The Shadow Tycoon
Copyright© 2026 by CaffeinatedTales
Chapter 164: The City Waiting to Be Saved
William had been settled in for less than half an hour when the aide-de-camp of the mayor of Currilan City was already waiting outside his door. After William changed clothes, he received him, though “received” was not quite the right word here.
“Hello, Mr. Carter. I’m Noah. On my own behalf, I welcome you to Currilan City...” This aide-de-camp named Noah looked about thirty-three, energetic and rather handsome, with a presence that could not be ignored.
Sometimes people always said talent and appearance had nothing to do with each other. But in reality, if one looked across all the officials and public figures in the Federation, not a single one was ugly.
Even the ugliest among them only looked ordinary, far from anything that could be called “ugly.”
From William’s point of view, he already had the bearing of a future city administrator. At least in terms of bearing, he possessed it. In this regard, Ferraler could not compare with this man.
Of course, there was another possibility: the local mayor and Noah had already reached an understanding. Whether the mayor was promoted or transferred, he would nominate Noah to take his place.
Although a nomination did not carry much decisive value, and the mayor was ultimately elected by the citizens, with the previous mayor’s nomination, as long as that mayor had done a decent job locally, the citizens would buy his recommendation. The nominee would have a very high probability of winning.
This was also the best path forward for people like Noah and Ferraler. There was no other.
Noah’s aura might have come from the fact that this matter had already been settled, which was why he could display such bearing and momentum.
William shook hands with him and invited him into the room.
He was staying in the best suite. In terms of name, there was no difference, but there would be some difference in price, and those differences lay in certain optional items.
For example, requesting a larger reception room, more independent studies, more bedrooms, or even a steward and secretary. As long as these options were checked, the room and environment one moved into would be completely different.
The room William had chosen could be called one of the best in the Currilan hotel. Sometimes William did not care about choices like these, but others cared very much.
After the two sat down, the hotel-provided steward asked for instructions, then had the maid bring coffee for them.
Noah spoke warmly with William about Currilan City’s current expectations for the second-hand goods auction. “Ever since you began official publicity, the response from our citizens has been very enthusiastic, and they are looking forward to it very much. If you still hadn’t come, I wouldn’t even know how to calm down those fellows who spend every day thinking of running off to Sabine City.”
This was clearly a joke, but not entirely.
Especially cheap goods had an irresistible attraction for the many families currently in financial difficulty. Some people calculated that even if they traveled from Currilan City to Sabine City to attend the consignment auction, bought things, and transported them back, they would still save money. Once they discovered that, they began to itch with restlessness.
Under the promotion of the mayor of Sabine City, the “miracle” of the second-hand goods auction had already spread through the entire state and even half the Federation. Everyone hoped such a good thing could appear in the city where they lived.
Many people inside the Federation Progressive Party were also watching this policy. If, after a period of verification, it proved that its existence could indeed solve citizens’ needs on certain levels without increasing their living costs and pressure, then all kinds of similar second-hand goods auctions would gradually appear across the entire Federation.
Of course, those second-hand goods auctions would not have much to do with William. But the mayor of Sabine City could continue enjoying the political benefits of being the “initiator.”
It was even possible this matter would be written into history. After all, a wave of second-hand trade sweeping through the entire Federation, whether in terms of its era characteristics or its political characteristics, had the value to remain in history books.
As the initiator, the mayor of Sabine City would certainly leave a place for himself in history because of this matter.
William would too. Perhaps somewhere in a long paragraph, there would be half a sentence describing it: “with William’s help...”
William expressed his thanks for the local government’s support. Without the support of local City Hall, even the use of the venue would have been very difficult to negotiate.
In this still somewhat simple and innocent era, there were always strange sentiments, such as the sanctity of gymnasiums. Many people would never visit a gymnasium once in their lives, much less attend a sporting event in one, but that did not stop them from acknowledging the sanctity of gymnasiums.
For singers, holding a concert in certain famous gymnasiums was what they most longed for.
There were many things like this. So when Interstellar Trading Company proposed renting the gymnasium, it was immediately rejected. They would not allow vulgar commercial air to defile the most sacred symbol of this city. Only with City Hall’s support did the gymnasium side compromise.
Noah smiled. “I didn’t help very much. I only made one phone call...” He paused for a few seconds here, giving William enough time to interpret the meaning behind that sentence.
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