Chapter 136: The Governor’s Open Hand

In the Baler Federation, according to the official version, the most powerful person was first the chief judge of the municipal court. He represented law and justice.

Next came the speakers of the two state chambers, then the members of the legislature. On the political stage that used the entire state as its chessboard, they could fight for policy support for a city, even pass certain local laws and regulations. Only they could do that.

Only after them came the mayor. In the official version, the mayor’s power was limited to managing the development of a single city. He was merely an administrator hired through election by all the citizens of that city to serve the people.

See, proud citizens did not even call him the mayor at times like this. They called him the city administrator.

But in reality, that official version had never been reliable. It was like the current Federation Conservative Party president saying before taking office that he would complete medical reform and education reform. Words like that could not be taken as true at all, though people very much wished they were true, and the words did sound very pleasant.

In a city, the person with the greatest power was the mayor. Although he was indeed an administrator elected by the people, he controlled every aspect of a city. To preserve the public’s face, and to give those foolish citizens a sense of participation and honor so they would continue supporting the mayor’s rule, politicians would say that the people had temporarily entrusted power to the mayor.

Moving enough to bring tears to the bladder.

When the undisputed number one of a city praised someone in a public setting, it was absolutely not some casual thought. It had to carry political meaning.

Many people would say not to overinterpret a politician’s behavior, but in truth, it was not that people wanted to overinterpret. It was that politicians always used this method to express deeper meanings, leaving others no choice but to interpret them.

Under everyone’s attention, William’s expression became even more modest, and even more easygoing.

A handsome young man was always likable. A touch of shyness also appeared on his face. That smile, coupled with that shyness, made it impossible for anyone to find the slightest trace of aggression in his face or bearing. Instead, they would feel a little goodwill toward him.

Especially for people who had already achieved certain success, supporting the younger generation was something they rather liked doing. In everyone’s bones there was a gene that loved teaching others. When they encountered a good student, that gene would erupt.

Soon, someone echoed the praise and complimented William’s achievements during this period. Many of them knew William, from the newspapers and from friends. It was not difficult to find something to mention.