When he turned around, he saw Oskar Scheder himself. The Populist demagogue from Holtsova that's been exiled by the Governor for his extreme Anti-nobility rhetoric. Jan remembered his Manager's rants about Socialists like Scheder, who he describes as borderline crazy when it comes to his speeches due to how he often scapegoats individuals of higher social classes as the problem for all of society's problems. Scheder has been labelled by the Media and other Political parties as a ' threat to democracy' due to how much of a polarizing figure the man is.
He is a skinny figure of average stature, wearing a tan trench coat, Breton cap covering his head, and an intimidating yet charming aura that calmed Jan's anxiety. There was a red armband on his shoulder with a cogwheel symbol knitted on it.
A sense of an uneasy crept into Jan's mind. This man is dangerous. Yet he can't help but be drawn into Scheder's rhetoric.
Sensing his discomfort, Scheder took a few steps backward to get some distance between them.
" Are you an exploited proletariat, young man?" He repeated his previous question in a softer tone.
" What do you mean by that?" Jan gulped, sweat beads dropping from his forehead.
Scheder let out a chuckle" I'm sorry, young man. It seems I've spoken too bourgeoisie huh?"
Jan's mind raced with questions. Sure he knows that a bourgeoisie is.. that's uh..a middle-class individual from the suburbs? He doesn't remember much of his social education from school. But a Proletariat? What does Scheder mean by that?
Oskar's expression turned serious. He raised his right arm and points his finger at Jan's chest" It means people like you. The Proletariat is the backbone of society. People like us sell our labor to the Elites of Society for minimal wages ."
" Excuse me?" Jan raised his eyebrows.
Oskar took a step closer" We work in the ractories, man the war machine, and demand little but the bare minimum. Yet when we ask for better wages and humane working conditions, what do those parasites at the top say to us?"
Jan's anger surged at the question. He thought about what Scheder said. He does man the machines. He works all day in the Steel mill. What right does a Conglomerate have to lecture him on hard work?
The cold evening wind let out a cool breeze that made Jan shiver a little.
He muttered " They tell us that we're ungrateful and lazy."
Oskar exclaimed" That's right! You're very right, young man! Those fat bastards have the audacity to lecture us that we're lazy when they've never worked a day in their lives."
Oskar stared at Jan's stunned expression. He calmed down, softened his hardened face" Is something bothering you, young man?"
" No..not really." Jan denied, looking away.
Oskar shook his head and laughed" No no no. I know that face. It seems to me that you're having a bad day."
Jan sighed" Well to tell you the truth..my day has been shit."
" What industry do you specialize in?"Scheder asked.
" Steel. Uhh.. I've been working in the Steel industry for four years." Jan informed, his legs turning wobbly as minutes go by.
Scheder sensed the exhaustion, he gave Jan a pat in the back" You seem tired, young man. Do you have any place to stay?"
" Yes. I have an apartment not too far from here." Jan coughed.
Suddenly, new wave of pollution from the factories went up to the skies. The full bright moon has been blocked bJan groaned and covered his mouth and nose while Scheder simply put on a mask.
This was just another typical routine in Burgso. By night, from 7pm-8pm, hundreds of factories throughout the City would unleash a tsunami of pollution towards the sky to dispose fumes and toxic gas. Residents grew apathetic towards it. But the consequences are disastrous.
" Come inside."
Oskar led Jan inside the building and closed the door.
" Is this your property?" Jan asked.
He turned around and saw many destroyed furniture and damaged walls. It seems abandoned- yet to be renovated to be made because scaffholds and construction material were present.
" No," Oskar's voice echoed in the empty hall" This is a community-owned building. This used to be a private apartment but was sold to the Government due to low property value."
Jan can't help but explore the building himself. He entered some renovated rooms, saw revolutionary symbols and Cogwheel Party pamphlets hanged in the wall.
He turned around, seeing a large hallway that leads to the center of the building. As he walked, his leather shoes squeaked at the fragile wooden floor. When he opened it, his eyes widened in shock.
It was a massive gathering hall. Hundreds of seats present and a titanic platform that could fit an entire battalion. His eyes looked up, and there it was: The signature Cogwheel banner hoisted at the Middle.
Before he could process his shock any further, a microphone cracked.
He saw Oskar standing at the platform, a proud expression on his face.
" Are you really Oskar Scheder?" Jan asked, still in disbelief.
" Yes. I'm the man himself. Enemy of the Media. But Hero of the People." Oskar boldly declared, checking the podium to make sure it was in the right angle.
Oskar spun around and asked" You've read articles about me haven't you?"
" Yes. They called you ' A Threat to Democracy' and the ' Eastern Demagogue'." Jan walked up to the platform and saw how massive the Gathering hall really is.
" Well that should be expected from the Media." Oskar pulled out and lit a cigarette before taking a quick drag" They're all a bunch of puppets under the influence of Conglomerates to control the Narrative. Of course they'd want to demonize someone like me."
Jan raised an eyebrow" But you did call nobles parasites.. I'm not sure people would like that."
Oskar chuckled" I didn't mean that in the literal sense! "
He grabbed a nearby chair and sat down," What I meant by that is like Nobles often act like Parasites. They steal our wages, they control our economy, and any attempts of progressing Katzia has been hindered by Noble lobbying. It's like how parasites infect animals."
" Ahhh," Jan nodded" I get it now. "
" See? " Oskar said" The Media is quick to demonize me and take specific parts of my manifesto out of context to paint me as some kind of genocidal manic that wants to kill all rich people."
" Wait- you don't?" Jan looked confused.
" Of course I don't. I blame them for all of society's problems but I don't think we should kill all of them." Oskar clarified.
" You see most rich people are blissfully ignorant of the struggles Proletariats like you and me go through. What we want is just Class Transparency and Economic Equality. But clearly the smear campaigns have gotten to Working-class people too." He explained.
Jan finally nodded" Ahh yess..so the Cogwheel Party fights for Economic Equality?"
Oskar nodded" Yes that's right. We're not dangerous radicals like the Media often portrays us. All we want is better wages. That's all. But clearly that's too much to ask for the pigs above."
Jan sighed" Well I'm not usually the political kind..but I voted for your Party before."
Oskar's face lit up" Oh really? Thank you. Was it in the Mayoral Election?"
Oskar extended his arm to shake hands Jan's hands as a form of gratitude.
" Yeah. We were so close but of course the National candidate won." Jan shook Oskar's hand.
" What's your name, young man? I'm quite curious about you." Oskar inquired.
" My name is Jan Kallavan." Jan introduced himself.
" Welcome to the Cogwheel Party's Official Headquarters, Jan. My name is Oskar Scheder, and I invite you to come and see me give a speech on the weekend." Oskar welcomed enthusiastically.
" I'll come if I'm available." Jan let out a small smile.
" Yes please. Don't force yourself. The choice is all yours. You're welcome anytime if you need a community that will fight for your right to a better wage. " Oskar said.
And that's how Jan ended up becoming a member of the Cogwheel Party. Unlike other political parties, memberships are free and available to everybody. He's been welcomed warmly by the Cognites, a group of Blue-collared folks just like him that support the Cogwheel Parth. But don't mistake this as some wholesome story of fight for equality.
Little would Jan know..meeting Scheder himself would ended up becoming the biggest mistake of his life.