Please support the translation by reading the translation and commenting on otakutl official site.
Thank you.
Everyone from Otaku Translation
Chapter 12: Allies
Leo looked at the envelope in his hand, the bills inside crumpled and worn.
He could feel dozens of eyes on him—eyes filled with hope, trust.
He didn’t refuse.
He knew this wasn’t just money.
It was the first contract he had forged with this community.
He accepted the envelope solemnly.
"Thank you all," he said. "I promise you, I will use this money where it’s most needed. I will do everything in my power to defend our home."
The crowd erupted into applause once more.
Roosevelt’s voice echoed in his mind.
“Well done, child. You’ve exchanged your labor for bread, and your labor is in service of the people. Remember this feeling, never forget it.”
After the rally ended, Leo didn’t go home immediately.
Margaret, George, and a few core members of the community asked him to stay.
They gathered around a long table and began discussing the next steps.
Leo took out paper and pen. His role had shifted—from listener to organizer.
“First, we need to resubmit our application for tax relief to the city government,” Leo said. “This time, we can’t just submit the form. We must attach a detailed legal memorandum outlining every legal basis that qualifies us for the exemption.”
“Second, we need to file an inquiry letter with the city council’s oversight committee, questioning the legality of this auction process. We must publicly ask why there is only one bidder and whether there is any conflict of interest involved.”
“Finally, next week’s protest cannot just be about shouting slogans. We need clear flyers explaining the situation—the relationship between Summit Development Group and Mayor Cartwright—and distribute them to every citizen and journalist present.”
Each step he proposed was clear, specific, and grounded in logic.
The elders listened intently, nodding repeatedly.
For the first time, they felt their protest was no longer just an emotional outburst but a strategic, goal-oriented battle.
The meeting lasted late into the night.
When Leo finally dragged his exhausted body back to his apartment, it was already early morning.
The first thing he did was take part of the money from the envelope.
Early the next morning, he paid the rent he had been behind on for a month.
The landlord’s expression softened significantly when he saw Leo pay in cash.
Then, he went to the supermarket and bought two large bags of groceries, filling the previously empty fridge.
Bread, milk, eggs, lunch meat, pasta, and plenty of frozen vegetables.
As he ate a long-overdue breakfast, he felt like he was finally coming back to life.
The anxiety of survival was temporarily suppressed.
He could now devote all his energy to the upcoming fight.
In the following days, Leo practically made the community center his second home.
During the day, he immersed himself in the university’s law library, researching every legal provision related to nonprofit taxation and municipal auction procedures.
At night, he returned to the community center, working with Margaret and the others to organize materials and draft documents.
His legal expertise and organizational skills earned the respect of the community’s elders.
At first, they thought he was just a young man who could talk a good game.
But now, they saw a meticulous, focused, tireless fighter.
In the process, Leo gained his first true allies in life.
Margaret Davis, the head of the community center, became his guide within the working-class neighborhood.
She had lived here her entire life, knew everyone, and understood every family’s story.
She took Leo door-to-door, introducing him as “our own hired legal advisor.”
With her endorsement, Leo was quickly accepted by this otherwise insular workers’ community.
Another key ally came unexpectedly.
Frank Kowalski, the retired steelworkers’ union leader, was initially hostile and suspicious of Leo.
On the night of the rally, he sat in the farthest corner, watching silently.
For the first three days, Frank would come to the community center daily, not saying a word, just observing Leo as he worked tirelessly.
It wasn’t until the third day, when Leo was arguing heatedly over a legal detail with a librarian on the phone, that Frank finally spoke.
“Kid, you’re not putting on a show,” Frank rasped.
Leo hung up the phone and looked at him.
“I’ve seen too many politicians come here to swindle votes,” Frank said. “Their words are sweeter than honey, but their eyes are only on their own interests. But you—you’ve got fire in your eyes.”
From that day on, Frank became Leo’s staunchest supporter.
He brought along his old comrades from the union.
These retired steelworkers, though elderly, still retained the discipline and organization of union members.
They became Leo’s most reliable base.
They distributed flyers, organized phone banks, and reached out to every household in the community.
Leo’s third ally represented the strength of the younger generation.
Her name was Sarah Jenkins, a sociology student at the University of Pittsburgh and a volunteer at the community center.
She had quietly helped Margaret with administrative tasks.
Leo’s speech deeply moved her.
Sarah used her technical skills to create a dedicated Facebook page and Twitter account for the “Save Our Community Center” campaign.
She transformed Leo’s exposés into simple, easy-to-understand graphics and short videos.
She also subtitled the video of Leo’s speech and posted it online.
These materials began spreading rapidly across Pittsburgh’s local social media platforms.
More and more people started paying attention to the issue.
Thus, a simple team was miraculously born within the walls of this dilapidated community center.
Margaret handled grassroots organizing within the community.
Frank mobilized the core union forces.
Sarah managed online outreach and publicity.
And Leo? He was the brain and commander of the operation.
Roosevelt observed all of this and offered his evaluation in Leo’s mind.
“Well done, a solid start. You now have a loyal ground force—people who know the terrain and can fight trench warfare.”
“But,” his tone shifted, “this is far from enough.”
“You can’t give speeches neighborhood by neighborhood, and you can’t win an election with just a Facebook page.”
“We need an amplifier that will make your voice heard across all of Pittsburgh.”
“We need air support. We need an air force.”
Please rate or leave a review for this novel at
If you would like to support this translation, you may choose any one of the options below.
How to find a list of chapters
Please find the chapter label next to your favorite translator's name, and click the label.
