Chapter 529 - 245: Seen Through
"The core purpose of all this was never to save Luigi, nor was it to mess up the Democratic Party."
"It was all so you could pass that damn bill of yours."
"You want to get that ’Medicine Benefits Transparency and Fairness Bill’ passed through the State Assembly without a single word changed."
Taylor’s fingers tapped on the desktop.
"Sowing chaos in Pennsylvania, fighting the Democratic Party—these are all just your methods."
"That bill is the key."
"Your Mutual Aid Alliance is the core of this entire grand plan. That’s the power you truly desire."
Taylor stared into Leo’s eyes.
"Am I right, Leo?"
Leo’s palms were slick with cold sweat.
The man before him held an absolute advantage in both information and power.
Leo opened his mouth, wanting to argue, wanting to find a new angle of attack.
’Don’t panic!’
Just then, Roosevelt’s voice exploded in his mind.
’He’s bluffing!’
’This is a classic lowball tactic.’
’First, he creates panic by exposing your hand, making you feel worthless, making you think you’re at a complete disadvantage.’
’Then, he can buy your most valuable asset for the lowest possible price.’
’Leo, snap out of it.’
’Use your head.’
Roosevelt quickly analyzed the situation.
’Why is he wasting so much time talking to you?’
’If he really thought you were just an ant he could crush at will, he would have just said so.’
’The reason he’s still here playing mind games with you is that he needs you.’
’He needs you more than anyone.’
Leo froze for a second, asking inwardly, ’He needs me?’
Roosevelt sneered. ’Think about it. If you really go politically bankrupt, what good is that to the Republican Party?’
’If your myth is shattered, the workers in Pittsburgh will be disappointed. They’ll go back to being politically apathetic, or they’ll just randomly vote for anyone out of desperation.’
’The Democratic Party will quickly roll out a new proxy to take over Pittsburgh. Maybe another moderate, maybe another member of the Establishment Faction.’
’Pennsylvania will still be blue.’
’The Democratic Party will re-stabilize their lines. To the Republican Party, a dead Leo Wallace is worthless.’
’But a disruptive Leo Wallace, a madman turning the Democratic Party upside down from the inside...’
’...that’s priceless.’
’Pennsylvania is the battlefield, and you’re the only one who can muddy the waters.’
’The Republican Party doesn’t need you to win. They just need the Democratic Party to lose.’
’Your destructive power, your ability to create chaos, your ability to tear apart the Democratic Party’s base...’
’That’s your biggest bargaining chip.’
Roosevelt’s guidance was like a sudden enlightenment.
Leo calmed down instantly.
He had regained his logical footing.
Taylor had seen through his objective, but that didn’t mean Taylor could control him.
Because in this game, everyone wanted chaos. They were all accomplices.
Leo took a deep breath.
He picked up the glass of cold water on the table, took a sip, and moistened his dry throat.
"Mr. Taylor."
Leo began to speak.
"A brilliant analysis."
Leo leaned back in his chair.
"Since you’ve laid it all out in the open, I won’t hold back either."
"That’s right."
"I am trying to save Luigi."
"Everything I’ve done—replacing the speaker, forging the alliance, even making this call to you—it’s all been for the Mutual Aid Alliance."
"It’s my weak spot, and you’ve pinpointed it perfectly."
Taylor let out a smug grunt.
"As long as you admit it, then just obediently..."
"But."
Leo cut him off, his tone suddenly hardening.
"You seem to have forgotten one thing."
"I do indeed need the Mutual Aid Alliance."
"But you need Pennsylvania even more."
Leo’s gaze was as sharp as a knife.
"You can call the Republicans in Pennsylvania right now and tell them not to cooperate with any of my actions."
"That bill in Washington will eventually pass, and Luigi will get a heavy sentence. Pittsburgh might see some chaos because of it—protests, maybe even violent clashes."
"The moment I’m swept up by my base, the moment I show even the slightest hint of weakness, or if I’m forced to do something out of line, the Democratic National Committee will immediately seize the opportunity, declare me a dangerous element, and start impeachment proceedings."
"When that time comes, I’ll just resign if it comes to that."
"I’ll go back to teaching at a university, or maybe write a memoir about this whole experience. That book would be a bestseller."
Leo shrugged, a roguishly relaxed expression on his face.
"And then what?"
"The Democratic National Committee will immediately send someone to clean up the mess."
"They’ll install a new Mayor, a good, obedient boy who fits Washington’s aesthetic."
"He’ll pacify the situation, reunite the Unions, and stitch up the wounds I tore open."
"I’ll become a footnote in the Democratic Party’s history, destined to be forgotten."
Leo’s speech quickened, carrying a sense of pressure.
"Campbell will still be Governor, the Democratic Party’s state-level machine will still be running efficiently, and the Unions will return to the embrace of the Establishment Faction."
"The election in two years."
"You still won’t be able to win Pennsylvania’s nineteen electoral votes."
"In fact, because of my sacrifice, the Democratic Party will become even more united. They’ll use their criticism of me to reclaim the moral high ground."
"Is this the result you want?"
"Is this the grand vision of the Chief Operating Officer of the Republican National Committee?"