Chapter 275: Chapter 138: Strategic Confession

The United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Courtroom Three.

Beneath the high, vaulted ceiling hung a massive brass chandelier. Its light, filtered through frosted glass shades, cast a soft, solemn glow upon the dark red wainscoting.

The gallery was packed, with reporters holding stenography pads even crowding the aisles.

Every media outlet in Pittsburgh was present, along with reporters from several major newspapers in Washington and New York.

They had keenly scented blood in the water. A trial involving a star mayor, a corporate oligarch, and antitrust law was more than enough to dominate the front pages for the next week.

The judge’s bench sat high and imposing.

The judge sat in a massive high-backed chair, a gavel in his hand.

And in the center of the courtroom, two armies faced off.

At the plaintiff’s table sat the legal team for the "Pennsylvania Free Trade Promotion Association."

But this was just a front.

Everyone knew full well that behind these men in gray suits with their predatory gazes were people from Washington.

The lead attorney was Robert Baker, a legal hitman who had made a name for himself in the field of antitrust litigation.

His specialty was stripping a competitor down to their underwear, then hoisting that underwear up the courtroom flagpole.

Before Baker were several small mountains of document boxes.

They contained information on the exclusive clauses of the franchise agreement, the details of the land transfer, and records of private meetings between Leo and Morganfield.

He was staring at the defense table as if looking at a dead man, his fingers tapping a steady rhythm on the tabletop.

The defense table was split into two sections.

On the left was the legal team for the Morganfield Industrial Group.

It was a true all-star lineup.

Attorney Bennett sat at the front, with over a dozen senior partners and associates from top Washington law firms behind him.

Their expressions were relaxed, even a bit nonchalant.

They had prepared dozens of motions challenging jurisdiction, discovery procedures, and the plaintiff’s legal standing.

They planned to drag the case into garbage time, to stall until the seas ran dry, until the plaintiff gave up and dropped the suit.

The right side of the defense table, however, looked exceptionally pathetic.

Only two people sat there.

Leo Wallace and his chief of staff, Ethan Hawke.

City Hall’s legal director was supposed to be sitting there, but he had been hospitalized with a sudden bout of "acute gastroenteritis" ten minutes before the trial began.

Leo, dressed in his dark suit, sat ramrod straight.

The table before him was empty, save for a single fountain pen and a notepad.

In the front row of the gallery.

Douglas Morganfield sat there like an ordinary citizen, but a circle of empty seats surrounded him.

He was watching Leo at the defense table with a mocking, derisive gaze.

He was waiting.

Waiting for Leo to look at him.

Waiting for the young man to break down in despair, to suffocate under the weight of the law.

The moment Leo showed even a hint of a plea in his eyes, Morganfield would have Bennett change their defense strategy.

The price, of course, would be Leo completely surrendering control of Pittsburgh and signing those two soul-selling supplementary agreements.

’Look at him, Leo.’

Roosevelt’s voice echoed in his mind.

’That old crocodile is drooling. He thinks you’re a piece of meat already served up on a platter.’

Leo didn’t turn. His gaze remained fixed on the judge’s bench.

’He must be very hungry by now,’ Leo replied in his mind.

BANG!

The judge’s gavel fell heavily.

The dull thud silenced the murmurs in the courtroom instantly.

"Order."

The judge’s voice carried throughout the room.

"The case of the Pennsylvania Free Trade Promotion Association versus the Pittsburgh City Government and Morganfield Industrial Group, concerning the matter of antitrust, is now in session." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

The proceedings began.

The plaintiff’s attorney, Baker, stood up.

He adjusted his tie and strode to the center of the courtroom.

"Your Honor, members of the jury."

Baker’s voice was resonant, filled with a sense of justice.

"Today we stand here not for an ordinary commercial dispute, but to defend the most fundamental principle of the United States economy: free competition."

He spun around abruptly, his finger pointing straight at Leo.

"The defendant, Mayor of Pittsburgh Leo Wallace, has blatantly abused his administrative power. He and the chairman of Morganfield Industrial Group, Douglas Morganfield, reached a dirty backroom deal."

"Through the so-called ’Strategic Logistics Unified Management Bill,’ they have artificially created barriers to exclude all potential competitors from the Pittsburgh Inland Port project."

"This is a blatant exchange of power for money! This is a plunder of the public interest! This is a trampling of the spirit of the Constitution!"

Baker’s statement was highly inflammatory.

He listed the exclusive clauses of the franchise agreement and the targeted bidding for the land transfer.

Gasps rippled through the gallery, and the reporters furiously tapped on their keyboards.

Morganfield sat there, a smile on his face.

The harsher the accusations, the better.

The more critical the situation became, the more Leo would need him.

Baker’s opening statement lasted a full forty minutes.

By the time he sat down, the atmosphere in the courtroom had become extremely tense.

"Now."

The judge looked toward the defense table.

"The defense may present its statement."

All eyes focused on the defense table.

Attorney Bennett adjusted his cuffs, preparing to rise.

According to their prior arrangement, this was supposed to be his time to perform.

He would raise a series of complex procedural objections, question the plaintiff’s standing to sue, request a stay of proceedings, and generally muddy the waters.