"Bribery? No, no, no."

Leo straightened up, a look of surprise on his face as if he’d been gravely misunderstood.

"How could this be called bribery? This is optimized resource allocation."

Leo pointed to the blank space representing the first district, his tone becoming incredibly sincere.

"Mr. Council President, you have always been a staunch defender of fiscal discipline on the City Council."

"I have the utmost respect for your position."

Leo’s voice was filled with reverence.

"I went back and reflected for a long time, and I believe you were right. As the Mayor, I cannot force a Council President so committed to his principles to accept a debt he detests."

"So, to prevent your constituents from shouldering this heavy burden of debt, and to protect your esteemed political reputation..."

"I have specifically instructed the budget office to completely exclude your first district from this five-hundred-million-dollar bond project."

Leo leaned in closer to Moretti, until they were just inches apart.

"Not a single cent of this five hundred million USD will be spent in your territory."

"Your streets can remain broken, your streetlights can stay dark, and your community centers can keep on leaking."

"Because this is the fiscal security you wanted."

Moretti’s face turned a deep, purplish red.

"But, Thomas."

Leo’s voice dropped low.

"Look around you."

Leo’s finger traced a circle on the map.

"This Friday, when this budget proposal is put on the table at the City Council for a vote..."

Leo stared into Moretti’s eyes.

"Do you think you can still control them?"

"Do you really believe your control over them is stronger than this mountain of US dollars?"

Beneath the table, Moretti’s hands clenched into tight fists.

"I... I can shelve it."

Moretti’s voice trembled. He began to ramble, trying to construct a final line of defense using the parliamentary procedures he knew best.

"I have the power to set the agenda. I won’t schedule a hearing. I won’t put this damn thing on the calendar. I’ll throw it into the bottom of the Finance Committee’s filing cabinet and let it molder and rot! You’ll never see the day it gets a vote!"

"You can’t do that, Thomas."

Leo cut him off coldly.

"Don’t you see it yet? This bond plan has already been written into the Draft Annual Operating and Capital Budget. They’re tied together."

Leo’s finger rapped sharply on the tabletop.

"According to the Pittsburgh City Charter, the City Council must vote on the annual budget. This is a mandatory legal obligation, not some political game you can play with as you please."

"You... you madman..." Moretti stared at Leo, his lips trembling. "You’ve strapped the entire government to your bomb."

"Of course, you have another option." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"You can exercise your power as Council President to rally the other council members. You could propose an amendment during the budget hearing, forcibly remove the bond issuance clause from the budget, and then compel the council to pass a budget without this five hundred million US dollars."

Leo gestured to the colorful map on the table.

"But, Thomas, look at this map and tell me honestly."

"Do you really think you can rally them?"

"Do you think Gavin Stone will scrap the intelligent transportation system in her district just to save face for you? Do you think Old Billy will give up his multi-story parking garage for the sake of your political struggle?"

"What makes you think they’ll still listen to you and spit out the pork you’ve just put on their plates?"

Moretti’s breathing grew ragged, and fine beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.

He looked around, but there was no way out.

"The money... the money hasn’t come through yet!" Moretti grasped at the last straw, his voice hoarse as he roared, "This is all built on the assumption that you can get the money! You’re just going to trust Sanders?"

"Wall Street isn’t a charity! I don’t believe Sanders can just make a few calls and conjure five hundred million US dollars out of thin air! This is fraud! This is a shell game!"

Leo looked at Moretti.

"So, this is your last stand?"

Leo leaned forward slightly, staring into Moretti’s eyes.

"Are you telling me that Daniel Sanders, a veteran Senator who has clawed his way through the alligator pit of Washington for decades..."

"...you think he can’t even get his hands on five hundred million US dollars?"

"Are you questioning the power of a United States Senator, or are you just insulting your own intelligence?"

Moretti’s mouth fell open.

A few meaningless, guttural sounds escaped his throat, but he couldn’t form a single complete rebuttal.

He wanted to say it was impossible, but he didn’t even believe it himself.

Faced with that level of power, five hundred million US dollars might really be nothing more than a handshake after lunch.

He looked at Leo’s confident eyes, and the final line of defense in his mind completely crumbled.

Moretti stared at the glaring white space on the map, as if he were looking at the tombstone of his political career.

The only sound in the office was the ticking of the wall clock.

It was the countdown of power.

After a long silence, Moretti unclenched his tight fists.

For a seasoned politician, the choice between political suicide and submission required no thought.

Survival is the first law.

Moretti looked up, the grim expression on his face gone.

"Leo."

Moretti sighed.

"You’re a Demon."

"Add the projects for the first district back in."

Moretti pointed to the blank space on the map.

"I want a complete renovation of that main thoroughfare, and two new community libraries."

"Also, the list of underwriters for this bond issuance needs to include a local Pittsburgh bank."

He was making a final struggle, trying to salvage some benefit from this crushing defeat, even if it was just a little.

"Then I’ll go downstairs and find Director Finch right now," Leo said with a smile.

"I’m sure he’ll be more than happy to add all these missing projects back into the final budget proposal."

"The money will be on paper, Thomas. This very afternoon."

Leo straightened his suit.

"When the vote happens this Friday, I expect to see a unanimous approval on that big screen."

"After all, since we all want to see every corner of Pittsburgh revitalized..."

"...then we need not only financial unity, but political unity as well, don’t we?"

Leo turned and walked toward the door.

When he reached the door, he stopped and glanced back at the old man sitting in the shadows.

"Enjoy your lunch, Thomas."

The door closed.

Moretti collapsed back into his chair, staring at the map on the desk.

He knew his era was over.

That young man, with five hundred million US dollars, had just bought a new order for the city.