"But my plan never involved full automation, much less mass layoffs."

"I have a comprehensive plan."

Leo began to outline the plan Ethan had originally drafted.

"We’ll establish a special fund to retrain every single one of the current dockworkers for new positions. The older ones can take management jobs at the warehousing center, and the younger ones can learn to operate the new machinery. We’ll guarantee that every registered worker will have a job until they retire."

"Morganfield is being deliberately misleading." Leo threw the newspaper on the ground. "He intentionally omitted the plan for the workers, focusing only on the efficiency of the machines. He just wants to provoke you."

After hearing Leo’s explanation, the tension in Frank’s shoulders visibly eased.

He let out a long breath, and the hard lines on his face softened.

"I knew it!" Frank slapped his thigh. "I knew you wouldn’t do something so rotten! That old bastard Morganfield... he almost had me fooled, too."

Frank put his baseball cap back on and turned to leave.

"If that’s the case, what are we waiting for?"

"I’ll go out there right now. You come with me. We’ll call over all the guys from the docks."

"We’ll explain it to them face-to-face. Tell them that yes, the port is being renovated, but their jobs are rock-solid! Even more secure than before!"

"Once we clear the air, this strike will just dissolve on its own."

Frank’s hand was already on the doorknob.

"Wait!"

Leo suddenly shouted, hurrying around his desk and grabbing Frank’s arm.

"We can’t go."

Frank turned back, confused. "Why not? If it’s a misunderstanding, all we have to do is clear it up, right?"

Leo’s knuckles were turning white.

He looked at Frank’s simple, earnest eyes, and a wave of bitterness washed over him.

He saw the second layer of Morganfield’s trap—the most fatal one.

’If I go out there now, stand before the workers, and clear up the rumors...’

’I’d have to tell the workers, "Yes, we’re going to renovate the port, and I will provide you with the best guarantees and training."’

’The workers would cheer, and the strike would end.’

’But immediately after, a new problem would present itself.’ 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

’Since the Mayor has promised such a bright future, since the plan is ready to go, since everyone is in agreement...’

’Then, when does the work begin?’

’The dockworkers’ Union would instantly change their tune, shifting from opponents to the most aggressive proponents.’

’They’d be hounding me every day: When does the training start? When will the new equipment arrive? When will our better lives begin?’

’If that happened, I’d be completely boxed in.’

’I would be forced to make the "Inland Port Expansion" the number one priority on the agenda, forced to pour all administrative resources and funds into this bottomless pit.’

’And my original core strategy, "Revitalization Plan Phase Two," would have to be shelved because its resources would be siphoned away.’

’I’d have taken a huge detour, only to end up walking right into the sequence Morganfield had laid out for me.’

’Except this time, I’d be pushed into it by my own supporters.’

Moreover, if he made a promise now but couldn’t deliver on it anytime soon, couldn’t start the project immediately...

...the workers who had just been placated would feel like they’d been deceived a second time.

The anger that comes from crushed expectations is much harder to quell than simple fear.

The expectations had been raised to this point; there was no bringing them back down.

Leo let go of Frank’s arm, feeling a wave of powerlessness.

Morganfield hadn’t just started the fire; he’d smashed the buckets of water needed to put it out.

"What’s wrong, Leo?" Frank sensed something was off. "Is there a problem?"

Leo looked out the window.

Down in the square below, the crowd was growing larger.

"Frank, if I go and explain things now, I’ll have to start the port project immediately."

"But right now, all our money and energy have to go toward rebuilding the schools and the commercial district."

"We can’t fight a war on two fronts."

Frank froze.

He was a coarse man, but he wasn’t stupid.

He, too, realized the deadlock.

"Then... then what do we do?" Frank’s voice dropped. "Are we just going to let those guys out there curse your name?"

The situation was this:

In front of him, Moretti was blocking the way, holding up the budget and preventing Leo from delivering on his promises for community revitalization.

Behind him, Morganfield was starting fires, stirring up trouble with the Union in an attempt to destroy Leo’s most solid base of support: the working class.

Leo was caught in the middle.

If he denied the news, Morganfield would withdraw his investment proposal. The port project would fall through, and Leo would lose his engine for economic growth, as well as the support of voters who were counting on the port’s revitalization to bring new jobs.

If he admitted to it, or even just gave a vague response, the furious dockworkers would tear him to shreds immediately.

"This move is called ’killing with a borrowed knife.’"

Roosevelt’s voice, cold and solemn, echoed in Leo’s mind.

"He’s using the workers’ hands to strangle you."

"He wants to turn you into the workers’ enemy."

"Leo, get ready."

"This is the greatest political crisis you’ve faced since taking office."

"Because this time, your enemy is inside your own camp."

Leo walked to the window.

Although he couldn’t see any dockworkers in the square below yet, he could almost hear the tsunami-like roars of anger from the distance.

’Stirring up labor unrest.’

’Even for a business magnate, it’s a risky move.’