First on the list were several industry associations under the Philadelphia Port Authority.

That was no surprise. They were Aston Monroe’s core constituency, the vested interests of Philadelphia.

But the next few names on the list made Leo’s pupils contract.

The Pittsburgh Allegheny River Dockworkers’ Union.

The Western Pennsylvania Freight Drivers’ Association.

Those were the people Frank had been trying so hard to win over, the blue-collar workers Leo had once tried to protect.

Now, these people were standing together with the capitalists from Philadelphia.

"This move is brutal."

Ethan took a deep breath, pointing to the words on the document.

"Do you know how long it takes for the State Government to conduct a statewide logistics assessment of this magnitude?"

Ethan held up one finger.

"At least a year."

"Maybe even longer. They have to assemble a panel of experts, conduct on-site investigations, hold hearings, and write a report that’s thousands of pages long."

"During that time, the State Community and Economic Development Department will have full legal grounds to freeze our bond issuance permit."

"This is a legal administrative freeze."

"By the time a year has passed, even if the assessment comes back clear, it’ll be too late."

Leo stood up and walked to the window.

Outside the window, the construction site for the South District’s revitalization project was bustling with activity.

Bulldozers were roaring, and workers were bustling about.

The city’s budget was being rapidly depleted.

And the five hundred million US dollars, which was supposed to secure the funding chain and launch larger-scale construction, was now being blocked at the gates of Harrisburg by a single piece of paper.

Once the funding chain breaks,

it won’t just be the port that can’t be built.

The ongoing revitalization project will also be left unfinished.

The workers who just got their paychecks will be unemployed again.

The citizens who had just seen a glimmer of hope will be plunged back into despair.

And Leo Wallace, the young mayor who had been placed on a pedestal, would instantly become a fraud who only makes empty promises.

"Aston Monroe."

Leo uttered the name to his reflection in the glass.

The counterattack was too precise.

He had completely sidestepped partisan politics, instead using the State Government’s administrative functions, exploiting the rivalry between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and preying on the workers’ fears.

He had constructed a perfect administrative trap.

"Ethan."

Leo turned around, his gaze as cold as ice.

"What did the State Community and Economic Development Department say?"

"I just called the Secretary’s office," Ethan replied. "Their response was very official: ’The request for reconsideration has been received. Given that this concerns major statewide economic planning, the matter is of great importance and requires careful deliberation. The results will be delivered to Pittsburgh in person.’" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

...

The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development was absurdly efficient.

On the very next morning after the "Logistics Fairness Alliance" held its press conference, a black sedan with State Government license plates pulled up in front of Pittsburgh City Hall.

A State Government commissioner wearing a dark trench coat stepped out.

He strode through the lobby, ignored the receptionist’s questions, went straight to the third floor, and knocked on the door of the Mayor’s Office.

He simply opened his briefcase, took out a three-page document, and placed it on Leo’s desk.

"Mayor Wallace, this is the official response from the State Community and Economic Development Department regarding Pittsburgh City’s Bond Issuance Application No. 185."

The commissioner’s voice was cold and strictly business.

"Please sign for it."

Leo picked up a pen and signed his name.

The commissioner took back the receipt, turned, and left. The entire process took less than two minutes.

Only Leo and Ethan remained in the room.

Ethan Hawke walked over with two cups of freshly brewed coffee and glanced at the document on the desk.

On the document’s cover was a conspicuous, bright red stamp.

Initial Disapproval.

Leo picked up the document and opened it.

The main text was extremely brief.

"In light of serious objections received from major stakeholders regarding the project’s statewide synergy, and in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Pennsylvania Administrative Procedure Act and the Local Government Unit Debt Act, this Department has decided to initiate an administrative review process."

"During this period, the effectiveness of the said bond issuance permit shall be suspended. The suspension is effective immediately and will remain in place until the conclusion of the review process."

Leo tossed the document back on the desk, his expression still calm.

"Ethan, this is just an initial disapproval. We still have a chance to fix this. The process isn’t over yet."

But it was as if Ethan hadn’t heard a word Leo said.

"Leo, you don’t understand what this means. It means we’re bankrupt."

"Think about the budget Finch drafted! We listed this five hundred million US dollars as projected revenue and wrote it directly into the annual operating budget!"

"Every cent we’ve spent so far was an advance against that projected revenue."

"The rental fees for those dozens of bulldozers at the South District site—we’re burning through cash every day."

"The building material suppliers we’ve signed contracts with—their payments are due next week."

"And that rapid claims center! We’ve already written checks to hundreds of citizens with broken legs—that’s cash! That money was fronted from the city’s emergency reserve fund, and we were counting on the bond issuance to replenish it!"

"And the job transition training fees we promised—the first payment is due to the training agencies the day after tomorrow!"

Ethan felt a wave of dizziness as he pictured all the pending payments.

"Now, that projected revenue is gone."

"A five-hundred-million-US-dollar black hole has just appeared on our books."

"The workers won’t get their wages."

"The suppliers will cut off our supply of asphalt and cement."

"The lawyers holding the bad checks will storm City Hall."