Chapter 755 - 353: Feeling Them Out

Leo followed the stone path of the estate to a separate building behind the main residence.

This was the large meeting room specially set up by the Saint Claude Family.

Pushing open the glass door, he found a scene resembling a bustling trading floor.

Dozens of economic experts and government legal advisors in crisp suits were gathered around several long tables.

The tables were piled high with files on Pennsylvania’s energy bills, franchise rights, and federal antitrust laws.

Leo glanced around but didn’t see Evelyn.

He walked to a corner, sat in an empty chair, and pulled out his phone to check the time.

While he waited, his thoughts drifted back to the strange matter William had mentioned earlier.

A Feng Shui Master.

In this political arena, tightly wrapped in capital and law, a symbol of Eastern mysticism had suddenly appeared.

It all seemed so out of place.

’Mr. President, what do you make of this?’ Leo asked in his mind.

’It’s illogical,’ Roosevelt’s voice quickly responded. ’Political bribery usually involves campaign funds, offshore accounts, or high-paying sinecures.’

’Using feng shui consultation as a pretext to approach a Governor... it’s a very unconventional method.’

’I think it’s a form of infiltration,’ Leo analyzed. ’Combined with the news from Houston, Asian consortiums are also buying up large quantities of Pennsylvania’s natural gas. This Feng Shui Master might be a feeler they’ve sent out.’

Roosevelt was silent for a moment.

’In my life, I’ve dealt with leaders from many countries and learned about all sorts of political cultures,’ Roosevelt said slowly. ’But I must admit, I lack an intuitive understanding of this kind of Eastern mysticism.’

As a devout Episcopalian, Roosevelt’s worldview was primarily built on Western religious concepts of salvation and American pragmatism.

He believed in the balance of power, in economic principles, and in powerful ships and cannons.

’From my perspective, if a man wants to change his fate, he should vote, form a Union, or join the army—not change the direction his door faces.’ Roosevelt’s tone held a hint of bewilderment.

’But, Mr. President, cultural differences are often the best cover,’ Leo countered. ’To a Western Politician, feng shui might just seem like a harmless personal superstition, or even some kind of exotic entertainment. That’s precisely what lowers our guard.’

’Think about it. If a lobbyist with a briefcase went to see William, the FBI and the media’s paparazzi would be on him in an instant. But if it’s a Feng Shui Master in a Tang suit, under the guise of adjusting his "qi" and fortune, who would pay any attention?’

Leo’s voice grew heavy.

’They’re exploiting our lack of understanding of Eastern culture. Under the cover of a feng shui discussion, they can conduct any level of exchange of interests with William.’

’Besides, this kind of mystical suggestion holds a fatal attraction for an empty-headed, second-generation rich kid like William, who’s desperate to maintain his good fortune.’

’You’re right, Leo.’

Roosevelt quickly adjusted his thinking; he was never one to cling stubbornly to his own opinions.

’Behind every anomaly lies a specific motive.’

’Whether he believes in God or feng shui, as long as he’s trying to get close to the core of power, he’s seeking to gain something.’

’Go see him,’ Roosevelt stated his idea. ’Go with William and take a look at this so-called Feng Shui Master.’

’I want to know which direction’s gold his compass is pointing to.’

Leo nodded.

Just then, the side door of the meeting room opened.

Evelyn walked in quickly.

Seeing Leo, she came straight over and sat down beside him.

"What brings you here all of a sudden?"

"It’s been a week with no word. I had to come see if you’d gone missing."

"Things are a bit complicated right now," Evelyn said, getting straight to the point. "The financial side is relatively straightforward. We’ve already opened a settlement channel between the Alliance’s notes and the US Dollar, and a few of the Saint Claude Family’s offshore funds have ample capital ready."

Evelyn took out a tablet and pulled up a complex diagram of legal relationships.

"The main problem is with policy and regulation, which is far more troublesome than we anticipated."

"After all, Three Mile Island is under the direct jurisdiction of the Federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission."

"They’re demanding we redo the entire five-year environmental impact assessment, starting from the geological survey."

Evelyn’s brow was tightly furrowed.

"Not only that, but the Environmental Protection Agency is also preparing to file for a preemptive injunction in Federal Court to forcibly halt our restart plan, on the grounds that the cooling water discharge could affect the ecosystem of the Susquehanna River."

"The legal team is trying to find exemption clauses, but federal law is like an iron net. It’s hard to find a loophole that can deliver a fatal blow."

Leo listened quietly.

He knew these difficulties were real; fighting the entire federal bureaucracy was no easy task.

Leo looked at Evelyn. "I need you to give me solutions. Even if they’re administrative measures that walk a gray line, or political bargaining chips we can use for leverage."

"I want an executable plan, not a summary of difficulties."

Leo’s tone was calm.

His main purpose for coming to Philadelphia this time was to check on the progress and identify the problems.

Now that he knew the crux of the issue was administrative barriers at the federal level, excessive urging and pressure would be pointless.

Evelyn took a deep breath.

"I’ll force them to come up with a solution."

"Also, one more thing." Leo changed the subject, looking Evelyn in the eye. "Did you know that a Feng Shui Master contacted William, saying he wants to help him with the feng shui of his mansion?"

Evelyn froze for a second, a surprised look on her face.

"A Feng Shui Master? I didn’t know. William’s personal schedule is handled by his personal assistant." Evelyn frowned. "How did a charlatan like that get in touch with him? Do you need me to have security get rid of him?"

"No need." Leo stood up. "You focus on dealing with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency. Don’t worry about William’s side of things. I’ll personally go and see what’s going on."

Leo was about to leave, but he paused at the door.

With his back to Evelyn, he mentioned casually.

"Oh, right, I heard something else. Someone approached William, wanting to buy his Governor’s veto power."

The air in the room froze for a second.

"I had him refuse."

Evelyn’s voice came from behind him.

Leo slowly turned around. He didn’t speak, just watched Evelyn quietly.

His gaze wasn’t fierce or angry, but it carried an indescribable sense of pressure.

The silence lasted for five seconds.

Evelyn’s hand, which had been flipping through documents, stopped.

She looked up and met Leo’s gaze.

As a strong woman who had fought in the business world for many years, she rarely felt nervous, but at this moment, she did.

"It was a minor player," Evelyn explained, her voice tinged with an unconscious urgency. "An old Lobbying Group from Harrisburg, representing a few guys who want to quarry for stone in a state park. They wanted William to veto an environmental bill."

"I thought it was a stupid move that would tarnish our image, so I just had William refuse."

"I didn’t think it was worth reporting to you. After all, you have enough big things to deal with every day."

Leo kept looking at her.

"Evelyn."

Leo spoke, his voice soft.

"What’s worth reporting and what isn’t—that standard isn’t for you to decide."

"William is the Governor. Everyone knows he’s a puppet, but the pen in his hand, every name he signs, every bill he vetoes, represents the highest authority in Pennsylvania."

"Someone trying to buy his veto power means someone is trying to bypass me and get directly to the core of power."

Leo walked in front of Evelyn and looked down at her.

"This time it’s a quarry. What about next time? What if someone offers a higher price for him to veto our nuclear power bill? What if someone wants to buy a pardon from him?"

"You think this is a small matter."

"But in my eyes, it’s a vulnerability."

"And... I don’t know if your intelligence is wrong, or if I’m misremembering."

"That Lobbying Group... I believe it also has ties to some traditional energy companies."

Evelyn’s face turned a little pale as she realized the gravity of the situation.

"I’m sorry." Evelyn took a deep breath. "It was my oversight. From now on, I’ll send you a brief on all of William’s contacts, big or small, immediately."

"Good."

A faint smile returned to Leo’s face.

"We’re partners, Evelyn."

"Trust is the foundation, but transparency is the guarantee."

Leo turned and walked out of the meeting room.

He felt a profound sense of exhaustion.

’This was the price of being at the top.’

’He couldn’t trust anyone.’

’Not even a deeply-bound ally like Evelyn, not even a partner who had fought alongside him for so long.’

’Perhaps Evelyn really hadn’t thought much of it. Perhaps she was just acting out of good intentions, or was simply used to making decisions for her good-for-nothing cousin.’

’But he couldn’t afford not to overthink it.’

’Because any tiny oversight, any piece of ignored information, could be the crack that brings the whole edifice crumbling down.’

’He had to remain constantly vigilant, had to scrutinize everyone around him like a paranoid tyrant.’

’The feeling was awful.’

’It was a lonely, helpless feeling, yet one he couldn’t escape.’

’Mr. President.’

Leo whispered in his mind.

’I’m now starting to feel the importance of Edgar Hoover more and more.’

’Yes.’

Roosevelt’s voice rang out in his mind.

’While I despised Hoover as a person, and I hated his underhanded methods, I have to admit that I couldn’t do without him.’

’Intelligence is the eyes and ears of power.’

’All decisions are made based on intelligence.’

’If your intelligence sources are singular, if you can only hear what the people around you want you to hear, then you’re blind and deaf.’

Roosevelt began to analyze Leo’s current situation.

’Your board is getting bigger and bigger.’

’From Pittsburgh to Harrisburg, from Washington to Wall Street, more and more people are involved, and the chain of interests is growing longer and longer.’

’You need more sources of information to cross-reference and verify its accuracy.’

’You can’t just listen to Evelyn, and you can’t just listen to Ethan.’

’Human nature cannot withstand temptation, Leo.’

’As your power expands, the people under you will face more and more temptations.’

’Money, status, even threats from your enemies.’

’You need to know their movements at all times—who they’re eating with, who they’re calling, how much money has been added to their accounts.’

’This isn’t a lack of trust. It’s control.’

Leo sighed.

’But, Mr. President, I’m just a Mayor.’

’If I set up an intelligence department in City Hall specifically to monitor my own people, that would be too outrageous.’

’Of course you can’t do it openly.’

Roosevelt laughed.

’You need to find the right opportunity. Now is obviously not the best time.’

’But an opportunity will always present itself.’

’As long as you are always prepared, when chaos descends again, that will be the time for you to install these eyes.’

Leo arrived in front of the estate’s main building.

The sun was still bright. He glanced at William waiting for him in the distance.

That fool was still carefree.

Perhaps only fools could be truly happy.