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Chapter 21: A Sugar-Coated Cannonball
In the days following the victory of the community center campaign, Leo became a minor celebrity in Pittsburgh.
His YouTube channel, The Heart of Pittsburgh, saw its subscriber count skyrocket from a few thousand to fifty thousand.
Some national online media outlets also gave him brief coverage.
They called him "a new voice from the Rust Belt," a young activist daring to challenge the establishment.
Leo’s life underwent some changes as well.
Walking down the street, people now recognized him and greeted him warmly.
The residents of the community center treated him like their own child, often bringing him homemade pies and cookies.
With the consulting fee paid by the community and part of the massive donation they had received, Leo resolved his financial woes.
He paid off his credit card debt and even began systematically repaying his astronomical student loans.
For the first time, he could temporarily shed the anxiety of survival and start thinking about the bigger picture.
Pittsburgh’s war had only just begun.
He needed a new battlefield.
As he pondered his next move, an unexpected visitor arrived at his door.
That afternoon, Leo was in his apartment with Sarah, planning the content for the next episode of The Heart of Pittsburgh.
A knock sounded at the door.
Leo opened it to find a neatly dressed middle-aged man in a navy-blue suit standing there. His hair was perfectly combed, and his face bore a professional smile.
"Are you Mr. Leo Wallace?" the man asked.
"I am."
"My name is Mark Jennings," the man extended his hand. "I’m the Deputy Chief of Staff in the Mayor’s Office and Chief Advisor to Mayor Cartwright."
Leo shook his hand and immediately understood the man’s purpose.
He invited Jennings into his tiny apartment.
Sarah, sensing the situation, stood up, excusing herself to help out at the community center, and left.
Jennings glanced around the room, his eyes briefly resting on the fake fireplace and the two books on the shelf.
"Mr. Wallace, I’m here on behalf of Mayor Cartwright," Jennings said as he took a seat, cutting straight to the chase.
"The mayor has been closely following your performance in the community center affair. He highly appreciates both your talent and your passion for the community."
Leo listened quietly.
He knew the real message would come after these pleasantries.
Jennings pulled a document from his briefcase and placed it on the coffee table in front of Leo.
"The mayor believes that a talented young man like you should serve the citizens of Pittsburgh on a broader platform, rather than wasting your energy on unnecessary confrontations."
He presented an offer no ordinary young person could easily refuse.
"The mayor has decided to establish a new department within the city government called the 'Office of Community Relations Coordination,' specifically tasked with handling communication and coordination between the city government and various communities."
"He would like to formally invite you to serve as the Deputy Director of this office."
He pushed the document toward Leo.
"This is the official employment contract. The position is Deputy Director, with all the benefits of a municipal employee. Your annual salary will be eighty thousand dollars."
Eighty thousand dollars.
The number made Leo’s heart skip a beat.
To him, it was an astronomical figure, one he had never dared to dream of before.
This money would not only free him from debt but also allow him to live a middle-class life with dignity.
He could move to a larger apartment, buy a new car, and even start considering starting a family.
Jennings’ face broke into a confident smile.
He had seen too many young people like Leo.
They were full of passion and ideals, but in the end, none could resist the allure of reality.
"And," Jennings added, sweetening the deal further, "this isn’t just a job, Mr. Wallace. It’s an opportunity."
"The mayor greatly admires young people like you. He sees you as the future hope of the Democratic Party. As long as you’re willing to be pragmatic, learn to cooperate with the system instead of opposing it, I can assure you, your political future in Pittsburgh is limitless."
This was a classic sugar-coated cannonball.
A poison pill wrapped in money, status, and prospects, potent enough to kill any idealist.
Accepting this job would mean Leo could instantly escape poverty, leap into the very system he once sought to challenge.
But the cost was obvious.
He would be co-opted by this vast bureaucratic machine, becoming part of the old system.
He would be expected to mediate the protests he once supported and pacify the victims he once championed.
All his sharp edges would be gradually smoothed away by the system.
In the end, he would become another Cartwright, or another Jennings.
Rejecting this offer meant he would continue to fight a difficult battle outside the system.
He would remain on the edge of poverty, facing constant pressure and smear campaigns.
"A smart strategy," Roosevelt’s voice echoed in Leo’s mind. "Cartwright has finally sent someone who understands politics. Instead of suppressing you, he’s chosen to buy you out. Because he knows the best way to kill an enemy is to turn him into your friend."
Leo paused for a moment.
He neither accepted nor rejected the offer outright.
He had learned Roosevelt’s lesson well: never reveal your cards in the first instance.
He looked up, offering a polite smile.
"Mr. Jennings, thanks for the mayor’s recognition," he said. "This is a significant decision, and I need some time to consider it carefully."
Jennings nodded, unsurprised.
To him, this hesitation was merely a negotiating tactic to inflate his worth.
The outcome, in his mind, was already set.
"Of course," Jennings stood up. "I completely understand. You can contact me anytime. I look forward to hearing good news from you."
Leo escorted Jennings to the door.
He watched as the man got into a black government car and disappeared down the street.
Closing the door, Leo leaned against it, exhaling deeply.
Those thirty minutes of conversation had been more nerve-wracking than any hearing he had ever experienced.
Turning to the empty room, he spoke softly.
"Alright, Mr. President."
"What do we do now?"
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