’t say much, merely nodding occasionally or raising his glass in a silent toast.

But he could feel everyone’s gaze revolving around him, subtly yet undeniably.

"Alina."

Leo suddenly spoke, looking toward the young woman sitting at the far end of the table.

Alina looked a little uneasy.

She was wearing a slightly worn jacket, which was the best piece of clothing she owned.

In this room filled with power and money, she seemed out of place.

"Don’t be nervous," Leo said with a smile. "How are the students?"

"They’re thrilled," Alina said, putting down her water glass. "When they heard the drug prices really dropped, everyone said you’re a hero."

"A hero?" Leo shook his head. "I’m no hero. I just did what had to be done."

He looked at Evelyn beside him.

"Evelyn, how are the preparations for the scholarship program for low-income students coming along?"

"The funding is in place," Evelyn said, elegantly cutting her foie gras. "Five million US dollars annually."

She glanced at Alina.

"If you’re willing, you could come be a director at the foundation. We need someone who understands the needs of the grassroots to oversee the review process."

Alina was stunned.

"Me? A director?"

"Why not?" Leo interjected. "You have the ability. Besides, we need you there to keep an eye on things, to make sure every penny is spent where it counts."

Alina looked at Leo, then at Evelyn.

She understood.

This was a sharing of power.

Leo was pulling her into this elite circle.

"Okay." Alina nodded. "I’ll do it."

The banquet continued.

As more alcohol was consumed, the atmosphere grew increasingly lively.

Ron started telling dirty jokes from his time as Mayor of Erie, making everyone roar with laughter.

Russo, meanwhile, was bragging to Ethan about his romantic escapades in Harrisburg.

Only Leo.

He maintained a subtle distance throughout.

He smiled, but he wasn’t truly happy.

He drank, but his eyes remained sober.

He was observing, assessing.

He was calculating the value of every person present, calculating how to maintain the operation of this massive machine at the lowest possible cost.

The feeling was familiar.

It was like playing a strategy game that never ended.

You are the player.

And everyone else is an NPC.

The dinner party ended.

Everyone began to leave, one after another.

Each person left with a satisfied smile, the kind of contentment that comes from getting a piece of the pie.

Leo stood at the door and saw the last person off.

It was Evelyn.

"Tonight was perfect," Evelyn said, draping a silver fox fur shawl over her shoulders. She stood in the wind and looked back at Leo. "You’re becoming more and more like a true leader."

"Is that so?" Leo smiled. "Maybe."

"Don’t work yourself too hard."

Evelyn reached out and adjusted his collar.

"Remember, you are the core of this Empire. If you fall, it will all come crashing down."

She turned and got into her car.

The black sedan drove off into the night.

Leo stood alone on the steps.

Silence finally descended.

He let out a sigh of relief, feeling the muscles in his shoulders gradually relax.

He took a cigarette from his pocket and lit it.

Smoke curled into the air.

’Mr. President.’

Leo thought.

’I’ve suddenly realized... I’ve gotten used to it.’

’Used to what?’ Roosevelt’s voice resounded.

’This context.’

Leo blew a smoke ring.

’At the dinner table just now, I was listening to them talk about projects worth tens of millions, about who should be promoted and who should be kicked out, and I didn’t feel the slightest bit of revulsion.’

’I even found it natural.’

’I felt like this is just how the world is supposed to be.’

Leo stared at the glowing tip of his cigarette.

’A few years ago, if I’d seen a scene like this, I would have been disgusted. I would have wanted to flip the table.’

’But now, I’m the one organizing the party. The one cutting the cake.’

’Have I... really changed somehow?’

Roosevelt was silent for a moment.

’Leo.’

The voice became gentle, filled with the understanding and tolerance an elder has for a junior.

’You haven’t changed.’

’You’ve just grown up.’

Roosevelt began to explain.

’The essence of power is distribution.’

’Whether in a democracy or a dictatorship, under capitalism or socialism, wherever there are groups of people, there is the problem of resource allocation.’

’You were angry before because you saw unfair distribution.’

’You are calm now because you hold the power to distribute.’

’You haven’t turned into one of those greedy Vampires.’

’Look at that table.’

Roosevelt guided Leo’s memories.

’Even though everyone was talking about their own interests, what was the result?’

’The factory in Erie is getting started, students received scholarships, and patients can buy cheaper medicine.’

’Isn’t this what you wanted?’

Leo nodded.

’Yes.’

’But...’

He gazed into the darkness in the distance.

’I used to think that the world would become a better place if I just got rid of the bad guys, if I just hanged all the capitalists.’

’Now I see it’s not that simple.’

’If you hang them all, who will build the factories? Who will manage the logistics? Who will provide the capital?’

’Killing them would only leave behind a wasteland.’

’Just like Luigi.’

Leo sighed.

’He killed a CEO. It was cathartic.’

’But if I hadn’t operated using these methods, his sacrifice would have been meaningless. Someone else would have immediately taken that CEO’s place, and the machine would have kept running, kept devouring people.’

’Violence can never solve the root of the problem.’

Leo concluded.

’Only interests.’

’Only by redesigning the flow of interests, by establishing a set of rules that benefits the majority...’

’...can you truly change the world.’

Roosevelt laughed.

It was a laugh filled with gratification.

’You’ve learned the art of compromise, and the wisdom of harnessing greed.’

’This is the maturity of a politician.’

’We don’t pursue purity. We pursue effectiveness.’

’We don’t eliminate the Demon; we tame the Demon.’

Leo dropped the cigarette butt and crushed it out with his foot.

He looked up at the cold, clear moon in the night sky.

He felt as if some kind of shackle on him had been broken.

’Let’s go, Mr. President.’

Leo walked toward the brightly lit main doors.

’There’s a lot to do tomorrow.’

’That fool William still has a pile of documents to sign, and I need to go whip the legislature into shape.’

’And then there’s Washington.’

Leo’s gaze sharpened.

’Those old-timers definitely won’t give up so easily.’

’We need to prepare for the next battle.’

’Of course.’

Roosevelt’s voice was filled with fighting spirit.

’As long as you’re ready, I’ll always be with you.’

’Go and conquer, my boy.’

’This world, in the end, belongs to those who dare to get their hands dirty.’