"Now, let’s start handing out the rewards."

Leo sat back in his chair and picked up the list that had been prepared in advance.

The first name: Frank Kovalsky.

Frank wasn’t wearing the suit that made him so uncomfortable. Instead, he had changed back into his signature Union jacket and was holding a baseball cap.

He looked a little out of place, which was rare for Frank.

"Sit, Frank." Leo pointed to the chair opposite him.

"This chair’s too soft," Frank muttered. "Makes a man want to fall asleep."

Leo smiled.

"You’ll get used to it, Frank."

Leo pushed a document in front of Frank.

"This is the draft of your letter of appointment."

"I have two positions for you to choose from. The first is Director of Public Works. The second is Director of the City Department of Labor."

"Both these positions come with real authority. You’ll be able to directly allocate resources to help our unemployed brothers. You can go after those crooked bosses who steal wages."

"You’ve earned this, Frank. You’re one of the heroes of this campaign."

Frank stared at the document, at the gilded city seal printed on it and the titles that represented power.

He wiped his hands on his pant legs, as if afraid of dirtying the paper.

He was silent for a long time.

Then, he pushed the document back.

Leo was stunned.

"What’s wrong? If you’re not happy with the positions, we can discuss it."

"No, Leo." Frank shook his head, his voice heavy. "It’s not the positions."

He raised his head and looked at Leo.

In his bloodshot, wrinkled eyes was a clarity Leo had never seen before.

"I don’t belong here, Leo."

Frank gestured around the spacious, bright office, then toward the city plaza outside the window.

"Leo, my battlefield is in the streets, outside the fences of construction sites, in the workshops full of grease and sweat."

"If you chain me to a desk in this office, making me stare at piles of forms and documents every day, forcing me to deal with bureaucrats who talk in circles..."

"I’ll go crazy."

Frank gave a bitter smile. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"Besides, I’d just cause you huge trouble. I wouldn’t be able to resist punching some councilman for spouting bullshit. I’d end up cussing up a storm in the middle of a hearing."

"Then you’ll have to go through a lot of trouble to bail me out, or... ’handle’ me, the way Carter Wright ’handled’ Miller."

Leo protested, "Frank, you’re different! We’re comrades..."

"It’s precisely because we’re comrades."

Frank cut him off.

"That’s all the more reason I can’t come inside."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked down at the street where he had led protests countless times.

"Leo, you’re the Mayor now."

"You’re on the inside. You need to compromise, to find a balance, to wheel and deal with all kinds of people. That’s your job."

"But the workers need someone on the outside, watching you."

Frank turned around, his expression becoming incredibly serious.

"Power changes people, Leo. I’ve seen too many good, passionate people turn into assholes the moment they sit in this chair."

"I don’t want to see you become one of them."

"So, I have to stay with the Union, stay on the outside."

"I’ll be watching you, watching your every policy."

"If you do a good job, I’ll rally the brothers to cheer you on. We’ll be your staunchest supporters."

"But, Leo, mark my words."

Frank extended a finger, pointing at Leo.

"If one day you change, if you forget your promises, if you start selling us out like Carter Wright did..."

"I’ll be the first person to lead a crowd into City Hall, drag you out of that chair, and scream some sense back into you."

Leo looked at Frank.

’He’s right.’

Roosevelt’s voice echoed in Leo’s mind.

’Let him go, Leo. Let him stay on the outside.’

’You need people on the inside to help you steer the ship, but you also need people on the outside, using their outrage and pressure to give you the leverage you need to push for reform.’

’When you want to push a radical policy and find yourself blocked by the council and the bureaucrats, you’ll need Frank on the outside, rallying the people, to supply you with the ammunition of public opinion.’

’That’s what you call a pincer attack—from the inside and the outside.’

’Now *that* is a brilliant political strategy.’

Leo stood up and walked around his desk.

He opened his arms and hugged Frank tightly

"Thank you, Frank," Leo said quietly in his ear. "Watch the gate for me. If I ever truly lose my way, promise me you’ll scream some sense back into me."

Frank clapped Leo hard on the back, so hard it made him cough.

"Don’t worry, kid. My voice is plenty loud."

Frank left.

He rejected the comfortable office, returning to his little Union hall, filled with smoke and noise.

He took trust with him and left clarity behind.

Next was Ethan Hawke.

Leo looked at Ethan.

"What about you, Ethan? Are you going back to Washington? Senator Sanders..."

"Senator Sanders told me to stay."

Ethan replied.

"He said Washington isn’t short on staffers to write policy papers, but Pittsburgh is short on an executive who can turn those papers into reality."

"He told me to keep an eye on you, and on this showcase project."

Ethan smiled.

"Besides, to be honest, I want to see for myself if all that stuff we wrote down on paper can actually work in a real city."

Leo took out another letter of appointment.

"Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Pittsburgh."

This was the most powerful position in all of City Hall, aside from the Mayor himself.