HLM – Chapter 1054 Plotting for the Mayor’s Seat

People came and went, and traffic streamed endlessly.

Ben McGee stood before the huge floor-to-ceiling window, gazing outward. Half the town lay within his sight. After the snow had been cleared, the straight, flat roads were exposed, and in some gardens, faint dots of red flowers still remained.

Looking down at the people below—some busy, some leisurely—McGee couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride rising from deep inside.

Very soon, that flicker of pride swelled rapidly, turning into a wave of ambition.

A “creak”—the sound of the door—made McGee flinch instinctively. He hurriedly stepped away from the window and moved to the side.

He looked up and saw that the person entering wasn’t Wang Bo, whom he had imagined, but Ralph Jackson—a young man who was quickly becoming his trusted aide.

He breathed a sigh of relief, returned to the window, and asked, “Where’s the mayor? Ralph, do you know where he went?”

Yes, he was currently standing inside the mayor’s office, which explained both the massive floor window and why the sound of the door opening had made him so nervous.

Jackson shrugged. “Maybe he went to his ranch. That guy loves doing personal business during work hours. I bet he’s off dealing with his own stuff again.”

Hearing this, a look of envy and resentment appeared on McGee’s face. “Damn it. God is truly unfair. Why would such a fine piece of land end up in the hands of a yellow-skinned mongrel? New Zealand belongs to our National Party. The land of Sunset Town should also belong to the National Party.”

Jackson sighed helplessly. “But reality is unfair. I also can’t understand why such a good town would fall into the hands of such a lazy, selfish guy. If you, boss, were the one running this town, you’d definitely turn it into another Queenstown.”

“No—another Auckland. The Auckland of the South Island,” McGee corrected.

He genuinely believed so. Sunset Town possessed extraordinary advantages: beautiful scenery, convenient transportation, an extremely important geographical location, fertile soil, and livestock of outstanding quality. It was like a paradise crafted by God Himself.

And yet this paradise had ended up in the hands of a foreigner who didn’t even understand New Zealand’s electoral system. Every time McGee thought of this, he felt so disgusted he wanted to spit.

Jackson said, “Right, another Auckland. I’m sure you can do it, boss. There are still more than two months before the mayoral election for Sunset Town. If by then you can beat Mayor Wang, that would be perfect.”

Speaking of that, McGee shook his head helplessly. “Forget it, mate, let’s face reality. Sunset Town will never have a second mayor. I really don’t understand what those people in Wellington were thinking. How could they allow a town to be built on private land?”

“That’s simple. They wanted to use this method to reclaim the land. This used to be New Zealand’s last independent territory. They obviously wanted to first establish a town here, and then win the mayoral seat through elections. Bit by bit, they could slowly erode the land’s autonomy and finally nationalize it,” Jackson explained.

McGee sneered. “Ha. Wishful thinking. Those idiots clearly didn’t expect the town to develop so well. The residents are very satisfied with the mayor’s performance. Taking back control of this town is nothing but a dream.”

Jackson thought for a moment and then said, “But the information I’ve gathered suggests otherwise. Mayor Wang’s position in Sunset Town isn’t unshakeable.”

“Even if his position can be shaken, so what? Say I run and win the election—so what? This is his private land. He can just kick us out!” McGee said angrily yet helplessly.

Jackson chuckled. “I don’t think he would do that, boss. We’ve all seen it—he cares a lot about the development of the territory. If someone else becomes mayor and genuinely develops the town well, I believe he’d be willing to compromise.”

“More importantly, life isn’t dictated solely by the law. He’s aligned with the Green Party. Once our National Party wins the general election, the Green Party will have no choice but to bow to us. Through party negotiations, we can force them to pressure Wang Bo into compromise.”

McGee wasn’t stupid. He shook his head. “That’s unreliable. That mayor is a tough bastard—he won’t give in.”

“Why wouldn’t he? The industries in Sunset Town have grown too large for him alone to control. What I’m saying is—you’re being too pessimistic. If you’re interested in the mayoral seat, you might find that taking a shot at it could actually work,” Jackson said.

McGee looked at him suspiciously. “You’re that confident?”

Jackson answered with natural assurance. “Yes, boss. I have confidence in you. If you get elected, then with party pressure and negotiations, Wang Bo will compromise.”

“Think about it—you’re not trying to take his land or property. Your goal is the Parliament in Wellington. Sunset Town is just a stepping stone for your advancement. Once you become mayor, you only need to promise Wang Bo that you’ll develop the town diligently. After you get promoted and leave for Wellington or Auckland, you’ll hand him back an even better town. Why would he object?”

“Especially since the Green Party would also be pressuring him. With enemies both inside and out, what other choice would he have?”

Hearing this, McGee showed a thoughtful expression. “You’re right, Ralph. I have to admit—what you’re saying does make some sense.”

Jackson said, “I’m just stating facts, boss. Think about it: The National Party’s victory in the general election is already set in stone. That means you’re only one step away from becoming mayor, and even one step away from entering Parliament. That one step is: winning the people’s hearts, earning their votes, and becoming the mayor of Sunset Town!”

McGee frowned and pondered, then slowly nodded. “Makes sense. But winning their votes won’t be easy. After all, we’re outsiders.”

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way, boss. Whether it’s national elections or small-town elections, it’s all a gamble. I believe the future returns are worth the risk. The party even gave you a large sum of funding.”

Hearing that, McGee suddenly became alert. “How do you know the party gave me a large amount of funding? Besides, that money is for campaigning on behalf of the party in this region.”

Jackson said, “Everyone knows that, boss. You’re one of the National Party’s most valued core members. I think using that money just to pull votes here is pointless. Sunset Town’s small number of votes won’t affect the National Party’s overall victory anyway. Instead, you should think about yourself. If you don’t seize this chance, you might never make it into Parliament.”

McGee nodded slowly, trying to maintain a calm demeanor. “Then if we run, how do we win votes?”

A slight smile appeared on Jackson’s lips. “Boss, I’ve received a piece of confidential information. Sunset Town plans to build a plaza. Wang Bo definitely intends to handle the project himself. But what if we take the construction rights from him? If you invest and oversee the construction of the plaza, do you know how big of a sensation it would cause? How much attention it would bring? With topics and visibility, would you still worry about not getting votes?”