CHAPTER 482: CHAPTER 480: YOU’RE NOT EXTREME ENOUGH_1

Like all bustling metropolises, New York easily dazzles many newcomers with the glamour of Times Square. But as they venture to other areas, they slowly realize that most of the city’s vitality is concentrated in a few well-known spots. Beyond those areas, New York isn’t much different from any other American city. The city has aged, and many of its buildings could certainly be described as having historical charm.

Past Mayors of New York have seldom chosen to develop this land, considering construction time-consuming, labor-intensive, and expensive. In New York’s vote-oriented politics, politicians must ensure their constituents’ interests receive a certain level of protection. They might not fully deliver on all their grand promises, but they at least cannot deviate too far from what the voters expect.

But David was different from the rest; he was a political novice. He saw New York’s current infrastructure as too outdated, unfit for the world’s foremost metropolis. Therefore, he decided to start by building a high-speed rail line. This would provide legitimate jobs for the homeless, minor offenders, and gang members alike, while also fostering better development for New York.

The question is how to accommodate those who abuse drugs, David mused. I haven’t figured it out yet. I know the damage from drug abuse is permanent and irreversible, so we urgently need to minimize losses. Unless the Lord shows His mercy once again... Otherwise, after quitting, their bodies will be much weaker than average, and creating a positive environment is key to preventing relapse.

Achieving these goals was difficult, but David had no intention of giving up. The prevalence of drug abuse doesn’t indicate a particular ethnic group’s downfall, he believed. It points to City Hall’s inaction. If City Hall had done some real work instead of just talking, many wouldn’t have fallen into drug abuse.

Planning the future, he thought, looking out the car window at the clean streets—the first step in building a civilized city. The vehicle entered an African community in Brooklyn. There were no banners of welcome. David had repeatedly emphasized not to make a big fuss or disturb anyone. His reasons for visiting the grassroots were genuine, not for show; he sincerely wanted to know if his decisions were receiving positive feedback.

I’m well aware of my limited abilities in governance, David knew. Being an outsider, I must constantly visit different parts of New York to see if my decisions are truly being implemented. And if they are well received, I need to improve upon the areas where they aren’t. Because I’m an outsider with no experience in governance, it would be unfortunate if my good intentions inadvertently caused harm.

For instance, the labor evening gatherings in each community were his mandate. After work, communities were encouraged to gather for leisure: play basketball, watch movies, or learn music. David dared to have them assemble after work because he had raised New York’s minimum wage to forty US dollars an hour. This ensured these people could earn, in just eight hours, what they might not have previously earned even with overtime, a move that hit business owners hard.

The cost was that David faced assassination attempts every now and then. The reasons varied wildly: some claimed religious motives, others thought he wasn’t extreme enough towards heretics, and some wanted to kill him to please Satan. As for the truth of these attempts, I’m unsure, David thought, but I know none of them have deterred me from wanting to get things done.

「...」

The vehicle stopped in the community parking lot. Before David could step out, his bodyguards moved ahead, opened the door, and held up bulletproof, blast-resistant shields to guard against potential surprise attacks.

David was a strong proponent of gun control. But this was New York; confiscating everyone’s guns in just a few days was impossible. Furthermore, people from other states and cities, where there were no gun bans, constantly snuck in.

Protected by his bodyguards, David arrived at the community center, an oval-shaped building. Pushing open the door, he found the inside bustling with activity. A comedy movie played on a large screen; some people looked up, while others sat in corners using their phones. Some casually grabbed snacks from the tables and chatted, while children played among themselves. David glanced around. Everyone’s expressions and actions seem natural, not staged, he observed. They’re genuinely happy.

"Mayor David!" An African American man spotted David at the entrance and shouted, instantly drawing the attention of those around him. They abandoned the movie and their current tasks, gathering around.

"Please bless my child!"

"My child too!"

"I want a blessing too!"

David had to push past his bodyguards. With a smile, he said, "I’m sorry, but giving blessings is the Lord’s prerogative; I simply don’t possess such power. What do you think of tonight’s labor evening gathering?"

He quickly moved past the religious topic, not fond of being called the ’Saint Heir’ and considering such talk excessive. God loves all. The title ’Saint Heir’ suggests God has favorites, which I don’t agree with. I don’t want to turn God’s grace into my own arrogance; I’m not special in any way.

While he was chatting with the people and gathering their opinions, his secretary received a call from City Hall. Hastily making her way through the crowd, she approached David and whispered, "Mayor, the police station received a strange call. Someone reported seeing shadow soldiers with glowing red eyes emerge from shadows on the ground. They used the caller’s cellphone to search for the name and address of New York’s wealthiest person."

"What?" David blinked, a hint of confusion on his face. He then turned and asked, "Is the caller okay?"

"The person who reported it is fine. However, when the police checked an adjacent apartment, they found three bodies. It looks like foul play occurred, possibly the work of the shadow soldiers."

"Are they beings from a different world?" David’s brows furrowed instantly. This is a problem that cannot be underestimated, he realized.

I distinguish acts of beings from a different world and acts of God mainly by their nature,

David thought. If something is good, it surely has to do with the Lord. If something is evil, it might be the work of beings from a different world, or demons. Like others, David did not deny the existence of demons. Of course, he differed from extremist believers who thought all heretics were demons that must be burned at the stake. Everyone has the right to their own beliefs, he repeatedly emphasized. According to those extremists, the old me should have already been crucified and burned to ashes. Before being endowed with power by the Lord, I was a complete atheist, not believing in God, Hell, or any of that.

However, his moderate voice was always easily drowned out by more extreme voices online. Fanatics who hailed him as the Saint Heir and viewed New York as a city of miracles ran around under his banner, fanning the flames and seeking to wage a so-called holy war to kill all heretics in the country. A whole bunch of "holy proclamations" he’d never uttered were attributed to him. This left him debunking rumors daily and dealing with troublemakers in New York. Even though he acted according to the law, his actions were often misinterpreted due to the identity of the lawbreakers. Despite all the misunderstandings, he never gave up debunking rumors or wavered in his commitment to doing things properly. Protecting New York residents and reducing the crime rate is my top priority, he affirmed.

"Notify the public of this."

"Mayor, such matters aren’t suitable for public disclosure."

"It’s fine, as long as we explain things clearly. People can understand what’s happening in New York. Tell them not to attack if they encounter such creatures."

I don’t want to hide anything that poses a danger to the public, David thought. I believe in being open and clear; the public will understand. In the past, misunderstandings arose because City Hall didn’t act properly. I’m very aware that I gain public support not only through miracles but by actually getting things done. Ignore the slander and adulation online; those who slander and excessively praise me are a minority. The true majority of believers remain silent and trust me. I don’t want to lose that trust by hiding things.

"Okay," the secretary nodded in agreement.

「...」

The news quickly reached Air Force One. Nett reviewed the report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, carefully scanning every sentence. His brow creased slightly, but he showed no anger. For someone my age, anger has become a challenging endeavor, he reflected. Whenever the urge to destroy everything rages in my heart, it quickly subsides due to my weakening body. He rubbed his temples and sighed. "David is being reckless. What do those people down there know? Spreading this news will only cause public panic and allow foreign intelligence agencies to swarm New York like cats drawn to the smell of fish."

The Secretary of State stood before the desk and asked softly, "Should we order him to retract the official announcement?"

"It’s no use." He won’t listen to us, Nett thought. He leaned back. His decision to meet David and promote him to Mayor had largely been to increase his own public support. As a result, he had gotten the support he wanted. In this year’s polls, he had defeated his strongest rival for the first time, solidifying the Democratic Party’s decision to select him and making reelection next year likely. At this moment, I definitely can’t afford news of a fallout with David; it would give that annoying guy leverage.

However, the gangs and some small to medium-sized groups held different views from the higher-ups. They had been genuinely hurt by David’s policies and sincerely wanted to eliminate him. I feel like I’m sitting on a powder keg that could explode at any moment, Nett thought. He picked up his coffee and asked the Secretary of State, "What do you make of this situation?"

"These beings formed from shadows might be a race from a different world," the Secretary of State replied. "The fact they wear armor suggests they have superiors. We should attempt to make contact with them."

"You’re right," Nett said, making his decision. "Call Braulio. Get him back to New York from Florida and find out why these beings are looking for him."