Reincarnated as the Son of Conglomerate

Chapter 168 Campaign

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For the next 75 days, New York was gearing up for a bustling period, especially for its residents.

Gubernatorial candidates became actively involved, hitting the streets and directly engaging with citizens and their supporters, rallying for support or simply working on their public image. Nearly every television channel broadcasted survey polls about which gubernatorial candidate potentially would win this year's election.

Of course, campaign teams played the most significant role. Each team from the candidates worked tirelessly. They constantly conducted surveys, gathered data, and distributed merchandise.

Klaus handed over the company's affairs to Alexa and shifted his focus to the campaign. He also advised Justin to maintain a low profile during the election period. Currently, Klaus was part of Richard Dickson's campaign team. He didn't want the media to associate Rays of Hope with this election. Aside from maintaining neutrality, he didn't want the public's trust in his guild to diminish due to political involvement. After all, politics always polarized people.

Carrying out his duties as a consultant, Klaus interacted more often with Max, the head of the campaign team. He assisted Max in promoting Richard and Jonathan to reach undecided voters. Additionally, he collaborated with Terry Owen in fundraising efforts. During the first week, they grossed a tidy profit of $500,000 just from cap sales. According to Terry, the profits would continue to rise as the candidates' debates unfolded.

In this election, candidates had two options for garnering support from the public: pro-awakener or pro-non-awakener.

Jose Ancelotti's camp raised the issue of awakeners. Despite being a regular human himself, he promised to improve the lives of certified awakeners and guarantee their rights. In his speeches on various occasions, Jose pledged to make it easier for awakeners to access dungeons. Nevertheless, the real power behind him was Vincent.

On the contrary, Isabella Wilson's camp highlighted the non-awakener population. New York was one of the cities with the highest population of regular humans in America. She made promises to them for equality with awakeners. Those who had undergone awakening usually received special treatment, especially when it came to criminal matters.

So, what about Richard Dickson and Jonathan? They acted as a balance. They attempted to gain support from various groups, both awakeners and non-awakeners. At first glance, Richard's path seemed noble. However, it was the wrong approach.

Klaus tried various ways to persuade Richard to choose one side, but Richard remained steadfast. He wanted everyone to live harmoniously, and Jonathan shared the same view. Consequently, Klaus had no choice but to support their plan, even though he strongly disagreed.

…

On a bright morning in New York, an atmosphere of excitement and enthusiasm filled the air. City residents gathered in an open field adorned with balloons and banners reading "Advance New York Together!" On the main stage, Richard Dickson and his deputy, Jonathan Thompson, stood with wide smiles.

"People of New York! I wanted to hear your voices! Where were your voices!? Shout!"

Roaring cheers accompanied by applause reverberated as Richard delivered his address.

Today was the day when Richard and Jonathan held a grand meeting with their supporters.

In matching blue uniforms and red ties, Richard Dickson started his speech with great passion.

"I, Richard Dickson, stood before you with a heart full of hope and unwavering confidence. I wanted to talk about our grand vision for a better future for New York. This wasn't just about one candidate pair; it was about all of us, about a united community building this city into a more inclusive, prosperous, and sustainable place. Awakener or not, we would join hands together!"

He spoke about his vision for a more prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable New York. Jonathan Thompson also delivered his speech with a serious yet confident demeanor.

"However, our vision is not just a promise. We have formulated a detailed action plan and have heard from communities across the city. We will work hard to ensure that your voice is heard in every decision we make."

Cheers erupted as they delivered their campaign promises.

Supporters wore campaign slogan t-shirts and caps. Their campaign song played, and people danced and sang along with excitement. At the entrance to the field, campaign volunteers distributed brochures and stickers to attendees.

Beyond just speeches and presentations, the campaign was also enriched with various entertainment events and community activities. A small stage was filled with performances by local musicians, and food stalls offered signature Manhattan dishes to residents enjoying the ambiance. Children played in the designated play area, while parents engaged in discussions about the future of their city.

This vibrant campaign atmosphere extended beyond physical venues to social media, which was inundated with support and discussions about the Dickson-Thompson candidate pair. From captivating campaign videos to images capturing emotional moments, a plethora of viral stories were shared by citizens who felt connected to the vision and mission of these gubernatorial contenders.

All of this had been meticulously planned by Klaus.

Leaning against a vendor's stan, Klaus found himself accompanied by a short-haired woman wearing a white blouse and black pants. She radiated as her gaze remained fixed on the stage, where Richard was delivering his speech to a throng of people.

Chewing on a sweet bagel, he lazily gazed at the sky. In truth, he didn't want to be at this event, but his duty as part of the campaign team compelled his presence.

"Boss, do you want to go home now? You don't seem to enjoy being here," the short-haired woman noticed that Klaus wasn't keen on staying for long.

"No, Sheila. Even though I could, I don't want to. It wouldn't be ethical to leave the job," Klaus replied, taking another bite of his bagel.

Klaus had come with his secretary. Since his workload on the campaign team had increased, he needed Sheila to assist him in handling some tasks. While Klaus could manage on his own, he required someone to expedite his work, especially concerning writing and correspondence.

"Do you want me to get you something, boss?" Sheila asked with a wide smile.

Klaus shook his head.

Observing Sheila's cheerful demeanor, he was puzzled. He couldn't grasp what was so captivating about Richard and Jonathan's speeches that got Sheila so excited. As a consultant himself, Klaus saw nothing intriguing other than empty words coming out of their mouths.

"Do you idolize them so much? Richard and Jonathan," Klaus inquired.

Sheila opened her eyes wide. "Of course not. I'm not interested at all."

"Then why are you in such a good mood today?"

The short-haired woman leaned closer to Klaus. "Well, it's because I haven't gone out with my lovely boss in a long time." She winked.

Amused by her attempt at teasing, Klaus chuckled. "You're quite daring to tease your boss. Are you aiming for a pay cut this month, huh?"

"Aw, boss. Don't be like that! I was just joking." Sheila looked genuinely concerned.

"So am I." Klaus laughed, while Sheila pouted.

"It's not funny, boss." She sighed in exasperation. "But honestly, I've been missing our adventures. Like when we chased down kidnappers, confronted gangsters, or rescued orphans from the shelter like we used to. Lately, you've been going on adventures alone."

Naturally, her words furrowed Klaus's brow. No sane woman missed the moment when they put their lives in danger. Whether Sheila was a free-spirited woman or simply an idiot, Klaus was duly impressed by her.

Amid their engaging conversation, Klaus suddenly widened his eyes. His fighting instinct had awakened, indicating imminent danger. He quickly refocused his attention on the stage, concerned for Richard and Jonathan's safety.

"Boss, did you hire clowns?" Sheila caught his attention.

Klaus swiftly turned his head in the direction Sheila was gazing.

A group of masked clowns was entering through the entrance. They wore black attire and carried nothing but empty hands. Some security personnel attempted to stop them, but the clown-masked individuals broke through.

At that moment, Klaus already knew what would happen next.

"Sheila! Go and contact Justin immediately!"

"Uh, what?"

"Hurry up!" Klaus snapped.

Taken aback, Sheila promptly did as her boss instructed.

The jubilant campaign atmosphere suddenly shifted. The cheers of the supporters were drowned out by screams. The group of clown-masked individuals abruptly attacked the crowd. They weren't just ordinary criminals; they were awakeners.

These malevolent clowns unleashed roaring jets of fire that incited panic among the innocent bystanders. They wielded objects around them, launching them into the crowd. Also, some of them possessed the ability to summon ice with a mere raise of their hands. The suddenly formed ice froze the surroundings, forcing people to scream out. They spread destruction everywhere.

All these actions unfolded in the blink of an eye, creating confusion and chaos amidst the gathering. Unprepared individuals fell victim to these superpower attacks, desperately attempting to flee. Meanwhile, on the stage, Richard and Jonathan stood frozen, watching the turmoil unfold before them.

"My goodness, what's going on?"

In an instant, the campaign transformed into a scene of devastation.