Chapter 757 - 354: Thunder Celestial Master

Roosevelt began to teach Leo an unconventional method of maintaining power.

"Because the conventional power structure you’ve built has an expiration date."

"The limitation of secular power is that your current alliance is built around your position as Mayor, or your future prospects of becoming Governor or President. Once your term ends or you lose an election, those relationships will turn cold."

"The bureaucrats and businessmen who once answered to you will quickly find the next center of power."

"But what a mystical society builds is a pact of identity, not a professional contract."

"Even if you are no longer the Governor, as long as you remain at the core of this circle, you will still be the supreme mentor of the Brotherhood."

"Moreover, this kind of circle ensures the intergenerational transfer of power. Your children can go to Yale or Harvard and directly plug into the status you’ve left behind, ensuring your family’s interests are protected even after you’re out of office."

Roosevelt continued, "This type of organization also addresses the risk of betrayal."

"In a community built purely on mutual interest, everyone is a rational opportunist."

"When the reward for betraying you outweighs the reward for loyalty, they won’t hesitate to stab you in the back, just as Sterling did before."

"You need to establish a loyalty that transcends mere interest."

"The purpose of such a circle is to elevate what is originally a fragile monetary transaction into a kind of shared destiny."

"When everyone has participated in some highly controversial or private ritual together, it creates a bond of complicity."

"Everyone has a piece of leverage on everyone else. This loyalty, founded on shared secrets and belief, is in some ways far more stable than loyalty based simply on money."

After hearing this analysis, Leo fell into deep thought.

He looked at Stock, who was sitting opposite him.

’If I need to build a circle based on mysticism, why does it have to be Eastern mysticism?’ Leo asked Roosevelt in his mind. ’Western religions have plenty of divination and astrology, and we’re more familiar with that system.’

"Because Western religion has no scarcity value in this country’s political ecosystem."

Roosevelt hit the nail on the head.

"From a practical standpoint, the core of Western religion is sin and final judgment."

"If you, as a Governor, were to forcibly acquire land or sacrifice the environment for a natural gas pipeline project, under the logic of Western religion, you are committing a sin. You would need to go to church and confess."

"This would place a huge psychological burden on the decision-maker and also carry the political risk of moral impeachment."

"But Eastern philosophy—from the little I know of Zen—emphasizes timing and position. It doesn’t speak of absolute good and evil; it speaks of balance and flowing with the current."

"If you use this brand of Eastern mysticism to explain your political actions, your behavior is no longer greedy or cruel, but rather an adaptation to the changing tides of the universe."

"This amoral logic for decision-making allows high-level politicians to have a stronger psychological defense mechanism when making cold-hearted exchanges of interests."

"It is a very practical moral framework."

There was a hint of admiration in Roosevelt’s voice.

"In terms of scarcity, it’s also more exclusive."

"In the elite circles of Washington or Philadelphia, Christian faith is standard issue. If all you do is attend church services, you’re no different from your voters or even the welder on your payroll. It fails to create any separation of status."

"But Eastern mysticism is profound, obscure, and possesses a strong sense of exotic sophistication."

"Imagine this: a few key stakeholders—you, a corporate CEO, a top lawyer—sitting in a secret room, discussing the transformation of yin and yang, the karmic fortune of dragon veins, or the cycle of reincarnation."

"This invisibly constructs a linguistic system with a high barrier to entry. Anyone who doesn’t understand this language is forever excluded from the true core of power."

Leo looked at Stock, and his expression began to change.

He saw a craftsman who could be used to forge a sophisticated political tool.

Of course, all of this was predicated on one condition: that Stock was telling the truth.

He had to be a pure opportunist, a charlatan only in it for the money.

If there were other powers behind him, he would be a ticking time bomb.

Leo decided to use him for now, but at the same time, he would have to be placed under the strictest surveillance.

"Fraud."

William Saint Cloud suddenly snorted.

Hearing Stock admit so candidly that he was only in it for the money, a wave of indignation washed over him.

He had thought he’d met a reclusive master, but it turned out he was just a tacky salesman.

"Let’s go, Leo." William stood up, his face a mask of impatience. "I hate it when people take me for a fool. I’ve seen plenty of these street cons in Las Vegas."

William reached out to pull Leo up, wanting to immediately leave this coffee shop that made him feel cheap.

But Leo didn’t move.

He remained seated, his fingers tapping lightly on the tabletop, his gaze still fixed on Stock’s face.

"Not so fast, William."

Leo’s voice was steady.

"Since we’re already here, we might as well let him try."

"Try what? How to swindle me out of my money?" William rolled his eyes.

"Test his eye."

Leo turned his head, giving William a meaningful look.

"This feng shui stuff is all about the harmony between a person and their environment. Isn’t that villa of yours new? Since Mr. Stock claims to be an expert, let’s have him take a look."

"If he can’t point out anything legitimate, it won’t be too late to send him packing then."