Chapter 769: Rising from Humble Beginnings

Adam thought carefully for a moment.

“By all conventional logic, it should be a regulatory agency,” Adam answered earnestly. “It would be responsible for safety approvals and environmental assessments for nuclear power plants, and for coordinating supply and demand in the electricity market.”

“It should be like a traffic cop, ensuring all the vehicles on the road follow the rules.”

Leo smiled and shook his head.

“No, Adam. What you’re describing is the job of the Federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Department of Energy. If the Pennsylvania Energy Administration were just another traffic cop, I wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble to bring you here.”

Leo stood up and began to pace around the room.

“We aren’t traffic cops. We’re the drivers.”

“We’re going to personally drive this heavy truck called ‘nuclear power’ and forcibly carve out a path through the complex political and economic terrain of Pennsylvania.”

Leo stopped in front of Adam.

“I’ve read your resume, and I know what you’ve been through. You have academic achievements and you stand by your principles.”

“You once tried to use the rules to correct a mistake, but you were crushed by the rules themselves.”

Leo’s voice softened slightly.

“That’s why we need someone who understands the technology but doesn’t blindly worship the existing rules. We need someone who can think outside the system, yet is desperate to get back inside and prove himself.”

“I believe you are the most suitable candidate.”

“That’s also why we barely interviewed you.”

Leo chuckled. “You see? You don’t even know what our agency is supposed to do.”

Adam looked at Leo, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him.

He understood the subtext in Leo’s words. This was a position that required not only professional skill but also the courage to break the mold.

‘We chose him because he’s an abandoned mad dog.’

Roosevelt let out a light laugh in Leo’s mind.

‘This young man’s disguise is too good. On the surface, he looks every bit the unlucky schmuck cast out by the bureaucracy, but the cold glint deep in his eyes is extremely dangerous.’

‘That whole mess two years ago affected him deeply.’

‘That rotten bureaucratic system didn’t just steal his research; it tried to completely erase his right to exist by blacklisting him throughout the industry. For the past two years, he’s been chewing on that humiliation every single minute of every single day.’

‘Right now, his mind is definitely not on some academic ideal, nor on the future of Pennsylvania’s energy.’

‘His only wish is to tear the system that once humiliated him to shreds.’

‘He wants to see those high-ranking Department of Energy officials in their custom-made suits lose their jobs right in front of him. He wants to see those so-called industry titans tremble under the regulations he’ll write.’

‘A man driven by such deep-seated hatred is far more useful than those just looking for a promotion or a quick buck. As long as you can control him and give him a legitimate shell of authority to vent this rage, he’ll be the sharpest knife in your hand.’

‘Hatred is a fuel that can easily burn your hand, but the thrust it provides is something no bonus can ever buy.’

Adam stared at Leo, his breathing growing a little ragged.

He didn’t know if Leo had seen it—the humiliation of being ostracized by an entire industry, crushed by an invisible force. For the past two years, it had been gnawing at his heart like a venomous snake.

So when Ethan contacted him and gave him a brief background on the agency, he accepted without a second thought.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him to turn his life around. He had to prove he was up to the task.

“Those old experts may be technically skilled, but they’re too used to compromising with capital.”

Adam tried to follow Leo’s line of thinking.

“If one of them were made director, the Pennsylvania Energy Administration would sooner or later become just another version of the Department of Energy.”

“But I’m different. I won’t compromise.”

“Very good.”

Leo smiled. “Here, you don’t have to compromise with anyone. You only need to answer to me, and to Pennsylvania.”

“I understand, Mr. Mayor.” Adam’s voice became firm.

“What about the finances?” Adam asked. “Restarting the power plant will require a massive amount of capital, and the Pennsylvania Energy Administration doesn’t even have an official corporate account yet.”

Leo didn’t answer. Instead, he looked toward the door.

The sound of high heels echoed in the empty underground corridor.

Evelyn Saint Cloud pushed open the flimsy wooden door and walked in.

The cramped storage room clearly made her extremely uncomfortable.

She frowned, lightly dusting a layer of dirt from a chair with a silk-gloved finger before reluctantly sitting down.

“Leo, are you really planning to command an energy war from this dog kennel?” Evelyn’s tone was mocking.

“The environment doesn’t matter. What matters is what we have in our hands,” Leo said, looking at Evelyn.

A few days ago at Saint Claude Manor, they had finalized their agreement.

Leo needed Evelyn’s capital and methods to force Constellation Energy to hand over ownership of Three Mile Island, which was the core purpose behind his establishment of the Pennsylvania Energy Administration.

In exchange, the position of Chief Financial Officer of the newly formed Pennsylvania Energy Administration, as well as the right to allocate cash flow for Pennsylvania’s energy infrastructure for the next several decades, would be taken over by the Saint Claude Family’s team.

“This is Ms. Evelyn, the head of the Saint Claude Trust,” Leo introduced her to Adam. “She will be serving as the Chief Financial Officer of the Pennsylvania Energy Administration.”

Adam looked with some surprise at this woman who radiated the arrogance of capital.

He knew of the Saint Claude Family. Leo wanted to hand the Pennsylvania Energy Administration’s purse strings over to them?

That was no different from making a deal with the devil.

“Don’t worry, Director Adam.” Evelyn, having keenly sensed Adam’s wariness, sneered. “We’re all in the same boat.”

“Although the Energy Administration Bureau’s full board structure is five people, these are extraordinary times, which call for extraordinary measures.” Leo stepped forward, bringing both Adam and Evelyn into his line of sight. “The two of you—one is the director, representing the administrative side, and the other is the CFO, in charge of finances.”

“That’s enough for now. I’ll fill the remaining three seats gradually.”

Leo began to lay out the specific tactical assignments.

“Adam, your first task is to build the framework.”

“I want you to assemble an administrative enforcement team of at least twenty people within one week. Issue them uniforms, vehicles, and even body cams.”

“I want the Energy Administration Bureau to look like a powerful department capable of shutting down any non-compliant enterprise at a moment’s notice.”

“Mr. Mayor.”

Adam adjusted his glasses and spoke hesitantly.

“The agency has just been established. Shouldn’t we build up the internal technical and legal teams first, rather than recruiting enforcement officers right away?”

Leo looked at Adam, and his imposing aura made Adam subconsciously shrink back.

“Director Halt.”

Leo’s voice was cold and hard.

“When I am speaking, do not interrupt. That is the first rule.”

“You will ask questions when I give you permission to ask questions.”

Adam’s face flushed red. He lowered his head and said no more.

Leo turned his gaze back to Evelyn.

“Evelyn, your task is to establish an independent financial settlement system and open a channel for exchanging Alliance notes.”

“Once the personnel and funds are in place.”

Leo picked up a Mark pen.

He drew a large circle on the whiteboard.

“This will be your first tough battle.”

Next to the circle, Leo wrote a number heavily: 500.

“Within the 500-acre buffer zone around the nuclear power plant, there are currently about two hundred-some households, as well as some small commercial facilities.”

“I want you and your teams to bring all 500 acres of this land under the ownership of the Energy Administration Bureau within two weeks.”