Chapter 96: Renting Land and the Duties of Friendship
Chapter 96 - Renting Land and the Duties of Friendship
Maintaining a city councilor with even marginal value costs about $60,000 a year. This was the figure William offered Lance as a reasonable estimate.
“I don’t know how much you’re earning annually, but it’s clear that this is still far off for you,” William remarked.
“You should focus on stabilizing your current work and broadening your horizons. When you’re wealthier, you won’t need to invest in councilors—they’ll come looking for you instead.”
William lowered his voice slightly. “Jingang City’s ten councilors all have ties to the Kodak Family, but none of them were directly pushed into office by Kodak. Do you understand what I mean?”
Lance nodded. “I understand.”
Still, understanding didn’t stop him from being direct. “William, I’m speaking hypothetically. If we decided to work toward making you one of them, do you think it’s possible?”
The café, located just across from City Hall, wasn’t low-class. Each coffee came with two biscuits, dotted with chocolate chips—not soft chocolate or syrup but firm enough to provide a satisfying crunch. The sweetness paired well with the coffee’s bitterness.
William popped a biscuit into his mouth. “If I were to run, the Federation Party would likely support me—as long as I didn’t need their funding.”