Chapter 13

[1st POV]

I had to participate in the election race for the position of Mayor of New York City.

I submitted my documents, and I was accepted as a candidate. 

However, a couple of middle-tier businessmen also registered besides me and the other three candidates that George mentioned.

The seasoned politicians didn't take me seriously and even shook my hand at the candidate assembly, wishing me good luck and a fair outcome with smug, mocking smiles.

There's nothing I can do about it…

My election team consisted of some of my staff, including Mrs. Donovan, Penny, Crystal, Bob, and George's wife, Mary, who was simply fired up about getting me into the mayor's chair.

In addition to them, I had some PR specialists that Emma kindly provided when I asked her to help me find them. 

She even wanted to sponsor me, but I refused because I had enough money—not some homeless guy.

She wasn't offended but promised her well-connected journalist friends would be on my side.

Either way, my new headache began unexpectedly, and everything turned into a whirlwind concerning the campaign.

The election was set for three months later, but during these three months, I needed to run a PR campaign, hold candidate meetings and traditional debates, and participate in charity events.

Seeing the persuasion levels of my competitors, I realized I could lose with my current persuasion level. 

Therefore, I significantly invested in raising it and reached level thirty-six.

The soul stones I purchased in the "Store" helped me feel more confident. However, I had already run out of "Small Soul Stones," I wanted to increase my level further, but there was no opportunity.

With my level and skills in dungeons, it was hard to find anything new in the old ones, and I wasn't brave enough to tackle the new ones yet. 

Moreover, I made my life more complicated with this skill by boosting my levels through purchases.

In any case, I started facing problems of a different kind.

I had a certain level of fame and popularity thanks to my business and the events with the Chitauri. 

After all, I was a "prominent resident of New York" and even a hero in some ways. 

This was a good start and foundation for everything, but it wasn't enough.

The former mayor and his deputy were leading in the votes and were the main favorites in this race, while I was in fourth place.

I didn't draft my election program myself, but I chose the directions I wanted to focus on.

As a result, my election program had several key points that I borrowed from the politics of my "old" Earth during the presidential election campaign between two candidates in America:

Industry: I made it a priority to strengthen the private sector of the industry to create new jobs in New York City. I proposed establishing a special industrial bank and directing 10% of government funds to finance large projects. This would stimulate overall investor activity and create over one million jobs, which is essential due to the migration and relocation from rural states to New York. Additionally, during my five-year term, I aim to secure up to $5 billion in investments for infrastructure development (bridges, roads, pedestrian tunnels, subway lines, airports, etc.), which could address current transportation issues.

I paid special attention to the light industry, believing it necessary to provide incentives to businesses in this sector and lift restrictions on certain technologies for modernization and production.

Taxes: According to my opinion and the analysts provided by Emma, I need to increase existing taxes and introduce new ones for the wealthiest citizens. After winning, the minimum income tax rate for New York taxpayers with an annual income of over $1 million will be set at 25%. The corporate profit tax rate will change from 35% to 38%. Additionally, I plan to introduce an "exit tax" for young companies that move jobs overseas.

Furthermore, it's essential to alleviate the tax burden for the middle class and businesses. 

I promised to reduce the maximum income tax rate from 39% to 30%, simplify the progressive tax scale, and abolish the progressive inheritance tax.

Wages: How could I overlook this point in the U.S.? After living in my old country for nearly three decades, I also suffered from the "minimum wage," so I eagerly advocated for an increase in the minimum wage from $7.50 to $15 per hour.

Immigration Policy: I pledged to reform the immigration system by facilitating document processing, combating family separation, and attracting labor resources to the country. 

I refrained from making further promises to avoid any backlash later on.

Social Policy: The main point I emphasized was healthcare reform, advocating for mandatory health insurance for all citizens and residents of New York City. There have been cases where even children affected by mutant or hero-villain battles did not receive proper care due to a lack of insurance. Typically, these were children of migrants or runaways. I also promised to reduce personal healthcare expenses for citizens, lowering the costs of both insurance premiums and prescription medications.

Superheroes and Supervillains: This topic has recently gained popularity, and I decided to pursue the long-held dreams I had brought from my previous world. Specifically, I aimed to "legalize" the activities of supers in New York City, making members of the Avengers, Defenders, Punisher, and other part-time police officers. Although there are issues with the Punisher, the overall idea is to enhance safety for both them and ordinary citizens. This would also provide the police and the city with individuals capable of more swiftly and effectively apprehending dangerous figures like Rhino, Vulture, Scorpion, Mysterio, and others.

Mutants: I am against discrimination against mutants based on their genes. Most mutants are just ordinary people who are either fortunate or unfortunate to be born with such traits. They don't participate in wars or rallies and don't join the Brotherhood of Mutants or the X-Men; they simply live their lives and wish to be accepted members of the society around them. Those who harm society are just the same kind of criminals as ordinary people, just with powers. That's why methods like those used by Stryker are needed for them. It's time to equalize mutants and ordinary people on a legislative level and put an end to the persecution. 

In addition to these points, there were sections addressing cultural issues, road repairs, combating corruption and organized crime, education, charity, and much more. 

After this change, I gained a reputation as a defender of mutants, and, of course, my opponents in this regard grew to dislike me. 

On the contrary, supporters of living in peace with mutants and the mutants themselves began to rally around me. 

Even Magneto and his Brotherhood of Mutants reportedly started to view me positively if the System is to be believed.

Overall, my standing in the race improved, and I was third in the candidate rankings. 

This was encouraging, but there were still two "old soldiers" on the political scene ahead of me, making me anxious. 

I didn't want to lose, and even more so, I didn't want to participate at all. 

However, the system seemed to be holding a grudge against me for some reason, and the reason for that remained unclear.

In any case, I quickly began to face problems. 

As expected, there were attempts to bribe me to withdraw my candidacy or lure me to their side.

A few shady figures in New York wanted to buy me completely, hoping to have a "puppet" mayor for their dealings. 

They even resorted to threats.

I wasn't fooled by any of this and knew I could protect myself if needed. 

Then came the time for the debates with my competitors for the mayoral seat in New York City. 

It turned into a long fight. 

We all gathered together at times, and the atmosphere was like a market with many people.

Of course, we all threw a kind of debate at each other. 

I kept my cool and tried to show myself as an "honest and kind" candidate, but there were times when I just wanted to hit someone and tell them to screw off. 

Unfortunately, those things weren't possible. 

This is America, with laws, traditions, and customs.

During these debates, they tried to trip me up with questions about immigration, LGBTQ issues, and mutants. 

Fortunately, I was prepared for this and managed to put them in place when necessary and even go on the offensive, putting my rival in a difficult position.

After a series of preliminary debates, it was time for meetings with voters and "public showcases." 

It was important for everyone to shine their good deeds in public. 

Naturally, I engaged in the same activities.

A week before the new "final" debates and two weeks before the actual elections, I organized a charity event to feed the homeless and provide them with warm clothing and hygiene products. 

Additionally, as a recognized master chef, I held a master class for anyone interested in learning how to cook.

It was fun and lively, but all good things came to an end.

After four days, I sent all of my people home to run errands while I got into my new car. 

The road was not too slippery despite the winter gradually fading away, and I was driving quite calmly. 

That was until I passed the first block.

As soon as I made a right turn, a shot from an SVD sniper rifle punctured my tire, but I managed to maintain control of the car and accelerated further.

On the same street I was driving, three more bursts of automatic fire rang out from three different points on the rooftops of the high-rises. 

There were a lot of bullet holes in the back seats and bags because the bullets hit the doors on the back of the car. 

It looked even more "grotesque" because the ketchup and wine were all over the inside, and the food had turned to mush.

I turned left, and a bullet from a sniper shattered my windshield, grazing my right shoulder. 

Then there was a second shot but missed, and a third shot ricocheted off the steering wheel and grazed my left leg.

I zigzagged down the street, which saved me from the fourth shot.

I accelerated around a corner, nearly crashing into the wall of the first building I met. 

Then I faced an even worse situation—a figure wrapped in real armor that could be mistaken for medieval but was more modern, holding an RPG. 

The rocket didn't hit my car directly but exploded nearby, flipping the vehicle and tossing it against the opposite wall.

That's when I heard the sound of sirens, and the gunfire stopped. 

The "killer" disappeared just as suddenly as he had appeared, leaving his weapon at the crime scene. 

The shooting outside stopped.

After half a minute, a police car pulled up, and I crawled toward them. 

They took me into custody, and soon, two more cars arrived, along with SWAT and an ambulance. 

The assassination attempt was over, and they provided me with first aid for my injuries before sending me to the hospital under guard.

To be continued…