Chapter 94: The Powerful and Influential Choose Sides

Ten minutes later.

Leo returned to the banquet hall with Sam, who had surrendered completely.

The hall was no longer filled with clinking glasses and cheerful laughter as before.

Hundreds of political and business elites stood frozen in place, staring at Leo as if they were staring at a reaper who had returned from hell.

The powerful figures who had mocked Leo earlier now had gone pale, breaking out in a cold sweat.

They finally understood.

This young man wasn't some gangster thug.

He was a monster who truly controlled the highest power of the state machinery!

"Bang!" Leo shoved Sam to the front of the main stage.

"Kneel."

Leo said flatly.

Sam didn't hesitate and dropped to his knees.

This scene completely shattered the last illusions of all the powerful people present.

The newly elected Governor of New York was now kneeling like a dog before a young man.

What did this mean?

It meant that from today on, the entire power structure of New York State would be completely rewritten!

"Mr. Ashford..."

An elderly man with white hair in an Armani suit walked out trembling.

He was the chairman of one of New York's five major investment banks, controlling billions of dollars in assets.

But at this moment, he was as respectful as a student.

"I... I'm willing to follow Mr. Ashford!"

After saying this, this financial tycoon who dominated Wall Street actually knelt down as well.

Once someone led, others followed.

"Thud!"

"Thud!" "Thud!"

More than a dozen political and business elites dropped to their knees.

"Mr. Ashford! I'm willing to serve you like a dog!"

"My family has been operating in New York for three generations, and I'm willing to dedicate all our businesses to you!"

"Mr. Ashford! I control the Brooklyn docks, just say the word..."

These were the ones who had mocked Leo most harshly earlier.

But now, they knelt faster than anyone and shouted louder than anyone.

Because they knew.

In the face of absolute power, dignity was worthless.

Only by latching onto Leo's coattails could they survive the coming power reshuffle.

However.

Leo just gave them a cold glance. "Not everyone is qualified to follow me."

The dozen or so powerful figures kneeling on the ground were instantly struck as if by lightning.

Their faces turned pale, their bodies trembling.

"Mr. Ashford... I..."

"Get lost."

Leo exhaled a puff of smoke. "Seeing you people with no backbone makes me sick."

"Yes... yes..."

The dozen people scrambled out, their faces full of despair.

Being publicly rejected by Leo...

This meant their power in New York would be devoured by other families.

Before long, they would fall from the top of the pyramid into the dust.

Meanwhile, the family bosses who hadn't knelt down now had a gleam in their eyes.

These true old foxes certainly understood Leo's meaning.

Leo didn't want people with no backbone, but truly valuable pieces he could use.

"Mr. Ashford."

A middle-aged man in a custom suit with an elegant demeanor stepped forward.

He was the owner of New York's largest real estate group, worth over five billion dollars.

"I'm Leandro McCall, chairman of McCall Real Estate Group."

He didn't kneel, but bowed respectfully.

"I control one-third of Manhattan's commercial real estate, plus large residential projects in Brooklyn and Queens."

"If you need it, I'm willing to transfer 20% of the group's shares to you for free."

"And..." Leandro paused. "I have a professional intelligence team that collects secrets about New York's major families. All this intelligence can be yours."

Leo glanced at him.

Leandro was a smart man.

He didn't beg for mercy or flatter him.

Instead, he directly presented his value.

"Okay."

Leo nodded. "I'll take the 20% shares. As for the intelligence, give it to Olivia."

"Yes!" Leandro's eyes flashed with joy as he stepped aside.

With Leo's approval, his status in New York would rise significantly.

"Mr. Ashford."

Another elderly man stepped forward.

"I'm Damon Lee, president of the New York Chinese Merchants Association. I control most of the Chinese businesses in Flushing and Brooklyn's Sunset Park."

"I'm willing to give half of the association's profits to you every year."

"Also, I have some... under-the-table channels in Southeast Asia. If you need them, they're available anytime."

Leo said flatly, "Okay."

With these two leading the way, other family bosses also stepped forward one after another.

Some offered money.

Some offered connections.

Some offered intelligence networks.

Some offered political resources.

In just half an hour, at least twenty representatives of New York's top families in the banquet hall pledged their loyalty to Leo.

The wealth these people controlled added up to over a hundred billion dollars.

Their networks of influence spread throughout New York's political and business circles.

And now, they had all become pieces in Leo's hand.

The sky over New York had completely changed.

"Very good."

Leo looked around, his eyes cold.

"I never look for trouble."

"But..."

He paused, his voice suddenly turning icy.

"I'm not afraid of trouble either."

"Whoever dares betray me, whoever dares to scheme behind my back..."

Leo pointed at Sam, kneeling on the ground.

"He's the example."

Everyone shuddered and nodded repeatedly.

"Yes!"

"We understand!"

"We would never dare betray you!"

Leo said nothing more and turned to walk out.

Olivia followed closely behind.

After Leo left, the banquet hall erupted in whispers.

"My God... who is he?"

"He can make a governor kneel, mobilize the police, and that badge..."

"This young man is definitely not ordinary..."

Meanwhile, Sam, kneeling on the main stage, was on pins and needles.

He knew.

From today on, he, the governor, was just a dog in Leo's hand.

...

Outside the banquet hall, the police captain and his men were preparing to leave.

"Captain."

A young officer couldn't help but speak up. "That Leo just now... why didn't we arrest him?"

"The governor clearly gave the order..."

"Shut up!"

The police captain spun around and slapped the officer across the face.

"If you want to die, don't drag me down with you!"

The young officer held his face, looking aggrieved.

"But..."

"No buts!"

The police captain took a deep breath and lowered his voice.

"Do you know what that badge represents?"

"It's absolute authorization for the nation's most classified operations!"

"The person holding that badge has supreme power to act first and report later!"

"Never mind us police officers--even governors, even senators, have to kneel obediently before that badge!"

"Leo..."

The police captain watched the black Maybach driving away in the distance, a trace of awe in his eyes.

"That young man is definitely not ordinary."

"Remember, from now on, when you see him, stay as far away as possible."

"Yes..."

The young officer swallowed hard, breaking out in a cold sweat.

He finally understood.

Just now, he had almost died.