Steve Wagner looked into Leo’s unyielding eyes.

He suddenly deflated like a popped balloon.

He was a smart man—or, to be more precise, a survivor who had clawed his way through the political jungle for many years.

He understood the implication behind Leo’s words.

This wasn’t a negotiation.

Wagner’s shoulders slumped, and his once-straight back hunched over.

"Mr. Mayor... I’m sorry."

Wagner’s voice dropped an octave. His earlier bluster vanished, replaced by an almost pleading tone. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"I... I got a little carried away just now. I apologize."

He reached up and pulled the paper from his chest, his fingers trembling slightly.

"But you have to understand my predicament."

"There’s really nothing I can do."

Wagner looked up, forcing a pained smile onto his jowly face. His eyes were filled with helplessness.

"Everyone on the outside thinks the Department of Public Works is a cushy job, that I’m powerful and influential."

"But you’re the Mayor. You must have seen the financial reports."

"My department’s total annual budget is indeed fifteen million US dollars. It sounds like a big number."

Wagner held up his chubby fingers and began to break down the numbers for Leo.

"But out of that money, six million is for personnel costs. That’s non-negotiable."

"Another four million goes to fixed maintenance contracts that were signed a long time ago. The electric bill for streetlights, snowplow upkeep, landfill fees... those are all fixed costs."

"The general funds I’m left with, when all is said and done, amount to less than five million."

"Five million US dollars."

Wagner spread his hands, his face a mask of despair.

"And that’s supposed to cover all the patching and repairs for every street in Pittsburgh."

"The price of asphalt is up, labor costs are up. With this little money, I have to pinch every penny just to fill the potholes on the main roads."

"And now you’re shoving four thousand work orders at me all at once."

"I could sell myself and I still wouldn’t be able to scrape together enough money for all these repairs."

"It’s not that I want to defy your orders. I’m just... I’m really out of options."

Leo listened quietly.

He knew Wagner was telling the truth.

And Leo had no intention of completely burning bridges with Wagner.

He wanted a weapon, not a corpse.

Seeing Wagner’s pathetic state, the sharp, imposing aura around Leo slowly dissipated.

He let out a soft sigh.

"I know, Steve."

Leo’s voice softened, his tone becoming gentle.

"I know it’s difficult."

"I’ve seen the budget reports, too. I know you’re dancing in chains."

Leo walked around his desk and leaned against the edge.

He casually picked up a bottle of water from the desk, twisted off the cap, and handed it to Wagner.

"Have some water. Cool off."

Wagner took the water and drank a large gulp. His emotions finally settled a little.

"The lack of money isn’t your fault."

Leo looked at Wagner, his tone gentle and persuasive.

"I want to help you, Steve."

"We need to be reasonable here."

"These complaint forms... I may have had them collected, but the problems they document are real, aren’t they?"

Wagner nodded.

’That manhole cover really is missing, and that streetlight really is broken. Those are facts he couldn’t deny.’

"According to municipal procedure, now that we’ve received legitimate complaints, we can’t just ignore them."

"We have to address them."

"Even if it’s just to keep ourselves out of jail, we have to deal with them."

Wagner wiped the sweat from his forehead. His eyes darted around as he spoke, testing the waters.

"But, Mr. Mayor, you know the process."

"Four thousand requests. Each one requires on-site verification, an engineering evaluation, and a risk assessment. I’ve only got a handful of people, and they have to run fieldwork, too."

He watched Leo’s expression as he carefully held up his fingers.

"At the normal bureaucratic pace, getting through this whole process would take at least six months. Or... eight?"

Leo said nothing.

He just narrowed his eyes slightly, watching Wagner.

Wagner’s heart seized.

His survival instinct instantly took over.

"No! That’s unacceptable, of course!"

Wagner slapped his thigh, his voice suddenly rising, filled with righteous indignation.

"Six months? That’s practically criminal!"

"Our people are suffering! That open manhole could swallow a child at any moment! A robbery could happen under that broken streetlight at any second!"

"Every extra minute we make our citizens wait in danger is a disgrace to the Department of Public Works!"

Wagner waved his arm, filled with righteous fury, as if he were the most public-spirited official in all of Pittsburgh.

Then, his tone shifted. The righteous look on his face quickly collapsed, replaced by a long, helpless expression.

"But there’s no money!"

Wagner smoothed out the crumpled ball of paper, bringing the conversation right back to where it started.

"If you want it done fast, you need money. If you want repairs, you need materials."

"The city council has blocked all major expenditures. If I want to apply for thirty thousand dollars in emergency funds, I have to fill out three forms and then wait two weeks."

He finished and looked at Leo with a pitiful expression.

"Exactly."

Leo snapped his fingers.

"That’s the problem right there."

"No money."

"But, Steve, you need to understand the logic here."

Leo lowered his voice, speaking persuasively.

"The lack of money... whose fault is that?"

"Is it your fault?"

Wagner froze for a second, then subconsciously shook his head.

"Of course not. I’m just an executive department."

"Is it my fault?" Leo asked, pointing at himself. "I want to provide the funds. I want to launch the revitalization plan. I want to allocate millions to your department. Who’s standing in the way?"