《America 1919》


 Chapter 2: 1. Prohibition? I want to enter wine_2

    It was precisely because Prohibition was looming that Donnie had this idea.


    As it is widely known, in the history of the United States, the Prohibitionw was an absurd and ineffective edict!


    However, what many people do not realize is that the sessful enactment of thisw was the result of over a hundred years of struggle in the United States. As a country of immigrants, people from various nations brought their drinking cultures with them, as well as their religious beliefs, upon arriving in the United States.


    Among the strict codes of the Puritans, abstinence from alcohol was a very important aspect!


    In addition, women had absolutely no social status during this period, and after men drank, it was inevitable that they would vent their surplus energy on their women with their fists.


    Under such circumstances, organizations such as the Women''s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) and the Anti-Saloon League and other various prohibition groups were established in America, advocating for a ban on alcohol.


    This movement was quite effective; before the American Civil War, prohibitionws had been enacted in several states across America and achieved remarkable sess.


    The outbreak of the Civil War put the prohibition movement on hold. After the war ended, the prohibitionws were brought up again, and by the time of World War I, the National Government finally passed the application for Prohibition, and this time it was not postponed by the outbreak of the war.


    Instead, it was brought to Congress for a vote!


    At that time, Americans really believed that their Prohibitionw could be sessfully enforced. Initially, they indeed achieved good results, with the nationwide destruction of various whiskies, rums, and the number of distilleries across the country plummeting from over 2000 at their peak to fewer than 30!


    But, from a historical perspective, alcohol represents human desire, and desire cannot be blocked. In fact, desire bes even more fervent because of the blockade!


    So less than a year after the Prohibitionw was enacted, the entire United States became a haven for bootleggers, creating countless millionaires and multi-millionaires.


    Today, all Americans support the Prohibitionw because they are still able to drink alcohol, which is why everyone supports the advent of the Prohibitionw. This also led to the current situation where American liquor merchants, in order to dispose of their rum and whiskey before the formal promation of Prohibition, kept dropping the prices of these spirits.


    But once Prohibition was in ce, liquor prices across America immediately doubled, and once the domestic stock of alcohol was almost consumed, the prices would continue to soar.


    Although Donnie has now taken over Ko Bar, there is hardly any stock of liquor in the bar. If that''s the case, it might be better to close for two months and wait for Prohibition to start in two months. By then, the value of the liquor stock in the bar would naturally double!


    Not only that, Donnie also wanted to take this opportunity to try to stock up on more liquor during this time.


    Donnie continued with a wry smile, "Just like you said before, I really don''t want to end up living in North District two months from now, so I want to take these two months to consider my fallback n!"


    Olman looked at Donnie somewhat suspiciously. If Donnie was really doing as he said, wouldn''t the most correct course of action be to quickly sell off all the existing stock of liquor in the bar?


    Although curious, Olman did not voice his question. As he had said, he had only known Donnie for two days, and they were not friends. Whatever Donnie wanted to do, what business was it of his?


    "It''s your business whether you operate or not. As for the money, you can pay less, but you can''t skip payment. That''s the rule set by Nucky, and there is nothing I can do about it!"


    Donnie nodded. He had some understanding of this oue and said, "Alright, then please mention it to Nucky for me!"


    Olman nodded indifferently. After all, this was within his duties, so he had no reason to decline.


    Seeing that Olman agreed, Donnie continued, "There''s another matter for which I need your help!"


    Olman looked at Donnie with some displeasure, "I need to know what it is?"


    Donnie was unfazed by Olman''s attitude and simply smiled, "Prohibition is about to start, and surely there are many liquor distributors trying to get rid of their stock. I have no connections in Antic City, so I want to ask for your help to get in touch with some distributors. I n to buy some cheap whiskey and rum from them!"


    Olman''s displeasure vanished, reced by a look as if he were observing someone with a mental illness.


    Currently, breweries, bars, and liquor distributors across the country had only one task at hand: to sell off their inventories as quickly as possible to avoid having their liquor dumped like garbage once Prohibition started. And yet, Donnie was looking to acquire even more stock?


    Still, Olman was no fool. Remembering what Donnie had just mentioned about wanting the Ko Bar to close down for two months, he looked at Donnie with a puzzled gaze.


    "You haven''te across some information, have you?"


    Donnie continued with a bitter smile, "If I had ess to that kind of information, do you really think George Kurle would have given me the bar?"


    Olman ced his arms on the bar, shaking his head, "No, he wouldn''t!"


    Donnie nodded, "Exactly. My idea is to hold off until a few days before Prohibition starts and then release all the liquor at once. At that time, surely everyone will be stocking up, and maybe I could get a good price for it!"

 Chapter 3: 1. Prohibition? I want to drink_3

    The reason was somewhat far-fetched, but eptable; the key issue was that Olman didn''t care at all whether Donnie''s deal would seed because it had nothing to do with him.


    "Of course, there''s no problem with this matter, but as a middleman, I will charge a fee!"


    Donnie naturally responded, "That''s only to be expected; I understand the rules!"


    With Donnie''s question, Olman naturally lost interest in the rest and said, "Alright, how much do you want?"


    Donnie calcted his entire worth and said, "Five hundred US dors!"


    That was most of the fortune he had umted before and after his time in the military.


    Olmanughed and said, "I thought you had a much more considerable fortune!"


    Donnie replied, "There will be in the future!"


    Olman didn''t take Donnie''s words seriously and said, "I will give you an answer tomorrow!"


    After finishing speaking, Olman was ready to leave, but Donnie stopped him and said, "There''s one more thing!"


    Olman exaggeratedly asked, "How many more things do you have?"


    "Just onest thing!" After saying that, Donnie handed Olman a piece of paper.


    The paper listed a Colt 1911 and 50 bullets!


    Although at this time in the United States there were stores selling firearms, purchasing from a store involved a lot of procedures, and it wasn''t something you could simply buy on a whim; moreover, Antic City didn''t have such stores.


    Olman examined Donnie''s request with a puzzled look on his face and asked, "You''re not nning to use this gun to cause trouble for George Kurle, are you? If that''s the case, I won''t sell it to you!"


    Donnie chuckled and said, "Do you think I''m an idiot? With my current strength, could I possibly cause trouble for George Kurle?"


    Actually, Donnie''s purpose for buying a gun was very simple: self-protection. The United States was already a country awash with guns, and with the backdrop of this era and the chaos in Antic City, Donnie needed some weapons for self-defense!


    "Rest assured, I''m not about to do something that stupid. Didn''t the bar next door, the Blue Sea Tavern, get robbed just yesterday? So, I''m buying a gun purely for self-protection!"


    "Ha, so that''s why!" Olmanughed loudly, "Did you not hear the news that this morning those unlucky guys got caught?"


    Donnie scoffed, "I also heard that although those people were caught, the Blue Sea Tavern didn''t get its losses back!"


    The gambling industry in Antic City wasn''t legalized yet, but that didn''t stop the gambling industry from being one of the most significant sources of revenue in Antic City.


    Those who lost their cool over gambling debts would inevitably do some irrational things, and robbing local shops was amon urrence in Antic City!


    The police in Antic City were far from incorruptible. If one had to describe their style of work, it could bepared to the behavior of the Hong Kong police before the ICAC was established.


    "But you just clearly said you''re going to close down for two months!"


    Although dealing in a firearm wasn''t a big deal for Olman, Donnie''s previous description didn''t reassure him. If Donnie really used the gun he bought from him to trouble George Kurle, Olman himself could end up in trouble!


    "I''m only closing down for two months; it''s not like I''m leaving Antic City!" Donnie exined offhandedly.


    Olman thought for a moment and said, "No problem, pay 25 US dors upfront, and when you see the goods tonight, you''ll pay the remaining 25 dors!"


    After thinking it over, Olman chose to trust Donnie. After all, as Donnie had said, George Kurle was currently the Assistant Commissioner of Public Safety in Antic City; only if Donnie had been squeezed into insanity by a bar door would he go looking for trouble with George Kurle.


    Donnie exaggeratedly said, "Dear Olman, can''t you cut me some ck on ount of this rum?"


    Olmanughed, raising his arms, "God in Heaven, the price I''m giving you is already market rate. If you''re not willing to pay it, then there''s nothing I can do!"


    The retail price of a Colt 1911 was 15 US dors, and with 50 bullets, it certainly didn''t reach 50 dors, but that''s the price in a gun store, not on the ck market.


    Donnie didn''t ask Olman for a discount any further but opened the cash drawer and took out a handful of assorted bills. After counting, he found they amounted to just over 20 US dors.


    As exined before, with the onset of Prohibition, the national price of liquor was falling. The cost of a bottle of rum was just about 1 US dor, and the daily sales of the Ko Bar were around 10 US dors.


    The profit was about 3-4 US dors.


    With no other options, Donnie reluctantly took out some cash he had saved in his coat pocket and handed it to Olman.


    Olman rested his right arm across the bar and swept all the bills and coins into his embrace, "I seriously doubt if you''ll be able to pay the remaining 25 dors tonight?"


    Donnie spread his hands andughed, "I was expecting you''d feel that way!"


    If Olman produced the item Donnie wanted tomorrow, and Donnie failed to provide the remaining 50 dors, then the 25 dors he gave now would belong to Olman!


    "If that happens, I might consider converting back to God!" Olman joked at first, then said, "Tonight, when you close up, the item you need will be delivered to you!"


    ps: A fresh new writer with a hot new book passed the initial review, so everyone can feel secure in collecting, rmending, and following it~~

 Chapter 4: 2. Stupid Donnie Block

    After settling on a delivery time with Donnie, Olman left the bar. Ko Bar wasn''trge, with two floors each covering just over a hundred square meters of space.


    In the main hall on the first floor, there were several mahogany tables and chairs that had begun to show signs of reddening, as well as a bar. Behind the bar were all kinds of beers, rums, whiskeys, and more.


    Additionally, on the first floor was a small storage room for various types of liquor, and a restroom, while upstairs there were three rooms: one for the tavern''s sundries, a bedroom, and another restroom!


    Originally, Ko Bar also had a bartender, but with the approach of Prohibition, everyone believed that alcohol would disappear in the United States; hence, the bartender resigned early on and went to work in the casino next door.


    So now, the entire Ko Bar had only one person, Donnie.


    Antic City was a tourist city, a pure tourist destination with no other industries. In this ce, the bars, casinos, brothels, boarding houses, and hotels were the mainstay.


    The primary patrons of Antic City were the blue-cor workers from Phdelphia, less than a hundred kilometers away!


    "So you''re the unfortunate new owner of Ko Bar?"


    A white man wearing a poor-quality cotton jacket, with thinning hair and a listless spirit, stumbled over to the bar.


    "If it weren''t for me, you probably wouldn''t be able to drink the fine liquor you want!"


    Donnie put down the ss in his hand and looked at the man, knowing he must be a worker from a factory in Phdelphia, who hade to Antic City to try his luck over the weekend.


    "Ha!" The manughed loudly, "That''s correct!"


    Afterughing, the man''s spirits seemed to sag as he said, "No more, I''m noting to Antic City again. This ce just empties my wallet!"


    Donnie just smiled, not responding, as such people always say that. By the next weekend, they would definitely be on the first train, continuing their journey to Antic City!


    "What will you have?"


    "A ss of rum!" The man put 25 cents on the table.


    Donnie poured him a ss of rum and put the money in the drawer.


    "Ha!" After taking a sip, the man''s rugged cheeks suddenly bloomed, the previous dejection vanished, and heughed, "My name is Aiden!"


    Donnie just nodded in response.


    Aiden didn''t seem to mind Donnie''s silence andughed, "Although I''m very fond of rum, I''m still very happy that at least my children will be spared from the troubles of alcohol!"


    Donnie casually asked, "You have children?"


    Aiden''s expression faltered, and he replied with a forcedugh, "I soon will!"


    Donnie didn''t say anything more to Aiden, just watching the customers who wereing in one after another; he was waiting for someone.


    Customers came and went in a steady stream, believing that it wouldn''t be long before they wouldn''t be able to drink anymore, indulging in theirst frenzies.


    So each person was drinking more than before; those who used to have one ss were now having three, and those who could previously walk out were now being thrown out by Donnie.


    It wasn''t untilte at night, after thest customer had left, that Olman returned to Ko Bar with the weapons Donnie had requested.


    "With such good business, do you really n to close for two months?"


    Olman set a Colt 1911 and bullets brazenly on the bar and couldn''t help but ask curiously.


    Donnie fended him off with the same reason he used before, "One always has to look at the bigger picture!"


    After saying this, Donnie handed over the remaining 25 US Dors to Olman.


    Olman picked up the bills, savoring the smell of the US Dors, "Alright, I''ve talked to Nucky. For the next two months, Nucky will charge you only 25 US Dors per month, but there can''t be any issues with the timing!"


    By now, Donnie had picked up the handgun from the bar, feeling a familiar sensation from the gun''s body, and he smiled, "Of course!"


    "As for the purchase of whiskey and rum you mentioned, I''ve already arranged the contact for you. When do you want it?"


    "The sooner the better!" Donnie eagerly said, knowing from history that once Prohibition began, Antic City didn''t enforce the constitution; meaning that the bigwigs in the city must have already set this rule in advance, so they would surely be prepared beforehand.


    What Donnie had to do now was to prepare even earlier than they did.


    Olman didn''tment on Donnie''s decision. If someone wanted to die, Olman was naturally ready to sit back, pour himself a ss of whiskey, and watch the show!


    "Great, I''ll contact you tomorrow!"


    After finishing, Olman stood up and left. Donnie declined the invitation from Lisa at the nearby brothel and locked the tavern''s main door from the inside.


    The next day, Olman brought a man who was bigger and rounder than himself.


    "This is William, William James. Half of the whiskey and rum in Antic City is supplied by him!"


    Donnie didn''t believe Olman''s introduction at all. If this William James was really like what Olman said, he wouldn''t necessarily be selling his whiskey and rum at this time. More importantly, there was no memory of such a person in Donnie''s mind about Antic City.


    Since Donnie had taken over Ko Bar, he naturally knew the suppliers well. In fact, before asking Olman, Donnie also tried to contact his own supplier but was met with an exorbitant price, prompting him to turn his attention to Olman.


    "Mr. Block, you really have an eye for opportunity," William said with a handshake as genuine as his smile. "I''ve heard from Olman that you n to sell off all your liquor stock in the days before Prohibition. I must say, it''s a stroke of genius!"


    William''s enthusiasm was contagious as he shook Donnie''s hand, his face beaming with sincerity.


    Donnie managed only a brief smile in response. If William truly believed in his idea, he surely wouldn''t be selling him more whiskey and rum at this time.


    The deal between the two went smoothly. Donnie wanted to buy, James wanted to sell¡ªit was as if Pan Jinlian had met Ximen Qing, no matchmaker needed!


    With the 500 US Dors he had earned from Donnie, James couldn''t wipe the broad grin off his face.


    "Olman, that fool is alright, just too poor. If only he could spend a bit more, I could have sold him all my stock!"


    James took 20 dors from the 500 in cash and handed it over to Olman, wincing at the parting of each bill.


    Olman''s smile was just as bright, having done nothing but make an introduction and earning himself 40 dors for it. This was money going straight into his pocket, not like the usual earnings from the Ko Bar or selling guns to Donnie.


    "Just another dummy fresh from the battlefield, probably got his brains addled by the German artillery fire. Where else can you find such a ripe sucker?"


    James nodded in agreement, somewhat regretfully saying, "If only all those who came back from the battlefield were like Donnie!"


    The two chatted and walked away from the boardwalk.


    The news of Donnie''s purchase of 500 US Dors worth of rum and whiskey from James quickly spread among the other bars on the boardwalk.


    ''Foolish Donnie Block!''


    Before long, the derogatory nickname was on everyone''s lips.


    Donnie had heard the epithet, too, but he didn''t care. He believed in a little more than a month''s time, everyone would know who the real fool was.


    After hiding the whiskey and rum he bought from James, Donnie decided to visit home first. The stock from James and the existing inventory at the Ko Bar were not enough to satisfy his appetite.


    Moreover, he was not interested in such one-off transactions.


    Having packed his luggage, Donnie set off on the road back to Elwood Vige.


    What Donnie didn''t know was, as he had just left, two men wearing duckbill caps, brims pulled low, followed in a Ford Model T heading in the same direction Donnie had gone.


    The cool weather left by the light rain ofte autumn made Donnie instinctively tighten his cor as he walked on the dirt road.


    Donnie Block''s hometown was called Elwood Vige, located 15 kilometers north of Antic City. He was now leaving Antic City to return to his hometown.


    "You can''t make it big on your own. I don''t have any friends in Antic City, and instead of working with acquaintances I barely know, it''s better to bring some people from home!"


    Donnie carried only a hemp rope backpack with some daily washing items and all his belongings. The rest was left at the Ko Bar in Antic City.


    Actually, Donnie had wanted to take the train back to Elwood Vige. Although there were trains from two railwaypanies in Antic City that went directly to Phdelphia, there was no stop in Elwood Vige.


    Fortunately, 15 kilometers was not too far, so Donnie became a backpacker by default.


    Yet, the muddy and slippery road wet from the rain and the trees shedding their leaves on either side took away the rxed mood he had when leaving Antic City.


    With no scenery to admire, Donnie continued thinking about what his future path should be.


    "After Prohibition starts, there will be only two ways to get liquor in the United States¡ªone is to brew rum and whiskey illegally, and the other is to smuggle alcohol from Europe or other countries."


    "To smuggle, you have to deal with the Coast Guard..."


    Thanks to his participation in World War I, Donnie still had some connections in Europe, but trying to get through the domestic Coast Guard was a worry¡ªhe didn''t have any contacts there.


    "It looks like I''ll have to find an opportunityter!"


    Donnie shook his head with a somewhat helpless expression. Getting that first pot of gold was always the hardest when starting fresh.


    "If smuggling isn''t an option for now, then I''ll have to take the road of brewing my own liquor!"


    This was another reason why Donnie wanted to return to Elwood Vige. To brew his own whiskey and rum, he would need distillers, raw materials, and a master brewer!


    Distillers and materials needed to be bought with cash, but Donnie didn''t have much cash on hand anymore. Moreover, he even wanted to see if he could buy more whiskey and rum from James, and all of that required money.


    He would have to see how much help he could get from back home!


    Even with not much cash left, Donnie had no regrets about spending hisst bit on firearms. If he had enough money, he would have even bought more handguns.


    This time he was definitely going to bring some people from Elwood Vige back to Antic City. One person with a gun was hardly enough for self-protection.


    "If only a few thousand dors would fall from the sky right now, that would solve all my problems!"


    Donnie thought with a bit of self-mockery.


    Little did he know, at that moment, danger was slowly creeping up on him.


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 Chapter 5: 3. Assassination and Counter-Assassination

    On the slick, muddy coastal road where people were scarce, Donnie had already walked for about five or six kilometers without seeing a single soul.


    The Ford Model T car that was looking for Donnie had just left Antic City at this time, and seated inside were indeed those two men wearing duckbill hats.


    One man was driving while the other sat in the passenger seat, thetter was wiping a handgun in his hands.


    "Brill, why did the boss want us to kill a soldier who just returned to Antic City? Did this guy have a good rtionship with the brigadier before?"


    As he finished wiping his gun, the man gazed curiously at the muddy road ahead and asked.


    "But if that were the case, how could Donnie Block take over the Ko Bar, a bar about to close down due to the Prohibition?"


    Without turning his head, Brill replied, "How should I know? We just need to get the boss''s assignments done, why so much chatter?"


    After pausing, Brill continued, "Daniel, Donnie Block must be heading back to his home town, and he''s sure to be carrying some cash. Remember to find his money before we kill him!"


    Daniel nodded, his face disying a bloodthirsty grin as he said, "Of course, the earnings from the Ko Bar these past few days plus his demobilization funds should be enough for us to have a st at the Ritz Hotel for a few days!"


    Brill also showed a smug smile, then said, "We still need to be careful though. The boss mentioned that Donnie Block showed a lot of bravery on the battlefield and he''s quite skilled. We definitely need to avoid capsizing in a ditch!"


    At this moment, Daniel thought of the instructions their boss gave them when they set out on the mission, and he spoke with some disdain.


    "The boss is being overly cautious. How could the two of us possibly be overpowered by one man!"


    Brill chuckled and said, "It''s still better to be careful. Our families are in the boss''s hands. Even if we do get overpowered, we must stick to what the boss told us, otherwise you know the consequences!"


    From Brill''s tone, it was evident that he also didn''t believe that the two of them, armed with guns, could not subdue an unarmed ex-soldier!


    "Instead of thinking about such improbabilities, better think about who we can find at the Ritz Hotel to entertain us tonight!" Daniel ced his handgun in his pocket, then leaned back in his seat with his hands behind his head, wearing a rxed smile on his face.


    "Even if the kid doesn''t have much money on him, the reward given by the boss will be enough for us to live it up for a while!"


    After hearing this, Brill also wore a smile.


    At that moment, Brill suddenly caught sight of Donnie walking alone in front of them!


    "Look quickly, isn''t that the guy?"


    Brill pushed Daniel with his right hand.


    Daniel sat up straight, pulled out a photograph from the pocket of his coat, and on it was a picture of Donnie during his military service.


    "How would I know just by looking at his back!"


    Danielined, holding the photograph.


    Brill floored the gas pedal, and the car elerated, sttering mud from the ground.


    The roar of the car caught Donnie''s attention. He turned around and saw the Ford Model T, as well as the expressions of the two men in the car as they sized him up.


    Seeing the strangers'' expressions, Donnie''s expression tightened. Although Donnie of the past had be corrupt in the police force, his skills were genuine, especially when it came to sizing up people.


    The two men in the car had a fierce look in their eyes, their expressions were icy, and their gazes were fixed on him. Those were not the eyes of merely curious onlookers.


    Thinking this, Donnie tensed up as his right hand headed to his trouser pocket, where a loaded ''Colt 1911'' was ready.


    Meanwhile, Brill and Daniel had already recognized Donnie''s identity.


    Having identified Donnie, Brill floored the elerator and the car sped past him. Donnie stood still, watching the car turn about 3 meters in front of him ande to a halt across the middle of the road.


    Then, Daniel, sitting in the passenger seat, stood up in the car and jumped over the window... The passenger door of this generation of Ford Model T cars could not be opened.


    Seeing the other person''s move, Donnie didn''t hesitate. He immediately drew out his gun and fired at Daniel, who was on the passenger seat.


    Bang!


    The gun fired, and Daniel, who had not yetnded, widened his eyes in disbelief, looking at Donnie. He couldn''t understand how Donnie had a gun?


    Moreover, Daniel couldn''tprehend why Donnie fired without any hesitation?


    Did the other party know their purpose?


    But only the two of them and their boss knew about this mission. Unless their boss had betrayed them, which was impossible!


    Are people so violent now?


    Shoot on sight at strangers?


    All these thoughts were momentary. By the time Daniel hit the ground, the bullet had entered his chest. Although it didn''t kill him outright, it did cause everything to go dark before his eyes as hepletely passed out.


    Brill, who was also shocked by Donnie''s shot and preparing to get out of the driver''s seat, instinctively ducked to use the door as a shield from Donnie''s bullets, at the same time drawing his own gun with one hand and trying to open the car door with the other!


    Donnie''s actions were smooth and connected. After firing the gun, he discarded his backpack, moved in a ''Z'' shape while running toward the car.


    Although Donnie did not know the true intentions of the two men, for his own safety, he certainly did not harbor any thoughts of sparing the innocents.


    Even while running at full speed, Donnie did not forget to shoot at the driver''s seat of the car. At that moment, Brill hadpleted his action and finally took cover behind the car body, ready to retaliate against Donnie with his pistol.


    But, because he had parked too close to Donnie, by the time he was ready to fight back, Donnie had already circled to his front and shot through Daniel''s wrist. A muffled sound rang out as the pistol fell to the ground.


    "Ahh!!!!"


    Brill let out a terrible cry, tightly grasping his bleeding right wrist with his left hand!


    It was at this time that Donnie had already reached him. He first kicked the pistol on the ground away, then with his right hand holding the gun against Brill, and his left hand threw Brill''s hat away, grabbing his hair, he dragged him to the other side of the car and threw him next to Daniel, who leaned against the car body.


    Only after seeing that the two posed no further threat did Donnie finally breathe a sigh of relief; had he hesitated even a little, he would be the one lying on the ground!


    Picking up the pistol Daniel had dropped, Donnie pped Brill fiercely across the face and asked coldly, "Who sent you?"


    Facing these unexpected assants and their pistols, Donnie could think of only two possibilities: the first was a robbery, and the second was that someone had sent them to trouble him.


    After all, Donnie Block had no memory of these two men.


    Now that Donnie was directly asking who had sent them, he was actually employing a small interrogation technique. He was setting their crimes as facts, which could subconsciously make them believe that their actions had been seen through.


    If their mental fortitude was not strong enough, they might just spill their beans in line with Donnie''s insinuations!


    The severe pain in his wrist snapped Brill out of his dazed state, and his thoughts aligned with Daniel''s at that moment.


    How could Donnie Block have a gun?


    How could Donnie Block dare to shoot directly?


    But in the current situation, it was not his ce to have a say. After witnessing Donnie Block''s actions, he was convinced of one thing¡ªDonnie Block was ruthless!


    "I''ll talk, I''ll talk!"


    Despite the intense pain in his wrist, Brill said tremblingly, "We were hired by George Kurle; he paid us to kill you!"


    "George Kurle?"


    Donnie, holding the pistol, felt a wave of confusion.


    He was familiar with George Kurle, as he was his formerpanymander!


    "Is the other side trying to silence me, or is it something else?"


    Donnie couldn''t help but think, "No, it doesn''t make sense for them to do this. Donnie Block had already epted his conditions. There shouldn''t be any conflict between them now, should there?"


    "Why did he send you to kill me?" Donnie asked Brill, unable to understand.


    Brill shook his head, "We don''t know, we just take money to do jobs, but... but..."


    "But what?" Donnie questioned, pressing the pistol against Brill''s forehead.


    Brill stammered, "I vaguely remember hearing him say that he feared you''d b some secrets!"


    "Then it''s silencing a potential bber!" Donnie subconsciously thought. However, he quickly dismissed his guess as the situation seemed too convenient.


    They came to kill him, yet before doing anything, they had given away the reason for the murder.


    And the man involved was George Kurle, with whom he had an entanglement!


    This made Donnie feel like the motive was deliberately revealed to him!


    Bang!


    With that thought, Donnie did not hesitate and shot Brill in the thigh, saying sternly, "What do you take me for? You dare deceive me with such a reason? I saved George Kurle''s life back in the day! How could he possibly want to kill me?"


    Ahh!!!!


    Once again, Brill was shocked by Donnie''s ruthlessness, and the pain in his thigh made him scream in agony.


    This screamed, coupled with his own pain, roused Daniel from his unconsciousness!


    Seeing Daniel wake up, Donnie violently struck Brill on the head with the butt of his gun and then turned to the newly awakened but utterly weakened Daniel, "Who sent you?"


    Daniel was still in shock over Donnie Block''s ruthlessness, and just as Donnie was getting impatient, Daniel hurriedly said.


    "It was George Kurle, George Kurle!"


    .


    ps: Newbies beg for followers. In the current climate of web novels, new book periods rely on followers for everything. Having followers means rmendations, and without followers, you can''t even make a ssh. So I humbly ask everyone, please don''t hold off on reading~~

 Chapter 6: Thank you.

    "George Kurle again?"


    This response made Donnie frown, as no matter how he thought about it, he couldn''t believe that it was George Kurle who sent those two after him.


    Based on Donnie''s understanding of George Kurle, if he really wanted to kill someone to silence them, he could have done it back on the battlefield. At that time, Donnie was under hismand, and any excuse for reconnaissance could have led to Donnie dying on the battlefield without anyone suspecting a thing!


    He definitely wouldn''t wait until now to make his move!


    If this matter was indeed orchestrated by George Kurle, then there was only one reason, George Kurle must have used his identity or background in Antic City to find out about the higher-ups'' attitudes towards the Prohibition.


    But if that were the case, they should havee to him directly to take back the Ko Bar, not resorted to such means?


    Having figured this out, Donnie beat up Daniel even more viciously, but until Daniel finally closed his eyes for good, he still insisted that it was George Kurle who sent him, with no other reason given.


    As for the other, Brill, Donnie did not keep him alive either. Since they could no longer provide any useful information, the only option was to get rid of them to prevent future problems!


    After dumping the bodies in the car, Donnie prepared to start the automobile and leave the ce, as the gunshots were sure to attract attention!


    Luckily, the gunfight hadn''t damaged the two Ford Model Ts.


    But Donnie didn''t get straight into the car; instead, he opened the right side door first, then adjusted the angle of the spark plugs and the throttle lever, before grabbing a crank handle with his right hand, inserting his left index finger into a coil, and pulling hard while turning the crank until the engine roared to life.


    Then Donnie quickly climbed into the driver''s seat, turned the spark plug again, and set the throttle lever to the position of two twenty-five.


    Only then was the car truly started!


    "Although I can''t be sure whether or not George Kurle is behind this, these two have solved one of my problems, providing me with a vehicle!"


    Donnie, driving away from the scene, had mixed feelings!


    As mentioned before, Donnie wanted to use bootleg liquor to umte initial capital during Prohibition, but to brew his own liquor, he needed a ce to do it.


    In Antic City, Donnie only had the Ko Bar and absolutely no way to brew alcohol in secret, so the best ce for that was Elwood Vige.


    And now, these two cars had be the transport means for moving the liquor when the time came!


    "If George Kurle really did orchestrate this, could there be problems at the bar?"


    Donnie''s thoughts drifted back to the biggest question in the affair. If this was indeed Kurle''s doing, then he would certainly have targeted the Ko Bar!


    Instead of deciding to return to Antic City immediately, Donnie continued driving toward Elwood Vige.


    Here, he dealt with the two assassins by catching them off guard, but if he went back to Antic City, that was George Kurle''s territory, and with Kurle''s current position as Deputy of Public Safety, he could easily dispose of Donnie!


    Only when the power by his side was strong enough, could Donnie confidently face George Kurle!


    After driving a few more kilometers, Donnie brought the car to the edge of a cliff. On the right side of the road was the Antic Ocean, which was different from the beaches of Antic City, as here it was met by steep cliffs.


    Donnie carried the two bodies out of the car and dumped them by the cliff edge. Just as he was about to kick them over, something urred to him. Bending down, he began searching the bodies for something.


    Soon, Donnie found what he was looking for¡ªthe cash on the pair!


    "Could it really be so much?" Donnie stared at the three hundred or so in cash he held, somewhat surprised. Americans weren''t ustomed to carrying too much cash on them. If it weren''t for serving in the military for two years, and the prior intention of saving for his brother''s college education, he wouldn''t have had any savings as well.


    Now that these two had a full three hundred or so on them, Donnie felt like thanking them!


    After a thorough search, ensuring not a single cent remained on their bodies, Donnie finally threw their corpses into the sea.


    Back in the car, Donnie looked at the two revolvers on the passenger seat and the three hundred or so in cash. He felt somewhat bewildered, uncertain if they hade to assassinate him or to bring him a windfall.


    Just as he''d left Antic City, pondering over what hecked in his ns to capitalize on Prohibition, these two hitmen had seemingly delivered the answer...


    .


    At the same time, another Ford Model T left Antic City, heading in the direction of Elwood Vige.


    There were also two people inside this car, but the one sitting in the passenger seat was not fiddling with a handgun, but rather a Kodak pocket camera, and he asked the driver.


    "Joe, are we lost? Why haven''t we seen Donnie Block''s body yet?"


    "Rx, it can''t be wrong. There''s only this one road to Elwood Vige!" Joe retorted, irritated at the implication they were off course, but then added with some concern, "What worries me is whether Brill and Daniel are capable of killing Donnie Block."


    "We were right there when the boss instructed those two. I believe Brill and his partner can handle an unarmed Donnie Block!"


    "The boss also said that Donnie Block was incredibly brave on the battlefield, a formidable character!" Joe muttered, "If Brill and his partner really haven''t seeded, James, your report won''t make the front page of the ''Antic City Forum'' tomorrow!"


    James looked at Joe with a puzzled expression, curiously asking, "Howe you don''t seem worried at all?"


    Joe chuckled, "What have I got to worry about? I''m not close with Brill and the others; we''ve only had a few drinks together. Besides, the boss had a contingency n all along. Whether Donnie Block lives or dies, it makes no difference to the boss!"


    "So as long as the boss has no losses, you have no losses, right?" James asked with a smile.


    "Naturally." Joe''s eyes turned to a spot not far ahead of the car, where they then pulled over to a stop, "After all, he''s the one who pays my sry!"


    With that, Joe jumped out of the car. They had stopped at the very ce where Donnie had just fought with Brill and Daniel.


    "Unless something unexpected happened, it looks like Brill and Daniel have indeed taken a fall!" Joe analyzed, looking at the bloodstains and signs of struggle on the ground.


    James, with his camera in hand, also got out and started taking pictures of the scene, asking, "How do you know that?"


    Instead of answering James''s question, Joe asked, "Are you done taking photos? If so, let''s keep moving. If we don''t see Donnie Block''s body by the time we reach Elwood Vige, then we can be sure that Brill and Daniel have fallen, and we''ll need to report back to the boss!"


    .


    ps: As a neer, I''m earnestly asking for follows, favorites, and rmendation tickets. I''ve purchased over a dozen reference books just for this one, writing it with great care. If you, my dear supporters, enjoy this book, please don''t hold back. Following now is truly important~~

 Chapter 7: 5. Donnie Blocks Funeral (please follow, please collect~)

    Donnie drove back to Elwood Vige.


    Elwood Vige is a traditional American vige, except now the phenomenon ofnd consolidation in the United States is not severe, and basically every family owns a sizeable farm.


    However, there are always exceptions, such as the Block family, who immigrated from Italy at the beginning of thest century. After Donnie''s grandfather arrived here, he did not choose to be a farmer but decided to open a tavern here instead.


    This was also one of the reasons George Kurle gave for transferring the Antic City tavern to Donnie.


    Now Donnie''s grandfather had passed away, and Donnie''s father, as the only son of old Block, had taken over the management of Block Tavern.


    Block Tavern is located on the only main road of Elwood Vige, along which, aside from Block Tavern, there is also a restaurant, a pharmacy that can sell other items... an auto repair shop with no customers, and a church. That''s all there is.


    Raven''s repair shop is the first store on this main road, with a sign filled with a sense of age that could be blown away by the wind at any time.


    Donnie parked his car directly in front of Raven''s repair shop.


    After getting out of the car, Donnie saw that there was no one inside the repair shop and thought that Raven might be having lunch at this time, so he shouted loudly, "Raven, your repair shop can finally do business today!"


    Although the Ford car brought by those two hitmen was not damaged in the just concluded fight to affect the driving, there were still some bullet marks on the body that needed to be dealt with.


    However, after Donnie finished shouting, Raven still did note out.


    This surprised Donnie because in Donnie Block''s memory, Raven was a very family-oriented man. Even if his repair shop had no customers, he would sit inside the shop warmly awaiting any potential visitors every day.


    What was going on today?


    After shouting twice more and still getting no reply, Donnie could only shake his head helplessly, thinking of leaving the car here first, as he needed to make a trip home.


    Taking his backpack, Donnie walked towards the tavern that was his home.


    "Something is strange?"


    At this time, the vigers should be home for lunch, so why were there so few people on the street?


    Block Tavern is located on the southern side of this main road, and it would take Donnie a while to walk there.


    Just as Donnie was puzzled by the empty street, he passed by Elwood Vige''s only church. The wide-open doors allowed Donnie to clearly see inside. On this day, which was not a Sabbath, the church was filled with people all wearing ck clothes¡ªsomething that only urs when there is a death in the church.


    And at this moment, the priest at the front of the church raised his head, ready to address the congregation about the deceased.


    That''s when he saw Donnie!


    "My God!"


    The priest''s clear eyes immediately shone as if he had seen an evil spirit walking among the living.


    At the same time, the priest''s exmation caused everyone else in the church to involuntarily turn around and look towards the church entrance.


    When these people got a clear view of Donnie, some of them were so scared that they jumped up and fell forward.


    In the front row, four people slowly stood up. Although their expressions had been downcast, they now looked on in disbelief and joy.


    Soon after, a man with curly hair, big as a bear, ran towards Donnie, shaking the ground as if it were trembling!


    In the middle of the aisle, a tall man tried to block him, but he was shoved aside easily, without the slightest ability to resist.


    "Donnie, it''s really Donnie, you''re not dead, that''s great!"


    The man tightly hugged Donnie, hisrge palms hitting Donnie''s back with a ''thump thump,'' making Donnie feel like he was about to die!


    This man was Donnie''s older brother, John Block!


    "What''s going on?" Donnie was also beginning to react, "Are you holding a funeral for me?"


    As soon as he finished speaking, two more people rushed out from within the church. One was Donnie''s mother, Jennifer Block, whose fat body trembled uncontrobly as she ran.


    She brushed aside John as if he were a little chick, and also tightly embraced Donnie.


    In an instant, Donnie felt as if he had just escaped a mechanical vise only to be caught inyers of cotton,pletely enveloped, making Donnie appear as if he were a bamboo pole.


    "Can''t breathe!" Donnie gasped for help, choking.


    "I knew you wouldn''t die! Damn Carl insisted on holding a funeral for you. I''ll make sure he regrets it when we get back!" Jennifer eximed as she released Donnie, her eyes brimming with emotional tears.


    Donnie caught his breath and nced past Jennifer to see his father, Carl Block, who had just sat down in the first row of the church.


    Carl, with his whitening hair and beard, even in an ill-fitting ck suit, you could still see the muscles taut on his shoulders, stretching the fabric nearly to its breaking point.


    At that moment, Carl Block sat there, his gaze simrly resting on Donnie, his lips trembling slightly, yet he managed to appear very calm.


    "Big brother, it''s so good you''re alive!"


    A heartyugh reached Donnie''s ears¡ªit was his younger brother, Cameron Block!


    A youth who had just turned 20, yet his face bore theposure not typical for his age, although he couldn''t quite hide his excitement.


    "So, this is my funeral!"


    Everything before him was telling Donnie that what he was witnessing was indeed his own funeral.


    "Robert, Robert, you rascal, get over here now!"


    At that moment, John suddenly turned around and bellowed loudly towards the inside of the church.


    The young man John had just pulled away, now approached with a sycophantic smile, bending slightly at the waist as he ran over.


    "I knew it, Donnie, you rascal, you couldn''t possibly be dead, after all the death notice hadn''t arrived yet!"


    Smack!


    Robert had barely finished speaking when John smacked him hard on the forehead, causing Robert to hold his head, looking indignant but not daring to speak out, continuing to force a smile instead.


    "Would we have held this funeral for Donnie if it weren''t for your saying so?"


    Watching the performance of these people, Donnie once again spoke up, asking, "All right, now can someone exin to me what exactly is going on here?"


    "Let''s talk about it when we get back,"


    At this point, Donnie Block''s father, Carl Block, finally stepped forward, casting a relieved nce at Donnie, then took the lead towards their family''s tavern.


    Donnie found Raven and whispered that he had parked the car at Raven''s doorway, asking him to take care of the marks on the car body, but to avoid suspicion, he did not explicitly mention that they were bullet holes.


    The rest could only say their goodbyes to the others and follow Carl out, and those in the church who hade to attend Donnie Block''s funeral understood that the family would surely have a lot to discuss, so they didn''t say much.


    .


    Theyout of Block Tavern was simr to that of Ko Bar in Antic City, with tables and chairs scattered throughout the first-floor hall, a bar counter, several small rooms, and the second floor being the Block Family''s residence.


    Because they had been holding Donnie Block''s funeral earlier, there were no customers in Block Tavern at that time, so the group from the church was now seated in the chairs inside the hall.


    Before long, Donnie learned the whole story, and then he red fiercely at Robert Lird. Donnie was familiar with him, as the two were the only soldiers from Elwood Vige who had served in the United States Army during World War I.


    The difference was that Donnie and Robert were not in the same division, and Robert Lird had returned to the United States maind earlier than Donnie had.


    "Back then, everyone was saying that your squad must''ve been wiped out. I originally wanted to inquire about it, but our squad got orders, and I left. After we finished the operation, World War I ended, and we returned early to the United States. I asked many people, and they all said your squad was finished, so I thought..."


    Robert had his hands on his knees and his head slightly lowered, his voice filled with a sense of wronged resignation.


    The whole incident was actually quite simple; it was the result of George Kurle''s foolish decision at that time. The internalmunication equipment of the U.S. military was not very advanced then, leading to the misinformation Robert had about Donnie''s squad beingpletely annihted.


    At this point, Carl suddenly stood up, approached Robert, who quickly raised his hands to protect his head in fright.


    However, Carl simply said in a muffled voice, "Enough, there''s nothing here for you anymore, get lost!"


    "Right away!" Robert, as if pardoned, hastily left, and at this point, only the Block family remained in Block Tavern!


    Everyone was still immersed in the immense joy of Donnie''s return from the dead, and for a moment, they didn''t know what to say.


    In the end, it was Donnie who broke the silence first, smiling and speaking to Cameron sitting beside him, "You have to take the SATs next March. Have you thought about which university you want to attend?"


    Cameron Block was the oddity within the entire Block family; although he had always attended public schools, his grades were consistently excellent, leading him to be known as the ''bookworm'' of Elwood Vige.


    Upon hearing Donnie''s question, Cameron''s eyes drooped slightly, revealing a trace of sadness as he said, "I haven''t decided yet, but I hope to attend a public university in New York State."


    This clearly wasn''t Cameron''s true intention; he spoke this way considering his family''s situation.


    After all, in the United States, the tuition between public and private universities could differ by at least twice as much.


    Take Columbia University, for example, one of the oldest Ivy League universities in the United States, its tuition has always been among the highest in the nation. Although Donnie didn''t know the exact tuition fees of Columbia University, it was certain that the university''s tuition was at least around 500 to 1000 US dors a year.


    Just as Donnie was about to say more, Carl spoke up once again.


    "We can talk about these things over dinner. Now that you''re back, it''s good, as the whole family is here. I wanted to inform you about selling the tavern; John and Cameron already know, so I''m letting you know now, meaning you''ll have to start nning for your future!"


    .


    ps: Follow, follow, follow, the important things said three times. Following is the lifeline of this book, whether it can be tested in the waters depends on it. So friends who are nourishing the book, I beseech you to keep reading during this time~~

 Chapter 8: 6. Block Family (Please follow, please favorite~)

    Sell Block Tavern?


    Donnie was just as shocked to hear this news as he was when he heard that Cameron had received a rmendation letter from a heavyweight, which got him into Columbia University.


    Although Donnie already owned a tavern in Antic City, this trip back to Elwood Vige was also meant to bring some people over, Donnie had never thought about closing down the family tavern in Elwood Vige.


    In Donnie''s ns, this ce was going to be an important stronghold for him!


    But now, Carl''s decision hadpletely ruined all of Donnie''s previous ns.


    Soon, Donnie understood why Carl wanted to do this, firstly, it was definitely to prepare for Cameron''s tuition fees, as the United States'' student loan policy wouldn''te out until after World War II.


    Before that, the policies implemented by American universities were actually not much different from those in Europe, where schools provided schrships and financial aid to students.


    However, the directors of the educational charity, the American Education Association, believed that money obtained in the form of gifts fostered an atmosphere of ziness, idleness, and luxury" among college students, and thus decided to change most grants and financial aids from non-repayable to repayable by half, andter changed it to requiring students to repay the full amount.


    In thest century, Harvard was the first to create its own student loan program by using donations from the wealthy to set up their own student loan fund and granted the first student loan in American history.


    But no matter what, in the United States at present, it''s not feasible for an ordinary family to meet the tuition requirements of a university.


    Cameron is the pride of the Block Family, and although Carl is usually reserved and taciturn, he is not a short-sighted person. He knows that to change the fate of the Block Family, he has to support Cameron inpleting his university education!


    Donnie had no objections to Carl''s idea because Donnie also understood that although the United States touted economic freedom, in reality, to expand a business without connections in the government was simply impossible.


    And Cameron would also be one of the important allies for Donnie in the business world in the future!


    Besides this reason, there must be the impending enforcement of Prohibition!


    After the official enactment of Prohibition, taverns would essentially have no space to exist; Carl must want to take advantage of thisst opportunity to sell Block Tavern!


    "Dad, I...."


    At this moment, Cameron showed an embarrassed expression, as Carl was nning for his sake, but he still felt that because of him alone, the entire family''s livelihood was being dyed, which inevitably put some pressure on him. Attending a good university was something he had always yearned for, so although he started to speak, he didn''t know how to continue!


    "Cameron, don''t overthink it!" John spoke up at this time, patting Cameron''s shoulder and said, "You are the pride of our Block Family. Once you finish your university education, you will take on the responsibility of leading the Block Family forward. It''s okay for us all to suffer a bit now!"


    After finishing, John made a joke, "Anyway, Prohibition is about to start, and we wouldn''t be able to continue the tavern business then!"


    Seeing John say this, Carl and Jennifer also showed relieved expressions.


    We are a family!


    In the end, everyone looked at Donnie, who had been silent all along!


    In their hearts, Donnie had just been brought back to life and hade down from the battlefield. John had learned Carl''s brewing skills and had decent culinary skills; he could be a chef. Cameron was going to university; both of them had their own way out.


    The only one without a skill, the second son who had not learned brewing and only caused trouble, was Donnie!


    "I don''t think selling Block Tavern will be of any help to our family!"


    Under the gaze of everyone, Donnie directly stated his ns.


    This answer also made everyone reveal a disappointed expression that wasn''t very surprising.


    "Donnie, your dad and I have already discussed it. We can use the money from selling the tavern to buy a farm. You can then learn some farming skills, and with your dad and me around, you won''t have problems in the future!" Jennifer said with some distress.


    "Second brother, don''t worry. After I graduate from college, I will definitely introduce a very good job for you!"


    Cameron said pleadingly.


    "This is not a matter of discussion with you, but a notification. Do you understand?" Carl said with displeasure.


    "Donnie, don''t worry, I will help you. I have been learning about farm worktely!" John sat down next to Donnie.


    "You all misunderstood me!" Donnie exined to everyone''s statements, "ording to dad''s ns, the money from selling the tavern has two purposes: one is to pay for Cameron''s college tuition; the other is to buy a farm. But in two months, Prohibition will be officially enforced.


    You want to sell Block Tavern during this period, but the buyers will definitely be aware of this and will surely drive a hard bargain.


    ording to the current market situation, Block Tavern can hardly sell for more than five to six hundred US dors. This amount of money would hardly cover Cameron''s tuition for a year, not to mention leaving some for buying a farm!"

 Chapter 9: 6. Block Family (Please follow, please favorite~)_2

    Truth often wounds the heart deepest!


    After hearing Donnie''s words, all faces showed disappointment, except for John''s, "Is college tuition really that expensive?"


    No one answered his question, and Carl still looked at Donnie with dissatisfaction, "Then what do you suggest we do?"


    Donnie adjusted his sitting position, knowing that he could only continue with his n if he managed to persuade Carl.


    "Dad, I guess one of the main reasons you want to sell the tavern is because Prohibition is going to be implemented soon, and at that time, you think that once the whole country is out of liquor, people will stop drinking, and so there will be no business for the tavern, right?"


    At this point, Donnie didn''t mention anything about Cameron, because, in reality, the issues they faced were one and the same¡ªmoney!


    Carl didn''t answer Donnie''s question but just nodded with a stern face.


    However, John spoke up, "That''s right, you''ve juste back from the military and don''t know the situation here. Although the tavern is bustling every day with people leaving drunk, many are saying this is theirst binge, and when Prohibition starts, they will be able to keep alcohol away from their children!"


    Donnie shook his head dismissively and said, "Drinking has be an indispensable habit in their lives. It''s not as simple as they say, that they can just give it up if they want to. I guarantee that the day they truly can''t get liquor, they will scour the world for it!"


    An expression of iprehension appeared on John''s rugged face.


    On the contrary, at this moment, after pondering over what Donnie had said, Cameron revealed a sudden look of realization, "You mean to say, brother, that the more something is forbidden, the more it arouses people''s inner desires, and the arrival of Prohibition actually makes people want to drink even more?"


    See, this is the benefit of education. While the rest of the Block Family were still digesting Donnie''s words, Cameron had already grasped his meaning.


    Seeing Donnie nod his head, Cameron immediately turned to Carl with excitement, "Dad, if what brother is saying is true, we absolutely cannot sell Block Tavern; it might well be the goose thatys golden eggs for our family!"


    Carl raised his eyebrows slightly¡ªnot out of anger, but out of curiosity towards this second son who had just returned from the battlefield. The old Donnie was not like this. When did he be so rational and organized?


    The battlefield truly was a ce that tempered a person.


    Carl attributed all these changes to his experiences on the battlefield!


    "These are just your conjectures, which don''t necessarily reflect the actual situation. I can''t base Cameron''s future on such uncertainties."


    Although Carl felt some of Donnie''s points made sense, they were, after all, only Donnie''s opinion. For Carl, the most important thing at the moment was to secure Cameron''s tuition fees.


    As for the other requirements that Cameron would need to enter the highest-ranking universities in the United States, Carl didn''t know.


    "Dad..."


    Before Donnie could try to persuade him further, Cameron already began speaking urgently, believing Donnie''s analysis to be more usible.


    "Enough, let''s not talk about this anymore, this matter is decided!"


    Carl waved his hand, stopping Cameron''s words. As the head of the Block Family, Carl was used to having the final word.


    At this point, Donnie knew he needed to increase the stakes.


    "Dad, you don''t know yet that I actually already own my own tavern in Antic City, and I''ve decided that within this month, I will gather more funds to stockpile whiskey and rum. And it''s not just me doing this; many tavern owners in Antic City are doing the same!"


    In fact, at the moment, many tavern owners in Antic City shared Carl''s point of view, all trying to find ways to get rid of their taverns quickly or to clear out their stockpiles of liquor while they still could.


    But Donnie couldn''t say that; he needed to increase the stakes in Carl''s heart!


    When the Block Family heard that Donnie had his own tavern in Antic City, surprise and curiosity spread across every face.


    Jennifer even asked bluntly, "Weren''t you off serving in the military? How did you end up owning your own tavern?"


    The other three also looked at Donnie curiously.


    Donnie waved his hand and said, "It''s aplicated story, I''ll tell you all about it when there''s a chance!"


    Then Donnie said to Carl, "Dad, even if you sell the tavern, it will only cover Cameron''s tuition for one year. What about his tuition for the second year?"


    Carl replied, "Cameron can work part-time and earn his own tuition. As for your tavern in Antic City, now that it''s yours, it''s your property, and you can do as you wish with it. But my decision is not going to change!"


    It''s like a stone in an outhouse¡ªhard and stinking.


    Donnie, facing Carl who was impervious to persuasion, could only admit defeat helplessly. Forget it, if he wanted to sell, let him sell. After all, what he needed from Carl was his skills and Elwood Vige, a ce suitable for brewing. Whether or not Block Tavern existed wasn''t really a big issue.


    Just as Donnie was about to give up, Raven rushed in, flustered.


    "Donnie, why are there bullet holes in the Ford you drove here?"


    Donnie hadn''t expected Raven to recognize the bullet holes in the Ford.


    At the same time, Raven''s words surprised the other members of the Block Family. Jennifer immediately asked with concern, "What bullet holes?"


    Donnie thought for a moment and decided not to hide the matter; after all, it woulde out eventually.


    So Donnie told everyone about his experiences on the battlefield and his subsequent return to Antic City, not leaving out any detail.


    After listening, everyone was shocked, never imagining Donnie would have undergone such experiences.


    "Didn''t you say the other tavern owners in Antic City shared your ideas? How then could George Kurle just give his tavern to you?"


    By this time, Carl had stood up and was pacing back and forth in the hall.


    Although Donnie wasn''t certain that this was done by George Kurle, he now had no choice but to pin it on George Kurle.


    "He didn''t know at the time, but he found out when he got back to Antic City!"


    "I see!" Carl nodded and said, "So, you''re nning to return to Antic City?"


    Donnie nodded, his gaze resolute, "Indeed, Antic City has more potential for development. I need to grow my business there!"


    Carl nodded slightly, then turned to John and said, "You go back to Antic City with your brother. As for the Block Tavern, we''re not selling it!"


    Donnie: "..."


    .


    ps: I implore you to continue following the story. I beg you, please don''t abandon the book at this critical moment, I plead with all of you~~

 Chapter 10: 7. No one can bully the people of the Block Family (please follow and collect~)

    "No one can bully a member of the Block Family!"


    That was the first sentence Carl said after he had made his decision!


    Donnie had not even had time to be touched when Carl spoke his second sentence.


    "Since we''ve decided not to sell the Block Tavern, you''ll need to take care of two-thirds of Cameron''s tuition fees!"


    "That''s only right!" Donnie had noints about the decision. He was now Donnie Block, a member of the Block Family, and having Cameron attend a good university would be a great help to Donnie''s future business endeavors.


    "I will work hard to earn the tuition fees myself!"


    Cameron did not want Donnie to bear too much of the burden.


    At this moment, Donnie stood up, smiled, and patted Cameron on the shoulder,ughing, "We''re a family, and what you need to do now is to score well on the SAT exam in March next year. Only then will we have more choices when ites to rmendations!"


    Cameron nodded solemnly upon hearing this.


    "Raven, the Block Family is going to have lunch, you can go back now," Carl said, effectively showing Raven the door.


    Raven nodded with a smile, ready to leave.


    "Wait a minute!" Donnie called out to Raven and asked, "When will my car be fixed?"


    Raven patted his chest proudly and dered, "Don''t worry, I guarantee everything will be fixed within two days!"


    Donnie then nodded in satisfaction.


    After Raven left, the Block Family sat down to eat lunch. After the meal, Donnie found Carl again and began to talk about brewing liquor.


    "If we could brew our own liquor, in the future, we would not only be able to sell it ourselves but also to the taverns in Antic City. Perhaps we wouldn''t need a whole day to earn Cameron''s tuition fees!"


    Carl stood behind the bar of the tavern with a cigarette in his mouth, slowly pouring himself a ss of rum, "Brewing isn''t a problem, I can brew genuine whiskey and rum with my eyes closed, but there are two things you need to take care of!"


    Donnie sat on the high stool outside the bar, picked up a ss and some rum, and poured himself a drink, "On those two killers, there was a total of 324 US dors, and I have 37 dors on me. What do you need?"


    Carl replied, "A distiller, barrels, and the raw materials!"


    Donnie nodded, "No problem, I''ll take care of these things!"


    The prohibition was going to start in two months, and not only were tavern owners trying to get rid of their establishments, but the owners of distilleries were also trying to dispose of their factories.


    Before prohibition, the entire US had 1500 beerpanies, 650 liquor firms, 200,000 taverns, and 7000 wholesale distributors.


    But with the onset of prohibition, these numbers plummeted destructively within just one year. By next year, apart from a very few licensed distilleries, the rest would either vanishpletely or move underground.


    As for raw materials, they were even easier to obtain. Once prohibition started, the manor lords of vineyards began selling their grape pulp, though not under the guise of raw materials for wine. However, these manor lords were very caring and instructed on their product packaging how to use these materials to brew wine!


    "I will leave my car here too, to serve as our means of transportation. John will be in charge of that when the timees!" Donnie continued.


    At that moment, John sat down next to Donnie. Hearing that Donnie intended to leave the car for him, he immediately showed a big smile and took a swig straight from the bottle of rum on the bar!


    "With me here, rest assured, no one will dare to steal a thing!"


    Carl shook his head, "Just John alone is not enough. If things turn out the way you say, our operation will definitely be targeted!"


    Donnie nodded, "Rest assured, I have already scouted out an assistant for John."


    Cameron, who had just walked over, chimed in, "You mean Robert?"


    "Exactly," Donnie said with a smile. "Robert has quite the reputation!"


    Despite how easily John had controlled Robert in the church, Donnie had heard Robert''s name on more than one asion during his time in the military; in their unit, Robert was a veritable god of war!


    "Now that he''s got nothing else to do, he should agree!"


    Carl only pondered for a moment before agreeing with Donnie''s suggestion. But he still had his own concerns, "The two of them might handle ordinary folk, but if theye up against gang members, it would be dangerous."


    Donnie gestured to Cameron, "Go get my bag."


    Cameron immediately scampered over and brought Donnie his backpack. After receiving it, Donnie took out Daniel and Brill''s guns along with the ammunition.


    "These were left by those two assassins before; they might as well be kept for John and Robert."


    Upon seeing the guns, John immediately grabbed one and lit up as if he had seen two supremely beautiful women in nightgowns, his eyes gleaming with excitement.


    Carl did not bother to look at these things and asked, "Since that George Kurle wants to kill you, if you guys return to Antic City, how are you nning to deal with him?"


    Cameron interjected, "Big brother, I think we should just sneak back to Antic City and directly take out George Kurle. That way we can eliminate any future troubles!"


    Far from objecting to Cameron''s suggestion, Carl even showed a look of agreement.


    "Exactly, no one in Antic City recognizes me or Robert. We''ll go tonight, and I guarantee we''ll take out George Kurle without anyone the wiser!"


    With guns in hand, John felt invincible!


    Donnie was somewhat tempted by the proposal, but he soon dismissed the idea of taking out George Kurle, as it didn''t pose any psychological burden for him. However, he quickly ruled out the thought.


    "Killing George Kurle would be easy, but dealing with the aftermath would be troublesome. Besides, with the attempt on my life already made public, George Kurle''s side must know that the assassin he sent has been taken care of by me. I imagine he will be more cautious in the future!"


    Donnie didn''t reveal the true reason to them, because even now, he couldn''t be certain whether George Kurle was actually behind it all.


    If it was George Kurle, the people around him would surely know. If George Kurle were taken out now, even if he didn''t show his face, the other side would definitely suspect his involvement. Considering the backing of themodore behind George Kurle, Donnie wasn''t a match for them at this point!


    If it wasn''t George Kurle, then the situation became interesting. The other party was obviously trying to stir up hostility between him and George Kurle. If he chose to act now, he would fall into their trap. Those bold enough to target George Kurle at this time were few in Antic City.


    And those few were not the kind of people Donnie wanted to mess with at the moment!


    Thus, in the end, Donnie decided to wait until he returned to Antic City to address everything.


    "Alright then, since you''ve made up your mind, I won''t say anything more. Just always remember, our Block Family is not one to be trifled with!"


    Carl didn''t dwell much on this matter!


    Donnie nodded.


    Cameron had, at some point, excitedly taken a handgun from John''s hand and now asked Donnie.


    "Big brother, what should I do during this time?"


    Donnie smiled at Cameron and said, "Your most important task for this period is to study hard!"


    Seeing a hint of disappointment on Cameron''s face, Donnie added, "After you graduate, that''s when you''ll really be needed!"


    "Alright!" Cameron nodded with a mix of resignation and anticipation.


    With the family affairs resolved, Donnie picked up the ss of rum from the bar and finished it in one gulp. He stood up and said, "I''m going to find Robert, I still need to inform him about this affair!"


    "I''lle with you!"


    As he spoke, John had already tucked the handgun into his waistband.


    Donnie just nced at him and said nothing.


    The two brothers stepped out of the Block Tavern, where dense, yellowing trees surrounded them. Donnie headed toward Robert''s house.


    "Robert won''t be at home at this hour!"


    John stopped Donnie, then snickered and said, "I''ll take you to catch him!"


    Donnie looked doubtful but said nothing.


    Following behind John, they quickly arrived at a farm, with fields of haystacks and clusters of barns.


    As they approached one of the barns, Donnie heard the muffled grunting of a man and the unbridled screaming of a woman from inside.


    "Father Garcia, what brings you here?"


    Standing outside the barn, John suddenly shouted loudly.


    Immediately, Donnie heard panic-stricken noises from inside the barn, followed by the rustling sounds of hurried dressing. Robert, clutching his trousers, emerged in a flurry.


    When he saw only Donnie and John outside the barn, he realized he had been tricked.


    "This could get someone killed!" Robert protested with a pale face. "Don''t you know Father Garcia really shoots?"


    Father Garcia, the only priest in Elwood Vige, was held in the highest esteem in the vige.


    John wrapped a strong arm around Robert while rubbing his head roughly with the other hand, instantly turning his already bird''s-nest-like hair into a pigsty mess.


    "I haven''t had a proper reckoning with you about the previous matter!"


    It was then that Robert turned to Donnie with resignation and said, "Donnie, you know me. I want you safe from battle more than anyone else!"


    Donnie nodded with a smile. The two had grown up together, and their bond was deep. Otherwise, Donnie wouldn''t have considered him.


    "I remember Father Garcia doesn''t meddle in these matters unless the person inside is...?"


    As he finished speaking, a girl with disheveled hair, wearing a rough cotton dress and flushed face, walked out. This girl was none other than Father Garcia''s only daughter, Lolita!


    "Donnie!"


    Lolita stood naturally by Robert''s side, greeting Donnie without a hint of embarrassment.


    "I''m so d the news about Robert was false!"


    Donnie gave Robert a thumbs-up. To have been with Lolita was indeed the dream of most young men in Elwood Vige... but Donnie was not among them, as Lolita was only slightly prettier than the other vige girls.


    In the brothels of Antic City, there were many girls far more beautiful than Lolita.


    "Let''s talk serious business!" Donnie didn''t waste time and directly addressed Robert.


    ps: Still pleading for continued reading, as it is really important~~ If any friends have rmend tickets, they can also be given to Huangshan. Thank you all~

 Chapter 11: 8. The Underground Emperor of Atlantic City - Nucky (Please follow, please bookmark~)

    The moonlight was pristine, and the lights twinkled within Antic City before Donnie''s eyes, with asional noisy sounds to be heard.


    After spending a few days in Elwood Vige, Donnie had returned to Antic City, but this time, he wasn''t alone; he was apanied by John and Robert.


    "This is the address of my bar in Antic City!" Although Donnie had already informed them of the location of Ko Bar, he took added precautions by writing down the address on a piece of paper and handing it to Robert before continuing.


    "Wait for me in the car. If there''s no trouble over there,e and get me!"


    It wasn''t that Donnie intentionally sent the two into danger, but rather, since John and Robert were new faces in Antic City, if George Kurle was still creating trouble for him, his men would definitely be watching the vicinity of Korle Bar.


    There would be no issues for John and Robert to walk over, as both could pass as men who came to Antic City just to enjoy themselves without any need for disguises.


    The permanent poption of Antic City at the time was only around forty to fifty thousand, but during the tourist season or on weekends, the poption could instantly surge to three to four hundred thousand.


    "Most importantly, make sure no one is secretly keeping an eye on the bar!"


    Donnie gave his final caution.


    Robert took the paper, chuckled with a ''heh heh'', and said, "Don''t worry, could these guys be any match for those German soldiers?"


    Donnie nodded, watching the two head straight for Antic City, then he took out his handgun, propped his leg up on the steering wheel, and waited for their return.


    .


    Antic City was home to countless hotels, but the most luxurious was undoubtedly the Ritz Hotel. The Ritz Hotel had be Antic City''s most opulent hotel because someone had rented the entire top floor, allowing for a view of the Antic Ocean''s seascape.


    In a room on the ninth floor, converted into a study, sat a tall, well-built man with broad shoulders, lounging on the couch, dressed in a high-end, chocte-colored, handmade suit, with a fresh red carnation in thepel, giving off the first impression that the man was a gentleman.


    Despite the fact that this man sported a shiny, bald head that didn''t quite fit the gentleman''s standard.


    This man was a well-known figure throughout Antic City, more urately described as the underground emperor of Antic City¡ªEnoch Johnson, affectionately known to the locals as ''Nucky''!


    Nucky, sipping from his ss, listened to a report from one of his subordinates, who happened to be Joe Hamilton, the same man who had led the search for Donnie with the reporter.


    Of course, Joe also had his own profession, Nucky''s backup driver.


    "Boss, that Block hasn''te back for three days now. Could it be he doesn''t dare to return?"


    Joe stood opposite Nucky, his hands by his sides, speaking respectfully.


    Nucky swirled his ss, speaking distractedly, "If he doesn''te back, then so be it. He was just a pawn to begin with. His presence or absence makes no difference!"


    Joe remained silent, waiting for Nucky''s next instructions.


    Sure enough, after finishing his statement, Nucky looked up and inquired, "How has George been doing these past few days?"


    Joe immediately answered, "Eating, drinking, with his gang frequenting every brothel and casino in Antic City every day!"


    Only then did Nucky sit up slightly, saying, "It seems that the General has already made contact with him, or even returned to Antic City. Otherwise, that bastard George wouldn''t have so much spare cash."


    Joe pursed his lips, wanting to ask his boss why he, who seemed so wary of the General, had initially agreed to appoint George as deputy chief of public security.


    Officially, Nucky was the Treasurer of Antic City, but in reality, the appointment of any government official in any department of Antic City needed Nucky''s approval before truly taking office. Otherwise, they wouldn''t even receive their appointment letter.


    Now, everyone understood that if the General returned to Antic City, he would invariably challenge Nucky''s dominion over the city. Yet Nucky had still agreed to George Kurle''s appointment as deputy?


    Such questions, Joe could only bury deep in his heart. Only if he stood beside Nucky would he be entitled to raise his concerns.


    "Alright, tell your men to back off from Korle Bar. Donnie is a war hero; if he truly returns, he''ll notice them. That''ll just make him even more constrained, which is contrary to our initial n!"


    "Yes, sir!"


    Joe nodded, knowing he was now free to leave. After a slight bow, he exited Nucky''s office.


    After Joe''s departure, Nucky then addressed the man beside him, "Louis, tell Rivers to stick close to George. I want to be informed about George''s whereabouts at all times!"


    Louis, whose full name was Louis Kessel, served as Nucky''s personal manservant, bodyguard, and head chauffeur¡ªa man standing five feet five inches, with a trunk-like build weighing two hundred and sixty pounds, sporting a Little Mustache polished with wax.


    "I''ve already given the order!"


    Nucky, reassured, smiled and said, "You always put my mind at ease."


    Louis, expressionless, replied, "That''s what I ought to do."


    As Nucky rose to his feet, Louis immediately reached for the bowler hat hanging on the coat rack and handed it to Nucky.


    Upon donning the hat, Nucky looked even more the gentleman, his smile ever present as if it had never faded, "I''ve heard ''Corner'' hotel has been lively recently. Let''s go there tonight!"


    ''The Corner'' hotel wasn''t just a hotel; more importantly, it housed a casino. This casino wasn''t owned by Nucky, but still, it had to pay him money every month!


    Most importantly, ten years ago, it had been the brigadier''s base, just like the Ritz Hotel was to Nucky!


    Hearing that Nucky was indeed heading to ''The Corner'', Louis expressed his concern, "Boss, didn''t you just say that the brigadier might have returned to Antic City?"


    Nucky turned and nced at Louis, smiling easily, "It''s precisely because he''s back that I want to pay a visit, after all, he was like an uncle who watched me grow up!"


    Nucky''s father, Smith Johnson, had once been the sheriff of Antic City and also the right-hand man of the Brigadier, the underground emperor of Antic City. Nucky''s first appearance in Antic City was to take over his father''s position as the sheriff.


    However, after Nucky became the Treasurer of Antic City, he passed the position of sheriff to his brother, Eli Johnson.


    "Boss, you know what I''m worried about!" Louis still hadn''t moved.


    Nucky smiled and said, "Don''t worry, the brigadier wouldn''t be so foolish as toy hands on me directly!"


    Hearing Nucky say this, Louis finally joined Nucky in stepping out of the room. When they reached the entrance of the hotel, the Ritz Hotel valet had already parked Nucky''s blue Rolls-Royce at the front.


    Upon seeing the valet, Nucky fished out a US dor from his pocket and handed it over warmly, saying, "Thank you, Deck!"


    "It''s an honor to serve you!"


    With a respectful bow and a smile, Deck replied.


    Nucky nodded and saw that Louis had already opened the car door for him, and on the back seat of the cary a scantily d woman, sending a seductive smile towards Nucky.


    After getting into the car, the woman reclined in Nucky''s embrace, his hand already slipping through the neckline of her dress, but Nucky''s gaze was fixed on Louis in the driver''s seat.


    "Damn it, Louis, I need some privacy right now, don''t you know to leave some alone time for your boss?"


    Without any expression, Louis turned around and pulled the curtains closed.


    .


    More than half an hourter, John and Robert met up with Donnie again.


    "Nobody!" After seeing Donnie, Robert said with augh, "I''ve also checked the surroundings. There are some traces, but indeed there''s nobody there now, and I can assure you they left before we arrived!"


    Donnie frowned slightly. The best oue for him would have been to find either someone there or no one at all. The most annoying scenario was this kind of uncertainty in between.


    John carelessly said, "What''s it to us, let''s just go over. If anyone dares toe, we''ll take care of them!"


    Donnie shook his head; it was still best to be safe at this time.


    "Let''s go, I''ll take you to stay at the boarding apartments!"


    Deciding to spend a night in the city to observe, Donnie thought that if nothing happened by the evening, he would let John and Robert open up the tavern the next day. If there were still no problems then, he would be able to head back home!


    Neither John nor Robert tried to guess Donnie''s specific reasons. Hearing Donnie''s instruction, they simply got into the car.


    The three quickly arrived in Antic City. The boarding apartments were a tier below a hotel or inn, costing only 1 US dor per night.


    During the tourist season and weekends, the price would rise to 2 US dors, or 80 cents for a long-term lease!


    Donnie only stayed in Antic City for two days. Not many people recognized him there, so he directly rented three rooms in the boarding apartments across from the Ko Bar.


    The night passed without incident. The next day, Donnie sent John and Robert with the keys to the Ko Bar while he disguised himself as a tourist to scout around the bar until he felt sure enough there were no issues, then he too entered the establishment.


    "Donnie, this ce is so much better than the Block Tavern!"


    John''s face was alight with excitement upon seeing Donnie.


    Donnie merely smiled and checked the tavern out, finding no signs of a free giveaway, which pleased him even more.


    "Are we going to start business today?" Robert asked while pouring himself a beer at the bar.


    Donnie shook his head; he had already said that the Ko Bar would only reopen after the Prohibition officially started.


    "No need, we''ll settle in here first. There are a few things to do, and I also need to carefully consider who those two people might have been sent by!"


    Sitting on a chair, Donnie hoped to resolve all the doubts in his mind before the tavern officially opened for business!


    After some thought, Donnie had Robert bring paper and a pen from behind the bar, then he wrote down three names: George Kurle, the Brigadier, and Nucky!


    ps: Reading, reading, reading, repeat the important things three times. Don''t be annoyed, folks, Huang Shan really has no choice ah~~

 Chapter 12: 9. Assassination Analysis (Please follow, please favorite~)

    "Nucky?"


    Robert looked at the name Donnie had written and showed a puzzled and surprised expression as he asked, "You suspect Nucky?"


    "And who is this brigadier? Is he from the upper echelons of your troops?" John also leaned in at this moment. Although John hadn''t been very educated, he could still read.


    Robert exined to John, "The brigadier is not a military brigadier; that was his honorific in Antic City over a decade ago. Put it this way, Nucky''s current status in Antic City is what the brigadier''s status used to be back then!"


    "With that said, I understand now!" John said, shaking his head.


    Donnie and Robert smiled at each other.


    Donnie then exined to both of them.


    "I have always thought that the information we got from those two assassins seemed too convenient, as if they were deliberately leading me to conclude that it was George Kurle''s doing. So, I began to wonder if there might be other secrets behind it, like someone wanting to deepen the rift between George Kurle and me intentionally!"


    Robert immediately understood what Donnie meant and said, "In the entire Antic City, the only one with the ability and the guts to do this is Nucky."


    Donnie nodded.


    However, John still seemed puzzled as he scratched his head and said, "But why would Nucky do this? If George Kurle really offended Nucky, Nucky could just kill him directly. Why would he go to such lengths to make you hate George Kurle and even take action against him?"


    Robert gave John a knuckle on the head, which instantly drew an angry look from John. Robert quickly put on a fawning smile and then exined on behalf of Donnie.


    "Because the brigadier''s name is Louis Korle, and George Kurle is his illegitimate son. Otherwise, how do you think a man with no education could be apanymander upon entering the military and then immediately be the Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety for Antic City after retiring?"


    "The brigadier seems to treat his illegitimate son quite well!" John muttered softly.


    "That''s because the brigadier needs George Kurle toe to Antic City to reim the throne for him!" Donnie added.


    Although the brigadier had other children, none of them were in Antic City and none were interested in the brigadier''s Antic Empire.


    "If that''s the case, then I''m confused again!" John had many questions today and felt his brain wasn''t quite keeping up.


    Donnie knew his brother well, embodying the phrase ''simple-minded but physically strong'' to the fullest extent.


    However, they still needed John for many parts of the uing actions, so it was only fair to rify all his doubts at once.


    "The brigadier has been in prison for many years, but not all of his old gang in Antic City has disappeared. Moreover, President Wilson, who he had conflicts with in the past, saw a significant decline in his domestic poprity after the end of World War I, and it''s very likely he''ll lose in the next election.


    Nucky might be the underground emperor of Antic City, but he still has to be wary of the brigadier''s old influence. If he doesn''t even take care of the brigadier''s son''s business, naturally, that would cause dissatisfaction among some people in Antic City."


    "If this really is Nucky''s doing, then there''s a logical foundation to it. To Antic City, I am an outsider, with no foundation whatsoever. Also, George Kurle and I had conflicts during our time in the military, so if I were the one to take out George,


    then this matter would have nothing to do with Nucky; he could even hand me over to the brigadier as an exnation."


    "Additionally, another reason which makes me lean towards it being Nucky''s doing is that if I had indeed been killed at that moment, Nucky could have used the incident to spin a narrative. He only needed to get the familiar media to release the conflict between George Kurle and me from our military days.


    With just a little insinuation, everyone would believe George Kurle killed me to silence me."


    "What the f*ck!" After hearing Donnie''s exnation, John couldn''t help but blurt out an American expletive and loudly said, "This old guy is cunning! We should just kill him!"


    Donnie shook his head and said, "You can''t imagine Nucky''s strength right now, and he is not an ordinary person. Most importantly, all of this is just spection right now, and George Kurle himself is also a prime suspect."


    Robert looked at Donnie seriously and asked, "So, what do we do next?"


    Donnie revealed a confident smile, "No matter the specifics of the truth, what we need to do is not be a knife in anyone else''s hand. Even if we choose to be the knife, it should be for our own benefit. As for what we should do first, we naturally need to meet with Mr. Nucky. Then, whether he did it or not, everything will be clear!"


    "You want to meet Nucky?"


    Both John and Robert showed surprised expressions.


    But Donnie nodded naturally and said, "That''s right, we''re going to make a living in Antic City from now on. It''s inevitable that we''ll have to deal with Nucky early on. Getting to know him first is always beneficial!"


    "No, it''s too dangerous!" John said loudly. "If you must go, then I''lle with you!"


    If you go, Nucky might spot something off at a nce... Donnie shook his head. "I can go by myself. Nucky is not an ordinary person, and he won''t use the same tactics twice. This time, when I meet him, it''s not just a mere acquaintance; more importantly, I hope to get his help!"


    Robert was smarter than John, but even with Donnie''s words, Robert was left puzzled, not to mention John.


    "Nucky will help you?"


    "Nucky will meet with you?"


    Robert and John asked the question simultaneously.


    In response to these two questions, Donnie already had a n in mind by the time he spoke out, meeting Nucky wouldn''t be difficult, but whether he could get his help would depend on the situation at the time.


    As for what kind of help Donnie was seeking from Nucky!


    .


    The next day!


    After enjoying a morning massage, a breakfast that included a quart of freshly squeezed orange juice, half a dozen eggs, and a serving of ham steak, Nucky changed into a light purple suit and, after pinning a fresh carnation in the pocket of his suit jacket, he began receiving guests in his study.


    This had been Nucky''s routine for years; every morning, he would meet with a variety of people seeking his help in his study, from government officials to city merchants, members of an Antic City gang, or even a waiter from a restaurant.


    Here, Nucky always tried to solve any problems they might have.


    In the afternoon, Nucky would leave the hotel and go to the boardwalk of Antic City. Here, leaning against the railing, he would get a direct feel for the state of the entire city.


    Beggars woulde up to him and receive a few US dor bills, some political henchmen would seek advice and help, and whether he saw shoeshine boys, flower-selling girls, or newspaper boys, Nucky would pat them on the head affectionately and give them a dor or two.


    This was Nucky''s way of living in Antic City, because he understood that the votes of the poor and the rich were the same, and if he could take good care of these poor people, it would be easier to get their votes!


    Just after seeing a guest out in his study, Louis came up to Nucky, who handed him a piece of paper and said, "The weather is getting colder, remember to prepare winter food, nkets, clothes, and so on!"


    Louis nodded and said, "I''ll arrange it. When you, boss, go to North District to distribute these supplies, I''ll notify the media toe!"


    Nucky nodded in satisfaction, "Send the next guest in!"


    This time, Louis did not leave immediately, but with a somewhat strange expression said, "Boss, the next guest is Donnie Block!"


    Nucky looked up, his grey eyes shing with a hint of doubt that quickly turned into an interested expression, "He''s back?"


    Louis nodded, "Yes, he should havee back yesterday."


    Nucky smiled, "This has indeed made me interested in this young man. Let him in!"


    Louis pulled out his handgun from his waistband and chambered a round.


    Seeing Louis''s actions, Nuckyughed, "Don''t worry, a smart man like himing at this time has already proven he''s intelligent, and intelligent people don''t do stupid things!"


    Although Louis nodded in agreement with Nucky''s words, he did not let down his guard.


    Nucky looked at Louis blocking the door, shook his head with a smile, and poured himself a ss of whiskey.


    This was Donnie''s first meeting with Nucky and he realized that the real Nucky was entirely different from the Nucky in the TV series "Antic Empire," especially that shiny bald head.


    Yet he had to admit that though the images werepletely different, the impression was the same: here was a gentleman of impable manners.


    Taking off his hat, Donnie greeted with a smile, "Hello Mr. Johnson, I am George Kurle, the owner of the Ko Bar!"


    "I know you!" Nucky''s smile was as warm as a spring breeze, he gestured toward the chair in front of his desk and said, "Please have a seat!"


    "I heard that Ko Bar has a new owner, and that the new owner is a hero from the battlefield, which makes me very happy. Antic City is a beautiful ce, and that a hero chooses to stay here is a source of pride for the city!"


    Donnie replied with a smile, "That''s all in the past, now I''m just an owner of a bar, a young man who hopes to get help from Mr. Johnson!"


    Nucky said, "My friends like to call me Nucky!"


    Donnie readily agreed, "To be able to call Mr. Nucky a friend is an honor for me!"


    Nucky asked with a smile, "Now then, dear Mr. Block, you can tell me your request. If it''s within my power, I will certainly help you!"


    Donnie was not fooled by Nucky''s appearance; a gentleman could never be the underground emperor of Antic City!


    At this moment, the real battle between the two men began!


    ps: Keep reading, keep reading, keep reading, seeing how hard Huangshan is working for continued readership, please don''t you all give up~~ And thanks to the old friend ''Godstick0000'' for the 1000 starting currency reward~~

 Chapter 13: 10. Clash (Please follow, please favorite~)

    Nucky''s study wasn''t veryrge, but it was luxuriously decorated, and there weren''t many books on the bookshelf behind him, purely for ornamentation.


    Louis always stood by Nucky''s side, his rugged face devoid of any expression, resembling a perpetual block of ice.


    But at that moment, a hint of astonishment flickered in Louis''s eyes.


    He was astonished by the request Donnie had made, and the smile on his boss Nucky''s face became even more radiant, with an added touch of keen interest.


    Neither of them had expected Donnie toe to them for a loan!


    Although people asked Nucky for loans every day, this was an entirely different matter.


    Just moments before, Donnie had made his request, hoping to secure a loan of one thousand US dors from Nucky.


    "I will pay you the interest ording to the rates in Antic City, for a term of three months. Three monthster, I will repay you the principal along with the interest!"


    Three hundred dors in capital was not a hefty sum in Antic City, but it was roughly the wages of an ordinary person for about three months.


    In Antic City, a baker''s assistant earned a weekly wage of thirty-five US dors, and an ordinary policeman made less than one hundred dors a month.


    By this period, Americans had already lost the habit of saving money.


    The term "living paycheck to paycheck" originated from the United States!


    "Donnie, this is our first meeting, isn''t it?" Nucky didn''t respond to whether he would lend the money to Donnie but asked instead.


    Donnie nodded and said, "Of course. Before I left Antic County for the battlefields in France, I had already heard of Mr. Nucky''s great reputation. I know you are known as a good man in Antic City, and that''s why I came to Mr. Nucky, because of your well-known goodwill!"


    Nucky smiled. Although he appeared generous to the public, there were always motives behind it. Now, as he examined the man he had been paying attention to, he also pondered whether this man might have guessed that those two individuals had been sent by him.


    However, such thoughts flickered in his mind for less than a second before he dismissed them. Was it necessary for Nucky to know whether or not he was aware?


    If Donnie were to use that incident to threaten him, then he''d surely miscalcted!


    "May I know why you need to borrow such arge sum of money, Donnie?"


    With a bitter smile and hands spread, Donnie sat there and replied, "Well, I hope to survive well in Antic City. As you''re aware, Mr. Nucky, Prohibition is about to start. And right now, I only have one tavern in Antic City. ording to the rules of Prohibition, my tavern will have to close in two months, so I need to make some additional preparations for myself!"


    Nucky nodded slightly, the gleam of his shiny head reflecting some light: "So it''s like that. Donnie, you hope to use this thousand dors to start another business?"


    Donnie shook his head, "Of course not. I just hope to acquire more taverns in Antic City!"


    For the first time, the ever-smiling Nucky finally showed a hint of solemnity on his face; he realized he had somewhat underestimated Donnie.


    Nucky was known as the underground emperor of Antic City, controlling the entire City Hall''s personnel appointments. Anyw needing enforcement in Antic City would have to pass through Nucky''s decision.


    The entire United States was discussing the issue of Prohibition, and Antic City was no exception.


    But unlike the rest of the country, where everyone from top to bottom believed that Prohibition would be perfectly enforced, in Antic City, it was only the ordinary citizens who assumed Prohibition would be implemented soon. Only a few of the top figures were debating whether to seriously enforce the Prohibition ording to the United States Constitution.


    As previously mentioned, Antic City was a tourist destination, relying on three main attractions to lure the blue-cor crowd from Phdelphia.


    Casinos, brothels, beaches.


    Among these options, the beach could be considered negligible. The real pirs of Antic City''s economy were the casinos and brothels.


    And liquor was an essentialplement to both venues!


    "What would it be like if there were no whiskey anywhere else in the country, but we had it here in Antic City?"


    During a top-level meeting in Antic City, Nucky stood among the others, his arms spread wide and an excited look on his face as heid out the future prospects of Antic City for those present.


    Many people didn''t voice their opinions at the time and carefully considered Nucky''s suggestion. Even now, there was no definitive answer. But Nucky believed that his proposal would surely be epted by the others.


    Because it would bring a massive fortune to every person present at that time!


    Nucky hadn''t anticipated that while this matter was still under discussion, the man before him had already dared to ce his bets, not just his own but also seeking to borrow in order to wager even more!


    "What you are nning is a vition of the United States Constitution!"


    Eventually, Nucky concluded ambiguously.


    Donnieughed, "As long as you, Mr. Nucky, don''t vite the constitution, we should be fine!"


    Nucky shook his head, "It''s a bold idea, but you can''t guarantee that this debt will smoothly make its way back to my pocket!"


    Donnie continued to persuade, "Every investment carries risk, but the higher the risk, the higher the potential returns. Not only can I ensure you receive $300 of interest in two months, but my presence could also bring additional benefits to you, Mr. Nucky, in other areas!"


    Nucky showed a curious expression and asked, "Which areas? I don''t think there''s any benefit in Antic City that you need to provide me!"


    Donnie spoke easily, "I''ve heard that the Commodore has returned to Antic City, and it so happens that I have some issues with his illegitimate son, George Kurle. If I can sessfully acquire more bars, I could be a great asset to you, Mr. Nucky!"


    "I have a very deep friendship with the Commodore; he officiated my wedding!" Nucky frowned slightly and said, "So I don''t take kindly to your current insinuations, Donnie."


    Donnie was unfazed by Nucky''s reaction, understanding that it was typical of him to y both sides.


    "I apologize for my earlier words, but I am a direct man. I thank those who treat me well, and I despise those who do not, seeking ways to deal with them. If you, Mr. Nucky, find my ideas problematic, feel free to tell the Commodore!"


    Nucky furrowed his brows, feigning concern, "May I ask what the issue is between you and George? I''ve watched the kid grow up; he''s a fine young man. If he''s done something wrong, I can have him apologize to you!"


    Donnie slowly shared everything that had happened on the battlefield, as well as his return to Elwood Vige, with Nucky.


    "Had it not been for me saving his life on the battlefield, he would have died at the hands of the Germans. Yet, he repaid me with a bar that was bound to fail. When I returned to Antic City, he chose to silence the matter by attempting to exterminate me, which I cannot tolerate!"


    Even though Donnie now harbored more suspicion toward Nucky concerning the assassination, he stillid all the me on George Kurle.


    "There was such a matter?" Nucky feigned shock before expressing regret, "George is like a child I raised myself. He is inherently kind. Perhaps there''s been some misunderstanding. I will help mediate between the two of you!"


    "I am grateful for your help, Mr. Nucky," Donnie firstplimented Nucky, then continued, "but I still hope to resolve this issue on my own."


    Nucky pondered for a moment before saying, "Young people are always impulsive. Look, I can lend you a thousand dors, but I still hope you''ll think it over. When you reach my age, you''ll understand that interests are eternal."


    As he said thesest words, Nucky emphasized his tone!


    A look of moderate gratitude appeared on Donnie''s face, "Thank you, Mr. Nucky. You truly are as kind-hearted as others say!"


    Nucky waved his hand dismissively and then took out a thousand dors in cash from his drawer while Louis had prepared the paper and pen just in time!


    Nucky looked disapprovingly at Louis but did not take back the paper and pen.


    Donnie clearly wrote out the IOU before picking up the dors from the table.


    After escorting Donnie out of Nucky''s study, Louis returned and Nucky queried, "What do you think of this Donnie?"


    Louis said, "A mad, impulsive man!"


    Nucky shook his head and chuckled, "Wrong, he''s a clever man, but only to a point."


    Louis looked at Nucky, puzzled. He didn''t understand why he and Nucky had different opinions of the same man and situation.


    "By saying what you did just now, aren''t you letting Donnie abandon his vendetta against George Kurle?"


    Nucky poured himself a ss of whiskey and thenughed, "Didn''t I say earlier? He''s a clever man. If he can''t understand what I was implying just now, then he doesn''t deserve my assessment."


    Louis thought back to their conversation, unable to pinpoint any issues, and shook his head.


    Nucky didn''t exin further and simply instructed Louis, "Tell the bar owners on the Boardwalk, if anyonees to buy their bars, to ask for a high price, a very high price."


    "If that''s the case, won''t Donnie end up unable to pay back your money?"


    "A mere thousand dors. If this Donnie can be my man, he''ll bring me much more than a thousand dors'' worth of benefits," Nucky said cheerfully, draining his ss of whiskey in one gulp!


    .


    By then, Donnie had already left the Ritz Hotel, and upon seeing Robert and John waiting outside, he wasn''t too surprised but shared his conversation with Nucky with them.


    "Didn''t you say we shouldn''t be pawns in anyone''s hand? Now haven''t we just be pawns of Nucky?" John asked, puzzled.


    "We be pawns only if they get a hold on us. If they can''t, then we''re no pawns. Still, we do need them to think we''re their pawns for the time being," Donnie exined, although his words were quite convoluted.


    John shook his head, indicating his confusion, while Robert also appeared to half understand.


    ps: Please follow the story, and if you have any rmendation tickets, feel free to send them Yellow Mountain''s way, and monthly tickets would be even better~~

 Chapter 14: 11. George Kurle wants to take back the tavern (Please follow, please bookmark~)

    After borrowing a thousand US Dors from Nucky, Donnie immediately began contacting taverns in Antic City.


    Some tavern owners felt as though they were prisoners who had been confined for three years, only to have a warden suddenly bring in a mboyantly dressed woman today, telling them they were granted a private room and they mustn''t let the woman get out of bed¡ªamand they couldn''t refuse!


    At this moment, Donnie was like God to these tavern owners!


    But Donnie didn''t seem in a hurry to buy these taverns, constantly haggling over the price; this bargaining went on for almost a month!


    Just when Donnie had reached his desired price, the tavern owners suddenly raised theirs.


    "Mr. Hori, we had clearly agreed on a price before, but now you abruptly hike it up, exceeding not only your initial asking price but also matching the prices before Prohibition. Why is this?"


    Donnie, sitting in the hall of a tavern called Blue Sea, looked at the other party with a puzzled expression.


    The current state of tavern operations in Antic City was such that basically every tavern no longer stored alcohol. If they had stored alcohol, they would sell it; if not, they would purchase adequate amounts from breweries or distributors based on daily sales.


    In such circumstances, the price of a tavern certainly couldn''t surpass the prices before the official passage of Prohibition, yet the other party had the audacity to demand such a price.


    No matter how Donnie negotiated, the other party was adamant, insisting on their price and leaving it up to him to take it or leave it.


    Faced with this situation, Donnie had no choice but to stand up, "If that''s the case, then our deal has to end here. Antic City isn''t limited to just your tavern!"


    After saying that, Donnie got up and left the Blue Sea Tavern.


    At its peak, Antic City had nearly two thousand taverns. Although some had closed down, there remained more than fifteen hundred.


    Donnie left with confidence!


    Leaving the Blue Sea Tavern, Donnie returned to Ko Bar.


    Robert took out two bottles of beer from the counter and handed one to Donnie, saying, "It''s clear that they received orders from someone; otherwise, they wouldn''t dare to raise the price at this time!"


    The failure of the acquisition did not upset Donnie; rather, heughed and said, "Isn''t that what we wanted, after all? We were considering driving the price down even further to make Hori reject our offer!"


    Robert first smiled, then, looking somewhat worried, asked, "There won''t be any problems with John''s matter, right?"


    Taking a sip of beer, Donnieughed, "If John were handling this alone, I indeed would be worried, but with Carl''s and Cameron''s help, I believe there won''t be any issues!"


    Robert nodded, then with a mischievous look, asked Donnie, "We don''t have anything else to do today, do we?"


    Donnie nced sideways at Robert and asked, "What do you want to do?"


    Robert chuckled and said, "I''ve been eyeing the Gil Inn next door for a long time. It''s a nice ce, and I want to check it out!"


    Out of the more than twelve hundred inns and boarding houses in Antic City, Gil Inn wasn''t particrly outstanding. It was just that, unlike ordinary lodgings, it provided an extra service¡ªcatering to men''s physical and mental health!


    Donnieughed and said, "Be careful, or the priest''s daughter mighte after you and castrate you!"


    Robert''s eyebrows shot up, his aura turning fierce as he shouted, "If she dares, I''ll knock her out with one punch!"


    Donnie continued, "What if the priestes too?"


    "Heh!" Robert scoffed contemptuously, "A man knows when to bend or stand tall. If ites to that, I''ll just kneel and apologize, right?"


    After swearing at him jokingly, Donnie said, "Get lost!"


    Robert left with augh, carrying his beer. Watching Robert''s retreating figure, Donnie felt somewhat helpless¡ªnot because of Robert''s antics, but due to his own financial situation.


    If only he knew he could only borrow a thousand dors from Nucky, Donnie truly wished he could borrow more.


    As Donnie thought about how to get some more money, the sun at the doorway was suddenly blocked by someone. Donnie turned his head, his expression changing slightly.


    Counting on his fingers, Donnie realized he only knew a few people in Antic City: Nucky and his bodyguard Louis whom he had just seen, his former client Olman, and George Kurle, with whom his rtionship wasplicated!


    And now entering the bar was none other than George Kurle, Donnie''s formerpanymander in the army, now the Deputy Sheriff of Antic City!


    "Whistle!" At 27 years old, with an average build and a flippant expression, George Kurle whistled as he walked in, followed by two subordinates, and took a seat opposite Donnie with a casual air.


    "Dear Donnie, it''s been a long time since we''ve seen each other. We''re both in Antic City, why don''t youe to see me?"


    Donnie wondered why the other party hade at this time and chuckled on the surface, saying, "George, you''ve just taken the Deputy Sheriff position, you must be very busy, how could I bother you!"


    George Kurle waved his hand dismissively, "Howe I''ve heard that after you took over this bar, you only opened for two days before closing, are you having some difficulties with the business?"


    Donnie smiled and said, "I''m still not familiar with Antic City, so I thought I''d get to know the situation here before opening for business!"


    George Kurle nodded indifferently, "I''ve been thinking over the past few days. It was indeed a bit hasty to give you this bar at that time. So, I''ve decided to give you 100 US Dors, and you, well, don''t need to familiarize yourself with Antic City anymore. You can just sell the bar back to me!"


    As he spoke, George Kurle, as if he was giving Donnie a great favor, said with pride, "This is also because I saved your life on the battlefield. If it were someone else, I definitely wouldn''t be this generous!"


    Donnie''s brow furrowed, his heart rising with emotions of surprise, anger, tension, and more.


    He was surprised that George Kurle came to him at this time to buy back the Ko Bar, which showed that Antic City''s upper echelons must have reached a consensus to ignore the United States'' prohibitionw. Although Donnie had already known about this, he had only read it in various documents. But now, with the reality in front of him, it meant he was getting closer to sess!


    He was angry because Donnie thought that George Kurle would at least wait until the prohibitionw was officially implemented across the United States before trying to reim the tavern. By then, Donnie would have had some leverage to better handle the situation.


    But now, George Kurle waspletely out of line, wanting to take back the Ko Bar for just 100 US Dors, which was no different from fobbing off a beggar.


    He was tense because now that Antic City''s upper echelons had made a decision, there would be many more like George Kurle appearing. As the number increased, so would thepetition, and Donnie''s money was nothing in front of these tycoons.


    Hopefully, John could spend that 1,000-plus US Dors quickly!


    "How about it, am I not taking good care of you!" Seeing Donnie silent, George Kurle had already taken out 100 US Dors from his pocket and ced it on the table, then smiled, "Let''s settle it like this. You can take this hundred dors and leave!"


    Looking at the dors on the table, Donnie cast all other emotions out of his mind, knowing that what was most important was to get through today''s situation first.


    "I''m afraid I''ll have to disappoint you, George, but right now I have no intention of selling the Ko Bar!"


    Donnie knew that there was no need to beat around the bush with someone like George Kurle because it might not be clear to the other party, and no matter what he said, it wouldn''t make the other party happy!


    Sure enough, as soon as George Kurle heard Donnie''s refusal, his smile immediately disappeared, "Donnie, have you forgotten where you are?


    "And what my status is now?"


    Donnie replied calmly to George Kurle''s inquiry, "Of course I know, but now the Ko Bar is everything to me. If I sold it to you, wouldn''t I have nothing left? Then I would be homeless on the streets!"


    George Kurle, who wore his emotions on his face, looked at Donnie, "So you are refusing me!"


    As soon as George Kurle finished speaking, the two people behind him stepped forward, one of them saying loudly, "Donnie Block, we suspect you are involved in a robbery that took ce on the streets of Phdelphia two days ago, and now you need toe back with us to the station for questioning!"


    When Antic City was first established, the City Hall had big aspirations, so many of the streets were named after major American cities!


    Seeing the other party about to make a move, Donnie suddenly smiled, "Wait a minute, wait a minute!"


    George Kurle halted his subordinates'' actions and then looked at Donnie with smugness, saying, "What now? Realizing you regret it?"


    Donnie nodded, "When under someone''s roof, you have to bow your head, so if that''s the case, I have nothing more to say. But George, even if you want to buy back the Ko Bar, I need some time to find another ce to live in Antic City. Considering the camaraderie we had in the army, how about giving me three days? In three days, we can conduct the formal transaction, how about that?"


    George Kurle stood up triumphantly,ughing, "That''s more like it. Then you just get your things together, and I''lle back after three days!"


    After this, George Kurle turned and left the bar.


    Once they were gone, Donnie''s face grew grim, and the murderous intent in his eyes was unmistakable, clearly covering up his intentions to prevent anyplications before he could formally establish his strength.


    But the other side simply didn''t agree!


    With this in mind, Donnie immediately got up, left the bar, and went to the nearby Gil Hotel to find Robert, who was still busy with his business.

 Chapter 15: 12, Donnie: Nobody can stop my stride (please follow, please bookmark~)

    ```


    "George Kurle must be dealt with!"


    The dim light illuminated the grand hall of the Ko Bar, its doors firmly shut at this moment, with Donnie and Robert seated at the center, surrounded by swirls of smoke.


    After listening to Donnie''s ount of the events following George Kurle''s recent visit, Robert pulled out his pistol.


    "I can guarantee I''ll take out this George Kurle without anyone being the wiser, guaranteed no suspicions!"


    Donnie realized George Kurle must be dealt with, but even if they disposed of him now, they couldn''t let the ze trace back to them.


    "You can''t be the one to act, although not many in Antic City are aware of your situation now, as soon as you make a move, if someone wants to investigate, they will definitely find some clues, and then we''ll have to abandon everything we''ve built in Antic City!


    Moreover, George Kurle has just looked for us and then got taken out, the people behind him will definitely suspect us!"


    At this moment, Robert''s usual yful smile had vanished as he asked, "Even if we got people from our vige to act, it could still be found out. If we hire a hitman, there are several issues, first, we don''t have the connections, second, we don''t have that much cash!"


    As Robert spoke, he looked helplessly at Donnie, feeling as if he had entered a dead-end. To protect their foundation in Antic City, they had to take out George Kurle. But at this moment, whether they did it themselves or had others do it, the people behind George Kurle would end up suspecting them.


    The people behind George Kurle didn''t need evidence to act on their suspicions, suspicion alone was enough!


    Donnie, however, already had some ideas in mind and said to Robert, "Starting tomorrow, you won''t go next door anymore, you''ll secretly follow George Kurle...."


    "I understand!" Robert interrupted before Donnie could finish, believing he had grasped Donnie''s intent, "Even if it means giving up our base in Antic City, George Kurle must be taken care of."


    "No one can stop our ns to make a fortune," Donnie said coldly, "George Kurle must die, but we do not need to leave Antic City."


    Before Robert could grasp what Donnie meant, Donnie had already moved on to the next part of his n.


    "Two men came with George Kurle today. They must be George Kurle''s trusted aides in Antic City. What you need to do is use the next two days to follow them, to know everything about them!"


    Even though Donnie had exined it to Robert, he still did not understand Donnie''s intent.


    Even knowing they were the only two people there, Donnie still lowered his voice, sharing his n in a whisper that only the two of them could hear.


    After listening, a bright smile immediately appeared on Robert''s face, and he excitedly said, "If that''s the case, indeed no one will suspect it was us!"


    Then, with a touch of worry, Robert asked, "Should we call John over?"


    Donnie shook his head, "No need, George Kurle is already aware of how Antic City deals with the Prohibition, and I believe the big shots of Antic City have already begun to make their moves. We must race against time."


    "Okay then," Robert agreed.


    .


    It was the same evening.


    Nucky was at the Ritz Hotel''s second-floor casino, nonchntly throwing a $200 chip while provocatively lifting the chin of the short-haired woman with a smoke in her hand by his side, eliciting giggles from her.


    Nucky''s hand moved to caress her peak, gave it a strong squeeze, and then the dealer rolled the dice and took away Nucky''s chip. Nucky paid no attention to the oue.


    Just as Nucky was about to ce another bet, Louis approached and whispered something to him. After hearing this, Nucky lifted the woman up from hisp, ced her on the ground, and left the casino with Louis.


    In Nucky''s ninth floor study,


    "After Donnie refused Hori''s offer, George Kurle went to Donnie''s Ko Bar. Initially, Donnie didn''t want to...."


    Louis ryed the full details of the afternoon''s events at the Ko Bar to Nucky.


    After listening, Nucky frowned, "Such a thing has happened, this foolish George Kurle is sabotaging my ns!"


    Louis asked, "Boss, should we help Donnie out?"


    Nucky looked up at Louis, "Has Donniee to see me?"


    Louis shook his head, "No."


    Nucky slightly raised his eyebrows, "Keep an eye out these next couple of days, if Donniees to see me, inform me immediately!"


    Louis nodded in agreement, then asked, "And if he doesn''te to see you?"


    Nucky, with a far-reaching gaze, said, "If he doesn''te to see me, then tell Joe to go collect the money from Donnie in three days."


    The loan to Donnie from Nucky was for three months, and barely a month had passed since Donnie took the money, leaving two months until repayment, but Nucky couldn''t wait any longer.


    He had to get either the money or Donnie!


    .


    Two days shed by, and that evening, Donnie and Robert reported the information they had gathered from their surveince over the past two days.


    "Bill Cody, married, both parents alive, and has a seven-year-old son. It was already three in the morning yesterday, but he still went home. It seems no matter howte he stays out with George Kurle, he always makes sure to return home on time."


    As Donnie revealed his findings, short-handed as his team was, he knew he had to participate in the surveince himself.


    ```


    "Ralph Rivers, unmarried, living alone at home; thesest two nights, he slept in different ces, but both were bed-and-breakfast apartments,"


    Robert also shared his findings with Donnie.


    They had only followed these two men for two days, hardly enough time to learn anything more useful, but now, this information was sufficient.


    Donnie looked at the time in his hand¡ªit was just eight in the evening¡ªand said to Robert, "I need a car!"


    Without a moment''s hesitation, Robert replied, "No problem, the car will be in the alley behind the back door in an hour!"


    Donnie shook his head, "No, that won''t do. The car shouldn''t appear on our side. Park the car near Bill Cody''s ce."


    Robert nodded, "No problem!"


    Leaning back in his wooden chair, Donnie said, "Go ahead with the n, and we''ll make our move at dawn!"


    "Got it!"


    .


    In the wee hours!


    Having just enjoyed himself at the bed-and-breakfast, Bill Cody''s pale face was flushed from the alcohol as he shakily unlocked his front door.


    Bill Cody was a family man. Even though the outside world was fascinating, he still preferred to enjoy a peaceful night at home.


    As he opened the door, the lights at home were already off. Bill didn''t bother turning them on, and with the aid of the moonlight shining through the living room window, he intended to check on his beloved son in his room as he always did.


    However, just a few steps in, he was suddenly overwhelmed by an intense sense of danger that made the hair on his body stand on end.


    Instinctively, he looked towards the sofa in the living room, where a figure was sitting.


    "Who''s there?"


    In his panic, Bill Cody tried to draw his pistol.


    "You''d better not move!"


    As the voice fell, themp beside the sofa lit up, and Bill Cody saw his wife being held at gunpoint by a man, which left him uncertain about what to do with the pistol he had just partially drawn.


    "Your parents and child have already been hidden away by me. Now, I need you to ce the gun on the floor and kick it over to me, then we can go somewhere else to talk properly!"


    Seeing his wife''s frantic nodding with her mouth gagged, Bill Cody realized the man was telling the truth.


    "Donnie, what on earth do you want to do?"


    By this time, Bill Cody had recognized the man sitting on the sofa¡ªit was Donnie Block, the one George Kurle had described as a pushover, someone easy to bully. Bill had even visited Donnie''s bar with George Kurle before.


    "That''s not the question you should be asking right now. Do as I say, or you know the consequences!"


    As Donnie spoke, he pointed his gun at Bill Cody''s wife, causing her face to turn pale and her body to shiver uncontrobly.


    As Bill Cody bent to ce the gun on the floor, he said, "It''s George Kurle who forced you into this, not me!"


    Donnie pointed with his gun at the pistol at Bill Cody''s feet, signaling him to kick it over, "Whether it involves you or not is for me to decide!"


    Bill Cody could only follow Donnie''s instructions, kicking his gun over to him.


    Donnie stood up, pulled Bill Cody''s wife to her feet, then bent to pick up the gun and smiled, "All right, now you can go with me to a ce where we can have a quiet chat!"


    Under Donnie''s coercion, Bill Cody reluctantly left the room and the building to see a car parked at the curb.


    Donnie approached the car and knocked Bill Cody''s wife unconscious with the butt of his gun.


    At the sight of Donnie''s action, Bill Cody couldn''t help but protest, "You..."


    "Come on, put your wife in the back seat, so you can see your family!"


    Bill Cody, feeling helpless, did as Donnie instructed. When he ced his wife in the back seat, he saw his parents and son already passed out there!


    "Now, get in the car, we''ll go somewhere we can have a quiet chat," Donniemanded.


    With the threat of Donnie''s gun looming, Bill Cody had no choice but toply.


    The engine started, and Bill Cody started driving, with Donnie sitting in the passenger seat, keeping a close eye on Bill Cody. Soon, under Donnie''s instruction, the car arrived at a cliff by the sea, three kilometers outside Antic City.


    When Bill Cody got out of the car, he saw Ralph kneeling at the cliff''s edge with a gun to his head.


    "Go greet your partner," Donnie said, gesturing with his gun for Bill Cody to walk over.


    When Bill Cody knelt beside Ralph Rivers, Donnie squatted in front of the two men, the sea breeze blowing in with a faint saltiness.


    "Now we can discuss your n to take out George Kurle tomorrow morning!"

 Chapter 16: 12, Donnie: No one can stop my pace (please follow, please collect~)

    "George Kurle must not be allowed to live!"


    The dim light illuminated the hall of the Ko Bar, where the main entrance was tightly closed, and Donnie sat in the center with Robert, surrounded by swirling smoke.


    After hearing about the aftermath of George Kurle''s visit from Donnie, Robert pulled out his handgun.


    "I can assure you that I can take out George Kurle without anyone noticing, no one will suspect a thing!"


    Donnie also knew that George Kurle couldn''t be spared, but even if they took him out now, they couldn''t let the trail lead back to themselves.


    "You can''t do it, although not many people in Antic City know about you yet, but once you act, if others want to investigate, they will definitely find some clues, and then we will only be able to give up all our foundations in Antic City!


    Moreover, since George Kurle came to us and then got taken out, the people behind him would definitely suspect us!"


    At this moment, Robert had lost his usual joking demeanor and asked, "Even if we ask people from our own vige to do it, there is still the possibility of being found out. If we hire a hitman, that poses a few problems. First, we don''t have the connections, and second, we don''t have that much cash!"


    At this, Robert looked at Donnie helplessly. It seemed like he was in a dead-end, wanting to preserve their foothold in Antic City, they had to eliminate George Kurle, but whether they did it themselves or hired someone else, it would eventually lead back to them in the eyes of those behind George Kurle.


    As far as those behind George Kurle were concerned, mere suspicion was enough for them; they didn''t need evidence!


    By now, Donnie already had some ideas and said to Robert, "Starting tomorrow, don''t go next door anymore, follow George Kurle secretly..."


    "I understand!" Not waiting for Donnie to finish, Robert thought he understood what Donnie meant: "Even if we have to give up our roots in Antic City, we must kill George Kurle."


    "No one can stop our ns to make a fortune," Donnie said coldly. "George Kurle must die, and we don''t have to leave Antic City."


    Before Robert could fully grasp what Donnie meant, Donnie had already moved on to his subsequent n.


    "Today two people came with George Kurle, they must be his trusted aides in Antic City. What you need to do is use these next two days to follow them and find out everything about them!"


    Even though Donnie exined it to Robert, Robert still didn''t understand Donnie''s intention.


    Despite knowing they were the only two people there, Donnie still lowered his voice, sharing his n with Robert in a volume only the two of them could hear.


    Upon hearing the n, a brilliant smile spread over Robert''s face, and he excitedly said, "If it''s like this, indeed, no one will guess it was us!"


    However, Robert then asked somewhat worriedly, "Should we call John?"


    Donnie shook his head, "No need, George Kurle already knows Antic City''s response to Prohibition. I believe the big shots of Antic City have begun toy out their ns; we must race against the clock."


    Robert said, "All right."


    .


    It was the same night.


    Nucky was in the casino on the second floor of the Ritz Hotel, with a short-haired woman who was smoking by his side. He casually threw out a $200 chip, then yfully lifted the chin of the woman in his arms, eliciting a giggle from her.


    Nucky''s expression was smug as he flirted with the woman, and then the dealer rolled the dice, taking away Nucky''s chip without him giving it a second nce.


    Just as Nucky was preparing to continue betting, Louis approached and whispered something to him. After listening, Nucky set down the woman and left the casino with Louis.


    In Nucky''s study on the ninth floor.


    "After Donnie rejected Hori''s offer, George Kurle went to Donnie''s Ko Bar. Initially, Donnie didn''t want to..."


    Louis ryed everything that had happened at the Ko Bar that afternoon to Nucky in full detail.


    After listening, Nucky frowned slightly and said, "Such a thing actually happened. This foolish George Kurle is simply ruining my ns!"


    Louis then asked, "Boss, should we give Donnie a hand?"


    Nucky looked up at Louis and asked, "Has Donniee to me?"


    Louis shook his head, "No."


    Nucky raised an eyebrow slightly, "Keep an eye out these next couple of days, and if Donniees to see me, let me know immediately!"


    Louis nodded first, then asked, "And if he doesn''te to you?"


    Nucky''s gaze became distant as he said, "If he doesn''te, then tell Joe to go to Donnie for the money in three days!"


    Donnie''s loan from Nucky was for three months, and it had been just about a month since Donnie borrowed the money with two more months to go before repayment was due, but Nucky could no longer wait.


    He must get one of the two: the money or Donnie!


    .


    Two days flew by, and by this evening, Donnie and Robert began to report the information they had gathered through their surveince.


    "Bill Cody, married, with both parents alive and a seven-year-old son. Up until yesterday, he still returned home at three in the morning; he must make sure to return home regardless of howte he stays out with George Kurle."


    Donnie was the first to report his findings;cking manpower on his side, he certainly had to partake in the surveince as well.


    "Ralph Rivers, single, the only one in his family, spending the past two nights in different ces but always in boarding houses."


    Robert also shared his discoveries with Donnie.


    They had only been following the two men for two days, which was hardly enough to gather more valuable information, but what they had was enough.


    Donnie nced at the time in his hand¡ªit was only eight o''clock in the evening¡ªand said to Robert, "I need a car!"


    Without any hesitation, Robert replied, "No problem, the car will appear in the alley behind the back door in an hour!"


    Donnie shook his head, "No, the car can''t show up on our side, park it near Bill Cody''s house."


    Robert nodded, "No problem!"


    Donnie leaned back in the wooden chair and said, "Go ahead with your work, and we''ll make our move after midnight!"


    "Hmm!"


    .


    In the wee hours of the morning!


    Having just had a fun time at the Shansu apartment, Bill Cody''s fair-skinned face was flushed with the aftereffects of alcohol, and he staggered as he opened the door to his home.


    Bill Cody was a family man, and although the outside world was fascinating, he still preferred to enjoy a quiet night at home.


    As the door opened, the lights at home were already turned off. Without switching on the lights, Bill Cody, guided by the moonlight from the living room window, headed towards his son''s room to catch a glimpse of his dear son, as he often did.


    But he had scarcely taken two steps when a strong sense of crisis overcame him, causing the dense hair on his body to stand on end instantly.


    Instinctively, he looked toward the living room sofa, where a figure sat.


    "Who''s there?"


    Bill Cody tried to draw his pistol in a panic.


    "You better not move!"


    As the voice fell, themp beside the sofa lit up, and Bill Cody saw his wife with a gun held against her head by a man, leaving Bill, who had just barely pulled out his pistol, unsure of what to do next.


    "Your parents and child have been hidden by me. Now, I need you to put the gun on the ground and kick it over to me, then we can go somewhere else to have a proper chat!"


    Seeing his gagged wife nodding frantically, Bill Cody realized that the other party was telling the truth.


    "Donnie, what on earth do you want to do?"


    By then, Bill Cody had recognized that the man sitting on the sofa was none other than the pathetic, easy-to-bully Donnie Block George Kurle had talked about, the one he had previously visited at George''s bar with.


    "That''s not the question you should be asking right now. Do as I tell you, or you know the consequences!"


    While speaking, Donnie nudged Bill Cody''s wife with the gun in his hand, which whitened her face with fear and made her tremble uncontrobly.


    As Bill Cody bent to ce the gun down, he said, "George Kurle is the one forcing you, it has nothing to do with me!"


    Donnie used the pistol in his hand to nudge the gun at Bill Cody''s feet, signaling him to kick it over, "Whether it has anything to do with you, I have the final say!"


    Bill Cody had no choice but to follow Donnie''s instructions and kicked his pistol over to Donnie.


    Donnie stood up, dragged Bill Cody''s wife, and then bent over to pick up the gun, smiling, "Alright, now you cane with me to a ce where we can talk quietly!"


    Under Donnie''s coercion, Bill Cody walked out of the room helplessly, out of the building, and saw a car parked at the side of the street.


    Reaching the car, Donnie knocked Bill Cody''s wife unconscious with a blow from the butt of his gun.


    Seeing Donnie''s action, Bill Cody couldn''t help but exim, "You...!"


    "Come on, put your wife in the back seat, and then you can see your family!"


    Bill Cody had no choice but toply with Donnie''smand. When he ced his wife in the back seat, he saw his parents and his son already passed out there!


    "Now, get in the car. We''re going somewhere we can talk quietly!"


    Threatened by Donnie''s gun, Bill Cody could only follow Donnie''s orders.


    The car started, Bill Cody drove, and Donnie sat in the passenger seat, carefully watching Bill Cody. Soon after, under Donnie''s direction, they reached the cliff by the sea three kilometers outside of Antic City.


    As Bill Cody got out of the car, he saw Ralph being held at gunpoint, kneeling at the edge of the cliff.


    "Go and say hello to your associate!" Donnie indicated with his gun for Bill Cody to walk over.


    Once Bill Cody joined Ralph Rivers in kneeling there, Donnie squatted in front of the two, the sea breeze carrying a faint salty scent.


    "Now, let''s talk about the n to finish off George Kurle tomorrow morning."


    ps: It was censored before, so I made some modifications without affecting the story''s direction. Hopefully, this will pass the censorship... If it''s censored right from the start, that''s really something...~~

 Chapter 17: 13. George Kurle must die (Please follow, please bookmark)

    George Kurle must die!


    But George Kurle absolutely couldn''t die at the hands of Donnie.


    After hearing Donnie''s words, Bill Cody and Ralph Rivers were scared stiff; they had not anticipated that Donnie would be so ruthless, wanting to buy back the Ko Bar he was given by George Kurle at a low price, and now plotting to kill the man!


    What shocked them even more was that they were expected to carry out the deed!


    "I, I..." Bill Cody dared not agree to Donnie''s request. He understood George Kurle''s status in Antic City all too well. If he killed the man, his own family wouldn''t be able to remain in Antic City, or even the United States for that matter!


    "Donnie, listen to me, Donnie," Ralph Rivers shouted, but only those present could hear him over the sound of the waves crashing against the cliffs.


    The smile remained on Donnie''s face, but now he lifted the handgun and aimed it at Ralph Rivers, saying, "You''re wrong, the ones who will kill George Kurle are the two of you, not me!"


    After speaking, Donnie''s gaze shifted back and forth between their faces, his voice turning cold, as cold as the current temperature.


    "My patience is limited. There are only two choices before you: either George Kurle dies, or the two of you and those four in the car will die," Donnie said. "One life for six, you can do the math, can''t you?"


    Bill Cody and Ralph Rivers both heard the finality in Donnie''s voice.


    "I, I have something to say!"


    Just as Donnie was about to pull the trigger, Ralph Rivers suddenly shouted aloud.


    With a smile, Donnie looked at Ralph Rivers. "You agree?" he asked.


    Ralph Rivers didn''t directly answer Donnie, but immediately said, "Actually, Nucky has always wanted to deal with George Kurle. I am Nucky''s man nted by George''s side, I know Nucky thinks highly of you, and you could seek Nucky''s help. I believe Nucky would definitely assist!"


    Donnie''s eyes brightened, surprised to find that Rivers was Nucky''s man. It made sense, considering that even though Nucky had agreed to George Kurle bing the Deputy Public Safety Officer of Antic City, it didn''t mean Nucky was coexisting peacefully with the general. The approval of George Kurle''s position was merely a move to bnce the mood of the old timers in Antic City.


    Seeing Donnie silent, Rivers thought Donnie was moved and continued to persuade, "The general''s status is a thing of the past. Now Antic City belongs to Nucky. As long as Nucky is willing to speak, all problems will cease to exist!"


    Bill Cody, although surprised to learn that Rivers belonged to Nucky, also looked at Donnie with hope, hoping Donnie would heed their advice.


    However, Donnie''s response crushed the glimmer of hope that had just risen in them.


    "I solve my own problems. I won''t go to Nucky, so it''s still the same two choices. What''s your decision?" Donnie asked.


    Rivers was shaking all over, trying to continue persuading: "Nucky will really help you, just believe..."


    Bang!


    Amid the sound of the waves, a gunshot pierced the night, and Ralph Rivers, who was just trying to persuade Donnie, was shot in the forehead and fell in a pool of blood. Under the moonlight, one could see his eyes wide open in disbelief that Donnie had actually fired.


    Bill Cody, on the other hand, copsed to the ground.


    Actually, Donnie had already realized that only Bill Cody could do this job, because he had something at stake, whereas Ralph Rivers had nothing to lose, making him harder to control.


    Especially now that Ralph Rivers revealed his true background.


    Donnie didn''t go to Nucky because he didn''t want Nucky to have leverage over him. If Rivers told Nucky about this, wouldn''t everything that happened tonight be in vain?


    "My patience is limited. If you refuse again, the next shot will be for someone in the car!" Donnie''s voice sounded like a demon emerging from hell, chilling Bill Cody to the bone.


    .


    The next morning!


    Donnie, wearing a somewhat worn jacket, appeared on the second floor of the Ritz Hotel in Antic City, exchanged for 50 US Dor chips, and began to casually try his luck at one of the gambling tables.


    Clearly, Donnie was on a lucky streak today. An hourter, his 50 US Dor chips had turned into 60.


    However, Donnie was indifferent, continuing to ce casual bets at each gambling table.


    Meanwhile, the news of Donnie''s appearance at the Ritz Hotel casino reached Louis, who informed Nucky, who was entertaining guests in his study.


    "Donnie''s here?"


    Hearing that Donnie was at the Ritz Hotel, Nucky was delighted, his polished head gleaming even brighter with his mood. With a smile, he said, "Let hime in."


    Louis, looking oddly, said, "Donnie hasn''te to see you. He''s in the casino."


    Nucky showed a hint of confusion and reconfirmed, "Donnie isn''t here to see me?"


    Louis shook his head, "That''s right. Do you want me to bring him up?"


    Nucky waved his hand, "No need. We can''t initiate this."


    Louis asked, "So what do we do now? Should we have Joe get ready on his end?"


    Nucky pondered for a while. He had to admit that he was somewhat unable to see through Donnie''s actions at the moment. "As we agreed earlier, if Donnie returns Ko Bar to George this afternoon, then let Joe go find him. If not, there''s no need!"


    Although Nucky didn''t know the saying ''unchanged in response to myriad changes'', that was indeed how he was acting at the moment.


    After all, all the mysteries would be answered by this afternoon, so there was no rush at the moment!


    Louis said softly, "I think Donnie doesn''t have a way to deal with George Kurle''s situation!"


    Nuckyughed heartily, "You rarely express your own opinions!"


    Louis chuckled awkwardly, "It''s just because I saw you, boss, take a keen interest in this Donnie, so I thought a bit more about it!"


    Nucky waved his hand and said, "Alright, don''t put too much thought into him. No matter what, he won''t be able to turn the tide!"


    After speaking, Nucky told Louis to go invite the next person seeking help toe to him.


    .


    George Kurle woke up very early today, earlier than usual, because he was going to meet someone, someone who, from a biological perspective, was his father!


    ''Commodore'' Louis Korle.


    The Commodore was born on Christmas Day in 1857. His parents were German immigrants from New York. His father was a chef in New York andter, attracted by the tourism industry in Antic City, moved the family there.


    His experience as a chef in New York allowed the Commodore''s father to umte some wealth, so after moving to Antic City, he bought a lodge and renamed it Ko Lodge!


    This was the first property of the Ko Family in Antic City!


    At eighteen, Louis received Ko Bar from his father''s hands and expanded it. After building some prestige, Louis joined the Antic City Yacht Club, actively participated in its activities, and it was during that time he received the unofficial title ''Commodore'', which stayed with him for life.


    And the Ko Lodge he managed was then called ''The Corner'' by the people of Antic City, where the Commodore became the underground emperor of Antic City.


    However, the Commodore now no longer lived at ''The Corner'', but in his own seaside vi!


    It was a Georgian-style seaside vi. Led by the servants of the vi, George Kurle entered the Commodore''s study.


    But when he opened the door, his brow furrowed slightly, because a young, handsome, mboyantly dressed man was giving the Commodore a massage.


    The once women-loving Commodore hade to fancy men after going to prison!


    "Dad, I will take back Ko Bar today, and it''ll be our base of operations for bootlegging!"


    George Kurle stood in the middle of the study, speaking in a calm tone.


    The Commodore opened his bleary eyes, and a spark of shrewdness and discontent shed in his deep pupils, ending with a kindly smile.


    "Nucky has already convinced City Hall to ensure that Antic City continues to have its days with liquor. Soon not just people from Phdelphia but from several other cities too wille to Antic City, and a small bar won''t satisfy their appetites!"


    George Kurle said, "Then should I take this chance to acquire a few more bars?"


    The Commodore masked his disappointment well, and said, "A single bar isn''t important. What''s important is that you use your experience from fighting in France to find some suitable friends to bring over more fine wines for us.


    I believe that by next year, whiskey and rum will be the important chips in controlling Antic City!"


    George Kurle could only nod, "I understand."


    Then the Commodore gestured to the young man massaging him to open the drawer in front of him, and the young man took out a stack of cash, looking about ten thousand US Dors!


    "This is your operational fund. I hope that in two months, you can get around Nucky and establish a good rapport with the Coast Guard!"


    A sincere smile appeared on George Kurle''s face. After taking the US Dors, he said with augh, "Thank you, father. I won''t disappoint you!"


    "Go," the Commodore closed his eyes again and waved him off.


    Leaving with the money, George Kurle drove away from the Commodore''s vi, heading straight back tow enforcement.


    "Bill, Ralph!"


    In thew enforcement''s lobby, George Kurle called out loudly.


    Bill Cody, who looked somewhat frail, came over pale-faced. "Ralph hasn''t arrived yet!"


    "He must be at some lodging house again. Never mind him, let''s go have some fun!"


    Saying this, George Kurle dragged Bill Cody out ofw enforcement, climbed into his car that hadn''t been turned off, and took out the still-unwarmed ten thousand US Dors from his jacket pocket, totally unaware of Bill Cody''s expression, boasting.


    "We''re going to enjoy ourselves!"

 Chapter 18: 14. Gunshots in Atlantic City (Please follow, please bookmark~)

    ```


    Bang! Bang!


    Two gunshots shattered the morning tranquility of Antic City. On the boardwalk, all the pedestrians were startled by the gunfire, some ducking behind objects, others throwing themselves to the ground....


    Of course, there were also those who carefully looked towards the direction from which the gunshots hade.


    Then they saw a man throwing another man, who had been shot, out of a car, before driving off toward the north at high speed.


    .


    Byte morning, Nucky had finished his appointments for the morning and called for Joe.


    Just as Nucky was about to instruct Joe on what to do when meeting with Donnie in the afternoon, the door to his study was pushed open. Not just anyone could enter Nucky''s study; those seeking help from him had to be announced by Louis.


    In the whole of Antic City, only a handful of people coulde in without an announcement.


    Louis, hearing the door, instinctively looked towards it, his right hand already reaching for his sidearm.


    When he saw who it was, his tense body instantly rxed.


    "Nucky, something''s happened. George Kurle was just gunned down on the street by his assistant, Bill Cody!"


    Nucky''s brother, Eli Johnson, the sheriff of Antic City, d in a brown uniform and with aplex expression, cried out.


    Even the usuallyposed Nucky couldn''t help but stand up upon hearing this news.


    "Really?"


    "I''ve been to the scene and found eyewitnesses. It was Bill Cody who pulled the trigger!"


    Eli Johnson quickly ryed the situation at the scene to Nucky.


    Nucky stood there stunned. This was indeed a big deal; George Kurle was the Vanguard Officer nning a return to Antic City. Now that George Kurle had been killed in the street, it would surely cause unrest throughout Antic City.


    Most importantly...


    Given the current situation, the most likely person to have done this was himself, Nucky, and from an outsider''s perspective, the only person who could have prompted Bill Cody to do it was Nucky!


    "What about Rivers? Have you guys been to Bill Cody''s house? Is there anyone there?"


    Asking three questions without a pause was a clear sign of Nucky''s agitation.


    Eli responded, "Rivers has disappeared. My men have been to several ces he frequents and haven''t seen him. Someone said he was supposed to be staying at the Bright Lodgings Apartmentst night, but he wasn''t there.


    My guys also went to Bill Cody''s house, and nobody was there. His son''s school said he didn''t show up for ss today either!"


    Nucky, after all, was the underground emperor of Antic City. After a brief moment of panic, he had regained hisposure and sat back down in his chair.


    "This matter is odd. I suspect someone is deliberately inciting direct conflict between us and the general. We must get to the bottom of this!"


    Eli sat opposite Nucky, saying in a grave voice, "I believe the General''s side must have received the news by now. What should we do next?"


    Nucky pondered for a moment, then said, "Call Baharach immediately. I need to give this matter some serious thought!"


    Baharach, the mayor of Antic City, whose term wouldst until next year!


    And it was with Nucky''s support that he had be mayor of Antic City.


    Eli took a hard gulp of whiskey, then stood up and said, "I''ll arrange for a search for Bill Cody and Ralph Rivers right now. Once we find them, we''ll know the truth!"


    Nucky nodded in agreement, then added, "Investigate and see what big shots havee to Antic City recently."


    In Nucky''s view, anyone who could stir up a direct confrontation between him and the general must be looking to benefit from the conflict, and such a person would definitely have the power to do so.


    Eli indicated he understood and then left Nucky''s study.


    At that moment, Louis suddenly spoke up, "Boss, could it be Donnie who''s behind this? After all, now that George Kurle is dead, his Ko Bar is safe!"


    This was the difference between Nucky and Louis''s perspectives; they had different theories on the same issue. Although Nucky was greatly interested in Donnie, no matter what, Donnie, in his eyes, was still just a small-time yer.


    Even though Nucky had indeed plotted for Donnie to kill George Kurle before, his first thought with this event was still those who could speak to him as equals.


    Louis, on the other hand, was a small-time yer himself, so he wouldn''t consider those at the very top.


    Now, Louis''s reminder gave Nucky another line of thought, but ultimately Nucky dismissed Louis''s suggestion, "It''s unlikely. If it was just after Donnie''s return to Antic City, when George Kurle died, Donnie would undoubtedly be the prime suspect. But now, just for a bar, Donnie would kill George Kurle? That reasoning is a bit far-fetched.


    Besides, strictly speaking, Donnie isn''t from Antic City. He''s only been here for a month. Why would Bill Cody kill George Kurle for him?


    It doesn''t fit with the logic of Bill Codymitting this act!"


    Having heard this, Louis nodded in agreement. If the boss said so, then it was impossible for Donnie to be behind this!


    ```


    "Go get Donnie up here!"


    Although Nucky had denied that Donnie was behind the incident, he still wanted to see Donnie''s reaction with his own eyes, believing in his ability to judge people.


    Donnie Block was just a 23-year-old young man, and if he had arranged this affair, Nucky was sure he could detect something in his expression.


    Before long, a despondent Donnie arrived in Nucky''s study, apanied by Joe.


    "Dear Mr. Nucky, are you wanting to ask how your loan ising along?"


    Donnie sat opposite Nucky andined, "I had already negotiated a deal with Hori from the Blue Ocean Bar, but then, at thest minute, he raised the price. I really wonder if he got wind of something?"


    Nucky sat there, silently observing Donnie, but he didn''t notice anything unusual at the time.


    "By the way, Mr. Nucky, if possible, I would like you to lend me another thousand US dors. I will repay it on the same terms and interest as thest loan!"


    Donnie continued.


    Without agreeing or disagreeing, Nucky asked, "Didn''t you say that Hori didn''t sell his bar to you? Why do you still want to borrow more money?"


    Donnie spread his hands in a helpless gesture, "Clearly, George Kurle must have received some hints from his father. He came to me three days ago wanting to buy back his bar!"


    Nucky scrutinized Donnie. If what Donnie said was true, then he was unaware of George Kurle''s demise!


    But was it really so?


    "When you first talked to me, didn''t you look down on George Kurle?"


    Donnie exined, "I still look down on him now, but that doesn''t mean I don''t have respect for the Vanguard Officer. As long as the Vanguard Officer is in Antic City, I must show George Kurle, that idiot, enough respect!"


    Nucky calmly said, "Don''t you know something?"


    "What is it?" Donnie made a puzzled expression, then asked with surprise, "Could it be that the Vanguard Officer has left Antic City?"


    Nucky shook his head, "This morning, George Kurle was shot and killed by his associate, Ralph Rivers!"


    Here, Nucky deliberately named Bill Cody as Ralph Rivers to see Donnie''s true reaction.


    Donnie''s eyes widened instantly, showing disbelief, "George Kurle is dead? And who is Ralph Rivers?"


    Nucky didn''t speak; he just kept a tight watch on Donnie, looking for any hint of doubt in his expression. Nucky swore that if there was anything suspicious about Donnie''s expression, he would immediately send Donnie to the Vanguard Officer.


    But Donnie''s performance was too perfect,pletely fitting the reaction of someone hearing the news for the first time.


    In the end, Nucky did not detect anything amiss andughed, "Who Ralph Rivers is no longer matters. What''s important is that George Kurle is dead, and you have be the biggest beneficiary of this incident!"


    Donnie immediately shook his head, "Mr. Nucky, you must not say so. It''s just a bar, not worth taking such a risk!"


    After a brief silence, Nucky waved his hand and said, "Alright, you can go. Remember, you only have two months until the deadline we agreed upon!"


    Donnie didn''t say anything in response to Nucky''s sudden change in demeanor, knowing that he had passed the test today!


    Killing George Kurle, the hardest part wasn''t concealing it from the Vanguard Officer, but ensuring Nucky remained unsuspecting.


    After all, it seemed Nucky was the most likely person to have done it!


    After leaving Nucky''s study, Donnie cashed in his chips and promptly left the Ritz Hotel to return to the Ko Bar.


    By the time Donnie got back, Robert was already there waiting for him!


    "I have sent the man away!" Robert said to Donnie, his expressionplex. In Robert''s opinion, only a dead man could truly keep a secret, but in the end, Donnie had decided to spare Bill Cody''s life. Though Robert had some reservations about Donnie''s decision, he ultimately agreed with it.


    "This is for you from Bill Cody!"


    With that, Robert took out $5,000 in cash from within his coat and ced it on the bar.


    "Bill Cody must be worried that we would eliminate him after the fact, so as soon as he saw me, he immediately offered these $5,000, hoping to spare his family!"


    Donnie was surprised by this unexpected windfall, "Where did he get so much money from?"


    Robert exined, "It came from George Kurle..."


    Then Robert told Donnie about how George Kurle had been nning to take Bill Cody for avish time with $10,000.


    Donnie smiled upon hearing this, "I was just wondering where to get some money, I never expected it toe to me like this!"


    Robert asked, "Now that George Kurle is dead, won''t they suspect us?"


    Donnie shook his head, "They shouldn''t by now. But the uing turmoil in Antic City will definitely be chaotic, so we''d better be careful!"


    The death of George Kurle would surely trigger a fierce conflict between the Vanguard Officer and Nucky!

 Chapter 19: 15. Atlantic City Doesnt Need Prohibition (Please follow, please bookmark~)

    Just as Donnie had said, Antic City had entered a period of chaos.


    On the third day after George Kurle was killed, Nucky''s younger brother went to Gundah Hotel for some leisure time when suddenly two gunmen emerged and fired two shots at Eli Johnson.


    Although Eli managed to dodge in time, he was still hit by one bullet and was immediately taken to the hospital where he was saved from critical danger after emergency treatment.


    Following that, a proposal by State Senator Jimmy, a subordinate of the Brigadier, to build Antic City''s fifth seaport was rejected.


    By this time, both the Brigadier and Nucky used all kinds of means, although it did not have much impact on the ordinary people of Antic City.


    But among the upper-middle sses, this matter had already caused a great deal of rm!


    And Donnie, who had triggered this series of events, had beenying low during this time, continuing his acquisition of Antic City''s pubs without the issue of George Kurle buying back Ko Bar to deal with.


    "Donnie, Donnie, Donnie!"


    To the left of Ko Bar was a boarding house, but this establishment was only for appearances, much like the massage parlors in the alleys ofter times.


    To the right was another bar.


    The current owner of this bar, Scott Jordan, sat in his own establishment, holding a ss and dramatically calling out Donnie''s name three times.


    "I will definitely sell you the tavern, but not now. Allow me to wait a little longer, wait until next week, and I will certainly sell you the tavern!"


    Next week?


    You said the same thingst week!


    Donnie was sure that the other party didn''t know the real intentions of Antic City''s upper echelons, and he only wanted to take advantage of these good times to sell as much liquor as possible.


    The prohibition order was getting closer and closer, and people''sst bout of revelry was bing more frenzied.


    The final celebration!


    This was now the collective behavior of all the drinkers in Antic City, and indeed in the entire United States.


    Naturally, this led to the city''s liquor entering a phase of frantic transportation, with almost daily carloads of whiskey and rum being brought into Antic City.


    Every night, drunken people could be seen lying on the streets of Antic City inebriated beyond sense.


    "Alright, since you''ve said so, Scott, I can only wait!"


    Donnie made a helpless gesture as he got up, continuing to say, "But we''ve agreed, you must give me a definite answer next week!"


    Scott got upughing and shook hands with Donnie, "That''s for sure, rest assured. No matter whoes to buy the tavern from me, I won''t agree with them, I will keep it for you!"


    Donnie breathed a sigh of relief, "That would be best!"


    After speaking, Donnie left Scott''s tavern, and Donnie, who had his back turned to Scott and the others, also revealed a radiant smile at this moment.


    "How foolish, Donnie!" After Donnie''s figure hadpletely disappeared, Scott happily poured himself a ss of beer, with a smile just as radiant on his face.


    "Boss, Donnie has been acquiring stock from James and buying bars in Antic City previously, could it be that he has got some news?" asked the bartender of Scott''s tavern, somewhat worried.


    Scott dismissively waved, "What could a man who just came off the battlefield and just arrived in Antic City possibly know? Can he evenpare with us? Until now, I haven''t heard of anything Antic City will do that goes against the prohibition order. Remember who sent the Brigadier in!"


    As the once underground emperor of Antic City, the Brigadier, who once ruled the city unchallenged, was sent to prison for one reason only: he had offended a higher power.


    In fact, this was no secret in Antic City.


    The one who sent the Brigadier to prison was none other than the current President of the United States, Woodrow Johnson.


    When Woodrow Wilson first entered the political arena, it began in New Jersey, and in 1910, Wilson decided to run for Governor of New Jersey, but at the time, the Brigadier preferred to support his good friend and confidant Vivian Lewis.


    During the election process, the Brigadier also used his influence in Antic City and New Jersey politics to forge a considerable number of votes.


    However, despite all this, the Brigadier still ultimately lost to Woodrow Wilson.


    That''s when their grudge took root, and from then on, New Jersey began investigating the Brigadier until he was imprisoned in 1913, by which time Woodrow Wilson had be the President of the United States.


    Through this incident, the people of Antic City came to understand one truth: no matter how much power you wield in Antic City, your fate is still not in your own hands when ites to those at higher levels.


    Although Woodrow Wilson''s influence across the United States had waned from its peak with the end of World War I, everyone knew that Wilson, an academic with a strong personal resolve, would never allow any ce in the United States to defy the Prohibitionw, the constitution he initiated.


    This was the mostmon thought among the ordinary people of Antic City.


    "Wilson is indeed a very assertive President, but let us not forget, next year is the election year. Judging by the current situation, Wilson will have a hard time maintaining his wartime prestige. The American people are gradually abandoning Wilson, especially after his performance in France, which has chilled the hearts of many Americans.


    I believe, after next year''s election, the beautiful United States of America will wee apletely new President!"


    In the banquet hall of the Ritz Hotel, Nucky was raising his ss, delivering an impassioned speech.


    And his purpose for this speech was very clear: to get the people who could decide the future of Antic City to agree with his decision, to send the so-called Prohibitionw in Antic City to hell!


    "Ladies and gentlemen, I need you now to sit there, close your eyes, and think carefully. After January of next year, when there will be no fine wine anywhere in America except for Antic City, all of your businesses here will be worried about not having enough hands!"


    At this point, Nucky pointed to a middle-aged white man and said, "Baharach, even though you''ve decided not to run for mayor again, wouldn''t you want to open the highway from Antic City to Phdelphia during your term?"


    "Phil, imagine your hotel not only being full on weekends. If we don''t enforce Prohibition, I can assure you that your hotel will be full seven days a week, every day!"


    "Robinson, what is your casino''s daily ie now? Although I don''t know the exact figure, I can assure you that by next year, your earnings are definitely going to double!"


    "Joey, I can guarantee that when you run for Congress next year, Antic City will provide you with more campaign funds...."


    Everyone in the room had a smile on their face when Nucky called their name.


    As if at that moment, they had already seen the situation of their interests doubling next year.


    When the benefits are substantial enough, the so-called United States constitution no longer exists in their eyes.


    Many had already begun to voice their support for Nucky''s decision, and the voices were growing louder. After themotion, everyone''s gaze turned to an old man in the room.


    Although his decision now could no longer sway everyone else''s, everyone still wanted to know his thoughts.


    After all, this person had once, just like Nucky now, led the others seated here to earn substantial profits!


    The Commodore slowly opened his eyes, and no one saw anger or destion in his gaze, only calmness.


    "Of course, a few years ago I walked into prison withoutint, because I knew that was what was best for Antic City. Now, my decision is also for the future development of Antic City. I will make the same decision as everyone else. I will use all my connections to ensure that Antic City will always be a city that nevercks fine wines!"


    Hearing the Commodore say this, everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief. They were really worried that due to George Kurle''s death, the Commodore would recklessly oppose everyone''s interests.


    "Very well, if that''s the case, then we have all decided: after next Christmas, we will notify all taverns in Antic City that they can continue to sell alcohol and make money!"


    As for why they were waiting another week to make this decision, the reason was simple!


    Since the decision had already been made, those present naturally had to start buying up all the whisky and rum on the market in Antic City.


    Once these people had control of all the controble alcoholic beverages in the city, they would be the rule makers and price setters of the market, and everyone seated here would make a fortune!


    Nucky was no exception, as he not only bought up all the liquor in Antic City that could be purchased, but also extended his reach to big cities like Phdelphia and Chicago, contacting the liquor merchants there and having their stock transported to Antic City by the truckload.


    In the Commodore''s vi.


    "We''ve found out where Nucky''s storing his liquor stockpile!"


    A young, burly man with a straight posture stood in front of the Commodore, his eyes filled with respect for the old man who seemed frail and close to death under a nket on the couch.


    "Good. Nucky wants to control Antic City with liquor, then we''ll make sure he has no liquor to sell. When those people realize their profits have vanished, I want to see how Nucky can still secure those votes!"


    At that moment, the Commodore''s eyes were filled with vengeful fury!


    .


    The bustling Christmas had passed, and Donnie paid no mind to his first Christmas in the United States. During this period, Donnie did only one thing.


    That was to officially rename Ko Bar to Block Tavern!


    Just when everyone in Antic City thought they were going to get back to normal after Christmas, a piece of news spread throughout Antic City!


    Prohibition, has no ce in Antic City!

 Chapter 20: No one guessed what was on Donnies mind (Please follow and add to your favorites~)

    Nucky was feeling a headache, even though the people of Antic City had already agreed to his suggestion, to let the Prohibition be cast into the sea in Antic City, but he still had a headache.


    Because up until now, Bill Cody and Ralph Rivers had not been found, and without finding these two, he could not officially clear his own suspicions, and the Commodore, like a mad dog, was tearing at his power in Antic City.


    "What is the Commodore doing now?"


    Rubbing his bald head, Nucky asked Louis.


    Louis, who had unswervingly stood by Nucky''s side as always, spoke softly, "The Commodore has been meeting with people from all walks of life in Antic City; he met with LeBron from the North District just this morning."


    Hearing the name LeBron James, Nucky frowned slightly and asked, "Has hee to seek us out?"


    Louis shook his head and said, "No!"


    "Damn it, has he forgotten who it was that made him the boss of the North District of Antic City?"


    Even when Nucky was angry, he never lost hisposure, it was just that his face was no longer smiling.


    Louis said, "Boss, you once told me that in this world there are no permanent friends, only permanent interests!"


    Nucky said, "Tell LeBron, I will only let one person bring whiskey and rum into the entirety of Antic City!"


    Although there were already signs of LeBron James betraying Nucky, Nucky did not wish to give up on LeBron James, especially not at this time.


    Although the Civil War in the United States had ended a long time ago, the discrimination against African Americans was still very severe on American soil, and even more so in the South, which was ruled by ve owners. Therefore, after the Civil War, most African Americans relocated to the North, with New York, Phdelphia, and Chicago being the major destinations.


    Even so, these African Americans could still only belong to the lower strata, and in the cities and the State of New Jersey, there was a deep divide between cks and whites.


    Most African Americans were relegated to barren areas, living along railway lines, by small streams, next to garbage dumps, or behind hills.


    And these African Americans mostly engaged in unskilledbor or menial jobs.


    If there was a city that was rtively friendly to African Americans, then it had to be Antic City.


    A significant portion of the ck residents in Antic City belonged to the middle and upper ssespared to African Americans from other regions.


    In Antic City, the social structure of African American workers could roughly be divided into three tiers: the upper-ss¡ªowners orndlords of hotels and boarding apartments, headwaiters, managers, chefs, bell captain, wheelchair managers; this was unimaginable in other ces.


    The middle-ss¡ªwaiters, maids responsible for cleaning rooms, elevator operators, security guards, performers, musicians, entertainers, and showmen.


    Even for such positions, the proportion of African Americans in other ces was not high.


    The lower-ss¡ªbellboys, restaurant utility workers, doormen, dishwashers, kitchen assistants, andborers who pushed wheelchairs.


    Even though these African Americans saw a ss elevation in their eyes in Antic City, their status in Antic City was still not enough.


    This could be seen from the area where they lived¡ªthe North District!


    Even those African Americans who had achieved ss elevation and possessed decent financial means could still only live in the North District.


    Among all the African Americans in the North District of Antic City, there was one person with a stature akin to Nucky''s in Antic City, and this person was LeBron James!


    On the surface, he was the owner of a hotel, but in reality, he also ran a bootlegging business with a significant distillery.


    Nucky and the Commodore valued him not only because of his distillery but more importantly because by holding LeBron James, they held the votes of all African Americans in Antic City.


    In the United States, to have votes was to have everything!


    Louis said, "If that''s the case, I believe LeBron will certainlye to grovel and lick your shoes!"


    Nucky sneered, "Well then, make sure you won''t be polishing my shoes then!"


    After augh, Nucky finally thought of Donnie and asked, "Has Donniee to us?"


    "No," Louis said with a smile, shaking his head, then added, "Donnie had been negotiating with his neighbor Scott to buy his tavern during this period, and the two had almost reached an agreement. But I think with your decision spreading through Antic City, Scott won''t be selling his tavern to Donnie!"


    Nucky nodded in satisfaction and said, "Now Eli is injured, and weck some capable people by our side. When Donniees to us, we''ll have an extra brain to help out!"


    Louis nodded first, then reminded, "From his past behavior, this man is not easy to control!"


    Nucky confidently said, "A capable person always has some personality traits, but don''t worry, I''ll keep him close by to observe him for a while. Remember, I stayed by the Commodore''s side for a full ten years!"


    Louis ttered, "How could hepare to you!"


    Nucky''s bad mood finally improved somewhat, and he instructed Louis, "Don''t worry too much about Donnie''s matter; he will naturally bow to us when the timees. Right now, the most important thing is to keep an eye on the Commodore. Also, the whiskey and rum we''re bringing over from Canada needs to be stored properly.


    These goods will not only make us a tidy profit but will also show those restless people in Antic City who can truly bring them more wealth!"


    Louis nodded and said, "I''ve already had Joe take people to guard the warehouse day and night, there won''t be any problems!"


    "Very good!"


    .


    Antic City did not need the Prohibition, and naturally, this news also reached the ears of tavern owners across the city.


    When they heard this news, a radiant smile appeared on each of their faces, and some even cheered in front of their own tavern''s door!


    "I always said Antic City couldn''t be without fine wine, to hell with Prohibition!"


    Scott stood in front of his own tavern, pointing to the heavens with both hands, the excitement clear on his face.


    At this moment, it wasn''t just him; nearby tavern owners¡ªand in fact, even those running boarding houses and inns¡­were all doing simr things.


    After cheering, Scott''s gaze turned to the side and into Block Tavern, now renamed, his eyes reflecting a hint of mockery.


    After thinking for a moment, Scott still entered Block Tavern. In the dim hall, Scott saw Donnie chatting with his bartender, Paul Burt.


    "Haha, Donnie, did you hear the great news today?"


    Scott sat down next to Donnie, clearly pleased with himself.


    With an unruffled expression, Donnie said, "If you''re talking about Antic City telling Prohibition to take a hike, I''ve heard about it!"


    Scott, excited, said, "This time we might really see Antic City''s golden age!"


    Donnie did not object to that view. In fact, it was exactly so. Antic City, although already a well-known tourist city before, was always a step away from bing a top-tier tourist destination.


    Now, however, it was different. Prohibition ruled the United States, but Antic City was the exception. When those booze hounds from Phdelphia and New York couldn''t find a drink in their own cities, they would think of Antic City. And with the city''s supporting tourism facilities, the flow of visitors here was set to climb once more.


    And this would increase the ie for businesses across the entire city.


    "So, you''re not nning on selling your tavern to me anymore?"


    After taking a sip of beer, Donnie looked at Scott with interest.


    "As long as you can offer a fair price, I would still consider selling!" said Scott, nomittally.


    Donnie chuckled and said, "I suppose this ''fair price'' is going to be a lot higher than the one we''d previously agreed upon, right?"


    Scott nodded and replied, "Of course, starting from today, the price of drinks in Antic City will not only hold but are sure to rise, and naturally, the price of this tavern would increase as well!"


    Shaking his head, Donnie remarked, "In that case, I''ll have to say goodbye to your tavern!"


    Scott showed not a trace of regret over the upleted deal andughed, "You''re actually quite unlucky. If this news hade just a few dayster, my tavern would have been yours by now. But as it stands, not only have you lost the chance to get my tavern, but you''ve also missed out on over a month''s worth of business."


    After listening to this, Donnie nodded, "Indeed, that is rather unfortunate news!"


    Scott, with a sly grin, said, "Of course, if you''re willing, I could acquire your tavern at a fair price!"


    At this point, Scott believed he hadpleted a role reversal. Antic City didn''t need Prohibition, so business at the taverns was surely going to only get better.


    Since Donnie had appeared in Antic City, he had been showing everyone just how foolish he was.


    To have his tavern closed during the best business period for Antic City''s taverns was an unthinkable choice.


    "Honestly, Donnie, your idea wasn''t bad¡ªto sell off your entire stock before Prohibition started. I believe by this time, the inventory of all taverns in Antic City would have been nearly sold out. Then, you could acquire some taverns, and who knows, you might have be the price setter for Antic City''s liquor. With that advantage, you could have made a good profit.


    Too bad, your scheme ultimately failed!"


    Scott was pleased with himself for being able to see through Donnie''s little schemes.


    Unmoved by Scott''s mocking, Donnie simply smiled and said, "If, Scott, you still want to sell your tavern, I''ll offer you a fair price when the timees!"


    Hearing this, Scottughed as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world, "I think I''ll leave that line for you to use!"


    Donnie just smiled indifferently.


    The situation now was such that Scott and others were still grappling with the firstyer of understanding regarding Antic City''s abandonment of Prohibition. Nucky and his group were on the secondyer, and at this moment, he was waiting for them on the thirdyer!


    "I believe the urate answer will be revealed very soon!"

 Chapter 21: 17. WCTUs Parade (Please follow, please favorite~)

    When all the tavern owners of Antic City were excited that the prohibition could not be enforced in Antic City, there were also two groups within the city expressing their dissatisfaction with the matter!


    The first group was the WCTU of Antic City, which was established more than a hundred years ago with the sole purpose of instituting prohibition across the United States. Now, the long-fought battle had finally been won with the inclusion of prohibition in the constitution of Antic City.


    And yet, Antic City intended to ignore the prohibition order!


    This oue was unbearable for the WCTU of Antic City, and so they promptly resorted to their tried-and-true method.


    Parade!


    These women, dressed in long skirts that covered their ankles, wearing bos and holding banners, chanted "We don''t want alcohol, we want prohibition!" as they marched down the wooden walkways of Antic City.


    Donnie, Robert, and John, who had just returned to Antic City, sat at the entrance of Block Tavern, each holding a bottle of beer, and watched the procession with rxed demeanors.


    "I told you we shouldn''t let these women have more of a say¡ªlook at what happens when you do!"


    Robert took a swig of his beer and said nonchntly.


    John agreed, adding, "That''s right, those women should be taking care of the home and the kids. Giving them the right to vote in the constitution is just fueling their arrogance!"


    The two men exchanged sentiments, realizing they saw eye to eye on many things, and happily clinked their bottles together.


    As for the WCTU parade, they treated it as nothing more than a women''s fashion show¡ªexcept that these women were dressed far too conservatively to bepared with the women from the neighboring boarding houses.


    "Donnie, will these people be a problem for us in the future?"


    Finally, it was Robert who voiced his concern to Donnie, "If their parade gets publicized, it''s very likely that the National Government might take notice of what''s happening in Antic City!"


    Although the constitution of the United States granted each state a high degree of autonomy, prohibition was an order written into the constitution of the United States. If the National Government took notice of this issue, it would not bode well for Antic City.


    Donnie took a casual sip of his beer and thenughed, "Rx, the news about Antic City''s decision on prohibition has been out for several days. When have you ever seen it reported by the newspapers of Antic City or Phdelphia?"


    Robert thought for a moment and said with some surprise, "Yeah, howe I haven''t seen such news in the newspapers?"


    The United States is a country of free speech!


    Anyone who really believes that should go check whether their head was caught in a door when they were young or kicked by a donkey.


    Although many newspapers criticize American politicians andws, if you look closely at the details, you''ll see.


    What these newspapers criticize are not the politicians orws; they criticize their political opponents.


    Newspapers are founded by people, and in the United States, if you are a person, you have your own political stance¡ªeither supporting the Republican Party or the Democratic Party.


    Those supporting the Republican Party criticize the Democratic Party, and those supporting the Democratic Party criticize the Republican Party.


    It''s as simple as that.


    When you find that a newspaper''s political stance has suddenly changed, it''s for one reason: the newspaper''s owner has changed their political stance.


    But when both major parties decide on an issue together, that issue is definitely not criticized.


    Although there is space for the Democratic Party in Antic City, it is not significant; the entire city could practically be considered a stronghold of the Republican Party.


    Nucky has already persuaded the leaders of the Republican and Democratic Parties in Antic City, so naturally, such reports will not surface!


    "The WCTU shouldn''t be our concern¡ªit''s Nucky''s problem!"


    Donnie''s gaze fell on a woman in the parade, inly dressed but with a figure and facial features that were difficult to conceal.


    This woman, appearing to be in herte twenties, walked among those chanting slogans, giving Donnie the impression simr to when Tang Bohu shouted "Qiuxiang" amidst the parade in Washington D.C.


    "Nucky?" John asked in confusion: "What does this have to do with Nucky? If we can disregard them, why would Nucky care about them?"


    Donnie, still watching the woman, replied without turning his head, "Didn''t you just say? The constitution gives women the right to vote. Since they can vote, their ballots are what Nucky needs!"


    John, still not entirely grasping the concept, asked, "So, could Nucky change his decision because of them?"


    Donnie and Robert shook their heads simultaneously, with Robert saying, "Impossible, this matter involves themon interests of all stakeholders in Antic City. Nucky would never give up this decision for their sake!"


    Donnie then said, "Rather than these women, I''m more concerned about the situation with the 3K party!"


    The other group dissatisfied with Antic City''s stance on prohibition was indeed the 3K party. Known in American history as a radical faction, the 3K party was violent. Donnie didn''t bother to delve into what the party stood for elsewhere, but in Antic City, this party was a troublemaker. It would not be like them to stay idle on this issue.


    Actually, by this time the 3K Party had already taken some actions.


    "I heard that the Amber Tavern on Chicago Street was smashed yesterday?" Donnie asked Robert.


    During his time in Antic City, Robert had be the most knowledgeable about the current situation in Antic City among the three of them.


    Robert nodded and said, "Yes, Lisa told me about itst night. I heard that if it wasn''t for Nucky''s mediation, Amber Tavern''s owner, Will, would have already taken people to shoot at the 3K Party''s headquarters in Antic City!"


    This is why Donnie was more worried about the 3K Party than the WCTU, because the WCTU would at most sit in protest in front of your tavern, while the 3K Party really had no scruples, ready to shoot at any moment.


    "We should keep a low profile for now. In two more days, we can officially open for business!"


    Donnie instructed Robert and John.


    The two nodded at the same time.


    As the parade was about to pass by their doorstep, Donnie signaled to Robert, "See that woman there?"


    Following Donnie''s gaze towards the WCTU parade, Robert quickly identified the woman Donnie was referring to. It couldn''t be helped; in this parade, she was simply too conspicuous!


    "Nice taste!" Robert immediately lit up and said, "She is definitely the most beautiful and charming among these women, not even our neighbor Lisa canpare to her!"


    Donnie smiled, "Find out about this woman''s background for me."


    John, somewhat dissatisfied, said, "Donnie, if you want to find a woman, you could totally find one who is unmarried and close in age. That woman is clearly already married."


    Donnie nced at John, hadn''t even said a word when Robert already spoke up, "What do you know? I''ll tell you, only married women know how to please a man. Those unmarried women, they don''t even know how to pose properly, holding them is like holding a log, what''s the point in that?"


    "Hmph, I think you''re the one who knows nothing!" John angrily pped Robert''s head and said, "Unmarried women are trainable. Just spend more time with them, and they will eventually be able to pose in any way you want them to!"


    "What if you don''t train them well?" Robert, rubbing his head, retorted helplessly.


    Donnie didn''t pay any attention to their argument, focusing his gaze back on the woman who was moving further away. Donnie admitted she was a beautiful woman, but his true reason for wanting to know more about her was not just her appearance.


    Of course, it was her appearance that he noticed first before deciding to ce his ns upon her.


    The WCTU of Antic City, although not having had too great an impact on Antic City''s Prohibition, indisputably held sway over arge portion of the female votes in Antic City.


    If Donnie wanted to make a name for himself in Antic City, then he would inevitably get involved in thepetition for votes in the future.


    .


    Two dayster, Donnie''s Block Tavern reopened.


    "Donnie, you''rete in reopening. If you had stayed open this whole time, you would have already made a lot of money by now!"


    Scott, who would regrlye to Block Tavern, started his teasing the moment he saw Donnie!


    For nearly two months, all the taverns in Antic City had been selling out their alcohol like crazy, and yet during this period, Donnie chose to close up shop, which many tavern owners viewed as a foolish decision.


    Donnie looked at Scott nonchntly and asked, "Have you truly made money in these two months?"


    That question caught Scott off guard; although alcohol sold like hotcakes, the prices during these two months were much lower than before. Moreover, considering their tavern''s daily expenses and the money paid up to Nucky, the actual amount that ended up in the pockets of people like Scott wasn''t much at all.


    It wasn''t even as much as a baker''s assistant could earn in a month!


    "Hmph, at least we''ve built up a clientele!" Scott said, discontented.


    Donnie nodded and said, "Then why is it that my tavern is already hosting a good number of customers?"


    Scott, observing the situation inside Block Tavern, snorted and turned to leave.


    Watching Scott''s departing figure, Donnie felt smug inside. He''s not happy now, but wait until they can no longer buy alcohol; that''s when they will be truly unhappy.


    Through conversations with William James, Donnie already knew that these distributors hardly had any alcohol stock left. It could be said that by now, the alcohol in the entire Antic City had essentially been monopolized by Nucky and his people.


    Now, people like Scott could still make do with some stock from their own taverns, but once their stock was gone and they wanted to restock on liquor, they would find that the money they made in these two months was insufficient even for that purpose!


    At that point, they would have to give up even more benefits to Nucky and the others, forever earning just a meager ie!


    Donnie had thought that things would just continue smoothly until the official start of Prohibition, but Robert, who had been sent to gather information about the woman, brought back some shocking news to Donnie!

 Chapter 23: 19. The tree stands out in the forest (Please follow, please favorite~)

    Watching Donnie''s smile, Scott wished he could smash the beer bottle directly on his head.


    Scott couldn''t understand how, in just one day, the alcohol market in Antic City had undergone an earth-shattering change.


    Nucky''s warehouse had blown up, and the dealers had no more stock left of liquor. Suddenly, Scott found that if they couldn''t find a suitable supplier soon, their own stock of alcohol wouldn''t be enough to cover sales!


    Seeing that the alcohol market in Antic City was about to experience thergest boom in history, he now found himself having to watch helplessly as the opportunity slipped through his fingers.


    As a representative of a group of tavern owners, Scott couldn''t ept this oue.


    At a loss for what to do, he suddenly thought of Donnie!


    Two months ago, the man they called the "foolish Donnie Block."


    Back then, he had procured a batch of whiskey and rum from William James. It wasn''t much, but it was enough to solve their urgent need.


    As long as they could get through this period, they believed Nucky would surely solve the current problem. By then, they wouldn''t worry about running out of alcohol.


    "Dear Donnie, you really are joking. At a time like this, I think any bar owner in Antic City would not sell their tavern!"


    Donnie looked puzzled, "If you''re not here to sell your tavern, then why have youe?"


    The direct question made Scott''s expression slightly embarrassed, and then heughed, "Dear Donnie, I know that you bought a batch of whiskey and rum from William James. I hope I can buy some of the whiskey and rum from you, but rest assured, I will offer a price that you''ll be satisfied with!"


    With an unchanged demeanor, Donnie answered with ease, "So it''s about this matter. In that case, I have to apologize to you. If I sold some of my stock to you, I wouldn''t have enough left for myself!"


    Scott wasn''t like William; Donnie and William had only a coborative rtionship, nopetition. In contrast, as fellow tavern owners, Scott and Donnie naturally had a hostile rtionship.


    Especially since their taverns were adjacent to each other. Before this, due to the closure of Block Tavern, all those who came to this area for a drink went to Scott''s tavern instead.


    If both operated under the same conditions, Block Tavern''s business would definitely not be as good as Scott''s.


    So even though Donnie had decided to sell part of his stock, Scott definitely wasn''t considered as a potential buyer.


    No matter how much Scott pleaded afterward, Donnie did not agree to his request.


    Ultimately, Scott could only leave Block Tavern with a displeased expression.


    "Robert, show what you can do. Find some taverns outside the boardwalk in other districts, and tell them we have a batch of fine whiskey and rum. If they are willing to purchase at a price 70% above the current market rate, we are willing to part with some of it," Donnie said to Robert after Scott had left.


    Robert sat there, with a flippant look on his face, asking, "I thought you would keep these stocks to sell yourself!"


    Donnie shook his head, "The stock that we''ve bought shouldst us until Carl has brewed enough whiskey and rum. Don''t forget, we still need to pay off the debt we owe Nucky in a week!"


    Robertughed heartily, "I think Nucky would seriously doubt his own abilities if he knew about your real n."


    Donnie smiled, "I just hope he won''t focus too much attention on us right now, that would be for the best!"


    "That might be difficult. By tonight, Nucky may have guessed all your ns!" said Robert.


    Donnie did not respond to Robert''sment, thinking that at this time, Nucky probably didn''t have the mind to focus on himself.


    The sound of footsteps was heard again at the door. Just as Donnie thought another tavern owner hade to sell liquor, he turned around to find that it was not, but "Shorty" Olman instead!


    "Dear Olman, I remember I''ve already paid this month''s fee to you!" Donnie said with a smile at Olman.


    Olmanughed heartily, his chubby face trembling, "My friend Donnie, I''vee to congratte you!"


    Donnie looked puzzled, "What do I have to be congratted for?"


    Olman, not considering himself an outsider, took a sip of Robert''s beer as if it were his own, imed it, and sat down beside Donnie.


    "Nowadays, of all the taverns in Antic City, yours is probably the only one which can smoothly get through this crisis. When the timees, won''t all the boozers in Antic City have toe to your tavern?"


    As he spoke, Olman looked enviously at Donnie. He didn''t know the true purpose behind Donnie''s previous decision, but the result now was that Donnie would be the biggest winner of this sudden event in Antic City.


    "If that''s the case, I''ll be sure to thank you properly, Olman. After all, if it hadn''t been for you, I might not have been able to buy the whiskey and rum from William!"


    Olman pretended tough generously, "Don''t say that. After all, I made some money on that deal too!"


    Donnie nodded, "That is true."


    "Donnie!" Olman suddenly became serious and said to Donnie, "I have a party tonight, and I sincerely invite you to attend!"


    Donnie considered it briefly before epting the goodwill Olman had offered.


    "Of course, I will definitely arrive on time!"


    After obtaining Donnie''s affirmative response, Olman showed a smile and said, "Seven o''clock in the evening, in the restaurant on the second floor of the Ritz Hotel, I''ll be waiting for you!"


    Donnie said, "Thank you!"


    Watching Olman''s retreating figure, Robert couldn''t help asking, "Is he releasing his friendship, or does he have an ulterior motive?"


    No wonder Robert thought so, although there isn''t a saying in the United States like ''A tall tree catches the wind,'' the principle is the same.


    Nucky''s warehouse had exploded, causing a major crisis in Antic City''s alcohol supply, and now other taverns, hotels, and lodging apartments were all having big problems with their supply channels.


    If at this time all the taverns, hotels, and lodging apartments couldn''t provide alcohol, no one would say anything, but unfortunately, Donnie''s Block Tavern had an ample supply of alcohol.


    "Robert, you shouldn''t go out during this time; I need you to stay in the tavern!" Donnie told Robert.


    At that moment, Robert also put away his jocr manner and said, "Don''t worry, as long as I''m here, no one will be able to touch anything in the tavern."


    .


    In the evening, Donnie walked alone to the Ritz Hotel, and when he entered the restaurant on the second floor, he saw Olman who was already waiting there, along with two other men.


    "Donnie, let me introduce you, this is Eli, Eli Johnson!" Olman first pointed to a man sitting without rising and introduced him.


    Eli Johnson had a bandage on his arm, clearly his gunshot wound had not yet healed, and he merely nodded at Donnie with some haughtiness.


    That counted as a greeting.


    At this point, Olman introduced another man who had stood up, his face carrying a professional smile, "This is David, David Jabbar, the owner of The Fuli Tavern in New York!"


    "Mr. Block, I''ve long heard of your renowned name, wee, wee!" David Jabbar extended his hand, asking warmly.


    By now, Donnie had already understood that the person before him was likely the main character he had to face today.


    "Mr. Jabbar, hello, your Fuli Tavern has always been an example for us at Block Tavern to follow!"


    The Fuli Tavern, in the tavern business of Antic City, belonged to the top tier, several folds ssier than Block Tavern!


    If one had to make aparison, Donnie''s Block Tavern was like a massage parlor in a small alleyway, whereas The Fuli Tavern was like a private club in a prime city location with an exclusive membership!


    After everyone was seated, Eli Johnson spoke in an indisputable tone even before Olman, the host, could speak.


    "Donnie, I know you, I heard you ordered a batch of whiskey from James recently. Now you can just transfer these whiskeys to Jabbar. He will add 5% to your original price!"


    There was a hint of embarrassment in Olman''s eyes, but he did not speak.


    David Jabbar was still smiling at Donnie, seemingly not worried at all that Donnie would refuse.


    "Mr. Johnson, you really have a sense of humor. Just as I left home today, I already had several taverns offering to buy my stock of alcohol at 70% above the original price. And now you start off making me lose 65%, which seems a bit inappropriate, doesn''t it?"


    Eli Johnson leaned slightly forward, his face showing displeasure and a bloodthirsty expression, saying, "So you are refusing me?"


    Donnie leaned back slightly, resting himself against the chair, and calmly said, "I''m not refusing you, Mr. Johnson, but rather this unreasonable price."


    "Ha-ha!" When everyone thought Eli Johnson would be angry, he suddenlyughed loudly, "I heard you once earnedmendation on the battlefield, but you must understand this is Antic City, not the battlefield, and you are not facing those inept Germans but me, Eli Johnson!"


    Germany, the main force of the Central Powers during World War I, almost brought Europe to ruin, but now in Eli Johnson''s mouth, they had be ''inept Germans''.


    "Mr. Johnson, I certainly know that this is Antic City and not a battlefield, but on the battlefield, I learned a principle: never retreat, because bullets chase those who run away. On the contrary, those who charge forward often can avoid the bullets!"


    Eli Johnson''s smile faded, "Aren''t you afraid of not being able to walk out of this room?"


    Just as Donnie was about to respond to Eli Johnson, a heartyugh suddenly came from the direction of the door.


    "Ha-ha, today I was wondering when I might invite you for a meeting, Donnie, but it turns out we meet tonight!"


    Seeing the neer, everyone in the private room stood up, including Eli Johnson, who had been sitting there all this while!

 Chapter 23: 19. The tree stands out in the forest (Please follow, please favorite~)

    Watching Donnie''s smile, Scott wished he could smash the beer bottle directly on his head.


    Scott couldn''t understand how, in just one day, the alcohol market in Antic City had undergone an earth-shattering change.


    Nucky''s warehouse had blown up, and the dealers had no more stock left of liquor. Suddenly, Scott found that if they couldn''t find a suitable supplier soon, their own stock of alcohol wouldn''t be enough to cover sales!


    Seeing that the alcohol market in Antic City was about to experience thergest boom in history, he now found himself having to watch helplessly as the opportunity slipped through his fingers.


    As a representative of a group of tavern owners, Scott couldn''t ept this oue.


    At a loss for what to do, he suddenly thought of Donnie!


    Two months ago, the man they called the "foolish Donnie Block."


    Back then, he had procured a batch of whiskey and rum from William James. It wasn''t much, but it was enough to solve their urgent need.


    As long as they could get through this period, they believed Nucky would surely solve the current problem. By then, they wouldn''t worry about running out of alcohol.


    "Dear Donnie, you really are joking. At a time like this, I think any bar owner in Antic City would not sell their tavern!"


    Donnie looked puzzled, "If you''re not here to sell your tavern, then why have youe?"


    The direct question made Scott''s expression slightly embarrassed, and then heughed, "Dear Donnie, I know that you bought a batch of whiskey and rum from William James. I hope I can buy some of the whiskey and rum from you, but rest assured, I will offer a price that you''ll be satisfied with!"


    With an unchanged demeanor, Donnie answered with ease, "So it''s about this matter. In that case, I have to apologize to you. If I sold some of my stock to you, I wouldn''t have enough left for myself!"


    Scott wasn''t like William; Donnie and William had only a coborative rtionship, nopetition. In contrast, as fellow tavern owners, Scott and Donnie naturally had a hostile rtionship.


    Especially since their taverns were adjacent to each other. Before this, due to the closure of Block Tavern, all those who came to this area for a drink went to Scott''s tavern instead.


    If both operated under the same conditions, Block Tavern''s business would definitely not be as good as Scott''s.


    So even though Donnie had decided to sell part of his stock, Scott definitely wasn''t considered as a potential buyer.


    No matter how much Scott pleaded afterward, Donnie did not agree to his request.


    Ultimately, Scott could only leave Block Tavern with a displeased expression.


    "Robert, show what you can do. Find some taverns outside the boardwalk in other districts, and tell them we have a batch of fine whiskey and rum. If they are willing to purchase at a price 70% above the current market rate, we are willing to part with some of it," Donnie said to Robert after Scott had left.


    Robert sat there, with a flippant look on his face, asking, "I thought you would keep these stocks to sell yourself!"


    Donnie shook his head, "The stock that we''ve bought shouldst us until Carl has brewed enough whiskey and rum. Don''t forget, we still need to pay off the debt we owe Nucky in a week!"


    Robertughed heartily, "I think Nucky would seriously doubt his own abilities if he knew about your real n."


    Donnie smiled, "I just hope he won''t focus too much attention on us right now, that would be for the best!"


    "That might be difficult. By tonight, Nucky may have guessed all your ns!" said Robert.


    Donnie did not respond to Robert''sment, thinking that at this time, Nucky probably didn''t have the mind to focus on himself.


    The sound of footsteps was heard again at the door. Just as Donnie thought another tavern owner hade to sell liquor, he turned around to find that it was not, but "Shorty" Olman instead!


    "Dear Olman, I remember I''ve already paid this month''s fee to you!" Donnie said with a smile at Olman.


    Olmanughed heartily, his chubby face trembling, "My friend Donnie, I''vee to congratte you!"


    Donnie looked puzzled, "What do I have to be congratted for?"


    Olman, not considering himself an outsider, took a sip of Robert''s beer as if it were his own, imed it, and sat down beside Donnie.


    "Nowadays, of all the taverns in Antic City, yours is probably the only one which can smoothly get through this crisis. When the timees, won''t all the boozers in Antic City have toe to your tavern?"


    As he spoke, Olman looked enviously at Donnie. He didn''t know the true purpose behind Donnie''s previous decision, but the result now was that Donnie would be the biggest winner of this sudden event in Antic City.


    "If that''s the case, I''ll be sure to thank you properly, Olman. After all, if it hadn''t been for you, I might not have been able to buy the whiskey and rum from William!"


    Olman pretended tough generously, "Don''t say that. After all, I made some money on that deal too!"


    Donnie nodded, "That is true."


    "Donnie!" Olman suddenly became serious and said to Donnie, "I have a party tonight, and I sincerely invite you to attend!"


    Donnie considered it briefly before epting the goodwill Olman had offered.


    "Of course, I will definitely arrive on time!"


    After obtaining Donnie''s affirmative response, Olman showed a smile and said, "Seven o''clock in the evening, in the restaurant on the second floor of the Ritz Hotel, I''ll be waiting for you!"


    Donnie said, "Thank you!"


    Watching Olman''s retreating figure, Robert couldn''t help asking, "Is he releasing his friendship, or does he have an ulterior motive?"


    No wonder Robert thought so, although there isn''t a saying in the United States like ''A tall tree catches the wind,'' the principle is the same.


    Nucky''s warehouse had exploded, causing a major crisis in Antic City''s alcohol supply, and now other taverns, hotels, and lodging apartments were all having big problems with their supply channels.


    If at this time all the taverns, hotels, and lodging apartments couldn''t provide alcohol, no one would say anything, but unfortunately, Donnie''s Block Tavern had an ample supply of alcohol.


    "Robert, you shouldn''t go out during this time; I need you to stay in the tavern!" Donnie told Robert.


    At that moment, Robert also put away his jocr manner and said, "Don''t worry, as long as I''m here, no one will be able to touch anything in the tavern."


    .


    In the evening, Donnie walked alone to the Ritz Hotel, and when he entered the restaurant on the second floor, he saw Olman who was already waiting there, along with two other men.


    "Donnie, let me introduce you, this is Eli, Eli Johnson!" Olman first pointed to a man sitting without rising and introduced him.


    Eli Johnson had a bandage on his arm, clearly his gunshot wound had not yet healed, and he merely nodded at Donnie with some haughtiness.


    That counted as a greeting.


    At this point, Olman introduced another man who had stood up, his face carrying a professional smile, "This is David, David Jabbar, the owner of The Fuli Tavern in New York!"


    "Mr. Block, I''ve long heard of your renowned name, wee, wee!" David Jabbar extended his hand, asking warmly.


    By now, Donnie had already understood that the person before him was likely the main character he had to face today.


    "Mr. Jabbar, hello, your Fuli Tavern has always been an example for us at Block Tavern to follow!"


    The Fuli Tavern, in the tavern business of Antic City, belonged to the top tier, several folds ssier than Block Tavern!


    If one had to make aparison, Donnie''s Block Tavern was like a massage parlor in a small alleyway, whereas The Fuli Tavern was like a private club in a prime city location with an exclusive membership!


    After everyone was seated, Eli Johnson spoke in an indisputable tone even before Olman, the host, could speak.


    "Donnie, I know you, I heard you ordered a batch of whiskey from James recently. Now you can just transfer these whiskeys to Jabbar. He will add 5% to your original price!"


    There was a hint of embarrassment in Olman''s eyes, but he did not speak.


    David Jabbar was still smiling at Donnie, seemingly not worried at all that Donnie would refuse.


    "Mr. Johnson, you really have a sense of humor. Just as I left home today, I already had several taverns offering to buy my stock of alcohol at 70% above the original price. And now you start off making me lose 65%, which seems a bit inappropriate, doesn''t it?"


    Eli Johnson leaned slightly forward, his face showing displeasure and a bloodthirsty expression, saying, "So you are refusing me?"


    Donnie leaned back slightly, resting himself against the chair, and calmly said, "I''m not refusing you, Mr. Johnson, but rather this unreasonable price."


    "Ha-ha!" When everyone thought Eli Johnson would be angry, he suddenlyughed loudly, "I heard you once earnedmendation on the battlefield, but you must understand this is Antic City, not the battlefield, and you are not facing those inept Germans but me, Eli Johnson!"


    Germany, the main force of the Central Powers during World War I, almost brought Europe to ruin, but now in Eli Johnson''s mouth, they had be ''inept Germans''.


    "Mr. Johnson, I certainly know that this is Antic City and not a battlefield, but on the battlefield, I learned a principle: never retreat, because bullets chase those who run away. On the contrary, those who charge forward often can avoid the bullets!"


    Eli Johnson''s smile faded, "Aren''t you afraid of not being able to walk out of this room?"


    Just as Donnie was about to respond to Eli Johnson, a heartyugh suddenly came from the direction of the door.


    "Ha-ha, today I was wondering when I might invite you for a meeting, Donnie, but it turns out we meet tonight!"


    Seeing the neer, everyone in the private room stood up, including Eli Johnson, who had been sitting there all this while!

 Chapter 24: 20. Cooperation (Please follow, please favorite~)

    Nucky''s sudden arrival subtly shifted the atmosphere within the private room.


    Especially for David Jabbar, who had not expected Donnie to be acquainted with Nucky, wore an embarrassed look on his face and sneakily nced at Eli Johnson.


    Eli Johnson, unaware that Nucky had always wanted to bring Donnie under his wing, stood up and asked, "You know Donnie?"


    Nucky looked at Eli Johnson with some reproach and said, "At a time like this, shouldn''t you be properly investigating the current events in Antic City instead of running over here?"


    Facing Nucky''s rebuke, a flicker of anger passed through the depths of Eli Johnson''s eyes, but it was fleeting and went unnoticed by everyone present.


    Immediately afterward, Eli Johnson spoke with a rxed tone, "I got it, I''ll go investigate this matter right now!"


    After speaking, Eli Johnson picked up his coat, didn''t greet anyone else in the room, and left directly.


    Seeing Eli Johnson leave the private room, David Jabbar knew that his ns for the day were not going to materialize.


    "Dear Nucky, there are some matters at my bar, so I''ll take my leave now!"


    Nucky nodded with a smile and said, "David, don''t worry. As one of the best taverns in Antic City, The Fuli Tavern will never run short of whiskey and rum!"


    This was a disguised promise.


    David Jabbar immediately showed a smile, "Thank you, Nucky!"


    Then David Jabbar also left the private room. Just as Olman was preparing to find an excuse to leave, Nucky had already spoken in advance.


    "Olman, I know you; these past two years you''ve done very well and have been a great help to us!"


    Olman''s corpulent body immediately began to tremble in excitement, his chubby face creased into a smile as sweet as if he had swallowed arge spoonful of honey.


    "It''s what I should do!"


    Nucky continued to smile and said, "I know tonight''s gathering was organized by you. You don''t mind if I sit here for a while, do you?"


    "Of course!" Olman hurriedly said, "It would be my honor!"


    Once Nucky was seated, he then turned to Donnie with a smile and said, "Donnie, your actions have shocked me, but at the same time, I greatly admire you!"


    Donnie knew that by now, Nucky had sorted out his previous ns, so he wasn''t too worried, even though he had deceived Nucky.


    Donnie had once studied Nucky of Antic City, a man of deep scheming, but at the same time, a man very clear about his own needs.


    What Nucky demanded was that no one could challenge his status in Antic City or harm his wealth.


    As long as these two points were not involved, Nucky was quite magnanimous toward people... after all, he had to maintain his gentlemanly persona.


    Donnie also understood that Nucky wanted to bring him into his fold, which exined all the previous arrangements. The more sessful his performance, the more admiration Nucky would have for him.


    In in terms, the current Donnie posed no threat to Nucky. If Donnie''s performance had fallen to a colonel, the reception would probably not have been Nucky''s smile.


    "Actually, I''ve been wanting to find an opportunity to apologize to you, Nucky."


    Listening to the dialogue between Donnie and Nucky, Olman was lost in a fog. He couldn''t understand when Donnie had gotten on such good terms with Nucky, and it seemed their rtionship was quite amicable.


    "Initially, you told me you were going to use my loan to acquire taverns in Antic City, but what you were actually doing was buying up whiskey and rum. I''m curious, did you already know then that my warehouse would be blown up?"


    When Nucky said this, although he still wore a smile on his face, Olman clearly felt the chill in Nucky''s tone.


    "I only wanted to make some money. Whether it was acquiring taverns or buying whiskey and rum, it was all based on my appraisal of the current situation in Antic City. As for blowing up your warehouse, Nucky, that''s not something a person like me can do, nor is it something I would do!"


    Donnie responded calmly, not at all overwhelmed by Nucky''s imposing manner.


    Nucky slightly nodded his polished head, reflecting the room''s light.


    "So you''re saying, your acquisition of the Blue Sea Tavern and now of Scott''s Tavern, was actually all for my benefit?"


    Donnieughed and said, "So it seems, Mr. Nucky is acknowledging that the price intion back then was also at your behest?"


    Nucky did not refute the question but continued, "I''ve heard that you''ve not only bought arge amount of whiskey and rum but also purchased some brewing equipment and materials?"


    Olman, who had been unable to interject till now, stared at Donnie in shock. He hadn''t expected Donnie to have prepared so much.


    From their conversation, it was clear that Donnie had previously borrowed money from Nucky, not only to buy whiskey and rum but also to acquire brewing equipment.


    But at the time, few people in Antic City knew the city''s stance on Prohibition, right?


    "It''s a big gamble!"


    Olman couldn''t help but think.


    "Indeed, nothing in Antic City could ever escape Nucky''s notice!" Donnie said, nodding his head in candid agreement.


    Actually, Nucky had just sorted out all the details today. Given the current situation, Nucky hadn''t had time to pay attention to Donnie.


    All his thoughts were on how to quickly replenish the missing liquor, recover his losses, and also prepare a response to the Commodore''s actions against him.


    It was Louis who informed Nucky about Donnie''s intention to sell a portion of his whiskey and rum to the taverns in Antic City.


    After hearing the full story, Nucky quickly understood Donnie''s true n.


    "Indeed, a clever man!" Nucky couldn''t help but praise after hearing what Louis had described, "Donnie had actually been misleading us all along. He told us he was going to use the 1000 US dors borrowed from us to buy a tavern, and we both never doubted it for a second. I even asked you to go and greet the tavern''s owner!"


    After finishing his words, Nucky couldn''t help butugh.


    On the other hand, Louis said with some dissatisfaction, "Boss, he''s clearly deceiving us. Just give the word, and I''ll have my men take care of him now!"


    Nucky, sitting there, waved his hand andughed, "No need, I like smart people, especially those with a sense of measure. I''m short of such people in my ranks!"


    "But wouldn''t this make us theughing stock?" Louis voiced his opinion.


    Nucky looked up at Louis and countered, "Aside from the two of us, who knows about this? I believe Donnie definitely won''t tell, and haven''t you noticed? Donnie''s decision has also earned us some loyalty."


    A question mark appeared over Louis'' head.


    Nucky had no choice but to continue exining, "We had the Blue Ocean Tavern raise their selling price, but the owner of the Blue Ocean Tavern doesn''t know why we had them do that. Now that Antic City''s stance on prohibition has been released, the owner of the Blue Ocean Tavern will definitely think we did this for their benefit."


    Louis considered himself somewhat clever, but at that moment, he really couldn''t understand what Nucky meant.


    Although he was unclear on this point, Louis did understand something else¡ªthat his boss was not angry at Donnie''s trickery, but on the contrary, was growing more appreciative of him!


    The scene switches back to a private room at the Ritz Hotel.


    Faced with Donnie''spliments, Nucky simply smiled lightly and said, "Pity I found out a bitte!"


    At this point, Nucky paused and then said, "Donnie, how about we discuss a cooperation deal?"


    What Louis didn''t understand, Donnie had now figured out. As the ruler of Antic City, Nucky was not short of men. The reason he showed such appreciation towards Donnie at this moment wasrgely because of the capabilities Donnie had demonstrated recently, proving to Nucky that he was indeed a smart man.


    More importantly, Nucky was sure he could control him.


    Thetter reason was more significant.


    "Of course, I think no one in Antic City could refuse a partnership with you, Nucky!" Donnie calmly stated.


    Nucky''s smile became even brighter as he said, "Your father distills whiskey and rum in Elwood Vige, and even though prohibition has been enforced, there will still be a shortage in Antic City to a certain extent. So now, I need the rum and whiskey your father produces!"


    Regarding Nucky''s proposal, Donnie naturally had no objections. If he could cooperate with Nucky, then he would notck a market for his liquor.


    Donnie''s interests had never been limited to just the sales in Antic City; he was eyeing sales throughout the entire United States.


    "I assume you have your terms, Mr. Nucky?"


    While Donnie weed the partnership with Nucky, he also understood that Nucky was not the God of the church, who would cooperate with him without any conditions.


    "Haha!" Nuckyughed again, "I just love dealing with smart people. Actually, I''ve already entrusted LeBron James with the task of handling Antic City''s bootlegging."


    "So my liquor should go to LeBron first?"


    Donnie understood and said astutely, "Nucky''s authority in Antic City is not to be challenged. Since Nucky had already decided to give the bootlegging business in Antic City to LeBron James, Nucky doesn''t need another bootlegger in Antic City to challenge his authority."


    But Nucky did need someone to keep LeBron in check, to make him realize he wasn''t the only bootlegger around. Thus, Donnie''s emergence could be said to have solved a significant problem for Nucky.


    Nucky nodded, not objecting to Donnie''s realization, and then they discussed the matter of pricing.


    In terms of price, Nucky haggled, settling on a price higher than the current one, but lower than the price Donnie had previously set.


    Faced with this, Donnie simply thought it over briefly and agreed to Nucky''s terms, which was inevitable since he didn''t have the same level of power; at times, one had to stay low-key.


    "Very good, from now on we''re partners!" Nucky said, seeing that all matters had been settled, and then he stood up to take his leave.


    Donnie and Olman escorted him to the door. After Nucky left, Olman looked at Donnie with a mix of embarrassment, admiration, and a great deal of confusion in his eyes.


    "Donnie, we...."

 Chapter 25: 21. Three Things (Please follow, please favorite~)

    "Alright, at least for a short while, we won''t have any trouble!"


    The next morning, Donnie recounted what had happened at the Ritz Hotel to Robert and John, who had already returned to Elwood Vige. His face finally showed the most rxed smile in some time.


    John still said with some resentment, "I say we shouldn''t be working with Nucky at all. If he dares to challenge us, we''ll deal with him just like we dealt with George. Just get rid of him, I don''t believe he''s always surrounded by a bunch of people."


    Donnie red at John and said, "What are you thinking? Can Nucky bepared to George Kurle? If he dies, the whole Antic City will be in chaos, and our business will be affected too!"


    With Nucky around, Antic City could stay peaceful, and the various policies resisting Prohibition could be smoothly implemented. If Nucky were to die, it would be like headless dragons, and all of Antic City would descend into chaos. The resistance against Prohibition would undoubtedly be hit hard.


    John grumbled a few words, still somewhat unwilling, "But if we sell our booze to them, we''ll earn a lot less!"


    Donnie said, "Slow and steady wins the race. We''re in this for the long haul. To do business in Antic City, at least for the short term, we can''t do without Nucky. Plus, Nucky has the connections, so we don''t have to worry about sales volume in the early days."


    John nodded, not quite understanding, "I just don''t like that he''d sent people to assassinate you before!"


    Donnie smiled, "Neither do I."


    Robert then said to Donnie, "Three things. First, Prohibition is about to start. Although Antic City is resisting Prohibition, there''s no denying it will still impact the average person. So I predict that the day before Prohibition begins, the whole of Antic City will be awash in alcohol. Everyone will hit the streets to stock up and take it home. What do we do then?"


    The so-called ''Volstead Act'' for Prohibition, though resisted in Antic City, was something you could do but couldn''t candidly talk about. Plus, many average citizens of Antic City doubted such resistance would seed.


    Therefore, there definitely would be many people hoarding a lot of booze as a precaution.


    This situation would naturally lead to Antic City''s alcohol distributors making a fortune... provided they could bring out so much stock at that time!


    Donnie casually said, "If we have customers, we''ll sell, but we must keep enough stock for the next three days. I don''t want Block Tavern to ever run out of alcohol; that would be quite the spectacle!"


    After hearing this, Robert nodded, indicating he would handle it, and then he told Donnie the second matter.


    "I''ve already spoken to some familiar taverns, and they''re very interested in our stock. However, they hope we can give them a discount. These people seem to have prearranged it, speaking in the exact same terms."


    Donnie nodded after hearing this, "Understandable. We''re the neers, after all, and we can''tpare to these guys. They certainly found out about our loan from Nucky somehow."


    Robert said with some concern, "So, what do we do? Lower our prices or keep looking?"


    Donnie scoffed, "Lower the price? Tell them the price of this batch of booze has just gone up from a 70% rise to 80%. If they don''t want to buy, then forget it. Tell them we''re not short of customers!"


    Robert was slightly taken aback; he hadn''t expected Donnie to be so resolute in refusing to lower the price, and then to actually raise it.


    "Won''t this drive these people to find someone else?"


    Donnie patted Robert''s shoulder andughed, "Rx, things aren''t like they used to be. If they had other sources, why would theye to us?"


    Robert thought for a moment and understood Donnie''s logic. Now, alcohol was seriously scarce in Antic City, and no one else had any stock to supply in the short term except Donnie.


    "But I''m still worried. What if these people resort to underhanded tactics?"


    "Damn it, if they dare, I''ll crush their... to smithereens!" John immediately shouted assertively, finding his sense of presence.


    Robert shot John a look and said, "They are over a dozen men strong, plus their underlings; there would be dozens. Even if they just stood there letting you at it, you''d still be at it for a while. And at that time, please keep your distance from me. I don''t want to stand next to a John who''s crushed dozens of men...!"


    Humiliated by Robert''s mocking words, John''s face turned red. Unable to outtalk Robert, John simply tackled him to the ground and engaged in a tussle.


    Robert, bent over,y on the ground, his hands tightly covering the area between his legs.


    This made John seem as if he had some unsavory habits.


    It only made the already embarrassed and angry John even more flustered and vexed.


    Only after John vented his emotions did Robert get up, brushing off the dirt from his clothes as if nothing had happened.


    "Antic City isn''t just about taverns, hotels, residential apartments; these ces will also need alcohol. And even if we don''t sell to them, just the night before Prohibition alone will allow us to sell plenty. Initially, we wanted to sell to them to avoid some trouble since our foothold in Antic City isn''t that stable yet."


    But now, things are different. We''ve reached a consensus to cooperate with Nucky, and with Nucky involved, these guys wouldn''t dare to cause any serious trouble.


    That''s also why I agreed to cooperate with Nucky in the first ce!"


    Donnie exined to the panting John.


    John sat there, took a big gulp of beer, and then said, "If you put it that way, I get it!"


    Donnie turned to Robert and asked, "Alright, tell me about the third thing."


    Robert said, "The woman you asked me to investigate, I''ve looked into her. Her name is Margaret Schroeder. Like other women in Antic City, she''s a housewife. Her husband, Dennis Schroeder, is a baker''s assistant. However, this guy likes to gamble and isn''t good at it, pretty much giving all his wages to the casino.


    Margaret joined the WCTU two years ago, and now she''s an officer in the organization."


    Then Robert added, "Oh, and they don''t have any children yet!"


    "So they are really married?" John thought back to his previous guess about Margaret.


    "Whether they''re married or not doesn''t matter!" Donnie stroked his chin and smiled, "What''s important is that she''s an officer in the WCTU. Having that role is enough!"


    Robert nodded, and seeing that John still didn''t understand Donnie''s intentions, he once again shed a mocking smile.


    John got angry again, but this time Robert didn''t give him a chance to catch him, darting around the tavern''s main hall, making it impossible for John to get his hands on him.


    "You''re already out of shape in such a short time!" Robert dodged John''s reach with a swift move, his mocking BUFF at full charge!


    Seeing that he couldn''t catch Robert no matter what, John could only continue to pant heavily and sit down next to Donnie.


    "There''s something else I don''t understand?"


    Curious, Donnie looked at his big brother, "Since when did you start using your brain?"


    "Me!"


    Seeing John''s clenched fists, Donnie too swiftly moved away, keeping at least three meters from John, before he asked.


    "What don''t you understand!"


    John said indignantly, "Olman was obviously setting you upst night, so why did you agree to cooperate with him? Didn''t you say that in Antic City, as long as we could cooperate with Nucky, we wouldn''t have any problems?"


    Donnieughed and said, "I don''t want to specte about Olman''s reasons for doing what he didst night, but you should know, just because we are cooperating with Nucky now doesn''t mean we will always be in a cooperative rtionship with Nucky. Right now, Nucky is working with us because he knows we pose no threat to him.


    If in the future there''s a conflict of interest and we have reached a point where we could threaten his position in Antic City, do you think he would still work with us then?"


    "So what does that have to do with Olman?"


    John still didn''t grasp Donnie''s point.


    "You''re so dense! Even a Russian bear isn''t as slow as you!" Robert, standing beside Donnie, said proudly, "Donnie''s point is simple. If one day we do have a disagreement with Nucky, then we need to have enough people on our side.


    Olman is a good candidate; he has connections in Antic City, has rtionships, and a bit of brains. I guess Donnie must believe that this guy will also have promising prospects in the future, which is why he''s overlooking what Olman didst night!"


    "Ah!"


    John stood up, scratching his head and smiling, "So that''s it. Now I understand!"


    Robert made a frustrated face and said, "I just wish you could lend some of your strength to your IQ, because exining things to you is just too much of a hassle!"


    "Really?" John chuckled and suddenly reached out. Robert, who was now less than a meter away, didn''t react in time and was caught by John.


    "Calling me stupid, today I''ll show you what a real heavy-hitter''s punch looks like!"


    Watching the two of them wrestle again, Donnie still didn''t intervene, just dropped a line, "I''ve got some things to do, you two keep an eye on the shop!"


    After saying that, Donnie took an address he had gotten from Robert and left the tavern!

 Chapter 26: 22. Mutual Aid and Friendship Association (Please follow, please favorite~)

    In the fifth district where North District meets West District in Antic City, the residents there are part of the poor white popce of Antic City. They look down on the cks from North District, yet their standard of living can''t match that of the white families in Antic City, so they disdain the cks while simultaneously relying on the inexpensive goods from the ckmunity.


    Margaret had just finished breakfast and was now washing dishes.


    The front door burst open, and Dennis, flushed and stumbling drunk, walked in without greeting anyone and headed straight to the bedroom to rummage around.


    Margaret watched Dennis''s condition, her hands trembling as she washed the dishes.


    Shortly after, Dennis stormed out, infuriated.


    "Where''s the money?"


    Margaret turned around, her hands braced on the stove, and said with forced calm, "We have no money left at home!"


    "Bullshit!"


    Dennis, like an angry leopard, swiftly approached and grabbed Margaret by the throat, yelling loudly, "Where''s your paycheck?"


    Margaret wasn''t a traditional housewife in the current American sense; she had her own job, working as an assistant in a boutique clothing store on the Antic City boardwalk.


    Her monthly wage was 45 US dors!


    Margaret, gripped by the throat by Dennis, turned red-faced and gasped, "That''s for paying the rent, buying winter clothes, and coal!"


    The house wasn''t theirs; they rented it for ten US dors a month.


    Antic City is a city with cold winters and warm summers, and without heating, one simply could not survive the winter.


    At this point, Margaret was struggling to breathe. Seeing her like this, Dennis shoved her away. Margaret fell to the ground, looking up at Dennis with a mix of defiance and injury.


    "Damn it, I ve away every day to earn money, and this is how you manage the house for me? I don''t care, give me the money now, or I''ll kill you!"


    Facing Dennis in this state was something Margaret was both familiar with and fearful of. Familiar, because scenes like this were yed out several times a month in this household; fearful because each time they urred, she was the one who suffered.


    Although Dennis''s monthly wage was more than Margaret''s, almost all of it went to the casinos of Antic City, and arge part of her own wages also ended up in the casinos because of Dennis.


    But Margaret still wanted to hold on, unwilling to hand over her paycheck to Dennis.


    It was this thought that led to the repetitive domestic scenes in the Schroeder household.


    By the time Dennis left the Schroeder home, pleased with himself and clutching Margaret''s wages, Margaret was left with a bruised face, obviously unable to go to work.


    After cleaning her blood-stained face with the cold water from home, Margaret stepped outside, intending to use the public telephone to call in sick to the clothing store.


    Walking with her head down and body faltering, she didn''t want anyone to see her current state.


    And because of this, she identally bumped into a man while walking.


    "I''m sorry, I''m sorry, it wasn''t on purpose!"


    Margaret quickly raised her head to apologize to the man.


    A tall man, handsome and distinguished, stood before her.


    "It''s alright... Miss, do you need help?" Donnie initially smiled, but upon seeing Margaret''s condition, asked with concern.


    Margaret hastily looked down again and said, "No, thank you!"


    Then she hurried past Donnie to the public phone booth to make a call to the clothing store.


    But at that moment, Donnie showed excessive enthusiasm, following close to Margaret and saying, "Miss, you really don''t look well. I''m Donnie Block from the Antic City Mutual Aid and Fellowship Association. If there''s anything troubling you, you can share it with us?"


    "Mutual Aid and Fellowship Association?"


    Curious about the association name Donnie had fabricated, Margaret paused; she and Dennis were not originally from Antic City.... Actually, there weren''t many natives in the whole of Antic City. The United States is a country of immigrants, and Antic City is a city of them.


    Yet they had lived in Antic City for several years and had never heard of a Mutual Aid and Fellowship Association before!


    "Yes, our association has just been founded!" Donnie continued to weave his lies, saying, "Although Antic City may seem flourishing, we''ve found that there are still many people who need help and care. That''s why we established this association, aiming to assist everyone in Antic City who needs help."


    "Mr. Block, you''re good people, God will bless you!" Margaret said devoutly.


    Donnie exaggerated, "God loves everyone!"


    Margaret, now drawn to Donnie''s attitude, stopped and asked, "Mr. Block, what does your Mutual Aid and Fellowship Association do exactly?"


    Donnieughed awkwardly and said, "It''s funny to say, our association has just been established, and actually, there''s still a lot we don''t quite understand. I heard from a friend that there''s a WCTU officer living here, Miss Margaret Schroeder. I heard she''s a very enthusiastic woman, so I specifically came to seek her advice this time.


    Unfortunately, this district is just too big, and I still haven''t found Miss Schroeder!"


    Margaret revealed an exaggerated expression and looked at Donnie incredulously, saying, "I am Margaret!"


    "My God, truly God''s blessing!" Donnie also showed a delighted expression, as if he couldn''t help himself, he took both of Margaret''s hands, "I didn''t expect to be so lucky!"


    Curious, Margaret asked, "May I know which friend of yours introduced me to you, Mr. Block?"


    Donnie casually mentioned a fictitious name, which left Margaret somewhat perplexed, but considering there were so many people in the WCTU, and she didn''t necessarily know them all, she epted Donnie''s exnation.


    "Mr. Block, I''m very sorry, but I still have a phone call to make, so I...."


    Margaret said apologetically.


    Donnie immediately nodded, wearing an apologetic smile, and acknowledged, "That''s my oversight, Miss Schroeder, you go ahead and make your call, I will wait for you outside!"


    "Thank you!" Margaret said humbly, and then she entered the public telephone booth and dialed the number for the dress shop.


    At that moment, she couldn''t help but look outside the phone booth at Donnie Block. As an employee of the dress shop, Margaret could naturally tell that Donnie''s clothes weren''t exactly top-notch, but they seemed to give off a very natural vibe on him, as if he was born to wear any clothes he put on.


    At the same time, she noticed the spring-breeze-like smile on Donnie''s face and the crossed hands in front of him as he stood there without any hint of impatience. To every passerby who focused their attention on him, Donnie Block would offer a sunny smile.


    When a little girl selling flowers passed by with a timid gaze, making a brave attempt to sell a flower from her basket to him, Donnie Block would receive it with a smile, gently pay for the flower, and tenderly ruffle the girl''s hair while doing so.


    This is a gentleman!


    Margaret couldn''t help but think.


    "Hello, hello, hello, that person."


    While Margaret was observing Donnie, the voice from the phone brought her back to reality. She quickly identified herself and exined the situation about needing to take time off.


    The person on the other end of the line did not make things difficult for Margaret but did mention that Margaret''s pay for that day would be deducted.


    After finishing her call, Margaret exited the phone booth and spoke softly to Donnie, "Mr. Block, I''ve finished my phone call!"


    Donnie presented the flower he had just bought from the little flower seller to Margaret and said earnestly, "To thank you, Miss Schroeder, for your help!"


    Margaret felt moved in her heart. How long had it been since she hadst received flowers from someone?


    Two years?


    Three years?


    Or five years?


    She could not remember anymore.


    "Thank you, Mr. Block!" Margaret expressed her gratitude.


    Now that the two had a good start, things became much easier. Donnie suggested they have a detailed discussion about how to run an association well, under the guise of seeking advice. However, he also subtly indicated that he was considering Margaret''s current situation, and ultimately the two ended up at Margaret''s home to discuss the so-called affair of running a caring and friendly association.


    "I''m sorry, the neighbor''s child came over to y this morning and made a mess of the ce!"


    Margaret, who had left the house earlier, hadn''t had the chance to tidy up the messy room resulting from her own beating, and naturally, she had no way to tell Donnie the truth and instead med the disarray on the neighbor''s child.


    "Miss Schroeder must be a very caring person!"


    Having guessed the situation in front of him, Donnie did not expose Margaret''s embarrassment.


    After brewing a cup of coffee for Donnie, Margaret sat opposite him and began to exin in detail the requirements for starting an association.


    Donnie pretended to listen to Margaret''s words attentively, nodding from time to time to show that he understood what she was saying.


    "I am very grateful for today, Miss Schroeder. However, I am new to Antic City and not very familiar with the ce, so I might need to seek your help from time to time in the future. I hope you won''t refuse when the timees!"


    "It would be my honor to assist you, Mr. Block!" Margaret didn''t refuse Donnie''s request.


    Afterward, Donnie stood up to take his leave.


    Margaret saw him to the door and watched as Donnie walked away, her eyes bing somewhat vacant.


    In the following two or three days, Donnie did indeed meet with Margaret every day to discuss how to manage a caring and friendly association, and because of this, their rtionship deepened.


    By this time, they were already addressing each other as ''Margaret'' and ''Donnie''!


    And it was at this time that Antic City, and indeed the entire United States, was about to face the onset of the real Prohibition era!

 Chapter 27: 23. The Madness on the Eve of Prohibition (Please follow, please bookmark~)

    1920, the evening of January 16th!


    The entire Antic City was lit up as if it were daylight. On every street of Antic City, people could be seen staggering, drunk with bottles in hand, while others pushed carts full of all sorts of liquor, each person''s face bearing the madness of drinking to their heart''s content while they still could.


    At Block Tavern, the ce was packed. In front of everyone sat an assortment of drinks.


    Today, the tavern was Antic City''s leading melody, with brothels and casinos making way for it.


    Two muscr men were engaged in a drinking contest, two tables pushed together and topped with various drinks, a man standing at each end, hands braced on the tables, intently staring each other down.


    Behind them were their respective supporters, each holding a beer, whiskey, or rum in hand.


    Women, dressed with abandon, mingled among the crowd, no longer caring who was holding them.


    Robert didn''t care about the temperature outside; he was just wearing an open-necked shirt, one arm around a voluptuous woman, a whistle to his lips.


    At the sound of the whistle from Robert''s mouth, the contestants began to guzzle down the various fine drinks on the table like thirsty oxen.


    Cheers and shouts rose and fell. When one side imed victory, the atmosphere inside the tavern reached its zenith.


    The winner raised his arms high, as if a victorious general inspecting his troops, and suddenly, a woman lifting her skirt leapt into his embrace.


    Another scream arose.


    This was how the people of Antic City vented their emotions in a frenzy with the impending arrival of Prohibition.


    This scene was not unique to Block Tavern; it could be seen in any tavern of Antic City, in any city across the United States.


    The once federally supported Prohibition, even before its start, had already begun to face resistance from the people across the country.


    At that moment, Donnie raised his ss overhead, stirring up the atmosphere among all present.


    "Tonight is the eve when Americans'' personal freedoms will be stripped away!"


    This deration was met with fervent apuse throughout the tavern.


    "Block Tavern will always provide you with any ''liquid bread'' you desire; no one can deprive us of our right to enjoy freedom!"


    When these words were shouted, Block Tavern once again erupted in enthusiastic apuse.


    Simrly, a woman dressed provocatively with a charming face picked up her skirt, jumped onto the table, and fervently threw herself at Donnie, offering him her most passionate kiss.


    Donnie, in turn, wrapped his arm tightly around her slender waist, pulling her close to his body, and kissed her deeply.


    "Wo!!!"


    The atmosphere at the scene climbed again.


    Everyone kept asking for more drinks, as if they would never be able to drink again after today.


    Batches of customers were thrown out of the tavern, only to be reced by new batches entering.


    Last, handfuls of bills found their way into Donnie''s wallet.


    The night was wild; so wild that even Donnie didn''t know whether Block Tavern had closed its doors. When he opened his eyes, sunlight was already streaming into his room.


    Looking at the two unfamiliar women lying next to him and smelling the strong scent of hormones in the room, Donnie could imagine just how wild the previous night had been.


    He threw back the covers, ignoring the women''s pleas, and after washing up with a basin of cold water, Donnie feltpletely refreshed.


    When he went downstairs, he saw John already cleaning up the still-messy hall.


    "I''ve never seen people act so crazy!"


    Upon seeing Donnie, John couldn''t help butin.


    "Where''s Robert?"


    Grabbing a beer from behind the bar to clear his head, Donnie took a swig and felt even more invigorated.


    "He probably won''t be up until after ten," John said nonchntly.


    Donnie nodded. If he himself had been that wildst night, he could only imagine what sort of scene Robert might have been in.


    "We made over 300 US Dorsst night, which is about what we make in two months!"


    John sat down next to Donnie, saying this with some surprise.


    "I never expected everyone to go so crazy after knowing about the situation in Antic City!"


    Donnieughed, "Live for today with wine for today; who knows if Antic City can really stand up to the National Government!"


    John asked curiously, "So can Antic City really withstand the pressure from the National Government?"


    "Rest assured, Antic City won''t give up such a good opportunity!" Donnie said with conviction.


    During the Prohibition era in the United States, Antic City experienced its most rapid development phase, and the biggest credit was due to the ineffectiveness of the prohibitionws there. Even when the prohibition was repealed across the United States in the ''30s, it led directly to a period of decline for Antic City.


    It took decades for the city to recover, only improving slightly when it officially became the secondrgest casino city in the United States.


    John immediatelyughed and said, "If that''s really the case, then we don''t need to worry about Cameron''s tuition anymore!"


    "Cameron''s tuition has never been a problem!"


    Donnie said confidently.


    "I heard that the National Government has already established a prohibition enforcement agency. They will be deployed to every state, every city. Won''t they bring us some trouble?"


    John asked.


    To better promote the enforcement of the Prohibition, the National Government had already trained a group of prohibition agents as early asst year.


    "Don''t worry!" Donnie said dismissively, "Those people won''t cause us any trouble!"


    When Nucky was arrested, the National Government spent four to five years investigating him to secure a conviction, and even then, they only managed to put him away on charges of tax evasion.


    In the United States, the concept that thew does not punish the masses was equally applicable, if not more so.


    As long as Antic City could keep providing continuous political donations and more votes to those at the higher echelons, the city would not be hindered by Prohibition.


    Getting the answer he wanted, John had nothing to worry about anymore.


    "By the way, the tavern owners came overst night; they finally couldn''t hold out any longer and agreed to our offer!"


    John said proudly.


    Previously, Donnie had wanted to sell his stockpiled liquor to the taverns of Antic City, but to his surprise, they tried to unite to force him to lower his prices. That''s when Donnie had Robert increase the selling price, adopting a take-it-or-leave-it attitude.


    When the owners saw Antic City''s frenzyst night, they couldn''t sit still any longer and someone immediately came to Block Tavern, capitting.


    "It''s the same as before, ensure our liquor reserves are secure, and sell the rest to them."


    John nodded, "I''ll discuss the distribution quantities to each establishment with Robert once he wakes up."


    Donnie nodded, "Don''t let any one bar grow too dominant. After all, good liquor will be increasingly scarce in Antic City."


    The Prohibition did have its effects. As a pure tourism city, Antic City couldn''t haverge ndestine distilleries, which meant that once the United States'' stockpile of liquor waspletely depleted, cities like Antic City and others would have to resort to poor quality liquor from those illegal distilleries.


    As for the liquor smuggled from Europe and Canada, it would be sold at high prices to the upper-middle-ss people in the United States.


    ording to historical records, during this time, many distilleries mixed industrial alcohol with whiskey, rum, and wine to sell to drinkers.


    This led to an annual increase in deaths from alcohol poisoning in the United States.


    Because of Carl, Donnie was able to produce liquor that was superior to the poor-quality spirits yet not as fine as the smuggled ones from Europe and Canada. Therefore, he was already nning to enter the mid-to-low end of the American bootleg liquor market with such products.


    "Don''t worry about it!"


    John said with pride.


    After chatting casually for a bit, the two women in Donnie''s room came downstairs, their cheeks flushed and their manner flirtatious.


    Donnie took out three US dors from the drawer and handed it to them. The two divided their share, each kissing their banknotes against their lips.


    "Last night was a thoroughly enjoyable and wonderful evening, and I hope we have the chance to continue!"


    One of the women, whose name Donnie didn''t know, kissed him and then left hand in hand with the other woman.


    During this era, traditional women still made up the majority in the United States, so they were not as open as American women in the seventies and eighties.


    The women who appeared in Block Tavernst night were mostly from the boarding houses nearby. They knew that the men of Antic City were all out drinking in the tavernsst night, so they also entered various taverns, and evidently, they were sessful.


    "How were those twost night?"


    After the women left, John looked at Donnie with a mischievous grin and asked.


    Donnie asked, "Don''t tell me you slept alonest night?"


    "Of course not!" John immediately denied, then became somewhat embarrassed as he said, "But I drank too muchst night and only remember waking up next to a woman; I''ve forgotten what happenedst night!"


    Donnie looked at John with disdain, "You always boast about how much you can drink, but in the end, you''re just a lightweight, aren''t you!"


    Although John didn''t understand what Donnie meant, he knew it wasn''t anything good. But then he felt embarrassed again thinking about his performancest night.


    "Humph, tonight I will definitely show her what I''m made of!"


    Donnie chuckled. As they were preparing to find a ce for lunch, a man with graying hair, apanied by two subordinates, slowly walked into Block Tavern.


    "Donnie Block, I haven''t mistaken you, have I?" The man looked at Donnie with a smile and said casually, "I am Brigadier General Louis Kuhler!"

 Chapter 28: 24. Donnie doesnt want to be a fence-sitter (please follow, please favorite~)

    The Brigadier sat down unceremoniously, his eyes slowly sweeping over the entire bar, his somber voice rising once again.


    "Other than the name, nothing has changed! That idiot George actually gave this ce to you, it truly is a damn shame."


    Donnie sat at another table, watching the Brigadier. If there was anyone in Antic City that Donnie least wanted to see, the Brigadier would certainly top the list.


    After all, he had plotted to kill his illegitimate son.


    "I''ve heard tales of the Brigadier since I was very young. May I ask why the Brigadier hase here today?"


    At that moment, Donnie maintained hisposure, although his heart had already reached the highest level of alert, he still appeared very calm.


    The Brigadier spoke in his perpetually unhurried tone, not answering Donnie''s question, but instead continued on his own ord: "I remember, not long after I had started the street corner, I established Ko Bar here, hoping to pass it on forever, yet to my surprise, that fool George gave it to you!"


    Donnie did not speak this time, as if he were really waiting for the Brigadier to reminisce about his past.


    John sat next to Donnie with one hand in his pocket, where his handgun was.


    After waiting a while, as if the Brigadier had finished reminiscing about the past, he continued in his unrushed manner: "I''ve heard that before, George wanted to take this ce back?"


    Donnie nodded, saying, "That''s right, but what''s heartbreaking is that just when I was ready to leave, he was killed by someone!"


    The Brigadier nodded, a trace of sadness on his face: "Although George was an idiot, he was still my son. The things he didn''t finish, I still intend to do them!"


    Donnie''s brows furrowed momentarily before he smiled and said, "Of course, if the Brigadier wishes to take this ce back, we can leave immediately."


    After stepping into the bar and seeing Donnie for the first time, the Brigadier seriously sized up Donnie for the second time, then with a slight smile said.


    "I thought you might refuse!"


    Donnie calmly replied, "I can''t imagine anyone in Antic City who could refuse a request from the Brigadier!"


    "Haha!" The Brigadierughed heartily for the first time, then said, "Forget it, I''ve heard George say many times that you two were good friends on the battlefield. Not only that, but you also saved his life there. I''m old now, and Antic City belongs to the younger generation. Since this ce has already been given to you, I''ll leave it in your hands!"


    "Thank you for your generosity, Brigadier!" Donnie said gratefully.


    The Brigadier continued, "I''ve heard that when you were on the battlefield, your cooperation with the British was very pleasant?"


    Donnie nodded, "Indeed it was; we made quite a few friends there."


    The Brigadier nodded slightly, showing a satisfied smile, again touching on the topic of his old age: "I''m old now, with no one else by my side. As a good friend of George''s, I hope you cane to my home when you have the time, to visit an old man like me."


    Donnie showed a perfectly appropriate smile and said, "If that''s the case, it would be my great honor!"


    The Brigadier nodded again, then propped himself up with his cane, preparing to leave, and said, "That works out well, there''s a dinner at my house tomorrow night, you can bring yourdy friend along!"


    "Thank you for the invitation, Brigadier, I will definitely be there on time!"


    Donnie also stood at this moment and saw the Brigadier out of Block Tavern.


    Only after the Brigadier had gotten into his car and left did John finally breathe a sigh of relief and ask, "What''s that old guy up to,ing here and talking nonsense? He doesn''t know what we did, does he, and now wants to lure you to his ce to kill you?"


    "If he really knew the truth of the matter, he wouldn''t meet us in such a manner!"


    Donnie spoke to John with aplex look: "It looks like our ns for a peaceful revenue stream might be dashed. From now on, we''re going to have trouble."


    At this point, Donnie added with a hint of anticipation, "However, this could also be an opportunity for us!"


    With a brain capacity akin to that of a squirrel''s, John couldn''tprehend what Donnie meant, but Donnie did not bother to exin further.


    He needed to return to his room to carefully consider the night''s events.


    Though the Brigadier''s power in Antic City was no longerparable to Nucky''s, it was still beyond Donnie''s reach. So, if the Brigadier truly knew that George''s death was orchestrated by Donnie, Block Tavern would surely have already been riddled with bullet holes by now.


    The fact that he came in person to talk in such a cryptic manner simply meant that with George''s death, the Brigadier was short of someone to charge into battle in Antic City.


    And as for himself!


    With the start of Prohibition and a steady supply of alcohol to sell to others, coupled with Nucky''s favor, it was impossible for the general not to take notice of him.


    "These people should have already investigated my background thoroughly. It seems I need to ask Carl to find another brewery in addition to the fixed one, as a backup. If one encounters a problem, the other can continue the supply," he thought.


    Whether it was Nucky''s previous appreciation or the general''s current recruitment, Donnie was well aware that the other party only wanted to use him as a tool.


    And a disposable tool at that.


    So once Donnie realized they knew more about him, he naturally had to prepare some fallback options!


    "The general''s tant visit today will probably reach the always watchful Nucky very soon. What will Nucky do then?"


    At this thought, Donnie actually felt some expectation. If Antic City were a calmke, it would be extremely difficult for him to rise to prominence since the city''s power figures had already achieved a perfect bnce, forming a self-serving interest group.


    They absolutely did not tolerate any neers.


    At that moment, Donnie felt like he was ying the two men, leading both the general and Nucky on. When in trouble, he''d be sweet-talking them, but when not, he''d maintain, "We''re just ordinary friends. I thought you understood my thoughts, but it turns out you''re just as vulgar, only interested in my ''body''."


    Indeed, as Donnie had anticipated, Nucky had learned about the general''s visit to Block Tavern even before the general had left.


    "I didn''t expect Donnie to be such a sought-after individual that even the general would personally seek him out!"


    After hearing Louis'' report, Nucky leaned back on the sofa, his expression a bit dazed due to the hangover from the night before.


    Seeing Nucky''s condition, Louis poured him a cup of coffee and said, "Boss, Donnie is just an owner of a tavern. There are hundreds, if not a thousand, like him in Antic City. Why would the general take notice of him? Could it be there was contact between them before?"


    Nucky shook his head confidently, "No, if there had been contact between them before, George wouldn''t have approached him to reim the tavern."


    Continuing, Nucky asked Louis, "Do you know why I have such a high opinion of Donnie?"


    Without hesitation, Louis replied, "Because you said before, Boss, that Donnie is someone moderately intelligent with some tricks up his sleeve!"


    Nucky nodded and smiled, "That was my earlier assessment of him, but now Donnie has done something that indeed proves he deserves such praise!"


    Not quite understanding, Louis asked, "What did he do?"


    Nucky, turning the question back to Louis, inquired, "Do you know who has made the most money from this failure to enforce Prohibition in Antic City?"


    "Of course, it''s you, Boss!" Louis replied promptly and decisively.


    Although Nucky''s warehouse had been bombed, causing him to lose arge quantity of stored alcohol, the fact that Antic City''s Prohibition failed meant that Nucky would definitely have a goldmine to exploit in the future.


    Nucky dismissed the notion with a wave of his hand, "That''s in the future. I''m talking about right now. Right now, the person who has made the most from this situation is actually Donnie Block.


    ording to the data you delivered earlier, just yesterday, the retail sales from Donnie''s Block Tavern and the alcohol purchases by bars, brothels, boarding houses, and hotels from him have reached nearly ten thousand US dors. If all these stockpiled drinks were amassed by Donnie beforehand, then by now he must have earned at least four thousand dors!"


    "Ten thousand dors? Four thousand dors?"


    Louis was shocked by these figures. Although he was the one who delivered the data, they were presented to him in written form by others, so Louis hadn''t seen these figures for himself.


    "How is that possible? Donnie only borrowed a thousand dors from you. Where did he get so much stockpiled alcohol?"


    Nucky chuckled softly, "That''s exactly why I say this situation perfectly reflects Donnie''s intelligence. I think the real reason he came to borrow money from me was not actually for the thousand dors but rather to get to know me. Plus, when he lied to us about wanting to buy a tavern, in reality, he was acquiring alcohol elsewhere. He even managed to deceive me at the time!"


    Hearing this, Louis couldn''t help but say, "Boss, if that''s the case, we definitely can''t let Donnie side with the general!"


    Nucky, still confident, said, "Don''t worry, I''ve told you, haven''t I? Donnie is a smart man. Since he''s smart, he knows what to choose. In Antic City, not choosing me and instead going with the general would make me think everything he''s done so far was directed by someone else!"


    Louis was still somewhat concerned, "But what if the general offers him an irresistible proposition?"


    Nucky smiled calmly, "The general won''t put all his hopes on Donnie. Therefore, the conditions he can offer Donnie are definitely not something we can''t match!"


    On stating this, the smile on Nucky''s face vanished, and he spoke more seriously, "However, your worries are not without reason. Have someone keep a close eye on Donnie. If he really makes a poor choice, then there''s no need for such a person to stay around anymore!"


    "Yes!"

 Chapter 29: 25. We are friends, arent we (please follow and collect~)

    Prohibition in Antic City was ineffective, but not all residents of Antic City were looking forward to it; there were still two groups that opposed it. Some took action, while others did not.


    The 3K Party, the inactive ones, were well known to be scheming something nefarious, which is why Nucky had met with the leader of Antic City''s 3K Party multiple times, demanding they refrain from any radical actions.


    The ones who took action were from the WCTU!


    Although the WCTU was established in 1874, the United States had nearly a century of history of women''s temperance activities. They thought that with the sess of Prohibition, America would stay away from alcohol, but the WCTU in Antic City found that here, Prohibition had no effect whatsoever.


    The men of Antic City not only did not abstain from alcohol, but they were drinking more than ever.


    It was under these circumstances that the WCTU of Antic City began their campaign.


    Groups of women, carrying various temperance banners, took to the boardwalk. They knelt in front of the taverns on the boardwalk, chanting verses from the Bible.


    At the same time, some of the women were advising tavern owners to end their cooperation with the devil... referring to rum and other strong liquors as the devil.


    Faced with such a situation, the tavern owners were naturally not going to just stand by and watch.


    "These damned women, they want to reignite their holy war!"


    Scott stood at the entrance of his tavern, staring at the women kneeling before him, and said with fiery eyes.


    The so-called ''holy war'' was actually a temperance battle waged by women in small towns like Hillsboro in Ohio and Adrian in Michigan in the Midwestern United States in 1873.


    At that time, a group of middle-ss Puritan women initiated a temperance ''holy war'', whose main goal was to destroy and close the local taverns.


    Their actions then were just like what was happening now... no, even more insane.


    "Paul, release our dogs immediately, and have people wield clubs to drive these damned women away!"


    Scott shouted angrily. He had recently fallen on hard times. He had not gotten his supply of alcohol from Donnie before Prohibition, leading to a downturn in businesspared to other taverns during those transitional days. Now, just when he was finally getting alcohol and ready to thrive, these WCTU women came to cause trouble, a result Scott naturally couldn''t ept!


    "Boss, should we also talk to Donnie about this? After all, not only is our business affected, but his is too!"


    Paul reminded Scott.


    Scott nced sideways at Block Tavern and saw Donnie at the entrance, observing the women''s behavior just like himself, his eyes zing, and said, "No need, we''ll just disperse the women in front of our tavern!"


    If there were a list of people Scott hated the most at that moment, Donnie''s name would certainly rank higher than these women''s.


    If only Donnie had agreed to sell some of his stock to him back then, he wouldn''t have had to run around begging for alcohol and eventually buying some at a high price!


    Paul heard what his boss said and said no more, turning to signal the people from their tavern to start preparing to drive away the women.


    "Scott is already preparing to drive away the women, what should we do?"


    Robert, standing next to Donnie, asked him.


    Donnie stood at the entrance of Block Tavern, his gaze fixed on the women on the boardwalk, or rather, on one of the women in particr.


    Margaret Schroeder!


    Her clothing was thinnerpared to the other women, her face slightly bluish, clearly due to malnutrition and the cold weather.


    Margaret also noticed Donnie, disbelief in her eyes, and some disappointment.


    Through their interactions over the past few days, she hade to think very highly of Donnie¡ªa gentleman who was polite, gracious, and willing to help others.


    But to Margaret''s surprise, Donnie turned out to be a tavern owner!


    And what they were campaigning against were the taverns!


    "Of course, we watch!"


    Donnie answered Robert in a low voice without turning his head.


    "Does Scott still think we''re in thest century? You should know, women now have the right to vote in the United States, which is their amulet. Scott''s attempt to usest century''s methods against them will only make him even more embarrassed!"


    As Donnie''s voice fell, people from Scott''s tavern had already started to drive the women away with clubs and snarling dogs.


    In fact, it wasn''t just Scott''s ce¡ªmany other tavern owners were doing the same.


    In an instant, the entire boardwalk became chaotic, and screams rose one after another.


    Seeing such a situation, Donnie told Robert, "Close the door!"


    "Close the door?"


    John, who stood on the other side of Donnie, looked at him in surprise and couldn''t help saying, "Why close the door now, when business is good? We will lose a lot!"


    Donnie looked at John helplessly and said, "It''s only the afternoon now, and our peak hours haven''t even started. How much can we lose?"


    Jon then touched his head, smiling naively, "Right, I forgot!"


    As they spoke, John and Robert were preparing to close the door. However, Donnie didn''t enter the tavern at that moment; instead, he dove straight into the chaotic crowd.


    Pushing through the people blocking his way, Donnie arrived at Margaret''s side without hesitation. At that moment, Margaret''s face was pale, and her pupils were dted with fright because a wooden stick was already swinging down towards her head.


    Just as Margaret instinctively closed her eyes, waiting for the stick to fall, she suddenly felt arge hand protecting her head, and the stick that should have fallen didn''te down.


    Margaret opened her eyes and saw that Donnie had already positioned himself in front of her, his right hand protecting her head, while his left hand was raised, stopping the wooden stick.


    Margaret saw a pained expression in Donnie''s eyes, but his whole body remained firm and steadfast in protecting her.


    At that moment, the chaotic scene around them seemed to have disappeared, and in Margaret''s eyes, there was only Donnie.


    This caused Margaret to overlook the fact that, at that very moment, Antic City''s Sheriff Eli Johnson, along with Antic City''s policemen, had arrived at the scene. The threat of their guns quickly quieted the turmoil.


    After gaining control of the scene, Eli Johnson immediately separated the two groups of people and began to scold Scott and the others.


    The situation at the scene had developed to a point where it naturally could not continue in chaos. About half an hourter, the women of the WCTU began to disperse slowly, persuaded by Eli Johnson¡ªan act not of their submission,


    but rather, a promise from Eli Johnson that he would seriously handle the incidents that had urred that day.


    "Margaret, who is this?"


    Elena Dorn, president of the Antic City WCTU, asked upon seeing Donnie being helped by Margaret.


    For a moment, Margaret didn''t know how best to introduce Donnie.


    It was then that Donnie spoke up, "I''m the owner of Block Tavern!"


    Hearing that Donnie was the owner of a tavern, the core members of the WCTU immediately directed hostile nces towards him.


    At this time, Margaret quickly exined, "Mr. Block''s tavern was the first and the only one to close its doors, and he also stepped in to save many of our sisters!"


    With Margaret''s exnation, the look in Elena Dorn and others'' eyes softened when they regarded Donnie.


    Elena Dorn even went so far as to adopt a messiah-like tone with Donnie, "Mr. Block, since you are a sensible man, you should understand that the devil is destroying this country. You ought to cage the demon and close your tavern!"


    Close the tavern, and what would I eat?


    Suppressing his pain, Donnie replied, "If I could, I would certainly wish to, but... just..."


    Before he could finish his sentence, Donnie let out a cry of pain, causing Margaret, who had been paying close attention to his actions, to immediately ask with concern.


    "What''s wrong?"


    Donnie rolled up his sleeve to reveal a bruise on his forearm and forced a smile, "It''s nothing."


    "You need to apply medicine to that, or it could be very dangerous!" Margaret said urgently upon seeing the injury on Donnie.


    "I''ll go to the hospitalter!" Donnie said nonchntly.


    "Do you not have... any medicine?" Margaret asked.


    "I didn''t prepare any!" Donnie said with a wry smile.


    "Come with me, I''ll treat it for you!" Margaret, taking Donnie''s hand, started walking beyond the boardwalk.


    This allowed Donnie to smoothly avoid Elena Dorn and the others.


    With Margaret''s assistance, Donnie arrived at her home, where she rummaged through her belongings to find some medicine and began treating his wounds.


    "Thank you!"


    Donnie sat on a chair that creaked as he expressed his gratitude to Margaret.


    Concentrating on Donnie''s injuries, Margaret said, "If it weren''t for you, I might have been in even greater danger."


    "We''re friends, aren''t we? Besides, you''re a woman. How could I possibly stand by and watch you get hurt?" Donnie said gently.


    His tone touched something deep within Margaret, causing her hands, which were treating Donnie, to tremble slightly.


    "You''re the owner of a tavern?" Margaret, seemingly focused onpleting the treatment, sat opposite Donnie and voiced the doubt that lingered in her mind.


    "Yes," Donnie nodded.


    "But alcohol is destroying this country!" Margaret said with anger shing in her face when she mentioned alcohol.


    She was the epitome of women hurt by alcohol in the United States; her husband was a drunkard who woulde home and beat his wife!


    Donnie helplessly admitted, "Actually, I don''t really want to be a tavern owner, but I have no choice; it wasn''t my decision to make!"


    Donnie''s words evoked a look of puzzlement in Margaret, and a hint of relief in the depths of her eyes. She ced her hands onto Donnies''s and softly asked, "Could you tell me more about your circumstances?"

 Chapter 30: 26. Brigadier Generals Dinner Party (Please follow, please favorite~)

    Margaret, being a rather traditional woman, was emotional and full of maternal love.


    Thus, after she heard Donnie''s revised story, her entire demeanor became caring, and her heart no longer harbored any ill thoughts about Donnie''s identity as a tavern owner.


    She consoled softly, "This is God''s constion for your brave performance on the battlefield. They wanted you to move into the North District of Antic City, but then you encountered the current situation in Antic City. This is God''s reward to you!"


    Donnie caught Margaret''s hand with his own, gently saying, "Thank you. Since I returned to Antic City, no one has ever said these things to me. I am very grateful for your guidance!"


    Margaret, whose hand was grasped by Donnie, panicked inside and wanted to pull away, but Donnie, in his excitement, was gripping too tightly, making it impossible for her to withdraw her hand.


    After briefly trying to free herself, Margaret ceased any further attempts.


    As the two found themselves in a rtively enclosed space and the ambiance began to grow ambiguous, the atmosphere in the room turned somewhat unnatural.


    However, Donnie made no further moves at this time. While Margaret inherently possessed the openness of Westerners, that trait had yet to be awakened in her, and being too hasty in this moment might have had the opposite effect.


    "Ah!" In such a charged atmosphere, Margaret nervously withdrew her hand, fiddling with her hair to calm the restlessness in her heart.


    "Donnie, there''s something I need your help with!"


    Donnie also withdrew his hand, naturally responding, "Of course, I would be delighted to do anything for you!"


    Margaret waved her hands, slightly flustered, and said, "It''s not about me, I would like to invite you to give a speech at our association."


    Upon hearing Margaret''s invitation, Donnie showed a slightly disappointed expression and asked, "Just because of my identity?"


    Margaret, somewhat agitated, replied, "It''s precisely because you are a tavern owner that your speech will be all the more persuasive!"


    After pondering for a moment, Donnie said, "Alright then, you know I can''t refuse an invitation from you!"


    This response made Margaret blush, and for a moment she didn''t know how to reply to Donnie''s words.


    Seeing that the day''s progress was sufficient, Donnie stood up and said to Margaret, "It''s gettingte; I should leave."


    Witnessing Donnie rising to leave filled Margaret''s heart with an unexinable sense of loss, but years of moral standards kept her from showing it.


    After seeing Donnie out the door, Margaret went to find Elena Dorn and others. As an officer of the WCTU, although she had some say, the matter of inviting Donnie to speak still required Elena Dorn''s consent.


    Back on the boardwalk, Donnie saw that his tavern was still closed and pushed the door open to find Robert and John idly drinking beer.


    "What are you doing? Why is the door not open?"


    Donnie said loudly.


    John stood up, puzzled, and said to Donnie, "Wasn''t it you who said to close the door?"


    Donnie, frustrated, replied, "We naturally didn''t need to open when those annoying women were here, but now that they are gone, why are we still closed? Do you really n to heed those women''s words and shut down?"


    "Ha!" John smacked his palm in realization and said, "Right, how did I forget that!"


    Donnie shook his head, resigned, and headed upstairs, saying, "I''m going to change into a suit to attend themodore''s dinner; you two take care of the house!"


    John and Robert nodded.


    Once Donnie was back downstairs in a suit, he asked Robert, "By the way, how are Scott and the others doing?"


    Robert immediately smiled and said, "Nucky has given them a severe reprimand. I guess they won''t be able to open for business for a couple of days. I imagine more of Antic City''s drunks will flood into our tavern!"


    Donnieughed and left the tavern, heading to themodore''s vi by the shore.


    A servant who had received instructions from themodore greeted Donnie with great politeness and ushered him into the living room upon his arrival.


    When Donnie entered the living room, he saw themodore already seated there, chatting with a man about his age.


    "Leck, let me introduce you. This is the American hero I''ve told you about before, Donnie Block!"


    Seeing Donnie enter the living room, themodore stood up warmly and introduced Donnie to Leck.


    "Donnie, this is Leck Young. He fought in America''s great revolution, and after the war, he came to Antic City and established the first entertainment dock here!"


    Donnie''s interest was piqued; he knew themodore''s friend couldn''t be that simple.


    Even though Donnie had only been in Antic City for a few months, he had already heard about Leck Young.


    The so-called Revolutionary War was actually the American Civil War.


    ```


    During the 1980s, Leck Young was already a famous millionaire in Antic City, and at that time, his amusement pier was also one of the busiest ces in Antic City.


    "Mr. Young, I grew up listening to your legend!"


    Donnie courteously extended his hand.


    Leck Young, supporting himself with his cane, stood up andughed heartily, "I have heard the Major speak of your achievements on the battlefield, a remarkable young man indeed, I am pleased to meet you!"


    After exchanging pleasantries, the three of them took their seats.


    Several more people arrived in session, all appearing to be about the age of the Major, with the only exception being a young man dressed in a hand-tailored suit, his hair slicked back with pomade.


    "Donnie, let me introduce you, this is Vince McGrady, the legal officer of Antic City!"


    Upon learning the man''s identity, Donnie scrutinized him seriously. Legal officer was a very special profession. In the future United States, this profession would no longer exist. The nature of a legal officer''s work is simr to that of a municipal court judge ofter times, responsible for handling non-violent criminal cases, disruptive social behavior, and vitions of traffic regtions.


    The municipal court of Antic City is a sensitiveponent of grassroots district politics, where judges must pledge allegiance to their group.


    "If your uncle gets locked up for causing trouble drunk, the elected leader must help get him out, if your son is caught in an inappropriate ce, then it''s up to the district leader to help get him out; if your brother is used of fighting, the district leader must also ensure he won''t be convicted."


    However, these are not matters for district leaders to handle directly, hence they need someone to actually do it.


    The person specifically doing this in Antic City now is the legal officer!


    After Donnie showed Vince McGrady his good will, he did not receive the respect he deserved in return; the other man merely nodded curtly.


    Faced with such a response from Vince, naturally, Donnie wouldn''t say anything more.


    The group had now arrived at the Major''s vi''s dining room, sitting around an oval dining table, and just as the Major was about to lift his ss and say something, a servant walked in with a ck man wearing a three-piece suit and holding a cane.


    "Excuse me, gentlemen, I amte!"


    On this person''s arrival, Donnie noticed that the others at the table revealed undisguised expressions of disgust.


    Donnie understood why they had such expressions because the neer was a ck man.


    "Haha, we were just about to start, you''ve arrived just in time, dear LeBron James!"


    The man turned out to be Antic City''srgest bootlegger, LeBron James!


    Donnie watched, intrigued, as LeBron James took the most corner seat, even though his status and wealth in Antic City were higher than Donnie''s at the moment. In such a gathering, due to his identity, that was the only ce he could take.


    Yet even so, Donnie still saw pride in his eyes.


    The fact that he could dine at the same table with a group of white dignitaries of Antic City was already a matter of great pride for LeBron James.


    Following tradition, the Major made a toast, and the atmosphere became cheerful.


    There were, however, some discordant voices.


    "Donnie, I heard you just came from the battlefield, do you still remember our dining etiquette?"


    Vince elegantly carved his steak with a knife and fork, looking at Donnie with a slight hint of provocation.


    Such an inquiry made the other guests at the table turn their attention towards Donnie. They had been aware of Donnie''s situation before their meeting today.


    These people considered themselves nobility, gentlemen, and naturally had their own dining etiquette.


    Donnie picked up his knife and fork,ughed, and said, "God didn''t tell us the etiquette we should use to eat when he created food, of course, I think elegance is always timeless!"


    Just as Donnie said, his manner of dining didn''t give anyone present a chance to find fault.


    Watching Donnie eat, Vince slightly curled his lip, revealing his dissatisfaction unabashedly.


    After this small incident, Donnie had assumed the Major would discuss something substantial, such as how to deal with Nucky, but throughout the dinner, the Major only talked about how to construct an Antic City that best suited everyone present''s interests, without mentioning Nucky''s name during the banquet.


    It was only after the dinner ended and Donnie saw that only he and LeBron James were leaving the ce, did Donnie understand that the Major still didn''t trust him!


    But thinking about it, it made sense. After all, including this time, they had barely met twice, how could the other trust him!


    "That Vince McGrady must be the Major''s biggest reliance among the young men!"


    Donnie mused quietly as he walked away.


    Just as Donnie was a few hundred meters away from the Major''s vi, a car stopped in front of him; behind the wheel was none other than LeBron James, who had left with him!


    ```

 Chapter 31: 27. Huge Returns (Please follow, please favorite~)

    "I didn''t expect you to show up here!"


    Donnie, seated in LeBron''s car, heard him speak.


    "I heard Nucky thinks highly of you, not only giving you a loan but also letting you supply me. Now youe to themodore''s dinner, aren''t you afraid of Nucky finding out?"


    LeBron James said with ease.


    Although Donnie and he were now in a partnership, in truth, Robert had been the one in contact with LeBron James during this time, not Donnie.


    After listening, Donnieughed and asked, "I heard that people from the North District speak very directly. Could it be that you, LeBron, have been dealing with white folks so much that you''ve also learned their technique of speaking?"


    The already dark-faced LeBron James, upon hearing Donnie''s words, appeared even darker... not that it was noticeable.


    "I know you must have another batch of stored liquor. Sell it to me at a price lower than the one we agreed on, and I won''t tell Nucky about tonight''s incident!"


    This was the real reason LeBron James had Donnie get in the car.


    Even his distillery hadn''t officially started producing rum and whiskey yet, but he could get a steady supply from Donnie. This made LeBron James believe Donnie must have a considerable stash.


    Even though Donnie was currently supplying him, LeBron James understood that Donnie was Nucky''s important ally to keep himself in check.


    Naturally, Donnie became his biggestpetitor in Antic City. Adhering to the principle that the friend of an enemy is an enemy, Donnie also became an enemy in LeBron''s eyes.


    Donnie leaned against the car window, took out a pack of cigarettes from his coat pocket, drew one, ced it in his mouth, then lit it up. Only when the smoke began to fill the car did Donnie look at LeBron.


    "Nucky has given the entire Antic City''s private liquor brewing business to you, and now you''re also at themodore''s dinner. Aren''t you afraid of Nucky being unhappy?"


    LeBron James''s expression darkened as he said coldly, "Themodore and I are brothers, we''ve known each other for years!"


    Donnieughed and said, "You shouldn''t be telling me this; you should be thinking about how to exin it to Nucky!"


    With a creak,


    LeBron James brought the car to a stop, looked at Donnie coldly, and said, "Get out, from now on, you''ll be my enemy!"


    Donnie disembarked nonchntly, without so much as a nce at LeBron James, and walked straight towards the boardwalk.


    With such poor emotional intelligence, he wants topete with me?


    When Donnie returned to Block Tavern, he saw it was crowded, with Robert and John busy on their feet.


    Donnie greeted the bar''s patrons on his way to the bar counter.


    "Donnie, why is your family''s liquor tasting worse, nothing like the rum we used to drink?"


    "That''s right, Donnie, you''re cheating your gods!"


    Some customersined loudly.


    Unconcerned with theirints, Donnie said, "The only ce in Antic City you can get such pure rum and whiskey is Block Tavern. If you''re not satisfied, you can try another tavern!"


    Donnie''s words left the grumbling people disgruntled, but they had to admit, even if the liquor at Block Tavern wasn''t what it used to be, it was still the best drink they could find in any Antic City tavern!


    "We might as well bring Lolita to Antic City. You two are just too busy to handle it all!"


    Donnie suggested to Robert, who was mixing drinks.


    Without even looking at Donnie, Robert replied with a touch of resentment, "If you could just stay at the tavern like you should, we wouldn''t be short on hands!"


    Donnie spread his hands and said, "Clearly, that''s a suggestion that''s not going to happen!"


    As Donnie began to enter the power center of Antic City, he would be busier, hardly able to attend to the tavern business.


    Not at all surprised, Robert said, "John has already spoken with Chris and Magichi from the vige, and they''ll being to Antic City in the next couple of days."


    In fact, Donnie had previously told John to find more staff, as Donnie''s business wasn''t just the Block Tavern but also included private liquor production and transportation. The most dangerous part was the transportation from Elwood Vige to Antic City.


    As for Chris and Magichi, Donnie was familiar with them. They had grown up with John and were his trusty aides.


    Upon hearing the two were on their way, Donnie surveyed the tavern and quickly found the target he was looking for.


    He ced his little fingers to his mouth and emitted a sharp whistle, attracting the attention of the other tavern customers. At that moment, Olman turned around as well.


    Then Olman saw Donnie waving at him.


    Olman approached with mixed feelings. Initially, he had lured Donnie to the hotel on Eli''s behalf to coerce him into handing over his stash of liquor, only for Nucky to appear suddenly, revealing the rtionship between Donnie and Nucky to Olman.


    This made Olman very worried. Although at the time Donnie said it was nothing, in the following days, Olman had invited Donnie multiple times, only to be rejected.


    "Dear Donnie, is there something you need?"


    Arriving at Donnie''s side, Olman asked warmly.


    Donnie fetched $25 from the drawer and handed it directly to Olman, chuckling, "Same as always, two Colt 1911s, 50 rounds!"


    Olman pulled out $20, leaving $5, and said, "We''re friends now, the whole thing will just be $40!"


    Donnie naturally took back the $5, expressing his thanks, "Thank you!"


    "Oh!" Olman eximed exaggeratedly, "My dear Donnie, if you treat me so formally, I won''t be happy!"


    Donnieughed heartily, pped Olman on the shoulder, "Yes, my friend!"


    After Olman left, Robert watched his retreating figure and muttered, "This must be the convenience thates with increased social status!"


    Donnie nodded in agreement, "Exactly, in fact, there''s no real rtionship between Nucky and me, but since he showed up, they assumed we''re good friends!"


    Robert replied, "From what you''ve said, I gather that this so-called rise in social status actually means gaining Nucky''s approval."


    Donnie spread his hands, expressing indifference, "At least that''s the case in Antic City at the moment!"


    Robert questioned, "If Nucky knew you were attending the Colonel''s dinner tonight, would your status still continue to exist?"


    Although Robert''s words were the same as what LeBron James had said, Donnie still smiled happily, "Do you really think Nucky isn''t aware of the Coloneling to see me before?"


    Unable to help himself, Robert shook his head, "I really don''t understand what goes on in your minds, why can''t I figure out the schemes?"


    Donnie lightly patted Robert''s shoulder,ughing, "You don''t need to understand too clearly, there''s a lot of fun in these matters!"


    "The more you say so, the more curious I get!"


    Impatiently, Robert served a beer to a customer at the bar.


    "You guys mind the shop, I''ve got an important errand to run tomorrow!"


    Grabbing a bottle of beer from the counter, Donnie greeted the others and headed upstairs.


    The next day!


    By the time Donnie woke up, John had already left Antic City and returned to Elwood Vige, first to transport a batch of alcohol and then to pick up Chris and Magichi.


    "I think we should switch cars!"


    Seeing that Donnie hadn''t left the tavern immediately, Robert sat down in front of him.


    "The previous car, though Raven repainted it once, could still be troublesome if someone recognized it, and it no longer meets our current cargo volume!"


    "Then find Olman and buy another truck!" Donnie said carelessly.


    Nucky had previously told Louis about Donnie''s ie during this period, but in reality, that ie was still inurate.


    At first, Donnie bought $500 worth of alcohol from William, then borrowed another $1000 from Nucky, and also, George''s death had brought Donnie an ie of $5000.


    To keep it hidden from Nucky''s eyes, that $6000 was spent by John driving to Phdelphia to buy alcohol, not in Antic City.


    After returning, the explosion of Nucky''s warehouse allowed Carl to use this batch of alcohol to blend more drinks.


    In short, at that time, Donnie had at least $20000 worth of stock in hand.


    However, in order to deceive Nucky, Donnie only marketed about $10000 worth of alcohol in Antic City, with the rest being gradually sold at Block Tavern. Let''s not forget that Donnie was essentially making a no-cost deal.


    So, as of now, Donnie had umted over $15000 in cash.


    Even after deducting the $1300 he owed to Nucky, Donnie still possessed $13700 in cash.


    In the United States of 1920, this amount of money was a considerable fortune!


    That''s why Robert could now boldly suggest to Donnie the idea of changing cars.


    "By the way, what do the customers think of the alcohol we''ve been blending?"


    Donnie asked.


    Robert spoke casually, "You saw yesterday''s situation yourself, they''d have to keep any opinions to themselves, at least our tavern''s alcohol hasn''t killed anyone!"


    LeBron James had hurriedly produced a batch of rum and whiskey blend with industrial alcohol to cope with the alcohol shortage in Antic City, which ended up killing several of the city''s hard drinkers over the past few days.


    The worst thing is topare products, and although Block Tavern''s alcohol wasn''t as good as before, at least it was safe!


    "If that''s the case, then there''s no problem!" Donnie said, not too concerned. After checking the time, Donnie stood up and smilingly said.


    "Alright, I''m off to see Nucky now, you''ll have to fend for yourself at lunch today!"


    "I might as well just head over to Lisa''s ce!" Robert joked.

 Chapter 32: 28. Eliminating Influence (Please follow, please favorite~)

    Donnie never believed that his attendance at themodore''s private dinner could be kept a secret from Nucky.


    Themodore''s invitation was so public, and Nucky, who was always watching themodore''s affairs, would definitely know about it.


    So when Donnie met Nucky, he got straight to the point and told him about it.


    "America is a country of extreme freedom, freedom of speech, and naturally, freedom of association," Nucky said with a rxed expression after hearing Donnie''s narrative, "You didn''t need to tell me this, Donnie."


    However, Nucky then added, "Of course, I am still very happy that you told me so quickly, after all, we are true friends!"


    Donnie sat across from Nucky, facing the shrewd man, and with a smile, he said, "I believe even if I hadn''t mentioned it, Mr. Nucky, you would have known anyway!"


    Nucky just chuckled, not saying much, simply looking at Donnie and asking, "I presume you didn''te here just to tell me this, did you?"


    Donnie nodded and said, "That''s right, I want to change the way I cooperate with James!"


    Prohibition had just begun, and although Antic City had already dered that the Prohibitionw could go to the Antic, specifying LeBron James as the only bootlegger in Antic City, Nucky''s previous partnership with Donnie was to have Donnie sell his stock to LeBron James.


    But the liquor market in Antic City was still in a chaotic phase.


    Thus, Donnie sold only a part of his bootleg liquor to James at that time and then sold the rest on his own. However, in these frantic times, there alwayses a period of calm.


    If by that time, Donnie could not secure a promise from the underground emperor of Antic City, then he would need to continue cooperating with LeBron James under the rules set by Nucky previously, with the result being that the two of them would continue to exploit his interests!


    "Are you seeking my help with this?"


    Nucky did not directly answer Donnie''s question, but instead inquired back.


    This time Donnie did not disy any verbal finesse, simply nodding eagerly, "Of course, but I would prefer to see this talk as a transaction between us!"


    "A transaction?" Nuckyughed heartily, a bit frivolously, "I don''t think you can offer me any benefits in this matter, just like what you said about George before!"


    Donnie waved his hand and exined, "There are benefits. First of all, the quality of the bootleg liquor from my distillery is definitely higher than that from LeBron James''s. I don''t think Mr. Nucky would like to hear people outside say that Antic City''s rum can kill people, right?


    Secondly, although my quality is better than LeBron''s, I can assure you that we will keep our prices consistent with his. Lastly, I''ve heard an old saying from the East, ''Don''t put all your eggs in one basket.'' If there is only LeBron James providing bootleg liquor in Antic City, he might be arrogant due to favoritism. If one day he really sides with themodore, I believe you, Mr.


    Nucky, would be very unhappy!"


    Nucky didn''t respond immediately to Donnie''s suggestion but was gently tapping on the table, clearly contemting Donnie''s proposal.


    However, thinking about LeBron James''s influence in the North District and his confidence in his own power in Antic City, Nucky eventually refused Donnie''s offer of partnership.


    "Thank you very much, Donnie, for everything you''ve told me, but I''m a man of integrity. Since I''ve already said that LeBron James is the only one who can make bootleg liquor in Antic City, that decision cannot be changed. So, I can''t agree to your offer of cooperation," Nucky replied.


    Donnie showed a look of disappointment and said, "Mr. Nucky, one day you will regret the decision you have made today!"


    "Ha-ha!" Nuckyughed again, "Young man, do not doubt my influence in Antic City!"


    Donnie nodded, stood up, and took his leave from Nucky.


    After Donnie left, Louis, who was standing next to Nucky, showed a puzzled expression. If Nucky appreciated Donnie, why did he reject him this time? Moreover, he thought what Donnie said made a lot of sense.


    Although Louis was curious, he still didn''t pose any questions to Nucky.


    Once Donnie stepped out of the Ritz Hotel, the look of regret on his face disappeared in an instant. From the moment he walked into the Ritz Hotel, Donnie knew that Nucky would definitely not agree to his cooperation.


    The most important reason was LeBron James''s influence in the North District. Donnie believed that Nucky must have also considered what he said, but Nucky did not want to give up LeBron''s influence there, and creating another LeBron James in the North District would be a very tedious task.


    What''s more, the words he said to LeBron the night before, he believed, must already have reached Nucky today through LeBron James.


    And LeBron must have made some kind of assurance to Nucky.


    Under these circumstances, Nucky would not give up LeBron James.


    "It seems that at least this time, I will be able to make Nucky trust me for a while!"


    Donnie nced back at the Ritz Hotel''s dining hall. He didn''t know if Nucky was watching him from a ninth-floor window, but Donnie understood that he had achieved the purpose of his visit this time.


    His visit to see Nucky was, in fact,rgely motivated by a desire to mitigate the aftermath of his attendance at the Brigadier''s dinner the night before.


    As for how his private stock of liquor could still enter Antic City after the recent period of turmoil, Donnie had actually had a n in ce for some time.


    So after leaving the Ritz Hotel, Donnie didn''t return to Block Tavern. Instead, he went to a clothing store on the boardwalk and bought two winter outfits, then purchased some coal for delivery to Margaret''s home in the West District.


    "No, no, I can''t ept these!"


    Margaret looked at the winter supplies Donnie had brought, and even though she desperately needed them, she still wanted to refuse him.


    There was something Margaret had not told anyone: after Donnie left her home that day and after she had seen Elena Dorn return, she knelt down alone and began to earnestly apologize to God.


    Because since then, she had found Donnie''s image appearing in her mind from time to time.


    This made Margaret feel uneasy.


    "No, these items are what you deserve!" Donnie said earnestly, "Margaret, you know that I''m not just the owner of a tavern, but also the president of the Antic City Mutual Aid and Friendship Society, and you''re not just an organizer for the society, but also my friend. If we can''t even help our own, then what reason does the society have to exist in Antic City?"


    Donnie''s words left Margaret unable to refuse, and whether she truly wanted to refuse in her heart was another matter.


    Sitting in Margaret''s home, Donnie drank the coffee she had poured for him and began to speak slowly.


    "Actually, there''s another reason I came to see you; I was hoping to get your help with something!"


    Margaret said somewhat anxious, "I don''t know what I could do to help you!"


    "Of course, there''s something!" Donnie''s smile was gentle, "Did you forget the invitation you extended to me earlier? Preparing a speech is actually a difficult thing for me, as I''m not good at expressing myself in words. So this time, I hope to get your help, Margaret, to discuss and prepare the speech together!"


    "Oh, it''s about that!" Margaret said, her tone carrying a hint of regret, then she smiled, "Of course, that''s no problem at all. I know you don''t like to be in the liquor business, and just sharing the true feelings in your heart will be enough!"


    Donnie nodded, "But we still need a systematic n."


    Margaret uttered a sound of agreement and then suggested Donnie deliver a draft of his speech so she could hear it.


    Thus, the two began to discuss the details of Donnie''s uing speech at the WCTU in Margaret''s home.


    The discussion brought them closer together, the gap that had been over a meter narrowing, until Donnie could even smell her faint body scent.


    It was only when they had finished their discussion that Margaret realized how close she had been to Donnie.


    Then, with a slightly flushed face, she subtly stood up and moved away from Donnie, not letting the scent of his pheromones disrupt her inner peace anymore.


    Donnie pretended to be unaware and stood up, taking out 200 US dors from his pocket and cing it on the table.


    Seeing Donnie''s action, Margaret quickly refused, "Donnie, I''m helping you because we''re friends. If you do this, I''ll feel like I''m not your friend!"


    But Donnie, determined, directly grabbed Margaret''s hand. Such a forceful gesture sent her heart racing as he ced the money in her hand.


    "It''s precisely because we are friends that you should ept this money. Do you want me to watch my friend go hungry? If that''s the case, even God wouldn''t forgive me!"


    After saying this, Donnie released Margaret''s hand and continued, "Unless you want God to punish me!"


    "Of course not!"


    Margaret immediately objected.


    "If not, then keep it. Isn''t that what friends are for, to help each other out?"


    After that, Donnie turned and left Margaret''s house.


    This time, Margaret didn''t go to see Donnie off. Instead, she stood in her living room, feeling a long-lost warmth, her emotions bing more and more tumultuous!


    What Margaret didn''t expect was that when her husband came home and saw the changes in the house, he flew into a rage.

 Chapter 33: 29. The pubs in Atlantic City were smashed (Please follow, please collect~)

    ```


    Dennis wasn''t angry because some man had brought his wife a gift.


    The reason Dennis was angry was because his wife hadn''t told him they could get help.


    "Hand over the money, or you know what the consequences will be!"


    Dennis''s face was red like a furious bull, his breath heavy with the smell of alcohol.


    "There''s no money, they only provided us with some living supplies!"


    Margaret said timidly.


    "Bullshit, I''ve already heard about it!" Dennis didn''t waste words and struck Margaret across the face with a p.


    The reason Dennis returned home just after Donnie had finished delivering things to Margaret was that in the casino where he was, he had heard gamblers saying someone had been giving money and goods to his family.


    As for who those two gamblers were... the result was self-evident.


    It turned out that Margaret was no match for Dennis at all; with abination of coaxing and hitting, the money Donnie gave her ended up directly in Dennis''s hands.


    Looking at the 200 US Dors in his hand, Dennis was overjoyed. It had been many years since he''d had so much money. Stepping out of the house, Dennis kissed the bills in his hand. At that moment, he was already thinking about where to go with the 200 dors. The casino was definitely on the list, and he could even go to the boarding house and find a girl to sleep with for a couple of nights.


    "My luck is really good today!"


    Dennis, who had already nned his itinerary, walked straight out of the West District, heading in the direction of the Boardwalk.


    In the past, Dennis wouldn''t dare to go to the casinos on the Boardwalk; after all, the stakes there were much higher. But now things were different; he had 200 US Dors in hand.


    However, Dennis clearly overestimated his luck. Just as he stepped out of the South District, two men with handkerchiefs covering their faces cornered him.


    Caughtpletely off guard, Dennis felt a pain in the back of his head, and everything went ck.


    .


    Block Tavern!


    "Here, this is 200 dors!"


    Robert handed the money to Donnie, who had returned to Block Tavern.


    John took a swig of beer from the bar and said, "If you really want to take down that Margaret, you could just kill Dennis. Now that we''ve gotten the money back, Dennis will definitely take all his anger out on Margaret!"


    Donnie, sipping his whiskey, dismissively said to John, "That''s why you can only find women at the boarding house!"


    Clearly, John didn''t understand what Donnie meant, but he knew Donnie was making fun of him.


    "What do you mean, do you want to try out my sandbag-sized fists?"


    Donnie quickly waved his hands and said, "Just kidding. Margaret is a traditional woman. To get her to do something for me, it''s not just about sleeping with her. You have to win her heart, understand?"


    "I don''t get it!"


    John said bluntly.


    Donnie: "..."


    Giving up on exining anything to John, Donnie asked Robert, "I heard from Margaret that the WCTU is brewing a big demonstrationtely. We need to be careful with the tavern''s business during this time!"


    Robert showed an interested expression, "She told you about that kind of thing?"


    Donnie boasted, "Of course, we''re good friends!"


    Robert chuckled, "I think your ''good friend'' must be suffering right now."


    Donnie shrugged and said indifferently, "The sun alwayses out after the storm!"


    Deep down, Donnie had always looked down on so-called demonstrations and protests.


    Especially the protests and demonstrations in the United States. Maybe it was because in his previous life Donnie had seen too many American protests; vegetarian protests, environmental protection protests, ck rights protests...


    ```


    No matter what happened, there were always some groups marching, and to Donnie, their marches seemed entirely pointless.


    However, as the WCTU''s marches grew more formidable, Donnie sensed some problems brewing.


    First, Antic City''s newspapers began reporting the event, and when Donnie saw photographers following the marching crowd ¨C said to be from Phdelphia and New York ¨C he smelled danger.


    "Cease operations!"


    Donnie decisively ordered Robert and others to halt business, not only because of the reporters but also because clergymen started joining the crowd.


    The United States, although different from Europe, was the country with the highest number of European immigrants; at least sixty percent of its poption was European.


    This meant that the religious consciousness of Europe was also very strong in the United States.


    "Close now? When business is so good?"


    John couldn''tprehend Donnie''s decision and couldn''t help but ask.


    Donnie nodded, "It''s always better to be cautious, and Antic City is never short of drunkards!"


    "Can these people really make a difference?"


    As John prepared to close up, he continued to inquire.


    Donnie nodded, "If it were just them, they couldn''t, but the people behind them certainly will."


    As Donnie had predicted, with the growing size of the march, the participants also began to act more wildly.


    Just today, at least ten or more taverns in Antic City were smashed.


    The tavern owners had initially intended to deal with the protesters as they had in the past, but when they saw clergymen and reporters on the scene, theycked the courage to stop the frenzied mob.


    Having suffered losses, the tavern owners ultimately sought out Nucky.


    "Nucky, you have to step in this time, these people have gone mad, they even smashed my tavern!"


    As the biggest tavern owner in Antic City, David Jabbar also had no choice but to turn to Nucky for a solution!


    Nucky sat in his study, his face wearing a smile, but the fatigue in his eyes could not be disguised.


    He hadn''t expected things to escte to this extent; those women were too outrageous, even persuading the clergy of Antic City. Didn''t they know this was the only way to ensure the city''s continued prosperity?


    However, even so, Nucky still maintained a calm andposed demeanor... after all, dear Nucky didn''t have unsolvable problems in Antic City!


    "David, don''t worry, I''ll take care of it!"


    Nucky wanted to persuade David Jabbar to leave first.


    "Nucky, of course, I trust your capabilities, but the fact is, my tavern has already sustained losses, and it''s only been a few days since you assured there''d never be any issues with it!"


    David Jabbar was truly anxious this time, losing some of his usual deference.


    Nucky raised an eyebrow, displeased, "Are you questioning my ability in Antic City?"


    David Jabbar quickly responded, "Of course not, it''s just that we had an agreement: I pay you, and you ensure the safety of my tavern. But now my tavern has indeed encountered problems, and with the payment date approaching, I must seriously consider whether to continue paying you!"


    Nucky picked up a cigarette from the desk and put it in his mouth; Louis promptly ignited a lighter to light Nucky''s cigarette.


    "I said I would handle this. If you don''t want to pay, I won''t say a word!"


    Seeing Nucky''s cold gaze, David Jabbar didn''t dare to actually withhold payment and could only say, "I hope you can resolve this matter soon."


    Once David Jabbar had left, Louis said, "Boss, do you want Eli to do something?"


    Nucky waved his hand, "In this situation, let''s not do anything to them now; we''ll wait until those women are dealt with first!"


    In the past, Nucky would never have allowed David Jabbar to speak to him like this, but the current circumstances were different.


    With the Brigadier General in Antic City, constantly monitoring his every move, any misstep could easily put him into a difficult position.

 Chapter 34: 30, you can get everything you want (Please follow, please favorite~)

    Just when all the tavern owners in Antic City were troubled by the WCTU, Donnie arrived at the first hospital in Antic City!


    "I''m very sorry that you were hurt because of me, it was my mistake," he said.


    Donnie ced the fresh flowers he was holding in front of the hospital bed and looked with regret at Margaret, who was lying in bed, cradling her bandaged arm.


    Margaret felt extremely ashamed at this moment; she didn''t want Donnie to see her in this state.


    However, since Donnie had alreadye to the hospital, and Margaret couldn''t flee, she could only force a smile andpletely avoid mentioning the beating she had endured.


    "This is my problem, it has nothing to do with you, Donnie. I''m very grateful that you came to visit me at this time!" she said.


    "Alright, don''t talk, just rest. I''ll take care of the rest for you!" he replied.


    Donnie sat by Margaret''s bed, his hand gently stroking her hair. This intimate gesture made Margaret enjoy the moment despite her embarrassment.


    So she didn''t refuse Donnie''s touch.


    "I''ve heard from Elena that of all the taverns in Antic City, only yours has been closed these past two days. Elena asked me to tell you that she''s very grateful for your support of our WCTU!" Margaret said, trying to find a topic to chat with Donnie.


    Donnie said, "It''s what I should do, but this can''tst too long. You still need to tell Elena that!"


    Margaret looked puzzled. All the taverns in Antic City were now afraid to open officially. When Elena came to visit her, she was excitedly talking about this as a major victory they had achieved in Antic City. So why would Donnie say it couldn''tst?


    After hearing Margaret''s confusion, Donnie told her the rationale he had already thought through.


    After listening, Margaret''s expression turned sad, and she asked, "Is there really no way to change it?"


    Donnie shook his head, "There''s no way to change it. I know this answer will make you all very upset, but some things are beyond our capacity to resolve."


    Margaret struggled to sit up, and Donnie helped her adjust her pillows.


    "Donnie, thank you very much for telling me this. I want to arrange for you to meet Elena before our WCTU speech, so she can have a n in mind ahead of time. How about that?" she proposed.


    Seeing that Donnie didn''t answer immediately, Margaret said softly, "Think of it as doing it for me, okay?"


    "Alright," Donnie reluctantly nodded. "You know I can''t refuse any of your requests."


    Margaret: "..."


    That afternoon, Donnie met the chairman of the Antic City WCTU, Elena Dorne, in the somewhat dpidated church-like building that housed WCTU''s headquarters.


    "Margaret is a poor woman; thank goodness she had your help, Mr. Block. I want to thank you on her behalf!" said Elena Dorne as she stood up from her desk and extended her hand to Donnie.


    "By the way, Mr. Donnie, what would you like to drink? I have whiskey and wine here?" she offered.


    It sounds rather ironic, doesn''t it? The WCTU emerged to advocate for prohibition, yet in the office of the president of the WCTU headquarters, one could offer alcohol to their guests.


    But that was indeed the state of affairs in the United States, and no one found it inappropriate.


    Donnie waved his hand, "No need, I am very good friends with Margaret, and helping each other is only right."


    Elena nodded and took her seat again, also inviting Donnie to sit down.


    "Mr. Block, you told Margaret that our march could only have a temporary effect; I''m afraid I can''t agree with that. You''ve seen the situation in Antic City yourself, and not only have we received the support of women from all over Antic City but also from the WCTU in Phdelphia, New York, and other ces. We believe we can keep Antic City away from liquor!" she stated proudly.


    With his legs crossed, Donnie sat there calmly and said, "Ms. Dorne, I acknowledge that the WCTU''s current achievements are significant, but I say that this situation is temporary for a reason."


    Elena Dorne took a pack of cigarettes from her drawer, nced at Donnie, who gave no objection, and then Elena lit a cigarette before finally speaking.


    "Please enlighten me, Mr. Donnie!" she requested.


    Donnie said rxedly, "Because, Mrs. Dorne, your husband is going to run for State Senator this year, and whether Mr. Dorne can be elected and whether your WCTU can continue to receive donations from all sectors depends on the support of Antic City."


    Elena Dorne was married and even had a child, but she still retained her charm. Combined with her years of experience as the chairwoman of the WCTU, at thirty, not only did she possess the grace and elegance of a woman her age, but she also had a refined temperament.


    "My husband supports me," she said, her expression unchanging. "He has told me that to support my ideals, he is willing to give up running for State Senator!"


    Elena kept her demeanor steady as she spoke.


    Donnie didn''t believe what Elena was saying, yet he wouldn''t expose her lie on the spot. "Of course I believe that," he said, "but you must understand, Mrs. Dorne, not every woman in the WCTU is as selfless as you. They have families, husbands, and children, and they live in Antic City. Only if the economy of Antic City thrives will their lives improve.


    With Antic City''s act of defying Prohibition, during what should have been the off-season for tourism, the flow of visitors has already exceeded peak season levels.


    In such circumstances, how many women in the WCTU do you think can continue to stand with you?"


    "Without the WCTU''s support, I''m afraid Mr. Dorne''s chances of being elected State Senator would indeed be in jeopardy!"


    The reason Elena wasn''t worried about what Donnie said regarding her husband''s candidacy for State Senator was because she was confident that as long as she remained the chairwoman of the WCTU, at least half the women of Antic City would cast their votes for her husband.


    "Mr. Block, are you threatening me?"


    Elena crossed her legs, her long skirt hiding them, keeping their allure a mystery.


    "Of course not," said Donnie. "I''m simply offering you some advice, Mrs. Dorne!"


    Elena leaned forward slightly and asked, "What if I choose not to ept your advice?"


    At that moment, Donnie took a cigarette that Elena had ced on the desk, put it to his lips, and leaned in close to Elena to light his own cigarette with hers.


    "I naturally won''t do anything," he said, "but in Antic City, Nucky won''t tolerate anyone hindering his development ns. If that happens, Mrs. Dorne, you will have to face Nucky''s tactics. As for what methods Nucky will use, I think you understand better than I do!"


    "I understand Nucky, but I trust myself more. I don''t believe that under the scrutiny of the press in Phdelphia and New York, Nucky would dare to do anything outrageous," replied Elena, not minding Donnie''s actions, and spoke indifferently.


    Donnie let out a lightugh and said, "The reporters you brought in have already returned to Phdelphia and New York. But my friends there tell me that no stories about Antic City have been seen in their local newspapers!"


    Elena, who had maintainedposure until now, finally showed a slight change in expression, furrowing her brows.


    "I believe, Mrs. Dorne, you are still not fully aware of Nucky''s influence in Phdelphia and New York, nor do you truly understand him as a person," Donnie continued.


    "Are you saying that you understand these matters about Nucky?" asked Elena.


    "Certainly," Donnie nodded. "Don''t you know that Nucky is very well-known in New York? There, every member of New York''s elite is his friend, and friends always make things easier for each other!"


    If it hadn''t been for this year, with Prohibition starting at this time, Nucky would have been in New York by now.


    In New York, Nucky was like the mboyant characters written by Damon Runyon, frequenting every high-ss club in New York, mingling with either the city''s tycoons or political heavyweights.


    A New York gossip columnist once described Nucky and oil magnate Guy Lumis as ''the most generous and uninhibited spenders of the moment!''


    At this point, Elena found herself in a dilemma. Much like an arrow on a bowstring, if she stopped their marches and protests, Elena would lose her prestige within the WCTU, meaning she would lose votes for her husband.


    But if Elena didn''t back down, she and her husband would lose upper-ss support, which would also jeopardize his chance of bing State Senator.


    Elena loved her husband and was willing to sacrifice everything for him.


    Elena loved her current status and was prepared to give up everything for it.


    So when Elena realized she was stuck in a dead end and didn''t know how to resolve it, seeing Donnie sitting there, legs crossed and self-satisfied, a thought immediately came to her.


    "If you, Mr. Block, could provide me with some advice, I would be immensely grateful to you," she said.


    Donnie smiled, lowered his leg, and said, "Of course, but in doing so, what do I stand to gain? As I''ve said before, I know Nucky very well."


    Elena stood up, her conservative long dress barely concealing her shapely figure. Flicking her skirt, she sat on Donnie''sp, her breath hot as it sprayed out and fell on Donnie''s earlobe.


    "Here, Mr. Block, you can have everything you want," she whispered.

 Chapter 35: 31. Nuckys Trouble (Please follow, please favorite~)

    ```


    Ratatat...


    A barrage of intense gunfire erupted within a house on the outskirts of the North District in Antic City.


    Various distilling equipment inside the house, along with the stored bootleg alcohol, were scattered all over the floor, with several of the staffying on the ground.


    Among them was LeBron James, the biggest bootleg alcohol manufacturer in Antic City.


    Fortunately, at that moment, someone risked their life to drag LeBron James out the back door, while at the same time, those outside the house wielding pistols and long-barreled shotguns rushed in.


    These intruders were dressed in white robes, with pointed hoods covering their entire heads, leaving only two dark holes to reveal a pair of malevolent eyes, like devils roaming amongst the living.


    The intruders had clear tasks: some lifted the undamaged barrels of liquor out of the room and loaded them onto trucks, while others stood guard with guns, immediately shooting anyone who tried to resist!


    Just then, a woman in her nightgown, armed with a double-barreled shotgun, stepped out and fired at them, resulting in screams as someone fell to the ground.


    The rest of the men immediately opened fire on the woman in a barrage.


    Bang!!!!


    With the explosion, LeBron James''srgest distillery was dered ruined!


    Even though LeBron James was financially among the top echelon in Antic City, his skin color still barred him from entering the city''s best hospital, First Hospital. Now hey in themunity hospital in the North District, receiving emergency treatment.


    "No, I won''t treat him, even now with you pointing a gun at me!"


    LeBron James''s condition required immediate surgery, but the ck doctors at the North Districtmunity hospital simply didn''t have the capability to perform it.


    Having no other choice, LeBron James''s men had kidnapped a white doctor from First Hospital, ordering him to treat LeBron.


    However, that doctor was adamantly against treating a ck man.


    "Fuck, if you don''t treat him, I''ll shoot you dead right now!" TT, LeBron James''s most loyal subordinate, had red eyes and his pistol pressed to the white doctor''s forehead.


    The white doctor was panicking inside, but he still refused, "I won''t step into the operating room; otherwise, I''ll lose my job, the respect of others, and I won''t be able to survive in Antic City!"


    Although the broader environment in Antic City was somewhat more weing to ck peoplepared to other cities, it was only rtive.


    In Antic City, if a school dared to admit a ck child, the parents of the white children would immediately band together to either force the school''s leadership that made the decision to resign or to pull all their white children out of the school.


    If a hospital dared to hire a ck doctor, then the only possibility was that it was located in the North District and that all its medical staff were ck; otherwise, the hospital would not have any patients.


    While the standoff continued, Nucky, dressed in an Italian custom suit with a red carnation on his chest, holding a cane, and wearing a top hat, came over with Louis at his side.


    "Mr. Nucky!"


    The white doctor ignored the pistol on his forehead and greeted Nucky.


    Although he was very anxious, he also believed that the other party wouldn''t dare to shoot him under these circumstances. A ck man killing a white man would lead to the gallows, and if the victim were a white doctor with social influence, then all the ck people in Antic City would face a purge by the National Government!


    Nucky nodded and then said to TT, "Put down your pistol. Don''t you know where you are?"


    Under Nucky''s scolding, TT had no choice but to reluctantly put down his pistol, still ring furiously at the white doctor.


    The white doctor straightened his cor and spoke to Nucky with forced calm, "Mr. Nucky, may I leave now?"


    Nucky tried to persuade him, "Davis, the man lying inside is my friend. Could you operate on him, please?"


    Davis''s eyes showed struggle. He didn''t fear the gun in TT''s hand, but he had to seriously consider Nucky''s words. After some inner conflict, Davis still shook his head firmly.


    "Mr. Nucky, you know the situation in Antic City. I can''t do this!"


    "You dare not!"


    TT red up again!


    Nucky helplessly nodded and said, "Alright, Dr. Davis, you may leave!"


    "He can''t go!" Hearing that Nucky was letting Davis leave, TT immediately grabbed the doctor''s arm, "My boss is still waiting for his surgery!"


    Nucky angrily scolded, "Would you really shoot a respected white doctor? Or do you want to rob all our brothers in the North District of the environment they live in?"


    Nucky''s words made TT reluctantly lower his pistol.


    At that moment, Davis quickly left the ce.


    Nucky then addressed the panicked doctors of the North Districtmunity hospital, "Please do your best to save James; he is my good friend!"


    "We will do our utmost!"


    Said the ck doctors of the North Districtmunity hospital helplessly.


    ```


    As LeBron James was wheeled into the rudimentary operating room, Nucky sat on the long bench in the hospital corridor and asked TT,


    "Who shot James?"


    Nucky had been patrolling the boardwalk, looking after his people, when he received the news that LeBron James had been injured and taken to the hospital. He rushed over, not knowing the specifics of the incident.


    After a string of curses from TT''s mouth, he then told Nucky that it was the 3K party''s doing.


    Upon hearing this, Nucky immediately felt a headacheing on. The WCTU issue was still unresolved, and now the 3K party was causing trouble. It felt to him like Antic City was slipping out of his control.


    "I will deal with this matter. You must not take any action!"


    Nucky told TT.


    Those whose minds were not fully enlightened had already exerted their greatest patience by notying a hand on Davis in the hospital.


    But Nucky knew that without his reminder, they would definitely seek retaliation against the 3K party.


    Although the 3K party was infamous in the United States, they were, after all, whites, and whites of standing at that. In New Jersey, a number of legitors were already dissatisfied with Antic City''s tolerance towards ck people. If these people dared to attack members of the 3K party with guns, then the ck people of Antic City would surely face targeted and fierce retaliation.


    Of course, it wasn''t that Nucky truly had any sympathy for the ck people living in the North District. What was important was that this group of ck people was one of Nucky''s key sources of electoral votes. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have granted James the exclusive rights to liquor sales in Antic City.


    "That''s impossible. They are seriously provoking us. If we do nothing, how will the ck people in North District view us?"


    TT resolutely rejected Nucky''s suggestion.


    Nucky''s eyes narrowed in dissatisfaction as he looked at TT. At this point, Louis coldly said, "Are you questioning Mr. Nucky''s words?"


    TT felt uneasy under Nucky''s gaze, but thinking of LeBron James lying uncertain of life or death in the operating room, he still insisted,


    "This is our North District matter!"


    Nucky stood up. Although he was not as tall as TT, when he looked at TT, it gave off an impression of talking down to him.


    "I said I will resolve this matter. If you dare to do anything, I guarantee that you and your family will disappear from Antic City immediately!"


    TT was intimidated by Nucky''s aura and couldn''t help but take a step back, yet he still said, "Mr. Nucky, do you not want our North District votes anymore?"


    Nucky coldly replied, "You do not represent North District!"


    After speaking, Nucky just nced indifferently at the two ck men behind TT. Without any hesitation, the two men immediately pushed TT against the wall and disarmed him.


    The other ck people in the corridor did not react to the situation at all.


    It was at this moment that the doctor pushed LeBron James, still unconscious, out of the operating room. Fortunately, the location where LeBron James was shot wasn''t fatal, and the ck doctor''s skilled hands had saved him.


    Seeing the situation in the corridor, the doctors and nurses were not surprised. The doctor who had operated on LeBron James went straight to Nucky and said,


    "James is out of danger now. He just needs a few days of rest!"


    Relieved to hear that James wasn''t in serious condition, Nucky said to the doctor, "Take good care of him. I''lle to see him again after he wakes up!"


    "Of course!"


    In the hospital lobby, Nucky looked at the telephone and told Louis, "Call Eli. Those people from Mobley have indeed gone too fartely!"


    Mobley, the leader of the 3K party in Antic City!


    Louis did not act immediately, but instead asked with concern, "Mobley still has some influence, and there are quite a few whites in Antic City who are members of the 3K party!"


    The fundamental reason Nucky tolerated the 3K party''s mischief in Antic City was precisely that many of the powerful in the city were also members of the party.


    "I will speak to them myself!"


    Nucky, massaging his brow, said helplessly.


    He was already troubled enough with the Commodore''s issues, and now the 3K party emerged, causing trouble at this time.


    Nucky understood that he had to restore peace to Antic City as quickly as possible, otherwise his authority in the city would be undermined.


    "By the way, what''s the situation with the WCTU?"


    At this moment, Nucky thought of another problem.


    Louis said, "I was supposed to meet with Elena this morning!"


    The implication was that because of LeBron James''s incident, Louis had not yet met with Elena.


    Nucky said, "We must resolve these two issues quickly. Otherwise, the Commodore will surely take action!"


    "Yes!"

 Chapter 36: 32銆丷obert Gets Caught (Please follow, please favorite~)

    On the boardwalk, Donnie was walking towards the Ritz Hotel when a car stopped in front of him.


    Vince McGrady was sitting in the car, smiling at Donnie as he spoke.


    "Get in, the general wants to see you!"


    Donnie considered briefly before getting into Vince''s car.


    "Does the general need something from me?"


    "You''ll naturally find out when you meet the general!"


    Vince drove without saying anything further to Donnie.


    Donnie didn''t continue asking, and soon the two arrived at the general''s vi.


    "Donnie, we meet again!"


    The general, who had risen from the sofa, spoke to Donnie in his usual slow, gentle manner.


    Donnie smiled and said, "Mr. General, you must have something for me if you are calling at this time, right?"


    The generalughed heartily, "As I''ve told you before, being my friend always brings endless benefits. I called you over this time because I indeed have something good for you!"


    Had he said that before?


    Donnie shed a smile and said, "If that''s the case, I will definitely express my sincere gratitude to Mr. General."


    After exchanging pleasantries, each took their seat, and the general said with a smile, "You must know about LeBron''s injury, right?"


    Donnie nodded. The incident had spread throughout Antic City, so of course, he knew.


    "With LeBron injured and his distillery bombed, it will inevitably affect Nucky''s stocked liquor. As far as I know, you are now the only one in Antic City capable of providing whiskey for everyone!"


    The general said this with a beaming smile.


    Seeing the general''s smile, Donnie couldn''t help but suspect that the incident involving LeBron James being shot by the KKK was connected to the general.


    At the general''s banquet before, LeBron had been present, and it looked like he wanted to y both sides. Could it be that during that time, LeBron and Nucky came to some understanding and then kicked the general to the curb?


    Donnie dismissed this thought quickly. The KKK might be crazy but they weren''t stupid. Nucky could tolerate the attack on LeBron, but if they were to lean towards the general, Nucky would definitely not allow it!


    Though he had his suspicions, Donnie didn''t ask them outright, but instead smiled and said, "Mr. General might not be aware, but I have already reached a consensus with Nucky. My whiskey will be supplied to LeBron!"


    "I am aware of that!" The general said cheerfully, adding, "And I also know that you have always wanted to bypass LeBron and have your whiskey enter Antic City directly."


    This time, Donnie didn''t speak but quietly waited for the general to continue.


    "Nucky must be desperate for liquor right now. If you choose to stand with us at this moment and refuse to provide any liquor to Nucky, then I can assure you that from now on, you will be the sole supplier of liquor in Antic City!"


    The general finally shared his thoughts with Donnie.


    After hearing this, Donnie''s brow furrowed slightly. He hadn''t expected the general to be so impatient. Donnie had nned to profit from both sides in the struggle between the general and Nucky for control of Antic City, but now the general was acting directly against Nucky.


    The general indeed was getting old!


    Donnie wasn''t ted by the general''s offer. Instead, he couldn''t help but sigh that the general was past his prime.


    If Nucky could be so easily defeated, he wouldn''t have be the underground emperor of Antic City so quickly after the general''s imprisonment, nor would he have tightened his grip on Antic City beyond what the general had achieved.


    "Mr. General, there''s something I think you should be aware of!" Donnie didn''t immediately oppose the general''s proposal, but instead said, "Although LeBron''s distillery has been bombed, Nucky has other sources. Every week, smuggled liquor is shipped to serve Nucky. This smuggling operation is enough for Nucky to wait until LeBron rebuilds his distillery. What will you do then?"


    "Ha ha!" Vince, who had been silent all this while, suddenlyughed, saying, "Donnie, you''ve just gotten a foothold in Antic City and there''s still a lot you don''t understand. There''s something you don''t know yet, just today, the Coast Guard seized smuggled liquor from the United Kingdom meant for Nucky."


    The general alsoughed triumphantly, "Exactly, which means that aside from you, there''s now no one else who can provide Nucky with liquor!"


    .


    "What?"


    For the first time, Nucky showed a flustered expression, his eyes zing as he stared intently at Louis.


    With a calm demeanor, Louis answered, "That''s true, the liquor we shipped from the United Kingdom was detained by the Coast Guard as it was approaching Antic City!"


    Nucky sat back in his chair, breathing heavily.


    The whiskey had essentially be another form of currency in Antic City, where the Prohibition had no foothold and the people were ustomed to an unceasing supply of good liquor every day.


    It could be said that all this was Nucky''s doing.


    But now, Nucky was facing a series of uncontroble events regarding Antic City''s liquor market. Such circumstances, if not averted, would inevitably lead to a crisis of trust among the people of Antic City.


    Once a trust crisis arises, it would directly affect Nucky''s prestige in the city.


    This was a result that Nucky absolutely did not want to see.


    "Call Donnie immediately, I want to see him!"


    At this moment, Nucky thought of Donnie, just as the Brigadier had said, now in the entire Antic City, the only person who could provide everyone with alcohol was Donnie!


    Louis didn''t move but simply replied, "I''ve already called Block Tavern, but Donnie isn''t there, and the folks there said he''s already on his way to see us!"


    If the other party wasing to find himself but he still hadn''t seen Donnie yet.


    Nucky quickly thought of a possibility.


    "You mean Donnie is with the Brigadier now?"


    Louis nodded, "Yes, I''ve already sent someone to ask our people who are keeping an eye on the Brigadier, and I believe we will have an answer soon!"


    As soon as the words were out, Joe knocked and came in, "Boss has already checked. Vince McGrady picked up Donnie this morning and took him to the Brigadier''s vi!"


    This time, Nucky suddenly felt that Donnie had be an indispensable figure in Antic City.


    Before this, Nucky only thought of Donnie as a smart man whom he could subdue, but now, in just a few months, Donnie had grown into someone both he and the Brigadier had to fight for?


    Nucky did not like this at all. He could tolerate Donnie rising up, but he couldn''t stand Donnie growing outside of his control.


    "Boss, should we do something?"


    Louis asked Nucky.


    "Of course, we must do something!" Nucky tapped his desktop lightly again, clearly deep in thought.


    A few minutester, Nucky suddenly told Joe, "Take your men to Elwood Vige... I''ll have someone contact you about what to do when the timees!"


    Joe didn''t hesitate and nodded, "Understood!"


    With Joe''s departure, Nucky picked up the telephone, and after dialing a number in Chicago, his tone became spirited.


    .


    Donnie returned to Block Tavern. Inside the Brigadier''s vi, Donnie had neither agreed to the Brigadier''s request nor declined it. He just said he needed some time to think about it well.


    The Brigadier had no objection to this and agreed to Donnie''s request with a smile.


    "Where''s Robert?" After returning to the tavern and not seeing Robert, Donnie asked John. When he had left the tavern earlier, Robert had still been there!


    John replied nonchntly, "Yesterday, Lisa told him a girl from a southern town had arrived next door, and Robert couldn''t wait to go over there!"


    "Why didn''t he find her yesterday, and just went over there in the early morning, he''s really in the mood!" Afterining, Donnie told Chris, who was washing sses behind the bar, "Go call Robert."


    "Alright!" Chris, who had just arrived in Antic City, replied happily.


    Chris and Magichi had both already arrived in Antic City, with both being the same physique as John,rge and burly without seeming too bright.


    Seeing Chris''s excited demeanor, Donnie immediately admonished, "Don''te back after you''re done. Tell Robert I have urgent business!"


    Now there were only a few people around Donnie, and the only one with whom Donnie could discuss matters was actually Robert. Regarding the Brigadier''s proposition for cooperation, Donnie still wanted to consult with Robert to see what he thought.


    Chris''s earnest nodding left Donnie uneasy.


    It wasn''t long before Chris came back alone, without Robert.


    Donnie, along with John and Magichi, all showed puzzled expressions and asked Chris, "Where''s Robert?"


    With a strange expression, Chris said, "Lisa next door said that just a moment ago, before Robert could even take off his pants, the Public Security Police came and took Robert away for disturbing public order!"


    "What?"


    John immediately stood up; going to a lodging apartment to meet a girl and being taken away was, to everyone in Antic City, aughably absurd situation.


    Donnie remained seated but his expression turned grave. In just the span of this brief moment, Donnie had figured it out¡ªthe one doing this had to be the Brigadier, showing off his muscle to Donnie.


    "Either cooperate, or if today it''s Robert being taken away, tomorrow it''ll be you!"


    This was the Brigadier threatening Donnie!


    Donnie''s face was somber as he watched John and the others ready to grab guns to go rescue Robert, he rebuked sharply, "What''s the panic, I will handle this!"


    John, not knowing what had really happened, angrily said to Donnie, "What does Public Security mean by this, on what grounds do they take Robert away?"


    Donnie waved him off, offering no exnation to John. Now without anyone to consult, Donnie had to make the decisions himself.


    He had indeed considered cooperating with the Brigadier before, but now the Brigadier was using such means to make him submit. It was time for things to take a different path!

 Chapter 37: 33. Donnie Blocks gamble has begun (Please follow and collect~)

    "If we do this, won''t Donnie go to Nucky?" Vince was sitting in themodore''s study at this point, not once ncing at the young, mboyant man who was massaging themodore.


    As he enjoyed the massage, a look of pleasure appeared on themodore''s face, "No, Donnie is a smart man. He has always wanted to rece LeBron as the biggest alcohol supplier in Antic City, and Nucky needs the North District''s votes, so it''s impossible for Nucky to give the alcohol supply market of Antic City to Donnie¡­ That''s also the reason Nucky chose LeBron before!"


    "But with the current situation, I worry that Nucky really will choose Donnie!"


    Vince still expressed his concern.


    "Naturally, Nucky is going to choose Donnie!" Themodore stated another point thatpletely contradicted his earlier assertion but then gave his own exnation.


    "The biggest problem facing Nucky now is actually how to obtain whiskey in a short amount of time to supply the alcohol of Antic City. So, if Donnie goes to Nucky at this time, Nucky will definitely ept Donnie''s request. But if that''s the case, then Nucky can control Donnie.


    At that time, Nucky would certainly acquire Donnie''s whiskey at a very low price, and that is definitely not what Donnie wants to see.


    So now, the best solution for Donnie is toe to us!"


    After hearing themodore''s exnation, Vince finally showed an enlightened look and said with a smile, "So, you only ordered me to have Robert arrested but aren''t actually going to do anything to him?"


    Themodore nodded in satisfaction, "Exactly, we are doing this just to make Donnie understand that we have strength in Antic City that is not inferior to Nucky''s. This has been forgotten by many in Antic City now!"


    Vince nodded.


    Themodore turned his eyes on Vince and said with a smile, "I know you have some ideas about Donnie, but right now, this man still has his uses for us. When we drive Nucky out of Antic City in the future, you can handle Donnie however you want!"


    "I understand!" Vince nodded, then said with devotion, "I will follow all of the Godfather''s arrangements!"


    The reason themodore trusted Vince so much was actually because themodore was Vince''s godfather!


    .


    "Do we need to discuss this matter with Nucky?"


    Although John didn''t know why Robert had been taken away, he also understood that if they wanted to smoothly get Robert out, they should seek Nucky''s help now.


    After hearing this, Donnie shook his head directly, although Donnie had previously considered seeking Nucky, it absolutely could not be because of this matter.


    Now that LeBron''s distillery had been bombed, and the whiskey Nucky smuggled from overseas had been intercepted by the Coast Guard.


    Now was when Nucky needed him the most. If Nucky came to him, that was one negotiating tactic, but if he went to Nucky, that was apletely different negotiating method!


    "Don''t seek Nucky, what about going to themodore then?"


    John did not know about Donnie''s previous conversation with themodore.


    Donnie continued to shake his head; he knew themodore wanted to use this incident to make him bow down. Donnie also knew that if he bowed down to him now, he would be suppressed by him in the future.


    "Why do you think of getting me to find Nucky or themodore after this incident happened?"


    Donnie sat there, his expression calm, as he asked John.


    John did not expect Donnie to have such a question but still responded, "Because we only know Nucky and themodore!"


    "Yes, we only know the two of them!" Donnie said with a somewhat absent look, "Not only do you think this way, but the two of them also think so. They both believe they can easily control us, which is why they are so brazen to do this!"


    John didn''t understand what Donnie meant, and in fact, Garrett and Chris by the side also failed to grasp Donnie''s meaning.


    Looking at the question marks hanging over the three men''s heads, Donnie again felt powerless; if Robert were here at this time, he would surely understand his thoughts.


    Borrowed power is always just borrowed, and the initiative is not in your own hands.


    "If we had someone in City Hall at this time, or some influence in Antic City, wouldn''t it be very easy for me to get Robert out then?"


    John nodded but still said, "But we don''t have anyone right now!"


    Donnie shook his head, a smile appearing on his face, "No, we have someone now!"


    Then Donnie said to Chris, "Call William, tell him, we''re short on our whiskey supply now and won''t be able to provide him with whiskey in the short term!"


    William James was now suffering yet enjoying himself, for having reestablished a rtionship with Donnie, during this period, William could easily get bootleg whiskey from Donnie. Though it wasn''t as good quality as the genuine whiskey,pared to LeBron''s, his was luxury goods!


    So William still provided whiskey and rum through his channels.


    However, with Antic City''s alcohol market bing more regted under Nucky''s management, William knew his good days were ending. Just yesterday, LeBron''s men had found him and hinted at him leaving the market.


    William knew that LeBron was backed by Nucky and themodore, and that he was no match for them. That meant he would soon have to give up this profitable market.


    William felt intense pain.


    Even more painful was the fact that he had just received a call from Donnie''s men, telling him that they were going to stop supplying him with alcohol?


    "Donnie, my brother, this is ourst chance to strike it rich, how can we stop at a time like this?"


    Unable to wait, William rushed to Block Tavern to find Donnie and looked at him in disbelief.


    "LeBron''s distillery has been bombed, and Nucky just happens to have no need to store alcohol at the moment. Our business is going to make a killing during this period!"


    William didn''t know that the Coast Guard had intercepted the smuggled alcohol Nucky was bringing in from overseas. If he had known, he would have been even happier!


    Donnie said calmly, "William, don''t panic, my brother. It''s not that I want to do this, but the Brigadier and Nucky have both issuedmands. I don''t want to do this either!"


    "How can that be?" William eximed, and then as if he had thought of something, asked, "Could it be that you''re going to deal directly with Nucky now?"


    "I would never abandon my brothers!" Donnie looked at William with dissatisfaction.


    William showed an embarrassed expression.


    "Donnie, I misspoke!"


    After musing for a moment, Donnie said, "There''s only one way to continue our business now!"


    "What way?" William asked excitedly, looking at Donnie. "I knew nothing could trouble you!"


    Donnie said, "William, do you know the 3K party boss Mobley?"


    William looked a bit awkward and hesitant, but eventually nodded and said, "Yes, I do have a good rtionship with Mobley."


    It was more than good. In fact, William James himself was one of the members of the 3K party.


    Donnie said with a smile, "I hope you can arrange a meeting between Mobley and me."


    William was startled for a moment, then said, "That''s no problem, but how exactly can Mobley help us?"


    Without directly revealing that William was a member of the 3K party, Donnie said, "The reason Mobley bombed LeBron''s distillery is that they couldn''t stand doing business with a ck man. So now, in Antic City, it''s very hard for the 3K party to get their hands on whiskey!"


    The 3K party is notorious in American history, and yet many people still join. One of the reasons is their belief in white supremacy, with ck people deemed to be nothing more than their ves. Throughout the history of the 3K party, there have been numerous brutal acts against ck people!


    However, this had nothing to do with Donnie. He wanted to make use of the 3K party''s influence in Antic City.


    And even turn it into his own wing!


    Of course, to avoid being implicated when the 3K party was eventually brought to justice, Donnie would only meet with Mobley this one time. As for future cooperation, it would still be William''s responsibility.


    "Of course, he can help us. The whiskey they got from LeBron would be gone in a few days at most. We could do business with them. I don''t think they would refuse my proposal!"


    Previously, the alcohol William got from Donnie was, in fact, partly sold to the 3K party, but when Donnie formally proposed the deal, William was very happy.


    Because he used to be able to supply it when the market for alcoholic beverages in Antic City was still unregted. Now that it was bing regted, he was about to leave the city''s alcohol market, meaning he would lose the business with the 3K party.


    But when Donnie brought it up, William understood.


    The 3K party wielded significant influence among the whitemunities in Antic City. Even Nucky had to be wary of their power, not to mention their rtionship with LeBron.


    It seemed that his channel had be the only one that could supply the 3K party with whiskey.


    "Haha, I understand now!" William said proudly, "I''ll go to Mobley right away, and you two can meet tonight!"


    Donnie reminded him, "Choose a safe ce!"


    William nodded earnestly and said, "Don''t worry, it''ll be at my ce tonight. I guarantee no one will know!"


    Donnie then nodded in satisfaction.


    After William James had left, John asked, "Can Mobley get Robert out?"


    Donnie shook his head slightly and said, "Just Robert is not enough, but we have another card in our hand."


    After speaking, Donnie stood up and said to John, "I need to step out for a bit. Let''s talk about everything else when I return tonight!"


    Donnie, leaving the tavern, headed straight for the WCTU headquarters!

 Chapter 38: 34. The complex distribution of power in Atlantic City (Please follow, please collect~)

    "Mr. Block, I didn''t expect we''d meet again so soon. Are you here to bring me good news?"


    After seeing Donnie, Elena sat poised in her chair, her calm demeanor belying any indication that she had just yed poker with Donnie.


    Donnie naturally took a seat opposite Elena, his face brimming with a smile.


    "Elena, after I went back, I gave it a lot of thought and decided that simply making Brad Dorn a State Senator was too simple a matter. It was so simple that I felt it didn''t live up to the cooperation between you and me!"


    Elena Dorn looked at Donnie with a serious expression and asked, "Then what do you mean?"


    Donnie smiled and said, "What if Mr. Dorn could not only be a State Senator of New Jersey, but also be promoted to the Magistrate of Antic City? I think this offer would perfectly match the cooperation between us!"


    Brad Dorn, now a well-knownwyer in Antic City!


    Elena''s expression changed, the previous indifference gone, as a smile spread across her cheeks, "If that''s the case, I think you must meet my husband, Mr. Block!"


    "I was thinking the same thing!"


    Donnie said with a smile.


    "Then how about I cook dinner myself tonight and entertain Mr. Block?"


    Elena extended the invitation to Donnie.


    Donnie shook his head and said, "Not tonight, I have another engagement this evening. How about tomorrow?"


    Elena, gathering her skirt, stepped away from her desk and, just likest time, settled into Donnie''s arms. Although her demeanor was now more seductive, her voice remained cold.


    "I assume, Donnie, that you didn''te solely to discuss this matter with me."


    .


    That evening, Donnie met with Mobley Hawk, the leader of the Antic City 3K Party, at the home of William James.


    Mobley Hawk, a 43-year-old white male, owner of the Hawk Tavern in Antic City, a staunch supporter of the South, had said more than once that if he had been born a few decades earlier, he would have definitely gone to join their army.


    "Mr. Block''s reputation has been rising in Antic City, I didn''t expect you would conduct business with us!"


    Mobley, d in a grey suit, looked every bit the Western nobleman.


    Donnie, sitting opposite Mobley, said calmly, "Why not? I am a businessman, and as a businessman, the nature of my trade is to conduct business. As for who we do business with, that''s trivial, because US Dors are the most wonderful thing in this world!"


    Mobley nodded and said, "Yet ording to our information, Nucky has already entrusted all the alcohol business in Antic City to that negro, LeBron. Mr. Block, can you really go against Nucky''s orders?"


    Donnie replied nonchntly, "Times change. Nucky gave LeBron a chance, but LeBron failed to seize it. Now his distillery has been destroyed. It''s impossible to supply the entire Antic City with alcohol in a short period. I believe that when I propose this to Nucky, he will be very delighted!"


    "Somehow, I get the impression that Mr. Block, you are an advocate sent by Nucky. Next, are you going to say that if we agree to a deal with you, we must not trouble LeBron anymore?"


    Mobley, gaze unwavering, looked at Donnie as if trying to see through him.


    "My goodness!" Donnie raised his hands in an exaggerated manner, eximing, "Mr. Hawk, how could you think such a thing? Don''t you know I am now inpetition with LeBron? To be honest, the more misfortune that befalls LeBron, the happier I be!"


    Only then did Mobley nod in satisfaction, "But I think Nucky is definitely not going to give up the votes from the North District!"


    The reason Mobley only targeted LeBron amidst so many ck people in Antic City was not only because LeBron had bootleg liquor, but more importantly, LeBron James was the most influential ck person in Antic City.


    As a white supremacist, Mobley could never stand the sight of a ck man on equal footing with himself!


    This was his deep-seated conviction, and he wouldn''t abandon this stance no matter who stood behind LeBron.


    That is to say, even if LeBron were to fall, the next prominent figure that Nucky supported in the North District would still be the person Mobley targeted.


    "That is your concern. I am just a businessman, so now I want to know, Mr. Hawk, do you really want to make this deal with us or not?"


    Mobley first nodded, then shook his head and said, "We were already doing this deal, and I don''t think, Mr. Block, you woulde all this way just to talk business, would you?"


    Donnieughed and nodded, "Talking with Mr. Hawk is always a pleasure. My terms for cooperation are very simple. I hope, Mr. Hawk, that you can leverage your influence in Antic City to get my friend out of police custody, and, for the time being, stop causing trouble for LeBron!"


    Mobley, who was just smiling, now had a serious look, "Getting a friend out for Mr. Block is no problem, but not going after LeBron is impossible!"


    Donnie still looked calmly at Mobley, "Mr. Hawk, I only want you to temporarily stop going after LeBron, not forever. Actually, by suggesting this, I''m thinking of your interests. You''ve probably been getting quite a few calls from Nucky thesest few days, haven''t you?


    Plus, I''ve heard that Eli has been busy with something in the police departmenttely. It''s hard to ensure their final target isn''t you!"


    Mobley''s expression turned solemn. Donnie''s words really struck a chord with him. He had indeed been receiving calls from Nucky almost every day, and he understood how important LeBron was to Nucky, but they just couldn''t stand the thought of a ck man eating in the same restaurant as them.


    The Ku Klux n indeed has a significant influence in Antic City and is needed by Nucky, but everyone understands Nucky too.


    Nucky needs an influential group that will listen to him. If they continue to confront the n, it''s hard to guarantee that Nucky won''t find someone morepliant to take over as the leader of the n!


    In fact, history had proven this. Mobley always held firmly to his inner convictions, refusing to be swayed by Nucky, who, out of frustration, had no choice but to let Eli Johnson, during one of their n''s internal meetings, simply take Mobley away, never to be released again.


    "It''s better to keep the green mountains unharmed than to worry about running out of firewood." This is an old Eastern proverb. Mr. Hawk, you''ve already severely damaged LeBron''s morale and even blown up his brewery. He won''t be able to recover anytime soon. That''s already not bad.


    Once our business gets better and better, Nucky will have to take us seriously. Maybe by that time, LeBron will no longer be necessary, right?"


    The words of Donnie once again brought a smile to Mobley''s face, and he picked up the whiskey that William had just brought, raising his ss.


    "Then here''s to a happy cooperation between us!"


    "To a happy cooperation!" Donnie raised his ss as well.


    .


    "Does Mobley really have the influence in Antic City to disrupt the General''s ns?"


    John pulled Donnie upstairs to the second floor of Block Tavern, leaving the business downstairs to Magichi and Chris.


    Donnie sat on the bed and, instead of answering John''s question, asked, "Shouldn''t we start looking for a house outside?"


    With the arrival of Magichi and Chris, Block Tavern was nearing its capacity.


    John, indeed in a hurry, said, "That''s not important. What I want to know is, can Mobley really save Robert?"


    Donnie could only answer John''s question, "You shouldn''t underestimate Mobley''s influence in Antic City, nor should you overestimate the General''s influence there right now. Although Mobley can''t yetpare to the General, the General still has to give Mobley face!"


    "Does that mean Robert can get out?" John asked excitedly, rubbing his hands together. Although Robert always provoked John when he was around, their rtionship was still solid!


    It was at this moment Donnie shook his head, dousing John''s excitement with a bucket of cold water, "If it were just the General, Mobley might manage to get Robert out, but with Nucky involved, Mobley''s influence won''t suffice!"


    "What?"


    John, just a moment ago thrilled, heard Donnie and instantly showed a worried look again. Seeing the confident smile on his younger brother''s face, he could only helplessly say.


    "Alright, my clever brother, just tell me what you''re thinking all at once. You know I''m not sharp enough!"


    Donnie stood up, patted John on the shoulder, and said, "This is aplicated matter that involves various parties'' interests. Even if I exined, you wouldn''t understand, but I can assure you, the day after tomorrow, Robert will definitely be out!"


    "Alright, if he doesn''t get out by then, I''ll have to use my own methods to rescue him!"


    Donnie smiled, "You won''t get that chance!"


    After pushing John out of his room, Donniey on the bed, staring at the yellowing ceiling with the noise from downstairs reaching his ears. Though John didn''t mention moving out just now, Donnie had already started thinking about it, guessing he wouldn''t be staying there much longer.


    In fact, if it weren''t for LeBron''s brewery being bombed and Robert being arrested, Donnie would probably have moved out already.


    "After sorting out this matter, I''ll actually have some real influence in Antic City. It looks like it''s time to start setting up the next n in advance!"

 Chapter 39: 35. Mutual Wary (Please follow, please favorite~)

    "Godfather, Mobley had intervened and demanded that I release Robert!"


    The next morning, Vince hurriedly found the Brigadier and told him that Mobley had just approached him.


    The Brigadier, enjoying a massage and bare-chested, sat up, his face showing a hint of gravity.


    "When did Donnie start having dealings with the 3K n?"


    Vince shook his head; deep down, he looked down on Donnie¡ªa discharged US soldier, what could he possibly do?


    Even though Donnie had achieved sess with Prohibition, that alone was not enough to impress Vince. The reason was simple: in Vince''s view, it was just a streak of dumb luck.


    But now, with Mobley, the leader of the 3K n in Antic City, stepping in personally, his perception of Donnie changed somewhat.


    "I don''t know. Mobley was very insistent when he came to my office today!"


    "Donnie isn''t nning to be on the same boat with us anymore!" The Brigadier''s expression grew serious, "I''ll make the call to Mobley."


    The Brigadier knew that relying solely on Vince, he wouldn''t be able to handle Mobley.


    After dialing Mobley''s number, the Brigadier''s voice was very cheerful.


    "Mobley, what''s the meaning of this, sticking up for that kid Donnie? I haven''t heard of any deal between you two!"


    "Good day, Mr. Brigadier!" Upon receiving the call, Mobley was still very respectful, "I am very good friends with Donnie, and this time I hope Mr. Brigadier can do me the honor and let Robert go. As far as I know, he is a very nice young man!"


    Despite his respect for the Brigadier, Mobley expressed his stance very firmly.


    "So that''s how it is!" After listening, the Brigadier pondered for a moment and then chuckled, "I remember back in the day when your business was in trouble, it was I who helped you through that difficult time!"


    This response plunged Mobley into silence.


    "Is there really no room for negotiation on this matter?" Mobley asked after some thought.


    "I''m bound to respect you, Mobley. How about this, have Donnie call me and arrange a meeting, how does that sound?"


    The Brigadier replied.


    "I understand." Realizing that further words were futile, Mobley ended the call.


    Then Mobley called the Block Tavern.


    "I''m terribly sorry, but I couldn''t rescue Robert!"


    "What?" Donnie sounded very surprised on the phone, "Just an insignificant person, and the Brigadier won''t even do you this courtesy?"


    Mobley''s slightly heavy breathing came through the phone, "It''s not about not giving me face; I just didn''t expect the conflict between you two to be so deep!"


    "Heh!" Donnie scoffed derisively, "Well then, if there''s nothing you can do, Mobley, that''s that!"


    "Of course!" Donnie added, "Our business will continue as usual!"


    Mobley simply grunted in acknowledgment, informed Donnie that the Brigadier wanted to see him, and hung up!


    "Mobley really couldn''t get Robert out?"


    John had been by Donnie''s side the entire time and couldn''t help but worry after Donnie hung up the phone.


    "Isn''t this exactly as we expected?"


    Donnie picked up a beer from the table, appearing unconcerned.


    Even though Donnie had said the day before that Mobley''s call alone wouldn''t be enough to save Robert, now that it had actually happened, John was still worried.


    "You don''t have to worry, the important thing is that Mobley made the call, not whether or not Robert can be released!"


    Seeing this, Donnieforted John.


    John could only nod in feigned calmness.


    At that moment, with the Block Tavern not yet open for business, a man walked into the tavern. Chris was just about to greet him.


    But the man spoke first.


    "Donnie, Nucky wants to meet you!"


    The man was Nucky''s backup driver, Joe!


    "Is that so? Then let''s go see him right now!"


    In fact, Donnie was already waiting for someone from Nucky toe over.


    .


    "Godfather, now that Donnie has turned to Mobley, it''s clear he wants to turn down our partnership. What should we do if he goes to Nucky at this time?"


    Vince sat in the Brigadier General''s study, waiting for the Brigadier General to put down the phone and then asked,


    Donnie''s bootleg liquor is now a strategicmodity they urgently need; they thought that by capturing Robert, they could force Donnie toply. However, they did not anticipate that Donnie would actually get in touch with Mobley.


    The Brigadier General''s eyes were half-closed, clearly deep in thought, then he said, "I understand Nucky, and initially, I did not understand Donnie, but now I understand him too."


    Vince did not understand what the Brigadier General meant.


    The Brigadier General did not wait for Vince''s response, but continued, "At this time, Nucky must already know our situation, so for him, he definitely needs Donnie''s bootleg liquor. If Donnie goes to Nucky now, Nucky will surely take this chance to demand a lion''s share, and at that time, he will make Donnie sell his whiskey to him at a low price.


    As for Donnie, the mistake we made in capturing Robert is evidently a misjudgment of Donnie''s character; he is a tough person who does not like to be threatened, and Nucky, on the other hand, will surely threaten him.


    By then, I think it''s certain that the two will note to an agreement."


    It was only then that Vince nodded in realization, but then he immediately asked, "What do we do now? If Nucky steps in, on my side..."


    Although he did not finish his sentence, Vince''s attitude was clear ¨C if Nucky intervened and got the public security to release the person, Vince would not have any means at all!


    Yet at this moment, the Brigadier General just smiled contemptuously and said, "Do you know what Nucky cares about the most?"


    Vince shook his head, "What does he care about the most?"


    The Brigadier General answered, "Votes, Antic City''s votes. This year is the election year. Besides that fool Wilson, no one believes he will be re-elected, and Nucky especially needs to support his own choice to ascend to the thrones of Governor, State Senator, and Mayor. As long as we are certain of this point, then Nucky will definitelyply!"


    "...."


    Vince still did not understand the Brigadier General''s meaning; not only Nucky but the Brigadier General himself also valued this year''s election. It was only during election time that they could position their own people in high ces and truly snatch Antic City from Nucky''s hands.


    Therefore, the people they endorsed could not possibly be the same individual, meaning they naturally stood in opposition to each other.


    No matter how you looked at it, Nucky would notpromise over this matter.


    The Brigadier General did not resolve Vince''s confusion but instead made a phone call to a Republican''s house; the person on the other end was one of the frontrunners for Antic City''s mayoral race this year and was also the Brigadier General''s man!


    .


    "So you''re hoping I won''t help Donnie?"


    Before sending Joe to find Donnie, Nucky received a phone call. The caller made a request for Nucky not to help Donnie.


    "Henry, I don''t understand why you would do this, but Donnie is my friend, he truly needs my help. You were once my friend, but not anymore, so why should I help you?" Nucky retorted.


    "Although you don''t think of me as your friend, I have always considered you a friend!" Henry replied on the phone with a light tone: "No one can say for sure about future matters. Although I am not in as strong a position as Baharach right now, are you really confident that this matter is foolproof?"


    "I trust in my control over Antic City!" Nucky professed.


    "If things were really as Nucky said, then LeBron wouldn''t have been injured, and your bootleg liquor from Europe wouldn''t have been detained by the Coast Guard!" Henry countered.


    "You know that what I dislike the most is being threatened!"


    "My friend, I am not threatening you; I am merely stating a fact. Agree to my request, and no matter what the future holds, we''ll still be friends!" Henry appealed.


    After hanging up, Nucky''s face showed anger. Although Henry''s words on the phone sounded nice, Nucky knew that he was being threatened.


    And what he disliked the most was threats!


    "Get someone to rescue Robert from public security!" Nucky ordered Louis.


    Louis nodded, about to leave, when Nucky''s phone rang again.


    As Nucky picked up the phone again, his expression turned even grimmer ¨C the caller was LeBron James!


    "Nucky, I heard you want to help the friend of my enemy Mobley, Donnie Block!" LeBron''s voice, though still weak, was forceful over the phone.


    "Damn it!"


    Nucky cursed under his breath, covering the mouthpiece ¨C this was when he understood why the Brigadier General had Henry call him first. The trap was set here.


    While the Brigadier General''s influence in Antic City fell short of Nucky''s, he was not without influence, and it carried weight in the matter of Henrypeting for Antic City''s mayoralty.


    As the most populous North District of Antic City had always been one of Nucky''s most crucial voting districts, losing North District could lead to Nucky''s defeat.


    He could not ept such a result.


    So, even though he detested being threatened, at this moment, for the sake of the election year progressing as he desired, Nucky could only ept this hard-to-swallow oue.


    After hanging up on LeBron James, Nucky instructed Louis, who had not yet departed,


    "Don''t proceed with Robert''s matter, inform Joe to go to Block Tavern to summon Donnie, and also notify our people to wait for my call at the Block Tavern in Elwood Vige!"


    Louis nodded, saying, "Understood!"

 Chapter 40: 36. The Fierce People of Elwood Village (Please follow and bookmark~)

    "Donnie, I''m very unhappy!"


    When Donnie arrived at Nucky''s office and sat across from him, Nucky opened with dissatisfaction.


    "I thought we were friends, but after something went down, you didn''te to me. Instead, you went to Mobley. Do you value your friendship with Mobley over ours?"


    A look of surprise appeared on Donnie''s face. "You mean, Nucky, you can get my friend out?"


    Nucky''s expression stiffened; he hadn''t expected Donnie to be so forthright. Had he been too eager just now?


    Putting aside his doubts, Nucky asked, "You know about LeBron''s situation, right?"


    Donnie: "Are you also going to demand my loyalty like the colonel is, Nucky?"


    "LeBron''s distillery was bombed, and the whiskey and rum I had shipped from the United Kingdom have been seized by the Coast Guard!"


    "When will my friend be released?"


    The disjointed conversation was bing intolerable for Nucky, who had many things to do and no time to waste, so he decided to be direct with Donnie.


    "Two conditions, You sell the bootleg liquor produced by your family at the pre-Prohibition price to LeBron, and you end your partnership with Mobley!


    If you can agree to these two conditions, I will help get your friend out!"


    Donnie''s smile vanished. "Nucky, you just said we were friends. I''ve never heard of such harsh conditions between friends!"


    "Donnie, you have no choice!"


    Nucky looked at Donnie confidently. From the very start, Nucky was certain he could control Donnie, and that belief hadn''t changed.


    "The KKK might have some influence in Antic City, but it''s limited. Your friend is locked up by the colonel, who has explicitly refused Mobley''s request. Now, if you don''t ept my terms, not only will your friend stay locked up, but you too might find yourself detained by the police after leaving here!"


    Donnie wasn''t intimidated by Nucky''s threats; instead, he calmly responded, "If that''s the case, you''ll soon be faced with a citywide alcohol shortage in Antic City!"


    "NO, NO, NO." Nucky waved off the suggestion confidently. "Do you really think that just because LeBron''s distillery was hit and my bootleg liquor was seized, I''d be unable to obtain alcohol?


    I can tell you that, as of today, as we speak, there''s enough liquor being transported from Chicago to Antic City!"


    A slight change flickered across Donnie''sposed expression, before returning to normal. "I believe you have the capability, Nucky!"


    Nucky nodded with satisfaction. "So, your only right decision is to cooperate with me. Trust me, in ten years, you''ll be one of the most important figures in Antic City, and that''s a promise!"


    Compared to the colonel''s offer, Nucky''s proposal was more tempting to Donnie, but Donnie still couldn''t agree to it.


    As the saying goes, if he epted Nucky''s offer, he would be putting his fate into Nucky''s hands. Nucky could boost him now and suppress himter. Whether he thrived or failed was entirely up to Nucky.


    In his past life, Donnie had already experienced such a feeling and knew it was not pleasant.


    "I believe Chicago will supply you with liquor, Nucky, but I also believe the price will definitely not be what you''d hope to see. Which means, if you want to secure alcohol at a reasonable price, you absolutely need my support!"


    Donnie rejected Nucky''s proposal.


    This was also the first time Donnie had openly opposed Nucky''s suggestion.


    As expected, Nucky, who was used to controlling everything, showed displeasure upon hearing Donnie''s statement.


    "Donnie, I know your ace is the distillery in Elwood Vige. I think now you should give your family a call; it will help you see things more clearly and make a better decision!"


    After saying that, Nucky hoped to see a look of panic on Donnie''s face, but clearly, Donnie failed to react as Nucky wished. Nevertheless, Donnie made a call to Block Tavern in Elwood Vige.


    The phone rang, and the robust voice of old Carl came through. "Which bastard is it?"


    "Dad, it''s me!" Donnie responded helplessly.


    "Haha, if it isn''t the second-most pride-inducing son of the Block Family!" Old Carlughed heartily, his heart still holding the soon-to-be college boy Cameron as the first source of pride for the Block Family.


    Moreover, there wasn''t a third son the Block Family was proud of!


    Donnie didn''t care about Old Carl''s words and said with a smile, "A friend from Antic City asked me to call home to check up on the family!"


    Old Carlughed heartily, "You can pass the phone to that bastard now!"


    Donnie held the phone and, stifling hisughter, said, "Please forgive my father''s rudeness, you know he''s just a hillbilly!"


    Old Carl''s angry voice came from the phone, "Who are you calling a hillbilly!"


    Nucky listened to Donnie''s dialogue with Old Carl with disdain; he didn''t like such conversations. In Nucky''s mind, at this moment, Old Carl should be in a state of utter panic.


    However, Nucky still took the phone, and the deep voice of Old Carl was still audible, "Nucky, listen here, if you''re nning to deal with Old Carl, you should send more men. These few aren''t even enough to get stuck in my teeth!"


    Then Nucky heard muffled noises over the phone.


    At that moment, Donnie said, "Mr. Nucky, you''ve underestimated Elwood Vige''s solidarity!"


    In fact, Donnie didn''t know about Nucky sending people to Elwood Vige to look for Old Carl, but even before this happened, Donnie had already made arrangements for Elwood Vige.


    Firstly, to avoid trouble with Nucky or the Major for his distillery, Donnie had asked John to tell Old Carl to build two distilleries, just in case!


    With the Prohibition order making Donnie a fortune, he immediately purchased a batch of weapons from Olman and took out 2000 US dors, which he sent back to Elwood Vige through John. Not only did he expand his own distillery, but he also bribed the whole vige to be his workers and security guards.


    By this time, the entire Elwood Vige had be the Block Family''s Elwood Vige.


    Elwood Vige, already known for its fierce customs, became even more formidable with the addition of weapons.


    Nucky thought that sending a few men to scare them would allow him to do as he wished, clearly underestimating Elwood Vige''sbat effectiveness.


    Facing defeat, Nucky wasn''t discouraged but simply shook his head helplessly, "I was careless this time, just like I was with my previous opinion of you, Donnie. But you don''t think that just because of this, I am out of options, do you?"


    Donnie shook his head and said, "Of course not, I also admit that this time you made a small mistake, and I believe if you want to, you definitely have a way, but it will take some time, and right now, Nucky, you''re running out of time!"


    Nucky nodded without denying it and continued, "Actually, Donnie, you don''t have much time either. The people of Elwood Vige might be able to protect your distilleries, but they can''t protect you. If you get caught, then the trouble in Elwood Vige will naturally be resolved, so you''re still within my control!"


    Donnie shook his head with a smile, "Robert isn''ting out because Mobley remembers the Major''s kindness to him and is wary of your and the Major''s power in Antic City. But if I were to be caught, Mobley wouldn''t let it go so easily."


    "Your rtionship with Mobley isn''t that deep!"


    Nucky said confidently.


    "Of course!" Donnie nodded in agreement and continued, "But that way, you, Nucky, would continue to be embroiled in the troubles between the KKK and LeBron. I think you''re willing to show your determination to work with me because you must have learned something from LeBron."


    At that time, Nucky admitted in his heart that he had indeed underestimated Donnie. He hadn''t expected Donnie to be so smart, but at the same time, Nucky''s wariness towards Donnie had increased considerably.


    He no longer saw Donnie as someone he could manipte at will.


    "If you let the conflict between the KKK and LeBron intensify, then you, Nucky, will need to abandon one of those powers, and the Major will certainly be very eager to see that happen!"


    Nucky''s frown deepened as he said in a serious tone, "I will take care of it!"


    "If time permits," Donnie added the unspoken part of Nucky''s statement.


    Nucky''s voice became even more solemn, "I really don''t like the way you''re talking to me right now!"


    Donnie''s voice, however, became even more rxed, "Mr. Nucky, I have no intention of being your enemy. If that were the case, I could have simply joined the Major''s camp. When we first met, I told you, I''m just a businessman. I just want to make a stable ie in Antic City.


    So, if you could give me half of the Antic City liquor supply business from LeBron''s share, I promise, before the elections, the KKK won''t bother LeBron''s ck troublemakers anymore!"


    "You''ve joined the KKK?" Nucky asked in surprise.


    Donnie shook his head, "I''m just a businessman!"


    Nucky said, "So this is your bargaining chip, but as I''ve just told you, I don''t like being threatened, so I can''t agree to this. And you will soon see that I can settle the trouble between the KKK and LeBron!"


    Donnie said with a smile, "What if I add one more thing, that I can help you solve the trouble the WCTU has been causing in Antic City these days?"

 Chapter 43: 39. 1919 Edition of MMC (Please follow, please favorite~)

    Donnie''s target was naturally not going to be an ordinary hotel.


    But, as Robert had said, if one wanted to construct an iconic hotel in Antic City, then the total investment had to be at least 5 million US Dors.


    In 1924, the Antic City Hall, advocated by Nucky, had be the iconic building of Antic City, and the total investment in this City Hall reached 15 million US Dors.


    Of course, excluding the money that Nucky and the power structures behind him embezzled and the various construction contractors'' profits, and adding everything up, the total investment was definitely close to 7 million US Dors!


    Now, Antic City had not yet fully flourished due to Prohibition, so if Donnie wanted to build this hotel at this time, a total investment of around 5 million US Dors would suffice!


    Regrettably, as Robert had said, Donnie simply couldn''te up with this sum of money at the moment. After calcting his ie and expenses for this period, he had at most about 10,000 US Dors in cash on hand.


    "Who said," Donnie asked with a self-satisfied look at Robert, "that building such a hotel requires our own investment?"


    Robert was slightly stunned, then reminded Donnie, "This matter is not easy to handle, and if anything goes wrong, we could bepletely obliterated."


    Donnie did not have any objections to Robert''s reminder and said, "So we don''t need to rush, slowly and steady will do."


    Robert knew that Donnie had finished discussing the serious matters and stretched leisurely. Smiling, he said, "If there''s nothing else, I''m going to go check out Scott Tavern next door. Who would''ve thought that one day I would be managing a tavern in Antic City?"


    At the end of his words, Robert''s expression was somewhat excited.


    Donnieughed, "Scott Tavern is bigger than ours and has better furnishings. You can capitalize on your strengths to make it sessful!"


    Robert looked puzzled at Donnie and asked, "My strengths? Are you referring to this?"


    As he spoke, Robert spread his legs and pointed at his groin.


    Donnie smiled and said, "Exactly, your strength lies there. You can negotiate with the apartment next door to have the women who aren''t doing business there stay at the tavern. If they can help us sell more alcohol, you can certainly offer them a share of the profits. Also, you can let tavern patrons directly pick out women they like on the premises."


    Robert''s eyes lit up, "Are you talking about the pirate taverns from the Age of Exploration?"


    Pirate taverns during the Age of Exploration were exactly the model Donnie described. In some harbor cities where pirates gathered, there would be many taverns. When pirates went ashore, they would seek pleasure in the taverns, and some of the taverns would even offer room service to them.


    If this is hard to understand, it can also be understood in terms of the karaoke bars and pubs ofter eras, with the prostitutes from the lodging being akin to the hostesses in those establishments.


    Whether a karaoke bar or a pub is considered upscale depends on the d¨¦cor, which is the hardware, and women, which are the software. If the women at your karaoke bar are pretty and know how to have a good time, the business there will certainly not be bad.


    Men...they need face, especially in front of women. A delicatement like: "You can''t do it, can you?"


    Men who have had too much to drink will always im they can!


    Donnie smiled slightly and said, "You can understand it that way!"


    Robert got up excitedly, "I''m going to negotiate this with next door right now! Oh, and do we want the same for Block Tavern?"


    Donnie shook his head, "Let''s not bother with Block Tavern for now. I have other ns for it and will have somedies from WCTUe to work here. Once they are familiar with the day-to-day operations of the tavern, then we can move forward with this business!"


    Robert gave Donnie a sly look, thenughed, "I fear the divorce rate in Antic City is going to continue to climb!"


    Donnieughed heartily, "What does that have to do with us!"


    .


    Themodore was very angry!


    So, his study was inplete chaos today, with red wine spilled on the wool carpet and broken sses all around.


    At this moment, themodore stood with one hand on the armrest of the sofa, breathing heavily. Today, he had truly felt his influence in Antic City waning.


    "Damn it, damn it, damn it!"


    After repeating ''damn it'' three times, themodore took a big gulp of whiskey before he managed to steady his mind.


    "Godfather, this Donnie is utterly detestable. I will arrange for someone to take him into custody now!"


    Vince was standing by, his face also showing an angry expression. He thought that he had Donnie under his thumb, but Donnie had pulled out the 3K party and the WCTU, and then managed to get Robert, who he had under control, released.


    "If you take him now, someone will release him within an hour!"


    Themodore''s bloodshot eyes revealed that he was in fact not ready to let go of his anger.


    "So we are just going to watch him strut around triumphantly?"


    Vince could not stand being suppressed by Donnie. When themodore had first found Donnie, he had said to Vince that Donnie was a very intelligent young man.


    This praise was something Vince, with all his youthful vigor, could not ept. He always believed that he was the most capable among the younger generation in Antic City.


    "Humph, of course not!"


    The Brigadier-General sat down on the sofa with the help of the armrest, gasping for breath as he said, "Although Donnie seems to have won this time, he''s also made enemies of his own!"


    "Who?" Vince asked.


    "LeBron!" said the Brigadier-General viciously. "This time, Donnie took away half of Antic City''s liquor share, which is like stealing food from LeBron''s mouth, and since he''s gotten so close to the 3Ks, LeBron doesn''t dare seek revenge on them but would definitely have the guts to make a move on Donnie!"


    Vince''s eyes lit up as he heard this, but then his expression dimmed, "But does LeBron dare to defy Nucky''s orders? We''ve told him many times to cooperate with us before, but he has always been very cautious and declined."


    "Hmph!" The Brigadier-General snorted coldly, "That was before. I believe that after experiencing the shooting and having his share taken away, LeBron''s dissatisfaction with Nucky must have peaked. Now, if we just show LeBron enough goodwill, he will definitely stand with us!"


    Vince nodded excitedly, "Then I''ll go to LeBron right now!"


    The Brigadier-General nodded, "Tell LeBron that if he stands with us, I will open up Leck Young''s hotel and docks to him!"


    Vinceughed, "With this chip, I''m sure he''ll be very happy!"


    "Go!" The Brigadier-General waved his hand.


    Vince left.


    .


    In the southern part of Antic City, close to Boston Street, a small tavern sat... Although its sign suggested it was a tavern, inside it was actually a small casino.


    Although gambling was one of the main industries in Antic City, it wouldn''t be officially legalized until the seventies.


    Dennis sat at the gambling table, his eyes red, intently studying the poker in his hand. Slowly, his look of anticipation turned to disappointment, and then from disappointment to anger.


    Clearly, he had lost again!


    Watching thest of his chips being taken away, Dennis seethed with the thought that he would definitely win the next round.


    Under such a mindset, Dennis found the tavern''s owner. The tavern not only provided a ce for patrons to gamble, but also solved their financial difficulties.


    Of course, such a friendly owner also required the gamblers to pay interest ¨C just much higher than a regr bank''s.


    "Isaiah, I need your help!"


    Dennis stood at the bar, wringing his hands, his face wearing a sycophantic smile.


    "Oh, isn''t this Dennis?" teased Isaiah. "Are you nning to repay the money you borrowed from me?"


    Dennis chuckled, "Once I win, I''ll be able to pay you back, so I need some funds to turn the tables now."


    Isaiah replied, "But that''s what you saidst time you took money from me too!"


    Dennis still kept his ttering demeanor, "Trust me, this time I can definitely win!"


    "I''ve already checked your financial situation. The bakery is preparing to fire you. Soon you''ll have no ie, which naturally means no money to repay me!"


    Isaiah wasn''t nning to lend money to Dennis anymore, not only was he not going to lend it, but he was also ready to demand repayment of his past loans!


    Dennis quickly said, "There is, there is, did you forget, I still have a wife at home? If I can''t pay you back, you can send my wife to the boarding house, then you''ll have the money, won''t you?"


    Margaret was famously beautiful throughout the southern district, and many people said it was sheer dumb luck that Dennis married such a pretty woman.


    Isaiah''s eyes lit up; he had coveted Margaret for more than a day or two, "Alright, as we are friends, it''s only right to lend you the money!"


    As he spoke, Isaiah took out US $20 from his drawer, along with some paper and a pen!


    Dennis hesitated not a bit to write down what he had just said.


    Whether such an IOU was legal, well, now in Antic City acknowledged it, but that didn''t stop the whole of Antic City from following such rules.


    Once Dennis was done, he smoothly received the US $20 Isaiah provided.


    The oue was simple. Dennis quickly lost the US $20.


    Just as he was thinking of borrowing more money from Isaiah, a skinny man brushed past him. Dennis didn''t pay the slightest attention to this. When he came to Isaiah again, smiling obsequiously to make his request, Isaiah naturally refused him.


    It was at that moment, as Isaiah was about to ask Dennis to take him to his house, that someone in the tavern suddenly shouted out loud.


    "My money? Where''s my money, who stole my money?"

 Chapter 42: 38, Scott: The tavern is yours! (Please follow, please bookmark~)

    "Donnie, let me introduce you to a friend I met in prison, Dwight Savage, a very top-notch pickpocket!"


    When mentioning Dwight''s profession, Robert didn''t show the slightest embarrassment, and the skinny Dwight also came over to Donnie''s side with enthusiastic hunching.


    "Boss Block, when I was in jail, I already heard about your big name. You''re like an idol to me!"


    Regarding Dwight''s sycophantic attitude, Magichi and the others showed disdainful expressions.


    Donnie, however, smiled and asked, "Really? What things did you hear about me?"


    "That, at the time when the whole United States was in Prohibition, only Boss Block you, with great foresight, started hoarding liquor, and now, who in Antic City doesn''t know that Boss Block you are the biggest liquor merchant in Antic City!"


    Dwight said happily.


    After hearing this, Donnie alsoughed and said, "Well said, you can stay!"


    Hearing Donnie speak like that made Dwight even happier.


    It was then that Donnie turned to Robert and asked, "How about it? Did you make anyone sweat while you were in there?"


    Robert spoke nonchntly, "How could I? It''s good enough that I didn''t let them, who would dare mess with me!"


    Dwight chimed in at the right moment, "Boss Block, what you don''t know is that when Robert went in, some of the guys there wanted to teach him the rules of the ce, but Robert quickly put them in line and they didn''t dare say a word!"


    Donnie was d to hear Robert wasn''t bullied inside, and then with a smile he said, "Today''s a day of double happiness, we''ll celebrate properly in a while!"


    John spoke up and asked, "How can it be a double happiness? What other good news is there besides Robert getting out?"


    Donnie pped John on the shoulder andughed, "It''s because we''ve gained another tavern!"


    The others inside the tavern, hearing Donnie say this, immediately showed smiles and eagerly asked, "What do you mean?"


    No sooner had the words left his mouth than a dejected Scott walked in, holding a set of keys. Scott didn''t say much about the situation in the tavern, simply tossing the keys onto the table.


    "From now on, my tavern is yours!"


    Then he left without looking back.


    "What''s happening?"


    Facing the recent event, John asked in surprise, not expecting that Scott would actually give away the tavern to them.


    Donnie smiled modestly and said, "We helped Nucky deal with the trouble from the 3K n and the WCTU, so naturally, we had to receive somepensation!"


    Today, with Brad appearing in Nucky''s office, the two troubles that had been bothering Nucky in Antic City, the 3K n and the WCTU, had been formally dealt with.


    Aside from the coboration that Donnie previously proposed to Nucky, there was another matter¡ªthat was for Donnie to get Scott''s tavern.


    The small Block Tavern was no longer sufficient to meet the demands of Donnie''s business, so he had to expand.


    Thus, Donnie set his sights on Scott''s tavern.


    Nucky agreed to Donnie''s request without hesitation. With Nucky''s word above, Donnie cutting off the liquor supply to Scott''s tavern in the middle, and the WCTU protests below, Scott realized that keeping his tavern was no longer possible and resigned himself to the need to transfer it to Donnie at a very low price!


    After hearing Donnie''s exnation, everyone in the hall got even more excited, as all of them revolved around Donnie¡ªthe better Donnie did, the better their lives would get.


    Donnie picked up the keys from the table and threw them to newly released Robert, saying, "From now on, you''ll manage Scott''s tavern!"


    Robert caught the keys with both hands, gleefully saying, "Don''t worry, I won''t let you down!"


    Donnie nodded in satisfaction, then turned to look at Dwight standing next to Robert and suddenly had an idea.


    "Dwight, just now Robert mentioned you''re an excellent pickpocket in Antic City, is that true or false?"


    Dwight worked his way past John to Donnie''s side, then spread his hands open, revealing a brown, somewhat tattered wallet in his grasp and chuckled, "Boss Block, look!"


    "Fuck, that''s my wallet!" Before Donnie could even speak, John had already seen his wallet in Dwight''s hands and started shouting.


    Donnie showed a look of satisfaction, then said to Dwight, "Good, I have just the job that requires your skills!"


    Dwight showed his loyalty at once, "Boss Block, you just give the word, I guarantee you''ll be satisfied!"


    Donnie called Dwight to his side and began instructing him in a low voice. Dwight, who had been somewhat smug at the start, began to look troubled after hearing what Donnie had to say.


    "Block boss, won''t this be too dangerous?"


    Donnie sat there nonchntly and said, "Of course, if you think it''s dangerous, you can refuse this task. But Block Tavern doesn''t harbor any dead weight. If you can''t do it, the door''s right there; you can leave anytime!"


    "I can do it, I can do it," Dwight hurriedly asserted.


    Donnie patted Dwight on the shoulder and said with a smile, "If you seed in this task, I won''t let you down!"


    "Thank you, Boss Block!"


    Seeing that Donnie had finished instructing Dwight, Robert then said to Donnie, "Now that I''m out, the aftermath of this incident is still quite serious. Shouldn''t we discuss what to do next?"


    This was why Donnie needed Robert. While John and the others were still reveling in the joy of Robert''s release, Robert was already worrying about the consequences of the event.


    Donnie nodded and said, "Come upstairs with me; let''s talk in detail."


    The others had no objections to Donnie''smand; after all, they knew they couldn''t keep up with the pace of the two men upstairs.


    "John has already told me about the process of my rescue. Although we''ve gained Nucky''s approval and secured half of Antic City''s liquor supply, and you now have the assistance of both the 3K Party and WCTU, we did outright reject the Commodore, and we''ve made Nucky more wary of us. I think, once Nucky deals with the Commodore, he will definitely turn his attention to us.


    This is unfavorable for our development!" Robert spoke at length.


    Donnie nodded. Now that he thought about it, their gains were indeed significant, but follow-up issues were also likely to be troublesome.


    "I think we can put Nucky aside for now. After all, his biggest adversary is the Commodore, not us. But with the Commodore, this man has been nning ever since he returned to Antic City, and he is not as broad-minded as Nucky. I am indeed worried he might do something nasty to us, just like he had you locked up before!" Donnie conveyed his concerns.


    Robert pondered for a moment and then said, "I think our current strength is still not strong enough. If the Commodore really takes action against us, Nucky is very likely to remain a disinterested onlooker. After all, reducing our strength would also make it more convenient for Nucky to deal with us after he''s finished with the Commodore."


    "So what you''re saying is, if possible, we should minimize friction with the Commodore?"


    Robert nodded and replied, "That''s right, but it''s going to be very difficult. First off, the Commodore must be extremely angry about our recent actions. If he''s not a fool, he must also understand that it''s impossible for you to heed hismands, so mending our rtionship with him is out of the question.


    Therefore, we need to increase our bargaining chips!"


    Donnie had already thought about this on the way back, but he still wanted to hear Robert''s suggestions.


    "What do you have in mind?"


    Robert said, "I think we should formally start building our own forces. We can''t abandon Olman, and we should also cultivate our own people in the public security branch."


    After hearing this, Donnie nodded thoughtfully and even smiled. Robert was thinking along the same lines as him.


    "A few guys from public security oftene to our tavern to drink. I have a decent rtionship with them, and they looked after me when I was inside. I think we can recruit them to be our people," Robert continued.


    Donnie responded, "Sure, I''ll leave this task to you. Just let me know how much money you need!"


    "No problem!" Robert replied.


    Seeing that Robert had no further questions, Donnie shared his own ns.


    "You''ll have to take good care of the two taverns from now on, as I might not have much time to deal with them in the future."


    "Is it because of Margaret''s situation?"


    "Margaret isn''t that important now, but she''s still useful to keep around!" Donnie naturally wouldn''t let a woman dy his ns.


    "Having public security on our side isn''t enough, though. Even though Nucky is already wary of me, I think when there''s good news beneficial to him, news he really needs, he should be willing to set aside his caution and work with us!"


    "So you''re saying you already have a n?"


    "Of course....."


    After discussing the n, Donnie brought up another matter: "All of what we''re doing now involves seeking external support, but what''s really important is for us to grow stronger ourselves. Only by strengthening ourselves can we truly ignore the threats from those people. So next, I want to establish our own hotel in Antic City."


    Robert was thrilled, "Just like the Commodore did back in the day, running that street corner in Antic City?"


    "Exactly, just like that!"


    Robert reminded Donnie, "Starting a hotel isn''t easy. Our current cash on hand is far from enough, unless you''re nning to establish just an ordinary inn!"

 Chapter 43: 39. 1919 Edition of MMC (Please follow, please favorite~)

    Donnie''s target was naturally not going to be an ordinary hotel.


    But, as Robert had said, if one wanted to construct an iconic hotel in Antic City, then the total investment had to be at least 5 million US Dors.


    In 1924, the Antic City Hall, advocated by Nucky, had be the iconic building of Antic City, and the total investment in this City Hall reached 15 million US Dors.


    Of course, excluding the money that Nucky and the power structures behind him embezzled and the various construction contractors'' profits, and adding everything up, the total investment was definitely close to 7 million US Dors!


    Now, Antic City had not yet fully flourished due to Prohibition, so if Donnie wanted to build this hotel at this time, a total investment of around 5 million US Dors would suffice!


    Regrettably, as Robert had said, Donnie simply couldn''te up with this sum of money at the moment. After calcting his ie and expenses for this period, he had at most about 10,000 US Dors in cash on hand.


    "Who said," Donnie asked with a self-satisfied look at Robert, "that building such a hotel requires our own investment?"


    Robert was slightly stunned, then reminded Donnie, "This matter is not easy to handle, and if anything goes wrong, we could bepletely obliterated."


    Donnie did not have any objections to Robert''s reminder and said, "So we don''t need to rush, slowly and steady will do."


    Robert knew that Donnie had finished discussing the serious matters and stretched leisurely. Smiling, he said, "If there''s nothing else, I''m going to go check out Scott Tavern next door. Who would''ve thought that one day I would be managing a tavern in Antic City?"


    At the end of his words, Robert''s expression was somewhat excited.


    Donnieughed, "Scott Tavern is bigger than ours and has better furnishings. You can capitalize on your strengths to make it sessful!"


    Robert looked puzzled at Donnie and asked, "My strengths? Are you referring to this?"


    As he spoke, Robert spread his legs and pointed at his groin.


    Donnie smiled and said, "Exactly, your strength lies there. You can negotiate with the apartment next door to have the women who aren''t doing business there stay at the tavern. If they can help us sell more alcohol, you can certainly offer them a share of the profits. Also, you can let tavern patrons directly pick out women they like on the premises."


    Robert''s eyes lit up, "Are you talking about the pirate taverns from the Age of Exploration?"


    Pirate taverns during the Age of Exploration were exactly the model Donnie described. In some harbor cities where pirates gathered, there would be many taverns. When pirates went ashore, they would seek pleasure in the taverns, and some of the taverns would even offer room service to them.


    If this is hard to understand, it can also be understood in terms of the karaoke bars and pubs ofter eras, with the prostitutes from the lodging being akin to the hostesses in those establishments.


    Whether a karaoke bar or a pub is considered upscale depends on the d¨¦cor, which is the hardware, and women, which are the software. If the women at your karaoke bar are pretty and know how to have a good time, the business there will certainly not be bad.


    Men...they need face, especially in front of women. A delicatement like: "You can''t do it, can you?"


    Men who have had too much to drink will always im they can!


    Donnie smiled slightly and said, "You can understand it that way!"


    Robert got up excitedly, "I''m going to negotiate this with next door right now! Oh, and do we want the same for Block Tavern?"


    Donnie shook his head, "Let''s not bother with Block Tavern for now. I have other ns for it and will have somedies from WCTUe to work here. Once they are familiar with the day-to-day operations of the tavern, then we can move forward with this business!"


    Robert gave Donnie a sly look, thenughed, "I fear the divorce rate in Antic City is going to continue to climb!"


    Donnieughed heartily, "What does that have to do with us!"


    .


    Themodore was very angry!


    So, his study was inplete chaos today, with red wine spilled on the wool carpet and broken sses all around.


    At this moment, themodore stood with one hand on the armrest of the sofa, breathing heavily. Today, he had truly felt his influence in Antic City waning.


    "Damn it, damn it, damn it!"


    After repeating ''damn it'' three times, themodore took a big gulp of whiskey before he managed to steady his mind.


    "Godfather, this Donnie is utterly detestable. I will arrange for someone to take him into custody now!"


    Vince was standing by, his face also showing an angry expression. He thought that he had Donnie under his thumb, but Donnie had pulled out the 3K party and the WCTU, and then managed to get Robert, who he had under control, released.


    "If you take him now, someone will release him within an hour!"


    Themodore''s bloodshot eyes revealed that he was in fact not ready to let go of his anger.


    "So we are just going to watch him strut around triumphantly?"


    Vince could not stand being suppressed by Donnie. When themodore had first found Donnie, he had said to Vince that Donnie was a very intelligent young man.


    This praise was something Vince, with all his youthful vigor, could not ept. He always believed that he was the most capable among the younger generation in Antic City.


    "Humph, of course not!"


    The Brigadier-General sat down on the sofa with the help of the armrest, gasping for breath as he said, "Although Donnie seems to have won this time, he''s also made enemies of his own!"


    "Who?" Vince asked.


    "LeBron!" said the Brigadier-General viciously. "This time, Donnie took away half of Antic City''s liquor share, which is like stealing food from LeBron''s mouth, and since he''s gotten so close to the 3Ks, LeBron doesn''t dare seek revenge on them but would definitely have the guts to make a move on Donnie!"


    Vince''s eyes lit up as he heard this, but then his expression dimmed, "But does LeBron dare to defy Nucky''s orders? We''ve told him many times to cooperate with us before, but he has always been very cautious and declined."


    "Hmph!" The Brigadier-General snorted coldly, "That was before. I believe that after experiencing the shooting and having his share taken away, LeBron''s dissatisfaction with Nucky must have peaked. Now, if we just show LeBron enough goodwill, he will definitely stand with us!"


    Vince nodded excitedly, "Then I''ll go to LeBron right now!"


    The Brigadier-General nodded, "Tell LeBron that if he stands with us, I will open up Leck Young''s hotel and docks to him!"


    Vinceughed, "With this chip, I''m sure he''ll be very happy!"


    "Go!" The Brigadier-General waved his hand.


    Vince left.


    .


    In the southern part of Antic City, close to Boston Street, a small tavern sat... Although its sign suggested it was a tavern, inside it was actually a small casino.


    Although gambling was one of the main industries in Antic City, it wouldn''t be officially legalized until the seventies.


    Dennis sat at the gambling table, his eyes red, intently studying the poker in his hand. Slowly, his look of anticipation turned to disappointment, and then from disappointment to anger.


    Clearly, he had lost again!


    Watching thest of his chips being taken away, Dennis seethed with the thought that he would definitely win the next round.


    Under such a mindset, Dennis found the tavern''s owner. The tavern not only provided a ce for patrons to gamble, but also solved their financial difficulties.


    Of course, such a friendly owner also required the gamblers to pay interest ¨C just much higher than a regr bank''s.


    "Isaiah, I need your help!"


    Dennis stood at the bar, wringing his hands, his face wearing a sycophantic smile.


    "Oh, isn''t this Dennis?" teased Isaiah. "Are you nning to repay the money you borrowed from me?"


    Dennis chuckled, "Once I win, I''ll be able to pay you back, so I need some funds to turn the tables now."


    Isaiah replied, "But that''s what you saidst time you took money from me too!"


    Dennis still kept his ttering demeanor, "Trust me, this time I can definitely win!"


    "I''ve already checked your financial situation. The bakery is preparing to fire you. Soon you''ll have no ie, which naturally means no money to repay me!"


    Isaiah wasn''t nning to lend money to Dennis anymore, not only was he not going to lend it, but he was also ready to demand repayment of his past loans!


    Dennis quickly said, "There is, there is, did you forget, I still have a wife at home? If I can''t pay you back, you can send my wife to the boarding house, then you''ll have the money, won''t you?"


    Margaret was famously beautiful throughout the southern district, and many people said it was sheer dumb luck that Dennis married such a pretty woman.


    Isaiah''s eyes lit up; he had coveted Margaret for more than a day or two, "Alright, as we are friends, it''s only right to lend you the money!"


    As he spoke, Isaiah took out US $20 from his drawer, along with some paper and a pen!


    Dennis hesitated not a bit to write down what he had just said.


    Whether such an IOU was legal, well, now in Antic City acknowledged it, but that didn''t stop the whole of Antic City from following such rules.


    Once Dennis was done, he smoothly received the US $20 Isaiah provided.


    The oue was simple. Dennis quickly lost the US $20.


    Just as he was thinking of borrowing more money from Isaiah, a skinny man brushed past him. Dennis didn''t pay the slightest attention to this. When he came to Isaiah again, smiling obsequiously to make his request, Isaiah naturally refused him.


    It was at that moment, as Isaiah was about to ask Dennis to take him to his house, that someone in the tavern suddenly shouted out loud.


    "My money? Where''s my money, who stole my money?"

 Chapter 44: 40. Borrowing a Knife (Please follow, please favorite~)

    In the casino, Dwight shouted in panic, immediately drawing the attention of everyone else inside.


    However, most of them seemed to take pleasure in others'' misfortunes¡ªit wasn''t their money that was lost, after all!


    But soon, as other voices in the gambling hall imed their money was gone too.


    That made everyone else start checking their pockets, wondering if from a bystander they had be a victim.


    Fortunately, no one else had lost any money, which was a relief to everyone.


    Seeing this, Isaiah immediately sprang into action. He was ready to kick Dwight and another person out. Screaming about lost money in his own casino was tantamount to saying his ce was unsafe, wasn''t it?


    But just as Isaiah was about to act, an angry voice erupted from the crowd.


    "Fuck, who''s got the guts to steal my money?"


    People looked towards the source of the voice, and even the boss, Isaiah himself, gasped. The man who spoke was A.J. Cook, the gang leader of the Panthers in the southern district.


    Isaiah couldn''t understand why such a big shot woulde to gamble at his ce today.


    This was not the time to think about that, though. Isaiah quickly jogged over, pushing his way past Dennis who was in front of him, and came to AJ, flustered.


    "AJ, rest assured, my ce is safe. It must have been someone blind who did this. I''ll find them for you right now!"


    p!


    AJ pped Isaiah hard across the face, then spoke fiercely, "Of course, find them right now! I just wanted to have a little fun, and I run into this mess."


    Dennis, who had just managed to stand up straight, felt a surge of schadenfreude seeing Isaiah get hit¡ªthat''s what you get for not lending me money!


    Then, looking at AJ, his expression was equally smug¡ªserves you right for having your money stolen!


    Isaiah''s gaze swept the room andnded on Dwight. "You,e here!"


    With a poption of forty to fifty thousand regr residents in Antic City, plus the influx of tourists from Phdelphia and New York, the city often hosted over one hundred thousand people. Even though Dwight was a well-known pickpocket, Isaiah didn''t recognize him.


    With a worried and angry face, Dwight came over, "I just got my wages, 50 US dors. I hadn''t even exchanged it for chips yet when I lost it!"


    "Are you sure you lost it here at our ce?"


    Isaiah was still trying to shirk responsibility.


    "Of course!" Dwight shouted, "I checked just before I came in. It was just now, when I was about to exchange for chips..."


    At this point, Dwight suddenly turned his gaze to Dennis, who was enjoying the drama.


    "It was him, it was him! I just bumped into him, and then my money was gone. He must have stolen it!"


    Dennis was bbergasted, not expecting the situation to fall on him. But when he saw the eyes of everyone in the casino on him, what scared him the most was AJ''s murderous look.


    "I... I didn''t!" Dennis iled his arms, shouting, "How could it be me? If it were, why would I ask Isaiah here for money?"


    Isaiah looked doubtful, thinking that made sense. If it really had been Dennis, he wouldn''t have asked to borrow money.


    And Isaiah knew Dennis well¡ªhe was apulsive gambler at the table, but he did not have the nerve for this kind of deed. Saying he would go home and hit his wife, though, that was true.


    More importantly, Isaiah did not believe Dennis had the skill for such a theft.


    "Still trying to argue your way out!" Dwight angrily walked up to Dennis. The height difference made Dwight jump up high to p Dennis across the face.


    Dennis was stunned by the p.


    At that moment, Dwight turned back to Isaiah and said, "I bet you didn''t lend him the money just now!"


    Isaiah realized that indeed, he hadn''t lent Dennis the money a second time. Could this kid really be so bold?


    "Is that true?" AJ glowered at Isaiah.


    "Yes, yes!" Isaiah quickly replied. Now wasn''t the time to consider these things. The most important thing was not to upset AJ, or his tavern wouldn''t be able to stay open!


    "A search will reveal the truth, won''t it?"


    Dwight was still hopping with every word he spoke.


    Before Dennis could react, AJ''s men had moved in, subdued him, and began searching him.


    One minuteter.


    Dennis looked at the 150 US dors in the hands of AJ''s men, his face pale and body trembling, "It wasn''t me, I swear!"


    p!


    Dwight pped him again, hopping with fury, then said viciously, "If it wasn''t you, did AJ or I stuff our money into your pocket?"


    AJ snarled as he stepped forward, "You''ve got guts, kid. No one in Antic City has ever dared to steal my money before. You''re the first!"


    "It really wasn''t me!"


    Dennis felt like crying but had no exnation.


    "Hmph, take him away!"


    After finishing his words, AJ turned around to leave, and his two subordinates had already taken Dennis into custody.


    "Boss AJ, Boss AJ!" Dwight, with a sneaky look, scurried up to AJ and gesturing towards his subordinates, said, "My money?"


    AJ snorted coldly and said, "How can you prove that any of that money is yours? All that went missing was 150 US dors!"


    "No, no, not mine!" Dwight, acting as if he was angry but did not dare to speak up, lowered his head and dodged away from AJ.


    Seeing this, AJ left the ce with a look of smug satisfaction on his face!


    "Dennis is done for this time. He could have stolen from anyone, but he had to steal from Boss AJ. Everyone in Antic City knows that Boss AJ is the most ruthless!"


    "Isaiah is getting a huge bargain out of this, with Dennis taken away by Boss AJ, even if he isn''t dumped into the ocean, he''s noting back. Dennis''s wife will end up with Isaiah this time!"


    "If I had known this would happen, I would have lent Dennis the money earlier!"


    The instigator behind the whole affair, Dwight, listened to the discussions in the casino about the incident, then left the ce with an air of hiding his capabilities and biding his time.


    Dennis, of course, would not dare to steal money. In fact, Dwight had arrived at the casino earlier. Although AJ did not recognize Dwight, Dwight knew AJ. So, he targeted AJ.


    Using his skills, he first stole the money from AJ, then took advantage of the collision with Dennis to nt both his own and AJ''s money on him.


    Throughout the whole incident, no one in the casino was aware.


    Donnie sat in Block Tavern, listening to Dwight recount the casino story, before pulling out 20 US dors from his pocket and handing it to Dwight.


    "Well done, this is for you!"


    The 50 US dors used to frame Dennis was given to Dwight by Donnie, who, of course, did not specify a victim for Dennis to rob.


    Dwight gleefully epted the money and said, "Thank you, Boss Block!"


    Donnie nodded slightly, then stood up and said, "Alright, head next door. There''s a lot of work to be done at Robert''s ce!"


    Scott''s Tavern could operate as soon as it changed hands, but Robert took Donnie''s advice and had already negotiated with the owner of the neighboring lodging apartment. When business was slow, he would have his girls go over to the adjacent tavern to entertain.


    So to better serve... and to elevate the standard of consumption, Robert still wanted to make some changes to Scott''s Tavern.


    "Alrighty!"


    Dwight left happily.


    "Wait a moment!" Just then, Donnie suddenly thought of something and called Dwight to halt.


    Dwight stopped in his tracks, looking at Donnie with bewilderment.


    Donnie said nothing, but reached into the pocket of his coat for his wallet. After confirming the amount inside was correct, he waved Dwight away.


    "Wait a moment!" This time, John, who had remained in the tavern, also stopped Dwight and then skillfully took out his own wallet.


    Dwight: "..."


    .


    As the business of Block Tavern and the bootlegging operation got better, Donnie also bought a Ford Model T. If it wasn''t for the convenience of running errands and transporting goods, Donnie wouldn''t want to buy a car at all¡ªafter all, driving a Ford Model T feels like operating a tractor!


    Driving the car, Donnie arrived at the First Hospital, where Margaret had already packed her bags.


    Seeing no one else in the hospital room, Margaret immediately threw herself into Donnie''s embrace, giving him her sweet kiss.


    "I thought you wouldn''te!"


    Donnieughed and said, "How could I not? Today is the big day you''re discharged from the hospital. No matter what happened, I was going to pick you up!"


    Margaret showed a touched expression.


    However, when she got into Donnie''s car, her face conveyed a conflicted look. After all, she still had a husband, Dennis. Thinking about having to face Dennis when she got back, Margaret felt nauseated from the bottom of her heart!


    "I... I don''t want to go back!"


    Margaret, sitting in the passenger seat, spoke softly.


    Driving the car, Donnie asked, "Is it because of Dennis?"


    "Yes!" Margaret nodded again.


    Donnie smiled lightly and said, "If it''s because of him, then you don''t have to worry. I''ve already found a goodwyer. Once we see him, you can divorce him!"


    "Really?" Margaret''s face lit up with excitement.


    "Of course!" Donnie steered with one hand, and with the other, he took hold of Margaret''s hand.


    The warmth from Donnie''srge hand reassured Margaret considerably.


    When the two drove up to Margaret''s ce, they saw two or three people gathered in front of her home, led by Isaiah!


    "What are you doing?" After getting out of the car, Margaret couldn''t help but tremble at the sight of these people. Though she didn''t know Dennis and the others, she was all too familiar with such scenes... whenever Dennis owed money, there would be someone knocking at the door demanding payment.


    Dennis, seeing Margaret''s pitiable state, immediately showed a smug look on his face: "Naturally, I''vee to take you home!"

 Chapter 45: 41. Donnies Influence (Please follow and collect~)

    Just as Isaiah finished speaking and was about to make a move, a strong hand gripped his wrist, preventing Isaiah''s hand from moving forward even a fraction. The immense pain from his wrist made Isaiah cry out in agony.


    "Ouch, ouch, ouch! Let go, let go, let go!"


    Donnie flung Isaiah''s hand away, and the other man stumbled a few steps back, furiously ring at Donnie once out of his reach.


    "Who are you to meddle in my affairs in the West District?"


    With a wave of his hand, his subordinates immediately prepared to step forward.


    "My name is Donnie Block!"


    Donnie stood in front of Margaret, coldly eyeing those men.


    "Hold on, hold on, hold on!"


    Upon hearing Donnie''s name, Isaiah, regardless of the pain in his wrist, hurriedly intercepted his own men, looking at Donnie with some panic, he confirmed.


    "You are Donnie Block from Block Tavern?"


    "Indeed!"


    Donnie nodded slightly, confidently speaking.


    By now, Donnie had already ceased to be a nobody in Antic City; half of the city''s liquor supply was from Donnie, and just because of this, even without knowing that Donnie had already joined forces with organizations like the KKK and WCTU, Isaiah wouldn''t dare to show off in front of him anymore.


    Frankly speaking, Isaiah was nothing but a small-time hood in Antic City with some connections. Such a person might not have significant power, but he was well-informed.


    In his past life, when Donnie had not yet climbed to a high position, he had dealt with such people frequently. Naturally, he understood them well and therefore stood there, undisturbed.


    "So, it''s Mr. Block. My apologies, I didn''t know you and Margaret are... good friends, good friends!"


    Isaiah immediately switched to a fawning smile, just like the one he had in his own casino when facing AJ.


    Donnie knew that people like Isaiah might not be capable of doing much, but they were adept at gathering information, so he didn''t intimidate Isaiah, merely putting on a smile.


    "Alright, now that you know, let''s talk about why you came here."


    "It''s nothing, just a small misunderstanding. We''ll leave right now!" As Isaiah said this, his heart ached; he was just a small casino owner with limited daily earnings, lending nearly 50 US dors to Dennis in total was not a small sum for him.


    "If it''s a misunderstanding, all the more reason to rify it." Donnie didn''t let Isaiah leave; after all, he was aware of what had happened earlier in Dennis''s Tavern.


    Dennis, seeing Donnie''s stance, did not hide anything and fully informed Donnie of the situation where Dennis had borrowed money and used Margaret as coteral.


    Donnie''s expression remained unchanged upon hearing this, but Margaret, standing behind him, couldn''t stay on her feet after learning the entire story. If it weren''t for Donnie turning back in time to support her, she would have fainted to the ground by then.


    "I''ll cover this money for you!" Donnie, supporting Margaret with one hand, took out his wallet from his coat pocket with the other and passed it to Dennis: "Take the money yourself, make sure the count is correct!"


    Dennis looked at Donnie in surprise, to him Donnie was now an untouchable figure in Antic City, an existence even more terrifying than AJ, and now he was so easy to talk to, even willing to pay him?


    For a moment, Dennis felt like crying; it had been a long time since he''d seen such a principled boss in Antic City!


    "Yes, yes, Mr. Block, you can rest assured, I wouldn''t dare to take a single cent more than I''m owed!"


    With a heart full of excitement, his hands trembling, he took out 45.5 US dors from Donnie''s wallet!


    Then, respectfully, he passed the wallet back to Donnie with both hands.


    After taking the wallet, Donnie spoke calmly, "This time, I''ve given you the money, but there won''t be a next time. Also, remember, from now on, Dennis is Dennis, and Margaret is Margaret, she has resumed her own surname. So, if Dennis borrows money from you again, that''s your business!"


    "Understood, understood, understood!" Isaiah nodded repeatedly: "You can count on me, Mr. Block, I know what to do!"


    After saying this, Isaiah left without looking back, not even ncing at Margaret, who he had long coveted in Donnie''s arms.


    Yet in his heart, he held envy for Margaret.


    This woman was on her way to soaring high!


    She was getting involved with a big shot like Donnie Block; it seemed likely she would soon leave the West District!


    After Isaiah had left, Donnie helped the still overwhelmed Margaret back to her residence and poured her a ss of tap water.


    "I don''t ever want to see him again!"


    After collecting herself a bit, Margaret spoke firmly.


    Donnie said with a smile, "Well, didn''t you hear just now? Dennis has already been taken by AJ, and knowing AJ''s temperament, it will indeed be hard for you to see him again!"


    It took a while, but Margaret finally calmed down thoroughly, though she continued to fuss and talk to Donnie in tears, until the evening when she remembered to make dinner for Donnie!


    After this incident, Donnie simply moved into Margaret''s home, moving out of Block Tavern.


    During this time, Donnie even gave a speech at the WCTU. With Elena''s advance hype, coupled with the WCTU''s sympathy towards Margaret''s situation, Donnie easily became the most popr man within the WCTU.


    Even though this man owned a tavern, which ran contrary to their principles.


    Donnie also took the opportunity at the WCTU to showcase his gentlemanly side, helping every woman who sought his assistance.


    Through the word of these women, the name Donnie Block started to frequentlye up at every family''s dinner table in Antic City.


    Just one week''s time, and Donnie had be a celebrity in Antic City.


    And this was precisely one of the objectives that Donnie had hoped to achieve by getting in touch with Margaret.


    "Look, our friend of women hase back!"


    When Donnie walked into Block Tavern tonight, it instantly sparked a round of teasing from many people inside.


    "Donnie, you really should talk some sense into our women at home. She''s no longer focusing on the household. Before, she would always prepare dinner and wait for me to return, but now it''s been several days since I''ve had a warm dinner!"


    Americans ce great importance on dinner, believing that it''s the best time for a family to gather together.


    "Donnie, my wife asked me to thank you. It was thanks to the coal you provided that our family could get through this winter smoothly!"


    Even though he no longer had the money to buy coal tost the final days of winter, this man still went to Block Tavern for a drink every day!


    Facing these greetings, Donnie responded to each one, until someone shouted out.


    "Donnie, the tavern next door has countless women mingling among the customers every day. When will Block Tavern offer the same service? I heard that other taverns in Antic City are getting ready to provide such service too!"


    Donnie paused, looked at the man, then smiled and said, "I know you, Bruce Carey, your wife has already submitted an application to the WCTU, preparing to work here at Block Tavern, so soon there will be women here!"


    Bruce Carey''s face turned red in an instant. In fact, the news that Block Tavern was going to hire a group of women to work here had already spread. Everyone supported this move by Block Tavern, even though they knew these women were already married!


    A man always prefers his concubine to his wife, a prostitute to his concubine, and a ndestine affair to all.


    Such male psychology is the same in both East and West; the ultimate fantasy for every man is to be a cunning rogue.


    In the dimly lit tavern, teasing a married woman was considered very thrilling.


    As a result, nearly every day people would ask Donnie when exactly women would start working here.


    Now Donnie had told them, but when Bruce Carey heard that his wife was one of them, his face immediately flushed with anger.


    It was fury!


    It was one thing for other men''s wives to do it, but absolutely not his own!


    "No, Donnie, you absolutely can''t ept her request. I will never allow such a thing to happen!"


    Bruce Carey stood up and shouted loudly.


    Donnie, unconcerned, spread his hands and said, "Our tavern''s hiring is open, fair, and objective. As long as someone wishes toe and meets our hiring conditions, I cannot refuse them. So, Bruce, if you don''t want your wife toe here, you''d better go home now and persuade her. Oh, and before you go, don''t forget to settle your bar tab!"


    Bruce Carey, not daring to be arrogant with Donnie here, angrily threw down a banknote, then stormed out of the tavern amid theughter of the other patrons!


    "Donnie, you just cost us 50 cents. From my experience, Bruce would''ve had at least one more whiskey!" Johnined to Donnie.


    Donnie, unfazed, said, "Don''t worry, dear John. Didn''t you see that when everyone heard Bruce Carey''s wife was going to work here, quite a few guests ordered an extra whiskey?"


    If it doesn''t directly affect them, everyone loves to watch the excitement and doesn''t mind if things get out of hand.


    John then nodded in satisfaction andughed, "Alright, I just noticed that!"


    Donnie didn''t dwell on the matter, instead he said to John, "Go fetch Robert for me, I have some things to discuss with you guys!"


    Seeing Donnie''s expression, John knew it was something serious and asked, "Is it about the hotel construction?"


    Donnieughed and said, "How could it be? It would be good if the hotel construction could have results within a year!"


    John, not understanding, still went next door to call for Robert.


    In the second-floor room, which was once his and now John''s, Donnie said to Robert and John, "LeBron James has been discharged from the hospital. We should be more careful now!"

 Chapter 46: 42. The foolish LeBron (please follow, please collect~)

    Donnie looked down on LeBron''s emotional intelligence but had never underestimated LeBron''sbativeness.


    A ck man with low emotional intelligence and a less capable brain could be a leading figure in the North District of Antic City, so hisbativeness had to be off the charts.


    In the series of events that had urred in Antic City before, LeBron James could be said to have suffered the greatest losses.


    He had lost half of his business in Antic City and had also been attacked by the Ku Klux n, which blew up his brewery and wounded him.


    Meanwhile, as the person who had benefited the most from the previous series of events and had a direct interest with LeBron James, Donnie had reason to believe that LeBron James would definitelye looking for trouble with him after getting discharged from the hospital!


    "Does LeBron have the guts to do that? Doesn''t he worry about Nucky''s reprimand?"


    John couldn''t understand Donnie''s concern; in his view, since they were now in a partnership with Nucky, how could Nucky possibly allow such infighting to happen!


    "Silly!" Robert habitually ridiculed John before exining, "If LeBron Jameses looking for trouble with us, Nucky won''t only refrain from helping, he would actually be pleased to see it happen.


    In Donnie''s series of strategies, although we have gained substantial benefits, it has also raised Nucky''s vignce, especially considering Donnie''s rtions with the KKK and the WCTU, it is bound to make Nucky wary.


    In such a case, having LeBron James weaken our forces would please Nucky, so why would he scold him!"


    John had wanted to deal with this person who dared to ridicule him properly, but after hearing his exnation, he gave up.


    "So that''s how it is, there''s too much craftiness in their hearts!"


    Donnie chuckled, "That''s not all, LeBron James is stubborn and rebellious. This time, to pacify the trouble brought by the KKK and the WCTU, Nucky distributed LeBron James''s business to us and prohibited LeBron James from making trouble with the KKK. This will all cause LeBron James to harbor dissatisfaction with Nucky.


    He may not think of attacking Nucky, but he will certainly do something to make Nucky unhappy, thereby proving his capabilities."


    "If that''s the case, what shall we do? Strike first and kill LeBron?"


    John''s thoughts were much simpler. In his view, all troubles could be solved by dealing with the person who caused them.


    Donnie shook his head, "We can''t make a move. LeBron has absolute influence in the North District, which is why he''s been able to deal with Nucky and the Colonel without suffering any substantial blow!"


    The North District is the poorest district in Antic City but also has the city''srgest poption.


    Not only do Nucky and the Colonel want the North District''s votes, but Donnie also has his ns for them.


    "Then use the method we used against George on LeBron!" After saying that, Johnughed, "I''m really too smart!"


    Donnie and Robert looked at John helplessly.


    "What? Is there a problem with my suggestion?"


    Seeing the looks from Donnie and Robert, John asked, puzzled.


    Robert said sarcastically, "No problem at all, just let everyone know that George''s death wasn''t due to his subordinates being greedy, but due to someone''s plotting, and that someone is very likely to be us. When that happens, the Colonel will unleash his wrath, divert his aim from attacking Nucky and focus on attacking us!


    Furthermore, Nucky would certainly approve of such an oue and might even support the Colonel in doing so."


    John clenched his fists tightly but eventually let go in resignation.


    "Then what do you suggest we do?"


    Donnie turned to John, asking, "I ask you, if you were LeBron, how would you deal with us?"


    Seeing Donnie ask for his opinion for the first time, John immediatelyughed, "Haha, you''re admitting I''m smart?"


    Because you, like LeBron, have a brain but don''t use it much... Donnie said with a beaming smile, "I''ve always believed in your brain!"


    Johnughed and began to think seriously, then spoke, "If I were LeBron, I''d take action against you in transportation.


    Now that my brewery is destroyed, it will take some time to recover, and you''re the only one who can provide alcohol for everyone in Antic City.


    If I attacked you within the city, the consequences could be severe, something I wouldn''t dare to do unless absolutely necessary.


    So, I would send some people to ambush on the essential route from Elwood Vige to Antic City, targeting the alcohol. As long as I can intercept your transportation and hurt your people, I would have seeded."


    Donnie nodded after hearing this; asking John turned out to be the right choice. If it were him, he would certainly think about how to sever his connections with the KKK and the WCTU, as to outsiders, these were his biggest dependencies in Antic City.


    "John, take Magichi and Chris back to Elwood Vige immediately and also tell Dad that this time when we deliver the alcohol..."


    John''s face broke into a smile upon hearing the rest, finding the uing dangerous trip not worrisome but rather exciting.


    "Rest assured, this time I guarantee they wille but never return!"


    Donnie nodded and continued to instruct, "Remember, everyone can be killed, except for LeBron. This man is still useful!"


    John''s excited expression faded by half, and he asked in confusion, "This ck guy has alreadyid hands on us. Why keep him? Just kill him directly. With him gone, the North District would be headless, wouldn''t that be more advantageous for us?"


    Donnie shook his head, "If LeBron James dies, it might seem like we have one less opponent, but it will also put us in the spotlight for everyone to see. At that time, Nucky and the Colonel will not allow our strength to grow so rapidly!"


    "Fine, although I still don''t quite understand your reasoning, I will carry out your orders!"


    John scratched his head, looking resigned as he spoke.


    Donnie listened and smiled. This was John''s strong point, although sometimes he couldn''tprehend Donnie''s thoughts, he could faithfully execute Donnie''s orders.


    .


    A pitch-ck night with a piercing cold wind was the perfect time for a massacre and plunder.


    An old truck covered with a brown tarp moved towards Antic City, its dim yellow headlights cutting through the darkness.


    Ahead of them, at a distance of 100 meters, five men armed with long and short gunsy in ambush in the forest to the left of the highway.


    "Boss, I have investigated clearly, since taking away half of the Antic City share from us, Donnie has been shipping a batch of whiskey and rum worth 1,000 US dors to Antic City every three days!"


    The speaker was none other than LeBron James''s right-hand man, TT.


    "Dammit, once the goods are in Antic City, Donnie can make an 800 US dor profit with just a flip. That''s even more than what we used to earn!"


    The quality of Donnie''s goods was average, but the price was on par with the lower-tier whiskey and rum, which was why Donnie never worried about sales. Even on the ck market of Antic City, Donnie''s liquor was in hot demand.


    Just supplying Antic City with alcohol alone could bring Donnie an ie of 8,000 US dors every month. For TT, who had grown up in Antic City, this was utterly unforgivable.


    They had been working hard all year and couldn''t even earn that much money!


    So when his boss suggested they hit Donnie and take his goods, TT was incredibly excited.


    LeBron James had now recovered his health, his dark skin blending with the night under the moonlight.


    At this moment, he was also very angry.


    Nucky had not only prevented him from taking revenge but had also given half of his business to Donnie.


    Such an oue was uneptable to LeBron James, especially since he had learned from the Colonel that Donnie was now very close to the Ku Klux n.


    This made it even more unbearable for LeBron James.


    "When the timees, kill everyone on that truck!"


    LeBron James said coldly.


    TT showed a bloodthirsty expression andughed, "Don''t worry, boss. Those who came with us this time are our closest brothers; there''s no way there will be any issues!"


    LeBron James nodded in satisfaction, "Is everything prepared back home?"


    TT answered, "It''s all set. Once we snatch Donnie''s goods, we''ll return to Antic City and blow up Donnie''s Block Tavern!"


    LeBron James grew more satisfied, "Nucky wants Donnie to take over our half-share in Antic City, but that''s only if Donnie is capable of handling it!"


    TT cautiously reminded, "Boss, Nucky still seems to think highly of Donnie. What if we blow Donnie up this time, could Nucky be problematic?"


    LeBron James spoke confidently, "Don''t worry, I''ve already discussed it with the Colonel. He will help us deal with any trouble from the authorities!"


    "Boss, are you nning on coborating with the Colonel?"


    TT asked, puzzled.


    LeBron James said proudly, "Whether it''s the Colonel or Nucky, what they really care about are the votes from the North District. As long as we''re still here, they can''t ignore the situation in the North District.


    So I''m convinced that even if Nucky knows we have a connection with the Colonel, he will continue topromise with us, just as he did before, willing to hand over the entire Antic City liquor market to us!"


    Listening to LeBron James''s exnation, TT no longer had anything to worry about.


    It was at this moment that the lights of the truck illuminated the dirt road in front of LeBron James and his men.


    "They''re here!" LeBron James said in a cold voice, "TT, lead the brothers and take back what should have been ours!"


    Under the cover of night, TT nodded excitedly. Their zero-dor shopping spree was about to begin!

 Chapter 47: 43. Old Carls Arrival (Please follow, please favorite~)

    "Haha, I knew no one could mess with the Block Family, even if they''re from Antic City!"


    The hearty and deepughter made the identity of the speaker clear¡ªit was none other than Donnie Block''s father, old Carl!


    Seeing old Carl jumping off the truck took Donnie by surprise.


    He didn''t even have time to tell Chris and the others to move the liquor from the truck to the bar before asking old Carl.


    "Why did youe here?"


    John said proudly at his side, "The moment dad heard someone dared to rob the Block Family''s liquor, he immediately decided toe over and check out the situation in Antic City!"


    "What, you''re not happy to see your old man here?"


    As Donnie''s business got better and better, the concerns of the Block Family had disappeared into thin air, and old Carl had be even more exuberant than before.


    "How could I not be? I''m extremely happy!" Donnie red hard at John before inviting old Carl into the bar.


    "This ce is much livelier than back home!"


    Old Carl said, somewhat amazed as he looked around the bustling bar.


    Donnie casually pulled away a man sitting at the bar to make room for old Carl to sit down, "Now that you''re here, won''t there be problems back home?"


    Old Carl waved his hand dismissively, boasting, "Don''t worry, I''ve already taken care of everything!"


    That''s when Donnie finally felt at ease. The distillery in Elwood Vige was the foundation of his position in Antic City, and Donnie would not allow anything to go wrong there.


    "So, you''re saying that you really were attacked on the way here?"


    Only now did Donnie start to worry about what happened to them on the road.


    By then, John had alreadye over, grabbed two bottles of beer from inside the bar, gave one to old Carl, and opened one for himself.


    Glug glug glug¡­


    "Just as you expected, LeBron did make his move. Luckily, we all hid in the truck''spartment at the time and ambushed them. LeBron James''s men were all taken out!"


    Robert walked over, grinning, "And we''ve tossed the bodies of those guys into the Antic, no one''s going to find them!"


    Hearing Robert say that calmed Donnie down.


    "Since when do ck guys dare topete with us for business?" old Carl seemed to already know who was behind the ambush from Robert and John, and he was very angry.


    Being robbed by ck people was something that, if it spread in Elwood Vige, would beughed at.


    "If I hadn''t stopped him, dad would''ve already been off to North District!" John boasted to Donnie, trying to take credit.


    "Donnie, I''m not criticizing you, but howe the richer you get, the more timid you be? If those ck guys dare to make a move, just take them out!"


    Donnie finally realized where John got his personality from.


    "Things are not as simple as you think. Antic City has its own rules of the game, and since we don''t have the power to set our own rules yet, we''ll just have to temporarily abide by theirs!"


    Donnie knew he couldn''t exin theplexity of the situation to old Carl, so he tried to put it in the simplest terms possible.


    Old Carl waved his hand nonchntly, "Alright then, since you''ve built your empire here in Antic City, you make the calls about things over here. But let me tell you, if any ck guys dare to cause trouble in Elwood Vige, I''ll definitely take them out next time!"


    "Okay!" Donnie had no objections but remembered the incident about Nucky sending someone over. After the phone call in Nucky''s study, Donnie had yet to contact old Carl.


    "Has there been any stranger visiting the vigetely?"


    At this point, old Carl shed his brusque and carefree demeanor and said seriously to Donnie, "There was someone indeed, imed to be some kind of Prohibition Investigator, I believe his name was Van Alden, that''s right, that''s the name!"


    Donnie frowned slightly, not expecting the Prohibition Investigators to have started moving into Antic City.


    Although Antic City had clearly repealed the Prohibition, it was only the city''s word and had no strong legal basis.


    "Did he cause us any trouble?"


    Donnie asked directly since he was now the biggest bootlegger in Antic City!


    Old Carlughed heartily, pleased with himself, "That white kid started off pretty arrogant, saying he was going to take me in, but when he saw our dozen or so guns, he turned into a coward in an instant. Now, he''s working as a bartender at my distillery!"


    Donnie: "..."


    He knew old Carl was tough, but he hadn''t expected him to be this tough.


    But thinking about it, Donnie could understand why Antic City had thrived so rapidly over a decade during Prohibition, without ever hearing of any prohibition agents making a significant impact there.


    On the contrary, it was Nucky who eventually got caught by Federal Investigators in coboration with the IRS for tax evasion, which clearly showed that prohibition agents had no ce in Antic City.


    "You still need to be cautious, I believe many people will secretly start investigations in our area," he advised.


    Since prohibition agents wouldn''t aplish much in Elwood Vige, Donnie decided to leave them alone. It was Elwood Vige that detained Nucky''s men and now had taken out LeBron James''s men, making it a ce many were eager to probe into.


    "Don''t worry!" Old Carl said confidently, "Even if a strange fly enters Elwood Vige, we''ll know about it!"


    After chatting for a while, Old Carl suddenly brought up another matter with Donnie.


    "Cameron told me that underground speakeasies are starting to appear in Phdelphia, where the price of alcohol is very high, and he also asked me to tell you not to put all your eggs in one basket. Although we now have the Antic City market, if we could get Phdelphia and New York''s markets as well, our wealth would roll in!" he conveyed.


    Cameron Block was attending high school in Phdelphia.


    Donnie frowned slightly and said, "Why does Cameron care about these things instead of focusing on his studies? Has he been to those speakeasies?"


    Old Carl shook his head and replied, "Cameron told me he hasn''t gone. It was his ssmates who mentioned them."


    At this time, Phdelphia was not yet the ''City of Zombies'' of the future. Before the manufacturing industry in the United States moved overseas, Phdelphia was a very important industrial city, especially for its steel industry, which was the backbone of the city.


    It was also because of this rtionship that Antic City could quickly grow with the help of Phdelphia''s middle-ss.


    However, as America''s heavy industry moved away and the Great Depression loomed in the next decade, Phdelphia''s economy plummeted rapidly, directly causing Antic City''s business to nosedive, and what should have been one of America''s most luxurious cities was gradually overtaken by Las Vegas!


    Donnie told Old Carl, "Tell Cameron that the SAT is his priority right now, not business matters. Once he finishes college, there will be plenty of work for him to do!"


    Old Carl nodded and said, "I''ve already given him a stern talking-to!"


    Donnie then added, "Forget about New York for now, at least at this stage, its market is not something we can touch. As for Phdelphia, I will investigate the situation there first before making a decision!"


    As bootlegging was a gray industry, it inevitably had to connect with local gangs.


    As the economic center of the United States, New York''s gang power was also very strong, and at that time, the city was being controlled by the Bugg and Meyer gangs.


    As for the future ruler of New York''s underworld, Charles Luciano had not yet fully risen to prominence.


    "Alright, I''ll keep these things in mind!"


    After gulping down a beer, Old Carl said nonchntly, affirming his trust in Donnie Block, who had proven his abilities.


    With business matters settled, Old Carl threw his arm around Robert''s neck and said, "I hear Donnie has given you a speakeasy?"


    Robert''s face flushed red as he breathed heavily, "I''m just managing, managing. The speakeasy is still Donnie''s!"


    Though he said that, the rtionship between Scott''s Speakeasy and Donnie was more like that of a parentpany with a subsidiary. Scott was only required to pay a certain amount of money to Donnie each month, and any additional profits,rge or small, were Robert''s to keep.


    Donnie, who made this decision, was well aware that even the best rtionships cannot be maintained indefinitely by relying solely on so-called friendship or kinship. It''s not possible.


    It''s only profit!


    Only sufficient, tempting profits can truly make the people around one adhere closely to oneself as the core, forming a solid group!


    "But I hear your speakeasy has quite a few features that this one doesn''t?"


    Old Carl asked with a smile.


    Hearing Old Carl''s words, Donnie and John, the two brothers, immediately turned their faces away in an understanding silence, pretending to have heard nothing.


    Robert, catching on quickly, said immediately, "I can take you there right now to see for yourself, and you can give us some guidance!"


    "Good!" Old Carl pulled Robert away from the ce.


    .


    Meanwhile, a panic-stricken LeBron James scurried back to his home in the North District, the only two-story vi there.


    LeBron, too anxious to remove his shoes, took out a bottle of rum from the liquor cab and took a hefty gulp.


    Seeing LeBron like this, his worried wife asked, "What''s happened? Where are TT and the others, why didn''t theye back with you?"


    His wife''s question made LeBron feel as if the rattling gunfire from before was echoing again, and he sank to the carpet, crouching down.


    "Antic City is no longer what it once was," LeBron mumbled to himself, sitting on the carpet.

 Chapter 48: 44, LeBron: Ive decided to take my business to Block (please follow, please bookmark~)

    The death of TT and his crew quickly spread through the North District.


    The oue sent shockwaves through the entire North District; ever since LeBron James took the position of North District boss, no one had challenged his reputation there.


    But now...


    First, LeBron''s distillery was bombed, and he was injured in the explosion, yet LeBron James didn''t even have the courage to strike back. Now, his own men had been killed!


    LeBron James could clearly feel his reputation in the North District plummeting at a visible rate.


    Today, as LeBron James and his wife went to dine at the only high-end restaurant in the North District, they were informed that his usual seat had been taken by someone else.


    "James, I''m terribly sorry, Mr. Pierce arrived early and there was nothing we could do!"


    The ck waiter at the restaurant''s entrance said to LeBron James with an awkward expression.


    Standing at the entrance of the restaurant, LeBron James could clearly see Pierce and his group sitting in his usual spot, drinking andughing, even noticing that Pierce had actually seen him but still hadn''t done anything else.


    This situation made LeBron James feel both angry and helpless.


    Everyone in the North District knew that seat was his own and to some extent, it represented his reputation in the North District.


    Now, his reputation was being challenged.


    "Darling, let''s go back,"


    LeBron''s wife tugged at LeBron James''s arm and whispered.


    LeBron James didn''t leave; he couldn''t leave because he knew that if he backed down now, it wouldn''t take a day for the news to spread all over the North District, and then everyone would know that he was afraid of Pierce and his group.


    If this news reached other parts of Antic City, especially the ears of Nucky and the Colonel, it would mean that he had lost control of the entire North District.


    If things reached this point, LeBron James could already anticipate his own fate.


    Nucky and the Colonel, who had already been dissatisfied with him, would definitely not hesitate to finish him off.


    So LeBron James, with his wife, pushed past the waiter in front of him and walked up to Pierce and his group.


    "This seat belongs to me!"


    Pierce looked up, pretending to have just seen LeBron James, "Howe I didn''t know this restaurant belonged to you, LeBron?"


    LeBron James still stood there, looking down at Pierce, and said, "The restaurant isn''t mine, but this seat is mine. Leave now with your people, and I can pretend nothing happened."


    "Ha!" Pierceughed smugly, "And if I don''t leave, will respected Mr. James send TT and his guys with guns to my house tonight?"


    LeBron James''s face was as still as water as he looked at the people beside Pierce and began to name them, "Snow, did you forget who it was that gave you money for your mother''s hospital bills when she couldn''t afford them?"


    "Gordon, who sent a turkey and coal to your family on Christmas Eve?"


    "Parker, who paid for your son''s expensive school fees?"


    ....


    Each person LeBron James named showed a hint of shame, which made Pierce, who was just recently unbridled, suddenly startughing again and stand up.


    "LeBron, we were just having a bit of fun with you, why take it so seriously? Anyway, we''ve had our fill and will now leave, giving you back your seat."


    After saying this, Pierce signaled for the others to get up and then they left the restaurant.


    At that moment, the waiters hurried over to clean up the leftovers on the table.


    Seeing her husband quickly dispel the challengers with a few words, LeBron''s wife thought his reputation in the North District was as strong as ever, and a proud smile appeared on her face.


    "Today you''ll take the children and leave Antic City, go to the countryside to stay at your grandmother''s house. If I don''te to pick you up personally, don''te back!"


    But while LeBron''s wife was still feeling proud, LeBron James was already speaking to her in the most serious of tones.


    "What?" eximed LeBron''s wife in surprise.


    "Sit down!" LeBron James said coldly, "Do you want everyone in Antic City to know?"


    "But you clearly just intimidated them!" LeBron''s wife sat down anxiously and asked in fear.


    "Such intimidation is only temporary. If we can''t restore our strength soon, these people will eventually tear us apart!"


    LeBron James whispered, then instructed, "Now, let''s finish this dinner with our usual elegance!"


    .


    "Boss, the situation in North District has already gotten out of control, LeBron James is losing his grip on the whole North District!"


    Louis had just informed Nucky about the events transpiring in North District.


    Nucky''s expression was grave, the affairs of North District wereplicated. Those ck folks seemed very united on regr days, but as soon as their alpha wolf showed signs of not being able to intimidate them, they would immediately band together to attack, tearing their opponent apartpletely.


    The previous boss of North District, Ewing, was thrown into the Antic by LeBron James under such circumstances.


    "Louis, I''m really getting a headache!"


    Nucky said, rubbing his temples, sounding weary.


    Louis knew that Nucky''s headache wasn''t a physical one, but a mental one.


    Because now Antic City had a feeling of slipping out of Nucky''s control.


    "LeBron James, such a foolish man. How could I ever have let him be the boss of North District?" Nucky said, looking at Louis.


    "I''ve already told him that he needs to lie low for a while. First and foremost, his most important task is to reestablish his own brewery. What was he thinking, trying to rob Donnie Block''s goods? Anyone with half a brain should know that Donnie would be taking extremely good care of his merchandise during this time!"


    Louis answered, "He was the first toe over to your side after Ewing gradually lost control of North District. As for that other issue, I can''t answer that, because in my view, such behavior is indeed very foolish!"


    At this time, both Nucky and Louis were reminded of the incident when they sent men to provoke Elwood Vige.


    "So what should I do now? Should I continue to support LeBron James in regaining control of North District, or should I prop up someone new?"


    Although Nucky was asking Louis for advice, at this point, he wasn''t really open to anyone''s opinion because Nucky was Nucky, the one who only believed in himself!


    So when Louis replied, "I think you should continue to support LeBron James, boss. Even though he''s been wavering between you and the brigadier, it''s an election year, and North District can''t be in chaos, at least not this year."


    Nucky coldly responded, "LeBron knows my concerns, which is why he''s be even more reckless, increasingly disobeying my orders."


    This time, Louis didn''t answer Nucky because he could feel Nucky''s anger and sheer disdain for LeBron James in his response.


    "That''s right, North District can''t be in chaos right now, and LeBron James can''t fall, but I can''t let him continue acting so recklessly!"


    Without needing Louis''s response, Nucky had already given the answer himself!


    .


    "Mr. James, Mr. Nucky has sent us to help you, from now on we''re your men. Just give us your orders!"


    Just as LeBron James was pondering how to recruit more henchmen, a two-meter-tall ck man, with four underlings, showed up at LeBron James''s doorstep.


    LeBron James recognized the ck man; his name was Joel Embiid, a very famous boxer from North District before. LeBron had tried to recruit him several times, but he had never agreed to work for him.


    But now, unexpectedly, Embiid hade to join LeBron with his brothers!


    However, LeBron James couldn''t feel happy about this development, for these men were sent by Nucky. He had always known that Nucky was covertly supporting others in North District. But back then, he was unrivaled in North District and thus had not been too worried.


    Now, the situation was different. Were these men here to pledge allegiance to him?


    Not at all. These men had been sent to monitor and control him by Nucky.


    With the words that followed from Embiid, LeBron James''s suspicions were further confirmed.


    "Mr. Nucky has instructed me to tell you that North District can''t fall into chaos now, so he hopes you can have a heart as vast as the sea for the people of North District. Also, Mr. Nucky said that, from now on, Pierce won''t provoke you anymore!"


    "I got it. Tell Nucky that I will manage North District well. I promise that within a week, the lost brewery will be restored, and the votes of North District will always belong to Nucky!"


    "I will ry your message to Mr. Nucky exactly!"


    Embiid nodded expressionlessly.


    .


    That night, LeBron James paced back and forth in his living room. His wife and children had already left Antic City that afternoon, but it still didn''t afford LeBron James any sense of security.


    He had never felt the winter of Antic City to be so bitterly cold.


    Finally, when the clock on the wall showed 11 PM, LeBron James took off his three-piece suit and put on the mostmon brown overcoat seen in Antic City, braving the cold night air as he left his home and made his way to the back alley of Block Tavern.


    When he met Donnie there, the first thing he said was,


    "I''ve decided to bring my business to Block Tavern!"

 Chapter 49: 45. Pierces Ambition (Please follow and collect~)

    In the room on the second floor of Block Tavern, which was previously Donnie''s, Donnie, John, and Old Carl were seated in the dim yellow light, all looking somewhat astonished at the man before them ¡ª LeBron James!


    "I want to bring my business to Block Tavern!"


    This statement shocked Donnie greatly. Just half an hour ago, they had been discussing how to suppress LeBron James in theing days, and now, half an hourter, LeBron James hade to offer his allegiance!


    First, he followed Nucky, then flirted with the Commodore, and now he hade to offer his allegiance to Donnie himself.


    Could it be that you are the reincarnation of Lu Fengxian?


    That was what Donnie really felt like asking LeBron James.


    "LeBron, your sudden arrival here makes me question your motives!"


    "I''m simply trying to save my life and preserve my influence in the North District!"


    LeBron James sat opposite Donnie, his voice tinged with reluctance.


    Donnie asked, "Is there anyone in the North District who dares to confront you?"


    Since he hade to offer his allegiance, LeBron James did not keep any secrets and told Donnie everything about his previous situation in the North District.


    After listening, Donnie fell into deep thought, not having expected LeBron James''s situation in the North District to be so precarious.


    If that were the case, then his offer of allegiance could be trusted to some extent.


    Then Donnie began to consider whether or not to ept LeBron James''s allegiance.


    Actually, it didn''t require much thought ¡ª very soon, Donnie stood up, extended his hand to LeBron James with a smile, and said, "Wee to our team. Here, you can be at ease; no one will provoke your reputation in the North District ever again!"


    Seeing Donnie''s gesture, LeBron James finally let out a long sigh of relief. He had been truly worried Donnie would reject him. If that were to happen, by the time Nucky covertly allowed Pierce to take control in the North District, it would spell the end for him.


    "However, although we are now allies, we can''t make this public. We can only support you covertly for now. You need to understand this!"


    Donnie hadn''t forgotten his cooperation with Mobley. The foundation of their agreement had been that both had amon enemy ¡ª LeBron James.


    Now that LeBron James had suddenly offered allegiance, Mobley would undoubtedly not ept it, so Donnie could only choose to work with LeBron James in secret.


    "I understand. Now I have to see what specific help Mr. Block can provide me!"


    LeBron James bowed slightly, showing even greater respect to Donnie.


    Donnie said with a smile, "Right now, your biggest problem is actually ack of people and booze!"


    LeBron James nodded and said, "That''s true, especially with the alcohol. I''ve heard that Pierce has started setting up his own distillery. The distiller who used to work for me is now with him. If I can''t produce my own whiskey and rum in a short time, I''ll soon lose control of the entire North District."


    In fact, at that time, the North District had already slipped from LeBron James''s control, but he believed that only by saying so could he make Donnie value him more.


    "Dad, it seems our distillery needs to up our production!"


    Donnie turned back and spoke to Old Carl.


    Old Carl''s face flushed red as he loudly said, "No problem, liquor is the least of our worries in Elwood Vige!"


    Donnie turned back to LeBron James with a smile, "You see, your liquor problem is solved just like that! However, this time we will provide the liquor, but we want an eighty-two percent profit split. I assume Mr. James, you have no issue with that?"


    At that point, LeBron James had no bargaining chips left, so he nodded, "No problem!"


    "Great, let''s now talk about theck of people. Although Nucky has sent Embiid to keep an eye on you, I believe if Embiid were injured and hospitalized, then you could recruit some men for yourself without him knowing, right?"


    Donnie asked LeBron James.


    LeBron James nodded slightly, "Without his watchful eye, I can aplish this."


    Donnie said with a smile, "Good, now let''s n how to get Embiid hospitalized."


    .


    Three days after LeBron James secretly met with Donnie, in the afternoon, LeBron James called for Embiid.


    "To deal with our current situation, I have found a supply of rum and whiskey in Phdelphia. Take your brothers and bring the goods back."


    Embiid was slightly stunned after hearing this. Over the past few days, he had observed LeBron James busily constructing a new distillery and had never found LeBron in contact with anyone from Phdelphia.


    "No problem, when do we need to depart?"


    Although puzzled, Embiid readily agreed to LeBron James.


    "The sooner the better," LeBron said seriously, "I have already prepared trucks for you. If all goes well, you could arrive in Antic City by thetter part of the night!"


    LeBron spoke earnestly.


    "All right, we will prepare now!" Having said that, Embiid prepared to leave.


    "Wait a moment!" James halted Embiid, continuing to give his grave instructions, "This is ourst resort; we absolutely cannot let the outside know, especially Donnie Block. He''s already gnawing at our markets in Antic City. If he learns of this, it''s likely he''ll bring men to snatch this batch of goods, and then we''d have an even harder time establishing a foothold in Antic City!"


    Embiid replied with a confident smile, "You can rest assured, Mr. James. Mr. Nucky sent us to assist you precisely because he believes in our strength!"


    "With your word, I''m relieved!"


    James revealed a smile.


    .


    After saying goodbye to LeBron James, Embiid didn''t leave for Phdelphia right away, but instead reported the matter to Nucky.


    "Heh, it looks like LeBron James is really anxious this time, to the point of making use of his connections in Phdelphia!" Nucky said with lightughter after hearing the report.


    "Boss, could there be any problems with this?" Louis asked, somewhat worried.


    With a gesture of confidence, Nucky replied, "No, it wouldn''t be strange for James, having controlled the North District for so long, to have made some friends in Phdelphia. What he needs most urgently now is to use alcohol to consolidate his power base. Only in this way can he prove to us that he still holds value."


    Realizing Nucky''s point, Louis nodded in understanding and said, "Boss, you''ve always wanted to diminish LeBron James'' influence in the North District, and this situation is a perfect opportunity!"


    Nucky understood Louis'' thinking, but shook his head and said, "It''s not only James whocks alcohol; we''re short on it too. Up to now, I still haven''t settled things with the Bay Guard, and the cost of bringing in alcohol from Chicago is too high. Right now, we also need a batch of alcohol to maintain stability in Antic City!"


    With that said, Nucky instructed Embiid, "You must be careful on this trip and avoid any slip-ups."


    With Nucky''s orders, Embiid had nothing to worry about. After leaving Nucky''s ce, he immediately gathered his men and headed to Phdelphia.


    At the same time, in the home of Pierce from the North District.


    "Boss, great news!"


    At that moment, Gordon ran into Pierce''s home, eximing loudly.


    Sitting on the sofa with his leg propped up on the coffee table, Pierce took a tired drag from his cigarette and asked, "What great news? Did that bastard James die under a car wheel?"


    Gordon hastily replied, "No, I just received news that James has called upon his contacts in Phdelphia and ordered a batch of alcohol, which should arrive in Antic City by dawn tomorrow!"


    With a swoosh!


    Pierce stood up abruptly, flicking his cigarette furiously onto Gordon, and roared, "How is this good news? Our distillery is about to start working, and James is bringing in alcohol to Antic City at this time. Isn''t this just causing us trouble?"


    At that moment, Pierce was somewhat panicked. Having been dominated by James for over a decade, he was very aware of James'' methods. If James regained his past glory in the North District, Pierce would certainly be the first to suffer!


    "Boss, just hear me out!" Gordon, unconcerned with the cigarette butt on him, continued excitedly, "If we could ambush and hijack the shipment on their way back, we would have the alcohol and James would have none.


    Then, boss, you could use this batch of alcohol to negotiate with Nucky, asking him to kick James out directly, and you would be the undisputed boss of the North District!"


    The prospect made Pierce''s eyes gleam. Bing the boss of the North District of Antic City was his ultimate aspiration. If things went as Gordon suggested, he might indeed have a chance!


    But then Pierce expressed his concern, "But James has all of Nucky''s men around him now. If we act, Nucky is surely going to be unhappy about it!"


    "What''s there to fear!" Gordon dismissed the concern nonchntly, "James doesn''t just have us as his adversaries; there are the 3K party and Donnie Block too. When the timees, we just kill all those transporting the alcohol, who''s to say it was us? We can just pin the me on Donnie Block or the 3K party!"


    Pierce''s expression turned excited as his inner turmoil intensified over whether to proceed with the n.


    A few minutester, Pierce burst outughing, pping Gordon on the shoulder vigorously, "Goodd, how did I never notice your brilliance before!"


    Gordon, head bowed, shed a fleeting, strange smile, then resumed his fawningughter, "It''s all thanks to your wise guidance all along, boss!"

 Chapter 50: 46. Sin City (Please follow, please favorite~)

    Every city that has developed due to the grey industry can indeed be called a Sin City!


    Antic City is no exception.


    Although under Nucky''s management, Antic City seems to have its own set of rules, crime is always mainstream in this city.


    This is just like Hong Kong in the 1950s and 60s.


    After throwing out thest drunkard from the tavern, only Donnie and Old Carl were left in the Block Tavern.


    "This kind of thing should have been done by me leading the team. What if those young guys get impulsive and screw up your n?"


    Old Carl sat opposite Donnie, the 500ml beer bottle in his hand seemed to have shrunk a size.


    "Dad, don''t you realize how old you are? Aren''t you fifty this year?" Donnie said with a helpless expression, "If something happens to you, Mom would bury me alive!"


    "She wouldn''t dare!" Old Carl roared, then discontentedly added, "So what if I''m fifty? Justst night Robert was crawling out of the room. If it wasn''t for me, the entire boardwalk would beughing about how Robert couldn''t handle three girls!"


    Donnie was dumbfounded. In his memory, Old Carl was always a decent and honest man. How did he suddenly be like this?


    Where did it all go wrong?


    "Dad, nothing much can happen here in Antic City right now. But over in Elwood Vige, we need someone to watch over things long-term. When are you going back?"


    Donnie thought Old Carl should go back. Otherwise, Donnie feared that in a short while, he might end up with one or two half-brothers or sisters.


    Seeing that Donnie wanted him to go back, Old Carl red at him fiercely. However, he knew Donnie was right; Elwood Vige did indeed need his presence. Eventually, he could only huff helplessly.


    "I''ll go back after they return!"


    "I''ll have John take you!" Donnie said immediately, afraid that Old Carl might change his mind.


    Even though Old Carl''s character had changed¡ªor perhaps the freedom buried deep in his heart had been unleashed with the better family circumstances¡ªthere wasn''t much change in the rtionship between father and son. After discussing serious matters, they ran out ofmon topics.


    After sitting for a while, Old Carl felt bored, picked up his beer, and walked out of the tavern.


    "Where are you going?"


    Donnie asked loudly from behind him.


    "Next door!" Old Carl''s voice came from outside the tavern.


    Donnie: "..."


    But with Old Carl gone, Donnie finally had time to think about tonight''s matters.


    "By this time, Pierce and his crew must have already shed with Embiid''s group, right?"


    Donnie silently thought to himself.


    The information about James transporting a batch of whiskey and rum to Antic City from Phdelphia was, of course, something Donnie had James spread to Pierce.


    As mentioned before, these ck folks are just a motley crew, a bunch of ungrateful white-eyed wolves!


    No one can count on theirplete loyalty to a person. Faced with two hundred US dors, Gordon happily betrayed Pierce.


    Donnie''s objective was actually quite simple. First, he wanted that batch of whiskey and rum to make it to Antic City.


    Secondly, Embiid had to be injured in this operation, but he could not die. After all, he was sent by Nucky, and in actuality, he also represented Nucky. More importantly, only if Embiid was seen escorting the liquor to Antic City would Nucky not suspect anything!


    Lastly, Pierce must die in this operation. His existence was a significant threat to LeBron James. Now that LeBron James had sided with him, he must maintain his former reputation in North District for as long as he was still useful.


    Even Nucky should not be able to rece him!


    To ensure his n would be executed smoothly, Donnie had sent out Robert, John, Chris, and Magichi.


    "So this time, we''re supposed to be on Embiid''s side, since Pierce probably isn''t his match?"


    The oue of the confrontation between Embiid and Pierce didn''t really matter to Donnie. As long as the final result aligned with his intentions, that was all that mattered!


    "The most difficult part of this whole affair is making sure Embiid doesn''t discover the existence of Robert and the others."


    .


    Bang bang bang!


    Just as Donnie had expected, a gunfight was taking ce on the outskirts of Antic City at that moment.


    The truck carrying the liquor was parked on the side of the road. In front of the two trucks, there was an old Ford Model T parked with bodies bleeding out between them.


    But at that moment, no one paid attention to these details. The dirt road was divided into two factions, each hiding behind a vehicle and shooting at the other.


    If someone were to look down on the battlefield, they would see that the side by the old Ford Model T was about to lose, with signs of retreat even.


    Needless to say, these two factions were none other than Pierce''s and Embiid''s crews.


    Crouched behind a car, Pierce felt an overwhelming regret. He had thought his ambush would be an easy sess, but he hadn''t expected Embiid''s gang to be so formidable, pressing down hard on his own.


    Watching his brothers fall one by one, Pierce no longer harbored the grand ambitions of bing the boss of Antic City''s North District. He prepared to run.


    But at that moment, amidst the chaos of gunfire, Pierce clearly heard a scream of agony.


    He initially thought one of his own men had been injured, but when he looked around, he didn''t find any of his people down. He cautiously peeked out and was delighted to discover that it was Embiid who had been shot and had fallen!


    "Good shot!"


    Seeing the opposing leader injured, Pierce instinctively assumed it was one of his own men''s doing and immediately shouted excitedly.


    "Robert, I didn''t expect your shooting to be so urate?"


    Just ten meters behind where Pierce and his men were located, amidst a cluster of bushes, Robert was lying there with a Mauser G98 sniper rifle in hand, apanied by Chris.


    Uponnding a shot on Embiid, a proud look immediately came over Robert''s face, "Of course, on the battlefield, I was the best marksman in our division!"


    With the proof of his victory right before them, Chris could only ept Robert''s boasting.


    "Quick, look, Embiid''s men are probably about to falter!" Chris whispered, observing the situation on the battlefield.


    Embiid''s gang had already been at a disadvantage in terms of numbers. The reason they had appeared dominant initially was solely because of Embiid''s ownbat prowess, which had tipped the scales.


    Now that Embiid had been shot, his men instantly lost their linchpin, and, with Pierce''s side convinced they had been the ones to hit Embiid, their morale greatly surged.


    Thus, the tide between the two sides began to shift at that moment.


    "Don''t worry, John will handle things!"


    True enough, as soon as Robert''s words fell, Pierce was shot as well, and his injuries were far more severe than Embiid''s.


    Embiid had only been shot in the shoulder and, although he was gradually losing consciousness, there was no mortal danger provided he received timely treatment.


    But Pierce''s situation was different¡ªa bullet had hit him directly in the face, the powerful spiral force of the shot instantly disfiguring his entire face.


    He was thoroughly dead.


    Pierce''s death terrified his entire gang speechless. They were worse off than Embiid''s men; seeing their boss killed, they scattered like frightened mice, now only thinking about saving their own lives.


    In such a situation, there was no need for John to do anything more; Embiid''s men had already begun to cut down the lives of those who remained.


    When the gunfire ceased to echo down the street, all of Pierce''s gang were dead as well.


    Had Embiid been lucid, he certainly would have instructed his men to leave survivors for questioning. But s, at this juncture, Embiid''s consciousness was blurry. One of his four men had died, another was critically injured, and two were lightly wounded. They vented all their fury upon Pierce and his cohorts.


    "Alright, time for us to leave!"


    Watching as Embiid''s lightly wounded men hurriedly carried Embiid and others onto a truck and sped toward Antic City, Robert crawled out of the brush and walked over to the recent battlefield.


    As per the habits formed on the field of battle, Robert delivered a finishing shot to each body, ensuring absolutely certain death.


    Chris had wanted to collect their weapons and ammunition, but Robert stopped him.


    "Don''t touch anything else. Nucky is bound to send someone to investigate. If anything is missing, given Nucky''s smarts, he''ll surely guess what happened!"


    "Ha ha, how''s my shooting?"


    At this moment, John walked up from the opposite side with Magichi, holding the same Mauser G98 sniper rifle as Robert, and called out proudly.


    "Humph, still have the nerve to mention it. If it weren''t for the guy by Pierce''s side, who would know that it was Pierce who died?"


    Robert was filled with the sensation of being on the battlefield, so he spoke much louder to John.


    "Ohe on, that''s exactly the brilliance of my strategy. Think about it, in such a chaotic scene, if Pierce had been shot directly in the forehead, it would''ve definitely raised Nucky''s suspicions!" John said, smugly after a brief pause.


    Robert didn''t say much, just remarked, "Let''s also leave quickly. By dawn, there will surely be peopleing here!"


    .


    After rushing back to Antic City in their high-speed flight, Embiid and hispanions neither sought out James nor went to see Nucky. Instead, they headed straight to themunity hospital in the North District of Antic City at the earliest opportunity.


    One of the lightly wounded men immediately used the hospital''s phone to call Louis and report what had just happened.


    Then they called James.


    After hearing the story, Louis didn''t hesitate at all and directly barged into Nucky''s bedroom, even though Nucky hadn''t gone to bed yet and was still with his lover....

 Chapter 51: 47. Storm Rising (Please follow, please favorite~)

    Nucky, dressed in a purple suit with a red carnation pinned to hispel, walked into the hospital followed by his loyalpanion, Louis.


    "How''s the situation? Is everyone alright?"


    Nucky, seeing Embiid''s men wrapped in bandages, anxiously asked.


    "Embiid is currently undergoing surgery inside, the doctors say it''s a through-and-through wound, it shouldn''t be life-threatening!"


    "What about the liquor?"


    Nucky was more concerned about the load of whiskey and rum.


    "It''s already been transported to my warehouse, it''s very safe now!" Although LeBron James received the callter, he arrived at the hospital before Nucky.


    Relieved that the liquor was safe, Nucky truly rxed. As Donnie had told him before, even though Nucky could get the support of alcohol from Chicago, the cost of transportation from there was even higher than smuggling it from the United Kingdom.


    "Who was so bold as to rob our goods?"


    Nucky was extremely angry now; someone dared to rob his goods in Antic City, and this was something he couldn''t forgive.


    LeBron James'' goods were Nucky''s goods.


    "It was Pierce''s doing!" one of Embiid''s men replied.


    "That''s impossible!" Nucky immediately objected, "Pierce doesn''t have the guts, and he wouldn''t even know about this!"


    Saying this, Nucky sharply turned to look at LeBron James, angrily saying, "Was it you?"


    LeBron James immediately gestured with his hands, speaking somewhat fearfully, "Respected Nucky, how could it be me? You know about my rtionship with Pierce, it''s impossible for us to coborate!"


    Embiid''s underling continued, "It indeed was Pierce''s men, his body is still lying there where we fought!"


    Nucky nced at Louis, who immediately understood and went to make a phone call, ordering his men to investigate.


    "Even if it was Pierce, how did hee to know about this?" Nucky said angrily.


    At this moment, James spoke, "Nucky, in Antic City, there is only one person who has the ability to know about this and the power to make Pierce betray you, and the one who would most like to see us without liquor is also the same person!"


    Nucky paused, then asked, "Are you talking about the Brigadier?"


    LeBron James nodded, "Besides him, I can''t think of anyone else in Antic City with the ability and reason to do this!"


    After a moment of contemtion, Nucky still didn''t give any answers there but instead told one of Embiid''s men, "Tell the doctor to take good care of Embiid. I''ll express my gratitude for it. Also, when Embiid wakes up, tell him I''lle to see him tomorrow!"


    "Yes!"


    Soon after, Nucky left the hospital with James. At the hospital entrance, the anger at James that was visible on Nucky''s face vanished and was even reced by an apologetic expression.


    "James, I''m very sorry, you know I was shocked by this event!"


    LeBron James quickly bowed and said, "Respected Nucky, please don''t say such things. If it wasn''t for my foolish behavior earlier, you wouldn''t have suspicions about me. It''s me who should apologize for my previous foolish actions!"


    Nucky was pleased with James''s attitude, gave him a light pat on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "Don''t worry, no one can rece your position in the North District!"


    James bowed and said, "In the North District, no one dares to question Mr. Nucky''s decisions!"


    Satisfied, Nucky left the hospital and once he got into his car, the smile on Nucky''s face instantly disappeared. He turned to Louis to ask,


    "Louis, do you really think this matter has nothing to do with James?"


    Driving towards Ritz Hotel, Louis focused earnestly on the road. "As James just said, he has no reason to do it, and we know James, he wouldn''t possibly coborate with Pierce.


    Moreover, even if it really were him, this batch of liquoring to Antic City would still have been discovered by us.


    I can''t think of any reason to suspect him!"


    Nucky nodded, saying, "I think so too, but something about this incident seems off. How could the Brigadier have known?"


    "Perhaps Pierce truly wanted to y both sides or maybe there are other reasons we don''t know about. But boss, we must take action now; otherwise, all of Antic City will think we fear the Brigadier!"


    In the world of the gangsters, one can''t control their fate!


    This described Nucky''s current situation: everyone in Antic City knew that the Brigadier''s return was a challenge to take back his throne.


    Even if there might be other hidden aspects to this affair or possibly that others were involved,


    Now, Nucky had to frame the Brigadier for this incident, as the people of Antic City saw it as his doing!


    At least for now, the most critical thing for Nucky was to maintain the liquor supply in Antic City.


    The Brigadier had touched Nucky''s core interests. If Nucky did not retaliate now, then everyone in Antic City would think Nucky was afraid of the Brigadier.


    At that point, Nucky''s political allies would begin to doubt his control over Antic City, and under such doubts, these allies might slowly lean toward the Brigadier.


    And the ordinary citizens of Antic City would question whether Nucky could bring them various benefits, as the Brigadier had also offered them such benefits before.


    Nucky wouldn''t allow such a scenario to ur!


    "Once back at the hotel, have Elie to my study!"


    Nucky knew he had to take action!


    .


    In fact, Nucky''s actions were very swift. By the next day, an oblivious Vince arrived at the Public Security Office prepared to head to his office, only to be stopped by the police at the entrance.


    "I''m very sorry, Mr. McGrady, but you are no longer permitted to enter this building!"


    Vince felt like he was hearing some colossal joke, "I am a police officer, why can''t I enter?"


    "Because from now on, you are no longer a police officer." Eli Johnson, dressed in a brown uniform, walked out from inside the Public Security Office. As he stood in front of Vince, he pulled out a subpoena and thrust it in front of Vince''s eyes.


    "We now suspect you are involved in a case of abuse of power that urred three months ago in Antic City. You are formally under arrest. You have the right to remain silent, but anything you say can and will be used against you in court!"


    "Bullshit, I''m a police officer, you don''t have the right to dismiss me!"


    Vince was furious. He couldn''t understand what had gotten into Eli Johnson, daring to arrest him. Didn''t he know that he was the son of a brigadier?


    "Are you trying to provoke a direct confrontation between the brigadier and Nucky?"


    "This is a dismissal order from the municipal court. Take a good look, there''s a judge''s signature on it!"


    As Vince looked at the dismissal order, his vision began to blur. He couldn''t understand how all of this was happening to him.


    In the end, no matter how much Vince struggled, he was eventually taken to the police station''s detention center.


    Nucky''s retaliation was far from over. That same morning, the street-corner hotel that once symbolized the brigadier''s prestige was also greeted by a troop of police officers, who proceeded to shut it down for operating a gambling industry!


    Who didn''t know that all the famous hotels in Antic City had gambling halls!


    But now, it was the brigadier''s pride that was being sealed off!


    The two incidents that happened that morning quickly spread throughout Antic City, leaving everyone in shock.


    Although they all knew the reason for the brigadier''s return to Antic City, Nucky had, at the very least, maintained a basic level of respect for the brigadier publicly.


    But when they woke up, Nucky had taken action against the brigadier!


    Was Antic City about to witness a storm of blood and violence?


    Just as everyone was wondering why Nucky would do such a thing, the afternoon''s events involving Embiid and his associates also spread throughout Antic City.


    When everyone pieced the two incidents together, they understood why Nucky had taken such actions!


    Nucky was demonstrating his power in Antic City.


    At this time, people supported Nucky''s actions.


    Because Antic City could not be without liquor!


    .


    "Bang!!!!!!"


    An eighteenth-century British royal teacup was fiercely smashed onto the ground, its coffee sttering onto a wool nket worth one hundred US Dors.


    The raging brigadier didn''t care about it at all.


    "Since when was Pierce my man? Who is Pierce?"


    At this point, the brigadier was also aware of the whole situation.


    Being caught unawares by troubles falling from the sky, that was the state the brigadier was in right now.


    He admitted he very much wanted to disrupt Nucky''s liquor operation, but he would never do something as foolish as sending a ck man with a group of ck men tomit a robbery.


    But, it was toote to say anything now, Nucky had already responded to the incident, and it was time to see how he would react.


    The brigadier knew that if he did not handle it well, then all his efforts in Antic City would have been for nothing.


    "Nucky, you''re forcing my hand!"


    .


    "You guessed this would happen as well?" Robert was sitting across from Donnie, his eyes showing surprise.


    "Weren''t we just trying to help LeBron James regain control of North District? How has it now turned into a struggle between Nucky and the brigadier?"


    Robert had a thousand questions in his mind about the day''s events in Antic City.


    "Whether or not I guessed it isn''t important!" said Donnie with a constant smile on his face, stating, "What''s important is that right now, we can''t let the brigadier fall so easily!"


    The brigadier was getting old, and his methods could not match Nucky''s anymore, but as long as the brigadier was around, Nucky wouldn''t be able to focus all his attention on us.


    So Donnie didn''t want the brigadier to fall at this time!


    "Is this something we can get involved in?" asked a surprised Robert.

 Chapter 52: 48. The War Drums (Please follow, please favorite~)

    ```


    The Commodore, once the king of Antic City, who established the city''s rules of survival and built its prosperity.


    Nucky, now the king of Antic City, has improved the city''s economic development and raised its prosperity to a new level.


    Now, the fact that Donnie wanted to get directly involved in the struggle between these two men was indeed a surprise to Robert.


    Donnie smiled and said, "Do you think you might be underestimating our influence in Antic City?"


    Robert, counting on his fingers, said, "I''m not underestimating it, the Ku Klux n, the WCTU, plus the current North District, we can influence nearly half of the votes in Antic City at least!"


    "But Donnie, you have to know that our rtionships with these three parties are not really solid, especially with the Ku Klux n and LeBron James. We have a business cooperation with the n, but the premise was that we took advantage of Nucky''sck of time to gain Mobley''s trust.


    If Nucky stood with us to the left and right of the n, I believe Mobley''s final choice would definitely be Nucky.


    LeBron James is an ingrate that you cannot tame. Now he''s in a desperate situation, and that''s why he''s chosen to work with us. I even suspect, once LeBron James regains control of the North District, he''ll choose to betray us!"


    After hearing Robert''s analysis, Donnie put away his smile. His development in Antic City had been too smooth recently. In just a few months, Donnie had grown into a figure who could significantly influence the trends in Antic City.


    This aplishment did not make Donnie so arrogant as to think too highly of himself, but indeed he had be somewhatcent.


    Hearing Robert''s analysis and warning, Donnie instantly understood his problem.


    "You''re right, and besides, we still have a huge gappared to Nucky and The Commodore!"


    Seeing Donnie quickly ept his advice, Robert felt reassured, "Donnie, you''re our leader, everyone knows that if you''re doing well, we all will do well too. I remember when I was on the battlefield, mymander once told me a piece of advice.


    The closer you are to victory, the more cautious you need to be, because that''s when the enemy''s counterattack is the fiercest."


    Donnie nodded, "I understand, don''t worry, it won''t happen again!"


    Robert''s expression returned to its usual cheerfulness, "If John knew I could persuade you, he would be very envious!"


    Donnieughed, "I''ve always been someone who can ept others'' advice!"


    Robert said, "Since that''s the case, then I need to give you another suggestion!"


    Donnie nodded, "Go ahead, if it''s the right one, I will definitely ept it!"


    "It''s about that hotel construction you mentioned before," Robert organized his words, and then continued, "Owning our own hotel in Antic City is indeed a cool thing, but I think we should take it step by step. Building a hotel is still too distant a goal for us. If we could be the biggest tavern in Antic City before that, maybe that''s a more attainable target!"


    Donnie didn''t answer Robert right away this time but considered it seriously.


    After thinking for a long time, Donnie said, "The hotel construction can continue to be nned, but your reminder made me realize that bing the biggest tavern owner in Antic City and building the most luxurious hotel in Antic City are not contradictory objectives."


    "But our capital..."


    Donnie cut off Robert with a gesture, "I never thought that the hotel would be funded solely by us!"


    After thinking for a bit, Robert said, "Alright, since you''ve decided, we will do everything exactly as youmand!"


    Donnie patted Robert on the back, "Don''t worry, I understand the risks involved, and I will be very careful to take it step by step!"


    Robert nodded.


    Then Donnie continued, "Alright, now we can discuss how to help The Commodore get through this crisis smoothly!"


    Robert looked at Donnie in surprise, hadn''t they just agreed? Why was Donnie now nning to help The Commodore again?


    "Don''t worry, with your reminder, I won''t confront it head-on like before!" Donnie understood Robert''s concern and reassured him with a smile.


    Robert asked, "Then what''s your n?"


    .


    When Nucky made his move, it was with the force of a thunderp, directly uprooting The Commodore''s significant foundations in Antic City. Vince''s cement as a legal officer by The Commodore was actually to enable Vince to easily make connections with the various gang forces in Antic City now.


    Moreover, although The Commodore''s main ie wasn''t from a street corner tavern anymore, that tavern still represented the former glory of The Commodore in Antic City.


    Nucky, who dealt a heavy blow to The Commodore''s morale, did not have much joy on his face.


    Because just then, Nucky had received a call from Washington. In the call, the big shot told Nucky,


    "This year, we do not wish for any unexpected problems to arise, especially since Antic City is an important constituency for the Republican Party; stability is even more necessary. I know The Commodore has caused you a lot of troubletely, but for the sake of stability, I hope you give up those counterattacks!"


    That''s the influence of The Commodore.


    ```


    Although this man was old, his connections were still intact, otherwise, it would not have taken Wilson several years to send the Brigadier to prison.


    When the Brigadier began to mobilize his former connections, his energy was unimaginable!


    "Boss, what do we do now? Should we notify our people to slow down their actions?"


    Louis asked softly.


    Nucky waved his hand, "We can''t stop, the whole of Antic City is watching. If we stop now, it will give the outside world the illusion that we cannotpletely suppress the Brigadier. In that case, the Brigadier would have the capacity to rebuild!"


    Since they had already taken action, there could be no second thoughts. If they didn''t drive the Brigadier out of Antic City for good this time, he would keep causing trouble in the future.


    This was not something Nucky could tolerate!


    "But what about Washington?"


    Louis asked somewhat worriedly.


    Even though every state in the United States had a high degree of autonomy, after all, the United States was one country, and the National Government still held significant rights over each state.


    Nucky said coldly, "He can go to the people in Washington, and so can we, and our influence is even greater than his!"


    In these few short minutes, Nucky clearly already had his n.


    "Get someone to book us train tickets to Washington immediately, and also call Eli toe over!"


    "Got it!"


    It wasn''t long before Nucky''s brother, Eli Johnson, arrived at Nucky''s study. "My dear brother, why didn''t you inspect your subjects on the Boardwalk today?"


    Eli Johnson asked flippantly.


    Nucky''s face was as still as water as he said, "I need to make a trip to Washington. Oversee things here in Antic City for me, and do not let any mistake ur!"


    "Go to Washington?" Eli Johnson was stunned for a moment, then asked, "Why are you going to Washington at this time?"


    It was a critical moment in dealing with the Brigadier, yet Nucky was nning to leave Antic City; Eli Johnson couldn''t understand.


    "Idiot!" Nucky never hid his contempt in front of his brother. "Of course, it''s because the Brigadier has reached out to people in Washington that I need to go!"


    Hearing Nucky scold him as an idiot, Eli''s eyes shed with resentment, but he quickly concealed it.


    "Fine, I will keep a tight watch over things in Antic City!"


    "I know you''ve always disliked Donnie Block. Don''t be clever and stir up trouble with Donnie while I''m away from Antic City. If you do that, I''lle back and deal with you severely!"


    "I wonder, is this Donnie Block some bastard son of the old man with that nameless dancer? You are looking after him so much!"


    "Idiot!" Nucky scolded again. "Don''t you know better than anyone whether the old man had illegitimate children?"


    Nucky''s rtionship with their father was very bad, whereas Eli was on very good terms with their father.


    "Donnie has very good rtions with Mobley of the 3K n and Elena of the WCTU. This year is an election year; we need to firmly control every single vote in Antic City. At this time, if you sh with Donnie, isn''t that just pushing him to the Brigadier''s side?"


    Nucky could only exin this to his brother.


    "He''s just a scheming opportunist. Mobley and Elena ¡ª give me time, and I will surely make them my friends!"


    Eli said disdainfully.


    Nucky chuckled disinterestedly, "Just follow my orders, do you think you can guess all my ns with your brains?"


    But after all, this was his brother. After scolding him, Nucky still said to him, "After this year is over, I will hand over Donnie to you. Then you can deal with him however you want, but not this year!"


    Having learnt about Donnie''s rtionship with the 3K n and WCTU, Nucky knew he couldn''t control Donnie. However, given that his current main enemy was the Brigadier, coupled with the election year, he had to continue keeping Donnie around for stability''s sake.


    "Ha!" Eli Johnsonughed, "You saying that makes me feel like we really are brothers!"


    "Alright, go and attend to your affairs!" Nucky said, a hint of impatience in his voice, "I''m not expecting any great achievements from you, just hope that you can dutifully follow my instructions!"


    "Don''t worry, my brother, I definitely won''t let you down!"


    After Eli left Nucky''s study, Nucky muttered helplessly, "Haven''t you let me down enough already?"

 Chapter 53: How to successfully strike up a conversation with a girl (please follow, please save~)

    At this time, it was impossible for Nucky to leave Antic City with any fanfare, so the next day, Nucky''s backup driver intercepted everyone who wanted to visit him.


    "I''m sorry, Mr. Nucky is sick and currently recuperating. It''s inconvenient for him to receive any guests!"


    "Nucky is sick?"


    Donnie, who had been keeping an eye on Nucky, soon learned of this.


    "That''s right, this is the news released by the Ritz Hotel, and there have even been sightings of a doctor entering the Ritz Hotel. It seems that Nucky is indeed exhausted from the recent disputes with the Colonel!"


    Robert said without much concern.


    However, Donnie showed a hint of doubt, although he wasn''t familiar with Nucky''s illness, he understood people like Nucky.


    For someone like Nucky, although having an opponent could be a headache, deep down, he was actually thrilled. A good opponent could even be more exciting to him than a good friend.


    If the Colonel hadn''t beenpletely defeated, if he were Nucky, he definitely wouldn''t fall ill at this time!


    "Has the Colonel made any moves?"


    Donnie asked Robert.


    Robert shook his head and said with a helpless smile, "I have no idea about that. However, from the messages currentlying in from the outside, the Colonel hasn''t made any moves in Antic City, and even his old friends haven''t visited his vi during this time."


    Donnie sat there, tapping the tabletop lightly, then asked, "If you were the Colonel, having nned for so long to take back control of Antic City, would you choose to back down now?"


    After thinking for a moment, Robert replied, "Impossible! Even though Nucky is currently holding the advantage, if I were the Colonel, after investing so much effort in the early stages, I wouldn''t give up so easily!"


    Donnie nodded slightly, then said, "That means, there must be some secret confrontations between Nucky and the Colonel that we don''t know about!"


    Robert nodded and said, "That seems to be the case."


    But then Robert spoke with some resignation, "However, the information we can obtain is too scarce; it''s impossible to know the details of their secret confrontations!"


    Donnie stood up and said to Robert, "I have to step out for a bit, keep an eye on the house for me!"


    "Sure!"


    Robert nodded his head.


    Leaving the tavern, Donnie went straight back to the West District.


    Dennis, who was taken away by AJ, never came back, and Donnie officially moved in with Margaret.


    "Howe you''re back so early today?"


    Margaret took Donnie''s coat andid it on the sofa.


    "I need your help with something!" Donnie sat on the sofa and pulled Margaret into his embrace.


    "Just tell me what it is!" Margaret said sweetly, enjoying Donnie''s embrace.


    Donnie said, "There''s a customer at your clothing store named Lucy Danzig, you know her, right?"


    Margaret thought briefly and immediately replied, "I know her. She''s a regr at our store, visits every two or three days and always takes some clothes back with her!"


    Donnie nodded, already aware of these facts. Lucy Danzig was no ordinary person; she was Nucky''s mistress, and evenst year had moved into the Ritz Hotel to live with him.


    "That''s where I need your help. I need you to invite her to The Fuli Tavern for drinks tonight!"


    In that era, American women were already transitioning from conservatism to openness.


    In the past, American women generally had long hair, wore ankle-length dresses, spent their days taking care of the family''s needs at home, while also dealing with their husbands'' drunken and often violent fists.


    But as women gained the right to vote and more job opportunities became avable, traditional American womanhood began to change.


    They cut their long hair into bobbed styles that reached their ears, the hemlines of their dresses no longer covered their ankles but stopped at the calves.


    It wasn''t just about a change in outward appearance, but also in behavior. They started wearing makeup, smoking cigarettes, and frequenting taverns.


    Of course, such women were still in the minority during that time, but Lucy was definitely at the forefront of this new era of women.


    If Lucy represented the new era of women, then Margaret was a representative of the old era.


    Now, hearing Donnie ask her to invite Lucy to The Fuli Tavern for drinks made Margaret, who was sitting in Donnie''s arms, a bit unsure of how to respond.


    "Things are different now. Your WCTU has always advocated for women''s independence, right? To be independent, you should understand the thoughts of the new era''s women. Plus, I hope you can break free from your past life and embrace a new one!"


    Donnieforted Margaret.


    Margaret had long regarded Donnie as her everything. Although still somewhat apprehensive in her heart, she was used toplying with Donnie''s words.


    "Alright, but I''m not very familiar with Lucy. I''m worried she might refuse if I just invite her out of the blue!"


    Donnieughed, "It''s okay, you always have to try!"


    "Right, I''ll go to the costume shop now; I should be able to see her!"


    Struggling to get up from Donnie''s embrace, Margaret went to change her clothes!


    "Oh, and if you can go, give me a call!"


    "Sure!"


    After Margaret left, Donnie sat on the sofa and began to meditate. If Margaret could meet Lucy, then the possibility of thetter epting Margaret''s invitation was quite high.


    This was Donnie''s understanding of women like Lucy.


    As Nucky''s mistress, Lucy seemed to have status in Antic City through Nucky''s influence, but in reality, such women were very inner-empty.


    Moreover, Donnie had Robert investigate Lucy. This woman had once been a stripper at an Antic City strip club and her family wasn''t from Antic City either.


    In other words, besides Nucky, she had no other connections in Antic City.


    The people who fawned over her with smiles prioritized the Nucky behind her. Without Nucky, these people wouldn''t give her the time of day... unless they coveted her beauty.


    So, women like Lucy needed friends, a friend they could look down on and asionally show off!


    Time ticked away, until past five in the afternoon, when the phone rang at home. It was Margaret calling.


    "Darling, I won''t being home for dinner tonight. I''m going to see The Fuli Tavern with my new friend!"


    "Okay!" Donnie smiled, "Remember to bring some extra money, and don''t be stingy with treating your friend to a drink at the tavern!"


    "Got it!"


    After Margaret hung up the phone, Donnie became more contemtive about Nucky''s illness. If Nucky was truly sick, Margaret should be at the Ritz Hotel, taking good care of Nucky, to assert her presence.


    Even if Nucky wasn''t sick, at night, Lucy should be the one by Nucky''s side!


    Feeling great, Donnie cooked himself something to eat and even had a drink. When eight o''clock came around, Donnie picked up his coat and left. He drove to The Fuli Tavern, the best tavern in Antic City!


    It was Donnie''s first visit to The Fuli Tavern. As soon as he walked in, he felt the difference from Block Tavern.


    The entire Fuli Tavern was also divided into two floors, but these floors were not only full of tables; they were also at least three timesrger than Block Tavern.


    With European-style decor, there was a staircase wide enough for six or seven people to walk side by side in the middle of the hall, with white marble handrails on both sides, and two suspended tforms beside the handrails, where scantily d women danced to the jazz music in the tavern.


    The tavern''s patrons were men in suits and shoes, and women in fashionable long dresses.


    "Sir, may I help you with anything?"


    A waistcoated waiter politely inquired of Donnie.


    Donnie answered, "I''m here to find a friend!"


    After speaking, Donnie scanned the entire hall and quickly spotted an uneasy Margaret and afortable Lucy at a table near the center.


    Additionally, at their table, there were two ''gentlemen'' in suits hitting on them. Margaret was uneasy, not knowing how to respond, while Lucy was holding a ss and chatting vivaciously with the men.


    "Ah, those are my friends!" Donnie pointed to where Margaret was sitting and took out a $10 tip from his coat pocket to hand to the waiter.


    "Please follow me, sir!" The waiter''s smile became even brighter.


    "My lovelydy, your beautiful appearance should not be buried in Antic City. I am Richard Siff from Los Angeles, you can call me Richard. I''m a producer for a filmpany, and you are the perfect leadingdy I''ve been searching for. Trust me,e back to Los Angeles with me, and I''ll make you a famous actress known across the United States!"


    Richard eagerly pitched himself to Margaret.


    "Wow, are you really a producer?"


    Before Margaret knew how to respond to this annoying ''fly,'' Lucy had already asked excitedly.


    "Of course, you may doubt my gender, but you cannot doubt my taste!" Richard said with a very serious look.


    "Margaret, this is a fantastic opportunity. I think you should ept his invitation!" Lucy first excitedly persuaded Margaret, then turned to ask Richard, "So, do you think I could be a film star in Hollywood?"


    "Of course. Haven''t you both realized that it''s your presence that has dimmed the brilliance of the entire Fuli Tavern?"


    Richard exaggeratedly imed, then continued to persuade Margaret. Meanwhile, Margaret was awkwardly uncertain how to refuse, and Lucy was full of zest.


    Just then, Donnie appeared behind Richard, patted him on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "Sir, that''s not how you hit on a woman!"


    Richard turned around in surprise, and upon seeing Donnie, Margaret immediately smiled, while Lucy simply looked on with pure curiosity, and the men beside Lucy rolled up their sleeves.


    "Let me tell you how to hit on a girl sessfully!"


    Without minding the gazes of everyone around, Donnie lifted Margaret''s chin with his hand after speaking and leaned in, pressing his lips against Margaret''s...

 Chapter 57: 53. Baby-faced Bruce Currie (Please follow and bookmark~)

    With Donnie serving as an informant, the general took advantage of Nucky''s absence from Antic City to start various counterattacks.


    First, he used his previous favor with David Jabbar to have Eli Johnson release Vince, and then he pulled out the big guns.


    Today, a four-man team arrived in Antic City.


    Leading them was Diesel Mard, an upright Federal Investigator!


    "Since the general was arrested, control over Antic City fell into Nucky''s hands. We are here to restore the glory of our predecessor and arrest this man who disrupts the order in Antic City and grantly defies the national constitution!"


    Inside a boarding house, Diesel Mard was brainwashing his subordinates.


    At the moment, Diesel Mard appeared incredibly excited. To him, investigating Nucky didn''t seem like a dangerous task.


    Because he had a precedent to follow!


    His predecessor had risen rapidly in his career after investigating the general and sessfully putting him behind bars.


    Now, Diesel also saw the arrest of Nucky as adder to the heavens in his own career path.


    "Diesel, ording to our previous investigation, Nucky''s control over Antic City has exceeded the situation during the general''s era. Investigating Nucky will not be an easy task!"


    Diesel stood there, confident, "Precisely because it''s not easy, we need to arrest Nucky all the more. Only by doing so, Felix, you won''t have to patrol the countryside; Nathan, you won''t have to patrol the streets; and Porter, you won''t have to worry about being fired!"


    Arresting Nucky was not an easy task, and Diesel was concerned that the old hands might be corrupted by Nucky''s money. That''s why this time he brought in new personnel, all of whom had been unable to rise within his previous department.


    "Exactly. It''s because of people like Nucky that Antic City has be a ce full of dirt and vice. Our duty is to send these people straight to prison!" Nathan, the youngest of the group at only 25, was particrly excited.


    The others responded in kind.


    "Very good!" Diesel looked at the three men with satisfaction. "Now, our first step is to investigate Nucky''s movements. ording to my intelligence, Nucky will return to Antic City tomorrow. We need to stay at the Ritz Hotel and gather all information about Nucky''s activities in Antic City."


    "Yes!"


    .


    Donnie was unaware of Diesel Mard and his team''s arrival, yet he was still in good spirits.


    "The general once became the king of Antic City¡ªnever underestimate his influence. I was too eager for quick sess before. Now that I think about it, merely knowing that Nucky had left Antic City would have been enough for the general to take action!"


    Donnie sat in the Block Tavern, discussing recent events with Robert.


    It was now afternoon, and there weren''t many customers in the hall downstairs.


    "In that case, should we temporarily abandon the investigation into the general and concentrate on the n to take over The Fuli Tavern?"


    "Yes, the liquor supply at The Fuli Tavern is no longer a concern. What''s most important now is to find out who those gamblers at The Fuli Tavern are."


    The Fuli Tavern did business in three areas: liquor, gambling, and women.


    Donnie now controlled the entire liquor supply of Antic City, which was no longer an issue.


    As for women, Donnie had some ns in ce, so now what remained was to explore The Fuli Tavern''s clientele.


    As the best tavern in Antic City, the gamblers at The Fuli Tavern were all wealthy or noble. They surely weren''t steelworkers from Phdelphia.


    Robert nodded. "I''ll have someone keep an eye on it."


    As the two discussed the matter, amotion suddenly erupted from downstairs.


    Hearing the noise, Donnie frowned slightly. Taverns, brimming with male hormones, frequently witnessed brawls.


    But that waspared to ordinary taverns. Now, although Donnie Block''s Block Tavern wasn''t one of the top establishments in Antic City in terms of scale and formality, Donnie Block''s name deterred many, making the Block Tavern one of the safest in Antic City.


    Even The Fuli Tavern couldn''tpare in this aspect since the WCTU women would asionally protest in front of The Fuli Tavern.


    Donnie and Robert descended the stairs to see the tavern hall in chaos, with two burly white men lying on the ground, their conditions unknown.


    Donnie recognized them; they were steelworkers from Phdelphia, not known for their martial arts but famous for their brute strength.


    Then, in the middle of the crowd, sat a man about 1.8 meters tall, slender but well-proportioned and with a babyface, holding a beer in his hand.


    John and the others had already surrounded him.


    The man didn''t seem to care at all about the situation.


    Upon seeing the man, Donnie Block''s face immediately broke into a smile, then quickly returned toposure. He hastened his steps, approaching the man.


    "No one dares to cause trouble in Block Tavern!"


    "I just taught a lesson to two men who didn''t know any better."


    "But you still made trouble in my tavern!"


    "It''s done now, but how about I work for you to make up for the damages to your tavern?"


    "Then there''s no problem!"


    John watched Donnie''s conversation with the man and understood that Donnie definitely knew him.


    Sure enough, at that moment the man stood up and hugged Donnie tightly,ughing, "I can''t believe it''s only been a few months since we parted, and you''ve already be a big shot in Antic City!"


    "I didn''t expect you to get here so quickly either!"


    Donnie then pulled the man over to introduce him to John and the others, "This is my best brother from the time in the military, Bruce Currie. He once saved my life on the battlefield!"


    "If it wasn''t for you dragging me out of a pile of corpses back then, I wouldn''t have had the chance to save your life!"


    Bruce said,ughing.


    "After I received your letter, I came straight here. From now on, I''m following you, but I demand good liquor and beautiful women, otherwise, I might just run off!"


    At this point, Robert also reacted, looking at Bruce somewhat surprised, "Are you Bruce Currie, the one they call ''the Scythe''?"


    "Back on the farm, I sure did use a scythe to do the farm work!"


    Bruce said with a smile.


    "Chris, bring out the good liquor!"


    Excited, Donnie pulled Bruce to sit down at a table in the tavern, while John and Garrett tossed the two men, still unconscious, out of the tavern.


    "Who is this guy? You seem to think he''s famous?"


    John found Robert and asked.


    Robert said excitedly, "Bruce Currie, one of the most terrifying presences on the battlefield. The most exaggerated story is that this guy sneaked into a German toon all alone, without support or logistic backup, and he hunkered down near the enemy camp for 36 hours. Ultimately, he sniped their leader with a single shot. I''m not his match when ites to handling guns!


    "Since then, Bruce Currie has gotten a nickname in the army called ''the Scythe'', a reaper of lives!"


    John whistled in disbelief after hearing about Bruce Currie''s past, but then questioned, "That''s odd, though, for someone so formidable, why haven''t I seen any publicity about him in the newspapers? And why has he been discharged, too?"


    Robert said derisively, "Donnie was also incredibly formidable on the battlefield, but the newspapers haven''t reported about him either, and he''s been discharged as well, hasn''t he?"


    Thinking about Donnie''s experiences, John immediately grasped the implication.


    "I remember how you were all eager to join the army back then, and looking at your situation now, it''s really quite ironic!"


    John started ribbing Robert.


    With a darkened face, Robert stopped talking to John.


    "Now that you''re here, don''t leave. Just stay in the room I used to upy!"


    At that time, Donnie was chatting with Bruce.


    He had previously agreed with Robert to write letters to his army buddies, inviting them to Antic City to help him out. Now that Bruce had arrived, naturally, Donnie was very happy.


    "Haha, I came here to join you, so whatever arrangements you make, I''ll follow!"


    Bruce said indifferently, "By the way, for you to write me a letter, it means your enemies in Antic City must be nothing simple. Give me the list, and I''ll take them all out tonight!"


    Donnie immediately waved his hands and said, "I do have enemies in Antic City, but this is no longer like our old battlefield. There are rules for survival here, and killing a person isn''t the best solution to the problem!"


    Bruce said helplessly, "Why does everyone tell me the same thing? If the people are dead, doesn''t that solve everything? If there are others seeking revenge, then just finish them off too, and it''s all settled!"


    Donnieughed and said, "If it was that easy, why would you still be working on your family''s farm? With your skills, you should have much more money than me by now!"


    Bruce fell silent.


    At that moment, Chris came over with the tavern''s phone, calling out loudly for Donnie.


    "Telephone!"


    Donnie stood up to answer the call, and from the other end came Lucy''s voice, "Nucky called, he''ll be arriving in Antic City in the morning!"

 Chapter 55: 51. Acquisition Target: The Fuli Tavern (Please follow, please favorite~)

    "Is David Jabbar really that important?"


    At the Block Tavern, Robert was also suggesting to Donnie that they should set their sights on David Jabbar''s The Fuli Tavern.


    As the top-ranked tavern in Antic City, calling it the treasure house of Antic City was by no means an exaggeration.


    Donnie had previously visited The Fuli Tavern, where the first two floors were prepared for guests. In reality, The Fuli Tavern consisted of four floors: the tavern upied the first and second levels, the third level was a brothel, and the fourth a gambling den.


    Here, one could enjoy all the services that Antic City had to offer.


    However, after hearing Robert''s suggestion, Donnie thought it wise to hold off, as David Jabbar was no ordinary person.


    But Robert was surprised by Donnie''s hesitation, "Didn''t you easily turn down David Jabbar''s request before?"


    Donnie waved his hand, "That was because Nucky was standing by our side at that time, which allowed us to easily refuse David Jabbar."


    In the city of Antic City, David Jabbar, a Bostonian, had managed to survive through the eras of the Commodore and Nucky, the two emperors of Antic City, and even be the owner of the city''srgest tavern.


    "Do you really think such a person is just a regr businessman?"


    Robert fell silent. He had not considered these matters, merely thinking that since they wanted to expand their business in Antic City, naturally they should target the biggest catch.


    "So you''re saying, we should just look for other targets?"


    Donnie shook his head again, "Your idea isn''t wrong, but we still need to carefully consider the process!"


    If they could take over The Fuli Tavern, then Donnie could truly leap the dragon''s gate and be one of the upper echelons of Antic City.


    If it were John, he would have bluntly told Donnie, "This brainy stuff, you handle it yourself!"


    Robert was not that type of person, though; he might have beenscivious and frivolous, but he did like to use his brain. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have be an ace in the military!


    Robert thought for a moment and asked, "If we really want to make a move on David Jabbar, who would be our biggest obstacle in the early stages?"


    "Eli Johnson!"


    Donnie answered directly. In fact, before Robert proposed acquiring The Fuli Tavern, Donnie had already set his sights on it.


    Therefore, Donnie had already done some investigation into The Fuli Tavern.


    David Jabbar and Eli Johnson were very close friends - so much so that Donnie even suspected that Eli Johnson had a stake in The Fuli Tavern.


    If Donnie wanted to make a move on David Jabbar, it meant he would be messing with Eli Johnson''s cake, and thetter would certainly not let it go easily. Moreover, there was already enmity between Donnie and Eli Johnson!


    Robert was somewhat distressed, saying helplessly, "Does it have to be such a formidable figure right from the start? That''s Eli Johnson. Although the man is a fool, his brother is Nucky, and he himself is the sheriff!"


    In the future, Eli Johnson would be akin to the police chief of Antic City.


    Such a man, even if he were ipetent, was still not someone the current Donnie could handle!


    "High risk represents high reward; don''t you even know that?" Donnie replied, seemingly unconcerned.


    Robert: "I do know, but this risk is extremely high. One misstep, and it might backfire severely!"


    Donnie had no objections to this. He thought for a moment and said, "We still need to n this out carefully!"


    "Alright then!" That was Robert for you. Although he thought the venture was quite risky, if Donnie had decided on it, he would still perfectly carry out whatever Donnie charged him with.


    "What do you think of Dwight? Can we trust him?"


    Suddenly, Donnie asked Robert about Dwight.


    Robert thought for a moment and grasped Donnie''s intention, "Do you intend to assign Dwight to keep an eye on David Jabbar?"


    Donnie nodded, "Exactly, although we now have quite a few people on our side, Dwight is the only one who can do this job!"


    Robert said, "The man is somewhat slippery. I can''t be sure about him right now. I think I should handle this matter myself!"


    Surveilling someone like David Jabbar had to be done secretly, without leaking a shred of information. The people currently with Donnie, who had followed him from Elwood Vige, had no idea how formidable the Johnson brothers were in Antic City.


    They would simply follow orders without question.


    However, Dwight was different. Being a native of Antic City, he must have a natural fear of the city''s power yers like David Jabbar.


    If Donnie were to assign the task to him now, Donnie even suspected that Dwight might turn around and inform David Jabbar!


    "We''re not short of people for rough work, but weck those who can handle delicate tasks carefully!"


    Donnie sat there, speaking somewhat helplessly.


    Donnie now had only Robert to handle the delicate tasks, but as Robert''s status gradually elevated, he would eventually be unable to entrust such tasks to him. Thus, Donnie needed some additional hands for the fine work, hands that would also possess the loyalty that Donnie could trust.


    After pondering for a moment, Robert spoke up, "I do have a suggestion."


    "What''s the suggestion?" Donnie asked immediately.


    "When I was in the military, I had a few brothers I could trust to have my back, and I believe you must have had such brothers in the army too. Why not write to them and ask them toe help you?"


    Robert shared his idea with Donnie.


    Upon hearing it, a light bulb went off in Donnie''s mind. Why hadn''t he thought of this before? Right, his focus had been on Antic City, so he had overlooked this matter.


    In any country, brothers who have shouldered guns and faced death together share a strong bond.


    "Robert, don''t worry, there will be no room for doubt between us, and you can also write to your brothers and ask them toe over!"


    Donnie said with a smile, understanding that Robert''s suggestion to write to his own brothers was more about ensuring his own safety.


    Robertughed after hearing this, "No problem!"


    .


    David Jabbar was not in a good moodtely.


    "Dear Eli, are we really just going to watch Donnie Block grow slowly?"


    The source of David Jabbar''s disquiet was none other than Donnie Block.


    Though Donnie did not currently have the financial power topete with David, their rtionship was such that David needed Donnie even more.


    The prohibition seemed to have no ce to survive in Antic City, but the supply of alcohol was bing increasingly difficult within the United States. Especially now that the National Government-trained prohibition agents had entered every state to investigate. The prohibition and the crackdown on alcohol sales had caused the prices of alcohol to skyrocket swiftly.


    At the start of prohibition, the price of alcohol in Antic City surged by 70%, but as of now, the price of alcohol had already doubled!


    LeBron James''s alcohol, although priced the same as the liquor provided by Donnie, did not match the quality of Donnie''s.


    The Fuli Tavern, being thergest and most luxurious tavern in Antic City, naturally needed to serve the best alcohol.


    Therefore, The Fuli Tavern had two sources for its alcohol supply: the first was to buy smuggled alcohol from Europe at higher prices through Nucky, and the second was to purchase it from Donnie.


    David had no issues with Nucky making money, after all, Nucky was out of his league and not someone he could afford to provoke.


    But Donnie was different; a few months ago, Donnie was still a nobody in front of him, but now, he had to pay Donnie.


    This psychological gap was something David Jabbar could not ept.


    Especially since he could have had Donnie Block under his thumb before this.


    Eli Johnson sat across from David, gently swirling his whiskey in hand, and said calmly, "You don''t need to worry too much about Donnie. It won''t be long before his business changes hands!"


    David immediately showed an interested expression and asked, "Has Nucky finally run out of patience with Donnie Block''s rise?"


    Eli: "You don''t need to be concerned about that. Just be ready to take over Donnie Block''s business when the timees!"


    David Jabbar smirked slightly. He couldn''t ept Eli Johnson''s words because he knew Nucky, and he understood that his current business in Antic City had reached its peak, and Nucky would not allow him to expand his business further.


    Because that would mean escaping Nucky''s control.


    "I''ll leave that to you. As for you, Eli, I think you could have a serious chat with your brother. If you manage to get Donnie''s business, that would be great!"


    Eliughed, "Don''t worry, what''s mine will be yours too!"


    "Haha, that''s true, considering you also have shares in The Fuli Tavern!" said David Jabbar, raising his ss.


    The two clinked sses, exchanged a few words of small talk, and then two scantily d women approached them. Each man took one, and the atmosphere was lively withughter and chatter.


    Late at night, David, who had already fallen asleep, suddenly felt an inexplicable terror, and his eyes snapped open to discover a man in a leather jacket, holding a pistol, sitting next to his bed.


    "Who are you?"


    David asked in horror; if this man coulde to his bedroom soundlessly, he could kill him just as silently.


    "It doesn''t matter who I am. What matters is that someone asked me to deliver a message to you," the assassin said calmly while seated.


    David breathed a slight sigh of relief. Such a statement from the other party meant that his safety was probably not at risk.


    "What message?"


    "My boss asked me to remind you, do you still remember the brigadier who set up The Fuli Tavern for you ten years ago?"

 Chapter 56: 52. The loved one is always fearless (Please follow and collect~)

    "What? Vince was released by Eli?"


    Donnie learned of this news from Robert''s mouth, and even he was very surprised after hearing it.


    To know that Vince McGrady was captured by Nucky''s orders, used tobat the Brigadier''s brazenness, and now Eli Johnson had actually let him go.


    Wasn''t this running counter to Nucky''s decision?


    "Yes," Robert confirmed, "It was just this afternoon, Sean told me!"


    Sean Beal, a small-time police officer in the public order department, often liked to have a drink at Scott''s tavern. Robert had taken notice of him after Donnie instructed him to cultivate some of his own power; over this period, Robert had already spent over 300 US dors on him.


    Donnie sat there, gently tapping on the table, his expression gradually changing from confusion to happiness.


    It was then that Donnie remembered something about the brothers Nucky and Eli, recalling thatter Eli Johnson, dissatisfied with his brother''s disdain for him, had actually sided with the Brigadier to conspire against his own brother.


    That had been one of the greatest difficulties Nucky had faced in Antic City, but in the end, Nucky had smoothly resolved it.


    And Eli Johnson had pushed all the me onto David Jabbar, with the final oue being...


    Nucky forgave Eli Johnson and shot David Jabbar dead!


    Could this be happening ahead of schedule?


    "Donnie, what on earth is Eli Johnson thinking? Isn''t this going against his brother''s orders?"


    Robert couldn''t understand why Eli Johnson would do such a thing.


    Donnie, having figured things out, said happily, "Isn''t this good for us? We were just wondering how to increase the Brigadier''s strength to better oppose Nucky, and now Eli Johnson suddenly switching sides, isn''t that increasing the Brigadier''s strength?"


    "Are you saying Eli has defected to the Brigadier?" Robert looked at Donnie in shock, "That''s impossible; Eli is Nucky''s brother. Does that waste not know that only his brother would truly treat him well? If he defects to the Brigadier, wouldn''t he lose his biggest support? If the Brigadier really does gain back control of Antic City, Eli would bepletely useless!"


    "That''s the thinking of a smart person!" Donnie asked with a smile, "I ask you, if Nucky was your brother, and the whole of Antic City respected him, feared him, and his word wasw in Antic City, how would you feel about that?"


    Robert answered, "I''d be thrilled! If Nucky were my brother, why would I need to bother scheming? I''d just hit up all the brothels directly!"


    Donnie continued, "But when everyone sees you, they overlook your feelings, and instead, they''re eager to go through you to meet your brother. Wouldn''t you feel a bit left out?"


    "What''s there to feel left out about!" Robert said as a matter of course, "He''s my own brother. The more respect he gets, the better my life will be. As for what others think, would they dare show me disrespect to my face?"


    Donnie then asked, "What if Nucky also gives you a hard time on a normal day, scolding you for no reason?"


    After hearing this question, Robert fell silent. Finally, he still said happily, "It doesn''t matter. After all, in the whole of Antic City, he''s the only one who can scold me. Others still have to behave ording to my wishes!"


    "Haha!" Donnie couldn''t help butugh out loud, saying, "Too bad, you''re not Eli, and Eli is not you!"


    "So just because of these things, Eli Johnson is going to betray his own brother?" Robert also began to understand what Donnie meant.


    "More from being fearlessly assured!" Donnie concluded, "Who told him he''s Nucky''s brother!"


    Robertughed too, "If that''s the case, we might just have a chance!"


    Donnie waved his hand, "Don''t rush. Right now, the most important thing is to find out how Eli and the Brigadier got in contact!"


    .


    Donnie had a perfect candidate in mind if he wanted to find out how Eli had gotten in touch with the Brigadier.


    "Darling, this is a gift I''ve carefully chosen for you, take a look and see if you like it!"


    This evening, in an above-average hotel in Antic City, Donnie took out a string of pearl ne, and put it on Lucy.


    The ne''s pearls shone brightly above her smooth corbone as Lucy leaned back into Donnie''s embrace, caressing her ne with one hand and joyfully said.


    "I love it, I really do!"


    "If you love it, you''ll have to pay a price for it!"


    Donnie turned Lucy''s body around, then pulled her into his arms, and the two of themy straight on the bed.


    .........


    After the room was filled with the scent of hormones and Lucy''s panting breaths.


    Donnie asked the woman in his arms, "Did Nucky say when he''ll be back?"


    "It should be soon, but he didn''t tell me the exact time. No one knows these things except for Louis!"


    Lucy said with a flushed face and heavy breaths.


    Donnieughed, "So, he doesn''t trust you that much, huh!"


    "It''s not just me!" Lucy said nonchntly, "In the whole of Antic City, Louis is the only one that Nucky really trusts!"


    "What about Eli, then? He''s Nucky''s own brother!" Donnie steered the conversation towards Eli Johnson.


    "Anyway, I feel like Nucky doesn''t trust Eli that much, and when the brothers meet, Nucky often scolds him!"


    Lucy adjusted her body to make herself morefortable in Donnie''s embrace.


    Donnie asked, "What about Eli, how does he usually treat his brother?"


    Lucy looked at Donnie suspiciously and asked, "Why are you so interested in Eli today?"


    Being a woman capable of being a green tea bitch, Lucy was still smart. Seeing that Donnie started asking about the rtionship between Nucky and Eli, she became curious.


    "Of course, I need to ask clearly. If Nucky finds out about us two, Eli, as Nucky''s brother and the sheriff of Antic City, will definitely be the first to act against us. The more I know about Eli, the more prepared I can be!"


    Donnie''s big hands, one up and one down, made Lucy''s consciousness start to blur.


    "Ah, that''s why!" Lucy excitedly cupped Donnie''s face, smiling, "Dear, could it be that you can''t live without me now?"


    "Of course, do you want to leave me?"


    Donnie answered without batting an eye.


    "Dear, you really are too good!" Lucy nted a fierce kiss on Donnie''s face.


    "If you don''t want to leave me, then help me investigate Nucky and Eli, the brothers, as thoroughly as possible. Only by doing so can we have more chips to be together!"


    Donnie consoled Lucy.


    Lucy nodded, then excitedly said to Donnie, "Actually, the best way to investigate Eli is to start with David Jabbar!"


    Finally, something juicy!


    "Why do you say that?" Donnie asked. Although he knew that the rtionship between Eli and David Jabbar was very close, Donnie didn''t think David Jabbar would be so foolish as to conspire with Eli against Nucky.


    "I''ve heard Nucky and Louisin before, saying the two of them have teamed up to do many things they thought Nucky didn''t know about, but Nucky has always overlooked it because of being brothers with Eli and hasn''t held them ountable!"


    Lucy''s hand slowly reached under the covers, and her voice turned increasingly seductive.


    "But I don''t know the specifics!"

 Chapter 57: 53. Baby-faced Bruce Currie (Please follow and bookmark~)

    With Donnie serving as an informant, the general took advantage of Nucky''s absence from Antic City to start various counterattacks.


    First, he used his previous favor with David Jabbar to have Eli Johnson release Vince, and then he pulled out the big guns.


    Today, a four-man team arrived in Antic City.


    Leading them was Diesel Mard, an upright Federal Investigator!


    "Since the general was arrested, control over Antic City fell into Nucky''s hands. We are here to restore the glory of our predecessor and arrest this man who disrupts the order in Antic City and grantly defies the national constitution!"


    Inside a boarding house, Diesel Mard was brainwashing his subordinates.


    At the moment, Diesel Mard appeared incredibly excited. To him, investigating Nucky didn''t seem like a dangerous task.


    Because he had a precedent to follow!


    His predecessor had risen rapidly in his career after investigating the general and sessfully putting him behind bars.


    Now, Diesel also saw the arrest of Nucky as adder to the heavens in his own career path.


    "Diesel, ording to our previous investigation, Nucky''s control over Antic City has exceeded the situation during the general''s era. Investigating Nucky will not be an easy task!"


    Diesel stood there, confident, "Precisely because it''s not easy, we need to arrest Nucky all the more. Only by doing so, Felix, you won''t have to patrol the countryside; Nathan, you won''t have to patrol the streets; and Porter, you won''t have to worry about being fired!"


    Arresting Nucky was not an easy task, and Diesel was concerned that the old hands might be corrupted by Nucky''s money. That''s why this time he brought in new personnel, all of whom had been unable to rise within his previous department.


    "Exactly. It''s because of people like Nucky that Antic City has be a ce full of dirt and vice. Our duty is to send these people straight to prison!" Nathan, the youngest of the group at only 25, was particrly excited.


    The others responded in kind.


    "Very good!" Diesel looked at the three men with satisfaction. "Now, our first step is to investigate Nucky''s movements. ording to my intelligence, Nucky will return to Antic City tomorrow. We need to stay at the Ritz Hotel and gather all information about Nucky''s activities in Antic City."


    "Yes!"


    .


    Donnie was unaware of Diesel Mard and his team''s arrival, yet he was still in good spirits.


    "The general once became the king of Antic City¡ªnever underestimate his influence. I was too eager for quick sess before. Now that I think about it, merely knowing that Nucky had left Antic City would have been enough for the general to take action!"


    Donnie sat in the Block Tavern, discussing recent events with Robert.


    It was now afternoon, and there weren''t many customers in the hall downstairs.


    "In that case, should we temporarily abandon the investigation into the general and concentrate on the n to take over The Fuli Tavern?"


    "Yes, the liquor supply at The Fuli Tavern is no longer a concern. What''s most important now is to find out who those gamblers at The Fuli Tavern are."


    The Fuli Tavern did business in three areas: liquor, gambling, and women.


    Donnie now controlled the entire liquor supply of Antic City, which was no longer an issue.


    As for women, Donnie had some ns in ce, so now what remained was to explore The Fuli Tavern''s clientele.


    As the best tavern in Antic City, the gamblers at The Fuli Tavern were all wealthy or noble. They surely weren''t steelworkers from Phdelphia.


    Robert nodded. "I''ll have someone keep an eye on it."


    As the two discussed the matter, amotion suddenly erupted from downstairs.


    Hearing the noise, Donnie frowned slightly. Taverns, brimming with male hormones, frequently witnessed brawls.


    But that waspared to ordinary taverns. Now, although Donnie Block''s Block Tavern wasn''t one of the top establishments in Antic City in terms of scale and formality, Donnie Block''s name deterred many, making the Block Tavern one of the safest in Antic City.


    Even The Fuli Tavern couldn''tpare in this aspect since the WCTU women would asionally protest in front of The Fuli Tavern.


    Donnie and Robert descended the stairs to see the tavern hall in chaos, with two burly white men lying on the ground, their conditions unknown.


    Donnie recognized them; they were steelworkers from Phdelphia, not known for their martial arts but famous for their brute strength.


    Then, in the middle of the crowd, sat a man about 1.8 meters tall, slender but well-proportioned and with a babyface, holding a beer in his hand.


    John and the others had already surrounded him.


    The man didn''t seem to care at all about the situation.


    Upon seeing the man, Donnie Block''s face immediately broke into a smile, then quickly returned toposure. He hastened his steps, approaching the man.


    "No one dares to cause trouble in Block Tavern!"


    "I just taught a lesson to two men who didn''t know any better."


    "But you still made trouble in my tavern!"


    "It''s done now, but how about I work for you to make up for the damages to your tavern?"


    "Then there''s no problem!"


    John watched Donnie''s conversation with the man and understood that Donnie definitely knew him.


    Sure enough, at that moment the man stood up and hugged Donnie tightly,ughing, "I can''t believe it''s only been a few months since we parted, and you''ve already be a big shot in Antic City!"


    "I didn''t expect you to get here so quickly either!"


    Donnie then pulled the man over to introduce him to John and the others, "This is my best brother from the time in the military, Bruce Currie. He once saved my life on the battlefield!"


    "If it wasn''t for you dragging me out of a pile of corpses back then, I wouldn''t have had the chance to save your life!"


    Bruce said,ughing.


    "After I received your letter, I came straight here. From now on, I''m following you, but I demand good liquor and beautiful women, otherwise, I might just run off!"


    At this point, Robert also reacted, looking at Bruce somewhat surprised, "Are you Bruce Currie, the one they call ''the Scythe''?"


    "Back on the farm, I sure did use a scythe to do the farm work!"


    Bruce said with a smile.


    "Chris, bring out the good liquor!"


    Excited, Donnie pulled Bruce to sit down at a table in the tavern, while John and Garrett tossed the two men, still unconscious, out of the tavern.


    "Who is this guy? You seem to think he''s famous?"


    John found Robert and asked.


    Robert said excitedly, "Bruce Currie, one of the most terrifying presences on the battlefield. The most exaggerated story is that this guy sneaked into a German toon all alone, without support or logistic backup, and he hunkered down near the enemy camp for 36 hours. Ultimately, he sniped their leader with a single shot. I''m not his match when ites to handling guns!


    "Since then, Bruce Currie has gotten a nickname in the army called ''the Scythe'', a reaper of lives!"


    John whistled in disbelief after hearing about Bruce Currie''s past, but then questioned, "That''s odd, though, for someone so formidable, why haven''t I seen any publicity about him in the newspapers? And why has he been discharged, too?"


    Robert said derisively, "Donnie was also incredibly formidable on the battlefield, but the newspapers haven''t reported about him either, and he''s been discharged as well, hasn''t he?"


    Thinking about Donnie''s experiences, John immediately grasped the implication.


    "I remember how you were all eager to join the army back then, and looking at your situation now, it''s really quite ironic!"


    John started ribbing Robert.


    With a darkened face, Robert stopped talking to John.


    "Now that you''re here, don''t leave. Just stay in the room I used to upy!"


    At that time, Donnie was chatting with Bruce.


    He had previously agreed with Robert to write letters to his army buddies, inviting them to Antic City to help him out. Now that Bruce had arrived, naturally, Donnie was very happy.


    "Haha, I came here to join you, so whatever arrangements you make, I''ll follow!"


    Bruce said indifferently, "By the way, for you to write me a letter, it means your enemies in Antic City must be nothing simple. Give me the list, and I''ll take them all out tonight!"


    Donnie immediately waved his hands and said, "I do have enemies in Antic City, but this is no longer like our old battlefield. There are rules for survival here, and killing a person isn''t the best solution to the problem!"


    Bruce said helplessly, "Why does everyone tell me the same thing? If the people are dead, doesn''t that solve everything? If there are others seeking revenge, then just finish them off too, and it''s all settled!"


    Donnieughed and said, "If it was that easy, why would you still be working on your family''s farm? With your skills, you should have much more money than me by now!"


    Bruce fell silent.


    At that moment, Chris came over with the tavern''s phone, calling out loudly for Donnie.


    "Telephone!"


    Donnie stood up to answer the call, and from the other end came Lucy''s voice, "Nucky called, he''ll be arriving in Antic City in the morning!"

 Chapter 58: 54. Nuckys Return (Please follow, please favorite~)

    Nucky ising back?


    For Donnie, this was clearly bad news. Although he didn''t know the specifics of how the general would deal with Nucky, Donnie understood that Nucky could handle any action the general took, it really just ended up being about how much effort it took!


    "Should we do something?"


    It was at this time that Robert suggested.


    Donnie shook his head, "Let''s not take any action for now. Nucky''s return is definitely not good news for the general, but for us, that''s not necessarily all bad news!"


    Robert asked, "Didn''t you say you wanted the general to draw Nucky''s attention? If Nucky easily breaks through the general''s counterattack, then he will, as you said before, turn his attention to us."


    "Why bother with such trouble!"


    As Donnie discussed Nucky''s return with Robert, John directly said, "Just give Bruce a handgun. I believe with Bruce''s skills, he would surely be able to easily take down both the general and Nucky!"


    Bruce Currie, sitting next to Robert, looked at John curiously and asked Robert, "Who is this guy?"


    Robert replied, "That''s Donnie''s big brother, John Block!"


    "Impossible, absolutely impossible!" Bruce Currie immediately said, "How could Donnie''s big brother be so brainless?"


    John''s face darkened instantly, and he said helplessly, "A moment ago you were saying we should take them out, weren''t you?"


    Bruce said, "That''s because I didn''t know the situation in Antic City. After hearing Donnie out, I now understand, and naturally, we can''t do that!"


    Donnie said, "Alright, no more jokes. Whether it be Nucky or the general, neither of them can die right now. Otherwise, all of Antic City would descend into chaos, and our base is in Antic City. Chaos here is of no benefit to us."


    Though Donnie now wielded not insignificant influence in Antic City,pared to the city''s big shots, he was still far from enough. They definitely wouldn''t consider Donnie when picking a sessor.


    Robert asked, "So what''s the advantage you''re talking about?"


    Donnie said, "It''s very simple. For now, we don''t need to worry about how Nucky and the general will fight. We just need to be clear on our own goals. Our current target is David Jabbar''s The Fuli Tavern, and behind David Jabbar is Eli Johnson. Now, during Nucky''s absence, Eli has released the general''s prot¨¦g¨¦.


    No matter how much Nucky trusts his brother, I think Eli''s actions at this time will definitely make Nucky very angry.


    As long as Eli falls under Nucky''s suspicion, then we''ll have the opportunity to fish in troubled waters!"


    After Donnie exined, Robert and Bruce both showed expressions of realization. John, seeing their reactions, also immediately put on an "I see" face.


    "John, go to the North District immediately and tell James to meet me at Margaret''s house tonight!"


    Without having investigated The Fuli Tavern''s clientele, Donnie had no choice but to start with the liquor.


    Even if, at this point, it was Donnie supplying liquor to The Fuli Tavern.


    As for why it had to be at Margaret''s house, it was actually quite simple. James was too conspicuous a target. If he appeared at the Block Tavern, others mighte to know of it.


    After John gave an affirmative answer, Robert posed a question to Donnie.


    "I''ve already sent Dwight to keep an eye on The Fuli Tavern, but as you know, Dwight, he can handle petty thievery on any given day, but he has been investigated several times already in a ce like The Fuli Tavern," Robert said with a look of helplessness.


    After listening, Donnie was also somewhat helpless. He didn''tck manpower, but hecked someone who could truly connect with the upper echelons of society.


    Although his men might, in the future, be able to be upper-ss figures on their own merits.


    But for now, in yellow robes, they would not resemble royalty!


    "I was somewhat presumptive before. Let''s do this: just have Dwight watch The Fuli Tavern from the outside. As for the situation inside, I will handle it."


    This was something Donnie would have to do himself.


    "With your word, I have no problem!" said Robert earnestly.


    .


    That night, Donnie waited at Margaret''s house and LeBron James arrived.


    James no longer disyed the nervousness he had before, and his smile was bing even brighter.


    After a period of management, LeBron James''s new brewery waspleted and production had begun. Additionally, due to Embiid''s hospitalization, LeBron James had rightfully recruited a few underlings.


    Among them, the most capable were named Irving and Love.


    However, in such a situation, James would certainly not bring them along.


    "Donnie, without your support, I could never have regained my former glory. I am very grateful to you!"


    LeBron James was not stingy with his praises at this moment.


    Donnie just listened to these sugar-coated shells; in fact, from the very beginning, he had never trusted LeBron James, who had turned to him only because he had been driven to a dead end by Nucky and Pierce.


    Now that his reputation in the North District had returned, how long this man could show loyalty in front of him was unknown.


    "Have you brought your family back?" Donnie asked with a smile.


    When LeBron James sensed the danger he faced in the North District, he sent his wife and children back to the countryside; now that the crisis was over, it was only natural to bring them back.


    "They''ve already returned. If it weren''t for your instruction, Donnie, I would have wished to bring both of them to express my thanks to you properly!"


    To avoid the displeasure of the Ku Klux n''s Mobley and to avoid the suspicions of Nucky, the connection between Donnie and LeBron James had always been a secret.


    Even in public, the two might have conflicts over the liquor market shares in Antic City.


    "There will always be an opportunity," Donnie said nonchntly, "James, I''ve asked you toe here because there''s something I need your help with!"


    Donnie spoke directly.


    LeBron James immediately responded, "Donnie, whatever you need, justmand me. I will absolutely not let you down!"


    "What do you think about The Fuli Tavern?" Donnie inquired.


    "The best tavern in Antic City, and also one of the most profitable ces!" Although LeBron James had never been to The Fuli Tavern, he was very familiar with the situation there.


    As for supplying liquor to The Fuli Tavern in the past, it had always been done through external transactions. As a leader in the North District and a powerful figure in Antic City, LeBron James, due to his skin color, had no privilege to enter The Fuli Tavern.


    "What if one day I became the owner of The Fuli Tavern? What do you think?"


    Donnie did not hide his intentions in front of LeBron James.


    LeBron James was startled upon hearing this, "Donnie, that''s The Fuli Tavern!"


    "It''s precisely because it is The Fuli Tavern that I want to acquire it!" Donnie asserted as if it were the most natural thing in the world.


    The value of The Fuli Tavern was so high that Donnie wanted to acquire it; this logic even LeBron James could understand.


    "But the owner of The Fuli Tavern is David Jabbar, behind David Jabbar is Eli Johnson, and behind Eli Johnson is Nucky!"


    Donnie still appeared unconcerned and asked, "High risk represents high return. Now I need you to help me. If one day David Jabbares to you, hoping to buy liquor, you should refuse him!"


    This time, LeBron James did not reply immediately to Donnie''s words but instead thought for a while before speaking, "Donnie, normally I couldn''t refuse your request, but you are aware of Nucky''s power. Embiid will be discharged from the hospital soon, and if I refuse David Jabbar''s request, I''m worried that Nucky might..."


    Isn''t this why they call you a double-dealer!


    However, at that moment, Donnie indeed still needed LeBron James''s influence in the North District and his business; thus, he said with a smile, "James, we''re friends. As a friend, I naturally wouldn''t ask you to do anything difficult. Rest assured, I can guarantee that if such a dayes, Nucky definitely won''t say a word to you!"


    LeBron James looked at Donnie''s smile, fell silent again, and after a long while, answered, "If that''s the case, then I have no problem!"


    Donnie lifted his ss, smiling, "Then let''s toast in advance to a sessful coboration!"


    LeBron James chuckled bitterly, "I still hope that you''ll take this matter seriously, Donnie. The fact that David Jabbar can be a significant figure in the Southern District proves he''s apetent man."


    So this is why you dare not venture into the Southern District... Donnie mused about LeBron James''s reign over the North District, and then smiled,


    "I''ve thought it through very carefully!"


    In the end, LeBron James arrived in high spirits, but he left with a heavy heart.


    After LeBron James had left, Margaret then said, "I don''t like this man. His scheming is excessive!"


    Donnieughed heartily, "Don''t worry. Those who are excessively calctive often hesitate andck a resolute approach. inly put, such people are opportunistic and will act as long as it benefits them and the risks aren''t too great!


    Moreover, he still can''t do without me at this time!"


    Margaret simply nodded, as she never said much about Donnie''s business dealings.


    The next afternoon, dressed in a suit, Donnie made an appearance at The Fuli Tavern.


    Unexpectedly, there he encountered Nucky, who had just returned to Antic City, and his mistress, Lucy!

 Chapter 59: 55. The famous swindler in financial history, Ponzi (please follow, please collect~)

    "Donnie, I didn''t expect you''d be willing to try your luck here too!"


    Upon seeing Donnie, Nucky said happily, showing no signs of anger over his brother going against his wishes.


    "The Fuli Tavern has always been a model for us at the Block Tavern to learn from."


    "Haha, with the way you''re developing now, Donnie, I believe it won''t be long before you can own a tavern like this one!"


    Nucky continued tough, but his words made David Jabbar, standing beside him, look ufortable.


    "By the way, this is my girlfriend, Lucy Danzig, a beautiful girl!"


    "I''ve long heard of Miss Danzig''s fine reputation. Seeing you today, you indeed live up to your beauty!"


    Donnie reached out his hand, and Lucy, without a change in expression, smiled and said, "I''ve also always heard Nucky speak highly of Mr. Block as the most promising young man in Antic City, truly a person of great appearance and talent!"


    The mutual ttery was brief.


    "By the way, Donnie, I want to introduce you to a big shot!" Nucky said, his expression filled with a mysterious smile.


    Hearing Nucky''s words, Donnie paused slightly. Who could be so important that Nucky would call him a ''big shot''? A political heavyweight?


    But that didn''t seem right. Although their rtionship had improved a bit, Nucky wouldn''t likely introduce a political heavyweight to him, and knowing Nucky''s character, it probably wasn''t just to show off.


    "May I know who it is?" Despite his confusion, Donnie asked with a smile.


    "Ponzi, let me introduce you to Antic City''s rising star, Donnie Block. Half of the beverages in the whole Antic City are supplied by Donnie!"


    Nucky turned and signaled to a white man cing bets, who was dressed in an Italian custom-tailored suit with a ruby ring on his finger. As he stood and turned back, his face bore a smile simr to Nucky''s.


    "Nucky, this is Charles Ponzi, a big shot from Boston, managing a fund worth more than fifteen million US Dors!" Nucky introduced the man''s identity to Donnie.


    Donnie''s expression grewplex. Charles Ponzi, this was a man of infamous repute in the history of finance.


    The ''Ponzi scheme'' was named after him.


    "I''m honored to meet you, Mr. Ponzi. I hope we can count on your support in the future!" Donnie reined in his curiosity and shook hands with Ponzi, smiling.


    Ponzi wore a modest smile and humbly said, "You''re too modest, Mr. Block. Right now, Antic City is the only ce in the United States that can provide beverages for everyone. I believe it won''t be long before you be a major figure in Antic City!"


    Nucky told Donnie with augh, "Charles''s fund has a very high rate of return, and it operates unique European stamps, with a return rate that has reached 400% at times. Donnie, you could invest some of your spare cash with Charles; who knows, it might bring forward your dream of owning a tavern like The Fuli Tavern!"


    "Ah, my operation is just small-timepared to an actual business like Mr. Block''s!" Ponzi discretely declined Nucky''s suggestion.


    "I look forward to the opportunity to work with Mr. Ponzi in the future!" Donnie showed a hint of disappointment.


    After exchanging pleasantries, they parted. Donnie exchanged 300 US Dors'' worth of chips and randomly picked a gambling table to start his mission for the day.


    In the process, however, Donnie couldn''t help but repeatedly nce over at Charles Ponzi.


    Shouldn''t this guy be in Boston, continuing to deceive small-time investors?


    Why had hee to Antic City?


    If Donnie''s memory was correct, by August of this year, Ponzi''s scheme would be exposed, and Ponzi would be incarcerated because of it.


    Was it that Boston no longer provided fresh blood for Ponzi''s scheme, and now he was in Antic City to develop new clients?


    After pondering for a while without rity, Donnie refocused on the casino''s patrons; after all, Ponzi''s presence wouldn''t bring him any benefits.


    .


    "These are the names I''ve gathered tonight. Observe for a few more days, and the situation should be clear!"


    After returning from The Fuli Tavern, Donnie handed over a list of valuable contacts he identified that evening to Robert.


    "Just have Dwight keep a close watch on these people. I want to know everything they do in Antic City, other than spending at The Fuli Tavern!"


    Robert nodded, "No problem, Dwight has just brought in a group of his old friendstely; they''ll be more than capable of handling this task!"


    Donnie nodded in satisfaction and continued to instruct, "Also, there''s another thing I need you to do. Find a high-end vi on the boardwalk and rent it for us."


    "You''re thinking of moving out of West District with Margaret?"


    Robert didn''t understand Donnie''s intent.


    Donnieughed, "That ce isn''t meant for living, it''s for us to be able to take over The Fuli Tavern in the shortest time!"


    "Alright, I''ll give you some news in two days!" Seeing Donnie didn''t specify the details, Robert didn''t ask further.


    After instructing Robert, Donnie then said to Bruce, "You''ve been enjoying yourself enough at the Scott Tavern these past few days. Now, there''s actual work for you to do!"


    Puffing on a cigar, Bruce said nonchntly, "Of course, that''s exactly why I came to see you!"


    Donnie said, "I don''t have a photo of this man right now, but I know his name is Charles Ponzi. He should have arrived in Antic City with Nucky yesterday. This man will be very high-profile, I believe you should be able to easily keep an eye on him."


    "No problem, this information is enough! So what do you want me to do, kidnap him?" Bruce asked.


    Donnie shook his head, "No need, I just want to know what this man is up to during his time in Antic City, that''ll be enough!"


    Although at The Fuli Tavern, Donnie thought Charles Ponzi wouldn''t benefit him, the man was too famous, and Donnie couldn''t help but be curious about what Ponzi was up to in Antic City.


    Moreover, Donnie wanted to know if Nucky had invested in Ponzi''s fund; if he had, it might mean some changes were necessary for his own ns in Antic City.


    If not, was there a way to use Charles Ponzi for something?


    In any case, it was necessary to find out Ponzi''s specific situation in Antic City before making a decision.


    "This is too easy, barely a challenge!"


    Bruceughed.


    "Although the task is not difficult, this person is important. Don''t underestimate him, this is a millionaire we''re talking about!"


    "Wow!" Bruce whistled exaggeratedly.


    .


    "So, my dear brother, are you trying to tell me by letting my enemy go while I was away from Antic City, that you want to betray me?"


    After returning to The Fuli Tavern, Nucky met his brother, Eli Johnson!


    "You know I would never betray you!" Eli said with an expressionless face.


    "Really? But what you''re doing now is betraying me. So tell me, what kind of benefit did the general offer you to betray your brother who has always looked after you?"


    "I said, I haven''t betrayed you!" Eli Johnson raised his voice, saying quite displeased, "I am helping you!"


    "Helping me?" Nuckyughed out of anger, "Ha, then tell me, how is letting my enemy go and affecting my reputation in Antic City helping me?"


    "Washington has already called. Even if you''ve smoothed things over with Washington, your actions will always cause dissatisfaction. Now that Vince has been dismissed, he can''t y any role in the general''s hands anymore. Letting go of such an insignificant person could ease your rtions with Washington. I honestly don''t see anything wrong with doing so!"


    Eli Johnson had his own thoughts.


    Nucky chuckled and said, "These words, did David Jabbar teach you them?"


    Eli Johnson''s expression suddenly changed.


    Seeing the change in Eli Johnson''s expression, Nucky continued, "I''ve always said you''re a fool and I''ve told you before, just do everything as I ask, then only I would know you''re a fool. Now, you''re telling the whole of Antic City that you, Eli Johnson, are a fool!"


    "I''m not a fool!" Eli Johnson retorted loudly.


    "Still saying you''re not a fool, if Vince was just a police officer, do you think I would consider him? If that were all, his influence in Antic City wouldn''t even match Donnie Block''s. Vince''s most important identity is the general''s godson.


    As long as he holds that title, the moment he walks out of the prison, everyone in Antic City will think I''ve been suppressed by the general.


    What will people in Antic City think of me then?


    Do you think the bit of money you got from David canpensate for these losses?"


    Amid Nucky''s rebuke, Eli Johnson left the ce, not concealing his anger.


    "Darling, Eli is trying to help you, don''t be angry, okay? Besides, wasn''t your trip to Washington very smooth?"


    Lucy brought Nucky a cup of coffee.


    "Heh, smooth?" Nucky said angrily: "If it weren''t for him releasing Vince and the general telling Washington about it, I would have gotten much more from this trip!"


    However, it was evident that Nucky didn''t want to divulge too much about what happened in Washington to Lucy. After sending her back to the bedroom, he started dealing with the backlog of work that had umted during his days away from Antic City.


    After leaving the Ritz Hotel, an angry Eli Johnson went to The Fuli Tavern.


    "Eli, you look terrible. Is it because of what happened with me that Nucky scolded you?"


    David Jabbar poured Eli Johnson a ss of whiskey.

 Chapter 60: 56. Stacking Chips (Please follow, please favorite~)

    Nucky Train Eli''s matter had quickly be known to Donnie through Lucy; however, regarding this, Donnie had not done anything about it for the time being.


    Because Donnie had more important things to attend to right now.


    "Isaiah, how much do you take in daily from your gambling den?"


    Today, Donnie did not go to The Fuli Tavern but instead arrived at Isaiah''s gambling den in the West District. Donnie''s sudden presence made Isaiah somewhat panicky, as the news of Donnie living at Margaret''s ce had long since spread throughout the West District.


    Isaiah believed that Donnie hade at this time due to the previous matter.


    "Boss Block, I wouldn''t dare mess with Margaret anymore!"


    "Nonsense, if you did, I wouldn''t be the oneing to find you today. Answer my question!"


    "This is just a small gambling den, my monthly ie isn''t even as much as you make in three days, Boss Block!"


    "So you''re saying your monthly ie barely reaches three to five hundred US dors?"


    "That''s a day or two''s ie!" Isaiah said with a sigh.


    "I have a deal here that can not only allow you to expand your influence in the West District, but also at least double your monthly ie. What do you say, are you interested?"


    Isaiah''s face immediately showed surprise, and he asked excitedly, "Boss Block, are you nning to hand over the liquor supply of the West District to me?"


    "You wish!" Donnieughed and said, "Don''t you suspect I''m using you?"


    "What do I have that''s worth Boss Block using?" Isaiah said with a ttering smile. "Moreover, even if there is, it would mean Boss Block looks up to me!"


    "You''re a smart man!"


    Donnie admired.


    Then Donnie told Isaiah his n. After listening, Isaiah''s eyes went from misunderstanding to slowly brightening, and then he excitedly said, "Boss Block, rest assured, I guarantee toplete the task you assign!"


    Donnie, satisfied, took out 100 US dors from his pocket and handed it to Isaiah, saying, "Have your men dress up in suits, tell them that ces like the Ritz Hotel are high-ss venues, and to speak politely!"


    Taking the money from Donnie''s hand, Isaiah''s smile bloomed even brighter, "You have my assurance!"


    "Good, I''ll be waiting at the Boardwalk for your men to show up!"


    A few dayster at Scott''s Tavern.


    Although it was only the afternoon, Scott''s Tavern was already quite full. Scantily d women moved between the tables where intoxicated men would boldly pull them into their arms. The women were not annoyed by the men''s actions, they only giggled, flirting, and soon a woman would beckon, prompting a waiter to bring drinks.


    Some men, after enough drinks, would pick up a woman and head straight for the second floor.


    Of course, in such an atmosphere, there were bound to be jealous squabbles and brawls.


    In face of such situations, Robert and others had a much more simple and brutal way of handling things, by throwing the troublemakers out of the tavern.


    Then the music and dancing continued.


    Upon seeing Donniee in, Robert also immediately came over, "Is there something you need?"


    Donnie smiled and said, "Have you taken care of the things I tasked you with?"


    Robert nodded and said, "It''s all taken care of!"


    After speaking, he turned back, called out to Chris who took out a key from behind the bar and threw it to Robert.


    "I''ll take you to see the ce!"


    Leaving Scott''s Tavern, the two walked eastward along the Boardwalk. Soon, they arrived in front of a luxurious vi by the sea.


    "Here we are!"


    Robert shed a proud grin, "Wait until you go in, you''ll be amazed!"


    Donnie kicked Robert on the leg, saying, "You''re talking about surprises as if you''ve forgotten who told you about how to arrange this ce!"


    Robert chuckled, leading Donnie straight inside.


    When the two entered the vi''s hall, they could no longer see any item rted to home living. Several gambling tables were strategically ced throughout the hall, with two rows of buxom women in bunny girl outfits bending over to greet them.


    "How''s that, does it meet your previous requirements?"


    Robert stood in the center of the living room, introducing the situation to Donnie.


    Donnie: "Let''s go, take a look at the second floor!"


    Robert led Donnie up the stairs to the second floor, which still had rooms with arge bed, a private bathroom, and various props...


    "Where did you find those bunny girls?" Donnie, satisfied with the situation before him, asked, "Do they know what they have to do?"


    Robertughed and said, "They were found in some lodging apartments; they''re more professional than us in these matters!"


    Donnieughed and said, "Very good, this ce will temporarily be one of our bases. I will have John take charge here, and remember, we must make every guest feel right at home. Everything one can enjoy in Antic City must be avable here!"


    "Understood!" Robert nodded, but then asked somewhat doubtfully, "We''ll obviously be facing clients from wealthy Phdelphia, New York, but all these people have their fixed ces in Antic City. Will theye to us?"


    Donnie confidently replied, "Don''t worry, they will!"


    .


    Meanwhile, a man in a suit, but without the slightest gentlemanly demeanor, appeared at the Ritz Hotel.


    After crossing the lobby to the elevator, the man went directly to the third floor of the Ritz Hotel and arrived at a room''s door, where he knocked.


    A man dressed in pajamas opened the door and looked puzzled upon seeing the suited man.


    "Who are you?"


    "Good day, Mr. Daniel. My name is Gary Thomas, just a nobody. I apologize for the intrusion, please forgive me!"


    Thomas tried his best to appear gentlemanly, but he looked more like a street urchin no matter how you saw him.


    "I have other things to do, I don''t need your services!"


    Daniel had no interest in dealing with such a person. He was a sales manager at a steel nt in Phdelphia, and all he wanted was to rx properly in Antic City over the weekend.


    "Mr. Daniel, I know you''re here to have fun in Antic City. We want to offer you a ce where you can enjoy yourself, yfortably. I guarantee it won''t take much of your time, and I assure you, you will be very satisfied with my introduction!"


    Daniel, feeling helpless, could only say, "It better be!"


    Then, Gary Thomas began to introduce to Daniel the ce he wanted to talk about.


    After hearing the introduction, Daniel was somewhat tempted, but it wasn''t enough to change his decision. "I know all you''ve told me, can you leave now?"


    Thomasughed and said, "Of course, to wee your arrival, here is a token of our service for you!"


    After finishing, Thomas handed Daniel an envelope containing three one-dor chips.


    "Even if you, Mr. Thomas, don''t bet a penny at our ce, you can still exchange these chips for cash. Thank you very much for your patience. Goodbye!"


    This time, Gary Thomas turned and left on his own.


    "Interesting!" Watching Thomas walking away, Daniel shook his head slightly andughed.


    As a person of some status, Daniel naturally didn''t care about the three-dor chips. But at that moment, he became interested in the ce Thomas had introduced before.


    Gary Thomas didn''t leave the Ritz Hotel but continued to knock on other rooms'' doors, with naturally the same spiel he had given Daniel.


    That evening, Daniel had intended to go directly to The Fuli Tavern to spend money, but as he was about to leave, he saw the three-dor chips on his table.


    "Lose it all, then go!"


    After some thought, Daniel picked up the three-dor chips and, following Thomas''s instructions, made his way to the vi on the east side of the boardwalk.


    "Mr. Daniel, we''re very d to wee your arrival!"


    Thomas, who had introduced the ce to Daniel earlier, was already waiting at the entrance of the vi. He immediately smiled upon seeing Daniel.


    This was his first sess of the day.


    "I''m just looking around!" Daniel said with a smile.


    "And we''re very d to have you!" Thomas bowed slightly, weing Daniel into the vi.


    When Daniel stepped through the vi''s grand doors and saw the scene in the lobby, he was thoroughly astonished.


    He was a regr in Antic City, mainly frequenting The Fuli Tavern but having also visited other casinos. However, he had to admit that although this ce was notrge in scale, the level of luxury was top-notch.


    "Mr. Daniel, this is Riley, your personal attendant. If you have any questions about our establishment, you can ask her. Also, any service you wish to receive, she will fulfill for you!"


    As he spoke, Thomas introduced a bunny girl to Daniel.


    Daniel swallowed hard as he looked at the bunny girl''s attire. He''d sought this kind of service in Antic City before but had never seen such an outfit.


    Casually, he pulled out a one-dor tip from his pocket and offered it to Thomas.


    However, Thomas didn''t ept it, saying instead, "Thank you very much for the tip, Mr. Daniel. If possible, I hope you can tip with chips because here, you can get everything you want with the chips you hold!"


    Daniel caught on and tipped Thomas with a chip.


    At that moment, Riley took Daniel''s hand tteringly and said, "Mr. Daniel, how about I give you a tour of our ce?"


    "Of course!"


    Up on the second-floor balcony, Donnie and John were standing by the railing, looking at the not-too-crowded situation below.


    John asked with some concern, "Can we really make money with such expenses?"

 Chapter 61: 57, Someone is envious (looking for followers, seeking the first subscription~)

    No wonder John had such considerations.


    With the renovation of this vi and the distribution of chips included, Donnie had already spent 3000 US dors to date, an absolute fortune in those days!


    "The main purpose here isn''t to make money, but to cut off The Fuli Tavern''s casino business. As long as we can disrupt their operation, it will be much easier to acquire The Fuli Tavernter!"


    Donnie confidently dered.


    "However, such services can be quickly copied by The Fuli Tavern!"


    Learning services can be difficult or easy, especially for the bunny girls in the casino; it''s actually quite simple to pick up.


    But Donnie clearly wasn''t too worried, "Do you think these bunny girls are our trump card?"


    "Yeah, it''s just like Scott''s bars. Wherever the customers go, they''re basically after those women. But now, with other taverns in Antic City learning, Scott''s business isn''t as booming as it was at the beginning,"


    John analyzed.


    Donnie looked at John, "I didn''t expect you to start using your brain!"


    John red fiercely at Donnie.


    Donnie chuckled, "Our core business isn''t the bunny girls, but Isaiah''s underlings."


    John was immediately perplexed.


    In fact, in the future, Isaiah''s underlings had another name, called ''chip bankers''!


    This profession hadn''t arisen at present, but when Donnie was thinking about how to deal with The Fuli Tavern, he had thought of this industry.


    To put it bluntly, these people would umte their own clientele through regr interactions and then bring them to a particr casino to spend money.


    At the same time, these individuals would provide financial support to gamblers.


    It might seem like this industry is just doing some of the casino''s work, but in reality, when these people truly grow, they''ll have a vast source of customers in their hands.


    In ces like Macau, during the 80s and 90s, there was only one gambling license owned by the Casino King, so the rtionship between the chip bankers and the Casino King was that of contractors with a principal.


    But as more gambling licenses started to emerge in Macau, the importance of these chip bankers increased significantly; some casinos even raised theirmission to let them permanently book several VIP rooms to win over these individuals.


    Although Donnie didn''t use the example of Macau to illustrate his point to John, after hearing about the importance of Isaiah and others, John still expressed some concerns.


    "There are at least 300, if not 500, casinos in Antic City now. If Isaiah and his people get second thoughts, won''t we be in a passive position?"


    Donnie nodded, "That''s why in theing time, you need to not only manage the situation here but also win over those under Isaiah''smand. The day when they only know you and not Isaiah, that''s when you will have truly seeded."


    In principle, giving John the task of winning people over wasn''t the best fit.


    But judging a person requires looking not only at their ws but also at discovering their strengths.


    John definitely wasn''t suitable for intellectual games, but for ying the streets and mixing with gangs, there was nothing easier for him.


    John was generous and magnanimous; even though Robert often mocked him, he actually admired John in his heart.


    "No problem, just you watch me!"


    John said eagerly.


    Donnie continued his instructions, "Another thing to keep in mind is not to be too harsh on the customers. This ce is just our bridgehead for the acquisition of The Fuli Tavern. When we truly own The Fuli Tavern, the money in these people''s pockets will be our real target, understand?"


    Johnughed heartily, saying, "Don''t worry, how could I not know that?"


    .


    The appearance of this vi on the boardwalk soon attracted the attention of many.


    As its reputation gradually grew, the first to take notice was not David Jabbar, but AJ, the boss of the West District''s Panther Gang.


    The reason was simple: Isaiah hade into money through recent developments.


    With moneyes pride.


    Isaiah was no exception, with the most direct manifestation being the purchase of a car for himself and starting to swagger through the West District.


    Such behavior naturally led to envy.


    And envy can breed ruthlessness.


    Today, AJ brought his men to Isaiah''s tavern.


    Seeing AJ arrive, although Isaiah had already grown to disdain this simple-minded yet physically strong person, he knew he had to act subservient in the face of absolute power!


    "Boss AJ, what brings you here? Please, have a seat!"


    While speaking, Isaiah even instructed his underling to pour a drink for AJ.


    "Isaiah, I hear you''ve recently made a tidy sum!" AJ sat imperiously, his smile not reaching his eyes as he watched Isaiah!


    "What windfall? It''s just that a few big shots took care of our business!"


    Isaiah said with a fawning smile.


    "Really? I see you''ve bought a car, too, and all your boys are decked out in suits. If you''ve found a way to make money, share it with us!"


    AJ asked.


    "Boss AJ, I really don''t have any opportunities here; just some big shots looking after me. Oh, that''s right, Donnie Block from Block Tavern, the boss there, recently set up a casino and gave us brothers some business!"


    Without the courage to face AJ, Isaiah decisively brought up Donnie.


    AJ was slightly taken aback; he certainly knew who Donnie Block was, currently the fastest-rising young man in Antic City.


    In just a few months, he had be an important figure in Antic City.


    What AJ didn''t expect was that Donnie Block knew Isaiah and even threw business his way.


    This made things difficult for AJ; if it were just Isaiah, he wouldn''t care and would simply take over, but now that Isaiah was backed by Donnie Block, this was someone AJ couldn''t afford to mess with.


    "So, you know Donnie Block, huh? No wonder you''ve been looking so pleased with yourselftely!" AJ thought about how to handle this situation.


    Seeing AJ looking somewhat intimidated, Isaiah immediately gloated, "I just got lucky. Who told Donnie Block to take a liking to me!"


    Smack!


    AJ, being a simple-minded man, didn''t think too much. Even knowing he couldn''t mess with Donnie Block, seeing Isaiah boast so smugly still made him angry. He pped Isaiah across the face without thinking.


    "Hmph, so what if you know Donnie Block? Don''t forget this is the West District, not the boardwalk. Since you''re operating in the West District, you''d better watch how you behave!"


    Covering his cheek, Isaiah stared at AJ, his anger boiling inside. He hadn''t imagined that even after he got money, the other could still hit him whenever he wanted.


    But seeing the other boys with AJ, Isaiah had no choice but to vent his anger internally.


    "Yes, yes, you''re right, Boss AJ!"


    "Hmph!" Seeing Isaiah as cowardly as ever, a smile spread across AJ''s face. If Isaiah had shown some backbone at that moment, AJ might have been wary of him, but now, seeing Isaiah was still a bootlicker, AJ had no more worries.


    "Good that you understand! Since you''re making money now, the previous rates can''t apply anymore. From now on, you have to hand over 100 US dors a month. Otherwise, be extra careful when you go out!"


    After AJ finished speaking, his boys went straight behind Isaiah''s bar, rummaged through the drawers, and took out 100 dors.


    "Boss AJ, weren''t those rates set by Nucky?"


    Seeing his money being taken, Isaiah quickly spoke up.


    "Hmm. Are you using Nucky to pressure me?" AJ snorted coldly.


    AJ was of course afraid of Nucky, but he wasn''t afraid of Isaiah and didn''t even consider him worth paying attention to.


    So at this moment, he was very displeased with Isaiah.


    "No, not at all!" As expected, Isaiah didn''t dare to say more under AJ''s intimidation.


    "Better not!"


    AJ left with the money, victorious and content.


    It wasn''t until AJ had left that Isaiah dared to curse AJ''s shamelessness loudly.


    After swearing, Isaiah thought it over and decided to leave his tavern to go to the vi, wanting to tell Donnie what had happened, and more importantly, to beseech Donnie to have his back.


    But Donnie wasn''t there, and all Isaiah found was John.


    After hearing Isaiah''s story, John immediately became enraged.


    Although Donnie had previously warned him that they would eventually have to ditch Isaiah, John still saw Isaiah as one of his own for the time being.


    Now that AJ had hit Isaiah even knowing this, it was like a p in the face to John!


    "Damn it, even an AJ dares to be pompous with our people. Tell me where he usually hangs out in the West District; I''ve got to properly sort him out!"


    Encouraged by John''s response, Isaiah was about to spill the details of AJ''s whereabouts.


    But Robert, who had been listening to their conversation without speaking, suddenly interjected.


    "Wait a second!"


    "What''s up?" John asked, displeased at being interrupted as Isaiah was about to speak.


    "Nothing, go on!" After a moment''s thought, Robert decided not to say anything. After all, John wasn''t going to act immediately. He would share his thoughts with John after Isaiah left.


    With concerns of dy potentially breeding more troubles, Isaiah quickly told John about AJ''s usual spots in the West District.


    "Alright, I''ve got it. Don''t worry, I''ll take care of this for you!" John said confidently.


    Seeing John''s demeanor, Robert could only shake his head in resignation.

 Chapter 62: 58, Dont let others see (looking for followers, seeking the first subscription~)

    "You can''t do this!"


    When Isaiah left, leaving only John and Robert together, Robert spoke to John withposed seriousness.


    "Why can''t we? AJ is clearly not taking us seriously. If we don''t take care of him, won''t Donnie''s ns to control the West Districte to nothing?"


    Antic City was crudely divided into four districts: east, south, west, and north. For now, Donnie still had a grip on LeBron James, which meant he effectively controlled the North District.


    The reason Donnie sought out Isaiah was that Donnie wanted to use that as a springboard to take control of the West District, which in his mind was even better ced for control than the North District.


    After all, the North District''s ck poption was rebellious at heart, unpredictable in their loyalty.


    As the area second only to the North District in poverty, if Donnie could win over the hearts of the people of the West District with the stacks checker job, his position within Antic City would rise to a new level.


    "Donnie spoke of using Isaiah as a springboard to control the West District, but he never said he must use Isaiah the person,"


    Robert had a deeper understanding of Donnie''s n.


    "Moreover, didn''t you notice? Isaiah actually wants to use us as his pawns. If we strike at AJ now, when we have no foothold in the West District, what do you think the people there will think of us? Despite its poverty, themunity is united and very exclusionary, evident by the scarce number of women from the West District joining the WCTU.


    I guarantee you, if we take action now, the entire West District will view us as enemies. Then, Isaiah will be able to use this to consolidate a following. If he amasses enough power before we take over The Fuli Tavern,


    do you think Isaiah will still stand with us at that time?"


    After listening to Robert''s exnation, John rubbed his head, massaging his curly hair, "So what do we do?


    The whole West District knows that Isaiah is our man. If we don''t act, they''ll look down on us just the same, and it''ll be very troublesome either way."


    Robert shook his head, "I don''t know about that, I think we should tell Donnie and let him make the decision!"


    "End of the day, we still have to find Donnie, so what was the point of all this talk?"


    John gave Robert a disdainful nce, and Robert shook his head, resigned.


    .


    "Godfather, what do we do now?"


    Vince appeared somewhat dejected within the General''s vi.


    He had thought himself a respectablew enforcement officer in Antic City, but to his dismay, he found that the pride he took in his identity meant nothing to Nucky, who had effortlessly thrown him in jail.


    Had it not been for the General''s intervention, he might still be locked up now!


    "Washington has already called. They didn''t say it outright, but their tone suggests they''ve tried their best. It looks like we can''t count on support from Washington anymore!"


    The General sat there, his expression calm as still water, and asked Vince, "How''s the investigation by Diesel going?"


    By now, probably only the General''s side in Antic City was aware of Diesel Mard and his team''s arrival.


    Vince spoke impatiently, "They''re still hunkered down in the Ritz Hotel gathering information on Nucky. It''s unlikely we''ll be able to leverage their strength anytime soon!"


    The Federal Investigators, or FBI, were well-known inter times.


    But in fact, at this time, the FBI''s power wasn''t so expansive. It''d be only after Hoover took charge that the FBI''s power would grow tremendously!


    "They will be of some use. Find an opportunity to publicize their arrival in Antic City!"


    The General instructed Vince.


    Vince was taken aback, "If they''re exposed, won''t Nucky be ready for them?"


    In Vince''s opinion, only if these men remained undercover could they possibly find evidence of Nucky''s crimes in Antic City.


    "Naive!" the General said with slight dissatisfaction, "Do you think that if we don''t speak up, Nucky won''t find out? It''s merely a matter of sooner orter!"


    "But it''s always better if it''ster rather than sooner!"


    The General responded, "I never expected these men to actually find any evidence against Nucky. Their presence is more about diverting Nucky''s attention.


    Only by doing this can Nucky prevent from focusing all his efforts on our side. Do you understand?"


    It took a moment for Vince to grasp the General''s point.


    Seeing Vince''s understanding, the General nodded, albeit with a sense of helplessness in his heart.


    Upon his return to Antic City, he was so full of ambition, believing it would be effortless to reim the control over thend he once managed.


    But after actuallying back to Antic City, he realized he had oversimplified everything.


    Nucky''s control over Antic City was unbreakable, and his old associates no longer had the youthful vigor they once did.


    Now they''ve all be old slickers, assessing the situation and swaying from side to side.


    When they believed I had some advantage, they were willing to stand by me, but as soon as Nucky truly showed his fangs, they all turned into cowards!


    "Vince, we need an infusion of fresh blood!"


    The Colonel said seriously to Vince.


    Vince, puzzled, looked at the Colonel.


    "Invite David Jabbar over to my ce tonight on my behalf, and remember, this matter has to be kept a secret!"


    Without waiting to see if Vince understood, the Colonel began to give orders directly!


    "With the incident of your rescue, Nucky must be displeased with David Jabbar by now. If we can show some friendship at this time, I believe David Jabbar will definitely stand with us.


    The most important thing is that David Jabbar and Eli Johnson are one and the same; if we can win over David Jabbar, we can reach Eli Johnson.


    Without Eli Johnson''s help, it would be akin to cutting off one of Nucky''s arms."


    "That''s right, it''s like that!" Vince, after a brief consideration, nodded excitedly, "When I was in charge of security, I often heard about Eli Johnson. He has always been very dissatisfied with how Nucky treats him. Perhaps we really can win him over!"


    "Since you understand, go and do it!"


    .


    "What''s going on?"


    After David Jabbar arrived at The Fuli Tavern tonight, his face showed a look of shock.


    The business on the first and second floors of the tavern was as usual; songs were being sung, dances danced, and everyone was having a good time.


    But on the third floor, it was different. Even during non-holidays, each gambling table here would have patrons.


    But now....


    Out of ten tables, only four or five were upied by guests, and not many at that.


    "Where are the people?"


    David Jabbar looked grimly at his manager, Nate Sermont, a middle-aged man in a ck suit.


    Nate, with an embarrassed expression, exined, "Boss, a new joint recently opened in Antic City, attracting many of our customers over there!"


    "Nonsense!" David Jabbar eximed angrily, "New ces open every day in Antic City, but our clients'' loyalty and their standards have always made us their first choice. How could they possibly all run off to a new joint now!"


    Nate persisted, with a helpless exnation, "Strangely enough, that new ce seems to be targeting our clientele specifically. I''ve asked some of our regrs about it...."


    When David Jabbar heard Nate''s exnation, he immediately understood someone was poaching his clients!


    "Who''s so bold? Don''t they know the consequences of such actions?"


    David Jabbar couldn''t think of anyone in Antic City who would dare steal his customers so brazenly.


    Nate replied, "We''ve investigated it; the person behind the new ce is none other than Donnie Block from Block Tavern!"


    "What?" Upon hearing that Donnie was behind the new ce, David Jabbar''s anger doubled, "Donnie Block again? Does that man truly think I have no way to deal with him?"


    As Nate reminded, "You really have no way of dealing with Donnie Block right now... Boss, we must think of a solution now, or our clientele will surely diminish even more!"


    Although he had spoken quite harshly, David Jabbar also understood that now was indeed not the time when he could do anything about Donnie.


    He had already learned from Eli Johnson that Nucky did not want to fall out with Donnie, which meant he couldn''t use Eli''s power to suppress Donnie Block directly.


    Moreover, he still needed to buy liquor from Donnie, giving Donnie control over his supply chain.


    "You just mentioned, the one helping Donnie is Isaiah from the West District?"


    Nate nodded and said, "Yes, Isaiah previously only ran a small tavern in the West District with a couple of gambling tables, but somehow he got in touch with Donnie!"


    "Go find AJ from the Panther Gang of the West District immediately; he owes me a favor. Tell him if he can get rid of Isaiah or sway him to our side, I will show him my gratitude!"


    If it was currently impossible to deal with Donnie Block himself, then he would have to target his team!


    Nate nodded and said, "Understood!"


    Just then, David Jabbar''s bodyguard came over and whispered something in his ear, and after listening, David Jabbar''s expression turnedplex.


    "Have hime to my office, and don''t let outsiders see him!"


    "Yes!"

 Chapter 63: 59. Target West District (Please follow, please favorite~)

    Isaiah''s mood had been good since he returned to his vi.


    In his view, although AJ was formidable in the West District, he was still inferior to Donnie Block. If Donnie wanted to deal with AJ, it would be an extremely simple matter.


    But as time passed day by day, and AJ didn''t encounter any problems, Isaiah''s good mood began to turn anxious.


    "That''s not right, could it be that Donnie is afraid of AJ?"


    This possibility lingered in Isaiah''s mind for only a second before he dismissed it. No matter how he analyzed it from a strength perspective, Donnie could not possibly be afraid of AJ.


    "Did Donnie see through my intentions?"


    When Isaiah thought of this possibility, his face turned somewhat pale. Just as Robert had analyzed, Isaiah indeed wanted to use Donnie to eliminate AJ.


    Although he hadn''t been in the gambling business for long, Isaiah had already seen the immense potential within the industry.


    If managed properly, he could even mobilize at least half of the young and strong in the West District to engage in this business. If he could pull together such a force, his status in the West District would be like LeBron James''s in the North District.


    If that were the case, he would be qualified to speak directly with Nucky and be one of the big shots of Antic City.


    But all this required time and courage, and AJ was the first hurdle standing in his way.


    Isaiah had the idea but not the courage, so he wanted to incite Donnie to remove AJ for him.


    But now, there had been no action from Donnie''s side, which made Isaiah worried.


    Just when Isaiah was thinking about whether he could go to Donnie that night to probe his intentions, the doors of the tavern were pushed open.


    AJ walked in with his cronies.


    Upon seeing AJ, Isaiah immediately put on a sycophantic smile, bent over, and walked up, about to shower AJ with ttery.


    Smack!


    Without saying a word, AJ stepped forward and pped Isaiah, leaving him dazed.


    Before Isaiah could even ask why all this was happening, AJ gave an order.


    "Trash this ce, and take him away!"


    AJ''s cronies, like tigers among sheep, picked up anything they could in the tavern and started to smash and destroy.


    Just as Isaiah tried to speak, one of AJ''s cronies came forward and struck the back of Isaiah''s head.


    Isaiah''s world went dark, and he knew nothing more!


    "Boss, what do we do now?"


    AJ''s crony, after finishing the rampage, asked him.


    "Let''s go back!"


    AJ, with an air of triumph, gestured grandly and left the tavern with his entourage and the unconscious Isaiah. The tavern''s customers had already fled when AJ had hit Isaiah.


    Only two of Isaiah''s beaten cronies were left lying on the ground.


    Isaiah''s two cronies, lying on the ground, exchanged looks, "What do we do now?"


    .


    Unconscious Isaiah was awakened by a bucket of cold water. When he opened his eyes, he found himself in a dpidated garage, with AJ sitting on a sofa smoking a cigar, nked by his henchmen.


    "Kid, hand over that list of gamblers you''ve got, and I might spare you out of consideration that we all live in the West District," AJ said with arrogance.


    He had already met David Jabbar, and after a couple of days of persuasion by the colonel, David Jabbar had finally decided to switch allegiance to the colonel.


    ording to David Jabbar''s request, AJ was supposed to approach Isaiah with courtesy first and then force, but AJ, upon hearing about the money Isaiah had made recently through his business of recruiting gamblers for Donnie Block, decided to take matters into his own hands and change his strategy.


    Used to being a bully, AJ believed that by simply capturing Isaiah and giving him a good thrashing, he could take Isaiah''s ce directly.


    That way, AJ wouldn''t have to share his earnings with Isaiah, would he?


    AJ thought this, and he did this!


    Isaiah understood AJ. He knew even if he handed over the list now, he wouldn''t end up well.


    "Boss AJ, I am Donnie Block''s man. If you capture me like this and demand the list, you''re taking business away from Donnie Block. He won''t let you off when he finds out!"


    At this moment, the only thing Isaiah could rely on was Donnie Block!


    "Haha!" AJ chuckled coldly, "Two days ago, I would have been wary of Donnie Block. Now? I can have hime and lick my toes, and he would obediently do it!"


    As one of the West District gang leaders, AJ naturally had a rough understanding of Donnie''s influence.


    But now, AJ believed he had the backing of David Jabbar, and behind David Jabbar stood Eli Johnson.


    Donnie was no longer someone AJ bothered to care about at this time.


    In order to save his own life, Isaiah was still resisting, and on the other side, Donnie had also learned about the situation.


    "Now, AJ has not only taken Isaiah away but also captured several of his underlings who worked for us."


    John met with Donnie at Block Tavern and told him everything he knew.


    AJ''s capture was not only of Isaiah; from David Jabbar, AJ had already learned that the ones now recruiting gamblers for Donnie Block were Isaiah''s men.


    Therefore, in order to take over Isaiah''s business in the shortest time possible, AJ had also instructed his people to start searching the entire city for Isaiah''s men.


    Sitting there, Donnie tapped gently on the table and then said, "It seems that AJ has made contact with David Jabbar and the two have already started to cooperate!"


    If AJ didn''t have backing, he wouldn''t have the courage to provoke me.


    Robert''s eyes lit up, and he said, "Does that mean we can start to fight back now?"


    Donnie waved his hand and replied, "Don''t rush it; everything should be done step by step. Right now, the most important thing is to deal with AJ!"


    To go after David Jabbar, Donnie needed a legitimate reason; all of this was still just his spection based on the current situation.


    "John, take Robert, Wes, Randy, and a few others to AJ''s right away¡ªthree things: take out AJ, take out Isaiah, and rescue the others!" Donnie ordered.


    Wes Glenn and Randy Boz, two of Robert''s formerrades in arms, arrived in Antic City a few days ago after receiving Robert''s letter.


    "Take out Isaiah?"


    John was surprised when he heard Donnie''s order.


    Donnie said, "There''s no time to exin. Isaiah is not a hard target if AJ''s side gets hold of the gambler list, it will be a significant loss for us! Just listen to Robert for the specifics."


    Even though John was leading the team, it would actually be Robert making the decisions during the operation.


    "Got it!"


    Seeing that Donnie was in a hurry, John did not ask any more questions.


    The group grabbed their weapons from the second floor and drove straight to the West District.


    .


    Although Robert had stopped John from acting rashly when Isaiah came to see him earlier, they still informed Donnie about the situation.


    After learning of it, Donnie immediately analyzed that AJ would sooner orter be the key for taking control of the West District. Stay updated on m v l e mpyr


    Now, Donnie''s mansion had started affecting the business of David Jabbar''s tavern, and David Jabbar surely would not just stand by idly; at that time, Donnie was uncertain who David Jabbar would ask to take care of the situation.


    But a general range could still be deduced for who David Jabbar might seek out.


    First of all, Eli Johnson couldn''t openly get involved in this because his brother Nucky would not allow them to oppose me openly at this time.


    Secondly, the likelihood of him approaching other district bosses was not great; David Jabbar surely recognized the importance of the stackers by now.


    And Isaiah''s side had also made some achievements.


    Logically, the best approach would be to gain control over Isaiah.


    With the above reasoning, it was fair to surmise that either David Jabbar had directly approached Isaiah or had reached out via a boss in the West District, and among them, AJ was the most likely.


    Then Donnie instructed Dwight to secretly follow these West District bosses to find out their headquarters'' locations, and their preferred hangouts!


    Especially AJ!


    "Why do we have to take out Isaiah?" Still puzzled, John asked Robert as they sat in the car.


    "Because if Isaiah is alive, all those people like Gary Thomas will be Isaiah''s boys. Only once Isaiah is dead can they trulye over to us," Robert simply exined to John.


    "I see!" Having understood Donnie''s intent, Johnughed and said, "So you mean we''re going to set up camp in the West District from now on!?"


    Robert shook his head and replied, "Not we, just you. Right now, it seems that LeBron James from the North District, and the 3K Party and WCTU from the East and West District, all have a good rtionship with Donnie, but Donnie isn''t their only option¡ªjust the West District.


    Donnie once told me that he would use the stacker job to consolidate the chaotic West District. It''s impossible not to have someone from us in charge in such a district.


    Now that Donnie has entrusted you with taking care of the gambling business, naturally, the West District will be your responsibility as well!"


    "Me, run a whole district?" John was first shocked, then he burst intoughter with joy.


    "Haha, I always said I was better than you. You only manage a tavern, while not only do I have to take care of the mansion, but I also get to manage the entire West District!"


    As Johnughed heartily, Robert was somewhat speechless, but he still cautioned John.


    "John, be careful out there. Gang business isn''t the same asmerce; it''s full of gunfights, assassination¡ªnever be hasty in making decisions when you encounter any situation, you must think it through seriously."


    "Like you need to tell me!" John clearly did not take Robert''s words to heart, "How could someone as smart as me be used by others?"


    Robert knew John''s character well and was aware that nothing he said now would be of use, and just at that moment, they arrived at AJ''s warehouse!

 Chapter 64: 60. Presenting a Memorial (Please follow, please favorite~)

    Three retired veterans, together with a formidable man among men, had no suspense in gainingplete control over AJ and his group with an absolute advantage in weaponry.


    "I''m backed by Eli Johnson, you dare touch me!"


    While being pressed to the ground by Randy, AJ did not worry about his own safety; he believed that even Donnie Block wouldn''t dare hurt him with Eli Johnson in the picture!


    Smack!


    Before John could say anything, the already unrecognizable Isaiah erupted with tremendous strength. Despite the pain all over his body, he fiercely pped AJ across the face.


    "Ouch ouch ouch!" The one crying out wasn''t AJ, but Isaiah, whose excessive movement had aggravated his wounds.


    Even so, Isaiah continued to mercilessly beat AJ single-sidedly while crying out in pain.


    In the end, it was John who stopped him.


    "Where are Gary Thomas and the others?"


    Only Isaiah was here; Gary Thomas and those dominos were nowhere to be seen.


    "Eli won''t let you guys off!"


    AJ red maliciously at John.


    "Oh, still daring to bluster!" John looked at Isaiah, "He''s yours!"


    "Thank you, Big Brother John!" Isaiah, who had just been restrained, immediately responded happily.


    "Letting you hit...ssss...me, letting you...ssss...act tough, now...you know who is...ssss...your daddy...ssss..."


    "I''ll talk, I''ll talk!" AJ finally couldn''t take it anymore. It wasn''t so much that Isaiah''s hitting him was painful, but the hissing sounds Isaiah made were unbearable to listen to.


    "They''re upstairs. I was nning on dealing with Isaiah before sorting them out!"


    AJ revealed to John the whereabouts of Gary Thomas and hispanions.


    "John...ssss...boss...ssss...kill them...ssss...these people...ssss...are not...ssss...good...ssss...they hit me!"


    Isaiah said viciously.


    John nced at Robert, who understood immediately and went over with Randy and Wes to AJ and his men, twisting their necks.


    Isaiah, who had just been calling for the elimination of AJ and the others, was shocked when he saw the methods employed by Robert and the others, realizing there was a stark distinction between street thugs and war-hardened veterans.


    After finishing his task, Robert walked over to Isaiah with a smile and said easily, "How about it? Want me to call a doctor to check on you?"


    "Ah...no need, no need; these are just minor injuries for me. I used to get these a few times a month, I''m used to it!"


    Isaiah rushed out his words, too frightened to even hiss anymore.


    "That''s good then!" Robert put his arm around Isaiah''s shoulder, seemingly affectionately, and said, "Actually we..."


    With a ''crack'', Robert quickly broke Isaiah''s neck, and Isaiah''s body slowly ckened, the sycophantic smile still on his face.


    "Let''s go upstairs and see how Gary Thomas and the others are!"


    Without even looking at the scene, John said to Robert.


    Robert smiled, "Let Randy apany you up, I''ll handle the aftermath with Wes!"


    John nodded, not minding the suggestion, and took Randy upstairs.


    The two entered the main building through the garage''s back door, ascended the staircase, pushed open the room door, and saw Gary Thomas and the others bound and gagged.


    "Gentlemen, I''m really sorry. By the time we received the message, it was already toote. How are you all?"


    While untying Gary Thomas and the others, John said.


    "When Donnie heard about your situation, he immediately sent me to rescue you. He also expressly instructed me, saying you are a valuable asset to Donnie and must not suffer any harm!"


    Randy, while looking at Thomas, recited the words that Robert had coached him in the car, with a slight twist of the mouth.


    After Gary Thomas and the others were freed, each of their faces revealed the excitement of a narrow escape.


    "Thank you, Boss John; thank you, Boss Donnie; we didn''t betray Boss Donnie!"


    John patted Gary Thomas''s shoulder and said, "It''s fine as long as you guys are okay, but it''s a pity that..."


    Unable to hold back, Gary Thomas asked, "A pity what?"


    "It''s a pity we were toote, and Isaiah... was already killed by AJ''s bastards!"


    "Ah!"


    Gary Thomas and the others immediately showed horrified expressions; they had thought at most they would receive a beating for being captured, but they hadn''t expected it to escte to a loss of life and now their boss was dead!


    At this moment, looking at John and the others was truly like gazing upon saviors!


    "But there''s no need for you to be too heartbroken, we have already avenged Isaiah!"


    Shock again struck Gary Thomas. Could their so-called retaliation be the killing of AJ and his crew?


    When Gary Thomas followed John Randy to the garage and saw the several bodiesid out behind the truck, every one of them began to shake.


    They might be part of the organization, but on ordinary days they merely bullied the innocent and at worst, injured people, which was already their limit.


    Now, to suddenly see five or six bodies lying beside them, the impact was indelibly etched in their minds.


    The truck started up and headed straight for North District. Once out of North District, it was onto a dirt road, after traveling several kilometers, they arrived at a cliff and stopped.


    Below the cliff was the wave-tossed Antic.


    Robert, along with Randy and Wes, dragged the bodies of AJ, Isaiah and the others from the truck.


    However, they did not immediately throw the bodies into the ocean!


    Instead, John led Gary Thomas and the others off the truck and pulled a dagger from his pocket, handing it to Gary Thomas.


    "This matter can''t be known to outsiders, so Isaiah''s body must also be disposed of. Aside from Isaiah''s body, each of you must stab the other bodies once, and from today onwards, we are brothers!"


    It was just that Gary Thomas and the others didn''t understand what a blood oath was.


    Otherwise, they would have realized that what they were doing at this very moment was indeed a blood oath!


    With the dagger in hand, Gary Thomas shook all over... I''m just a petty thug!


    But when he saw John standing beside him with an easy smile on his face, even taking out a cigarette to light up from the pocket of his own shirt, he knew there was no turning back!


    Clenching his teeth, Gary Thomas approached AJ''s body and, closing his eyes, plunged the dagger fiercely into his heart!


    When he drew out the dagger, his wrist was already drenched in blood.


    The others were in a simr state, and as thest person finished this rite, the smile on John''s face grew even brighter.


    "I''ll treat you all tonight. Let''s rx properly at Scott''s Tavern; drink what you want, find any woman you desire; two if one isn''t enough. From now on, we''re brothers!"


    Meanwhile, Robert, Wes, and Randy were tying stones to AJ and the others, and throwing them off the cliff.


    The sounds of sshes were continuous.


    The blood quickly stained this area of the sea red, but the ocean diluted it almost immediately.


    By nightfall, this ce would be as if nothing had ever happened!


    .


    The Fuli Tavern.


    David Jabbar sat in his office, cigar smoke curling slowly upwards, giving him an almost ethereal appearance.


    "Any news from AJ''s side?"


    At this point, David Jabbar was truly anxious. In the span of two days, The Fuli Tavern''s clientele had halved, and if this trend continued, the third floor of The Fuli Tavern would be resting within a week!


    "Not yet," Nate shook his head, but he didn''t seem too worried, confidently saying, "Boss, Isaiah is just a small-time West District thug; AJ will have an easy time with him. I''m guessing at this point AJ is thinking about how to take over Isaiah''s business."


    "Hmph!" David Jabbar snorted coldly, "As long as he remains loyal in his service to me, won''t I take care of him well?"


    "AJ is a rough man; he definitely can''t guess your thoughts, boss!" Nate spoke out.


    David Jabbar nodded helplessly, "Have you managed to get in touch with LeBron James? How''s that going?"


    Ever since Donnie Block started to threaten his business, David Jabbar knew he was in a crisis. Although he didn''t particrly like LeBron James, the man indeed had liquor to offer.


    If he could get his liquor supply from him in the future, he couldpletely break free from Donnie Block.


    Once he finished countering Nucky''s offensive, it would be time to deal with Donnie Block!


    "It''s all set. LeBron is quite happy to supply us. However..." Nate hesitated at the end of his statement.


    "What is it?" David Jabbar asked with displeasure.


    "Well, LeBron James'' liquor can''tpare to the quality that Donnie Block provides, and if we switch to his, I expect some guests will be dissatisfied!"


    "Damn it!" Hearing Nate''s exnation, David Jabbar was once again infuriated.


    "Let''s keep it this way for now. Once we sort out Donnie Block, these problems won''t be problems anymore. I believe our guests can wait!"


    "Yes!"


    After the two had resolved their ns for what came next, David Jabbar''s bodyguard walked in, speaking gravely, "Boss, Donnie Block has arrived!"


    "What?"


    David Jabbar was taken aback, then turned to Nate, "Could he be here because of AJ?"

 Chapter 65: 61. Showdown (Please follow, please favorite~)

    In David Jabbar''s office, Donnie and David Jabbar sat facing each other, both holding cigars in their hands.


    Seeing the two of them chatting merrily, one would never guess that deep down, each was longing to get rid of the other.


    "Donnie, it''s quite rare for you toe by!"


    David Jabbar said with a radiant smile.


    "I think I''ll definitelye here more often in the future!" Donnie hinted.


    Clearly, David Jabbar did not catch Donnie''s implication and continued happily, "Wee, wee. I believe, Donnie, that you''ll definitelye by more often in the future!"


    Although David Jabbar failed to grasp Donnie''s meaning, from his perspective, he believed that the moment he took down Isaiah would mark the end of Donnie''s vi business.


    "By the way, I''m not sure what brings you over this time, Donnie. Are you here to y a few games, or would you like to try our tavern''s fourth-floor services?"


    Donnie waved his hand and said, "Neither. I''m mainly here to inform you, Mr. Jabbar, that as of today, our deal is going to have to change!"


    David Jabbar''s face darkened slightly as he asked, "What do you mean?"


    Donnieughed lightly, "It''s quite simple, actually. The whiskey we used to sell to Mr. Jabbar was 4 US Dors a bottle. Now, due to the shortage and price hike of raw materials, going forward we can only supply you at 8 US Dors per bottle. That''s 96 US Dors for a case of twelve bottles. However, since we''re old friends, I''ll give you a discount¡ª95 US Dors per case!"


    Before the Prohibition, the price of a bottle of top-quality whiskey was just 2 US Dors. With the enforcement of Prohibition and the closure of many breweries across the United States, the price of whiskey had already soared. Even for wholesalers like Donnie, the cost per bottle had already increased to 4 US Dors.


    Not to mention the retail prices at the taverns!


    Now, Donnie was doubling the price on top of that, effectively draining David Jabbar''s profits. Moreover, David Jabbar would have to contribute funds from his own pocket.


    At such a price, it was natural that David Jabbar could not ept it.


    "Block, today isn''t April Fool''s Day, and this joke is not funny at all!" said David Jabbar, his face grim.


    Donnie spread his hands and said, "Of course, I know it''s not April Fool''s Day today, which is why I''m not joking with you."


    David Jabbar said, "You know that I will never agree to this price."


    Donnie once again said nonchntly, "Of course, it''s your freedom to agree or disagree with the price¡ªafter all, the great United States is a free country. But whether or not to supply you is my freedom!"


    "Are you doing this because of the Isaiah situation?"


    In David Jabbar''s eyes, Donnie''s sudden price hike was because he had made a move against Isaiah.


    "Who is Isaiah?" Donnie shook his head without a hint of blush, "I don''t know the person!"


    David Jabbar said coldly, "Don''t forget, you''re not the only one who can supply liquor in Antic City!"


    Donnie chuckled and said, "Of course. So, Mr. Jabbar, are you deciding to give up on our partnership?"


    "Show our guest out!" David Jabbar did not answer Donnie''s question, but his attitude made his answer clear to Donnie!


    With a smile on his face, Donnie stood up nonchntly, "I think you''ll be looking for me very soon, Mr. Jabbar. At that time, I''ll show you what real hospitality is all about!"


    After saying this, Donnie got up and left David Jabbar''s study.


    "Boss, our tavern''s stock is running low, and today was supposed to be the day Donnie delivered our liquor!" Nate reported to David Jabbar after Donnie had left.


    "Get in touch with LeBron James," David Jabbar said resignedly, gesturing, "Have him start supplying us from today!"


    Nate nodded and left David Jabbar''s room.


    Once Nate was gone and David Jabbar was alone in his office, he finally calmed his angry emotions and began to seriously analyze Donnie''s actions.


    Soon, David Jabbar was certain about one thing: Donnie Block must have learned something about his rtionship with Nucky and the Commodore, which is why he dared to talk about raising prices at this time.


    "How did he find out?"


    David Jabbar thought helplessly, but what was even more frightening to him was the thought that if Donnie knew something, how much more might Nucky know?


    Ever since Nucky returned from Washington, he had onlye over to my side once. Although Nucky didn''t say anything, it was evident that he definitely knew it was me who instigated Eli Johnson to release Vince McGrady.


    Even though I''ve chosen to side with the General, the thought of facing Nucky''s retaliation still unavoidably started to worry me!


    "Mr. General, I need to see you as soon as possible!"


    Nucky wasn''t someone I could face alone, so I had to seek help from my own backing.


    "Is there something the matter?" Anguid voice came from the other end of the phone.


    "A very important matter!" David Jabbar said earnestly.


    "Alright, I''ll be waiting for you at home!" replied the General.


    .


    Inside the General''s mansion.


    "Mr. General, now that Donnie dares to so tantly bring up the matter of raising prices with me, he must have found out something for sure. I think Nucky must also know something by now. When exactly can the Federal Agents bring charges against Nucky?"


    Upon meeting the General, David Jabbar quickly ryed the recent events and his own analysis.


    One of the important reasons David Jabbar switched allegiance to the General was actually because he had learned of the Federal Agents starting their investigation into Nucky.


    "Don''t worry just yet, the Federal Agents'' investigation takes time!"


    The General said reassuringly.


    "But with my current situation, if Nuckyys a hand on me, I..." David Jabbar worriedly spoke, his heart devoid of the confidence he had before he betrayed Nucky.


    "I understand Nucky!" the General spoke slowly and deliberately, "If Nucky really wanted to deal with you, he would have started as soon as he got back from Washington. But since he hasn''t taken direct action until now, this shows he still has considerable fear of your and our strength."


    At this point, the General paused for a moment before continuing, "And don''t forget, you still have an ace up your sleeve!"


    David Jabbar asked, "Are you referring to Eli?"


    The General nodded, unabashedly saying, "That''s right, Eli Johnson may be a fool, but he is after all Nucky''s brother, and also the Sheriff of Antic City. If Nucky wants to perfectly control Antic City, he needs his brother''s strength. As long as Eli firmly stands by your side, Nucky won''t really make a move against you!"


    This was also whyter on, even though Nucky knew his brother Eli Johnson had betrayed him, he still spared Eli Johnson''s life; to perfectly control Antic City, he must have the power of the sheriff''s department in his hands.


    Relieved by the General''s analysis, David Jabbar then spoke with a hint of helplessness, "But I''ve told Eli many times, and he still hasn''t made up his mind."


    "You need to give him some time," the General wasn''t worried and continued with a smile, "Since he hasn''t told Nucky about this matter and also didn''t warn you, this indicates that he has actually been tempted. His hesitation is simply because our offer isn''t big enough yet!"


    David Jabbar nodded again and said, "But we can''t dy any longer!"


    The General also understood this and said, "Here''s what you do: invite Eli Johnson to my ce tonight, and I''ll have a chat with him in person!"


    "That would be ideal!" David Jabbar said happily.


    .


    "Eli, we have always had immense faith in your abilities. If it weren''t for Nucky constantly holding you back, by now you would at least be a State Senator, if not the Mayor of Antic City.


    Plus, I''m getting on in years and really don''t have much energy left. When I grow old, it will still be you calling the shots in Antic City!"


    That evening, Eli Johnson appeared at the General''s mansion, where the General was now persuading him.


    "Mr. General, please don''t bring this up again. Nucky is my brother, and I will not betray him," Eli Johnson said coldly.


    The General was unconcerned by Eli Johnson''s statement; if he really felt that way, he wouldn''t have shown up here tonight.


    "Dear Eli, we''re not trying to do anything to Nucky. We just hope Nucky can share some of the power he holds. Besides, would you really want to be introduced like this every time you go out?


    This is Eli Johnson, Nucky''s brother from Antic City!"


    At the mention of this title, Eli Johnson''s face changed once more.


    At this moment, David Jabbar also spoke up, "Dear Eli, Nucky has already started moving against us. AJ from the West District is the best example. Although AJ and the others haven''t been found yet, I assume they''ve probably vanished by now.


    Plus, Donnie''s price hike and LeBron James''s refusal to supply us with liquor¡ªif Donnie didn''t have Nucky backing him, how would he have the guts to do such things?"


    That afternoon, David Jabbar had already learned about AJ and LeBron James''s situation.


    Although he didn''t know that AJ was already dead, he understood that the outlook for AJ and the others was likely bleak.


    Upon hearing David Jabbar''s reasoning, Eli Johnson fell silent.


    ps: Failing to advance in the second round is quite embarrassing, the collection data has been growing nicely, but the continued readership seems a bit awkward. 270 on Monday, 220 on Tuesday, and 285 by Wednesday, skillfully avoiding the Tuesdays'' advancement data¡ªbut no worries, we''ll keep at it. Hopefully, next week we''ll make the list.~~

 Chapter 66 : 62. Donnies Toughness (Please follow, please favorite~)

    In the West District, under the soft yellow light of Margaret''s living room, Donnie was also soothing LeBron James.


    "James, I really appreciate what you did this time. With the two of us joining forces, the alcohol supply at The Fuli Tavern ispletely cut off!"


    At that moment, a faint smile graced Donnie''s face.


    But on LeBron James'' face was a wry smile of helplessness, "Donnie, this whole thing is too risky, you know, even without the two of us supplying The Fuli Tavern, David Jabbar can still get smuggled liquor from Nucky!"


    "Dear LeBron, it seems your information is a bit outdated. As far as I know, The Fuli Tavern hasn''t received any alcohol supply from Nucky for three straight days.


    Have you forgotten what I told you before?


    There''s no way Nucky would get involved in this!"


    LeBron James hadn''t forgotten, or else he wouldn''t have refused Nate earlier that day.


    "So, is Nucky really nning to make a move on David Jabbar?" LeBron James asked excitedly.


    Donnie said with a smile, "Nucky would never dirty his hands with such matters, but isn''t his attitude of non-involvement enough?"


    LeBron James nodded. Despite harboring various resentments towards Nucky, at the end of the day, LeBron James relied on Nucky for his livelihood, so he was more inclined to show support for Donnie through Nucky''s attitude.


    Previously, he thought about breaking free from Nucky''s control and siding with Colonel, but that had clearly not ended well.


    "If that''s the case, then I have no problem!" LeBron James revealed a relieved smile. Dive into the story on m|vl em pyr


    Donnie reminded, "James, there''s something you might need to endure!"


    "What kind of ordeal?" LeBron James, who had just rxed, became anxious again, "Don''t tell me the n is up to something again?"


    What LeBron James feared most now was another attack from the n.


    "You can rx about that. I''ve already spoken to Mobley; he respects me very much and won''ty a hand on you!" Donnie reassured, "What I''m talking about is this incident. If my estimation isn''t wrong, by tomorrow Eli Johnson wille looking for you, and might even take you into police custody!"


    "What?"


    LeBron James stood up in shock, shouting, "Didn''t you just say that Nucky wouldn''t interfere with this matter?"


    "Sit down!" Donnie''s face lost its smile, because he knew that with people like LeBron James, you can''t always back down, and sometimes you need to show some toughness!


    "When has what I said ever been unreliable?"


    LeBron James saw the seriousness on Donnie''s face, and his thoughts shed back to the gunfight outside Antic City that night. He sulkily sat down.


    "I''m sorry, I got a little carried away just now!"


    Only then did Donnie show a satisfied smile, "That''s more like it. Now, let''s continue with what we were discussing. Eli Johnson is stepping in because of his joint venture with David Jabbar; he can''t just watch his business suffer. But this doesn''t mean Nucky will directly intervene in this matter.


    Moreover, I can tell you that ording to the intelligence I''ve received, a deep rift has emerged between the brothers Nucky and Eli."


    LeBron James stared at Donnie in amazement, his mouth hanging open slightly. There was a problem between the brothers Nucky and Eli?


    What was more, Donnie could know such a secret fact!


    "I assure you, even if Eli locks you up, at most in three days, I''ll be able to get you out. Now the most crucial thing is, you need to make sure your men understand that in these three days, no one is permitted to supply alcohol to The Fuli Tavern!"


    Donnie reiterated.


    LeBron James pondered for a moment and said, "Donnie, I need a guarantee from you. After all, it''s me who''s going in, not you!"


    Donnie leaned back in his chair, smiling, "My guarantee is your safety sitting here chatting with me. If I didn''t see you as my partner, do you think you''d be sitting across from me unharmed right now?"


    Facing Donnie''s scornful words, LeBron James'' mind, much like a squirrel''s, was once again filled with anger.


    "I have the North District backing me!"


    Out of fear of Donnie, even an enraged LeBron James only replied a bit more assertively to Donnie.


    "Nucky cares about you because behind you is the North District, and you can sway most of the district''s votes, but I don''t need votes; I only need my business. So your North District has no bearing on me!"


    With calm eyes, Donnie looked at LeBron James, but to LeBron, they were like tumultuous waves.


    Votes are a high-level item, needed only by those at the very top.


    LeBron James admitted that Donnie had indeed be a big shot in Antic City, but he hadn''t reached the point of ying with votes.


    At least that''s how LeBron James understood it!


    If he no longer had this amulet, did he have any other cards to y with Donnie?


    "Dear James, I''m very disappointed that you''re making me say this, and I''m even more disappointed that you actually think what I''m saying is true!"


    At this moment, Donnie suddenly dropped his calm facade, reced by a sorrowful anger at not being fought for.


    "We''ve been through so much together, I thought we were friends by now, brothers even. I value you not because you are the leader of the North District, nor for anything else, but because we''ve been through so much together, we are friends, we are brothers!"


    In the negotiation process, there''s a little trick, which is to never let yourself be drawn into the opponent''s pace, but instead to pull them into yours.


    Facing LeBron James, whose brain was as small as a squirrel''s, Donnie found such negotiations all too easy!


    Indeed, LeBron James, inwardly extremely insecure about his skin color, showed a frustrated expression on his face upon hearing what he believed to be a heartfelt deration from Donnie.


    "Dear Donnie, I was wrong, don''t worry, I''ll listen to you in everything, it''s just three days inside, right? I''ve been there before!"


    Donnie gave a smile full of satisfaction, offering a sweet date, "That''s my brother. I appreciate everything you''ve done for my business, and I won''t shortchange you in the future, you know I''ve already started connecting with the speakeasies in Phdelphia.


    The size of Phdelphia, its poption, it''s not something Antic City canpare to. Eventually, we brothers can join forces and break into Philly''s liquor market.


    I can assure you, in five years you will have white servants in your house, and you could even hire a white driver!"


    Donnie''s words clearly struck a chord with LeBron James, who now wore not a worry but a sincere smile on his face.


    "Thank you, Donnie, my brother, Ipletely understand you now, rest assured, from now on, we are in this business together as brothers!"


    Donnie also smiled, saying, "Right, brothers in business, that''s quite a nice term!"


    "Haha!" LeBron Jamesughed loudly, saying, "Of course, I am an educated man after all!"


    .


    The following morning after ten o''clock, Donnie received news from Robert.


    Everything turned out just as Donnie had expected; this morning Eli Johnson personally led a team to LeBron James and took both him and his newly sworn loyalist Irving to be locked up in the Public Security Bureau.


    "It seems Eli has truly betrayed his brother, locking up LeBron James at such a time!"


    Robert couldn''t help asking in the end.


    "Doesn''t he worry at all that Nucky will be unhappy with this?"


    Donnie nced at his watch, it was not yet time, andughed, "You''ve forgotten what I''ve told you, the favored always have a sense of security. I think at this moment, Eli''s thought must be, ''what if I betrayed you, we''re blood brothers, could you actually harm your own brother?


    Besides, I''m still the sheriff of Antic City, you need my abilities, so even if you''re angry, you will appease me!''"


    Robert exhibited an expression of realization, "I see, but will Nucky really react as Eli expects?"


    Donnie shook his head, saying, "Impossible. If Nucky really did that, he could nevermand such a position in Antic City. If I were Nucky, I''d definitely watch the tigers fight from the mountain. After all, only when both parties are injured can he reap the benefits of the fisherman!"


    Robert: "Both parties injured?"


    "Exactly, I think at this moment, Nucky must have already heard about our move against The Fuli Tavern, so he wants to observe a big sh between us and the Brigadier."


    Donnie exined to him.


    Robert then had a new puzzle, "But haven''t you said that Nucky doesn''t want to see us rise up?"


    Donnie smiled and said, "But I also said that at the current stage Nucky''s biggest opponent is the Brigadier, not us. We might one day have the strength to challenge Nucky, but the Brigadier already fully possesses the power to challenge him now."


    Of two harms, choose the lesser!


    The present stage was actually just like how Donnie initially leveraged the conflict between the Brigadier and Nucky to build his own power.


    The bystander reaps the rewards of the m''s and the crane''s squabble!


    Since David Jabbar and Eli Johnson had already betrayed Nucky, he most certainly hoped to see their downfall, and preferably one that would not affect his own power.


    So Donnie spected that on this matter, Nucky would not only stand by but might even provide assistance when the time was right!

 Chapter 67: 63. Successor of the North District (Please follow, please favorite~)

    Eli Johnson was indeed persuaded by David Jabbar and the Brigadier.


    He didn''t want to stay behind Nucky forever, he didn''t want to be someone who could only be introduced as Nucky''s brother!


    But going against Donnie wasn''t going to be easy, after all, whether it was Eli, the Brigadier, or Jabbar, they all understood that Donnie had a very good rtionship with the KKK and WCTU.


    So, they were also worried that if they rashly dealt with Donnie, they might provoke the resistance of these two organizations.


    Neither the Brigadier nor Eli wanted to provoke these two organizations at the current time.


    Therefore, after discussion in the Brigadier''s vi, they decided to first resolve the issue with The Fuli Tavern''s liquor supply.


    Since they couldn''t get liquor from Donnie, they could only look for a breakthrough with LeBron James.


    What Eli didn''t expect was that LeBron James, who usually only dared to be arrogant in the North District and was meek in their presence, turned out to be so tough when he was brought into the police custody by him.


    No matter how Eli threatened, LeBron James simply wouldn''t budge.


    "Hmph, don''t think I really have no way of dealing with you!"


    Eli snorted coldly and with a casual gesture, saw his men, apanied by five brawny Caucasian men, walking into the prison, rubbing their hands eagerly.


    "They will take good care of you!"


    Eli proudly watched LeBron James, knowing that having prisoners fight each other in jail was one of the means people like him used to control these individuals.


    As Eli left, the five Caucasiansughed smugly and walked towards LeBron James and the others.


    .


    "Why can''t he be bailed out?"


    Inside the police department''s office, a ckwyer mmed his hands on the desk and angrily questioned the police officer in front of him assigned to serve him.


    The officer''s name was Sean Be!


    Sean sat there, not caring at all about the attitude of the ckwyer, Duff Robbins, picking his ear and said, "It''s the regtion from above, and this desk right in front of me is the property of Antic City. If you damage it, even if you''re awyer, you have topensate at full cost!"


    Duff Robbins took a deep breath. As awyer, it wasn''t his first time at the police station, and in fact, he had already gotten used to being given a hard time by these policemen because of his skin color... even though he was awyer, and in a universal sense, held a higher social status than these officers.


    Usually, no matter how much these policemen hassled him, they would eventually release the person he was there to bail out.


    But today, no matter how much he exined, the other side did not agree to his request to bail out LeBron and the other two.


    "Respected Sean Be, the Mr. LeBron James I am currently seeking bail for enjoys extremely high prestige in the North District and can be said to be the spiritual leader of the North District. Moreover, he was originally appointed as the leader of the North District by Mr. Nucky himself. You''re telling me that you won''t even give me a reason for denying his bail for such a socialite?"


    For the convenience of his control over Antic City, Nucky had appointed leaders for each of the North, South, East, and West Districts, each of whom had absolute influence within their own district.


    So, although this leader didn''t have any official position administratively, his social status was still quite high.


    "Ha!" Sean Be scoffed dismissively, "Leader, huh? What of it? If you can get the respected Mr. Nucky to make a call to our station, I will personally go to the prison cell, release LeBron James, and sincerely apologize to him!"


    "You!" Robbins didn''t expect to encounter such a fool, and now he felt like a literate person who couldn''t reason with a soldier.


    "Alright, if there''s nothing else, you can leave now!" Sean Be, unconcerned with Robbins''s manner, waved him off as if shooing away a stray dog, "Remember, this ce is a police station, not your North District!"


    .


    "Duff Robbins from the North District has been kicked out, and LeBron James and the others haven''t been released!"


    Robert said to Donnie with a smile, "Everything is just as you predicted. Eli is set on dealing with LeBron James, personally instructing Sean that no one is allowed to bail out LeBron James and those two, and Sean even told me that Eli has arranged for someone to teach them a lesson in their cell!"


    Donnie wasn''t in a hurry; he replied with ease, "Don''t underestimate James. Hasn''t he always imed to be the greatest in the history of the North District? He even boasted that it was his presence that brought a better life to the ck people there than elsewhere!"


    Robert alsoughed easily, "So we wait some more?"


    Donnie replied, "Let''s wait. I told him to hold out in there for three days. I won''t save him until after three days have passed."


    "LeBron''s days in the cell will probably be rough in the meantime!" Robertughed.


    "He who wishes to wear the crown must bear its weight; this is a truth that applies universally," Donnie said, his casual demeanor bing more focused as he spoke to Robert, "LeBron is someone who will be eliminated sooner orter, so we need an agent in the North District. Now that LeBron is inside, this is a good opportunity."


    Supporting LeBron James was, in fact, a choice without alternatives for Donnie, as he didn''t have a suitable candidate in the North District.


    Now that his own business was going more and more smoothly, Donnie had to turn his attention to the North District.


    Robert chuckled, "I''ve already been paying attention to this issue, and I also have a good candidate in mind!"


    Donnie showed a skeptical expression and asked, "Who is it?"


    "Seth Owen!"


    Robert named someone.


    Donnie was familiar with the name. "Isn''t that the new kid recruited by LeBron James? What''s so special about him?"


    "Remember when LeBron James recruited him, you had Dwight investigate these people, right?


    Plus the news from Sean today, I''m convinced that Owen is a good choice..."


    Afterward, Robert briefed Donnie on Seth Owen''s background.


    Seth Owen grew up in the North District, showing his gang-rted abilities at a young age. By the time he was 15, he had already be the leader of theirmunity.


    Such a person is definitely ambitious.


    "But is this guy easy to control? And does he have the guts to turn against LeBron James?" After hearing about Seth Owen, Donnie went straight to the point. For Donnie, individual ability was secondary, the most important things were whether the person was controble and had the courage.


    He certainly didn''t want another turncoat like LeBron James!


    Robert clearly also did his research: "I think it''s possible. Owen is ambitious butcks the background to rise on his own. Hismunity had some issues with Pierce''smunity, and Owen was beaten so badly hey in his house for ten months before he recovered.


    This is also why James recruited him. Moreover, I heard a rumor that after Owen was taken down by Pierce, he thought about turning to James. At that time, James thought Owen was just a kid and wouldn''t help his business, so he refused to take Owen in.


    If this rumor is true, I think Owen must bear some grudge against James, and now he''s only been recruited again by James because he has no choice."


    Additionally, the man has two characteristics, one is a strong sense of belonging to the ckmunity, he even once said that God is ck."


    Second, his religious beliefs are quite interesting. Years ago, he was a Catholic, then for some reason, he converted to Orthodoxy, and now he has embraced Im!"


    "Now that truly is a character!" Donnie couldn''t help but exim after learning about Owen.


    But now he didn''t have many better options, so he said to Robert, "Then let Sean observe Owen carefully for the next three days!"


    "Alright!" Robert answered.


    Then Donniemanded, "Take good care of Sean in the next few days. They are willing to work with us now, not because of any affection, but simply because we can provide them with a better life!"


    Robert nodded, "I understand!"


    .


    Depriving someone of their livelihood is like taking a life!


    Donnie was well aware of this truism. Currently, at LeBron James'' end, Eli and David Jabbar had yet to pry open the opposition''s mouth.


    With the liquor stock at The Fuli Tavern running low, they were bound to do something drastic.


    So, Donnie didn''t go anywhere else these past two days, just sitting at the Block Tavern, waiting for the imminent arrival of guests!


    Indeed, that''s exactly what happened when, the next morning, the doors of the Block Tavern were pushed open.


    Eli Johnson, dressed in a brown uniform, personally led his team here.


    "Donnie Block, we suspect you are involved in a disappearance case that happened in the firstmunity of West District. Pleasee with us for questioning now!"


    A day went by, and AJ''s disappearance finally caught the attention of David Jabbar and Eli Johnson.


    Donnie sat there, his face wearing a casual smile, which to Eli Johnson''s eyes was incredibly irritating.


    "Come with us and save us the trouble!"


    No sooner had he spoken than Eli''s men came over to take Donnie away.


    This action immediately provoked discontent among John and others inside Block Tavern, who stood in front of Donnie, blocking Eli Johnson''s men.


    The atmosphere instantly became tense between the two sides.


    "Well, if it isn''t Nucky''s little brother!"


    Donnie rose, passed through John and others to stand in front of Eli Johnson, and said, "If you want to take me away, do you have evidence?"


    ps: I''d like to rmend a book by an old friend who specializes in Hong Kong-themed novels, currently writing one called "I Haven''t Been a Boss in Many Years!" Fans of Hong Kong-themed stories might want to check it out~~

 Chapter 68: 64. Private property is sacred and inviolable (please keep reading, please bookmark~)

    Although ording to thews of the United States, local city police don''t have much power, taking someone away for an investigation is still very easy.


    Of course, this is under the condition that this person doesn''t have significant influence.


    Eli Johnson was already enraged by Donnie''s attitude at this time;tely, the thing he hated most was to be referred to as Nucky''s brother.


    "My name is Eli Johnson!" Eli watched Donnie coldly, "Are you telling me now that you''re going to defy thew of Antic City and arrest me?"


    "Mr. Block certainly doesn''t mean an arrest!"


    At this moment, a man in a suit walked in and naturally stood by Donnie''s side.


    Seeing the man, Eli''s expression became even uglier.


    "Brad, what are you trying to imply?"


    Due to the man standing before him, Eli had to show respect, as he was Brad Dorn, one of the most famouswyers in Antic City. What''s more, his wife was the president of the WCTU, and after this year''s elections, he would be a municipal judge in Antic City!


    "There''s no particr implication, merely to inform you, Mr. Johnson, that ording to thews of Antic City, without conclusive evidence, you only have the right to conduct a routine inquiry with my client, and you do not have the authority to forcibly take Mr. Block away.


    As a celebrity in Antic City, Mr. Donnie Block, upon receiving your consultation, is able to choose the time to go to the Public Security Bureau to answer your questions.


    Additionally, it''s necessary for me to inform you, Mr. Johnson, that I am now thewyer for Mr. Donnie Block, and if there are any questions, you should speak with me first!"


    "Of course, as aw-abiding citizen of Antic City, I am quite willing to cooperate with the Public Security Bureau''s investigation, but definitely not in the form it''s currently taking ce. Otherwise, I will certainly take everyone present to court!"


    Donnie timely took over Brad Dorn''s words.


    Donnie''s words caused the other members of the Public Security Bureau present to start panicking.


    If the one who had just spoken these words was an ordinary person in Antic City, they definitely would not have taken them seriously, but now the speaker was Donnie Block, and standing beside him, Brad Dorn.


    The influence of these two men was enough to make all their previous wordse true.


    Everyone was just trying to make a living; no one wanted to lose their means of livelihood because of an outsider.


    So at this time, the other people had already begun to back down, and they were cautiously observing Eli Johnson, whose face was turning an ashen blue.


    "Donnie Block, don''t forget this is Antic City!"


    Although Eli Johnson did not want to admit that he needed to rely on Nucky, he could not let his own men see that he had yielded before Donnie Block.


    So he subtly reminded everyone that this ce was Antic City, and its ruler was his brother Nucky!


    Sure enough, this statement made his subordinates straighten their backbones again.


    Brad Dorn did not say a word, but looked towards Donnie.


    Donnie''s expression remained calm, "Of course, I know this is Antic City, but Antic City is part of New Jersey, which belongs to the United States. ording to the Constitution of the United States, private property is sacred and invible.


    You are currently invading my territory, and ording to thews of the United States, I can sue you. And this, is also thew that Antic City must follow!"


    Eli didn''t mention Nucky; Donnie didn''t mention Nucky either, but he cited the Constitution of the United States, which was also a subtle way of telling these people.


    If Nucky really wanted to protect you, he would have to pay a huge price, and the question is whether you are worth that price to Nucky!


    Now the momentum hadpletely shifted to Donnie''s side, and seeing his own men''s behavior, Eli Johnson knew that he might lose face today!


    Afterward, Brad Dorn continued with some professional legal knowledge, leaving Eli Johnson no choice but to leave with his men!


    "Boss, we could actually just have Mr. Nucky say a word, and I think Brad would definitely give up being Donnie Block''swyer immediately, then we can take care of Donnie Block!"


    Upon exiting the Block Tavern, a subordinate suggested quietly to Eli.


    "Scram!"


    Eli Johnson, who felt as if salt was being rubbed into his wound, viciously kicked the other person.


    .


    "So, my idiot brother has thoroughly been put in his ce by Donnie this time!"


    Nucky sat in his study, his expression serene, showing neither joy nor sorrow.


    Louis stood by and said, "That''s how it is, the news has already spread throughout Antic City, Donnie''s reputation has climbed to a new level!"


    Nucky asked, "Louis, tell me, was my decision the right one, or was it a mistake? I''m always worried about the pace of Donnie''s development. It hasn''t been that long, and he''s already put Eli in a tight spot!"


    Louis said firmly, "Your decisions are always the right ones, Nucky."


    "Haha," Nucky finally showed a trace of a bitter smile, "If it hadn''t been for the Brigadier General, I would never have allowed Donnie to rise up in Antic City. The speed of that man''s development is just too fast. I have a premonition that he will be our enemy in the future!"


    Just as Donnie had anticipated, Nucky would definitely not conspire with Eli to suppress him over this matter.


    Because Nucky''s biggest enemy at the moment was the Brigadier General, especially his own foolish brother who opted to betray him, directly strengthening the Brigadier General''s power.


    "He''s not yet qualified!" Louis replied.


    "Only not qualified for now," Nucky waved his hand, "Forget about Donnie Block for now. After we''re done dealing with the Brigadier General, we''ll look for him then!"


    "Yes!" Louis had no objections to Nucky''s orders.


    "Where did Eli go after leaving Block Tavern?"


    Nucky asked Louis.


    Louis said, "He first returned to the police department, and then went to The Fuli Tavern."


    "The idiot!" Nucky, hearing of Eli''s whereabouts, spoke angrily again, "Is being my brother, Nucky, really that ufortable for him?"


    Louis asked, "Shall I give Mr. Johnson a call?"


    Even though Eli had betrayed Nucky, Nucky still wanted his brother to reconsider, as training a qualified Antic City Police Captain was not an easy task.


    Nucky waved his hand, "Forget it. David Jabbar is bound to lose this time; once he does, that idiot will know whose side he should be on!"


    Louis nodded.


    "Have Jim Faleye in," Nucky directed.


    Soon, a middle-aged man arrived at Nucky''s study.


    "Jim, this is Frank''s letter of introduction. I''ve already had our Governor write it for him. I hope this letter can help your youngest son get into the University of Pennsylvania smoothly."


    As soon as Jim Faley sat down, Nucky took out a letter of introduction from his drawer and handed it to Jim Faley.


    Jim Faley immediately received it with joy,ughing, "My dear Nucky, I really don''t know how to thank you!"


    "If possible, I hope you can keep the West District under control. Additionally, I hope to assign you as Eli''s deputy at the police department."


    Nucky did not beat around the bush with Jim Faley.


    In his early days, Jim Faley lived on Pennsylvania Avenue in the West District, close to the North District, where he wielded significant influence. Later, it was precisely because of his influence in the West District that the Brigadier General arranged for him to work at the fire department. Jim Faley also faced some trials during the Brigadier General''s prosecution.


    But in the end, Jim Faley became one of the only two individuals cleared of any issues in that trial, just like Nucky.


    However, back then, Jim Faley''s status was not that high, so he went unnoticed.


    After Nucky took control of Antic City, he quickly promoted Jim Faley''s position in the fire department to second-inmand!


    Jim Faley understood Nucky''s intention clearly, "My dear Nucky, I understand. I''ll take my family back to live in the West District today!"


    Nucky nodded with satisfaction, "Once you''re in the West District, keep an eye on something. Lately, many young men there have begun working as liaisons between the casinos and the bettors. This role has only recently emerged in Antic City. I hope you can get all the details about this and manage rtions with these men."


    Jim Faley nodded again, "Understood!"


    Although now wasn''t the best time to deal with Donnie, Nucky still had to make some moves, so upon discovering the business of bookmakers in the West District, he had to get someone he trusted to pay attention to it.


    He was going to scatter tacks in Donnie''s backyard!


    ps: I rmend a book by a friend, a veteran Hong Kong literature author''s new pseudonym and new work "I Haven''t Been a Gangster for Many Years". Fans of Hong Kong literature might want to check it out~~

 Chapter 69: 65. The Lost Eli Johnson (Please follow, please favorite~)

    On the morning of the third day after LeBron James was taken into custody, Brad Dorn appeared at the Public Security Office.


    His reason foring this time was, naturally, to post bail for LeBron James!


    "Dorn, have you lost your mind?"


    Seeing that Brad Dorn had actuallye to post bail for LeBron James made Eli Johnson nearly go insane.


    "You actually came to the Public Security Office for a ck man?"


    This was something Eli Johnson could not ept. As one of the most influential attorneys in Antic City, he was actually posting bail for a ck man.


    Was he not worried that such behavior would be disdained by the white people of Antic City?


    "Of course, I haven''t lost my mind. If Mr. Johnson, you have any doubts, I can have my personal physician provide a certification. Besides, Mr. James is a citizen legally holding the identity of the United States. Why couldn''t I post bail for him?


    Or are you suggesting, Mr. Johnson, that you are discriminating against a ck man?"


    Facing the angry Eli Johnson, Brad Dorn maintained hisposure, his face wearing a refined smile, which easily made one overlook his receding hairline.


    Johnson''s expression froze; discriminating against a ck person was an inherent thought for every white American, and they did not shy away from voicing such thoughts.


    But these people were all ordinary folks. Eli Johnson was not an ordinary man. Although he was a fool, he still believed he would achieve great sess in the future, even taking Nucky''s ce as the King of Antic City.


    With such aspirations, Eli had to consider the demographic base of ck people in Antic City.


    "I spoke out of turn just now!" Eli immediately admitted his mistake, then said, "LeBron James''s case is veryplicated, and we do not permit anyone to bail him out!"


    Although he had admitted his mistake, Eli Johnson absolutely could not let LeBron James leave this ce. Short-term, he had no way to deal with Donnie Block, and Nucky had already cut off The Fuli Tavern''s supply of liquor.


    Now, their only remaining source of liquor was LeBron James. If they released LeBron at this time, The Fuli Tavern would be finished!


    If The Fuli Tavern was finished, his own ambition to prove that he could seed without relying on Nucky would naturally be shattered!


    Therefore, Eli Johnson could only stubbornly refuse Brad Dorn''s bail request!


    "Mr. Johnson, I believe you have made a mistake. ording to the Constitution of the United States, every citizen can be bailed out before being formally convicted. That is a right granted by the Constitution to every citizen."


    "Don''t talk to me about those things!" Eli Johnson was now enraged, and yelled, "I know the Constitution of the United States better than you, and we have already found the witnesses needed to charge LeBron James, so you cannot bail him out!"


    Brad Dorn chuckled, "Again, even if you have witnesses, until the court formally passes judgment, LeBron James is still an innocent man. So now, Mr. Johnson, are you nning to defy the Constitution?"


    Faced with the aggressive Brad Dorn, Eli Johnson found himself at a loss for how to counter.


    If he could not counter, then the only option left was to be shamelessly obstinate!


    "OK, if you think I''m viting the Constitution, then go ahead and sue me. I''ll be waiting!"


    At this point, Eli Johnson was behaving like a pig who doesn''t fear scalding water.


    Brad Dorn, who had always been smiling, was now slightly stupefied. If it were within the scope of U.S.w, Brad Dorn was sure he could easily crush the fool before him.


    But when the fool no longer yed by the usual rules, he found himself at a loss.


    Luckily, Donnie had made preparations for such a situation beforeing here.


    "Of course, if Mr. Johnson, you refuse to release him, you might want to take a look at the situation outside the Public Security Office right now!"


    Johnson''s expression changed, "What do you mean?"


    Brad Dorn chuckled, "Have you forgotten that Mr. LeBron James is a person of considerable prestige in the North District?"


    When Eli Johnson walked to the window and saw the dense crowd of ck people gathered at the entrance of the Public Security Office, his brows twitched instantly.


    "Are you threatening me?"


    Eli Johnson turned sharply towards Brad Dorn, his eyes burning with fire, seemingly ready to incinerate Brad Dorn on the spot!


    Brad Dorn still had a smile on his face, but he spoke in a volume that only he and Eli Johnson could hear, "Eli, you''ve lost this time. Neither the Commodore nor Nucky wants to see the North District in chaos because chaos in the North District implies they''ve lost control over it. Do you think either party can ept that oue if the Democrats seize the opportunity to step in?"


    Although Antic City is the Republican''s backyard, it doesn''t mean there are no Democrats present, it''s just that the two sessive leaders in Antic City were staunch Republicans, which made the Democratic Party seem non-existent here.


    But seeming non-existent and actually being non-existent are definitely two different things.


    Watching Eli Johnson''s face shifting expressions, Brad Dorn continued to smile, "Let them go. Only by doing so can we end this awkward situation now. Otherwise, I think it won''t take ten minutes before someone from the Commodore and Nucky''s side wille here, and your situation will be even more awkward!"


    .


    LeBron James, Seth Owen, and Reggie Love walked out of the Public Security Bureau with their heads held high; outside was a team of over a hundred ck people.


    Seth Owen had a smug smile on his face, even showing a sh of contempt while looking at LeBron James.


    All these psychological changes actually stemmed from their three-day prison ordeal. Initially, within the cell, Eli Johnson wanted to use the inmates there to severely deal with the three of them.


    As the boss of the North District, LeBron James naturally didn''t need to discuss hisbat power, but unfortunately, years offortable living had caused him to lose his fighting skills.


    The ones who actually fought were Owen and Love.


    So Owen believed that he should be cheered by others when he came out.


    When he saw the dense crowd outside of the Public Security Bureau, Owen was already preparing to spread his arms and bask in the cheers of the people.


    Indeed, the crowd of ck people outside the Public Security Bureau did cheer, but they were not cheering for Owen, they were cheering for LeBron James.


    LeBron James made the gesture Owen had imagined, opening his arms wide to greet those cheering for him, watching as James basked in the glory that Owen felt should have been his own.


    At that moment, Owen was not angry; he thought that since nobody had seen what had urred in the cell, it made sense they did not cheer for him.


    As long as LeBron James would tell everyone about the situation back then, they would cheer for him!


    So, Owen looked forward to LeBron James, hoping James would speak to the crowd about the incident in the cell.


    And indeed, James did speak about what happened in the cell.


    "When I went all out, those guys were no match for me. It was only a matter of seconds before I had them sorted out, and only then did they realize who they had crossed!"


    James credited all the des to himself.


    Naturally, such words earned him even more cheers.


    "I...."


    Seeing this, Owen couldn''t help but want to step forward but was held back by Love''s grip on his arm.


    Love, caring little about the situation, epted that they were James'' underlings. If the boss liked to hog the glory, let him have it. As long as they were in it together, that was all that mattered!


    Realizing this, Love shook his head at Owen.


    Owen was persuaded by Love, but he began to harbor some dissatisfaction towards James in his heart.


    The group left to the sounds of cheers and went to the North District.


    Watching the departing crowd, Eli Johnson had aplex look in his eyes; he felt utterly defeated at this moment. Although often considered unintelligent, Eli understood at this time that if things continued on this trend¡ª


    The Fuli Tavern managed by David Jabbar would truly fall into decline.


    So, did he still need to stick with David Jabbar and pledge allegiance to the Commodore?


    What if the Commodore were to fall in the end?


    Considering this possibility and thinking about his dealings with Nucky¡ª


    Eli Johnson made a sudden decision in his heart. After giving a few brief instructions, he immediately left the Public Security Bureau and headed towards the Ritz Hotel!

 Chapter 70: 66. Take Down Donnie (Please follow, please favorite~)

    David Jabbar soon learned about everything that had happened in the public security department.


    When he learned about all this, David Jabbar turned as pale as death, realizing that he had now shifted from offense to defense.


    In fact, it had always been Donnie attacking him, but at the time, David Jabbar thought he had the chance to turn the tables, so he didn''t see it as an offensive move.


    However, with the release of LeBron James, he understood that if he couldn''t find another suitable liquor supplier, the glory of The Fuli Tavern would be no more.


    With this thought, David Jabbar immediately dialed a number in New York.


    As the owner of thergest tavern in Antic City, David Jabbar certainly had his ownwork of rtionships, and Meyer Lansky in New York was one of his friends.


    "Dear Lansky my friend, I need your help now. I hope you can transport a batch of liquor to me in the shortest time possible!"


    Meyer''s voice came through the phone, "My friend, I''m always willing to be the first one to lend a hand when you''re in trouble, but you know the current situation. The liquor market in Antic City is monopolized by Nucky, and I am also very good friends with Nucky. If I send liquor to you, that means harming my friendship with Nucky!"


    After silently cursing, David Jabbar said, "My friend, I wonder whether a price of 80 US Dors per case, for a one-time order of a month''s worth of supply, might make you temporarily forget your friendship with Nucky?"


    Eighty US Dors per case, a month''s worth, at least 60 cases, that''s 4800 US Dors!


    Meyer was silent for a while, then said, "As Antic City is Nucky''s city, even if I want to sell this batch of liquor to you, I believe it wouldn''t be able to enter Antic City, right?"


    David Jabbar continued, "You don''t have to worry about that; I''ll make arrangements with the Brigadier. By then, this batch of liquor will definitely be able to get into Antic City!"


    "Wow!" Meyer''s teasing voice came from the other end of the phone, "So you really have turned to that old Brigadier!"


    "As you said, he is an old guy!" David Jabbar said in a deep voice.


    That was another reason why he decided to turn to the Brigadier; Nucky was in his prime, and he might still be alive and well even after his own death.


    If that were the case, he would live forever in Nucky''s shadow.


    It was different with the Brigadier¡ªhow many years could an elderly man on hisst legs live?


    When the Brigadier passed away, wouldn''t Antic City be his tomand?


    Unfortunately, while his nning was sound, reality was a painful setback.


    "Alright, but you have to pay all the goods up front and also take care of the shipping cost!" Meyer agreed to David Jabbar''s request after only a brief consideration.


    "No problem, I''ll arrange for someone to deliver the money this afternoon!"


    "Once the money arrives, I will immediately dispatch the delivery!"


    After agreeing upon the details, David Jabbar also called the Brigadier, exining to him both the situation with the public security department and his contact with Meyer.


    The Brigadier, after hearing it, also said he would ensure the goods would smoothly enter Antic City!


    With the Brigadier''s response, David Jabbar finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    Then Jabbar called Nate into his office. "I need you to go to every ce in Antic City where liquor can be bought and purchase all you can find!"


    Without Donnie and LeBron James supplying him, Jabbar had no choice but to rece wholesale with retail.


    Nate worriedly said, "Boss, our costs will skyrocket like this!"


    David Jabbar angrily replied, "What''s most important right now is to survive. If our guestse to The Fuli Tavern tonight and find no liquor, then we are truly finished!"


    "Yes!"


    Nate dared not say anything more and quickly prepared to leave David Jabbar''s office.


    "Wait a moment!" David Jabbar suddenly stopped Nate and asked, "Has Elie?"


    Nate shook his head, "He hasn''t!"


    "Go on!" David Jabbar said with a cold face.


    After Nate left, David Jabbar fell into silence. Logically, after encountering what had happened before, Eli Johnson should havee to see him to discuss the next strategies.


    But now the other party hadn''te, so where had he gone?


    As time slowly passed, Eli Johnson still hadn''te to The Fuli Tavern, making David Jabbar increasingly irritable. He called the public security department several times and was told that Eli Johnson wasn''t there, not in the department and not at his own home either.


    Moreover, this afternoon, his most trusted bodyguard had left Antic City with a hefty sum of 5000 US Dors, heading to New York.


    A day went by.


    The next day, David Jabbar sat in his office with dark circles under his eyes; he hadn''t slept all night.


    At this moment, unable to bear it any longer, David Jabbar prepared to leave for the public security department or to Eli Johnson''s home to find him.


    Right now, David Jabbar couldn''t afford to lose Eli Johnson, just as the West couldn''t lose Jerusalem.


    But to David Jabbar''s delight, Eli Johnson finally arrived!


    "What happened to you? Who in Antic City would dare to treat you like this?"


    Yet, when David Jabbar saw Eli Johnson''s condition, he couldn''t help but express his surprise.


    Right now, Eli Johnson''s face was bruised and swollen, clearly the result of a beating. This was what puzzled David Jabbar the most: who would dare to hit Eli Johnson in Antic City?


    "You don''t need to worry about this!" Eli Johnson didn''t want to talk about it and said to David Jabbar, "You need to be careful though, this time Donnie Block is targeting The Fuli Tavern, and Nucky will definitely not show his face!"


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    Well, actually, even if Eli Johnson didn''t say who had hit him, David Jabbar could guess¡ªit must have been Nucky!


    Just never thought that the always genteel Nucky would personally get involved!


    But what shocked David Jabbar even more was Nucky''s attitude towards this matter!


    Was Nucky preparing topletely abandon Eli and himself?


    Although they had betrayed Nucky, in their hearts, they didn''t want Nucky to give up on them!


    It was a strange psychology.


    "Don''t worry, my friend, with you, with General there, we will not be defeated by Donnie. I''ve already contacted Meyer in New York; he will be our friend, and their liquor will arrive in Antic City in no more than two days. Then we can focus on dealing with Donnie!"


    David Jabbar wasforting Eli Johnson.


    After hearing this, Eli Johnson let out a sigh of relief. After leaving Public Order Office yesterday, he indeed went to find Nucky.


    But he didn''t sincerely admit his wrongdoings to Nucky, instead, he vented years of pent-up resentment to Nucky.


    Nucky didn''t change anything because of his grievances and even mocked Eli Johnson.


    So, the two brothers ended up fighting it out.


    Clearly, Eli Johnson was no match for Nucky.


    "Dear Eli, you don''t have to be sad; I will never leave you!" David Jabbar said, looking at the still dejected Eli Johnson.


    "Actually, before you came, I had already decided as a demonstration of our friendship, I''m willing to transfer 20% of The Fuli Tavern''s shares to you!"


    Before this, Eli Johnson only held a 20% share in The Fuli Tavern.


    "Rest assured, this is our friendship, I''m transferring it to you gratuitously!" David Jabbar added.


    Giving Eli Johnson an additional 20% of the shares was something David Jabbar had long been considering.


    He didn''t believe in the so-called friendship; to him, all rtionships were tied to interests. Only by closely linking his interests with Eli Johnson''s could he ensure he wouldn''t lose Eli.


    Eli Johnson went to find Nucky without telling him yesterday, and this had worried David Jabbar a lot.


    "David, you truly are my best friend!" Eli Johnson, without any hesitation, took David Jabbar''s hand and spoke earnestly.


    With the transfer of shares, Eli Johnson''s low spirits were significantly lifted.


    "I''ve already thought of a way to deal with Donnie Block!"


    "What way?" David Jabbar immediately asked, excited.


    This was the benefit of offering up gains.


    "Neither Nucky nor the General want to confront Donnie Block right now; it''s only because of Donnie Block''s influence in Antic City which is crucial for the election year votes. But we don''t need those things, or at least not for now.


    And I don''t really believe the rtions between Donnie Block, the Ku Klux n, and the WCTU are that irond.


    What do you think would happen if Donnie Block suddenly got killed?"


    Eli Johnson said calmly.


    If they couldn''t remove Donnie by fair means, then they would resort to foul.


    David Jabbar didn''t actually approve of this, as Donnie''s death would have a significant impact.


    But... it seemed that these impacts were not so importantpared to problems he could handle.


    "Are you sure?"


    "Don''t use people from Antic City, find them in New York, Phdelphia, Chicago!"


    "Then I''ll call Meyer again!"


    The two quickly agreed on the matter, and after David Jabbar finished his call with Meyer and confirmed the n,


    smiles finally appeared on their faces.


    Just as they were about to toast, Nate walked in, his face showing panic, and said to David Jabbar.


    "Boss, the Federal Agent is here, says he needs to speak with you!"

 Chapter 71: 67. Mann Act (Please follow, please favorite~)

    Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States are referred to as FBI agents for short!


    This organization is indeed well-known inter times, but the FBI was formally established in 1908.


    In its early days, its main responsibility was to investigate social mise within the United States, such as the mafia, gambling, brothels, etc.


    What''s most important is that the FBI is under the jurisdiction of the National Government, which effectively increased the National Government''sw enforcement power, especially since before this, states in America had a high degree of autonomous rights, and often some states would defy certainmands from the National Government.


    The most obvious example is that Antic City did not enforce Prohibition.


    Although Eli Johnson''sw enforcement in Antic City and the FBI are bothw enforcement departments in the United States, Eli''s department is managed by New Jersey and does not have a superior-subordinate rtionship with the FBI.


    So, when David Jabbar cast a dubious gaze upon Eli Johnson, Eli too wore a puzzled expression.


    But regardless, since the Federal Agents had arrived, David Jabbar still needed to go out and see what the situation was all about!


    When he got to the first floor of The Fuli Tavern, he saw Van Alden, dressed in a suit, standing there, with three other men dressed the same behind him.


    "Are you David Jabbar, the owner of The Fuli Tavern?"


    Van Alden stared straight at David Jabbar and asked loudly.


    "Yes, that''s me. How may I assist you?" David Jabbar maintained his smile and asked.


    "Do you perhaps know... Jennifer, Simona, Aubrey..."


    Van Alden pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket, which had some women''s names written on it.


    David Jabbar frowned slightly; he certainly knew these women because they had always been entertaining guests on the fifth floor of The Fuli Tavern.


    "So do you know them or not?"


    Van Alden asked with some impatience.


    "Hey!" Eli Johnson, who had just benefited from David Jabbar, could not help but speak up, "Be a little more polite; this is Antic City!"


    "I know this is Antic City, but this is also the United States!" Van Alden looked disdainfully at Eli Johnson and said, "I know you, Nucky''s brother! But we don''t deal with your brother''s business; naturally, he will have other colleagues to take care of that!"


    "You!"


    Eli Johnson had not expected the other party to be so arrogant.


    Because FBI and state or city police often ovep in jurisdiction over many cases, the rtionship between the two parties has never been very good.


    "I do know them; what about it?" Even now, David Jabbar still hadn''t figured out what the issue was.


    "Good that you know them, because now we suspect you have vited the Mann Act, passed by the United States of America in June 1910, and we have to take you back to Washington for trial. Here is our warrant for your arrest!"


    The Mann Act''s most crucial provision is the prohibition of trafficking women between states within the United States!


    Buzz!


    David Jabbar''s head suddenly buzzed. It wasn''t that he had just forgotten about the Mann Act; rather, the enactment of thisw was less significant than the Prohibition, and such practices still existed in various states. In the minds of people like David Jabbar, the concept of the Mann Act basically did not exist.


    At the moment when David Jabbar was still puzzled, Van Alden''s men were ready to step forward and put handcuffs on David Jabbar!


    Such action naturally aroused dissatisfaction among David Jabbar''s people inside The Fuli Tavern, and they immediately stepped forward, starting to push and shove with Van Alden''s men.


    Seeing this, Van Alden forcefully pulled out his gun and fired a shot at the ceiling.


    This act naturally deterred the people present.


    "Whoa, whoa!" Eli Johnson raised his hands and walked into the middle of the crowd, saying to Van Alden,


    "Ease up a bit, ease up! Agent Alden, there must be some misunderstanding here, right?"


    Van Aldenughed smugly, "There are no misunderstandings; I have thoroughly investigated this matter, and with conclusive testimonial and material evidence, I can now add a charge to David Jabbar, arrest him!"


    Eli Johnson helplessly said to Van Alden, "Well, for the sake of my uniform, can you allow me to have a few words alone with David Jabbar?"


    Van Alden thought for a moment and said, "Alright, but I''d advise you not to harbor any other thoughts, as there are reporters from The Washington Post outside. Everything that happens here today, they will urately report in the newspaper!"


    Eli Johnson''s face immediately turned ugly; he indeed had other thoughts just now, but with the media involved, unless they could control the reporters from The Washington Post, the trouble would be big!


    "Of course, I''m also aw enforcer!"


    Eli Johnson said coldly and then approached David Jabbar.


    "Do you know who is behind this?"


    Federal Agents couldn''t possiblye to Antic City without making a sound, nor could they have investigated David Jabbar''s situation without anyone knowing.


    "There are only two people in the entire Antic City who have the ability to do this!" David Jabbar said with a somewhat ugly expression.


    Eli Johnson''s expression also turned grim; he knew the person David Jabbar was talking about was either his brother Nucky or their current supporter, the Brigadier.


    But they were currently in a cooperative rtionship with the Brigadier, and it wasn''t possible for the Brigadier to go against David Jabbar at this time!


    ```


    "This isn''t his style; if he wanted to deal with you, he wouldn''t use forces from outside Antic City!" Eli said after a moment''s thought, denying the possibility.


    This wasn''t him making excuses for Nucky, but a firm belief that Nucky wasn''t that kind of person. Nucky always considered Antic City his own backyard and never allowed external powers to stir up trouble there!


    David Jabbar said with some displeasure, "Then tell me, who else has the capability, besides Nucky?"


    "No one in Antic City has the ability to mobilize Federal Agents, but there is one person who definitely has the motive to do so."


    Eli Johnson said.


    "Are you talking about Donnie Block?" David Jabbar asked, given that they were currentlypeting with Donnie Block.


    "Exactly!" Eli nodded.


    "Impossible, Donnie Block doesn''t have that kind of clout!" David Jabbar was more inclined to believe that Nucky was the one responsible.


    "Alright, who did it isn''t important now. I''ll rush to the Commodore''s ce immediately and have him contact his connections in Washington to sort out this trouble for you!"


    Eli Johnson dered.


    Since Nucky had given up on them, they had no choice but to seek the Commodore''s help with this matter.


    "Alright, I hope you can resolve this quickly!" David Jabbar said helplessly.


    Actually, by now, David Jabbar wasn''t taking the situation too seriously. Whether during the Commodore''s time or Nucky''s, there had been instances in Antic City where people were taken away by Federal Agents.


    But in the end, under the handling of the Commodore or Nucky, these people were all released forck of evidence!


    David Jabbar believed the same would happen to him.


    With Eli Johnson''s assurance to David Jabbar, thetter put up no further resistance and left with Van Alden and the others.


    When Eli Johnson followed them out of the tavern, he indeed saw a few people dressed as reporters taking pictures of the scene at the tavern''s entrance!


    Eli Johnson looked at the situation and just snorted coldly before promptly leaving.


    Van Alden, on the other hand, took David Jabbar away in a somewhat dpidated Ford Model T.


    .


    "Has Antic City be the Federal Investigators'' backyard recently,ing and going as they please?"


    Nucky quickly learned of the news and,pared to Eli Johnson''s bruised face, looked much better, just slightly red-faced.


    "Boss, they will definitely think you masterminded this!"


    Louis cautioned.


    Nucky waved his hand dismissively, "If they thought so, they wouldn''t be my enemies!"


    "So who sent these men?" Louis was very puzzled by the sudden appearance of Van Alden and his men, "Could it be like Diesel Mard and the others, orchestrated by the Commodore?"


    Nucky already knew about Diesel Mard and his men''s investigation.


    "No, the Commodore has no reason to do that."


    Nucky outright dismissed that possibility.


    Then Nucky asked Louis, "Tell me, who stands to benefit the most from David Jabbar being taken away?"


    Louis thought briefly before replying, "Donnie Block!" Find your adventure at m-vl-em,py-r


    He added, "With David Jabbar taken away, The Fuli Tavern''s business will inevitably suffer, and that''s what Donnie would like to see."


    Nucky nodded and said, "I think so too, but what kind of background we don''t know about does Donnie have, to be able to call on Federal Bureau of Investigation agents?"


    "I don''t know about that!" Louis shook his head.


    .


    "Alden and his team have already taken David Jabbar out of Antic City, when do you n to meet him?"


    While everyone was specting about the situation, John showed up at Block Tavern, very pleased.


    And of course, Van Alden, who took David Jabbar away, had been arranged by Donnie.


    As for how Donnie knew Van Alden, don''t forget that Van Alden once wanted to investigate the illegal distilling in Elwood Vige!


    "No rush, let David Jabbar worry for a couple of days. That way, when I meet with him, he''ll be more inclined to agree to our demands!"


    Donnie, holding a cigar in his hand, said to Robert with a beaming smile, "In a few days we''ll be able to move to another location!"


    With David Jabbar taken away, there was nothing standing in the way of Donnie getting The Fuli Tavern!


    Robert said, "I''ll have Dwight start spreading the news... the news we previously agreed upon!"


    ```


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 72: 68. Donnie, The New Boss of The Fuli Tavern (Please follow, please favorite~)

    ```


    Two dayster in Elwood Vige.


    Under the guidance of Old Carl, Donnie came to a horse stable. At this moment, David Jabbar, usually pampered in Antic City, was curled up in a corner of the stable. When he saw Donnie.


    A look of confusion appeared on his face, followed by anger, then a plea for mercy in his eyes.


    "Donnie, Donnie, Donnie, I know I was wrong. I swear to God, from now on, I will follow your orders in Antic City, with you as my leader!"


    As he spoke, David Jabbar scrambled over to Donnie''s feet, hugged Donnie''s calves, and begged for mercy.


    Donnie had intended to discuss business in the stable, but the smell inside was unbearable.


    "Let''s talk outside!"


    Stepping out of the stable, Donnie instantly felt refreshed. However, the sight of David Jabbar covered in cow dung filled him with disgust.


    The meek David Jabbar followed Donnie, having now thought everything through. At first, when Olden took him away, David Jabbar thought he would be taken to Washington, but instead, he ended up in Elwood Vige.


    If a few months before, David Jabbar had no impression of Elwood Vige, then during these months, the name of Elwood Vige had be etched in his memory.


    The hometown of Donnie Block, thergest bootlegging site in Antic City!


    If David Jabbar still couldn''t guess that he had been captured by Donnie Block, he wouldn''t have be an upper-ss figure in Antic City.


    Donnie Block didn''t care whether David Jabbar had figured out his intentions. He took out a document from his bag and handed it to David Jabbar.


    "Sign your name, and you are free to leave!"


    David Jabbar took the document from Donnie''s hands with trembling fear. When he saw it was about the share transfer of The Fuli Tavern, even though he had been so frightened that he had been constipated for several days, David Jabbar shook his head and said.


    "I can''t sign, can''t sign!"


    The Fuli Tavern was his lifeline, the foundation of his foothold in Antic City, so David Jabbar couldn''t sign it.


    "Donnie, by this time, the general''s phone call must have already reached Washington. It won''t take long for the general to rify that this matter is rted to you.


    If you let me go, I promise not to speak out about Elwood Vige.


    And I will surely repay you well!


    Right, right, Nucky wouldn''t want to see you getting The Fuli Tavern either. Believe me, Eli Johnson once told me that Nucky is already very dissatisfied with you. If you further expand your fame and wealth in Antic City, Nucky will definitely give up going against the general and turn to deal with you!"


    David Jabbar rattled off a bunch of words, all with the aim of keeping The Fuli Tavern for himself.


    Donnie squatted down in front of David Jabbar and said with a smile, "So you are still considering my well-being?"


    "Yes, yes, as long as you let me go back, I am willing to give up eighty percent of The Fuli Tavern''s profits. This way, won''t you still be able to gain the wealth of The Fuli Tavern?"


    David Jabbar continued his plea.


    Donnie shook his head and expressed pity, "It''s a pity. If you had said all this to me earlier, perhaps I really would have let you go, but now I can''t. If I let you return to Elwood Vige, the general and Nucky would join forces and kill you!"


    David Jabbar looked puzzled, not understanding Donnie''s point.


    Donnie asked David Jabbar, "The Federal Agents have already begun to investigate Nucky, haven''t they?"


    About the Federal Agents investigating Nucky, through Vince''s promotion, this news had already spread throughout Antic City.


    Yet the people of Antic City were not worried. They didn''t believe the Federal Agents could handle Nucky.... even though before, they also thought Federal Agents couldn''t possibly clear up the investigation on the general with the same mentality.


    People prefer to believe in the power they see in front of them!


    David Jabbar nodded, this matter was already an open secret, and he didn''t see how it was rted to his current situation.


    Donnie said with a smile, "Then, what do you think would happen if the news spread across Antic City at this time that you, David Jabbar, the owner of The Fuli Tavern, are prepared to lighten your own crimes by confessing the sins of Antic City to the Federal Bureau of Investigation? What do you think will happen to you when you return to Antic City?"


    David Jabbar''s face went even paler, and his whole body trembled, "No, no, no, Donnie you can''t do this. If that happens, I''ll get shot to death by a hail of bullets the moment I set foot in Antic City!"


    Nucky has never only represented himself but also the group of vested interests in Antic City.


    This group can ept Nucky being investigated because they believe, even if Nucky is eventually sentenced like the general, then to maintain his roots in Antic City and ensure his safety, he would not rat out the others.


    It''s just like what the general did. When the general was prosecuted by the federal government, realizing he could not win, he silently epted the charges without implicating the vested interests of Antic City.


    ```


    But, if David Jabbar became a mad dog, the consequences would be quite different. The unlucky ones would not only be Nucky but all the vested interest groups in Antic City.


    Then, David Jabbar would face endless assassinations.


    No one likes to be in prison.


    David Jabbar knew this, which is why he was so afraid!


    "Toote!" Donnie pried David Jabbar''s hand away, then made a helpless gesture, saying, "Guess why I waited two days to see you. It''s to wait for this piece of news to spread throughout Antic City.


    By the way, just to let you know, everyone in Antic City is looking for you now: Nucky, the colonel, the Public Security Bureau, various gangs in the city, and the Federal Agents investigating Nucky. Can you guess what would happen if you left Elwood Vige now?"


    It was over; everything was over!


    David Jabbar slumped down on the grass, no longer caring about the horse manure beside him.


    Seeing the state David Jabbar was in, Donnie smiled and said, "Sign now, and I can guarantee your safety. Of course, I hope you will pay an extra fee for your safety!"


    David Jabbar looked up at Donnie withplex eyes. He understood that everything was Donnie''s doing, and he did not doubt the truth of Donnie''s recent words.


    The situation had developed to this point. Donnie, to ensure he could smoothly acquire The Fuli Tavern, would never deceive him.


    "I want to leave the United States! Safely leave the United States!"


    A radiant smile appeared on Donnie''s face; he knew David Jabbar hadpromised.


    "Of course, if you want, there is a boat this afternoon that can take you away from Antic City. As for which country you want to go to, you can choose freely after you get to Canada!"


    "How can you guarantee you won''t go back on your word?" David Jabbar asked.


    "I swear on my family''s name!" Donnie said.


    This response made old Carl beside Donnie snort in dissatisfaction.


    "Hand it over!" Sitting on the grass, David Jabbar pointed at the document in Donnie''s hand and said weakly.


    .


    "Are we really going to let David Jabbar go? What if hees back?" old Carl couldn''t help but ask Donnie.


    David Jabbar had been taken away by Robert.


    Now, only Donnie and his people remained at the Block Tavern in Elwood Vige.


    In response to old Carl''s question, Donnie did not answer but walked over to Olden, taking out 500 US dors from his pocket.


    "Olden, I''m very grateful for your help this time. From now on, you''re a friend of the Block Family. Our family is never stingy toward friends. I promise your life will only get better and better!"


    Olden unceremoniously took the banknotes from Donnie''s hand, held them under his nose, and greedily inhaled.


    "I absolutely adore the smell of US dors."


    Donnieughed heartily, saying, "I like it too!"


    Olden looked at old Carl and said, "Mr. Block, the reason Donnie let David Jabbar go is that David Jabbar is an influential person. Such a person can''t die, at least not by Donnie''s hand. Otherwise, it would make Donnie hated by other influential people, and if a simr situation arises in the future, they will only resist desperately."


    Carl muttered, "We''re all our own people here; who would speak out?"


    Oldenughed and said, "There''s no such thing as a wall that doesn''t let some wind through. No one might talk now, but maybeter someone will. And now, David Jabbar is a man without any power. Whether he lives or dies is actually of no concern to Donnie anymore!"


    Seeing Olden''s smug expression, Carl suddenly stepped forward, grabbed Olden''s neck, and said viciously, "Kid, when did you get the nerve to talk to old Carl like this?"


    "I can''t, can''t breathe!" Olden''s face turned pale as he patted Carl''s arm, which was as strong as steel.


    Only then did Carl, looking pleased, release Olden.


    Donnie, watching Olden gasping for breath, asked him, "Everyone in Antic City knows that you took David Jabbar away. Surely Washington will require an exnation from you?"


    "It''s fine. Prisoners escaping during transfer ismon. At most, I''ll get a reprimand!" Olden said.


    Donnie smiled, "Later on, I''ll send you a reward for your efforts!"

 Chapter 73: 69. Cooperation with Eli (Please follow, please favorite~)

    David Jabbar''s arrest had not led to a temporary closure of The Fuli Tavern, but now the tavern''s business was indeed not so good.


    The supply of liquor was insufficient, gamblers were scarce, and since those women had sold out David Jabbar, the business of The Fuli Tavern''s prostitutes was equally poor.


    It was nearing midday, Nate watched as the tavern''s servers listlessly went about their tasks, then with a forceful p of his hands, he waited until he had caught everyone''s attention before he eximed loudly.


    "Everyone, The Fuli Tavern is indeed facing some troubles at this stage, but you must believe me, problems can always be solved. Don''t believe the rumors spreading outside. Being taken away by Federal Agents isn''t such a big issue, David would never give up on The Fuli Tavern!"


    Nate''s words brought hope to some of the servers'' faces, but there were still those who cautiously asked.


    "Nate, many people are now saying that to lessen his own imprisonment, David has decided to reveal the charges against Nucky and make them public. Is that true?"


    "Of course not!" Nate immediately denied: "Didn''t I just tell you? David won''t give up on Antic City, and we all know the rtionship David has with Nucky. After David was taken away, Nucky had already made a call to Washington. I believe David will be back soon, and all the rumors will be quashed!


    What we need to do now is to do our jobs well and wait for David''s return!"


    Although it was still uncertain whether Nate''s words could be trusted, at least his speech had brought some stability to the scene.


    "Well said, my tavern needs such a manager to take charge!"


    Just as everyone was preparing to get to work, Donnie walked in with apuse, followed by John, Robert, and others.


    If it had been before, upon seeing Donniee over with such a show of force, Nate would have sternly questioned what he intended to do.


    But with the loss of David Jabbar, Nate had lost his greatest reliance, and now, seeing Donnie, his aura had already diminished by a third!


    "Mr. Block, what brings you here, would you like a drink?"


    "Would the variety of drinks at The Fuli Tavern even match that of Block Tavern?" John directly taunted.


    Donnie gave John a re, "Nate will be our colleague soon; speak nicely!"


    John spread his hands.


    Only then did Nate remember Donnie''s words; he thought Donnie hade to recruit him: "I''m very sorry, Mr. Block, but I won''t be leaving The Fuli Tavern!"


    "That''s for the best!" Donnie nodded with satisfaction: "From today on, I am the owner of The Fuli Tavern, and you can continue to do your job as the manager with peace of mind!"


    Nate''s expression changed suddenly: "Mr. Block, that joke is not funny at all!"


    Donnie didn''t waste words. He directly produced David Jabbar''s share transfer document,ughing: "You see, I often tell jokes, but this time it''s no joke. I''ve already negotiated with David, and we''ve both settled on a satisfactory price for this share transfer!"


    Nate''s eyes were filled with disbelief, but upon scrutinizing the content closely, he had to believe it. There were David Jabbar''s signature and thumbprint, along with thewyer''s attestation.


    All the content indicated that this was a legally valid share transfer document.


    "No, no, David Jabbar would never give up The Fuli Tavern!" Nate couldn''t believe this was true.


    Donnieughed: "This shows that you still don''t understand David Jabbar. Alright, dear Mr. Manager, now you can manage this tavern properly. Soon there will be liquor delivered, gamblers arriving, and girls doing business. This ce will once again be the most luxurious tavern in Antic City."


    After finishing, Donnie''s tone changed as he continued, "Of course, before doing all that, I need to review the financial status of the tavern, including the cash reserves. So now, pleasee with me to David Jabbar''s office!"


    David Jabbar''s arrest had been so sudden, his cash reserves naturally couldn''t have been taken with him. Following the situation Nate recalled David Jabbar telling him about in Elwood Vige, there should still be twenty thousand US dors in cash in his office!


    For that cash, Donnie was naturally unashamedly eager.


    Nate was in a daze as he followed Donnie to the third floor... David Jabbar''s office was on the third floor.


    Meanwhile, at this time, a server in the tavern took advantage of everyone''sck of attention to sneak out and head straight for the police station.


    Half an hourter, Eli Johnson, in uniform, with a group of subordinates, arrived at The Fuli Tavern, full of formidable momentum.


    At this moment, having already retrieved the cash and stowed it safely, Donnie was waiting for Eli Johnson on the first floor of the tavern.


    "There must be illegal operations involved in this matter. I don''t believe David Jabbar would transfer the shares of The Fuli Tavern to you. If you can''t give me a reasonable exnation today, even if Brad Dorn is here, I will take you away!"


    Eli Johnson was nearly mad with rage, as everything had gone beyond his control. This feeling mixed with panic and extraordinary anger!


    "Are you suggesting, Mr. Johnson, that you want to challenge the Federal constitution? And don''t forget, The Fuli Tavern is now my ... our private property, protected byw. If you make such unfounded conclusions without evidence, let me think about how many charges I could use you of?


    Ah, trespassing on someone else''s property and infringing on personal assets should be a charge, but I forgot the specific name.


    Also, there''s nder, yes, nder, I can sue you for nder!


    Donnie''s eyes were clear, and it was precisely because of this rity that Eli Johnson could see the disdain within them.


    "So you''re saying you want to arrest me?" As Eli Johnson''s words fell, his subordinates raised their pistols.


    Having learned from the previous visit to Block Tavern, Eli Johnson had, by the time he led his men over, already sessfully brainwashed them.


    But Donnie wasn''t about to coddle them. Represented by John and others, they had also taken out their own weapons at this moment, and they were rifles, far more sophisticated than what Eli Johnson''s men had brought.


    Looking at the situation at the scene, Donnie was very happy; he absolutely loved the United States''ws, tailor-made for people like him.


    "Mr. Johnson, in such a situation, do you think you have the ability to take me away? But if you can''t take me, the onlookers outside will talk, and then your prestige is likely to suffer even more!"


    Donnie once againunched into ridicule.


    Eli Johnson panted heavily, as his squirrel-sized brain didn''t quite know what to do about the situation in front of him.


    "Eli, if you don''t mind, I think we could have a private man-to-man conversation!"


    At this point, Donnie suddenly eased the atmosphere on the spot, speaking to Eli in a rxed manner.


    Eli coldly asked, "What do you want to say?"


    Donnie looked around and then suggested, "How about we talk in my office?"


    "Hmph!" Eli huffed, but did not refuse.


    As Donnie got up and walked up the stairs with a smile, Eli followed behind Donnie without saying a word.


    When the two reached the office and were left alone, Donnie began to speak.


    "Eli, I really just want to be a businessman!"


    "Are you trying to soften up to me?" Eli misunderstood Donnie''s intention.


    "No, no, no, I''m just telling you my thoughts. If you hadn''t been so aggressive towards me, I wouldn''t have reached this point. I would just expand my business step by step following the business development rules."


    "Haha!" Eliughed as if he had heard some great joke.


    Donnie continued, unconcerned about Eli Johnson''s attitude, "I invited you up here actually just to tell you that you''re on the edge of an abyss. If you can''t pull back from the brink in time, the next step for you is a bottomless pit!"


    Eli Johnson said coldly, "I understand my own situation well enough, no need for you to make rmist statements here!"


    Donnie let out a scornfulugh and said, "Is that so? Although everyone outside says you are a fool, I don''t think so, because a fool couldn''t possibly manage Antic City this well.


    So you should understand, does the general really value you as a person? No, he''s interested in the power in your hands. But when the general sees that you''ll no longer be able to control the power in your hands, do you think he will continue to trust you?"


    Eli Johnson replied coldly, "Don''t worry, I have my own ways!"


    Donnie shook his head and said, "Honesty is a basic virtue, how can the old folks in Antic City trust you to manage the city when you''re someone who can betray his own brother?


    "Don''t rush to contradict me; after speaking about the general, let''s talk about your brother Nucky. You probably understand your brother better than I do. Why hasn''t Nucky taken action against you until now?


    Is it really because of the brotherly affection between you?


    No, it''s because of the position you currently hold, just like the general. If you can''t wield your power in that position, do you think your brother will continue to be indifferent to your actions?"


    Eli Johnson fell into silence at Donnie''s words.


    Seeing this, Donnie continued, "Alright, now we can talk about our matter. If you can lead your men out of here, I will ensure you keep your authority intact in front of the people of Antic City. In addition, I will fully ept the conditions previously set for cooperation with David Jabbar.


    The most important thing is, with my current influence in Antic City,bined with the power you hold, we already have a perfect partnership.


    And don''t forget, even though I have influence, I don''t have my own faction in politics, so you have an advantage with me that belongs only to you!"

 Chapter 74: 70. Response (Please follow, please favorite~)

    "Haha, then from now on, the safety and firefighting of The Fuli Tavern will be relying heavily on your care, Eli!"


    Onlookers outside The Fuli Tavern, expecting a spectacle, instead saw Donnie Block and Eli Johnson walking out shoulder to shoulder, chatting andughing.


    When everyone saw this scene, they all showed astonished expressions.


    One would have expected their meeting to be like thunder striking the earth, with guns drawn and zing, or at the very least a bout of shrill verbal abuse. So, why was the atmosphere so harmonious?


    "Rest assured, with you Donnie running The Fuli Tavern, I believe it will be much better, many times over, than that idiot David. Our public security will definitely take good care of this ce!"


    Eli Johnson also said with a bigugh.


    "Then it''s settled. Eli, you have to bring your brothers over more often!"


    "Certainly will!"


    It wasn''t until Eli Johnson and his men got into their car and left that Donnie returned to the third floor office of The Fuli Tavern.


    "What''s going on? Why has Eli Johnson suddenly be so warm toward you?"


    John, who had been holding back his curiosity, finally couldn''t resist asking Donnie his question.


    Donnie exined, "It''s simple, because now we havemon interests. Don''t worry about whatever conflicts we had before, as long as our interests align, Eli and I can be friends!"


    John seemed to half understand, while Robert seemed to grasp what Donnie meant.


    "It seems like Eli Johnson is having a hard time, both with the rank and file and with Nucky."


    Donnie nodded, then said to John, "Now that The Fuli Tavern is ours, tell Gary Thomas and the others they can shut down the vi business and bring all those clients over to The Fuli Tavern!"


    "Shut down the vi business?"


    Although he had already guessed it, John still felt a tinge of disappointment when he heard Donnie say the vi business was shutting down, after all, it was him who had managed that business.


    Donnie nodded, "That''s right, also, you shouldn''te to The Fuli Tavern anymore. I''ve bought you a house in West District. From now on, you will live there and focus solely on developing West District!"


    This matter had previously been discussed with both Robert and Donnie, telling John to make West District his own by training all the young people there to be skilled croupiers.


    Only if he seeded in this would Donnie truly possess West District.


    "Understood, I know how to handle it!" John had recovered from his initial disappointment and was still wearing a grin on his face.


    Donnie asked, "Do you know what the most vital thing is to manage West District well?"


    "Of course!" John raised his handgun, saying, "It''s this!"


    Robert chuckled secretly at John''s action, while Donnie helplessly said, "This is indeed important, but it''s not the most important. The most important is this!"


    As he spoke, Donnie pulled out the twenty thousand in cash he had just obtained from the office.


    "Buying loyalty?" John asked.


    Donnie shook his head, "That''s not your strong suit. As a skilled croupier, you must have ample cash on hand to solve your clients'' financial problems at the casino. This money is for that purpose. Haven''t you noticed that in Antic City, there are already peoplepeting with us for business?"


    Once an industry shows profit and attracts attention, countless others will join in and follow suit.


    The croupier business is no exception. Seeing the business thrive under Donnie and others, some Antic City casinos have also started imitating them.


    Donnie won''t give up on this industry, at least not for the next couple of years. This industry might seem gray, but in reality, it''s a business with a massive cash flow.


    Dominate the croupier industry in Antic City, and Donnie would have a constant flow of cash.


    Moreover, with this industry, Donnie could also better control the gambling industry in Antic City!


    "Robert will help you set up a financialpany in West District to facilitate managing this money, and what you need to do is recruit a few people who know this business and understand how to legally avoid taxes," Donnie said.


    Although setting up a financialpany increased the risk of being audited by the tax authorities, it was necessary for John. Otherwise, given John''s personality, the money would surely end up as aplicated mess.


    To avoid trouble with the United States tax authorities, Donnie needed to equip John with a qualified ountant!


    So while the task was given to John, Donnie would certainly want to meet those people himself!


    "OK, no problems on my side!"


    Donnie asked with a smile, "Is that so? Does that mean you''re ready to lead your men and set things straight with the other croupiers in Antic City?"


    John nodded as if it were obvious, "Of course, in Antic City, there can only be our outfit!"


    Donnie waved his hand, "You''re wrong to think that way. Antic City can''t have only our family. If you go too far, you''ll be facing a challenge from all the other casinos in Antic City. They have no bottom line. Then, you''d have to stop everything and be on guard against assassinations every day!"


    John scratched his head and said, "So, what do we do?"


    Donnie said, "First, let''s expand this operation. Don''t provoke other stackers. In fact, to a certain extent, you can even help them. Of course, if someone provokes you, you can still take out a few to establish your reputation. In a nutshell, you need to ensure you maintain your leading position in Antic City.


    Eventually, when we truly reach the peak of Antic City, the entire gambling industry should have an organized order!"


    In Donnie''s view, the ideal state of Antic City should be modeled after the development of Macau.


    The most challenging time for Antic City was not now but ten yearster when the United States would progress from The Great Prosperity Era into the Great Depression.


    Especially with the fall of Phdelphia, Antic City would lose its most important customers.


    This would lead to the gradual loss of Antic City''s glory.


    No matter how much Donnie expanded his industries in the future, Antic City would remain his base, so it must not fall into decline!


    "Alright, I''ll do as you say!" John nodded again.


    Donnie smiled, pped his hands on the sofa, and said, "Okay, I''ve already exined all the work that needs to be done recently. Now we just wait for the Commodore or Nucky to pay us a visit!"


    Now that Donnie hadpleted the acquisition of The Fuli Tavern, it actually represented another elevation of his status in Antic City.


    Such a situation, whether it was the Commodore or Nucky, was something neither would want to see.


    Moreover, this would cause them to alter the level of caution they previously held towards him.


    But it was unavoidable. Donnie could not give up his wealth because of their attitudes.


    .


    What Donnie did not anticipate was that before the Commodore or Nucky coulde to his door, he would be visited by a long-lost friend in the evening.


    The short and stocky Olman!


    "It''s really surprising. Who would have thought that in just a few months, Donnie, you would be the owner of The Fuli Tavern?"


    Today, Olman had donned a suit, although he still looked round and chubby.


    Donnieughed and said, "My friend, it''s been a while since west met!"


    Olman shook his head with a smile and said, "It hasn''t been long. It''s just that your life, Donnie, is too colorful, which makes it seem longer!"


    "Perhaps!" Donnie said nomittally, "I imagine you didn''te here just to celebrate my new ownership of The Fuli Tavern, did you?"


    "Haha!" Olman burst intoughter and said, "You''re still as shrewd as ever, Donnie. But before we get down to business, I''m really curious. Why would David Jabbar sell The Fuli Tavern to you?"


    ording to the previous stock transfer contract, David Jabbar indeed sold his shares of The Fuli Tavern to Donnie at a certain price.


    It''s just that the money....


    This was not only Olman''s curiosity; in fact, everyone in Antic City was curious.


    "David Jabbar thought that Antic City no longer suited him, and as it happens, I offered him a price he couldn''t refuse. So, he sold The Fuli Tavern to me!"


    Donnie replied.


    "Everyone in Antic City thinks David Jabbar has been taken away by the FBI, yet under such circumstances, you, Donnie, still managed to meet with David Jabbar!"


    Olman said with an implied meaning.


    Donnieughed and said, "Having many friends always makes things easier!"


    "OK!" Olman looked at Donnie with a sort of awe. Although they hadn''t seen each other muchtely, Olman had been keeping an eye on Donnie Block.


    When Olman first arranged to meet with Donnie at the hotel, David Jabbar sat there, arrogantly nning to take over Donnie''s business for himself.


    And in such a short amount of time, Donnie became the owner of The Fuli Tavern, while the reason David Jabbar sold it to Donnie would likely remain one of Antic City''s biggest mysteries for a long time.


    "Now that you''ve satisfied my curiosity, we can discuss the real matter," Olman said.


    Donnieughed and said, "I knew you came here on a mission. Let me guess who sent you. It shouldn''t be the Commodore; he''s too old and probably doesn''t have much to do with you. I''ve heard that Nucky recently promoted a lot of young people. You must be one of them, right? Besides, many people overlook one thing.


    They''re only focused on the women, the gambling tables, the booze of Antic City, yet they forget about thend, plenty of which is in Nucky''s name.


    So..."


    At this point, Donnie asked Olman, "You''re here on behalf of Nucky to negotiate with me about The Fuli Tavern''s rent or lease term, aren''t you?"


    Olman: "..."

 Chapter 75: 71. Nuckys Methods (Please follow, please favorite~)

    Nucky''s source of wealth was a veryplicated matter, but simply put, it could be divided into these categories.


    First, Nucky collected protection fees from the entirety of Antic City, whether you were a gangster, a government official, or a businessman, you had to submit your protection fees to Nucky.


    It was very understandable for gangsters and businessmen to pay Nucky protection fees, after all, Nucky controlled all the power structures in Antic City, and without his support, their businesses couldn''t continue.


    And even the government officials of Antic City had to submit protection fees to Nucky, which was quite exaggerated, but was indeed the case.


    It was written on the public payroll of both Antic City and Antic County that everyone had to thank Nucky for their jobs, because every job was vetted by Nucky himself.


    Without Nucky''s and his organization''s protection, nobody could get any sort of job security in an administrative position.


    To keep their jobs, workers in Antic City and Antic County had no choice but to take out one percent or seven percent of their sries as kickbacks, to be paid to the local Republican Party... In Antic City, Nucky was the Republican Party.


    With 26 paydays in a year, fees had to be ''paid'' on each payday. Managers in every department were required to record these amounts on a mimeographed form distributed by Nucky, which listed the required payment ratios and spaces for verification.


    Secondly, Nucky also tightly controlled every contract for public construction and for supplying coal, vegetables, milk, and other goods to public institutions. Nucky had to ensure that every transaction had its price, and he and his organization would reap huge profits from them.


    Third, was the now increasingly scarce supply of alcohol. Nucky didn''t brew liquor himself, but whether it was Donnie or LeBron James, Nucky got a cut from every bottle of whiskey they sold.


    Having earned massive amounts of cash, Nucky had a significant expense, which was buying upnd in Antic City.


    For this purpose, Nucky had set up a real estatepany to manage his properties in Antic City, and only those he trusted the most would run this real estate firm.


    The location of The Fuli Tavern was one of Nucky''s properties!


    Prior to this, Nucky had wanted Donnie to eliminate David Jabbar, but after Donnie took over The Fuli Tavern, his influence in Antic City surged instantly, something Nucky didn''t want to see, so he had to step in to curb Donnie''s development.


    And the simplest and most effective way to do that was to make Donnie lose The Fuli Tavern again!


    Olman gave a bitter smile and said, "Donnie, you''re a very, very smart man, but why are you so foolish when ites to this?


    In Antic City, nobody can do without Nucky. If you can show your loyalty to Nucky, I believe that in ten years, you will certainly be the second most powerful man in Antic City."


    "Thank you very much for your advice, my friend!" Donnie poured Olman a ss of whiskey and said with a smile, "I have no intention of being Nucky''s enemy, all I''ve thought about from the beginning is doing business."


    Olman said, "Even if it''s just business, you can take Nucky''s side. That way, your business would run much more smoothly rather than being oppressed with every step you take like now."


    Upon saying this, Olman pondered for a bit before continuing, "My friend, I know you might have a way to keep The Fuli Tavern now, but you don''t think taking back the property is the only method Nucky has, do you?


    Now that Nucky has noticed you and started to make a move, he won''t stop. Even if you find a new ce to run your business, Nucky will cut off the water and electricity there. Without water or electricity, you simply have no way to operate!


    Don''t tell me about the Constitution of the United States or thew in Antic City; these things might confuse Eli, but for Nucky, they are not a problem at all!"


    Donnie just sat there, quietly listening to Olman''s words, and after Olman finished speaking, he said, "My friend, thank you very much for talking to me about this, I believe it is because you consider me your friend that you would discuss these things with me!"


    Olmanughed heartily and said, "I thought you were going to think my previous words were just me advocating for Nucky!"


    Donnie shook his head and replied, "Not at all, Nucky knows he doesn''t need to talk to me about these things."


    Olman stood up, patted Donnie''s shoulder, and said earnestly, "Donnie, since you said I''m your friend, then let me say one more thing, it''s not demeaning to be under Nucky."


    Donnieughed and said, "I know!"


    "Well, I''ve said what I should have and shouldn''t have, now that you know the situation, I''ll take my leave, Nucky said he''ll give you two days to consider."


    After saying that, Olman turned and left, with Donnie personally escorting him to the door of the tavern.


    "Troubles nevere singly, what should be done now?"


    Bruce, who hadn''t appeared before Donnie for a long time, came to him at this moment.


    "I remember Robert telling me that you had benefited from using the rtionship between Nucky and the Brigadier, do you want to continue with that?"


    Donnie shook his head and said, "That approach doesn''t work anymore, ever since we took over The Fuli Tavern, both of them have started taking us seriously. Even if it requires a small part of their attention, they wouldn''t ignore our development any longer!"


    Bruce asked, "Then what are you nning to do? Are you really going to bow down to Nucky?"


    Donnie, sitting in a chair, smiled at Bruce and asked, "Back when we were in the army, did bowing to George Kurle benefit us in any way?"


    Bruce understood Donnie''s meaning and said, "So, how do you n to resolve the current predicament? ording to that fat man just now, Nucky''s influence in Antic City is beyond our current capability to challenge!"


    Donnieughed, "Don''t worry; I already thought of a solution when I set my sight on The Fuli Tavern."


    Bruceughed as well, "Since you say so, I won''t worry anymore!"


    Donnie asked, "Tell me about your observationstely. How has Ponzi been spending his time in Antic City?"


    "Ho! Speaking of this Ponzi, that really perks me up!" Bruce said loudly. "This man is simply Protos reincarnated. I''ve never seen anyone so rich before. He rented a seaside vi in Antic City and throws wine parties every day, not just inviting the rich of Antic City but also some from the middle ss."


    "There''s fine wine, gourmet food, beauties¡ªtruly paradise on earth."


    Donnie didn''t speak, but looked seriously at Bruce, "You know that''s not what I want to know!"


    "Alright!" Bruce gestured helplessly, "This might be useful to you. Although Nucky brought him to Antic City, Ponzi met with the Brigadier General privately many times during his stay, though I don''t know what they discussed!"


    Donnie smiled, "That''s the information I want to know."


    "Speaking of which, why hasn''t Ponzi invited you considering he has invited so many people in Antic City?"


    Bruce joked with Donnie, "After all, you''re now a notable figure in Antic City!"


    Donnie smiled lightly, "Perhaps the other party doesn''t see it the way you do!"


    It was just a joke, but the real reason, in Donnie''s analysis, was probably that Ponzi had heard through some channel that Donnie was about to be targeted by either the Brigadier General or Nucky.


    In his view, he would likely disappear from Antic City soon, so whether or not Ponzi sought him out didn''t matter anymore.


    "By the way, I heard from David Jabbar that the Brigadier General has a young man with impressive skills following him. Additionally, David Jabbar said that when the Brigadier General was ''king'' in Antic City, he always had a master by his side.


    You should pay attention to this!"


    David Jabbar had told Donnie why he sided with the Brigadier General, of course, not of his own volition, but because Donnie had asked out of curiosity about the matter.


    Thus, Donnie also knew about the threat the Brigadier General posed to David Jabbar.


    "What about Ponzi?" Bruce asked.


    "We can leave Ponzi aside for now. I think I already know why Ponzi met with the Brigadier General," Donnie said.


    Who was Ponzi, after all? A notorious swindler in international financial history, his focus was always solely on money matters.


    By that time, Donnie had guessed why Ponzi might have shown up in Antic City¡ªPonzi must have almost run his scam dry in Boston.


    To continue maintaining his scheme, fresh blood was needed.


    As the enforcement of Prohibition took effect across the United States, Antic City''s economy began to soar thanks to the policy.


    Ponzi must have taken note of this and thus aimed to perpetuate his deceit here.


    And his contact with the Brigadier General...


    Most likely was also about this matter.


    Of course, as Donnie saw it, a man like Ponzi was unlikely to pull the Brigadier General into the scam to coborate, and given the Brigadier General''s wealth, there was no need for him to partake in an affair that was bound to blow up.


    So, there was only one possibility.


    The Brigadier General had been deceived by Ponzi''s fa?ade too!


    If that were the case, there might be a way to leverage this!


    As Donnie was pondering this matter, Chris came over and whispered to Donnie.


    "Some people from outside have arrived, saying they''vee from New York, and they''ve brought arge load of alcohol!"


    Only then did Donnie remember something¡ªwhen David Jabbar had trouble, he mentioned that he had ordered a batch of alcohol from the Meyer faction in New York.


    Donnie had thought that with David Jabbar''s departure, Meyer wouldn''t send anyone. Yet, unexpectedly, they had arrived!

 Chapter 76: 72. Ponzis Banquet (Please follow, please favorite~)

    Donnie hadn''t expected that the delivery would be made by the infamous ''Lucky Boy'' of American mob history, Charlie Luciano.


    However, considering the timing, it was reasonable for Charlie to be working as Meyer''s underling after recently establishing a connection with him and handling the delivery of this batch of liquor for him.


    "I was under the impression that David Jabbar was the one we were dealing with. Where is he?"


    Charlie, in his twenties, was not particrly tall or menacing in stature; he was just a regr white male, but his eyes revealed a ruthless nature.


    Charlie knew David Jabbar; previously, David Jabbar had ced an order for a batch of liquor with Meyer and sent one of his underlings with the payment.


    After receiving the payment from David Jabbar, Meyer had sent Charlie to deliver the liquor to David.


    In those days, there was no inte, and even making phone calls was very inconvenient. Moreover, since David Jabbar had been taken away, everyone at The Fuli Tavern was worried about him and no one had thought to inform Meyer.


    If Meyer was unaware, much less Charlie!


    "David has some other matters to deal with, but he has instructed me to ensure that we extend every courtesy to you gentlemen!"


    Since Charlie was asking about David Jabbar''s whereabouts, it meant he had not been informed of David''s situation. Looking at the vehicle loaded with liquor, Donnie naturally decided to ept the entire shipment.


    When Charlie heard that David Jabbar was not present, he showed some dissatisfaction and said with a hint of impatience, "I''ve already brought the goods you wanted, get them unloaded quickly. As for the hospitality, there''s no need for you to bother!"


    Donnie didn''t take Charlie''s attitude to heart and didn''t mention the matter of hosting Charlie further, simply ordering the tavern''s staff to move the liquor from the truck into the tavern''s storeroom.


    "By the way, I''ve heard that there''s a young upstart recently in Antic City named Donnie Block."


    Charlie took a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and then asked.


    Donnie responded with a smile, "Indeed, there is such a young man. May I ask why you suddenly inquire about him?"


    Charlie sneered dismissively, "You don''t need to worry about that, just tell me where I can find this guy!"


    Donnie replied, "Finding Donnie is straightforward. He''s currently at the Ko Bar on the boardwalk!"


    A new tavern had recently opened on the boardwalk, taking the name from Donnie''s previous Block Tavern, and the owner of this tavern was none other than General''s son, Vince McGrady!


    After learning of Donnie''s whereabouts, Charlie did not say anything else; as soon as all the liquor from the truck had been unloaded, he immediately left with his men.


    Watching them walk away, Donnie immediately said to Chris, "Go tell Garrett to be cautious, and also inform Robert to keep an eye on the situation at Block Tavern!"


    Although Donnie had pointed Vince''s Ko Bar out to Charlie, who knew whether Charlie would find out the specifics from Vince when the time came!


    Chris asked, "That kid had a vicious look about him. If he causes trouble at the tavern, what should we do?"


    Donnie replied with an easy smile, "Then there''s nothing to be done. As people of Antic City, it''s only natural we show our guests our warm hospitality!"


    Chris nodded, then said, "What if theye back here?"


    After thinking for a moment, Donnie said, "Call Mobley and let him know that we invite the members of the Ku Klux n to drink here tonight!"


    Chrisughed and said, "Understood!"


    .


    Donnie didn''t take the matter of Charlie to heart; he was more interested in having the opportunity to meet with Nucky.


    Though Nucky would continue to see those who needed his help at the Ritz Hotel every day as usual, Donnie did not want to meet Nucky in that way.


    Soon enough, he got his chance.


    A driver in a Rolls-Royce parked in front of The Fuli Tavern, got out of the car, walked into the tavern, and found Donnie.


    "Mr. Block, good day to you. I am Mr. Ponzi''s chauffeur. Here is an invitation prepared for you by our master. Mr.


    Ponzi has specifically instructed me to hope you could attend a small gathering he is hosting at his home tonight!"


    Donnie was amused by the invitation as Robert had been telling him just that morning how Ponzi had invited many town folks to his evening party but had conspicuously left out Donnie.


    Yet, that very afternoon, Ponzi''s chauffeur had delivered an invitation!


    At that time, Donnie was still unaware that Nucky would also attend the party, but he was indeed curious about Ponzi, so he replied.


    "Alright, tell your boss I will attend on time!"


    "Our master will be very pleased!" the chauffeur replied courteously before leaving The Fuli Tavern.


    That evening, Donnie showed up at Ponzi''s gathering wearing a ck suit.


    Hundreds of feet of canvas and enough fairy lights had adorned Ponzi''s extensive garden like a Christmas tree, with an array of cold dishes on the self-service buffet table, surrounded by a variety of sds around the spiced ham, and golden roasted piglets and turkeys.


    In the hall, there was a bar constructed with real brass poles, stocked with various gins, strong spirits, and the long-forgotten ambrosia.


    Donnie watched the young women flitting through the party, doubting they could distinguish among the varieties of alcohol.


    But it didn''t matter, as long as they were happy.


    Waiters holding cocktails navigated from the bar through the crowd to the garden, the entire garden filled withughter, casual banter, quickly forgotten greetings, and women who were strangers.


    Theposition of the crowds also changed rapidly, expanding with new arrivals, dispersing and gathering, with people beginning to wander about.


    Confident girls moved freely within the rtively stable groups, bing the focus of attention and sparking lively and joyful climaxes before departing with the excitement of victory.


    Under the shifting lights, amidst the ebb and flow of faces, voices, and colors, their figures were like swallows everywhere.


    Suddenly, Donnie spotted Lucy in Gypsy attire, bedecked with jewels, who grabbed a cocktail, downed it with enthusiasm, and then, like Frisk, started dancing alone on the canvas dance floor.


    After a moment''s silence, the band conductor proactively changed the rhythm for her.


    With the band''s apaniment, Lucy danced even more happily with her graceful body.


    "Lucy is here, that means Nucky is also here!"


    Standing in the crowd, Donnie watched everything with amusement when a familiar voice reached him from his side.


    "Donnie, I was regretting not being able to drink at your tavern, and now here we are!"


    "My friend Mobley, does that mean The Fuli Tavern will be somewhat deserted today?"


    Donnie warmly embraced Mobley, the 3K party leader.


    "Haha, I love these pure parties, without any niggers showing up, it''s really pleasing to the eye!"


    Then Mobley introduced the woman beside him to Donnie: "This is my wife, Bessie."


    Donnie kissed the back of Bessie''s hand.


    "Donnie, everyone in Antic City is talking about you now. No one expected you to get The Fuli Tavern from David Jabbar''s hands!"


    Mobley said to Donnie softly.


    Donnieughed, "As long as you offer the right price, I think anything is avable for purchase!"


    "Haha!" Mobleyughed out loud, then lowered his voice, "Indeed, but recently James has been acting a little too arrogant in the North District. What do you make of this?"


    Clearly, LeBron James, after reiming his ''King of the North District'' title, was getting carried away, which made Mobley, who was dedicated to purifying Antic City, somewhat discontented once more!


    Donnieughed, "Isn''t that just how they are? Otherwise, you wouldn''t dislike them, Mobley!"


    Mobley nodded, then said, "So, we''re going to move on LeBron now; you don''t have any objections, Donnie?"


    "Why would I object?" Donnie said indifferently, "Honestly, I wish you''d go and take him out today, but you can''t do that, can you?"


    Mobley asked, "Why not?"


    Donnie nced at the dancing Lucy and said, "It''s already March, and there are less than five months left until the election. I''ve just reced David Jabbar as the owner of The Fuli Tavern, and the general has brought in a Federal Agent to investigate Nucky''s affairs. Each of these issues is giving Nucky a headache.


    If you move against LeBron now, Nucky will surely be furious, which will severely affect the 3K party''s development in Antic City."


    Mobley frowned slightly; he didn''t like this sensation. In the past, he could do as he pleased without fearing anything, but for some reason, ever since he''d known Donnie, the list of things he had to be cautious about had been growing.


    "Alright, my friend, don''t worry. Have you forgotten what I told you before? After the election, you can do whatever you want, and no one will stop you!" Donnie said,ughing.


    "Okay, then!" Mobley nodded reluctantly.


    Donnieughed, "Let''s talk about something cheerful. I''ve got a batch of fine liquoring in, and I''ll have some sent over to you. Make sure you enjoy it!"


    Mobleyughed, "If that''s the case, that would be wonderful. You know, at our gatherings, we always need some whiskey to set the mood!"


    As the two men exchanged pleasantries, Donnie finally saw the host of the evening, Ponzi, and beside him was the king of Antic City, Nucky!


    So, after exchanging words with Mobley, Donnie headed towards the two men!

 Chapter 77: Product Launch Speech!

    Another bookunch, another test.


    Speaking of which, Huang Shan could be considered a seasoned author by now, and should theoretically be able to maintain emotional equilibrium during such times, but in reality, Huang Shan is still extremely nervous!


    So nervous that he didn''t sleep a winkst night after receiving the notification from the editor!


    The book''s preunch performance couldn''t even match that of thest book, "Rebirth in Fragrant Harbor: The Strongest Tycoon." Huang Shan still remembers the 420 followers "The Strongest Tycoon" had when itunched, but this time, the count hasn''t even reached 300....


    That''s quite embarrassing. Assuming the number of initial orders is half that of the followers, it''s estimated to be around 150!


    It''s a flop that couldn''t be more of a flop, which is about the same as the initial order performance of Huang Shan''s very first novel.


    But what''s interesting is that although the first book''s initial orders were the worst, its average orders were the best.


    So, everyone doesn''t need to worry about Huang Shan abandoning the novel or leaving it unfinished¡ªI''ve been through all of this before. It''s just retreading the old path for Huang Shan.


    But this time, what really vexes Huang Shan is that he''s getting older by the day, and in the blink of an eye, he''s already reached the blooming age of 18.


    At this age, it''s inevitable that one will experience some health issues. For Huang Shan, the biggest problem lies in his fingers, wrists, elbows, and shoulders, perhaps due to pushing too hard on the past few books, which has caused significant pain while typing.


    This led to the current situation, where the book is about tounch, and Huang Shan has shockingly found that he has no backlog of chapters!


    Having a backlog of 100,000 words at the time of previous bookunches didn''t even give Huang Shan a sense of security; now with no backlog, Huang Shan''s internal anxiety is off the charts!


    If Huang Shan were to still im he could maintain updates of 20,000+ words per day, then he''d be lying to both himself and everyone else.


    So, the preliminary n is to recover by updating 14,000 words daily. Ifter on he gets into the groove and returns to daily updates of 20,000+ words, it''s not out of the realm of possibility.


    Eachunch in the past came with promises of added updates, but none were ever sessful, so Huang Shan has abandoned such unrealistic notions.


    Tonight, Huang Shan will be writing overnight, hoping to produce five chapters, or 15,000 words. If he really... reaches the threshold in his mind for initial orders and rewards, Huang Shan will sneakily update another chapter!


    Let''s talk about the content of this book. After reading it, the first impression that pops into many friends'' minds is undoubtedly the TV series "Antic Empire."


    Huang Shan has nothing to hide from everyone; he''s seen this TV show too, and indeed, many of the plot points borrow from its content.


    However, after Huang Shan decided to write on this theme, he also purchased some historical books of that era, including the novel "Antic Empire," which the TV show was adapted from... that''s right, both are titled the same.


    So many of the prices mentioned in the book are set ording to the content in these resources, one of the most controversial is the cost necessary to build a top-tier hotel in Antic City, which was also mentioned in the novel "Antic Empire."


    Of course, Huang Shan can''t im that the book''s prices are definitely urate, so he still hopes his friends who are more knowledgeable about that era can offer more feedback!


    Additionally, there are other reference books, such as "The Great Prosperity Era," "The Last Cup," "The Great Gatsby," and the histories of the rise of several major American families, and so on.


    Still, an individual''s capabilities are limited. The resources Huang Shan managed to gather are mainly the books mentioned above, and if anyone has rmendations for good reference books, please suggest them to Huang Shan. Here, Huang Shan would like to thank everyone in advance!


    Finally, as theunch approaches, thanks to the editors Shan Hai and Wu Tong for their support and help¡ªwithout them, this book wouldn''t have been possible to present to everyone!


    Then, thank you to every follower. Huang Shan has always said that you folks are like my patrons. Now, Huang Shan bows deeply to all his patrons!


    Thank you, everyone!


    Atst, once again, a heads-up to everyone: Today, at noon, 12 PM... there might be a slight dy in theunch!


    Huang Shan earnestly requests all patrons to contribute an initial order at 12 PM noon... He is profoundly grateful to you all!


    Friday, noon at 12 PM, we go live!!!!!!!


    Friday, noon at 12 PM, we go live!!!!!!!


    Friday, noon at 12 PM, we go live!!!!!!!


    Important things must be said three times!!!!!!!

 Chapter 78: 73, Italians do not cheat Italians (asking for the first subscription~ first update~)

    "Mr. Block, I''m thrilled to wee you to my party!"


    Upon seeing Donnie approaching, Ponzi warmly came over, opened his arms, and hugged Donnie, showing none of the distance that was there when they first met!


    "Mr. Ponzi''s parties have be the most brilliant sight in Antic City, and it''s an honor for me to attend!"


    After parting ways with Ponzi, Donnie greeted Nucky.


    "Mr. Nucky, I''m truly honored to meet you here!"


    Nucky''s expression remained calm, betraying no hint of his inner emotions, "I thought you would be too busy toe over these days, Donnie!"


    Actually, Nucky''s feelings were quiteplicated at the moment.


    Before this, he had hoped that Donnie would take out David Jabbar, effectively cutting off the Brigadier''s arm. But when Donnie really made David Jabbar disappear and took over The Fuli Tavern, Nucky had to start taking Donnie''s strength seriously.


    Donnie replied with an easy smile, "I just picked up a bargain. The operations at The Fuli Tavern are all on track, and I only need to follow the previous business strategies!"


    Nucky chuckled and said, "Then I wish you a fortune as bright as brocade, Donnie!"


    "Hopefully, as Mr. Nucky says!"


    Donnieughed.


    Just as Donnie was thinking about how to have a one-on-one talk with Nucky, Ponzi suddenly said to Donnie, "Mr. Block, there is something I would like to discuss with you in private. Do you have time, Mr. Block?"


    "Of course!" Donnie considered briefly before he readily epted Ponzi''s invitation.


    Seeing Donnie agree, Ponzi immediately apologized to Nucky and then led Donnie away. As Donnie turned, he nced at Lucy, who was walking toward Nucky. Lucy nodded subtly, understanding Donnie''s intent.


    Inside Ponzi''s vi, whether in the estate or the vi itself, people could be seen everywhere. Donnie even saw a violinist sitting in the hallway, ying an unknown piece.


    The two men made their way to Ponzi''s study.


    "Mr. Block, please take a seat!"


    Ponzi poured a ss of ambrosia for Donnie and then smiled, "First of all, I must congratte you on acquiring the best tavern in Antic City, The Fuli Tavern!"


    After speaking, he raised his ss to Donnie.


    Donnie also lifted his ss in response and then said, "Mr. Ponzi invited me here; it seems you have something to say, right?"


    Ponziughed heartily and said, "Mr. Block, to be a big shot in Antic City so quickly, you are indeed clever. However, I''ve heard that you''ve been having a rough time recently. Does Nucky want to take back the location of The Fuli Tavern?"


    Donnie neither confirmed nor denied, saying, "Mr. Nucky and I are very good friends!"


    Ponzi didn''t mind Donnie''s attitude and justughed, "Donnie, may I call you that?"


    "Of course, my friends all call me that!" Donnieughed.


    "Ever since I arrived in Antic City, I''ve been paying attention to you; from what I''ve observed these past few days, I find you to be very intelligent and clever. I believe that given enough time, within ten years, you could be the king of Antic City!"


    Ponzi ttered Donnie profusely.


    Donnie calmly watched Ponzi, knowing that when someone like this con man starts to offer limitless adtion, you should be wary¡ªit means they''re aiming for your wallet!


    "I just want to be a businessman, that''s all!"


    Ponzi smiled and said, "But ording to my observations, you will have a very difficult time ahead. Regarding Nucky¡ªalthough you don''t want to admit it, we all know the details. More importantly, not only has Nucky be wary of you, but even the Brigadier is very dissatisfied with your actions.


    Facing the encirclement of the two major powers in Antic City, I am worried that you won''t have enough time to grow!"


    "Does Mr. Ponzi have a solution?" Donnie asked, following Ponzi''s words.


    Seeing Donnie showing a hint of worry, Ponzi felt even happier inside, but he didn''t show it on his face, just smiling and saying.


    "Actually, facing the current situation, you haven''t realized the root problem!"


    Donnie, increasingly eager to know, asked, "What is the problem, then?"


    Ponzi, enjoying the role of mentor, said, "It''s simple, that is, before you have enough financial strength, you have acquired a business without a matching foundation. Such a situation will turn you into amb among African lions."


    "But I am not a bank, I can''t print money, and there''s no way to quickly acquire enough wealth!" Donnie said with concern.


    Ponzi smiled mysteriously and said, "That is exactly why I invited you over today!"


    Donnie realized, "So, Mr. Ponzi, you are prepared to ept my funding?"


    Ponzi nodded and said, "That''s right, I''ve traveled all over the United States, and the thing I most hope to do is to help those young people with potential, and Donnie, you are the most promising young man I''ve found in Antic City."


    "If you entrust your funds to me to manage, I can assure you that within one month''s time, I will at least quadruple your assets!"


    "With that money, I think you will be able to withstand the pressure from Nucky and the Commodore!"


    Donnie first showed a look of surprise, but then his expression suddenly changed, and he said, "That''s not right!"


    Ponzi, who had thought Donnie was hooked, was slightly taken aback and asked, "What''s not right?"


    Donnie sat there, carefully studying Ponzi, and asked, "We''re strangers to each other, there are plenty of people in Antic City wealthier than me, and what''s more important is that Nucky is on good terms with you. Why would you want to support me?"


    Hearing Donnie ask this, Ponzi breathed a slight sigh of relief internally. His scam in Boston was bing increasingly unsustainable, to the point that many people were now doubting it. Therefore, Ponzi had to chart a new path.


    It just so happened that while he was in Washington for an inspection, he met Nucky at an evening party. After learning about the current situation in Antic City, Ponzi immediately decided toe here.


    Now Donnie was his best target for deception. Ponzi had thought the other party had discovered something... thankfully not!


    "Donnie, have you forgotten what I just said? I am someone who really enjoys helping young people, because I was young once too, and I know the desire and difficulties a young person faces when wanting to seed. At this stage of my life, I''m actually no longer interested in mere wealth, but helping a young person eager to gain wealth, that''s what would give me a greater sense of aplishment."


    Saying this, Ponzi looked at Donnie somewhat disappointedly and continued.


    "But your doubtful attitude now makes me very disappointed, especially deep down. Since Mr. Block, you have doubts, then let''s pretend we said nothing tonight; you can go out and enjoy the fine wine and food of this evening''s banquet!"


    Said Ponzi, already rising, giving the impression that he was ready to show the guest out.


    Donnie hurriedly said, "Mr. Ponzi, please don''t be angry. It was my overthinking just now. I apologize to you sincerely here!"


    Ponzi, who had already stood up, sat back down and sighed, "Actually, I understand your concerns, Donnie, but you should understand, Italians do not deceive Italians. We are both from Italy, and the blood of Italians flows in our veins alike."


    "I just want to help a promising young man of Italian descent!"


    Donnie apologized earnestly, "This was my mistake, and I once again offer my sincere apologies to you, Ponzi!"


    "Well, I ept your apology," Ponzi nodded, graciously replying.


    Donnie, testing the waters, asked, "What about the investment you mentioned just now?"


    "I am still willing to help you!" Ponzi said seriously.


    Donnie thanked him, "I really appreciate your generosity, Mr. Ponzi. Not to conceal the truth from you, I do indeed have some cash on hand, but after buying The Fuli Tavern, there isn''t much left, and I still need to keep my three taverns running, so I can''t take out much at once!"


    Ponzi''s expression changed and he said, "You still doubt me?"


    "Of course not!" Donnie immediately waved his hand, "Rest assured, Mr. Ponzi, I will gather a certain amount of funds in the shortest possible time!"


    Ponzi then smiled and said, "Alright, how long will you need?"


    Donnie pondered for a moment, "Give me three days; three days'' time. After that, I will invest the money in yourpany!"


    "Alright!"


    Ponzi nodded.


    After they finished discussing the matter, there was nothing else, and they quickly left the vi rented by Ponzi.


    When the two came out, someone immediately approached Ponzi.


    Seeing this, Donnie left as well.


    Finding Nucky was not difficult because wherever Nucky appeared, he was always the center of attention, and now was no exception.


    In the middle of the estate, Lucy was arm in arm with Nucky, and around them were many of Antic City''s celebrities chatting with them.


    Every now and then, a burst of brightughter exploded among the crowd.


    Donnie took a cocktail from the tray of a waiter and walked in Nucky''s direction.


    The chat with Ponzi was just an appetizer for Donnie that evening; the main course was Nucky.


    "Look who''s here! Isn''t that the new owner of The Fuli Tavern, the rising celebrity of our Antic City, Mr. Donnie Block!"


    Nucky burst into loudughter when he saw Donnie approaching.


    The people previously surrounding Nucky looked at Donnie withplex expressions. They had all received information through different channels that Nucky was nning to take back thend of The Fuli Tavern.


    Now, Donnie''s presence here was surely for that matter!

 Chapter 79: 74銆�onnie Blocks Trump Card (Second Update~)

    Facing Nucky and facing Ponzi invokes twopletely different mindsets.


    When facing Ponzi, Donnie is in the position of being deceived, all he has to do is maintain his own state.


    But facing Nucky is different, Donnie needs to be fully alert.


    "Who in the whole Antic City doesn''t know that you, Nucky, have the final say in bing the owner of The Fuli Tavern!"


    Donnie didn''t take Nucky''s sarcasm to heart.


    Nuckyughed out loud, "Is that so? Howe I don''t know about this?"


    Although Nucky was mocking Donnie, he understood that Donnie''s presence here at this moment surely meant he had something to discuss with him alone.


    Actually, Nucky himself had something to discuss with Donnie in private; his previous dys in meeting with Donnie were merely to make Donnie more anxious.


    So, soon, Donnie and Nucky found themselves in a secluded corner within Ponzi''s estate.


    "Let me guess, has David Jabbar already be fertilizer on a farm in Elwood Vige?"


    When it was just Donnie and Nucky, Nucky no longer hid anything and directly asked the question.


    "Of course not!" Donnie immediately denied this, which was in fact the reason he had spared David Jabbar''s life; if David were dead at this moment, it would mean that Donnie''s actions had exceeded what Nucky could tolerate, no matter how much control Donnie had over the alcohol supply of Antic City.


    Nucky wouldn''t keep Donnie around.


    Simply put: Nucky could kill David Jabbar, but Donnie couldn''t!


    "David Jabbar is already on a ship heading to Canada, and I think he''ll be found in a Canadian city in a few days!"


    Nucky nodded slightly, not saying another word about David Jabbar, instead he said, "Let''s see what kind of chips you hold in your hands right now.


    Thergest bootlegging supplier in Antic City, at least half the votes in the West District should be in your hands after that stacking boy''s job, the Mobley from the Ku Klux n, Elena from the WCTU, the armed forces in Elwood Vige, and your reputation in Antic City.


    These are your ace in the hole for your crazy expansion, aren''t they?"


    Donnie shook his head, "Mr. Nucky, you are mistaken!"


    Nucky frowned; he didn''t like Donnie saying he was wrong at this moment.


    "The ace in the hole for my crazy expansion, actually alles from Mr. Nucky''s power. You appointed me as the alcohol supplier of Antic City and gave me half of the city''s share.


    As for the stacking boy''s job, I guess with just a word from Mr. Nucky, none of the casinos in Antic City would allow those people in.


    Mobley from the KKK, Elena from the WCTU, they actually value my rtionship with you more, so they maintain a close rtionship with me.


    If the news of a fall-out between me and Mr. Nucky spreads in Antic City one day, they will definitely leave me too.


    The only thing I truly have in my grasp is probably the armed forces in Elwood Vige, but even that force was built because of the support of Mr. Nucky for my business in Antic City!"


    Nucky''s furrowed brow slowly smoothed out.


    "So, you are prepared to pledge allegiance to me?"


    If Donnie was willing to pledge loyalty to him, Nucky thought he could forgive everything Donnie had done in Antic City.


    "If that''s the case, then, Mr. Nucky, you will lose a lot!"


    Although Donnie didn''t directly answer Nucky''s question, his meaning was clear.


    Nucky said coldly, "So, you''re prepared to give up everything you have in Antic City?"


    "Of course not!" Donnie shook his head directly: "If someone tries to smash everything I have in Antic City, then I will mobilize all the power I can, and if ites to it, everyone will go down together!"


    Nucky''s expressionpletely chilled; he hadn''t expected that even now Donnie would remain so stubborn.


    "You can''t believe I am actually afraid of those people from Elwood Vige, can you?"


    By this point, the armed forces of Elwood Vige were what Nucky truly feared about Donnie.


    "Of course not, I''m not that naive!" Donnie said. "I believe that if Mr. Nucky needs, you can mobilize the National Guard to take care of Elwood Vige at any time!"


    Having said this, Donnie knew it was time to reveal his real trump card.


    "Mr. Nucky, actually, I have a better proposal, and if you agree, it will definitely be the best solution for both of us."


    Nucky, nomittal, said, "Go ahead!"


    Donnie said, "Now everyone thinks that Mr. Nucky''s biggest problemes from Antic City, from the Brigadier."


    "Isn''t it?" Nucky responded.


    Donnie shook his head, "Of course not. The real concern for you, Mr. Nucky, is actually the highway from Antic City to Phdelphia!"


    Nucky''s eyes lit up immediately.


    "At best, the Brigadier is just causing you some trouble, Mr. Nucky, but he has never been your match!" Donnie continued.


    Appreciation filled Nucky''s eyes; he had never expected Donnie to understand him so well.


    Yes, although the Brigadier caused some trouble in Antic City, Nucky really viewed these issues as solvable.


    What truly concerned Nucky during this period was the highway construction between Antic City and Phdelphia!


    Although Phdelphia is less than a hundred kilometers from Antic City, Phdelphia belongs to the state of Pennsylvania, and the construction of a highway between the two states requires the support of the National Government.


    Moreover, an important point is that a lot of thend where this highway is to be built belongs to Nucky; should the construction go ahead, the value of Nucky''snd would at the very least quadruple.


    Added to that, Nucky also had control over Antic City''s municipal engineering.


    It could be said that if this highway were approved for construction, Nucky''s wealth could increase several times over instantly!


    But it was precisely because Donnie was able to guess what was on his mind so urately that Nucky became even more wary of him.


    "Nobody in Antic City knows about this yet; how did you figure it out?" Nucky did not hide his thoughts from Donnie.


    Donnie smiled and said, "Although no one in Antic City is aware, some people in Washington already know!"


    Nucky''s expression became more serious. The people in Washington who knew this were influential figures; how could Donnie possibly be in contact with them, and why would they tell Donnie?


    Of course, no one had told Donnie, but who let Donnie be so familiar with the history of Antic City.


    "You have connections in Washington?" Nucky inquired.


    Donnie, neither confirming nor denying, said, "Mr. Nucky, you know I came from the battlefield. Perhaps I met some important figures there, who knows?"


    Nucky shook his head, "That''s impossible. If you had met influential people on the battlefield, George wouldn''t have treated you like that!"


    Donnie gave a wry smile, "Though I''m reluctant to say it, it''s the truth. When a person has no utility, it doesn''t matter who they know. But when a person is of value, then anyone might want to make their acquaintance!"


    Nucky still found it hard to believe what Donnie was saying, but then Donnie did know about the matter, which puzzled Nucky.


    "Are you nning to use this information as a bargaining chip in negotiations with me?" Nucky asked.


    "Of course not!" Donnie shook his head. "The real condition is, I can help you, Mr. Nucky, with your ns. The next President of the United States will sign their name to this project!"


    "Ha!"


    Nucky almost thought he''d heard an utterly ridiculous joke, "You say you can influence the President''s decisions, and don''t forget, as of now, no one knows who the next President will be!"


    Donnie said with a smile, "This isn''t hard to guess. The Democratic Party is already a mess. Wilson has been seriously ill since his return from France, and his reputation at home is dwindling. Clearly, the American public has abandoned Wilson.


    The other Democratic candidates, General Leonard Wood, is too headstrong and difficult to control. The Democratic bigwigs, having suffered with Wilson, won''t make themselves ufortable again.


    Herbert Hoover, who served as head of the Food Administration during the war, though famous for solving the Belgian crisis, is a novice in elections. Moreover, he''s yet to make it clear if he belongs to the Democratic Party or Republican Party. Unless the Democratic bigwigs'' heads were blown by German cannons, they wouldn''t nominate him.


    Then there''s Senator Hiram Johnson¡ªstubborn as a mule; he''s unlikely to be the Democratic nominee.


    So, eliminating these individuals leaves only one man, Governor James Cox of Ohio, the choice of the Democratic Party.


    But how much chance does such a figure have in this race? Probably only God knows.


    On the other hand, right from the start, the Republicans have been set on their candidate for the election¡ªWarren Gamaliel Harding.


    I believe the ultimate victor of this American election will definitely be him!"


    As Nucky watched Donnie speak so confidently before him, he couldn''t help but wonder to himself: Is this really just the owner of a tavern in Antic City?


    Shouldn''t he be an aide to a presidential candidate?


    "Even if Harding bes the new President of the United States, he might not agree to the construction of this railroad; after all, other Republicans might want to build highways in their own cities!"


    Donnie smiled and said, "That''s just the bargaining chip I mentioned for cooperating with you, Mr. Nucky. As luck would have it, a friend in Washington told me something about Harding!"

 Chapter 80 : 75. Miss America (3rd Update~)

    By this time, Donnie had already left Ponzi''s banquet with Nucky and the two had arrived at Nucky''s study in the Ritz Hotel.


    A rare seriousness appeared on Nucky''s face.


    Regarding thepetition for the presidency, Nucky took it very seriously, after all, thest "King" of Antic City was sent to prison by Wilson, who was about to be the former President.


    Although Nucky didn''t think he would be the next "King," he indeed needed the President''s help.


    The things Donnie had just said at Ponzi''s banquet surprised Nucky. The matter Donnie knew about Harding must be a scandal capable of affecting Harding''s campaign.


    Only then could Nucky make an issue of it.


    A scandal doesn''t necessarily mean having leverage over someone; it might also allow one to be a good friend of that person.


    It all depends on how one ys their cards.


    "Alright, Donnie, can you now show me what this surprise of yours is?"


    Donnie, sitting on the study''s sofa with a calm demeanor, said, "Mr. Nucky, how about we discuss our deal first?"


    Now that Donnie had ced his chips on the table, it was naturally time to discuss terms!


    Nucky looked deeply at Donnie. He wasn''t surprised by Donnie''s request; it would have surprised Nucky if he hadn''t made any demands at this time.


    "I can keep your Fuli Tavern in business, and even bring you into my team. But all this is predicated on the attractiveness of your chip!"


    Nucky no longer fancied keeping Donnie under his thumb, if he couldn''t be a subordinate, then a partner he must be!


    It was an inevitable concession, given the things Donnie had said, particrly those pertaining to Washington.


    If Donnie had no connections in Washington, it would have been impossible for him to know about it.


    This became the part Nucky was wary of.


    Donnie, however, was not satisfied with Nucky''s offer and continued with a smile, "There''s another matter I would like to coborate on with you, Mr. Nucky."


    "Don''t push your luck!" Nucky said with some dissatisfaction, thinking Donnie was asking for too much.


    Donnie gestured with his hand, "Mr. Nucky, you misunderstand. What I''m talking about is something that is very beneficial for both of us, capable of enhancing your influence and wealth!"


    Nucky''s curiosity was piqued when he heard Donnie speak this way, as the surprises from Donnie today were countless.


    "What is it?"


    "It''s about elevating the influence of Antic City!"


    "Tell me more!"


    "With women now having the right to vote, the innate nature of American women is being liberated; no longer confined to home as before. And these women are increasingly focusing on their attire, just look at Hollywood actresses, every issue of fashion magazines critique their outfits. And their style influences the entire American female wardrobe.


    I can assert that in the future, women will be an important consumer group, perhaps even outspending men. If we can dominate this market, we will bring to Antic City an industrial chain beyond tourism, gambling, and prostitution.


    Mr. Nucky, don''t you think this is immensely beneficial for both you and Antic City?"


    Nucky frowned deeply, then suddenly his face cleared, "You''re talking about beauty pageants?"


    As everyone knows, the Miss America pageant started this year, but in reality, Antic City had conducted its own beauty pageant the previous year, though it did not cause much sensation!


    Donnie nodded, "Correct, beauty pageants. And I''m talking about a nationwide pageant, where we increase the prize money, the exposure, and make thesepeting girls wholeheartedly believe that they are the most beautiful women in America.


    If we promote this event well enough, big enough, I believe it will be a national sensation, and by then, all the rich folks from around the country wille to Antic City.


    If we can keep these people here, then Antic City will no longer just be a yground for steelworkers from Phdelphia and New York. It will be a yground for the rich across America!"


    Donnie''sst statement had caught Nucky''s interest.


    Though Antic City was teeming with tourists, most of them were blue-cor workers from Phdelphia and New York, each spending no more than forty or fifty US dors in Antic City.


    But if the wealthy from across America were toe, their spending could soar to tens of thousands of dors, as was evident from Ponzi!


    "You want to be in charge of this event?" Nucky asked Donnie.


    Since Donnie had brought it up, Nucky naturally presumed Donnie wanted to take full responsibility for the event.


    "If Mr. Nucky agrees, I would be extremely honored!" Indeed, just as Nucky thought, Donnie wanted to be in charge of this matter, but of course, he wouldn''t inform Nucky of the deeperyers of his n!


    After a brief consideration, Nucky agreed to Donnie''s request.


    This event might be Donnie''s responsibility, but much would need to be managed by Nucky himself. Just getting the word out about the pageant to make it nationally known and watched required his influence.


    "Agreed!"


    Donnie smiled and said, "Thank you, Mr. Nucky, I assure you, you won''t be disappointed!"


    "Alright, now you can tell me what you know about Harding. If it can indeed serve as a bargaining chip, then our partnership will be sessful."


    Nucky hadn''t forgotten the scandal about Harding mentioned by Donnie earlier; what was more important was that he could gauge through this the extent of Donnie''s Washington connections!


    "Mr. Harding is a handsome gentleman, and his wife is... So, it''s inevitable that Mr. Harding would have his affairs, and as it happens, there is a youngdy who bore a handsome son for Mr. Harding."


    At this point, Donnie looked at Nucky, who waspletely shocked, and smiled, "I wonder if this information will allow you to secure the permit to build the highway between Antic City and Phdelphia after Harding''s election?"


    Nucky, staring nkly at Donnie, said, "If this information is true, you will be my best friend!"


    "I hope so!" Donnie smiled.


    After the two had finished discussing their business, Nucky''s refined smile resurfaced on his face.


    "Donnie, you are a very smart man, so I hope you do not do anything unwise. Otherwise, I would have to sadly say goodbye to our partnership!"


    Donnie nodded, "Of course, and I''ve said long ago that my greatest wish is to be a sessful businessman!"


    "That''s the best!"


    Now that the two had temporarily resolved their differences, Donnie also asked about another doubt in his heart.


    "Mr. Nucky, was it your idea for Ponzi to find me?"


    Ponzi''s haughty then humble attitude left Donnie uncertain¡ªwas it because the man discovered Donnie''s increased wealth in Antic City, or was it a directive from Nucky?


    Nucky chuckled but did not provide a clear answer, "Ponzi and I are just friends who met at a banquet!"


    However, this answer was sufficient for Donnie.


    Next, the two discussed the details of the Miss America pageant, and finally agreed that Donnie would take care of all matters within Antic City, while Nucky would ensure the entire United States knew about the event!


    "Nucky!"


    Just as they were ready to conclude, Lucy walked in with a look of dissatisfaction.


    "Are you two nning to stay up all night here?"


    "Haha!" Nucky stood up and beckoned Lucy into his arms, "Of course not, we were just about to finish our conversation for today!"


    Donnie politely addressed her, "Miss Lucy!"


    Lucy nodded haughtily.


    "I won''t bother you two any longer; I shall take my leave first!"


    Donnie stood up and left Nucky''s study.


    "You''ve always disliked Donnie, so why were you chatting so happily with him today?" Lucy asked, feigning indifference.


    .


    Donnie returned to The Fuli Tavern, and there Robert, John, and Bruce were waiting for him, while the members of the Ku Klux n who hade for drinks had long since left.


    More importantly, in his office, Donnie didn''t see "Lucky Boy" Charlie Luciano, who had been tied up like a rice dumpling.


    Even bound tightly, Charlie red at Donnie with anger.


    Donnie, however, didn''t pay him any attention but instead asked Robert, "Where did you catch him?"


    Robertughed, "At the Block Tavern. The man is truly foolish; after leaving your ce, he indeed went straight to the Korle Bar, and only after he beat up Vince did he realize he was in the wrong ce and came here to the Block Tavern, fuming."


    Donnie said helplessly, "So you''re saying that tonight we hosted the n members here for nothing?"


    "Donnie Block, you despicable creature, Meyer won''t let you off the hook!"


    Donnie nced at the future New York gannd boss without patience and waved dismissively, telling Chris, "Take him to the warehouse. I don''t have time for him right now!"


    After Chris dragged Charlie Luciano away, Donnie shared with everyone the events at Ponzi''s banquet and his negotiations with Nucky that evening.


    John said excitedly, "Does this mean our problem is now solved?"


    Donnie shook his head, "We can''t be certain yet. I have to wait until I meet that friend tomorrow before we can be sure."


    Robert asked, "What about the Miss America pageant?"


    Donnie looked at everyone, smiled somewhat helplessly, and said, "I''ll take charge of that matter. By the way, Robert, how did your screening of Dwight go? Can we trust him?"


    Robert replied, "He has passed my preliminary screening. I think we can trust him now, but we still can''t tell him the core details."


    Donnie nodded and said, "Have hime to me tomorrow. I''ll need him in theing days."


    "Alright!"


    "Another thing, in the next few days, whether through acquisition or by starting our own, I need to own a newspaper of our own as soon as possible!" Donnie stated earnestly.


    Just as at Nucky''s, Donnie had held back some information; he was definitely going to run the pageant, but that was not his goal.


    Using the pageant as a lever to gain an influential newspaper was what mattered most!


    "A newspaper?"


    Hearing Donnie''s request, even Robert was surprised.


    These men were either retired from the battlefield or hade out of Elwood Vige; they were skilled in assassination and closebat, but maneuvering the pen?


    Donnie confirmed, "Yes, you don''t need to worry about the rest. I will handle the specifics!"

 Chapter 81 : 76. Chaotic West District (Fourth update~)

    ```


    Donnie and Nucky were highly efficient in their dealings.


    By the next day, an introduction to the beauty pageant had already appeared in the local newspapers of Antic City.


    The news immediately sparked widespread discussion in Antic City.


    The girls of Antic City began preparing for the event.


    "Are you going to co-host a Miss America pageant with Nucky?"


    While Donnie was having breakfast, Margaret looked at the "Antic Forum" in her hands with a surprised expression on her face, and the milk she was about to drink was ced back on the table!


    Donnie cut a sandwich and nodded, "That''s right, such an event can make Antic City attract more attention from other cities across the United States!"


    Margaret nodded slightly and cautiously asked Donnie, "The announcement says girls from 18 to 24 years old can participate?"


    Seeing Margaret''s expression, Donnieughed and said, "If you want to participate, I can rx the entry requirements a bit for you!"


    "No, no, no!" Margaret hurriedly shook her head, for she could never engage in something like unting herself in a swimsuit in front of arge audience.


    As mentioned before, Antic City had organized a beauty contestst year, but that was an internal affair of Antic City and did not involve cities outside of Antic City.


    There was a swimsuit disy segment inst year''s beauty contest.


    "I''m just worried that a national pageant like this might arouse some organizations'' dissatisfaction?"


    Margaret voiced her concerns.


    American society was not as open back then, and even on the beaches of Antic City, women wearing one-piece swimsuits would receive protests from moralists if they were without the cover of a skirt.


    It was entirely different fromter times where the swimsuit was barely visible between protrusions of flesh.


    Evenst year when Antic City held the beauty contest, there were groups protesting and marching!


    Donnie pondered for a moment and said, "That is indeed a problem, but it''s not without a solution!"


    "Oh!" Hearing that Donnie had a solution, Margaret didn''t say anything further.


    After breakfast, Donnie went to Isaiah''s tavern, which had now stopped serving the public and had be John''s base in the West District.


    When Donnie arrived, John had not yet risen.


    "Should I go wake him?" Magichi asked Donnie.


    To help John better control the West District, Donnie had assigned Magichi to John''s side.


    "What do you think?"


    Donnie red at Magichi.


    Magichi chuckled and went to wake up John, who was still sleeping.


    Soon after, John emerged with his hair in a disheveled mess, yawning profusely.


    "Why have youe so early?"


    Donnie sat there and said, "Anyter, and I could have joined you for lunch!"


    "Now that''s a normal time!" John grabbed a bottle of beer from the bar, took a few big gulps, and considered it his breakfast.


    "How''s the situation with the chip handlers in the West District?"


    This was the reason Donnie hade to see John; chip handlers were an important means for Donnie to control the West District and needed constant attention.


    "We''vee to an agreement with a few other casinos that our people can enter their premises. However, these are the smaller casinos in the West District; therger ones manage their own affairs, and for now, we haven''t found a very good way in yet!"


    There were over three hundred establishments involved in the gaming industry in Antic City, and integrating them all in a short period was nearly impossible!


    Donnie didn''t have such expectations; as long as John could integrate the casinos of the West District properly, that would suffice.


    "You don''t need to rush about the casinos outside of the West District. If you canplete the integration of the West District''s casinos by the end of the year, that would be enough."


    That is what Donnie thought and said.


    Just as John was about to reply to Donnie, a woman in pajamas with a voluptuous figure and barely concealed assets walked out in a daze.


    Seeing her, John didn''t care and pulled out a US dor from his pocket and handed it to her. She then indifferently left the tavern to return to the neighboring boarding house.


    In Antic City, it had almost be the norm for a tavern to have a boarding house next door.


    "Don''t worry about that, I have ways of dealing with people who don''t listen!"


    Donnie warned, "These casinos all pay Nucky, and strictly speaking, they are under Nucky''s protection. Our rtionship with Nucky has just eased, so we don''t want this issue to cause any friction with Nucky!"


    John nodded and said, "Since you already have a n, I will follow it as instructed!"


    ```


    Donnie chuckled and said, "Don''t worry, this won''tst very long!"


    As his words fell, the tavern door was pushed open, and Eli Johnson walked in, dressed in a brown uniform.


    "Donnie, so this is your stronghold in the West District?"


    Eli sat down next to Donnie without any pretense and asked Magichi to get him a bottle of beer.


    "Donnie, you''re really stingy, inviting me out like this. We should have gone to The Fuli Tavern. What''s so good about this ce? No, the entire West District doesn''t have anything interesting to me."


    Eliined about the West District. As the second poorest area in Antic City, coupled with its diverse poption, it indeed couldn''t offer many benefits for Eli.


    "My dear Eli, what if I told you that this ce is going to be a huge treasure, what would you think?"


    Donnie asked Eli.


    Eli exaggeratedly said, "Then I''d definitely think you''ve gone mad!"


    Donnieughed heartily and suggested, "If you don''t mind, change into some other clothes ande take a walk with me. I''ll show you the immense wealth that lies hidden here!"


    Then Eli seriously sized up Donnie. Quite significantly, with David Jabbar''s departure, the rtionship between Eli Johnson and Donnie had transformed from initial adversaries to now the closest partners.


    This indeed confirmed the saying: There are no eternal enemies in the world, only eternal interests!


    As his now closest partner, Eli couldn''t take lightly what Donnie had said, especially since this morning he found out that his brother had already entered into a partnership with Donnie, which surprised Eli even more.


    Before this, Eli was even nning to use Donnie''s rtionship with Nucky to mediate, and then to reassert his own importance!


    "Changing clothes is no problem, but you have to tell me what''s going on, alright?"


    Eli asked curiously.


    Donnie smiled and said, "Come out with me, and you''ll know."


    Seeing that Donnie didn''t want to divulge more, Eli had no choice but to take off his uniform right there and then, following Donnie out of the tavern.


    In Antic City, both Donnie and Eli could be considered well-known figures, but this didn''t mean everyone recognized them¡ªit wasn''t the age of the inte, after all.


    So when the two men walked on the streets, nobody paid attention to them.


    The residents of the West District also mistook them for ordinary tourists.


    Walking down the street, Donnie spoke to a curious-faced Eli Johnson, "You could look around this main street and count how many taverns there are, how many lodging apartments, how many gambling dens, and just how good their businesses are!"


    Though curious, Eli proceeded to survey the street as Donnie had suggested.


    "On Pennsylvania Avenue alone, there are more than twenty lodging apartments, a dozen taverns, and gambling dens. Do they even have that many customers?"


    When they had finished walking down the main street of the West District, Pennsylvania Avenue, Eli couldn''t help eximing in surprise.


    Donnie replied casually with a smile, "The show isn''t over yet. What you''ve seen is just one street; there''s the whole West District to consider. As for the state of their business?


    Look, isn''t that being disyed right now?"


    At that moment, they saw two rival taverns on the corner erupt in conflict, with four or five men from each side, under the watchful eyes of street bystanders, beginning to beat each other.


    The fight came on suddenly, but also ended just as abruptly.


    With individuals from both sides lying injured and bleeding, the battle drew to a close.


    Donnie asked Eli, "What do you think?"


    "Think about what?" Eli, indifferent to such scenes, said, "Isn''t this kind of thing normal in Antic City, especially in the West District?"


    Donnieughed out loud and said, "That''s the problem. When you think it''s normal, then it''s already not normal!"


    Eli shook his head, not understanding Donnie''s point, "Donnie, just tell me straight what you''re thinking. This guesswork is really quite troublesome!"


    Donnie had long been prepared for Eli''s foolishness, but even with such apparent hints, he still didn''t understand, which was truly exasperating!


    "Eli, haven''t you always wanted to prove yourself, to show that even without Nucky''s help, you can still make something of yourself? Don''t you want people in Antic City to talk about Eli Johnson, not just as Nucky''s brother?


    If you want to achieve all that, then the West District is the chip you can use to make it all happen!"


    "This wretched ce?"


    Eli looked around and said, "How can this cepare to the Boardwalk?"


    Donnie, speechless, said, "The Boardwalk is certainly a good ce. But do you really think Nucky would let you have your way there?"


    This time, Eli was silent.


    Donnie said to him, "Let''s go for another walk. I''ll exin everything to you today, as starting tomorrow, I''ll be busy with the Miss America event!"


    Controlling the West District firmly in his hands, Eli, the fool, was indeed a very good option!

 Chapter 83: 78. Thieves Look Down on Swindlers (First Update, Please Subscribe~)

    Sean Be, in histe twenties, descended from ancestors who emigrated from Germany to Phdelphia in the United States when it was still the nation''s capital.


    Despite three generations of development, Sean''s family was essentially still an ordinary working-ss household in Phdelphia.


    By the time it came to Sean''s father''s generation, the family had moved to Antic City, where Sean''s father opened a pharmacy. By Sean''s generation, he had be a policeman in Antic City.


    However, in his early years, Sean was straightforward and did not mingle with the upper sses; even his girlfriend broke up with him over his ie issues.


    It was for such reasons that Sean decided to change himself.


    It was also during this time that Robert got in touch with Sean Be, and the two quickly became very good friends.


    Of course, during this period, Sean also met Donnie and was impressed by how quickly Donnie had advanced to his current status in Antic City in such a short time.


    "Mr. Block, do you have something you need me to do?"


    After meeting Donnie, Sean Be asked enthusiastically.


    Donnieughed and said, "How about it? Is your ex-girlfriend deeply regretting it now?"


    After following Donnie, Sean''s life changed dramatically; before, he could only rent an apartment andmute to work on foot daily.


    But after getting to know Donnie, Sean bought a two-story wooden vi in the East District of Antic City, a neighborhood of the real middle ss, and even purchased a Ford Model T for himself.


    "Without Mr. Block''s help, I wouldn''t have achieved what I have now!"


    Sean humbly stated.


    Donnie was very satisfied with Sean''s attitude and asked, "How is Eli treating you now?"


    Sean immediately responded, "I still have to thank you, Mr. Block. If it weren''t for you having me follow Eli to The Fuli Tavern, he wouldn''t have valued me!"


    Eli had two direct confrontations with Donnie; the first was because Donnie cut off the liquor supply to The Fuli Tavern, which enraged Eli, who took people to Block Tavern, intending to take Donnie away directly.


    The result was a futile attempt, thwarted by Donnie and Brad''s joint efforts, and it undermined Eli Johnson''s prestige in the public safety office.


    At that time, many policemen in the public safety office took a wait-and-see attitude towards Eli, but Sean Be, alone who had received instructions from Donnie, proactively sided with Eli Johnson and gained his trust.


    Thus, during the second visit of Eli Johnson to The Fuli Tavern, Sean Be charged to the front.


    "Good. I have already discussed with Eli some ns for the reforms in the West District..."


    Donnie briefly shared with Sean the ns he had previously discussed with Eli about the reforms in the West District.


    "That''s fantastic, this n!" Sean said immediately with excitement after hearing it: "If this n can be sessfully implemented, then the West District will be an independent kingdom rtive to Antic City. Then, Eli will have life and death control over everyone in the West District!


    The key is, this n can greatly enhance the reputation of the West District, making it anotherndmark in Antic City after the Boardwalk!"


    Donnie nodded in approval; this was the difference between a smart person and a fool. He had to break down the whole situation to exin it to Eli Johnson for him to understand Donnie''s purpose.


    But Sean could grasp the key points through a brief introduction.


    "John will assist Eli in reforming the gangs in the West District, and I hope you can be the official representative in Eli''s eyes for the West District reform!"


    As long as John and Sean could sessfullyplete their tasks, they would have effectively sidelined Eli. To outsiders, it would seem that Eli has taken control of the West District, but in reality, Donnie would be the one in true control!


    Sean did not respond immediately to Donnie''s remarks, but after brief consideration, he seriously said, "Although it will be difficult, I believe I canplete the task you''ve assigned to me, Mr. Block!"


    Donnie nodded in satisfaction and said, "As long as you canplete this task, I can assure you that in three years, you will be one of the big shots in Antic City!"


    "Thank you, Mr. Block!"


    .


    With John and Sean handling matters in the West District, Donnie could rest easy for the time being, but he would still keep a close eye on the situation there.


    Just as Donnie returned to The Fuli Tavern, Chris approached him, saying, "Ponzi just called, asking how your preparation is going?"


    It was only then that Donnie remembered the matter he had agreed upon with Ponzi at thetter''s party.


    Donnie would certainly not invest money in Ponzi''spany, unless he had lost his mind, but Donnie did hope to obtain some of Ponzi''s assets.


    Without exaggeration, the person with the most robust cash flow in Antic City at the moment was not Nucky, the General, or those people, but Ponzi, who had not been in Antic City for very long.


    The reason why the Ponzi scheme shook the entire financial world was not because of the amount of cash involved in Ponzi''s scam; ording toter records, Ponzi''s scheme dealt with roughly 15 million US Dors.


    ```


    Although this sum of money was astronomical at that time,


    in the grand scheme of the financial long river, the amount was not considered too much.


    What made Ponzi''s scheme so impactful was the model he created, which paved the way for a new genre of scams. Even in the era Donnie was reborn into, such schemes kept emerging incessantly.


    Ponzi never thought of investing his own money. The cash he swindled was all spent onvish living, as evident from how quickly he became a social elite during his brief stay in Antic City.


    By the time Ponzi grew older, he was penniless at his death!


    After thinking it over, Donnie dialed the phone number to Ponzi''s estate.


    "Dear Mr. Ponzi, I''m terribly sorry, I have been preupied with the beauty pageant thesest few days. I hope you don''t mind!"


    "Ha ha!" Ponziughed loudly over the phone, "I''ve read about the beauty pageant in the newspapers. It''s a fantastic initiative. I never expected you and Nucky toe up with such a brilliant idea to increase Antic City''s fame!"


    Donnie humbly replied, "As a resident of Antic City, I naturally hope for the city to prosper more and more!"


    Ponzi asked, "What about the deal we agreed upon?"


    To Ponzi, who was responsible for hosting the national beauty pageant in Antic City was irrelevant; his primary concern was whether Donnie could provide the funding!


    Donnie was always humble towards his potential financial benefactor, "Regarding that matter, I was just about to discuss it with you, Mr. Ponzi. Do you have time now?"


    "Of course, I always have time for promising young people!"


    "Great, I''m on my way now!" Donnie said with augh.


    After hanging up, Donnie asked Dwight, who had been following him, to start the car.


    When Donnie got into the car, Dwight looked at him hesitantly.


    "Speak your mind!" Donnie said calmly from the passenger seat.


    "Boss Block, there has been quite a buzz in Antic Citytely about Ponzi''spany," Dwight said tentatively.


    "What are you trying to say?" Donnie asked, resting with his eyes closed.


    "Well, you know about my previous line of work. Although it was all profit, we hardly stole much money, working our tails off day and night, and would sometimes even get busted by gang leaders.


    Even in our highly profitable industry, Ponzi ims hispany can make a 400% return. If that''s true, why aren''t the big shots in on it?


    After all, in Antic City, whenever a good industry emerges... just like Big John and the chip stacking business, many people will imitate it.


    So why isn''t anyonepeting with Ponzi?"


    Though Dwight''s thoughts were jumbled, Donnie understood, "So, you suspect Ponzi is a fraud?"


    Dwight gave an awkward smile, "Well, he''s a big shot. I wouldn''t dare say that. It''s just... everything seems odd. Plus, he has no tight connection with you, Boss Block, so why would he help you? He even seems a bit eager."


    Donnie chuckled softly, "Thinking more about these matters in the future could be beneficial!"


    Then Donnie ended the conversation.


    Soon, the two arrived at Ponzi''s vi. Donnie got out of the car, while Dwight stayed inside.


    "Donnie, from what I gathered from your phone call, are you thinking of backing out?"


    Ponzi''s manner of speaking was a bit agitated when he saw Donnie.


    Donnie showed an embarrassed expression, "I really appreciate Mr. Ponzi''s assistance, but there have been some issues with this matter.


    You must be aware of the previous discord between Mr. Nucky and me. Coborating with Mr. Nucky this time was a rare opportunity for me to mend our rtionship.


    So, I have no choice, the beauty pageant seems to be an expensive affair.


    To be frank, I have already poured all my liquid assets into it!"


    Ponzi furrowed his brow slightly and expressed his displeasure, "Since you, Mr. Donnie, have made up your mind, I can only regretfully tell you that you''ve lost an opportunity to advance your efforts by ten years!"


    Donnie quickly said, "Mr. Ponzi, please don''t be angry. I came over to inform you that there''s an opportunity that could bring more attention to yourpany and allow you to help more young people!"


    ```

 Chapter 84: 79. Ponzi scams the whole world, Donnie scams Ponzi (second update, please subscribe~)

    Ponzi sat in the rented vi, his gaze on Donnie somewhat perplexed.


    He was here to deceive others, but now he felt as though someone was trying to swindle his money instead.


    A rat visiting the weasel''s home in search of kin? Had that actually happened?


    Well, this proverb didn''t exist in the United States, but Ponzi really hadn''t expected Donnie to be seeking an investment from him.


    Donnie, on the other hand, didn''t care what Ponzi thought. He said excitedly, "Mr. Ponzi, as you''ve said before, you''re very willing to help the youth. It''s my honor to meet a life mentor like you, but I think there must be many young people who, during their times of confusion in life, won''t have the chance to meet someone like you.


    So I believe you should have this opportunity to let young people nationwide get to know you, to learn about you, and to make you their spiritual mentor!"


    Ponzi, looking at the somewhat crazed Donnie, couldn''t help but grow curious¡ªwere this man''s words true or false?


    "You say you want the whole country to know about me? But how would they find out?"


    Donnie replied, "Of course, through a beauty pageant. I know you, Mr. Ponzi, couldn''t possibly don a swimsuit and participate alongside those girls, but our contest is going to recruit beauties from across the nation.


    Not only that, to increase the impact of this beauty pageant, Mr. Nucky has already said that he will advertise in the mainstream media of major cities nationwide.


    And this is the best way to broaden your influence!"


    Ponzi was somewhat tempted.


    Many people thought Ponzi, as the founder of the Ponzi scheme, must be very clever, but his cleverness had its limits, while his greed knew no bounds.


    After being arrested in Augustter that year and sentenced to three years, Ponzi didn''t opt to improve his scheme upon his release. He stuck with the same old tricks, even keeping the tact of specting in stamps the same, only changing locations.


    Then he was caught again and eventually deported back to Italy, whereupon returning, he sought to y the Ponzi scheme once more in Italy.


    But by then, the Ponzi scheme had evolved and Ponzi''s old methods were obsolete.


    Now, he was tempted because, in his view, he had swindled over 15 million US dors in cash just in Boston alone. If he could get the entire nation involved in his scheme, what kind of a magnate would he be?


    Find exclusive stories on m_v l|e-NovelBin


    A billionaire, perhaps?


    "How exactly do you n to use this beauty pageant to get young people nationwide to know about me?" Ponzi, now intrigued, couldn''t resist asking Donnie.


    Donnie smiled and said, "It''s simple. Naturally, it would involve using your name orpany as the title sponsor. We can specifically add ''sponsored by Mr. Ponzi'' to the front of the Miss America pageant. Additionally, I can ensure all reports on the Miss America pageant will include information on yourpany!


    Just think, with so many youngsters nationwide, if even a tenth of them could receive assistance from you, Mr. Ponzi, you would be the most renowned spiritual mentor in America!"


    Ponzi was increasingly enticed by Donnie''s alluring words.


    "Surely it can''t be so simple as to just put my name on it?"


    At this point, Donnie showed a slightly sheepish expression and said, "To be honest with you, Mr. Ponzi, in order to conduct the pageant properly, I''ve already contributed all my savings, but these funds are but a drop in the ocean for the event.


    So if you, Mr. Ponzi, could sponsor us, I would be immensely grateful!"


    So he was indeed after his money!


    As a seasoned swindler, Ponzi was very protective of his assets.


    Yet, considering Donnie''s pitch, he found it challenging to resist.


    The most famous spiritual mentor in all of America!


    Tens of millions investing in hispany, which would elevate him from a millionaire to a multimillionaire!


    Would this not make him the richest man in America?


    With this thought, an agitation began within Ponzi''s heart.


    "So, ording to you, how much should I invest?" Ponzi probed tentatively.


    "Not much, just half a million," Donnie stated calmly.


    Half a million? Just that?


    At this moment, Ponzi really wanted to ask Donnie if he realized how many people he needed to swindle to raise half a million.


    Donnie had carefully calcted the amount of $500,000. Although historical records indicated Ponzi''s entire scam amassed 15 million dors, Ponzi had been sustaining his luxurious lifestyle throughout and also had to return part of the money to those who invested first, which was necessary to sustain the scheme.


    Therefore, Ponzi''s current liquid assets were likely just over a million dors, and it was improbable for him to give it all up.


    To him, half a million was not insignificant, but it was also not too much, and furthermore, this amount of money would not have too great an impact on future developments.


    At least it wouldn''t affect Donnie''s own affairs.


    "That''s no small amount of money!" Ponzi shook his head, "I need to consider it seriously!"


    "Of course!" Donnie didn''te across as too eager, merely reminding him, "However, Mr. Ponzi, it''s best not to take too long to decide because Nucky has mentioned our proposal to some friends in Antic City, Phdelphia, and New York, and they''ve taken quite a liking to our n.


    After all, everyone has seen the influence of cereal advertisements!"


    Advertising in the business world ofter generations has be an indispensable link, but at present, people don''t really care about advertising propaganda.


    The true power of advertising was demonstrated not long ago when a cerealpany ced an ad in a newspaper.


    Then their cereal sold like crazy!


    "Nucky knows about this too?" Ponzi asked, somewhat nervously.


    Donnie nodded, "Definitely, Nucky really likes this suggestion and has repeatedly entrusted me to make the right choice this time!"


    A sense of crisis arose in Ponzi''s heart, although he still had over a million in cash at hand, he also had quite a few clients'' investments to pay interest on.


    Moreover, clients in Boston were bing increasingly difficult to deceive, so at this point, Ponzi was actually facing some economic crisis.


    "Alright, I will give you a response as soon as possible!"


    After receiving Ponzi''s answer, Donnie knew his task for the day was aplished, and he said with a smile, "Then I won''t bother Mr. Ponzi any longer!"


    After saying this, Donnie stood up and took his leave.


    As for whether Ponzi would go to Nucky to verify this matter, Donnie didn''t care at all, unless Ponzi was willing to take a train to Washington to find Nucky.


    Previously, because Donnie had told Nucky about Harding having an illegitimate child, Nucky had already rushed off to Washington to verify the matter.


    Waiting for Nucky to return would take at least another week.


    Donnie didn''t believe Ponzi had the patience to wait that long.


    .


    Donnie returned to The Fuli Tavern and sought out Bruce.


    "Keep a close eye on Ponzi these few days. If this man has any thoughts of leaving Antic City, you must immediately inform me, and find a way to stop him!"


    Although confident in his n, Donnie had already grown ustomed to having a backup for everything he undertook.


    Ponzi''s money was definitely something to keep a portion of.


    This was why Donnie didn''t want to simply be a businessman, among other reasons.


    At this time in the United States, Ponzi''s wealth might not be top-ranking, but he absolutely belonged to the wealthy ss.


    Normally, such wealthy individuals should have a certain social notoriety or official influence.


    But Ponzi was a fraudster!


    All his social notoriety stemmed from a scam, and if the scam was exposed, he would be nothing but a rat crossing the street.


    No one would care if such a person was silently taken away, and some officials in league with him would even be very happy about it.


    Bruce, having nothing superfluous to say, nodded and immediately left the tavern.


    After that, Donnie dialed Elwood Vige.


    Donnie had said he would deliver a boost to Olden''s political achievements, and because of David Jabbar''s case, Olden had already been reprimanded by the FBI headquarters.


    Donnie wanted the other party to make up for thest mistake, and Ponzi was the perfect breakthrough.


    "Come to Antic City immediately; there''s a great honor waiting for you here!"


    Donnie''s conversation with Olden was also very straightforward.


    Olden responded promptly, "Finally, I can leave this damned ce. Don''t worry, I''ll be in Antic City tonight!"


    After all, Elwood Vige was just a small vige where many pleasures were unavable to Olden.


    However, just as Donnie was about to hang up, Carl took over the phone.


    "My dear son, have you forgotten an important matter?"


    Donnie asked, puzzled, "What matter?"


    Carl said, "It''s already March, and Cameron has finished his SAT exams; the rmendation letter you promised him, when can you fulfill it?"


    Donnie suddenly realized, he had indeed forgotten about this due to the numerous matters he needed to attend to recently.


    "Of course I remember, but it''s not yet time to apply to schools, so tell Cameron not to worry. I''ll sort it out for him very soon!"


    Only then did Carl express satisfaction, "Good, you are indeed the pride of the Block Family!"


    Donnie, in great spirits, teased back, "I thought the pride of the Block Family was Cameron?"


    "Hmph!"

 Chapter 85: 80. Net Worth Doubled (3rd Update~)

    As it turned out, Ponzi was indeed in a rush, so after "thinking" about it for a night, he personally drove to Donnie''s The Fuli Tavern!


    "Just as you said, Donnie, I hope I can help more young people achieve their dreams and change their social ss. As for being some kind of spiritual mentor, I don''t care about that!"


    After exchanging greetings with Donnie, Ponzi stated his purpose foring!


    Give money!


    However, Ponzi still wanted to take control of the situation before handing over the money.


    "Of course, I never doubted Mr. Ponzi''s integrity. You are the most pure, noble, and moral person I have met, one who has risen above base interests!"


    In face of his benefactor, Donnie offered his most exaggerated praises.


    "Ha ha, my friend Donnie, you''re being a bit too ttering, but I am indeed quite a pure person!" the corners of Ponzi''s mouth stretched to his ears.


    "There''s absolutely no exaggeration, I even feel it''s a bit modest!" Donnie said earnestly.


    After collecting his emotions, Ponzi continued to ask Donnie, "So, when can the news about the beauty pageant be reported?"


    Donnie immediately replied, "Very soon, it will be in the papers soon. Our side has already begun forming the first Miss America Election Committee, and after the election is sessful, it will officially be reported!


    Moreover, Mr. Ponzi, you will also be the honorary director and chief judge of our first Miss America Contest!"


    "As for the beauty pageant, I do have some considerations. It''s not that I''m craving to be the honorary director or the chief judge, but mainly I want to elect real beauties who can represent the spirit of America!"


    Ponzi said modestly.


    Donnie nodded, "I believe Mr. Ponzi!"


    After the mutual ttery was over, Donnie took out the contract he had prepared earlier. "This is a contract drafted by Brad Dorn, the most famouswyer in Antic City. It has the stamp of hisw firm, as well as Mr. Brad Dorn''s signature. If Mr. Ponzi sees no issues, he can sign it."


    Ponzi picked up the contract and read it carefully. As an experienced con artist, Ponzi didn''t want to end up being cheated by someone else.


    Once Ponzi finished reading the contract and was sure there were no issues, he smiled and said, "Of course I trust you, Donnie. Now I''ll sign the contract and then send it to mywyer!"


    Ponzi naturally had to keep one copy of the contract with himself!


    Donnie, struggling to contain his excitement, smiled and said, "Of course!"


    Then both parties signed their names on the document and affixed their seals.


    After all the procedures werepleted, Donnie also obtained a check for 500,000 US dors from Ponzi!


    "Ha ha, my dear Donnie, I have other matters to attend to, so I''ll head back now. But I''ll be waiting at home for your newspaper!"


    Donnie nodded and smiled, "In no more than five days, this newspaper will be on your desk!"


    Ponzi left satisfied.


    Donnie immediately instructed Dwight, who was by his side, "You don''t need to follow me for the next few days. Keep a close eye on Ponzi for me. I want to know all of Ponzi''s movements during this period, and make sure to find out where Ponzi puts the contract!"


    Although Bruce was keeping watch over Ponzi, sneaky actions were Dwight''s specialty.


    Dwight nodded immediately and said, "Understood!"


    After Dwight left, Nate knocked and came in.


    "Is there something wrong?"


    Donnie, seeing Nate, was somewhat curious. Although Nate had previously been David Jabbar''s manager, Donnie really required his expertise.


    After all, whether it was John, Robert, or even Bruce, none of them had the experience of running such arge tavern on their own.


    And Nate would find it difficult to locate a job in Antic City with the same treatment he now garnered, so naturally, he stayed.


    "It''s like this...." Nate was about to tell Donnie why he came, but he stopped as soon as he began speaking and noticed Olden van, who had arrived at the tavern the night before, enter.


    Nate had asting impression of Olden van. After all, it was Olden who had led the team to take David Jabbar away.


    Seeing the close rtionship between Olden and Donnie, he understood why his former boss had lost without any grievances.


    Donnie also noticed Olden van''s entrance, but he first asked Nate, "Is there an issue with the tavern?"


    Since Nate was only responsible for the tavern''s operations, Donnie thought there might be some issues with the tavern.


    "No, it isn''t!" Nate said.


    "Then we''ll talk about itter!" Donnie was busy at the moment. Since it wasn''t about the tavern, there was nothing to worry about.


    "Ah!" Nate was startled for a moment and then left the office. However, as he walked out of Donnie''s office, he nced at the tavern''s storage and shook his head slightly, hoping you can hold on for a few more days!


    ```


    "Was the person who just left the one you were talking aboutst night, Ponzi?" Olden sat on the sofa in Donnie''s office, took out a cigarette, and leisurely lit it.


    After arriving in Antic Cityst night, Donnie had told Olden about Ponzi.


    Donnie nodded with a smile, "That''s right, the very same person!"


    Olden blew a smoke ring and then exaggeratedly said, "Had you not told me, I would never have believed that this man could be such a big fraudster. It''s truly surprising!"


    Donnieughed, "Didn''t your instructors teach you at the FBI never to judge by appearances?"


    Olden said nonchntly, "My instructor only told me that to be a qualified FBI agent, you absolutely must not do anything against the public will!"


    Then Olden asked curiously, "But what I''m curious about is, how did youe to know about this Charles Ponzi, whose business is in Boston, and even know so much detail?"


    Donnieughed, "God came to me in a dream and told me!"


    "Pfft!"


    Olden waved his hand dismissively and asked, "So when do I make my move?"


    Donnieughed, "In the next couple of days, but we have to wait until my newspaper officially publishes it!"


    If one is to run a newspaper, naturally, it takes a sensational news story to serve as a hook.


    The Miss America pageant ensures traffic for his newspaper every day, but Ponzi''s case will be the headline of the front page for the first issue of the newspaper!


    Olden looked at Donnie in exaggeration and said, "If I were Ponzi, I wouldn''t forgive you even if I went to hell! Not only did you con his money, but you''re also using his reputation to drive traffic to your own newspaper?"


    Donnieughed indifferently, "I am saving the world here. Don''t you know how many people he cons every day in Boston, in Antic City?


    All that money is the fruit of their hard work!


    So I believe, when I die, I won''t go to hell. God will surely personally wee me at the gates of heaven!"


    Olden stared nkly at Donnie and then earnestly said, "Respected Mr. Donnie Block, there is something I must tell you!"


    "What is it?" Donnie asked.


    Olden answered, "That is if you ever want to sell me out, make sure to tell me in advance, so I can tell you which part of me is the most valuable!"


    After listening, Donnie burst into loudughter, not just because of what Olden said, but more so because of the profit he made from Ponzi.


    In the few months he had been in Antic City pulling various schemes, if you included The Fuli Tavern, Donnie''s entire worth amounted to only about one hundred and fifty to sixty thousand US dors.


    And, in cash, only fifty to sixty thousand.


    But this time, his worth had more than tripled, and most importantly, with the five hundred thousand dors in cash, Donnie could do a lot more.


    Robert came over to Donnie''s ce, also bringing good news with him.


    "The newspaper business is settled! I''ve acquired ''Antic City Weekly''!"


    In Antic City, there are a total of four newspapers, two dailies, one Sunday paper, and one weekly! Stay connected with m-v l|e''-NovelBin


    Among them, the most famous is the daily ''Antic City Forum'', which also boasts the highest sales!


    And naturally, the worst-selling is the weekly ''Antic City Weekend''!


    This is the newspaper that Robert has acquired!


    When it rains, it pours!


    Donnie didn''t expect that just as he was discussing the newspaper business with Olden, Robert had alreadypleted the task he was previously assigned.


    Donnie said, "Submit the application to City Hall immediately to change the weekly to a daily, also recruit more staff, and I want to go see this newspaper!"


    Robert said, "No problem, changing it to a daily, I think, can be smoothly handled by going to Eli Johnson at City Hall, and recruiting staff is indeed necessary. So, thest question is, when do you n to meet with the staff of the newspaper?"


    Donnie got up, "Right now!"


    The office address of ''Antic City Weekend'' is in the eastern district of Antic City; in fact, all four newspapers of Antic City are located there.


    But when Donnie arrived, the scene he encountered still prompted a feeling of helplessness in him; it appeared that Robert had chosen a newspaper weak not only in strength but also with the poorest office location.


    Including the editor-in-chief, the newsroom staff only numbered four or five people.


    Initially, Donnie had nned to give a speech to them upon arrival, but seeing the current situation, he no longer felt inclined to do so.


    Instead, he had a brief chat with the editor-in-chief of ''Antic City Weekend'', Robinson, and after getting a sense of his character, Donnie decided to keep him in the editor-in-chief position for a while. Still, should a more suitable candidate arise, a change would be necessary!


    In the end, Donnie decided to rename ''Antic City Weekend'' to ''Antic City Post''!"


    ```

 Chapter 86: 81, The Beauty Contest Begins (Fourth Update~)

    "Dear Donnie, did you receive the newspapers I sent you?"


    Clutching the phone, Donnie sat before a stack of America''s most influential newspapers¡ªThe Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The New York Times¡ªall of which featured entertainment sections buzzing with news about the Miss America Pageant.


    "Dear Nucky, your efficiency is really too high. I''m now starting to worry whether our pageantmittee staff can arrive in those cities on time!"


    Organizing the pageantmittee in Antic City was not a difficult task for Donnie, but the real challengey in how to set up polling stations in other cities across America.


    This was precisely why Donnie had to coborate with Nucky, because in Antic City, only Nucky had the capacity to establish rtionships with other cities in such a short timeframe.


    Before Nucky left Antic City, Donnie had reached an agreement with him that they could not possibly impact the entire country with the first Miss America election.


    So in the end, they just selected a few key cities for the event.


    These included New York, Phdelphia, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, San Francisco, Boston, Pittsburgh, Anta, and Washington, eleven cities in total including Antic City itself.


    Excluding Antic City, the remaining ten cities would host localpetitions, each selecting their top three contestants.


    The top three from each city would arrive in Antic City in July to begin the final contest, and from there, the top three national winners would be decided, with the first ce naturally crowned as Miss America!


    To better attractpetitors, Donnie and Nucky also established corresponding rewards.


    The top three from each city would receive cash prizes and have all their expenses covered by themittee for their trip to Antic City, where they would also be honored with the title of Distinguished Citizens of Antic City.


    As for the national top three, the prizes were even more substantial. The most important of these was that the winner of Miss America would be arranged to go on a national lecture tour.


    Simply put, Donnie was about to create a star!


    In the America of 1920, he was creating a star!


    Of course, this involved a lot more details, all of which needed to be determined by Donnie and the electionmittee.


    "Haha, rest assured, I''ve already spoken to my friends. They are very interested in this and will cooperate with us fully!"


    It''s the girls they''re interested in, right?


    Donnie couldn''t help but scoff to himself. Unless there were unforeseen circumstances, this Miss America election was bound to be a contest rife with underhanded dealings.


    However, Donnie didn''t care about that. What he sought was how to use this event to expand his business empire.


    Donnie then discussed the details with Nucky.


    One of the critical issues was funding.


    To turn this beauty pageant into a nationally anticipated event, extensive promotional efforts would be indispensable from the start.


    ording to the arrangement Donnie had made with Nucky before, this event''s budget was set at a staggering 100,000 US dors.


    The actual expenditure was borne by Donnie and the Antic City City Hall.


    Indeed, this beauty pageant was initiated in the name of Antic City, with Donnie as the main organizer.


    For this purpose, Donnie had specifically registered apany named ''Starry Entertainment'' in Antic City!


    "I''m well aware of your influence, Nucky. Because of your decision, Antic City is sure to rise to a new level!"


    Donnie said,ughing.


    "Haha!" Nucky burst intoughter, clearly in a very good mood. The reason for his cheerfulness wasn''t just because the Miss America election was off to a smooth start. More importantly, he had already been in contact with Harding''s campaign manager through his connections and learned about the veracity of the scandals concerning Harding as ryed by Donnie.


    To ensure Harding''s smooth election, Nucky had agreed to bring Harding''s mistress and his illegitimate child to Antic City to prevent any idental revtions during Harding''s campaign.


    It was precisely Nucky''s actions... and of course, there was another critical point¡ªHarding needed the votes from New Jersey!


    So, when Nucky met with Harding''s campaign manager, the first thing that the manager said was, "As far as I know, to have Mr. Nucky''s support is to have the votes of New Jersey!"


    Through his campaign manager, Harding also expressed to Nucky that once elected, he would approve the construction of a highway from Antic City to Phdelphia!


    "This is a victory for both of us!" said Nucky, and then with a hint of regret he added, "It''s a pity, though, that this investment will take a while to reap returns."


    Nucky was a political genius who had the entire political scene of Antic City and New Jersey at hismand, but that didn''t make him a genius businessman.


    Up to this point, he still believed that despite the grand scale of the pageant and its ability to bring more exposure to Antic City, that was all it could achieve.


    As for the business opportunities it contained, he didn''t see them.


    Donnie, however, just smiled lightly. If Nucky knew that Ponzi was willing to invest 500,000 in advertising for the pageant, he''d surely be over the moon!


    Donnie was definitely not going to tell Nucky about this.


    After all, Donnie had signed the contract with Ponzi in his own name.


    But that didn''t mean Donnie wouldn''t go through the proper channels to turn this beauty pageant into an opportunity for more benefits for himself.


    "My dear Nucky, why would you think that way? Don''t you know that there are heaps and heaps of banknotes waving at us, just waiting for us to take them?"


    Nucky paused for a moment on the phone. After the past few days'' experiences, Nucky hade to acknowledge Donnie''s abilities, and now, hearing Donnie talk like this, he naturally took a greater interest.


    "Do you have an idea?"


    Donnie said, "As long as we persistently advertise Miss America in newspapers in major cities across the country, more and more people will definitely be interested in it.


    In time, we canpletely take advantage of the naming rights, advertising fees, and some other indirect ie, finding suitable partners to cooperate with.


    For example, aside from ordinary people, there are bound to be wealthy individuals interested in this event, for reasons you understand. In that case, can''t we contact some car dealers to sponsor ourpetition?


    Of course, this is just one example."


    Donnie, holding the phone, heard the hurried breathing of Nucky, and he was convinced that Nucky was not exercising but was astounded by his proposal.


    After all, in this era, though advertising exists, many people are unable to see its diversity, functionality, and aplishments.


    Just take this beauty pageant for instance. Nucky only noticed the influence the event brought to Antic City; that was already an advertising effect.


    However, his perspective was limited by the era, and he failed to see the personal benefits the pageant could bring them!


    Now, Donnie''s words were like opening a new door for Nucky!


    "I understand. I''ll make contact about this immediately!"


    Donnie said with a smile, "Then I''ll leave it to you, Mr. Nucky!"


    .


    Every reform cannot be peaceful; the reform in the West District was no exception!


    Although Donnie had said to use the big-fish-eat-little-fish approach to mitigate the impact of the West District''s reform, there were still many surprises.


    Previously, Donnie told Eli to support two capable gangs. The rest of the West District gangs were either to be taken out or assimted.


    Among these two gangs, Eli chose one in the West District named Tanding, led by a man named Tanding himself, and naturally, the other was John.


    Tanding took a non-cooperative stance against violence, wounding the leaders of three or four gangs within just a couple of days.


    Such actions naturally caused dissatisfaction among many.


    So today, when Tanding had just walked out of an Italian restaurant, he was suddenly shot at by someoneing head-on!


    If his subordinates hadn''t been brave enough to draw their guns and shoot back immediately, tomorrow could have been Tanding''s death anniversary!


    Eli was very angry about this and wanted to go to Donnie to discuss strategies right away.


    But at that moment, he was stopped by Sean Be.


    "Chief, isn''t this the perfect time for us to step in? Using the incident of Tanding being shot, we can immediately mobilize the public security forces to enter the West District, carry out a sweep, take all those stubborn people into custody, and highlight your influence, right?"


    Sean Be''s words made Eli nod slightly and say, "Good. We can''t go to Donnie for everything; otherwise, they will certainly look down on us!"


    Then Eli patted Sean Be on the shoulder, appreciatively saying, "You have a good brain, second only to mine. I never noticed your ability in this area before!"


    Sean Be spoke obsequiously, "All thanks to your excellent guidance!"


    Eliughed heartily, "Gather those youngsters from public security immediately. We''re going to properly sort out the West District!"


    "Yes!"


    .


    "Eli should be entering the West District shortly, so contact the gambling businesses controlled by those disobedient gangs right now and tell them to eithere under our wing or wait for the sweep!"


    At that time, John, sitting pompously in Isaiah''s pub, said to Gary Thomas.


    Gary Thomas had now be John''s top lieutenant!


    "Understood, I''ll get right on it!" Gary Thomas said excitedly.

 Chapter 87: 82. Atlantic City Post (Fifth Update~)

    John had already discussed the West District with Donnie, who, after hearing it all, had no objections whatsoever.


    After all, they had previously covered in detail the potential situations that could arise in the West District and the responses that John and his team would need to make.


    As long as they could take control of all the gambling houses, bars, and boarding houses in the West District, and with Sean Be as their ace undercover agent, Donnie was confident this district would soon fall into his hands.


    "Boss, there''s something I feel I must tell you!"


    Nate sought out Donnie again, wanting to discuss the matter of Charlie Luciano, who was locked up in the warehouse and had been for several days now.


    Since Nate was unsure of Donnie''s opinion on Charlie Luciano, he didn''t know how to handle the situation. Most importantly, whether he wanted the man to silently die off, or what else to do?


    So for the past few days, Nate had only given him some water to drink, not a bite to eat!


    "We''ll talk about it when Ie back tonight, there are more important things to do right now!"


    Donnie, along with Dwight, hurriedly left The Fuli Tavern. The preliminary work for the Antic City Post had beenpleted, and it was time for Donnie to start his n.


    "Well... okay then!" Seeing that Donnie was in a hurry, Nate swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue!


    Donnie, Van Olden, and Dwight once again arrived at the headquarters of the Antic City Post.


    By this time, there were already more than a dozen staff members present, and their spirits seemed to have changed, something that pleased Donnie.


    "Boss, here''s the article you asked me to write!"


    The editor-in-chief of the Antic City Post, Robinson, looked eagerly at Donnie but was also somewhat worried.


    "Boss, are the sources of this news actually true or false? If it''s false, then we''re in big trouble!"


    Robinson''s excitement stemmed from the fact that the article Donnie had him write was astonishingly explosive. The Antic City Post was about to im that Charles Ponzi''spany, celebrated by many and already a household name in Antic City, was in fact a fraudulent enterprise?


    He had no real European postage stamp investments at all but was using the investors'' money to support his extravagant lifestyle and to pay earlier investors with the new funds he garnered.


    If all this was true, it would certainly be a scandal that would rock the entire United States!


    And because of the potentially explosive nature of the story, if it turned out to be false, then the first issue of the revamped Antic City Post would be aplete joke!


    Donnie did not respond immediately to Robinson''s questions and instead began reading the content he had drafted about the Ponzi scheme.


    Typically, such a report would require the Antic City Post to dispatch someone to Boston to investigate, in addition to interviewing those who had invested in Ponzi''spany.


    They might even need to travel to Europe to look into the European postage stamp scenario described by Ponzi.


    The whole process would take at least a few months.


    But now, the article was bereft of any such thing.


    All the evidence in Robinson''s hands had been supplied by Donnie.


    Of course, Donnie could not possibly have done everything he had talked about on his own; he just didn''t have the time.


    Take, for example, the interviews with several Bostonians that appeared in the article.


    One worker named George Monroe shared his story, being one of the first investors in Ponzi Company. In the early stages, thepany did indeed return interest as promised each month, and it was precisely because of this that George Monroe increased his investment, totaling one thousand US dors!


    Now, more than a month had passed, and the promised returns from Ponzi Company never materialized.


    There were at least five such interviews with different individuals in the entire article.


    Afterward, the article also stated that the Antic City Post had dispatched professional journalists to survey various European countries. After months of investigation, no country was found where stamps could yield the profits Ponzi imed through business operations.


    In conclusion, the article also revealed Ponzi''s previous fraud in Montreal, Canada, and his background.


    Throughout the report, the interviews with workers from Boston and the supposed investigations by the Antic City Post''s journalists in Europe were all fabricated.


    But Donnie didn''t care about this at all. What if it was fake?


    Something counterfeit could sometimes be used as if it were the real thing.


    As long as Ponzi''s operation was a sham, everything else would fall into ce.


    "Rx, this is something I have investigated thoroughly and verified before deciding to have you write it. You can be assured that the contents are true!"


    Donnie assured Robinson with conviction.


    Seeing Donnie so certain, Robinson chose to believe him, murmuring, "If that''s the case, the furious people of Antic City will surely beat Ponzi to death!"


    During this period, Ponzi had also absorbed a considerable amount of deposits in Antic City.


    Donnieughed and said, "That''s not something we need to worry about. As journalists, our duty is to tell people the true thoughts about the facts!"


    "Yes!" Robinson nodded, then asked, "Boss, shall we run this report as the front-page headline for tomorrow?"


    Donnie nodded. In reality, it was still a bit rushed for the Antic City Post to release such news at this time, but there was no choice. After talking to Nucky on the phone, Donnie had learned Nucky was already preparing to return to Antic City.


    If he waited for Nucky toe back and meet with Ponzi, once Nucky found out about the $500,000 Ponzi had invested with him, then part of that money would definitely have to be shared with Nucky.


    This was not what Donnie wanted to see.


    So there was no choice but to move ahead with it.


    "Show me the newspaper edition you''ve alreadyid out!"


    Before being sent to the printing press, the newspaper would always arrange a preliminaryyout of the day''s content because there were noputers back then, so everything had to be done through manual coge.


    "It''s already prepared for you!" Robinson brought out the version of the Antic City Post that was already prepared and handed it to Donnie.


    "Following your orders, boss, our Antic City Post is divided into six major sections: politics, economy, entertainment, sports, local travel, and advertisements. However, due to the recent reformatting of our newspaper and past circtions, there isn''t much in the way of advertising content."


    Donnie flipped through the newspaper in his hand. Because of the Ponzi scheme, the economy section took up the majority of the paper.


    In politics, there was analysis of several candidates for the uing U.S. election, along with some important figures in Antic City, New Jersey.


    In entertainment, the focus was on the uing Miss America pageant in Antic City. In addition, there was news of a Broadway showing to Antic City.


    In sports, the hottest event in the entire United States was baseball. At the end ofst season, the New York Yankees offered Boston''s famous Red Sox superstar Babe Ruth a huge annual sry of $125,000, bringing him over to their team.


    The local travel section was for those visiting Antic City, where it would tell them which tavern had the best environment, which had the cheapest liquor, and which had the fairest casino.


    Of course, there were also reports on lodging apartments and hotels.


    Seeing the content, Donnie finally showed a satisfied expression andughed, "All right, let''s distribute it just like this."


    Robinson, feeling very happy to receive Donnie''s approval, said, "Okay, boss, I''ll go give the instructions right now."


    Donnie continued to instruct, "Next, make a note of the main reporting focus for the Antic City Post!"


    "Yes!" While Robinson was happy to have just received Donnie''s praise, he was still somewhat dissatisfied with Donnie''s excessive involvement in the newspaper''s content creation. In his view, he was the professional when it came to newspapers. Shouldn''t Donnie be selling liquor instead?


    However, he also knew that in front of a bigshot like Donnie, he had no choice but to obey. If he didn''t, someone else would surely take his ce!


    Donnie was unaware of Robinson''s thoughts and frankly, Donnie didn''t care about them. So he continued to issue instructions.


    "For the economy section, after wrapping up Ponzi''s issue, shift the focus to the stock market on Wall Street, New York. Since entering the 1920s, the stock market has shown a prosperous state, and I believe this situation willst quite a long time!"


    Robinson, who had some doubts about Donnie, began to take him seriously after hearing this. That''s because Donnie was speaking the truth. Last year, the transaction volume in New York''s stock market was veryrge, with six days of trading exceeding two million shares¡ªbreaking the record at that time¡ªand 145 days of trading volume above one million shares!


    Although in the middle of the year, the Federal Reserve temporarily closed the New York stock market, and many newspapers gave negativements.


    But this couldn''t stop the enthusiasm of investors, so when 1920 came around, New York''s stock market became even crazier!


    ces where money could be made naturally attracted attention!


    "Understood!"


    "In the entertainment section, focus on the uing Miss America pageant. Assign someone to go to various cities and make sure to get firsthand information on all the contestants!"


    "Understood!"


    "For sports, continue to increase coverage of the Baseball League and also pay attention to the boxing ring situation. I will need this informationter!"


    Although Robinson didn''t understand why Donnie would be involved with the boxing ring, he took note of it.


    "As for other matters, you can decide what to report!"

 Chapter 88: 83. Ponzi Arrested (7K Mega Chapter, Please Subscribe~)

    At ten in the morning, Ponzi, having just woken up, climbed out of bed sandwiched between two women. Enjoy more content from m-v l''e|-NovelBin


    After putting on shorts and a robe, and after a simple wash, he headed to another room in the vi, where two more young girls were waiting for him, scantily d in sheer nightgowns.


    Ponzi stripped off his robe andy down on the bed, and the two young girls began to massage him.


    This had be the norm for Ponzi''s life in Antic City; after his massage, he would have lunch and nce over the day''s newspaper. In the afternoon, Ponzi would personally arrange the evening''s banquet.


    As for the trash generated fromst night''s party, it had already been cleaned up by the servants while Ponzi was sleeping.


    Ponzi, as usual, sat down at the dining tableid with fried eggs, bread, sausage, and a quart of milk.


    Of course, there was also a copy of the "Antic City Forum."


    Ponzi habitually picked up the newspaper with his left hand and the milk with his right.


    "Huh, the Miss America promotion has already started!"


    Ponzi saw that the front page headline of the "Antic City Forum" was already about the official promotion of the Miss America Pageant. In the article, Starry Entertainment called on all eligible young women in Antic City to sign up!


    It also detailed the various generous rewards for the winner of Miss America.


    Seeing that the Miss America winner would receive not only a handsome prize, a national tour, but also a vi in Antic City and a General Motors car, Ponzi eximed, "Donnie really goes all out, just these prizes alone are enough to drive all the chicks in the States wild!"


    For Ponzi, this was certainly a desirable situation; the more sessful the Miss America Pageant, the better for him.


    He had spent money, after all, and even invested half a million US dors in it!


    But just as Ponzi was feeling pleased, he suddenly discovered something that enraged him.


    Previously, Donnie had promised to give him the title sponsorship of Miss America, meaning the prefix of Miss America should include ''Mr. Ponzi''s generous sponsorship,'' and at the end of the report, there should be an introduction to hispany!


    However, after flipping through the paper back and forth, Ponzi did not find any rted content.


    How could such a discovery not anger Ponzi?


    Ponzi threw aside the "Antic City Forum" and was just about to get up and call Donnie to question this when he suddenly heard amotion at the door.


    "What''s the matter, making such a racket, have some decency!"


    Already annoyed, Ponzi immediately scolded loudly.


    At this moment, several people walked into the dining room, and despite the butler''s attempts to stop them, they were not sessful.


    The person leading them was none other than Van Olden, who had been having a good time in Antic City for a few days.


    "Who are you? Why are you barging into my home?" Seeing Van Olden and others'' impolite behavior, Ponzi immediately shoutedmandingly.


    "Mr. Ponzi, I am Van Olden of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, here is my badge. Now that I''ve answered your question, you should answer mine. What''s the deal with the content on this newspaper?"


    Having said that, Van Olden threw the "Antic City Post" he was holding at Ponzi.


    Ponzi, somewhat flustered, caught the newspaper and first red at Van Olden resentfully, "I will definitelyin to your superiors about your rude behavior, and also, I will have mywyer..."


    He stopped mid-sentence, his face turning to one of panic.


    Because he saw the content of the newspaper.


    "Ponzi Company or Ponzi Scheme, our paper will expose the biggest swindler in American financial history for you!"


    After the headline was the same article that Donnie had read the night before.


    "This, this, this can''t be possible, it''s all fake, nder, sheer nder!"


    Ponzi, devoid of his usualposure, shouted loudly.


    "Whether it''s nder or not, we''ll know once our colleagues in Boston investigate. Now, Mr. Ponzi, pleasee with us for questioning!"


    Van Olden took a few steps back, "No, no, no, I can''t go with you, I need to call mywyer!"


    Van Olden casually said, "Of course, but whether yourwyer from Boston wille over is another matter. Even if he does, you''ll still have toe with us!"


    After saying that, Van Olden had his subordinates cuff Ponzi.


    The cold handcuffs clicked shut, Ponzi''s face turned ashen. He knew his own affairs, and to him, the content of the newspaper seemed entirely true; after all, he had swindled over forty thousand people in Boston and couldn''t possibly remember every single name.


    The facts matched up, and so did the person!


    That was Ponzi''s thought.


    So he understood that he couldn''t really be taken away; if he was, everything would be over!


    "I, I want to see Donnie, yes, I want to see Donnie Block."


    At that moment, the only person Ponzi could think of who might save him was Donnie Block!


    .


    "Ponzi wants to see me?"


    Half an hourter, Donnie had already heard from Van Olden''s subordinates about the process of Ponzi''s arrest.


    "Ponzi wants to see you, is there something wrong with that? He invested half a million dors in the Miss America matter, and he thinks you''re the one with the best connections in Antic City. Besides, you have quite an influence here; he''s probably hoping you can save him, right?"

 Chapter 89: 83. Ponzi Arrested (7K Mega Chapter, Please Subscribe~)_2

    Bruce saw a puzzled expression on Donnie''s face and asked, bewildered.


    Donnie shook his head, "If we are speaking purely from the circumstancesid out, there naturally doesn''t seem to be a problem, but the crux of the matter lies in the fact that you and I both know Ponzi has a very good friend in Antic City?"


    A figure immediately surfaced in Bruce''s mind, and he said, "Are you talking about the Brigadier?"


    "Exactly!" Ponzi secretly met with the Brigadier several times in Antic City. To say there was no funny business going on between them, Donnie would definitely not believe it.


    But now, the other party wanted to meet with him. In this urgent situation, Donnie did not believe Ponzi could remain calm and not request a meeting with the Brigadier.


    The Brigadier''s political clout was simply something current Donnie couldn''t match!


    "Is it possible that the Brigadier has also be one of Ponzi''s clients?"


    Donnie looked at Bruce with a somewhatplicated expression and asked.


    Apart from this possibility, Donnie could think of no other reason. Otherwise, given Ponzi''s situation, he would definitely be wanting to meet with the Brigadier at this time.


    "Impossible, right?" Bruce said in surprise, "The person you''re talking about is the Brigadier, the former King of Antic City. How could someone like that be deceived by Ponzi?"


    "I''m increasingly convinced of this possibility!"


    Donnie did not answer Bruce''s question. In Donnie''s opinion, no matter how smart a person is, they have their weaknesses, and the elderly are no exception.


    In his previous life, those who sold pyramid schemes and health products always saw the elderly as the easiest group to deceive!


    "If it really is this possibility, $500,000 is way too little for what I''ve earned from Ponzi!"


    Donnie couldn''t help butin.


    If Ponzi really did deceive the Brigadier as well, based on the Brigadier''s assets, Ponzi would certainly have a lot of cash on hand by now.


    "No!" Donnie''s heart suddenly skipped a beat, and he immediately asked Olden''s men, "Where did you take Ponzi?"


    "He''s in the house in West District that you arranged," they replied.


    Upon hearing this, Donnie finally breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried that if Olden took Ponzi to a police station and Ponzi had indeed deceived the Brigadier, Ponzi would be in danger now!


    "Bruce, go to Robert right now and call Westglenn and Randy Powers. I''ll wait for you at Olden''s ce!"


    Bruce responded, "Okay!"


    Afterward, Donnie and Bruce acted separately. Donnie took Olden''s men and drove to West District first, while Bruce went to Scott''s tavern to pick up Westglenn and Randy Powers.


    By the time Bruce and the others arrived, Donnie had just gotten out of the car, "Let''s go in together."


    Donnie had prepared an apartment for Olden and the others. As Donnie pushed the door open and entered, he saw Ponzi sitting despondently on the couch, still confused by the current events unfolding around him.


    When Ponzi saw Donnie walk in, his face immediately showed an expression as if a savior had arrived.


    The man sprang up from the couch, eager to rush over to Donnie, but this action was stopped by Olden.


    "Donnie, Donnie, have youe to save me?"


    Without responding to Ponzi''s question, Donnie simply sat down on the couch. As Ponzi observed this action, he suddenly realized what was happening.


    "It''s you, this was all your doing, wasn''t it?"


    Donnie chuckled softly and said, "Mr. Ponzi, I bet you didn''t expect to meet me again under such circumstances, did you?"


    Although Donnie did not directly answer Ponzi''s words, this response made it clear to Ponzi what Donnie meant. Your next read awaits at m v|l-e''-NovelBin


    "This is illegal detention! I''ll sue you! I will definitely sue all of you!" Ponzi screamed somewhat frantically.


    Donnieughed and said, "Dear Mr. Ponzi, I actually wanted topliment you on your intelligence, but why are you being foolish again? Let me tell you very clearly, Olden and his team are indeed real Federal Agents, and as for your affairs... do you think Boston hasn''t heard about your news yet?


    Rest assured, I''ve already had my people deliver thetest edition of the Antic City Post to Boston at top speed.


    By the time you get to Washington, I''m sure that everything about you will have been investigated thoroughly in Boston!"


    Donnie''s words made Ponzi feel as if he had plummeted into an abyss.


    "No, you can''t do this. Donnie, have you forgotten? There was a business cooperation between us. If I get caught, you won''t get that money either. The federal government will definitely recover that money. This situation doesn''t benefit you at all.


    I can forgo the previous $500,000, just please spare my life!" Ponzi pleaded with Donnie.


    At that moment, Donnie took a document from Dwight''s hands and tossed it to Ponzi, saying with a smile, "Are you talking about this document?"


    Dwight had been following Donnie''s orders to observe Ponzi in recent days and had thoroughly investigated Ponzi''s hiding ce for documents. After Ponzi was taken by Olden, Dwight sneaked into Ponzi''s home and took the document from his study.


    It turned out that all of Ponzi''s expenses in Antic City were paid by check, which was fortunate because Dwight could have also found some cash in his safe.


    As Ponzi looked at the document in his hands, he realized everything. From the moment he arrived in Antic City, Donnie had been scheming against him.

 Chapter 90: 83. Ponzi Arrested (7K Mega Chapter, Please Subscribe~)_3

    Sponsoring Miss America, that was just one of the ways Donnie wanted to swindle money in his own hands!


    "So... you''re going to kill me now?"


    Ponzi asked Donnie with a trembling heart.


    In the current situation, if he were Donnie Block, the best way to ensure that he wouldn''t rat himself out after being sent to court would be to kill Charles Ponzi, which meant himself!


    Donnie shook his head and said, "Of course not, Mr. Ponzi, have you forgotten what I told you before? I just want to be a businessman, and businessmen don''t do illegal things.


    Moreover, Olden is my friend, a very good friend. Now, everyone in Antic City knows that you were caught by Olden. If you died mysteriously like that, my friend Olden would also be in a lot of trouble!"


    It was then that Ponzi could finally breathe a sigh of relief. As long as you don''t die, there is always hope for everything.


    Although he dared not re at Donnie openly, at this moment Ponzi had cursed Donnie countless times in his heart. He swore that once this matter went to court, he would immediately expose Donnie''s dealings.


    He was determined to ensure that Donnie wouldn''t get a single cent.


    "Olden, based on Mr. Ponzi''s evidence, which prison is he most likely to end up in if he gets sentenced?"


    At this time, Donnie asked Olden.


    Olden shrugged indifferently and said, "There''s a good chance he''ll be sent to the prison in Anta. Actually, it doesn''t matter which prison he''s sent to, as long as we have money, we will have our people everywhere!"


    "So, are there many deaths in prison due to inmate fights?" Donnie asked with a smile, very pleased with Olden''s cooperation.


    "Many, of course many. Such things are never news in the prisons of the United States!"


    Olden said with augh.


    Their conversation turned Ponzi''splexion even paler¡ªnone of their words included him, yet none strayed from him!


    "Mr. Ponzi, I would like to exchange three requests of mine for your personal safety, that shouldn''t be too difficult, right?"


    Ponzi immediately nodded and said, "No, no!"


    Donnie said with a smile, "The first request, I think you should know without me saying, right?"


    Ponzi said disheartedly, "I know, Mr. Block, rest assured, nobody else will know about the cooperation between you and me!"


    Donnie nodded in satisfaction and continued, "The second request, I''m very curious, during your time in Antic City, you''ve met with the Colonel in private several times. Have you turned the Colonel into your client already?"


    Ponzi looked up at Donnie sharply, not expecting Donnie to know even this.


    But immediately, a look of resignation shed in his eyes. Since Donnie had started investigating him after his arrival in Antic City, it was not surprising for Donnie to know about his meetings with the Colonel.


    "That''s right. Actually, I wanted to get Nucky''s investment, but Nucky is too smart. Although he didn''t say it directly, I knew he didn''t believe in my business.


    So, after some investigation, when I found out the Colonel wanted to deal with Nucky in Antic City, I approached the Colonel and gained his trust. He gave me an investment of half a million US Dors!"


    Donnie suddenly understood. If that was the case, everything made sense, and it also resolved another one of Donnie''s doubts.


    Why the Colonel had been so low-keytely; Donnie had thought the Colonel was waiting to push Nucky out of the limelight, but now it seemed the Colonel was waiting for the interest from Ponzi.


    "The third request, Mr. Ponzi, you''ve swindled thousands of people in Boston and Antic City. I think you must have prepared a getaway n for yourself, so I''m very curious if your secret ount could afford an additional $200,000 for your safety,"


    Every swindler should have one or several secret ounts.


    Donnie believed Ponzi was no exception. In fact, Donnie was more interested in all of Ponzi''s secret assets, but if that was the case, it would be tantamount to taking Ponzi''s life.


    So, $200,000 should be Ponzi''s limit.


    As expected, after Ponzi hesitated briefly upon hearing the figure Donnie proposed, he said, "No problem, but how can you guarantee my safety? So while I can give you the money, you''ll have to wait until I''m safely out of prison to receive it!"


    Donnie chuckled and said, "Mr. Ponzi, do you take me for a fool, or do you think the FBI are fools? You''ve scammed so much money in Boston and Antic City, do you really think that once you''re in the federal headquarters, those people won''t have a way to draw out all of your ie?"


    The federal government is short on money, the FBI even more so.


    Now that they havended Ponzi, a juicy catch, they would dry him out, else they would be letting themselves down.


    "I''ve already spoken on the phone with headquarters. The order from headquarters is to get you to Washington swiftly and smoothly, Mr. Ponzi. Surely you don''t think the headquarters just wants to arrest you as soon as possible?"


    Olden interjected just in time.


    Ponzi waspletely deted. He had dealt with many high-level figures in Boston; he knew exactly what kind of faces they had, without needing Donnie or Olden to tell him.


    "Mr. Ponzi, you now have only one option, and that is to trust me. $200,000, and after you get out of prison, I can give you $50,000. Whether you want to make aeback or do something else, I think that should be enough!"

 Chapter 91: 83. Ponzi Arrested (7K Mega Chapter, Please Subscribe~)_4

    Donnie said casually.


    "I can''t believe you!"


    Ponzi still wanted to hold on; after all, it''s human nature. He had heard about the interrogation methods of the FBI, but he had never really experienced them, so it was inevitable that he''d have some hope of getting lucky.


    "Of course, perhaps you think you can endure the FBI''s usual interrogation techniques, but don''t forget, you are a walking treasure. To get your property, the FBI will certainly use unconventional means. On this point, I think Olden has more authority to speak than I do!"


    Ponzi was nowpletely at Donnie''s mercy, so Donnie was in no hurry at all.


    Olden walked over to Ponzi with a sinister smile, "Mr. Ponzi, let me introduce you to some of the unconventional interrogation methods of the Federal Bureau of Investigation..."


    Ponzi was not some fearless person; he was just a lucky fraudster.


    It was impossible to imagine such a person having a strong willpower.


    And Ponzi himself understood that everything Donnie had just said was true. Once he was taken to FBI headquarters, those people would definitely not let him go.


    To pry open his mouth and find out about his secret ounts, they would surely stop at nothing!


    Which meant he definitely couldn''t keep that money.


    "Donnie, can you really give me fifty thousand US dors after Ie out?"


    Knowing Ponzi''s defenses had crumbled, Donnie smiled, "Of course, I am a man of my word!"


    "Alright!" Ponzi gritted his teeth and told Donnie about one of his secret ounts, "There''s a total of 236,780 US dors in it. I saved it just in case. Now that you have the ount number and password, you can withdraw it."


    Donnie showed a satisfied smile, "Rest assured, when youe out of prison, you cane to Antic City to find me. By then, you will definitely receive the reward you deserve."


    Ponzi slumped to the ground, saying helplessly, "I hope everything you say is true!"


    Donnie, Olden, and Bruce left the room.


    "Do you really believe Ponzi''s words, that he won''t rat you out?" Bruce asked Donnie at that moment.


    Donnie looked at Olden, "Based on your understanding of FBI headquarters, are they capable of wrenching information about us from Ponzi?"


    Olden replied, "Have no doubt, I''ve studied the interrogation methods at FBI headquarters. Given Ponzi''s state, once inside, I can assure you he''ll reveal everything clear as day, including the number of women he slept withst night, their names, and any distinguishing features they have."


    Hearing this, Bruce turned immediately to return to the room.


    "What are you doing?" Donnie grabbed Bruce and asked.


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    "Obviously, I''m going to kill him. Are we supposed to let him spill everything about us? If that happens, we''ll have to give up the money we''ve got!" Bruce said as if it were a matter of course.


    Donnie waved his hand, "You can''t kill Ponzi; I didn''t deceive him about one thing just now. Everyone in Antic City already knows that it was Olden who captured Ponzi. If Ponzi dies now, FBI headquarters will certainly suspect Olden.


    Combined with the previous matter involving David Jabbar, Olden will be in a lot of trouble!"


    Olden showed a grateful expression when he heard Donnie considering his situation.


    "So what do we do now?" Bruce asked.


    Donnie''s face showed not the slightest hint of worry as heughed and said, "The news Ponzi just shared with us has already provided a solution to this issue!"


    Bruce asked, "What news?"


    "The General!" Donnie chuckled, "The General''s wealth is not inconsiderable, but $200,000 in cash is a pretty sum, and to anyone right now, Ponzi is a juicy piece of meat. I reckon the General absolutely has a reason to send people to capture Ponzi!"


    .


    Smack!


    Inside the General''s vi, the elderly General''s face was an unhealthy red with anger at this moment.


    On the expensive wool carpet were the pieces of a cup the General had just smashed... With the lesson fromst time, the General could no longer bear to smash those costly antiques.


    "Damn that Ponzi, damn that Ponzi, he should be shot dead in a hail of bullets!"


    Right then, the General roared like an old lion in a fit of rage.


    He never imagined that one day he would be duped by a country bumpkin from Boston.


    A strong sense of humiliation made it hard for the General to catch his breath.


    Seeing the General like this, Vince, who had been left with a bruised and swollen face by Luciano, hurried over tofort him.


    "Godfather, take care of your health!"


    The General shouted loudly, "Find Ponzi for me, and bring this man to me!"


    Vince looked at the General somewhat puzzled, "Godfather, why don''t I just finish him off!"


    For Vince, finding some hitmen and killing Ponzi under FBI protection was much easier than bringing Ponzi alive to the General!


    The General snorted coldly and said, "Fool, have you forgotten the reports in the newspapers? Ponzi scammed thousands in Boston; and with the people from Antic City, he''s taken at least $15 million in cash. If we can get our hands on that money, then we can use it to deal with Nucky!"


    Vince then understood the General''s intent; the man was coveting Ponzi''s assets.


    Vince, initially resistant to the idea of capturing Ponzi alive, suddenly lost his fear of the FBI at the thought of Ponzi''s immense wealth.


    How powerful could a federalw enforcement agency that hadn''t been established for long be?


    "Godfather, rest assured, I will definitely bring this man to you alive!"


    "Good!" Seeing Vince''s attitude, the General''s face finally showed a hint of a smile.


    "However, now that Ponzi is caught by the FBI and not in our jurisdiction''s lockup, we need some time to find their exact location. I''m afraid they might leave Antic City during this time!" Vince said with some concern.


    "You don''t need to worry about that. They can only leave Antic City in two ways: by car or by train. I tend to believe they will leave by train. In that case, have someone closely watch these two ces, and I believe there will definitely be a payoff!" the General replied.


    Vince smiled and said, "I got it!"


    In fact, without the General saying anything, the news that the FBI was nning to take Ponzi out of Antic City by train tomorrow had already spread by tonight.

 Chapter 92: 84銆乀he Doomsday of the Brigadier General (7K Long Chapter, Please Subscribe~)

    In the era withoutmercial airne travel, the most convenient mode of transportation to and from Antic City was the train.


    Through the efforts of Jonathan Pitney, the first pioneer of Antic City, the city gained its first railway to Phdelphia. Subsequently, American railwaypanies discovered the business opportunities in Antic City and began to expand its railways.


    Now, there are two railwaypanies and four railway lines operating between Phdelphia and Antic City, with over a dozen trains running between the two cities every day.


    Among them was a premium train service, while tickets for the other trains from Phdelphia to Antic City cost 1 US Dor, a ticket for this train was 3 US Dors!


    At 7 o''clock in the morning, one such train was scheduled to depart.


    Vince Olden and his men escorted Ponzi to the Antic City train station.


    The group surrounded Ponzi, carefully avoiding the crowd and headed inside the station.


    But at this time, when most people were still half asleep, sporadic gunfire suddenly erupted at the Antic City train station.


    The unexpected sound of gunshots made everyone at the station suddenly duck and cover their heads, while others scattered in panic!


    Vince Olden and his team chose to duck and cover their heads as well.


    Ponzi, still dazed, had not yet grasped what was happening.


    It was because of this confusion that Ponzi suddenly saw several men with masked faces, holding rifles, charging towards them.


    Seeing this, Ponzi panicked and immediately attempted to flee, but before he could get far, Vince Olden, who had been crouching at his side, miraculously stuck out a foot.


    Bang!


    The unsuspecting Ponzi went sprawling to the ground.


    The men holding rifles were momentarily startled by the scene, but they quickly recovered and rushed forward.


    "Nobody move, or we''ll shoot you dead!"


    While some men threatened Vince Olden and the others with their long guns, others grabbed Ponzi, who was lying on the ground, pulled him up, and, uponpleting their objective so smoothly, immediately left the scene with the bewildered Ponzi in tow. They boarded a truck they had already prepared and sped out of Antic City.


    At the time, no one noticed that an ordinary Ford Model T was following them as they drove away from the site.


    Only after the assants had left did Vince Olden hurriedly get up and shout angrily, "Who dares to be so bold as to abduct a person from the Federal Bureau of Investigation?"


    No one could answer Olden''s question, and he didn''t expect an answer. After shouting, Olden ran to the nearest phone booth and immediately called Washington.


    "Director, something terrible has happened, Ponzi has been abducted!"


    After Olden had captured Ponzi, he indeed called their acting director, William Allen, who, upon confirming Ponzi''s capture, was extremely excited.


    Following the previous director''s departure, the position of director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation had not been officially appointed, and William Allen was merely an acting director.


    However, hecked the previous director''s influence, and with various factions within the Bureau, he had little room to maneuver.


    Now that Olden had captured possibly the biggest financial fraudster in American history, William Allen immediately felt it was an opportunity to establish his authority.


    As a result, Allen issued an absolute order to Olden: Ponzi must be brought back alive.


    How could it be that just a day hadn''t passed, and Ponzi was abducted?


    "How could you let this happen..." Allen roared over the phone.


    This forced Olden to hold the phone away from his ear.


    "Director, we were helpless. They had long guns and outnumbered us. It all happened so suddenly; we barely had a chance to react before Ponzi was taken away!"


    "It''s anarchy,plete anarchy!" Allen roared helplessly, "Find out who was responsible for this, I want them to spend the rest of their lives in jail!"


    Olden replied, "Yes, sir, we will definitely get to the bottom of this!"


    .


    While Olden was being scolded by William Allen, Ponzi had already seen who had abducted him!


    "Vince, is that you?"


    Since Vince was still sporting a bruised face, Ponzi couldn''t be sure that the almost unrecognizable person before him was the protege of the general, Vince.


    "Mr. Ponzi, I bet you didn''t expect to see me again so soon!"


    Vince was truly ecstatic at that moment; he had expected today''s operation to be a fierce battle, yet it had gone so smoothly.


    Ponzi was far from naive enough to think that Vince hade to rescue him. In fact, being out of the FBI''s control could well be worse for him.


    "Mr. McGrady, I really appreciate youing to save me, and I will surely repay you properly!"


    "Heh heh!" Vinceughed smugly, "Charles, of course, you should thank me. So, I figure if you give me all the money you''ve swindled these past few months, that would make both of us very happy!"


    It was indeed all about the money.


    Ponzi wasn''t surprised at all by this oue.


    "However, Mr. Charles, your audacity is really something, daring to deceive the general''s money. You should know that no one in Antic City has ever had the guts to do that!"

 Chapter 93: 84. The Doomsday of the Brigadier General (7K Mega Chapter, Please Subscribe~)_2

    Vince said proudly,


    "Mr. McGrady, listen to me, I naturally don''t have the guts to deceive the General. It was all Donnie who made me do it. He told me that if I didn''t do this, he would expose everything about me. I had no choice."


    "But rest assured, I haven''t touched a cent of the General''s money. When I see the General, I will hand it all over to him!"


    Ponzi directed the line of fire at Donnie.


    Sure enough, upon hearing the name Donnie Block, Vince, who was already bruised and swollen, now looked even uglier, naturally looking even less human.


    After being beaten up by Charlie Luciano, Vince knew that it was Donnie who had given away his location.


    "It''s that bastard again. I won''t let him off, rest assured. After I get all your property, both Donnie Block and Nucky willpletely disappear from Antic City!"


    "I have always believed in the strength of the General and you, Mr. McGrady!" Ponzi first ttered, then asked cautiously, "What about me?"


    "Haha!" Vinceughed out loud and said, "That will depend on your performance!"


    Bang!


    At that moment, the truck suddenly stopped.


    Vince, who was sitting in the back of the truck, was jolted by the abrupt stop, almost falling over.


    "Rooney, how are you driving!" Vince, who hadn''t adjusted himself yet, started cursing at this time.


    But the driver Rooney didn''t answer his question. What answered him was a series of gunshots.


    By the time Vince realized it, his chest had already been pierced by bullets, his blood soaking through his clothes, turning into a puddle in an instant.


    Vincey in the truck, dying without ever knowing what had happened.


    The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind!


    Having guessed that the General would surely make a move on Ponzi, Donnie naturally had his own n.


    Ponzi couldn''t die at the hands of Van Olden, but he could die by someone else''s hand.


    Everyone at the Antic City station just saw that Ponzi was abducted, so what happened to him next was already irrelevant to Van Olden.


    Donnie also believed that a reward of fifty thousand US dors would be enough for Van Olden to happily face William Allen''s wrath.


    Bruce Currie, Robert Lird, Westglenn, and Randy Powers, four kings of soldiersing down from the battlefield, attacked Vince and others by surprise. If problems still arose under such circumstances, they couldn''t have survived on the battlefield either.


    When one round of shooting ended, Bruce, holding a rifle, jumped directly onto the truck. To his surprise, Vince and the others were already dead as doornails.


    Yet, Ponzi still had a breath in him.


    When Ponzi lying in the truck saw Bruce, a bleak smile appeared on his face: "Donnie, what a good move!"


    Bang!


    Bruce shot Ponzi directly in the head, "Talk too much!"


    Robert and the others were also finishing off the others with extra shots at that time.


    "Vince actually took Ponzi out of the city; that does save us a lot of trouble!" Robert, looking at the corpses in the car, said indifferently.


    Bruceughed, "Didn''t Donnie say it? Ponzi is too important. Even the General couldn''t possibly hide him in the city."


    "Let''s take care of these guys quickly!"


    Robert started calling over Westglenn and Randy Powers to pick up stones from the roadside, then tied them to these people. Finally, Robert came to the driver''s seat of the truck, fixed the elerator with an iron rod, and then drove the truck directly into the Antic Ocean.


    With a booming ssh,


    The entire truck and all the people on it sank to the bottom of the Antic Ocean.


    .


    Donnie sat in the hall of The Fuli Tavern; it was the morning, and The Fuli Tavern had no patrons yet, but at this time, Donnie looked somewhat embarrassed.


    In front of him slumped a man with barely any breath left, stubbornly and crazily stuffing himself with food¡ªit was Charlie Luciano!


    Things had been happening so frequently ofte that Donnie had forgotten the existence of someone like Charlie Luciano.


    In recent days, Nate only dared to give Luciano a bit of drink to sustain his life.


    He hadn''t dared to give any food!


    What if Donnie really intended to starve the man to death?


    "Nate, really, you too, with such a big event, how could you not remind me, look at how hungry you''ve made Mr. Luciano!"


    Nate: "..."


    I indeed wanted to tell you, but you''d have to give me a chance!


    Though internally criticizing, Nate dared not express it out loud.


    Donnie looked at Charlie and said, "Charlie, by now you should know, David Jabbar has left Antic City, and his Fuli Tavern has been sold to me. And the deal between him and you¡­ the one about assassinating me, that should be void now, right?"


    Charlie Luciano stuffed a piece of bread in his mouth, then, with his cheeks bulging, said to Donnie, "Previously, it was David Jabbar''s business with you, and now it''s between you and me!"


    Donnie''s eyebrows arched. He had kept Charlie Luciano alive until now because Luciano was backed by Meyer, who controlled the entire bootlegging business in New York City.


    If Donnie''s bootlegging was to enter New York, then it had to go through Meyer.

 Chapter 94: 84. The Doomsday of the Brigadier General (7K Mega Chapter, Please Subscribe~)_3

    "I really don''t like your attitude right now!" Donnie didn''t care if Luciano would be the underworld emperor of New York in the future; at present, Luciano, in Donnie''s eyes, was nothing more than a somewhat useful bargaining chip!


    "Dwight, take away all the food in front of this man and lock him up in the warehouse!"


    Upon hearing the word "warehouse," Charlie immediately tensed up, frightened.


    How he had gotten through thest few days was something only he knew.


    He absolutely didn''t want to enter that ce again; he didn''t want to step foot in the warehouse ever again in his life!


    "Wait, wait a minute!"


    Luciano hurriedly spoke out.


    "Donnie Block, do you know that Mr. Meyer won''t let you off the hook if you treat me like this?"


    Donnie chuckled and said, "So if I let you go, could Mr. Meyer and I be friends?"


    Luciano shook his head and said, "Nothing is impossible, as long as I''m willing to speak on your behalf!"


    Donnie said, "I remember you just said that the matter between us isn''t settled yet!"


    Luciano, now under someone else''s roof, had to bow his head and reluctantly implied that the past events were over.


    But only Luciano knew that this matter would definitely not be over. He didn''t think Donnie Block was very strong; his defeat was merely due to carelessness, not having investigated Donnie''s situation thoroughly. Once he returned to New York and regrouped, he would surely lead his men back to Antic City and kill Donnie!


    However, Donnie appeared to trust Luciano quite easily and said with a smile, "That''s for the best. I know that Mr. Meyer''s private liquor is smuggled from Europe and Canada. You can tell Mr. Meyer that I have a batch of whisky that, although it may not match the quality of the smuggled liquor, is very cheap in price. Additionally, I am very keen on the prospect of a partnership with Mr.


    Meyer!"


    "No problem, I''ll talk to Mr. Meyer about it, and I believe Mr. Meyer would definitely be willing to partner with you, Donnie!"


    Luciano said seriously.


    "Good!" Donnie nodded, then smiled and said, "So now we''re friends?"


    "That''s right!" Luciano, clenching his mrs, said, "We''re friends now!"


    Donnie said with augh, "In that case, no one will ever know about the things you did in my warehouse!"


    Luciano: "..."


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    Luciano was a proud gang member, aspiring to be a big shot like Meyer.


    And such a big shot can''t have a tainted history!


    Only now did Luciano realize why Donnie''s men had taken photos of him and the warehouse when they let him out.


    This was a deathblow to his spirit!


    These past days, Luciano had been locked up alone in a warehouse with no daylight, and there wasn''t a single bottle of liquor in the whole warehouse beside himself.


    During this time, he could survive without eating, but couldn''t avoid other bodily functions; the warehouse didn''t have the facilities for that. Therefore, Luciano had no choice but to make do and leave his waste in the warehouse!


    If photos of these scenes were made public...


    Luciano would rather be shot dead by Donnie on the spot!


    While Luciano was struggling with his thoughts, Donnie saw that Bruce and the others had returned. "Dwight, take our new friend Charlie Luciano, get him a good bath, then find him a pretty woman and treat Mr. Luciano well. Being able to meet us and be our friend, I think Luciano is definitely one lucky guy!"


    Dwight, trying to hold backughter, said to Luciano, "Mr. Luciano, please follow me!"


    Luciano: "..."


    .


    Donnie didn''t follow Bruce and the others to discuss business in the hall of The Fuli Tavern but took them to his own office.


    "Everything has been taken care of, no traces left behind!"


    Sitting on the sofa in Donnie''s office, Bruce said casually, seemingly as if it had been a trivial task for him.


    Donnie nodded in satisfaction, trusting in the abilities of Bruce and the others!


    Robert, a bit worried, asked, "Vince was the Major''s prot¨¦g¨¦, and currently his most reliant subordinate. Now that we''ve taken him out, won''t the Major have a problem with that?"


    Donnieughed carelessly and said, "Don''t worry, from today on, the Major will be preupied with how to clear his connections with the disappearance of Ponzi. He''s no longer able to stir up any trouble in Antic City!"


    .


    The Major learned about what happened at the Antic City train station and was very pleased with how Vince and his men sessfully abducted Ponzi.


    "Vince has finally grown up; maybe in the future, I can entrust him with more important tasks!"


    The Major sat on the couch in his study, holding a ss of whiskey, a smile on his lined face.


    And sitting next to the Major was Roy Xin Sen, the old man whom the Major had invited to prepare to deal with David Jabbar!


    Different from the Major''s smile, Roy Xin Sen looked somewhat worried.


    "I''ve shed with men from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Although their skills aren''t that great, they''re professionally trained. For Vince to have so easily snatched Ponzi from their hands, it doesn''t quite make sense!"


    The Major never dismissed Roy''s advice lightly.

 Chapter 95: 84. The Doomsday of the Brigadier General (7K Mega Chapter, Please Subscribe~)_4

    "What do you mean?"


    Roy shook his head, "I''m not too clear, I just feel that the operation by Vince and his team is going too smoothly. This kind of smoothness makes me uneasy!"


    Although the Brigadier General valued Roy''s advice, he also had his own thoughts. "For the Federal Bureau of Investigation, safely bringing Ponzi to Washington is the most important thing. They can''t possibly hold back on this matter.


    Furthermore, to ensure Vince could seed easily, I assigned all of my most capable men to him, coupled with strong firepower. It''s understandable that things went smoothly!"


    Roy said, "I hope so. Now all we can do is wait for news from Vince!"


    The Brigadier General nodded. He had originally nned to meet Ponzi in person, but Ponzi had be far too sensitive a figure.


    Just to be cautious, he had entrusted the entire interrogation of Ponzi to Vince.


    The agreement was that Vince would report the results of the interrogation to him by tomorrow morning. If in one day''s time, Vince couldn''t get anything out of Ponzi, then the Brigadier General himself would have to step in!


    .


    A day passed quickly!


    The Brigadier General, unable to sleep for long these days, rose early. He even had his breakfast in his study, fearing he might miss Vince''s call if it came.


    But, by seven o''clock in the morning, there was still no call from Vince!


    "Could something have gone wrong?"


    As time passed without Vince''s answer, the Brigadier General''s mood started to grow anxious.


    Just then, the butler knocked and came in.


    "Sir, here are today''s newspapers, the ''Antic City Forum'', and the ''Antic City Post'' that you specifically instructed us to purchase!"


    For the residents of Antic City, reading the ''Antic City Forum'' every morning had be a habit, and the Brigadier General was no exception.


    Even while in prison, the Brigadier General, through his connections, managed to read the ''Antic City Forum'' daily.


    But, with the Ponzi scheme fraud case being reported, the ''Antic City Post'' suddenly drew the attention of many Antic City residents.


    Moreover, in the past couple of days, the ''Antic City Post'' had been serially covering the ''Ponzi scheme''... The ''Antic City Post'' had begun referring to Ponzi''s fraud as the ''Ponzi scheme''!


    Therefore, the Brigadier General had also instructed his butler to include the ''Antic City Post'' in his daily read.


    Receiving the newspapers, the Brigadier General decided to first check out thetest news on the Ponzi scheme in the ''Antic City Post''.


    "Eh, today''s ''Antic City Post'' is actually discussing Ponzi''s behavior in Antic City."


    Upon reading the opening of the report, the Brigadier General voiced his perplexity.


    But as he read on, his expression grew increasingly grim.


    The report pointed out that after arriving in Antic City, Ponzi had been too intimately involved with a big shot in Antic City, and it even confidently imed that this Antic City heavyweight had been duped by Ponzi''s crude scams, investing in thetter''spany.


    Although the report did not mention his name directly, the description of this big shot''s appearance and his residence all pointed to the Brigadier General.


    What''s more, the report also mentioned that this big shot sustained heavy losses because of the Ponzi scheme. If Ponzi was taken to Washington, then it was certain that this heavyweight''s losses could never be recovered.


    The report stopped abruptly there, and the following article covered the incident that urred at the Antic City station yesterday morning¡ªPonzi''s abduction!


    The implications were obvious!


    Looking at these two reports, the brigadier became ashen-faced, his breathing quickened.


    Yet, at this moment, his butler walked in again, his face stricken with panic.


    "Boss, arge crowd has gathered outside our vi. These people im they''ve been duped by Ponzi, and they now believe that you must have captured him. So, they demand that you hand over Ponzi orpensate them for their losses!"


    "I...."


    The brigadier''s vision darkened, and he copsed backwards.


    .


    "The brigadier has fainted? Had a stroke? Can''t speak?"


    Donnie quickly received this piece of news.


    Dwight rapidly said, "Yes, I saw with my own eyes people from the first hospitale to take the brigadier away. Later, I deliberately went to the hospital and inquired with a nurse I knew well, only to find out that the brigadier indeed had a stroke from acute anger!"


    After finishing his report, Dwight looked at Donnie with a face full of admiration. As Donnie''s current bodyguard and driver, Dwight was naturally aware of Donnie''s ns.


    The people who appeared in front of the brigadier''s vi this morning weren''t all investors in Ponzi''s scheme; most of them were actually from the West District.


    And the Antic City residents who had fallen for the Ponzi scheme hadn''t thought to protest in front of the brigadier''s vi. It was only when people from all corners of Antic City started saying that the brigadier must have kidnapped Ponzi and obtained all the assets Ponzi had swindled, that they joined in.


    So, under such instigation, more and more people showed up at the gates of the brigadier''s vi.


    As for the brigadier''s once esteemed reputation in Antic City... once my hard-earned money was conned away, any prestige was rendered utterly useless!


    To think that the former king of Antic City, who once gave Nucky, the current king of Antic City, such a headache, had now suffered a stroke under a series of maneuvers by Donnie?


    Dwight was surprised and also felt the oue was filled with drama!


    Donnie also felt that the oue was dramatically ironic!


    Although in a certain TV show in the future, the brigadier also had a stroke, it was due to being teased by a prostitute, the real brigadier had not actually had a stroke. Instead, after several confrontations with Nucky, he realized he was no match for Nucky and decided to abandon the struggle.


    For the sake of his own face, Nucky decided to break with the tradition of naming streets in the United States after Antic City, choosing specifically to name a street in Antic City as Ko Street, and appointed the brigadier as the honorary mayor of Antic City.


    Thus ended their rivalry.


    But what Donnie had not expected was that the brigadier really did have a stroke this time!


    "I don''t know whether this is good or bad!"


    Donnie did indeed want to pin the me for Ponzi''s disappearance on the brigadier, so that his own side would be free of any suspicion.


    Now that the brigadier had suffered a stroke and couldn''t speak, from this perspective, it seemed like a good oue.


    But without the constraint of the brigadier, Nucky would have no rival to match him in Antic City anymore; would such an oue lead Nucky to refocus his sights on Donnie?


    As Donnie was mulling over this issue, the telephone rang.


    Picking up the phone, it was Nucky on the line.


    "Donnie, I am returning to Antic City right away. This trip was very sessful; let''s talk in detail when we meet!"


    Donnie said, "That''s perfect; there''s something I need to discuss with you!"

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    Nucky, returning to Antic City, had never imagined that within just a few days of his leaving, earth-shattering events had taken ce.


    Ponzi had vanished, the Commodore had fallen!


    Each of these incidents alone would have been enough to shake Antic City to its core, yet they happened simultaneously.


    "Boss, the Commodore had deep roots in Antic City, and he also had significant ties in Washington, so he shouldn''t have fallen so easily, right?"


    Louis, who had returned from Washington with Nucky, also received the two pieces of news at the same time.


    "The man has had a stroke, all his connections are gone. Just you watch, his children in New York wille back at the first opportunity to sell all his assets in Antic City!"


    Nucky''s face was devoid of joy; the Commodore meant much more to him than just an enemy.


    Originally, Nucky''s father had been the Commodore''s right-hand man, and Nucky had even been the Commodore''s prot¨¦g¨¦. Eventually, they became enemies over the power struggle in Antic City.


    "Let''s go, we should also visit this senior at the hospital!"


    Nucky didn''t head straight for the Ritz Hotel upon his return but directed Louis to drive to the hospital.


    In the hospital room, the once King of Antic City, the Commodore, was now an old man drooling with a crooked mouth, as a nurse wiped the saliva from the corner of his lips.


    Upon seeing Nucky''s arrival, the Commodore''s face revealed aplex expression, wanting to speak, but he could only make a whimpering sound.


    Nucky, looking at the Commodore''s condition, sat down at his bedside, "It''s all in the past now. I will order City Hall to rename a street in Antic City to Ko Street and appoint you as the honorary mayor!"


    The Commodore was lying in the hospital bed, his face full of destion, a glint of constion shing through his cloudy eyes.


    .


    "Hey, what are you doing?"


    In Nucky''s study at the Ritz Hotel, Donnie pulled Lucy into his embrace, which excited her as much as it worried her.


    "Nucky has already got off the train and will be at the hotel any moment now!"


    Lucy yfully pped Donnie''s hand and chided him.


    "Don''t worry, knowing Nucky as I do, he''s likely to go to the hospital at this time!" Donnie''s hands began to wander.


    Lucy said, "How could you know something I don''t?"


    Donnie smiled, "Sometimes, a rival understands a person better than his own bedfellow!"


    Lucy, enjoying her position in Donnie''s arms, asked, "Haven''t you and Nucky be partners now? How are you still rivals?"


    Donnie exined, "The rtionships between men are veryplex, not as pure as those between men and women!"


    "Is our rtionship pure?" Lucy held Donnie''s face and pecked it.


    Donnieughed heartily, his hands exploring, "Isn''t our rtionship pure enough already?"


    Lucy, tantalized by Donnie''s movements and nearly unable to resist responding in kind, was stopped by Donnie.


    "We don''t have the time for this!" Your adventure continues at m v|l-e''-NovelBin


    Donnie was very confident in his timing.


    Lucy chuckled, "I could try harder!"


    In the end, the two did not follow through with their teasing, and Nucky returned to the Ritz Hotel.


    "Who would have thought that so many things could happen in Antic City in just a few days!" Nucky sat in his chair and spoke reflectively to Donnie.


    Donnie said, "Greed knows no bounds. The Commodore was too eager to reim his ce and was inevitably blinded by certain things!"


    Nucky, looking at Donnie, couldn''t help but ask, "What role did you y in all this?"


    Donnie chuckled and shook his head, "I wasn''t directly involved, I merely took advantage of the current!"


    "What really baffles me is how you found out about Ponzi''s scheme. You know, many people suspected Ponzi''s fraud... as your newspaper, ''Antic City Post,'' dubbed it the ''Ponzi scheme.'' But no one had any evidence, did they?"


    Nucky couldn''t help but ask Donnie, curious.


    Donnie calmly exined to Nucky, "I remember telling you before, Mr. Nucky, that all I want to be is a sessful businessman. As a businessman, I have my own investment philosophy.


    In my philosophy, an investment yielding an annual return of 15% is already a very good investment. But Ponzi imed his investment yielded a 400% return. Such a rate of return is simply impossible in my book.


    Since it''s something that is simply impossible, I don''t need evidence; I just need to voice my doubt.


    Then, Ponzi''s bubble is naturally going to burst!"


    Nucky knew that Donnie had purchased a newspaper, and Donnie had never thought to hide it. After all, such public information in Antic City couldn''t be kept from Nucky!


    "At your previous meeting with Ponzi, he probably wanted you to invest in his scheme, right?"


    Nucky remembered the incident at Ponzi''s party.


    Donnie nodded, "That''s right, but evidently, Mr. Ponzi found the wrong guy!"


    Nucky said, "Ponzi could hardly have expected that his downfall would unexpectedly benefit your newspaper business!"


    On his way back, Nucky had already learned about the "Antic City Post" situation in the city. Consecutive days of reporting on the Ponzi scheme had garnered a lot of attention for the "Antic City Post"; from an average of just a few hundred copies each issue, sales had now reached an average of three thousand copies per issue!

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    You should know that the permanent poption of Antic City is only around forty to fifty thousand!


    What surprised Nucky even more was that the "Antic City Post" was no longer just sold in Antic City, it could even be seen in Phdelphia now.


    This shows the importance of a hot event to a newspaper!


    "It''s a pity, the Ponzi affair has alreadye to a close, and it''s impossible to continue attracting attention with it!" Donnie said with some regret.


    Nucky looked at Donnie''s expression and suddenly asked, "Does Ponzi''s disappearance have anything to do with you?"


    Donnie shook his head firmly, "I''m not that bold, the FBI is already onto Ponzi''s case. Mr. Nucky, do you think I would dare arm-wrestle with the FBI?"


    Nucky chuckled, "That''s not necessarily true, after all, there was the matter with David Jabbar."


    Like Ponzi, David Jabbar was also taken away by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, mysteriously disappeared, and it was Donnie who benefitted the most.


    Although no one talks about this matter now, everyone has guessed that the person behind the scenes must be Donnie Block!


    "David Jabbar was just an insignificant figure in Antic City, Ponzi is different, I don''t have the nerve to do that!" Donnie denied.


    "Whether you did it or not, only you know best, but I need to remind you, this affair is definitely not going to end so easily. Ponzi''s assets will surely be the focus of many people''s attention, you''re going to be very busy in theing period!"


    Nucky couldn''t be sure if Donnie was rted to the matter or not.


    Donnie spread his hands with an indifferent expression, "I didn''t do it, it doesn''t matter to me who investigates."


    Seeing Donnie''s attitude, Nucky said nothing more, "Alright then, let''s talk about our business now!"


    Donnie took a sip of whiskey and smiled, "That''s exactly why I''m here!"


    Nucky said, "Pierre has decided to invest in the Miss America pageant, but he also demands that General Motors must have the exclusive naming rights for Miss America."


    General Motors was not established for a long time, having been founded by Billy Brown in 1908. In the early days, Billy Brown understood that to make significant progress in the automotive industry, he must have sufficient cash, so he sought help from Wall Street''s Morgan Consortium.


    With the funding from the Morgan Consortium, Billy Brown immediately embarked on a wild acquisition spree, buying and merging with more than twenty American carpanies including the Cadic Company, Murphy Motor Company, Norwood Automobile Company, Buick Company, and more.


    This frenzied expansion soon led to the aftermath of massive borrowing by General Motors.


    So, during a series of crises involving thepany''s cash crisis, a drop in stock price, and Billy Brown''s struggle with Wall Street bankers for control over General Motors, he brought in the DuPont Family, a giant in the industry.


    Intending to find an ally, he instead brought in a behemoth that would consume him!


    Untilst year, the DuPont Family patriarch Pierre DuPont effortlessly became the president of General Motors, and the DuPont Family officially took over General Motors.


    Donnie expressed admiration for Nucky''s connections, "Without Mr. Nucky, Pierre would not have invested in Miss America.


    But what concerns me more is, how much money do they n to invest?"


    Nucky was very pleased with Donnie''s attitude and was also very happy to have secured General Motors'' sponsorship, so he smiled and said, "300,000 US Dors!"


    "Wow!" Donnie whistled exaggeratedly andughed, "If that''s the case, we won''t have to worry about funding anymore!"


    That was a normal expense, while in fact, Ponzi''s investment had exceeded the normal threshold.


    "Additionally, I''ve followed your n and contacted some otherpanies. Indeed, there are quite a fewpanies that are very interested in the Miss America pageant, some of which have already agreed to invest. All added up, it should also amount to around sixty to seventy thousand US Dors!"


    Sponsorship from General Motors alone was sufficient for Nucky and Donnie to recoup all their costs, everything else was essentially profit for them.


    "Donnie, I must say, if you focused on being a businessman, your achievements would certainly not be small!"


    This was Nucky expressing his sincere appreciation for Donnie.


    "I am actually focusing on being a businessman!" Donnie stated calmly.


    Nuckyughed withoutmitting to a position, but then he brought up another piece of good news to Donnie, "Harding has agreed toe to Antic City on the final day of Miss America to present the awards!" Experience tales at m v|l e''-NovelBin


    Donnie said, "It''s just a matter of each taking what they need, we need Harding''s influence, and Harding also needs the poprity of Miss America!"


    Nucky gave a wry smile and said, "A win-win and fairly high-profile affair, yet in your mouth, it bes such a vulgar matter."


    Donnieughed, "Am I not right?"


    "Alright, I have to admit, you''re absolutely correct!"


    Nucky said helplessly.


    Afterwards, Donnie and Nucky exchanged views again on the process of the Miss America selection in other cities, and Donnie also showed Nucky the preparations in Antic City over the past few days.


    Once all matters had been discussed, Donnie stood up and left Nucky''s office.

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    "After the election of Miss America, Donnie''s influence in Antic City just keeps on growing!" Nucky said to Louis, looking at the now closed door.


    Louis nodded and replied, "But I know you must have a way to control Donnie, boss."


    With a confident smile, Nucky said, "Do you know why I didn''t mention Harding''s mistress to Donnie just now?"


    Shaking his head, Louis answered, "No idea!"


    Nucky, increasingly buoyant, continued, "Actually, I was testing Donnie. I wanted to see if he would bring it up on his own. If he had, I wouldn''t let him continue with the Miss America project. But now he''s been smart, not mentioning it. This shows that, at least for the time being, he understands his ce in Antic City!"


    Louis nodded again.


    At that moment, Lucy emerged from the bedroom, exquisitely dressed.


    "Are you going out?" Nucky asked as he saw Lucy dressed up.


    With a huff, Lucy shot Nucky a nce and said, "I know when you got off the train, but look at what you''ve been doing ever since. I thought you would want me to keep youpany as soon as you got back to the hotel. Instead, you met with Donnie Block again. So I''m that unimportant in your heart, am I? Since that''s the case, I might as well go out and alleviate some of my displeasure."


    Nuckyughed and replied, "Are you holding it against me?"


    "That''s right!" Lucy confirmed.


    Afterward, Lucy turned away with pride and left Nucky''s office directly.


    Watching Lucy''s demeanor, Nucky chuckled and shook his head without taking it to heart.


    .


    By the time Donnie returned to The Fuli Tavern, it was already the afternoon, and there were already quite a few customers seated there.


    Just like in the Block Tavern, people in the hall kept greeting Donnie.


    "What does Nucky think about the general''s situation?" Bruce asked as he joined Donnie in his office.


    "We can put aside Nucky''s affairs for now, he won''t be suspecting us of anything anytime soon!"


    Donnie slumped onto the sofa, hisplexion somewhat pale.


    Seeing Donnie''s state, Bruce curiously inquired, "Why do you look like you''ve just been through a minor battle?"


    Donnie waved his hand, saying, "A fierce battle!"


    Bruce didn''t understand what Donnie meant and didn''t ask further. Instead, he queried, "So what do we do next?"


    "Since Nucky won''t be suspecting us for now, we should focus all our energy on the Miss America matter. If we can sessfully handle it, it will be very beneficial for us," Donnie said.


    Throwing his hands up, Bruce replied, "If that''s the case, then I''m afraid I can''t be of help!"


    Bruce was capable of tailing someone or taking someone out, or even assessing the current situation, but handling something like the Miss America affair was not his forte!


    Donnie nced at Bruce with a smile and reassured, "Don''t worry, I never thought you could contribute much to this!"


    With no serious business to discuss, the two chatted casually, especially on the topic of warfare, which was a shared interest.


    However, their pleasant conversation was soon interrupted by Nate!


    "Boss, Mr. Dorne has arrived!"


    "Alright, I''ll be right there!"


    .


    "Donnie, my friend!"


    Upon seeing Donnie arrive at his booth, Brad immediately let go of the woman beside him, stood up, and embraced Donnie.


    Before this, even though Donnie had told Ponzi that the contract was signed by Brad, in truth, Brad knew nothing about it.


    Of course, now that Ponzi was dead, there was no one left to speak of the matter.


    The reason Donnie had invited Brad over was, in fact, to discuss another matter.


    "Brad, I want to hire you as the legal advisor for my newpany, all the way until you take up the position of Antic City''s municipal judge. What do you think?"


    The year''s elections would conclude in November, after which Brad would be appointed the municipal judge of Antic City!


    Bradughed, "Aren''t I already the legal advisor for Starry Entertainment?"


    Donnie shook his head, "Not for Starry Entertainment, but for Deep Sea Media''s legal advisor!"


    Your next read awaits at m v|l-e''-NovelBin


    "The Deep Sea Media that owns the ''Antic City Post''?" Even though Brad hadn''t heard of Deep Sea Media before, he knew that Donnie now owned a newspaper in Antic City called the "Antic City Post."


    Donnie nodded, "Correct!"


    "Of course, that''s not a problem for me, after all, it means an additional ie!" Brad said happily.


    Donnie nodded and replied, "Since that''s settled, congrattions, you''ll have work to do soon!"


    Brad exaggeratedly asked, "Has your newspaper gotten sued already?"


    Donnie chuckled and shook his head, "Not at all. I want you to help me register a wireless radio broadcastingpany and apply for the firstmercial broadcast license in the United States!"


    "A wireless radio broadcastingpany?" Brad showed a puzzled look.


    You couldn''t me him for being uninformed, though it was true that young Americans could now buy parts and assemble radios themselves, as of yet, nomercial radio stations had been established in the world.


    The first globalmercial radio station, KDKA, wouldn''t be founded until November of that year.

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    The purpose for which it was established was not because Westinghouse Company, thepany behind KDKA, saw the immense profits behindmercial radio. Rather, it was because Westinghouse Company wanted topete with American Telephone and Telegraph Company, General Electric Company, and American Radio Company for wireless radio patents.


    "That''s right, it''s a wireless broadcasting radio stationpany!" Donnie nodded with certainty, "I want to make sure every American can hear the sound of our radio station!"


    "This?" Brad showed a hint of confusion and said, "Donnie, as a friend, I must remind you that your idea is not a very good one.


    To establish amercial broadcasting station, first you needplete broadcasting equipment; you''ll have to build your own signal transmission stations in all major cities across America. Additionally, you''ll need content. These all represent huge investments, and a radio station ¡ª will it really have a fixed audience?


    Although Brad didn''t fully understand what amercial radio station was all about, he knew the operation of a radio station. Currently, most radio stations within the United States were military-operated, and from this, one could glimpse the embryonic form ofmercial radio stations.


    "Currently within the country, not to mention the entire United States, but the entire worldcks amercial radio station. You don''t think nobody else has noticed this, do you?


    The reason nobody has done this until now is primarily because no one has found a profitable model, despite recognizing the significant investment required."


    Lacking a profit model and faced with massive investments ¡ª that''s the reason there are nomercial radio stations within the United States!


    Naturally, Donnie was aware of this. Historically, following the establishment of KDKA, the United States and European countries began to set up their ownmercial radio stations.


    Speaking of the United States alone, after the peak period of establishingmercial radio stations had passed, by the following year, 14% of the radio stations had to shut down due to the inability to afford maintenance costs of their transmission stations.


    But Donnie had his own ideas about this: "You don''t need to worry about the funds and profitability, I will solve these issues. As for the application for licenses, Mr. Dorne, do you have any more questions?"


    Although the maintenance costs formercial radio stations were high, Donnie understood that the radio would be an important medium in the United States for the next two to three decades.


    Just considering the United States, in 1928, it was estimated that there were 8 million radios within the country, not counting those assembled by individuals.


    If you include the individually assembled ones, that number would exceed 13 million.


    And how many people did the entire United States have?


    In terms of revenue, in 1924, the advertising revenue of variousmercial radio stations in the United States was 4 million US dors. By 1928, this revenue had reached 10.5 million US dors.


    Even more importantly, as radios became a household necessity in America, many politicians also began delivering speeches onmercial radio stations... much like television speeches inter times!


    As for the audience after the radio station was established, Donnie wasn''t too worried because he had three trump cards at hand!


    The first trump card had already been yed ¡ª the Miss America pageant!


    As long as the Miss America pageant was well-known across America, Donnie believed that the citizens of any city would want to know the results in real-time.


    But the distribution of newspapers was too slow!


    As for the other two trump cards, Donnie needed to y them gradually.


    "Well, since you''ve decided, what else can I say? I will do it tomorrow. But Donnie, I still want to remind you to prepare arge amount of cash in advance. This business is going to empty your wallet!"


    Funding was the least of Donnie''s worries at the moment.


    He had previously obtained $500,000 in cash from Ponzi and then got ess to one of his secret ounts. After giving $50,000 to Van Olden, Donnie could still get more than $180,000 in cash.


    Your next read awaits at m v|l-e''-NovelBin


    All these added up to more than $600,000 in cash.


    It was more than enough start-up capital to establish amercial radio station!


    It was precisely because Donnie had obtained this sum of money that he now had the courage to establish his ownmercial radio station.


    "Any problem that can be solved with money is not a problem!"


    Donnie said confidently.


    Seeing Donnie so resolute, Brad waspletely out of arguments.


    .


    "Donnie Block is going to establish amercial radio station!"


    Late at night, after leaving The Fuli Tavern, Brad Dorn told Elena upon returning home.


    "It''s a crazy n, and I don''t think he will seed!"


    In front of his wife, Brad Dorn didn''t hold anything back.


    Elena turned her attention away from the WCTU documents and looked at Brad, "Amercial radio station?"


    "Ah..." Brad exined Donnie''s idea to Elena.


    After hearing it, Elena said directly, "I don''t think you need to be fixated on whether Donnie can make this business work, but rather you should consider what kind of benefits this business brings to you!"


    Brad Dorn asked withck of understanding, "What do you mean?"


    "As Antic City is the city where Donnie is based, since he wants to establish amercial radio station, the first thing he must win over is the city, and then the whole state of New Jersey," Elena Dorn exined.


    "Regarding the situation in Antic City, we are all aware of it. Look at our family and the other neighbors; almost every household has a recording machine.


    And Donnie''smercial radio station will have nopetitors, meaning we can listen to the content broadcasted by Donnie''s station every day on a fixed schedule.


    Compared to those stations without licenses that are unable to hold a fixed frequency, that''s already a huge advantage!"


    Although there isn''t amercial radio station in the United States, there are many personal stations. However, because they do not have licenses, they cannot fix their audience, and so they have never be significant.


    This is also why radios still have a market even in the absence ofmercial stations.


    Although radios cannot be used to listen to a particrmercial station regrly, tuning in to some external sounds is still quite interesting for people of that era!


    "So you''re saying, Donnie''smercial radio station will have a fixed viewership in Antic City, in New Jersey, and these people are all upper-middle-ss Americans and above. If our name can appear in that broadcast..."


    Brad Dorn confirmed with Elena.


    "Yes, that''s exactly what I mean, so it doesn''t matter to us whether Donnie Block''s radio station can make money, but if this station bes sessful, it will be very significant for us!"


    Elena said with a smile.


    "I understand!" Brad also smiled!

 Chapter 100: 86. Miss Americas Way of Making Money (7K Mega Chapter, Please Subscribe~)

    Starry Entertainment wasn''t just a name; it also signified a ce of business.


    To give the Miss America pageant sufficient prestige, Donnie decided to set Starry Entertainment''s office in the only office building in Antic City, the Ocean Building.


    The Ocean Building was said to be so named, but in reality, it was only four stories high.


    Starry Entertainment''s office was located on the fourth floor of the Ocean Building, upying an area of over three hundred square meters, divided into Donnie''s office, a meeting room, and then the rest of the office area.


    The office had been finished today, and Donnie took Dwight to see it.


    Sitting in his own office, Donnie could clearly see the Antic.


    The staff of Starry Entertainment had moved from their temporary office at the Ritz Hotel to this ce.


    Although thepany wasn''trge, it was well-equipped, with Donnie serving as chairman and general manager, overseeing five departments: organization, ounting, operations, logistics, and advertising!


    But in reality, the managers of these departments each had only a personal desk and a rtively small area to themselves within the vast office space.


    While thepany''s personnel were all recruited by Donnie, he was still very troubled by their capabilities.


    Antic City was a strange city¡ªits prosperity rivaled that of any major city in the United States, but its business model was extremely monotonous.


    Bars, casinos, boarding apartments, hotels, banks, and engineeringpanies¡ªit was almost the entirety of the business model here.


    This distorted development model resulted in ack of other respectablepanies in the area, and the local youth either joined gangs or served Antic City''s drinking, gambling, and women. Those young people who left for college and came back were mostlywyers, doctors, and some financial professionals.


    As for others, once they left for school, they rarely returned!


    So as for the working ability of the staff at Starry Entertainment, Donnie didn''t think highly of it.


    In the end, Donnie could only pick out the taller ones among the short, recruiting the current staff.


    "Boss, up until now, we''ve received a total of 183 female applications for the entire Antic City. Although this number is less than we predicted, I think it''s eptable!"


    In the meeting room of Starry Entertainment, the manager of the organization department, Tom Hudson, reported to Donnie holding a stack of reports.


    Donnie had noints upon hearing this number; in fact, he was satisfied with it, as most women of this era were still inclined towards conservatism.


    Although some young women were already very open.


    But they still had parents above them, and no matter how open they were in private, their parents might not know. However, openly participating in such a contest was something their parents would definitely be aware of.


    In fact, Tom Hudson had more than once mentioned to Donnie that after some girls had registered, their parents came directly to thepany, demanding the immediate withdrawal of their daughters'' applications, or else they would sue Starry Entertainment!


    "Don''t just focus on those ordinary girls; the strippers in Antic City are all willing to show off their bodies!"


    Though the number had reached Donnie''s satisfaction, he would be even happier if more girls joined in.


    Upon hearing Donnie''s thoughts, Tom Hudson looked shocked, "Boss, do you mean to say that those strippers can also join the Miss America pageant?"


    Donnie spread his hands, "Why not? Are they not women? Or is their figure not graceful enough?"


    The operations department manager, Jim Chugel, said, "Boss, I think what Hudson means is, if we let these strippers join, wouldn''t it potentially have a negative impact on our pageant?"


    Donnieughed heartily, "Are you trying to tell me that Miss America''s reputation is very good as it is now?"


    Breaking the shackles of an era always incurs the dissatisfaction of the old guards.


    Especially when these conservatives still held sway over societal discourse.


    In Antic City, aside from Donnie''s "Antic City Post" which was promoting the Miss America pageant without sparing any effort, the other three newspapers were attacking the pageant with equal vigor!


    In simple terms, the Miss America pageant had absolute heat in Antic City, but not enough favor.


    If you interviewed the ordinary people of Antic City, three out of four would say that such an event was indecent, with only one expressing their support covertly!


    Seeing everyone silent, Donnie said firmly, "This is thest time I''m going to exin Miss America''s beauty pageant to you all. What we want is attention, nationwide attention. I don''t care whether this attention is positive or negative; I just want attention!"


    Even hate followers are followers!


    Having lived through the information explosion era, Donnie understood the truth in this saying very well.


    A taskpleted should not worry about whether it is deemed good or bad, but rather it should be more concerned with whether people are talking about it.

 Chapter 101: 86. Miss Americas Way of Making Money (7K Mega Chapter, Please Subscribe~)_2

    "Now, do you all understand my requirements?"


    Seeing Donnie''s expression, everybody immediately nodded in understanding.


    Tom Hudson even directly stated, "I''ll contact Robinson from the Antic City Post right away and announce our condition!"


    Only then did Donnie nod in satisfaction.


    Jim Chugor said, "Boss, the staff stationed in other cities have also sent telegrams, and their situations are somewhat better than Antic City''s, as those are all megacities. So, I wanted to ask if the condition we''re applying to Antic City should also be extended to the other cities?"


    Donnie nodded as if it was the most natural thing in the world, "Of course. The United States is a country of equality and freedom. Do you want women from those cities to use us of regional discrimination?"


    The manager of the advertising department, Olidru, spoke with some difficulty, "Boss, if that''s the case, our advertising sponsorships may face some troubles. The brands we are in touch with already have skeptical attitudes towards the Miss America pageant. If we open up this condition, I worry they might abandon us for the sake of theirpanies'' reputations!"


    "Olidru, remember this!" Donnie said gravely as he looked at Olidru, "Our main sponsor has already been secured. As for those smaller ones, don''t worry about what they think. As long as our event is sessful enough to attract the attention of the entire United States,


    then they will surely give up their pathetic pride for the traffic we can provide!"


    Brand honor?


    Such a concept simply didn''t apply to Donnie. In his view, every brand in this world, as well as in the future world, had one and only one goal with their so-called brand honor.


    And that was to make their products sell better!


    European businessmen discovered diamond mines in Africa, so they crafted diamonds into symbols of love and harvested the wallets of generations of women.


    If this world required men to need diamonds instead of women, they could even have made diamonds symbols of friendship right from the start.


    The same goes for celebrity endorsements. As soon as a star is embroiled in a scandal, the brand would be eager to announce the termination of their contract with that person.


    Do you think they truly care about their brand honor?


    No, it''s because they understand that a scandal could cause the celebrity to lose fans, and being cklisted would subtract the flow of traffic the celebrity would have brought.


    If the star isn''t cklisted and their fans still possess enough purchasing power, the brand surely won''t give up on the star. In fact, some might even continue to seek ways to cooperate with them.


    Take the case of a certain popr idol from theter generation¡ªhow loudly his fans protested, even prompting the state media to step in.


    But what of it?


    The idol just needed toy low for a while before making an immediateeback, and the so-called national brands would still scramble to sign contracts with him.


    So, all that talk of brand honor and culture is nothing but deception by corporations.


    And right now, Donnie had a huge advantage; the thoughts of American women were in an enlightening phase of opening up, and when it came to beauty pageants, Starry Entertainment was the only yer in the entire nation.


    Under these circumstances, the Miss America pageant was inevitably going to be a hot topic of national conversation.


    Who would care by then what the participating girls did for a living?


    Moreover, Donnie wasn''t without means to handle these people!


    Seeing Donnie''s firm stance, the rest of the people in the meeting room naturally didn''t say anything more.


    Then the manager of the ounting department, Terry Rollins indicated to Donnie that all funds had been transferred into the Miss America beauty pageant''s ount.


    Donnie expressed his satisfaction.


    After the meeting ended, Donnie returned to his office where John was already waiting for him.


    "The situation in the West District is progressing smoothly. Eli told me to ask you when the auction could take ce since he knew I wasing to see you today," John said.


    Under the absolute suppression of force, the West District had experienced some chaos at the beginning, but it had now moved from a phase of disorder to one of ordered development.


    However, to avoid unnecessary conflicts, the West District had already begun to auction off properties street by street.


    "Did Eli say what Nucky thinks about this matter?" Donnie asked John.


    John replied, "Eli said that after Nucky returned from Washington, he discussed it with Eli. The only concern Nucky has is what to do with the numerous pubs, lodging apartments, and casinos that will be vacated in the West District; how should the empty houses be dealt with?"


    The number of houses on the streets of the West District is fixed. Previously, these buildings served as pubs, lodging apartments, and casinos, but now they were not viable for business due to Donnie''s ns, though there waspensation from auction fees and increased regtory fees.


    But this could still leave parts of the West District feeling somewhat empty.


    Donnie said, "It''s simple, those establishments that survive this upheaval will surely expand, and that will take care of some of the empty spaces. As for the rest, we can start pharmacies, restaurants, pool halls, amusement arcades, boutiques¡ªall sorts of ces for tourists to eat, drink, and be entertained."

 Chapter 102: 86. Miss Americas Way of Making Money (7K Mega Chapter, Please Subscribe~)_3

    John asked, "Then how do we attract others to open shops like this here? We can''t persuade them one by one, can we?"


    Donnie looked at John and said with a smile, "I didn''t expect you to ask that question!"


    John knew Donnie was teasing him, but he didn''t mind and said, "Now that I am a big shot in the West District, I naturally have to think about these issues!"


    Donnie was pleased that John had grown a bit of a brain andughed, "If others don''t do it, we can, since Nucky hasn''t explicitly opposed our idea, it means he supports it. In fact, I believe he''s already prepared for these houses not to yield rent in the short term."


    Moreover, Nucky has strong capital and other sources of ie. He can afford to leave those houses vacant, but others can''t. So you need to focus on these ces now and find a way to buy up all these houses. Once the West District starts to develop, thend and housing prices will surely skyrocket, and then idental City will truly be ours!"


    The development of a region can be clearly indicated by its housing prices.


    And such indicators are universal.


    In future urban development zones, the prices ofmercial and residential properties are not too high in the beginning stages, even far below those in the city center.


    But once the development zone takes off, the housing prices here will generally exceed those in the city!


    inly speaking, foot traffic is most important. As long as the West District can attract enough tourists, there will be no need for Donnie to worry about these vacant houses, others will proactively find ways!"


    John said, "But then a lot of cash will be needed. Your cash is already set for investment in the radiopany, do you have enough cash to do these things?"


    Donnie felt a bit of a headache upon hearing this topic, as he had previously been satisfied with having more than six hundred thousand dors in cash.


    And now he was facing a cash shortage.


    If Donnie really were a conventional businessman, he would certainly look for suitable partners or approach banks for loans at this time.


    But who says Donnie is such a businessman!


    "Tell those homeowners that we''ll pay for their houses in installments, plus a bit of interest. If they don''t agree... then ban those properties from conducting any business."


    A property that cannot generate any profit is essentially an empty shell.


    Those people have basically taken loans on their properties, and the interest rates during this period were much higher than inter times.


    If they lose the rental ie from leasing houses, ording to the American spending habit of living paycheck to paycheck, it will immediately make them defendants against the bank.


    So Donnie''s method, although unscrupulous to the homeowners, at least spared them from bing defendants.


    The current Donnie had the power to ensure their properties wouldn''t be rented out at all!


    John broke into a smile upon hearing Donnie''s method, saying, "Right, howe I didn''t think of that!"


    Donnieughed and said, "And rest assured, soon we will have arge amount of capitaling in!"


    John''s smile brightened, "Could there be someone like Ponzi showing up again?"


    Donnie gave a wry smile, "How could a person like Ponzi just appear out of nowhere?"


    Undoubtedly, people ying Ponzi schemes can be found in any era, but historically speaking, they are rare in any specific time, especially those with Ponzi''s level of influence.


    "Then what''s the solution?" John was straightforward; since he couldn''t figure out Donnie''s intentions, he simply asked.


    "Which industry is the most profitable in Antic City?" Donnie still wanted to stimte John''s thinking.


    "Gambling!" John said unreservedly.


    Though the bars and boarding houses in Antic City also did good business and made money, the real moneymaker was still gambling!


    Donnie nodded, "Right, it''s gambling, but the current options for gambling in Antic City are limited to casino gambling, lottery numbers, and the asional horse racing!"


    Official lotteries didn''t exist in America yet; there were only various illegal lotteries, and Antic City''s numbers game had evolved into an early form of modern lottery.


    "Don''t mention the numbers game!" John said angrily.


    Donnie looked helplessly at John, who was fond of ying the numbers game but had never won, even though Donnie had told him that the final results could be manipted. Nevertheless, John always believed he might be the lucky one.


    "But in reality, there are lots of things in the world to bet on, like right now, I can bet with you about what time you got up this morning!"


    Johnughed heartily, saying, "I get it, you want to let Antic City people bet every day on what time I get up, right?"


    "Get lost!"


    Donnie shouted angrily.


    John turned away grumpily, "If it''s not, then it''s not. I am your brother, how can you treat me like this?"


    "Come back!" Donnie said weakly.


    John immediately replied cheerfully, "Are you going to apologize to me?"


    Donnie gave up struggling and said, "The most exciting event in Antic City for the next few months will be the Miss America election. Once the event officially starts, you should find a casino in the West District that seemingly has no connection with us on the surface and open a betting pool."

 Chapter 103: 86. Miss Americas Way of Making Money (7K Mega Chapter, Please Subscribe~)_4

    This included the preliminary rounds, the top 16, the top 8, the top 4, and even up to the final top three; then, when the nationalpetition began, one could deduce from this and continue to set betting markets or even directly open markets about which contestant would win the championship."


    By that time, as long as the event could create a sensation, there would be no need to worry that no one would ce bets."


    Such side-betting business was actually not that unique, the only unique aspect was that this ce was Antic City, a yet-to-be legally sanctioned Casino City, and the Miss America pageant was held right here.


    What''s most important was, Donnie was the bookmaker behind the scenes!


    This alone would bring Donnie a massive influx of cash.


    "Ah, how did I not think of this!" John said excitedly.


    Because your brain isn''t even as big as a squirrel''s!


    Donnie said, "I''ll talk to Nucky about this in a couple of days. You''re responsible for getting all the preliminary work done!"


    "Why do we have to tell Nucky? We can do it on our own!" John didn''t want to share the profits with Nucky.


    Donnie, slumped over the desk, waved his hand weakly: "Go buy a lottery ticket or something, just don''t get in the way of my real business!"


    "Fine!" John left Donnie''s office without caring much.


    Doing monopolistic business in Antic City without giving Nucky a cut is utterly impossible!


    How could such a simple concept not be clear to John?


    Donnie really wanted to go back and ask Jennifer if John really was Carl''s own son.


    Thinking that if he asked this question, he might get chased out of the Block Tavern by Jennifer with a gun, Donnie decisively abandoned the idea.


    .


    Now that Donnie''s business had entered the fastne, after a moment''s thought, he made a call to Nucky''s study and they fixed a time to meet.


    When Donnie arrived at Nucky''s study, Nuckyughed and said, "Donnie, have you noticed how often we have been seeing each othertely?"


    Donnie responded with augh, "Can''t help it, after all, if you want to do business in Antic City, you can''t do it without your support, Nucky!"


    "Haha, so you do understand this. Then why did you always refuse my friendship before?" Nucky said cheerfully.


    Donnie replied, "It''s simple. Like now, I''m actively seeking a partnership with you, Nucky, whereas if I had epted your friendship back then, I should now be doing the things that you arranged for me!"


    "One is being in charge of your own affairs, and the other is me arranging your affairs for you!" Nucky summed up Donnie''s words.


    "Exactly!" Donnie readily nodded. Now that he and Nucky were partners, there was no need to face him with the same mindset as before.


    "But how can you be so sure that what I arrange for you wouldn''t be better than what you want to do yourself?"


    Nucky was still somewhat unwilling to concede.


    Donnie asked with a smile, "So, Mr. Nucky, if I were your man right now, how would you arrange things for me?"


    "I would make you a sheriff in charge of public safety in Antic City. In the future, I might even make you the city''s treasurer!"


    Nucky''s only position now was the financial officer of Antic City, and by saying this, he was actually making a guarantee to Donnie!


    Donnie took the lead and said, "Mr. Nucky, you see, this is the difference between you and me. You hope that I can follow the path you once took and tread it again, but I would rather forge my own path."


    "All right!" Nucky didn''t intend to discuss this issue in depth with Donnie. In his view, Donnie had amon problem of the youth.


    He thought he was invincible after a few sesses, not realizing that the advice of experienced folks could be very useful until he took a big fall!


    "Let''s talk about what you''ve got in mind for this visit!"


    Donnie shared his ns regarding the Miss America pageant with Nucky.


    Nucky''s sitting posture became straighter and his expression more serious as he listened, until after Donnie finished, "You''re nning to milk the Miss America pageant for all it''s worth, huh?"


    Donnie sat there with a smile on his face and asked Nucky, "So, Mr. Nucky, you have no objections to this idea?"


    Nuckyughed heartily and said, "Of course not, I really appreciate your idea!"


    Donnie said, "To make this happen, all we need is to ensure that the election of Miss America bes an event that captures the world''s attention."


    Of course, Nucky understood this point and said, "Don''t worry, I''ll call the other three newspapers in Antic City myself. I want every person in Antic City to wake up every morning and see news about Miss America in the newspapers, no matter which one they pick up!"


    As he spoke, Nucky suddenly thought of something and said, "Right, those three newspapers have been ndering Miss America recently, haven''t they? You don''t have to worry about that anymore, I''ll get them all to change their tune!"


    "Please don''t do that!" Donnie immediately stopped Nucky''s idea.


    "Why?" Nucky looked at Donnie, confused.


    Donnie exined, "If everyone is saying something is good, it''s actually easy to trigger people''s rebellious spirit. It''s better to have some criticizing and others praising, creating a storm of discussion, isn''t it easier that way to make people remember this event?"


    Nucky was a very clever man, or he wouldn''t have be the king of Antic City.


    And the most sessful king in the history of Antic City at that.


    So after Donnie finished speaking, Nucky just thought simply and immediately understood Donnie''s intention.


    "Right, when everyone says it''s good, ordinary passers-by might lose interest, but when the good and the bad be two opposing camps, naturally the level of discussion will surge. The more this happens, the more people will want to see whether the event is good or bad as it unfolds!"


    Donnie nodded with a smile, "Mr. Nucky is truly a wise man, far better than my brother, John!"


    A delighted Nucky nced sharply at Donnie and said, "Don''t think that I don''t know what kind of person your brother John is. Are you trying to provoke me byparing me with him?"


    Donnieughed and said, "Of course not, I was just genuinely praising you, Mr. Nucky!"


    "Enough, no need to exin. That''ll only make you seem worse!" Nucky said helplessly.


    Donnie stood up and said with a smile, "So, about the preliminarypetition..."


    Nucky said, "Just let John handle that. If there are any problems, I''ll take care of them!"


    Those were the words Donnie was waiting for. As he stood up to take his leave and reached the door of Nucky''s study, Donnie suddenly turned back to ask.


    "Mr. Nucky, which do you think is better, the path you arranged or the one I''m taking now?"

 Chapter 104: 87. Heaven or Hell (7K big chapter, please subscribe~)

    One day in May, as the roaring steam whistle sounded, a plume of ck smoke rose above the lotive.


    A train operated by the Camden-Antic City Railway Company came to a halt at the Antic City train station.


    In Antic City, there were two railwaypanies, namely the Phdelphia-Antic City Railway Company and the earlier Camden-Antic City Railway Company.


    In those days, to prevent the Phdelphia-Antic City Railway Company from constructing railways, the Camden-Antic City Railway Company did not allow them to transport any construction machinery or use their trains to carry building materials on their tracks.


    The boss of the Phdelphia-Antic City Railway Company, Cyril Richards, could only bypass Cape May by water to deliver their machinery to the shore, and the railway sleepers were also transported by boat from Baltimore.


    On July 7, 1877, the first train of the Phdelphia-Antic City Railway Company arrived in Antic City from Phdelphia.


    As the neer, the Phdelphia-Antic City Railway Company''s railways were somewhat narrower than those of the Camden-Antic City Railway Company, and their prices were also cheaper. Round-trip tickets and one-way tickets were priced at 1.5 and 1 US Dor respectively.


    By contrast, round-trip and one-way tickets from the Camden-Antic City Railway Company cost 3 and 2 US Dors respectively.


    Of course, the Camden-Antic City Railway Company''s trains also offered a better environment.


    These twopanies'' trains automatically divided visitors heading to Antic City into two categories: the wealthy rode on Camden-Antic City Railway Company trains, while the less affluent took the Phdelphia-Antic City Railway Company trains.


    A man d in a light grey suit and wearing a confident expression stepped out of the train station, holding a copy of the "Los Angeles Times" that covered the Miss America contest.


    "So this is Antic City!"


    Upon exiting the train station and gazing upon the neatly nned cityscape of Antic City, the young man looked pleased with himself.


    Just as the young man was preparing to head to the Ritz Hotel, a gaunt white man approached, his face sporting a sycophantic smile.


    "Sir, are you here to visit Antic City?"


    The young man did not show any wariness towards the sudden approach of the white man,ughing as he asked, "How did you know?"


    The white man chuckled, "Because in Antic City, it''s rare to see a gentleman with your poise!"


    "Ha-ha!" Delighted by thepliment, the young manughed heartily and pulled out a 10-dor bill from his pocket, handing it directly to the man.


    Seeing the young man''s generosity, the white man became even more attentive.


    "Sir, my name is Dick Hb, a purebred Antic City man. If this is your first visit to Antic City, you must let me be your guide. I''ll undoubtedly make you experience the purest joys of Antic City!"


    Experience tales at m v|l e''-NovelBin


    The young man looked at Dick Hb with growing interest and asked with augh, "Is that so?"


    "Absolutely! And sir, you don''t need to worry about your safety at all. Look, here is a certificate issued by the Antic City police with a clear record that I am a legal and excellent guide," the man exined.


    While speaking, Dick Hb had already handed his certificate to the young man, featuring the signature of Police Authority Eli Johnson.


    The young man became even more interested in Dick''s approach,ughing, "I know about tour guides, but I''ve never heard of a city guide quite like you!"


    Dick Hb was ustomed to such questions and patiently exined, "This has all been decided by Mr. Block. He once said that as a tourist city, the most important thing for Antic City is to treat every visiting guest with treatment akin to God''s. Only in this way can we ensure that esteemed guests like yourself will visit our Antic City frequently!"


    "Block?" The young man paused slightly, then said, "I''ve only heard of Nucky in Antic City!"


    Dick Hb saw the newspaper in the young man''s hand and rified, "Mr. Block is the most generous phnthropist in the West District. Oh, and the Miss America contest that''s about to start is managed by Mr. Block''s younger brother, Donnie Block."


    "The West District? But I heard that the best part of Antic City is in the South District?"


    The young man continued to voice his questions.


    "That''s still true for now, however, our West District is undergoing reforms. Mr. Block has said that in the not-too-distant future, the West District will be the second most well-known ce in Antic City!" Dick Hb said with a smile.


    The young man nodded and said, "Lead the way up front!"


    Seeing that the other party was willing to hire him, Dick Hb''s smile brightened even more. He hailed a Ford Model T that had been waiting by the roadside, helped the young man load his luggage onto the car, and took him directly to the Ritz Hotel!


    "I thought you were going to take me straight to the West District!" The young man chuckled as he got out of the car and saw the Ritz Hotel sign.


    "Mr. Walker, you are an esteemed guest, naturally you must stay at the best hotel in Antic City. Currently, the West District has no hotel that matches your status!"


    On the way, Dick Hb learned that the young man was called Walker, but Walker did not mention his surname; at this moment Dick Hb eagerly took Walker''s luggage from the car.

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    "Mr. Walker, I''ll take you to check in now!"


    Enjoying the service provided by Dick Hb, Walker strode through the lobby of the Ritz Hotel with a sense of pride and, in order to show off his status, he directly booked the best room avable.


    "Respected Mr. Walker, would you like to rest for a while, find a woman to give you a massage, or do you want to go and take a look around Antic City?"


    Dick Hb stood in front of Walker, asking with a smile on his face.


    Walker, sitting on the couch, asked with a smile, "How many guides like you are there in Antic City? Are they all like you?"


    Dick Hb replied, "There are over 300 guides like myself in Antic City now, and I can assure you that every one of them offers the best service, but I am even better!"


    Walkerughed heartily, stood up from the couch, and said, "Take me for a tour of Antic City!"


    Under the guidance of Dick Hb, Walker arrived in the once second-poorest and second most chaotic West District of Antic City.


    Looking at the clean Pennsylvania Avenue, Walker was somewhat astonished, "I''ve never seen streets this clean even in Los Angeles."


    Dick Hb said proudly, "I can assure you that this is the cleanest street in all of Antic City, and you don''t have to worry about your wallet at all here."


    No sooner had he finished speaking than, as if to prove him wrong, ady who had just walked out of a boutique started screaming at the top of her lungs, "Thief, he stole my wallet!"


    Walker watched with interest as Dick Hb, who didn''t show the slightest change in emotion, just quietly observed the thief who had stolen thedy''s wallet.


    The thief, holding thedy''s wallet, was running quickly in the direction of Dick Hb.


    It was at this moment that a few young guys, huddled against the wall, seemingly chatting but clearly identifiable as gang members, took action.


    One of them picked up a brick from the ground and threw it at the thief, hitting him precisely in the back of the head, causing the thief to fall to the ground with a thud.


    The young men walked over withughter, one of them picked up the wallet from the thief''s hand, while the others surrounded the thief and began to punch and kick him.


    "You dare to steal in my territory, you''re looking to die, we''ll send you to the public security office in a minute!"


    The person who had picked up the wallet walked straight to the boutique, and the woman standing at the door of the boutique looked a bit timid when she saw him approaching.


    "Ma''am, here''s your wallet. Please check if the amount of money inside is correct!"


    The man said politely.


    The woman, somewhat in disbelief, took her wallet and carefully checked the banknotes inside.


    "No problem, thank you, thank you!"


    The man smiled and said, "You''re wee, we''re very happy to have you visit our West District, and I hope this unpleasant experience won''t give you a bad impression of our area!"


    Walker watched, stunned by the scene unfolding before him, and he also noticed that the other tourists and locals on the street didn''t seem particrly curious about what had happened.


    "What, what is going on here?"


    Walker couldn''t help but ask Dick Hb in the end.


    Dick Hb said with pride, "This is the safety of our West District!"


    Walker couldn''t help but say, "I''m really curious, who is responsible for turning this ce into what it is now?"


    Dick Hb looked even prouder as he said, "It''s all thanks to Mr. Block and Mr. Be. Actually, a month ago, we couldn''t believe that the West District could be like this. Even two months earlier, when Mr. Johnson proposed reforming the West District, no one believed it would be a sess."


    But now, look, our West District has be the safest ce in Antic City, even the Boardwalk can''tpare!"


    Walker shook his head, still somewhat in disbelief, and asked, "What if thatdy hadn''t noticed her wallet was stolen today and only found out after returning to the hotel?"


    Dick Hb replied, "It''s quite simple. Thedy would just have to go to the public security office or Block Tavern in the West District, report her situation, and if she correctly specifies the amount of money in the wallet, we would find her wallet within a day!"


    Walker still found it hard to believe what Dick was saying.


    But his attention was caught by the mention of Block Tavern.


    "I''d like to have a drink at Block Tavern!"


    "Of course!"


    The Block Tavern in the West District was initially known as Isaiah Tavern, but it had changed a great deal since then. John bought the adjacentnd on both sides andpletely rebuilt the Block Tavern, transforming it into an extravagant establishment, now the most luxurious tavern in the West District.


    People oftenin about the backward infrastructure in the United States, but at that time, the speed of construction in America was incredibly fast, arguably the fastest in the world.


    Especially in Antic City, where every day brought change, constructionpanies were never in short supply.


    However, as history progressed and corruption permeated to its very core, the United States only seemed beautiful on the surface.


    As for the Block Tavern, it waspleted within just two months, from construction to decoration.

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    The grand and opulent hall was arranged with tables and chairs in a scattered fashion; in the center of the hall, there was a dance floor where several scantily d women, dressed as mboyant as mingos, were dancing with vivid grace.


    One by one, girls dressed in bunny outfits, with fuzzy rabbit ears atop their heads and ck stockings covering their long legs, carried trays of drinks as they moved amongst the guests.


    At the same time, by the side of the guests, there were youngdies who clearly were not from decent families, flirting with the men beside them.


    Walker was somewhat stunned by the scene before him.


    "Mr. Walker, if you require, I can arrange for a dedicateddy to serve you, and if you fancy a gamble, we have private rooms where I can take you!"


    Dick Hott offered warmly.


    Experience tales at m v|l e''-NovelBin


    "All of it, I want all of it!"


    Walkerughed and said, "Antic City, this is home for me now!"


    "That is an honor for us Antic City folks!"


    Walker said joyously.


    Under Dick Hott''s guidance, Walker, with a beautifuldy in his arms, arrived at a private room where there was a gambling table with several guests ying cards. None of them paid much attention to Dick Hott ushering Walker in.


    By that time, Walker had already exchanged his chips, a whopping 1,000 US dors!


    After Walker sat down, Dick Hott left the private room, the smile that had been on his face vanishing suddenly.


    With a wave of his hand, a few young men approached from somewhere.


    "I just saw Leo go into the Ocean Tavern; bring him out to me!"


    The young men immediately left Block Tavern.


    Soon, in the back alley of Block Tavern, a man in a shoddy sweater was already beaten bloody.


    The normally humble and smiling Dick Hott crouched on the ground, grabbed the man''s hair in his hand, forcing him to look at him.


    "Leo, Leo, Leo, you''ve got money to gamble but not to pay us back, John''s 500 US dors, which with interest is now 700 US dors. When do you n to pay us back?"


    Leo begged, "Big Dick, please give me a little more time. I just need to turn this around, and I''ll pay back Big John right away."


    "You''ve told me that three times before, and each time I believed you, but each time you''ve disappointed me. Do you think I can still trust you?"


    After saying that, Dick pped him hard, knocking one of his front teeth out of his mouth.


    "We have run out of patience now. Hand over that property you have on Pennsylvania Avenue. That will settle all your debts!"


    "No, no, no!" Leo hastily said. The property on Pennsylvania Avenue was hisst asset. If he gave that up, he would have no ground to stand on in Antic City!


    Like many others in his situation, he''d move into cheap boarding houses and maybe be a vagrant after some time.


    And perhaps die in an alleyway someday.


    That property was hisst hope of turning things around; he couldn''t use it to cover his gambling debts!


    But, wishful thinking aside, the reality was not up to him.


    No matter how reluctant Leo was, in the end, he was subdued by the fists and the loan contract.


    When he left Brad Law Firm, Dick Hott''s hands held a property deed for a two-hundred-square-meter property on Pennsylvania Avenue.


    Back at Block Tavern in West District, Dick Hott first inquired about Walker''s situation. Learning that he was still in the private room, he went straight to John''s office.


    In the office, haze of smoke lingered. John rested his legs on his desk, a sizable cigar in his mouth, while twodies danced gracefully before him.


    "Ha ha!" Seeing Dick Hotte in, John bent down to pick up a cigar from the desk and tossed it to Dick Hott, "That wealthy man you found has already lost over 400 US dors here!"


    A fawning smile returned to Dick Hott''s face at that moment.


    "All thanks to Big John maintaining Block Tavern and West District well, making him willing to y here!"


    "Right, I''ve always said I was a smart man, yet Donnie wouldn''t believe it!" John said happily.


    "Big John, this is the property transfer contract from Leo for his property on Pennsylvania Avenue!"


    Dick Hott ced the contract on the desk.


    John''s weathered face beamed even more: "Tommy has been wanting to open another tavern here; tell him we''ve given the green light. But make sure to remind him to pay the fees on time, or we won''t be so courteous!"


    "Of course!" said Dick Hott promptly.


    "You''re doing well, kid. Maybe it won''t be long before you''re managing more things, just like Gary Thomas!"


    Gary Thomas was no longer the small fry he once was. To avoid any rash media reports, John and Sean Be had rarely met alone anymore.


    Regarding the business in West District and the distribution of money, it was Gary Thomas who acted as the intermediary.


    "Thank you, Big John!" Dick Hott said excitedly, every young man in West District aspired to be Gary Thomas!

 Chapter 107: 87, Heaven or Hell (7K Chapter, please subscribe~)_4

    Seeing that John had nothing more to say to him, Dick Hott left John''s office.


    "Mr. Walker, it''s gettingte, and perhaps it''s time for you to have dinner. This ce is always here, and you cane and y anytime you want!"


    Dick Hott stood beside Walker, smiling as he reminded him.


    Walker''s face didn''t show the dejection of losing money, nor the madness of a professional gambler. Upon hearing Dick Hott''s reminder, he got up smilingly, took a 10 US Dor chip and tossed it to Dick Hott.


    He left the private room with his arm around ady.


    "Mr. Walker, if you don''t have a better dining option, I can rmend the restaurant right next to Block Tavern. Their tuna will definitely make your taste buds bloom!"


    Dick Hott introduced the dining spot to Walker.


    Walker smiled, "Then let''s give it a try!"


    "What? Aren''t youing in?" After they arrived at the restaurant and Walker saw that Dick Hott was only talking to the waiter at the door, about to leave, he asked.


    "This is Mr. Walker''s dinner; I wouldn''t want to intrude."


    By this time, Walker had already taken a keen interest in the West District,ughing, "No problem, I''d really like to learn more about the West District and Antic City from you!"


    "It''s my honor!" Dick Hott didn''t refuse.


    The three of them sat in the restaurant, and Walker asked Dick Hott, "I''ve yed at other casinos, and you''re the first to actively advise me to stop. Won''t this make the owner of Block Tavern unhappy?"


    Dick Hott replied, "Of course not, Mr. Block has told us that providing the most pleasurable experiences for our guests is our responsibility.


    Since you weren''t having good luck today, Mr. Walker, there was no reason to continue, and about this, boss John would only praise me, not me me!"


    Walker quickly understood the logic: "So, after being well served, I will definitely reappear at Block Tavern!"


    Dick Hott said, "We don''t deny that!"


    "Interesting, really interesting!" Walker tapped the table lightly, not minding the strange looks from the other patrons.


    "Oh, I have another question for you!"


    "Please ask, Mr. Walker!"


    "The Miss America pageant is starting soon, and I''d like to be at the event. Is there any way you can help?"


    Walker inquired.


    The thing about the Miss America pageant, in fact, under the operation of Starry Entertainment, everything was proceeding in an orderly fashion.


    Later this month, the preliminary rounds will take ce, and the venue is on the Antic City boardwalk, at the location formerly known as The Fuli Tavern but now renamed Block Tavern.


    ording to the rules published by the pageantmittee, the asion will invite the high society of Antic City to Block Tavern and decide the finalists by presenting flowers to the contestants on the day of the event.


    While not everyone in Antic City can witness the asion, Starry Entertainment has already invited reporters from the "Antic City Post" to photograph the event and report the pageant process in full the next day.


    But no matter what, getting into Block Tavern on that day would not be easy.


    Dick Hott''s eyes lit up, realizing this could be a big deal.


    He immediately smiled, "Of course, Mr. Bruck has said that Block Tavern wouldn''t disappoint any guest, but this Miss America pageant has indeed be a grand asion in our Antic City, and every resident wants to get in.


    Luckily, I have a ticket in my hands, but this ticket..."


    Walker, with a knowing look, asked, "So, how much?"


    "1,000 US dors!" Dick Hott replied.


    For a 1,000 US dor ticket, Dick Hott could get a 50 US dormission.


    "Wow!" Walker whistled andughed, "That''s quite a sum, but it''s no big deal to me!"


    "Of course!" replied Dick Hott.


    "When can I get this ticket?" Walker asked directly.


    "Anytime!" Dick Hott answered.


    "Bring it to my hotel tomorrow morning!" Walker said decisively.


    "Sure!" Dick Hott nodded, "Mr. Walker, to better involve everyone in the beauty pageant, Mr. Donnie Block has specifically prepared a prize quiz game for this event. You only need to spend 5 cents to buy information about the Miss America contestantspeting this time from any newsstand in Antic City.


    Then you can ce your bet on thedy you think can win at any tavern or casino in Antic City, and if your choice turns out to be correct, you will receive varying degrees of cash rewards!"


    Walker whistled again andughed, "This Donnie Block really is a genius. He wants to make sure everyone whoes to Antic City doesn''t leave until they''ve emptied their wallets!"


    Smiling, Dick Hott responded, "Mr. Donnie Block just wants every visitor to Antic City to feel like God!"


    All of a sudden, Walkerughed, "Could I meet Mr. Donnie Block in person?"


    Facing Walker who always wore a smile, Dick Hott''s expression changed slightly, but he still smiled and said immediately.


    "I''d be very happy to arrange this meeting, but, I''m sorry Mr. Walker, it''s not a decision I can make. I will have to report back to Mr. Donnie Block and then give you a definite answer!"


    "Of course!"


    Walker wasn''t bothered by this at all.


    "I will give you the answer when I deliver the ticket to you tomorrow!" Dick Hott said.


    After dinner ended, Walker went back to the Ritz Hotel with hisdy, and after leaving the hotel, Dick Hott went straight to Block Tavern and found John to tell him about Walker''s request.


    John was slightly taken aback when he heard Walker wanted to meet Donnie and then asked, "What does this man do?"


    Dick Hott shook his head, "I don''t know. He''s very generous, seems like some rich yboy, and this person is also very mysterious, only gave his first name, without mentioning his surname!"


    John thought for a moment and said, "Since Donnie said to show our friendship to our esteemed guests, I will talk to Donnie about this. As for whether he agrees to meet, that''s up to Donnie to decide!"


    "Yes!"


    .


    "Meet, why not?"


    After learning about this, Donnie did not refuse, now that his business was running smoothly. At this point, Donnie also wanted to expand his business beyond Antic City, and if this Walker truly was a person of influence, meeting him would certainly be no harm!


    "Shall I have Dick inform him?"


    "Yes!"

 Chapter 108: 88. Filming a documentary for Miss America (7K large chapter, please subscribe~)

    Donnie was indeed willing to meet with this Mr. Walker.


    A normal person visiting Antic City wouldn''t think about meeting with so-called Antic City bigwigs like Donnie Block.


    All they care about is whether they''re having a good time in Antic City.


    Only two kinds of people, after experiencing the splendors of Antic City, might want to meet someone like Donnie, a big shot of the city.


    The first kind is Ponzi-schemers, who need funding from bigwigs like Donnie.


    The second is someone from a family with some status, yet within such a family, they themselves do not hold much sway; unlike high-status individuals who can simply call Donnie''s office and arrange a meeting.


    Regardless of which type they were, they might be beneficial for Donnie.


    However, just as Donnie was preparing to meet with Walker the next day, he encountered someone he didn''t want to see.


    Federal Agent Diesel Mard!


    "Diesel, as I recall, you came to Antic City to investigate Nucky''s affair, so why have you been troubling me all this time?"


    Initially, Diesel Mard came to Antic City because General Olden had pulled some strings for him in Washington, leading the FBI to send Diesel Mard and others to investigate Nucky''s matters.


    But now, Diesel Mard had set his sights on Donnie, much to Donnie''s displeasure.


    Diesel Mard didn''t care about Donnie''s attitude, "We will of course investigate Nucky''s matters, but with Ponzi''s scheme, there are many doubts to be addressed. Block, don''t think that just because you have risen swiftly in Antic City in the past few months, you can talk to me with that attitude. You know I can take you in for questioning at any time.


    Now you don''t have a scoundrel like Olden speaking for you!"


    The Ponzi scheme still had repercussions.


    As Nucky put it, behind Ponziy millions of US dors, and the FBI was not likely to let the matter go easily.


    So, not long after Ponzi died, Olden was transferred out of Antic City, now he''s in Chicago.


    Diesel Mard took over the task of investigating Ponzi''s case.


    Through Diesel Mard''s investigation, he discovered that Donnie had a very good rtionship with Olden. Olden had even helped Donnie acquire the best amodation in Antic City, The Fuli Tavern.


    Moreover, Diesel Mard also found out that Donnie had met privately with Ponzi at one of his banquets. Just a few days after their private encounter, Ponzi''s scheme blew up.


    Most crucially, it was first exposed on Donnie''s newspaper, the "Antic City Post"!


    All this evidence gave Diesel reason to suspect Donnie''s involvement in Ponzi''s disappearance!


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    "Ha!" Faced with Diesel Mard''s threat, Donnie was unconcerned and even let out a disdainfulugh: "Mard, have you forgotten where you are, who I am? If you dare take me away, then I assure you, this afternoon the bestwyers in Washington will sue both you and the agency behind you.


    The FBI won''t have an issue, but what about you?


    Once you lose your status as a Federal Agent, do you think you''ll have any leverage in speaking to me?"


    Diesel Mard''s expression darkened; he didn''t like the way Donnie was speaking to him at all.


    "Based on everything you''ve done in Antic City, I have ample reason to take you in, so Don''t think for a second I can''t handle you, Donnie Block!"


    Donnieughed heartily, "If that''s really the case, as you say, you wouldn''t be just standing here talking to me now."


    "Wow, wow!"


    At that moment, a frivolous voice chimed in. Young Walker had walked in and, upon seeing Diesel Mard, began to tease.


    "Mard, you''re quite the nuisance, aren''t you? I thought you were annoying enough at West Point, and yet here you are in Antic City, still bothering everyone!"


    Seeing Walker, Diesel Mard disyed the same look of annoyance as Walker''s.


    "Walker Astor, have you forgotten the fear of being under my control at West Point?"


    Walker gave a scornful smile, "Then why, instead of entering the military as a top student capable of bing an officer, did you end up in the Bureau of Investigation as just a Federal Agent?"


    Diesel Mard clenched his fists tightly, clearly agitated by Walker.


    "Wow, wow!" Walker gestured with his hands in front of his chest andughed, "If you dare raise a hand, I think Mr. Block''swyers won''t even need to get involved before you lose your job!"


    After a cold snort, Diesel Mard decided not to deal with Walker any further, but he also knew he wouldn''t get the information he wanted at this time.


    "I''ll be watching you, Donnie Block!" Having said that, Diesel Mard turned and left.


    Donnie didn''t bother with Diesel Mard''s departure and instead watched with amusement as Walker Astor had just walked in and chased Diesel Mard away!


    The name Walker is quitemon in the United States, but the surname Astor makes it a bit special.


    Especially through the course of the conversation between Walker and Diesel Mard, Walker''s disy of prowess further confirmed Donnie''s suspicions about the other''s identity.

 Chapter 109: 88. Filming a documentary for Miss America (7K Mega Chapter, Please Subscribe~)_2

    After all, in America''s high society, there was only one Astor Family!


    "Mr. Astor, I was waiting for you early in my tavern, but I didn''t expect to be disturbed by an unrted person. I hope you don''t mind my poor hospitality!"


    Walker Astor said helplessly, "It seems, Mr. Block, you have already guessed my identity?"


    Donnie nodded and said, "If I''m not mistaken, your father must be Mr. John Astor, Astor IV!"


    Toter generations, the Astor Family might seem very unfamiliarpared to America''s top families.


    But in fact, in this era, the Astor Family was truly among America''s elite... even though it was on the decline!


    The founder of the Astor Family, Astor I, created two historical firsts in America: the first millionaire and, with great foresight, he established the first family trust in American history.


    Also, the Astor Family werendlords in New York!


    In 1789, Astor I bought arge amount ofnd in Manhattan, New York, from the hands of the Vice President at the time.


    For the rest of his life, Astor I was either buyingnd in Manhattan or on his way to buynd in Manhattan.


    When he died, Astor I''s biggest regret was not having bought the entire Upper Manhattan!


    Astor I''s son and grandson were guardians of the city, so they always retained thend bought by Astor I.


    By the time of Astor IV, the Astor Family reached its peak and was called the world''s richest by many media outlets.


    Astor IV was even rted by marriage to President Roosevelt at the time.


    He himself was a man of many identities: a real estate developer, an investor, an inventor, a writer.


    Astor IV was well-educated, a graduate of Harvard University; he had written the science fiction novel "A Journey to Other Worlds," which still had arge readership in America even inter times; he held several patents, including for bicycle brakes and turbine engines; he also had an excellent business mind and in 1897, he funded the construction of what was then the world''s most luxurious Astoria Hotel.


    Incidentally, he was the one who financed the building of the Titanic.


    Simrly, he also died because of the sinking of the Titanic.


    That year, Astor IV boarded the Titanic for its maiden voyage with his new bride. When disaster struck, he gave his chance to escape to his new wife... a woman one year younger than his son Vincent, and Astor IV perished at sea!


    That year was 1912, and his wife Madeline Fierst was 19 years old!


    Donnie suspected that when the truck driver filmed "Titanic," he based the character on Leonardo DiCaprio after Astor IV.


    "He was a confused fellow; let''s not talk about him!"


    Walker obviously did not want to mention his father, and Donnie did not continue to ask. Continuing to inquire when the other person did not wish to talk about something could be irritating.


    From Walker''s identity to his rtionship with Diesel Mard, Donnie felt that the two of them could be good friends!


    "Since you don''t want to talk about it, Walker, I won''t ask. But there is still one thing you have to tell me!"


    "What''s that?"


    "Why did you want to meet me? Is there something about the West District that makes you unsatisfied?"


    When Donnie mentioned the West District, Walker''s face immediately lit up with a smile and said, "Satisfied, very satisfied. It''s precisely because I''m satisfied that I wanted to meet the genius who proposed such reforms."


    Donnieughed heartily and said, "Anyone who praises the West District is a friend of Donnie Block!"


    The two of them didn''t go to a private room but sat in the main hall of Block Tavern, where the waiter brought whiskey.


    Sometimes the bond between men is just that simple. A few drinks down, and their rapport quickly warmed up.


    Walker also told Donnie about his conflicts with Diesel Mard.


    At the same time, Donnie also guessed from Walker''s description that although he was the son of Astor IV, he was indeed an illegitimate child.


    But even as an illegitimate child, Walker lived a life far beyond the reach of ordinary people.


    He had been epted into the West Point Military Academy, where he met Diesel Mard, who was admitted the same year.


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    Two people from different sses and with different personalitiesing together naturally led to many conflicts.


    Diesel Mard was dissatisfied with Walker''s behavior at school yet always seemed to live a more privileged life.


    Walker, on the other hand, was unhappy with Diesel Mard''s arrogant demeanor.


    Therefore, conflicts frequently arose at school.


    Although the Astor Family was in decline... Madeline, who Astor IV sacrificed his life for, did not appreciate what he had done for her, and upon returning to New York, she immediately began scheming for the Astor Family fortune and even publicly humiliated Vincent on multiple asions.


    It was for this reason that Vincent, to prove his ability, chose to start his own business, and starting a business required money, which meant sellingnd.


    But in reality, Vincentcked business acumen.


    Moreover, he was a person who had a significantck of security, constantly seeking true love, and so he married three times in his life!


    For these super-rich, divorce has always been a significant reason for their fortunes to diminish.

 Chapter 110: 88. Filming a Documentary for Miss America (7K Mega Chapter, Please Subscribe~)_3

    That is to say, Vincent perfectly demonstrated what a true prodical rich heir should be like!


    As for Walker, the influence of the Astor Family allowed Walker to showcase it when Diesel Mard graduated. Diesel Mard, originally destined to join the army and be a soldier, was forced to join the Bureau of Investigation which did not yet have much authority!


    "Donnie, how did this clingy guy get his sights set on you? Although I don''t think much of him, he does have some capabilities!"


    Being considered capable by an opponent like Walker actually indicated that Diesel Mard truly had abilities.


    Donnieughed and said, "Some people in the Federal Bureau of Investigation believe I have something to do with Ponzi''s disappearance, so they sent Diesel to investigate me!"


    Walker was taken aback, "Your involvement with Ponzi''s disappearance?"


    Clearly, Walker was also aware of the Ponzi scheme situation.


    Donnie shook his head, "Of course not, it''s just a desperate move to find a cure!"


    Walker nodded and said, "Actually, Ponzi was rather clever himself. Back in Boston, he only swindled ordinary people and never had the guts to touch any of the real upper-ss folks!"


    Donnie shook his head, "That has nothing to do with me now. All I want is to get rid of this annoying guy Diesel as soon as possible, so I can concentrate all my thoughts on the Miss America pageant."


    Upon hearing "Miss America," Walker''s eyes immediately lit up, "Donnie, I must say, in terms of this matter, you are truly a genius. Previously in Los Angeles, women have gonepletely crazy over it, and even some second-rate actresses have signed up to participate!"


    Hearing that Walker came from Los Angeles, Donnie suddenly had an idea.


    "Walker, since you were in Los Angeles before, you must have some contacts with those filmpanies there, right?"


    Walker did not grasp what Donnie meant but still nodded, "Of course, I have a good rtionship with William Fox of Fox Films. Is there a problem?"


    Donnie smiled and said, "Of course there''s no problem, in fact, it''s a very nice matter. If possible, I hope you can help me invite Mr. Fox to Antic City.


    In return, I can not only arrange for you to sit in the VIP area during the Miss America election, but I can even arrange for you to join the Miss America selectionmittee and be one of the main judges!" Readtest chapters at mvl


    Donnie had already learned from Dick Hott that Walker hade to Antic City for the grand event of Miss America!


    Sure enough, as soon as Walker heard the conditions Donnie offered, he immediately excitedly agreed, "I can call William, but you will have to tell me, what do you want to invite him for?"


    Donnie immediately said, "I want to invite Fox Films to create a documentary for this edition of Miss America, not only for Antic City but also for New York, Phdelphia, Los Angeles, and other ten cities."


    Fox Films sounds somewhat familiar but it''s the sessor that is even more famous, being one of the major Hollywood studios, Twentieth Century Fox.


    What Fox Films would develop into was actually not important to Donnie.


    What mattered was the movies!


    It was still the era of silent films, but movies had already be the only means of visualmunication.


    Before this, Donnie had always been troubled about how to urately portray the appearance and figure of eachpetitor through text and photos alone.


    But with the support of film, everything would be different.


    Moreover, this could attract even more people to pay attention to the event. More attention meant more people joining the betting game Donnie had set up. With more attention, Miss America''s influence would grow evenrger, and by that time, more advertisements woulde in, and more prominent figures would need its influence!


    "A documentary specifically for Miss America?"


    Though Walker was somewhat clever, he still could not figure out Donnie''s n.


    "Donnie, beforeing to Antic City, I already noticed that your Star Entertainment was promoting this beauty pageant in major cities across the country. Just the expenses for this promotion, I imagine, have already exceeded 200,000 US dors. And if you add the funds required for thepetition, the prize money, and post-event promotion, the total cost could reach at least 700,000 US dors.


    Now you want to make a documentary for the event, too?


    If you''re going to make a documentary, then you''ll have to screen it nationwide, right? All these costs together, I fear the entire Miss America pageant''s budget could reach 1 million US dors!"


    Donnie naturally was aware of the cost issue. Actually, in a previous internal meeting at Starry Entertainment, his employees had already beenining to Donnie because he had almost entered a frenzy state to promote Miss America.


    The promotional costs were increasing, and nearly half of the nearly 400,000 US dors collected from sponsorship and advertising fees had already been spent.


    Most importantly, Miss America had not officially started yet, not even the city preliminaries!


    Not just the staff of Star Entertainment, but Nucky also had several meetings with Donnie because of this event!


    "You don''t need to worry about the costs, I will find a way to solve that. Walker, if you can bring William Fox here, then you will be the most honored guest in Antic City!"

 Chapter 111: 88. Filming a Documentary for Miss America (7K Mega Chapter, Please Subscribe~)_4

    Seeing Donnie''s expression, Walker spread his hands and said with augh, "What can I say, of course there''s no problem now, it''s just a matter of how you''re going to convince William Fox to join you in this crazy endeavor!"


    Donnie smiled and said, "As long as there''s money involved, I believe William won''t be disinterested."


    At present, Fox Films wasn''t a behemoth in Hollywood, nor was William Fox a Hollywood mogul. In fact, by the next decade, William Fox would be investigated by the federal antitrust authorities due to the "MGM acquisition case," and he would lose control over Fox Films. By 1936, Fox himself would be bankrupt.


    When he died, not a single Hollywood star attended his funeral; by then he had be an outcast in Hollywood!


    Donnie didn''t know any of this, but that didn''t prevent him from meeting with William Fox now.


    Sure enough, after receiving a call from Walker at Block Tavern, William Fox learned that the organizers of the now nationally known Miss America wanted to invite hispany to shoot a documentary for them and, upon hearing of the production fee they would pay, he readily agreed to travel to Antic City in the near future.


    To thank Walker, Donnie specially arranged for two women for him and instructed them that if he returned that evening to find that Walker could get out of bed, they would be allowed to service "those negroes" in the North District. Both women patted their chests and assured Donnie that Walker wouldn''t be able to get out of bed the next day!


    After taking care of Walker''s needs, Donnie instructed Dwight to drive him straight to the Ritz Hotel!


    "My God, Donnie, can''t you make a phone call or have Louis send a message beforeing in?"


    Nucky stood up from the wool carpet in his office, and Louis, who hade in with Donnie, hurriedly grabbed a coat for Nucky from a nearby rack, while the woman lying on the wool carpet gave Donnie a provocative look without any concern.


    "If Lucy finds out about this, she''s going to make a big fuss!"


    Donnie teased Nucky.


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    "That''s why I sent her to New York to let off some steam!"


    Louis then took out ten US Dors, handed it to the woman, and escorted her out of Nucky''s office.


    "Tell me, what is it that made you lose your manners and barge into my office like this?"


    "I n to shoot a documentary for our Miss America contestants..."


    Donnie shared his n with Nucky.


    Even though Starry Entertainment was Donnie''s ownpany, the final profit split of the Miss America contest gave both Donnie and Nucky 50%!


    Now, as Donnie wanted to shoot a documentary for Miss America, he would definitely need more funding, which naturally required Nucky''s approval.


    "Donnie, I will not agree to this."


    After hearing Donnie''s n, Nucky straightaway voiced his objection, with quite a direct reason.


    For the promotion of Miss America, Donnie had already spent so much money, which was nearly crossing Nucky''s mental line.


    Now Donnie was even considering additional investment, and no matter what kind of influence Miss America was going to bring, in Nucky''s opinion, it wasn''t worth a million US Dors!


    "It''s impossible to cover everything with just one documentary, the preliminarypetitions in various cities, the finals, plus the finals in Antic City; we would need to prepare at least three documentaries.


    Even if we don''t have to pay the actors, the cost of film stock, sries for the filming crew, editing, release, and so on would require at least an investment of half a million US Dors.


    I will absolutely not allow this investment!"


    Nucky directly refused to spend the money; however, Donnie was now his business partner, and through more than two months of coboration, Nucky indeed had recognized Donnie''s capabilities.


    So after refusing, Nucky still advised kindly, "Donnie, based on the current intensity of our promotion, Miss America has already be something that has captured the attention of the entire United States. There''s absolutely no need for additional investment now, the effect is already very impressive!"


    Donnie also had his convictions. He understood that in this era of a direck of entertainment, the opportunity to bring the Miss America pageant to the big screen was definitely something worth gambling on.


    "Nucky, our previous agreement was clear; the promotion of Miss America ispletely up to me!"


    Nucky shook his head and said, "But the agreement also stiptes that on the matter of major expenses, it must be approved by me!"


    Donnie clenched his teeth and said, "I can invest in this alone, but if there is a profit from this venture, you will not get any share of that profit!"


    Nucky looked at Donnie in surprise; he hadn''t expected Donnie to be so determined. How could this not be an investment doomed to fail, yet Donnie was so resolute?


    Thinking about Donnie''s sesses during this period, Nucky started to have his doubts; after all, a person who is always sessful often makes others believe they will continue to seed!


    An investment of 500,000 US Dors, ording to the movie revenue-sharing calction, meant that a box office of 1 million would be needed to possibly recoup the costs.


    With movie ticket prices ranging from 25 cents to 1 US Dor, Nucky took an average in his mind, which meant that at least 1.4 million Americans would need to enter the cinemas to watch his documentary!


    That''s simply impossible, isn''t it?


    Thinking of this oue, Nucky said, "I can agree to your request, but I will not give up on the peripheral funds gained through movie publicity!"


    The old fox!


    Donnie realized the other party was poaching the fruits of hisbor, but he also understood that to make this thing happen, he had to agree to Nucky''s conditions, otherwise if Nucky refused to cooperate, Donnie really had no way to make it happen.


    However, Donnie was also certain in his heart that Americans would definitely be very interested in such a tabloid documentary.


    Tony Stark''s prototype, who made a big sale with a documentary about flying his own ne, had allowed Miss America to be well-known across the United States through the publicity over this period of time; there was no reason it wouldn''t attract at least 1.5 million viewers.


    Donnie understood Nucky''s concerns, but Nucky didn''t know Donnie''s thoughts; Donnie had never nned to shoot all three documentaries at once.


    Instead, it was to be one at a time; if the first documentary did not seed after its release, Donnie couldpletely abandon the idea of shooting thetter two.


    "No problem, let''s go with what you said!"


    Donnie agreed to Nucky''s suggestion swiftly!


    Nucky shook his head with a smile, feeling that Donnie had nowpletely lost his mind, "Good luck, my friend!"


    Donnie also smiled confidently, "I''ve always been quite lucky!"


    After leaving the Ritz Hotel, Donnie quickly sought out John and Robert, with a very clear purpose¡ªto have them prepare a sum of cash!


    But just as Donnie was discussing his ns with them, Chris found Donnie and ryed that Brad had sent news: Donnie''s application for amercial radio station license had finally been a sess!

 Chapter 112: 89, The commercial radio license has been issued (7K Big Chapter, please subscribe~)

    William Fox arrived in Antic City very soon.


    Born in 1879, the 41-year-old William Fox now sported a small beard, rendering his appearance somewhat schrly.


    But the business he was about to conduct was anything but schrly!


    Upon meeting Donnie, his opening remark was that the production cost for each documentary would be 150,000 US Dors!


    "Mr. Fox, as far as I know, the production cost for a low-budget film is only around 110,000 US Dors, and besides, my film doesn''t even require hiring Hollywood actors. All you need to do is record the appearances of those beautiful girls, and you''re asking me for 150,000 US Dors in production costs?"


    Now Donnie was solely responsible for the production costs of the Miss America documentary, and naturally, he couldn''t ept William Fox''s proposed costs.


    Confidently smiling in response to Donnie''s refusal, William Fox said,


    "Mr. Block, the price I''ve quoted is quite fair, even though your documentary doesn''t need actors. Mypany''s photographers need to travel to 10 cities besides Los Angeles for shooting, which is clearly a massive project. Furthermore, ourpany''s editors will need to select from the copious raw material, all of which are very costly endeavors."


    William Fox did not back down because of Donnie''s refusal.


    Observing William Fox''sposure, Donnie realized he had shown too much urgency, making William believe he was indispensable.


    However, the city preliminaries for Miss America were about to start, and finding a new partner for Donnie would involve renegotiating, which could be problematic.


    Time was of the essence for Donnie.


    Therefore, Donnie still wanted to find a way to persuade William Fox to lower the price to 110,000 US Dors per documentary.


    Thus, prolonged negotiations ensued, but William Fox firmly stuck to the 150,000 US Dors per documentary price point and refused to budge.


    Eventually, Donnie realized he wasn''t going to achieve anything that day, so he ended the negotiation with William Fox.


    "William, Donnie is a very capable man. I''ve heard so many legends about him these past few days in Antic City. You would already make a profit at 110,000 per documentary. Why must you insist on 150,000?"


    After leaving The Fuli Tavern, Walker and William Fox headed to a tavern on the boardwalk.


    "Damn Prohibition, this is the purest whiskey I''ve had in a while!" holding his ss, William Foxmented with a look of enjoyment, "Walker, Donnie is capable, I admit that, but so what?


    Making movies is my expertise. Donnie, knowing about our association, invited me to Antic City immediately, which shows he doesn''t have much pull in making documentaries.


    And now, with only a few days left before the Miss America city preliminaries, does Donnie really think he can find another filmpany in Hollywood that can shoot for him in such short notice?"


    Having said that, William took a proud sip of his whiskey, emitting a satisfied groan.


    "Dear Walker, don''t worry, Donnie will certainly end up paying me!"


    Watching William Fox''s smugness, Walker shook his head. Based on what he had observed in Antic City, he didn''t think Donnie was someone who could be easily manipted. Although he didn''t know if Donnie had any other tricks up his sleeve, he still felt that if William Fox kept underestimating Donnie Block, he would be the one to lose out in the end.


    .


    "Bruce, it looks like you''ll need to make a trip to Phdelphia!"


    After William Fox and Walker had left, Donnie promptly called Bruce Currie over.


    "Phdelphia? No problem!" Bruce said without hesitation, "But what should I do in Phdelphia?"


    In early America, the film market was not in Los Angeles Hollywood, but in New York and Phdelphia. It was only in the 20th century that some filmpanies moved to Hollywood in Los Angeles due to patentwsuits with Edison.


    Gradually, it evolved into the center of the United States film industry.


    However, there were still some small and medium-sized film productionpanies in New York and Phdelphia. Donnie now realized what he needed was a professional film crew, but not necessarily a top-tier one. As long as they could sessfully capture the Miss Americas, that was really all that mattered!


    Previously, he was too anxious about the matter, which is why he didn''t consider this point.


    Now that William Fox was asking for the moon, it actually helped Donnie to cool down. If there were filmpanies in Phdelphia, why would he need to rely on William Fox?


    After understanding Donnie''s n, Bruce nodded, "Got it, I''m setting off for Phdelphia right now!"


    "Wait!" Donnie took out 1000 US Dors from a drawer and handed it to Bruce, "When you get to Phdelphia, take care of this first. Then check out the private liquor situation there."


    At the mention of private liquor, Bruce''s interest piqued, "Are we finally expanding our private liquor business to Phdelphia?"


    Donnie currently had businesses in Antic City dealing with newspapers, entertainment, taverns, casinos, dominoes, and private liquor.

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    However, at this time, Donnie had shifted most of his focus to the Miss America pageant managed by Starry Entertainment.


    His closest associates couldn''t understand this.


    In their view, of all Donnie''s business ventures, the most profitable were the private alcohol trade and the tavern business. By contrast, the Miss America project, despite Donnie''s optimistic projections for its future, had, to date, not only failed to bring any substantial benefits to Donnie but had also cost him several hundred thousand US Dors.


    Nevertheless, these people still trusted Donnie and did not say anything.


    Even though they didn''t voice their concerns, they couldn''t help but harbor some doubts.


    "The business in New York has always been insignificant; I suspect Charlie Luciano still holds some resentment towards us. Now that we control the entire alcohol business in Antic City, we should also consider taking formal steps to expand outward!"


    At this stage, Donnie definitely would not give up the lucrative private alcohol business.


    After all expenses, the money from the private alcohol trade that ended up in Donnie''s own pocket was about 15,000 US Dors a month. If one added the coboration with Meyer''s gang in New York, Donnie could earn 20,000 US Dors a month from the alcohol business alone!


    With the tavern, gambling, and various fees from the West District, Donnie''s monthly ie was close to 50,000 US Dors!


    This was why Donnie had the confidence to tell Nucky that he had invested in the documentary for a reason!


    "Alright, don''t worry; I will definitely find out everything there is to know about the private alcohol business in Phdelphia!"


    Bruce reassured Donnie once again.


    Seeing Bruce''s excitement, Donnie cautioned him, "Finding the right moviepany is what''s truly important. The private alcohol business is secondary!"


    Bruce couldn''t help but ask Donnie, "Is Miss America really that important?"


    Donnieughed, "Important, very important. If we do well with Miss America, our future contacts will no longer be gang members and private alcohol dealers, but the real tycoons of America."


    Since the conversation had reached this point, Donnie shared a few more thoughts with Bruce.


    "Bruce, I know you all don''t understand why I''m now focusing most of my energy and funds on Miss America, but what I want to tell you is that the private alcohol trade is not a sustainable business, and the U.S. Government will eventually lift this prohibition."


    When that happens, licenses for alcohol production will be essential, but that business will definitely be in the hands of those big figures. So if we want to continue in the alcohol business in the future, we must be big figures ourselves now.


    Look at Nucky, basking in glory in Antic City, even able to chat amiably with presidential candidates; but don''t forget, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is still investigating him.


    When have you ever heard of the Bureau of Investigation going after the real top financial conglomerates in America?


    Morgan, DuPont, Rockefeller...


    Nucky needs to actively seek connections with presidential candidates, but those candidates, even the ones whoter be President, they have to actively seek rtionships with these families.


    That''s the huge advantage of doing business in America, doing business legally within thew!"


    Bruce Currie looked at Donnie in surprise, "I thought bing a big figure in Antic City was already your goal; I didn''t expect your sights to be set on the entire United States?"


    Donnieughed heartily, "The road ahead is long; we must take it step by step. As far as I''m concerned, Miss America is the first step!"


    "Well, alright!" Bruce spread his hands, "Although I still don''t quite understand your thinking, I will take the trip to Phdelphia to look for a moviepany seriously!"


    With Bruce''s promise, Donnie nodded in satisfaction.


    .


    After Bruce left, Donnie did not sever his connection with William Fox, who still had some clout in the film industry; Donnie did not want him causing any unnecessary trouble during this period!


    So these past few days, Donnie had been actively seeking to connect with William Fox.


    "Donnie, I''m very sorry about William''s issue; I did not expect that William would be so inflexible about the price!"


    After another failed negotiation with William Fox, Walker did not leave with William Fox this time but stayed at Block Tavern, his face showing some apologetic expressions.


    Donnie smiled disinterestedly, "Walker, we''re friends; just getting William toe to Antic City was the best thing you''ve done for me as a friend.


    As for the price, you''re not a shareholder of Fox Films; how could you possibly influence William Fox''s decision?"


    Donnie''s magnanimity touched Walker, who excitedly said, "Donnie, I actually have some other friends in Hollywood¡ªif you need, I can contact them at any time!"


    Donnie was somewhat surprised by Walker''s attitude. Although they had not known each other for long and had a good mutual impression, Walker had known William Fox for a longer time, and it was clear Walker was thinking of Donnie''s interests!


    "If that''s the case, then that would be great; thank you very much for your help, Walker!"


    Donnie chose not to ask why Walker was acting this way.


    "That''s what I should do; friends help each other, right?" Walker was very happy because of Donnie''s attitude and added, "But no matter what, you promised to let me be a judge for Miss America, and you can''t go back on that!"

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    Donnie chuckled after listening and said, "Rest assured, that''s for certain, in fact, your name has already been added to the list of judges for the Miss America pageant!"


    Walker was even more thrilled.


    No matter what Walker''s intentions were, now that the other party was so supportive of him, Donnie naturally wanted to maximize Walker''s usefulness.


    "Walker, I suppose that in Hollywood, you are acquainted not only with the bosses of the moviepanies, but also with quite a few movie star friends, right?"


    Walker nodded, then with some surprise, sought confirmation from Donnie, "So you want to invite some stars over here as judges?"


    Donnieughed and nodded, saying, "Exactly, that''s the idea!"


    Hollywood''s film industry was already well-developed, and movies were no longer a special form of entertainment for certain people; they had be a part of American life.


    Naturally, movie stars had emerged.


    Like Charlie Chaplin!


    Although Chaplin hadn''t yet reached the true pinnacle of his career at this time, to many ordinary people, he was already at the height of his career.


    One notable example was that in 1917, Chaplin signed a contract with First National Films, with a sry that reached an unprecedented one million US dors!


    It caused a sensation across the United States!


    In the silent film era, Charlie Chaplin was the most dazzling gem in the history of the global film industry.


    So, when Walker and Donnie were discussing whom to invite, Donnie selected Chaplin without any hesitation!


    "If it were someone else, I might not be so sure, but if it''s Charlie Chaplin, rest assured, Donnie, I''ll make sure he agrees to be a judge for Miss America!" Walker stated confidently.


    "That means, you and Charlie Chaplin are on good terms as well?" Donnie asked with a smile, watching Walker''s confident demeanor.


    Walker boasted, "When Chaplin was shooting ''The Soldier''s Courtship,'' I helped him resolve some issues with the military!"


    Donnie nodded, not asking for further details; as long as Walker could ensure Chaplin''s presence on the stage of the Miss America finals, that would be enough!


    "Walker, being able to be friends with you is my greatest gain recently!"


    Walkerughed and said, "Perhaps, in the future, I might be saying the same to you, Donnie!"


    After that, Walker stood up, "Alright, I''m going to sort this out in Los Angeles right now; I wouldn''t want to miss the Antic City regional beauty pageant!"


    Donnie personally escorted Walker to the entrance of Block Tavern, "I''m waiting for your good news!"


    .


    "Walker, I don''t understand why you are willing to help Donnie this much when you''ve just met him for a few days?"


    William Fox also stayed at the Ritz Hotel and, when he saw Walker return and start packing his luggage, preparing to leave, he posed the question, and Walker told William Fox about his ns to help Donnie get in touch with Charlie Chaplin.


    Hence, William Fox posed this question!


    Walker had already packed his luggage, and with a smile, he asked William Fox, "Dear Fox, do you know how long it took for Donnie to develop from nothing to where he is now in Antic City?"


    Although William Fox was here to negotiate with Donnie, he didn''t know much about him!


    "Isn''t it that his family was already well-positioned in Antic City?"


    Walker shook his head, "When I first came to Antic City, I thought so too, but after I learned about Donnie''s journey here, I realized that Donnie Block will definitely be a great man in the future.


    In fact, Donnie was just the son of a tavern owner from a vige under Antic City. In 1917, he joined the U.S. Army, left the service in 1919, andst September, Donnie returned to Antic City, where he was deceived by his superior and took over a tavern that at the time seemed useless...."


    Clearly, during his time in Antic City, Walker had investigated Donnie''s situation.


    "Just a few months have passed, and Donnie Block has already be a big shot in Antic City; even Nucky shifted from initial suspicion and opposition to bing good friends. Donnie has even started the now nationally-renowned Miss America event.


    Moreover, he is now the owner of thergest and finest tavern in Antic City, the biggest bootlegging supplier, and the owner of the best-selling newspaper.


    Donnie Block aplished all this in less than a year.


    With such a person, why wouldn''t I want to be good friends with him?"


    After hearing Walker''s words, William Fox also looked surprised; he had never imagined that Donnie''s life was so remarkable.


    "William, my friend, there''s something I want to tell you before I go, a sentence that my father once told me!"


    "What''s that?"


    "Money can never be earned to an end, but friends by your side can give you an influence far exceeding your wealth!"


    After that, Walker left the Ritz Hotel, and when he arrived at the hotel entrance, he saw Dick Hb was already waiting there in a car.


    "Respected Mr. Walker, boss Donnie specifically ordered me to take you to the train station safely!"


    Walker chuckled heartily and quickly got into the car.


    .


    Walker''s words, although somewhat impactful to William Fox, ultimately did not sway him to adopt Walker''s suggestion.

 Chapter 115: 89, The commercial radio license has been issued (7K Big Chapter, please subscribe~)_4

    "Different people have different life choices!"


    And Nucky knew about the stalemate in the negotiations between Donnie and William Fox.


    So when the two met, Nucky personally poured Donnie a ss of whiskey andforted him.


    "Donnie, it''s not that simple, those film merchants in Los Angeles are as greedy as the bankers on Wall Street. Fox is certain now that you won''t be able to find a more suitable movie studio in a short time, and he''s also betting on the fact that the Miss America city preliminary contests are about to start, so he definitely won''t give up on this opportunity."


    Donnie took the ss, "Mr. Nucky, it feels like you''re gloating!"


    "Really?" Nucky looked at Donnie with a smile, then said casually, "Well, if you insist on thinking that way, I won''t deny it!"


    Donnie shook his head, "If William Fox fails to reach an agreement with me in the end, he will definitely regret it in the not too distant future!"


    Nucky shook his head at Donnie''s stubbornness, but did not continue to try to persuade him; after all, he had not involved himself in the documentary investment. Besides, Nucky also hoped to see Donnie stumble on some matters.


    In the past few months, Donnie''s rise had been too rapid. Although Nucky did not feel threatened yet, it would be beneficial for him to have better control over Donnie if Donnie could take a fall.


    "Alright, since you''ve made up your mind, I won''t talk about this matter anymore. Let''s talk about the Miss America preliminaries instead!"


    At this point, Nucky sat down, and his expression became serious.


    "I''ve already spoken to the bosses of those cities on the phone, and they are very interested in this matter. They will join us as bookmakers during the event, but some are worried about what to do if a heavy favorite emerges in the preliminary contests."


    The preliminaries are different from the finals where hundreds of women stand together; there will definitely be a few who stand out, and naturally, they be the hot favorites.


    And Miss America, in order to attract more spectators, will certainly need to choose beautiful women to advance to the semi-finals and finals.


    Simply put, the preliminaries will have fewer backroom dealings.


    For bookmakers like Donnie, this actually limits their ability to manipte oues.


    The result being that if everyone flocks to bet on the hot favorites, they naturally won''t be able to make money... they won''t lose money, but they''ll definitely earn less!


    This is the concern of the bookmakers in other cities.


    "Nucky, you absolutely have to tell them, they must not give up the greater profitster for a small benefit now. Although the influence of Miss America has already grownrge, more audiences are paying attention to the election itself, not the preliminaries.


    So, ording to my predictions, at the beginning, there won''t be too many people betting. The real opportunity for us to make money wille at least by the city finals, when those who bet early will see the fairness we present, and those still watching will see some people getting rich from this event.


    With such publicity, by the time of the finals, there will definitely be more people betting and cingrger bets.


    If a boss in any city breaks the rules we have already set during the preliminaries, then sorry, they''ll just have to leave the game!"


    As the head bookmaker of the Miss America preliminaries, Donnie had the confidence to say so.


    If those city bosses left the information provided by Donnie and ran their own books, Donnie could just slightly change the ranking order of the girls and make these people lose everything, even their underwear.


    Nucky nodded, "Alright, I will speak to them about this matter and make sure they don''t mess around!"


    With Nucky''s assurance, Donnie finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    .


    "Donnie, you really owe me a big thank you this time, two months and finally your mission isplete!"


    Just after Donnie returned to Block Tavern, he encountered the long-missed Brad Dorn!


    The arrival of Brad Dorn filled Donnie with joy, "Does this mean the license hase through?"


    Even though Brad Dorn had already made a phone call earlier, without seeing the actual license, Donnie couldn''t fully believe it.


    Now everything was settled, Brad Dorn had returned, and he brought another piece of good news.


    "The other cities have also agreed to let us build the signal transmission stations!"


    Brad Dorn eximed excitedly.


    During this period, he truly experienced what it meant to spend money like water!


    And it was Donnie''s money he was spending, although most of it went into Donnie''s broadcastingpany, Brad Dorn also made quite a few of his own connections through this endeavor.


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    "Dear Dorn, you are the number one contributor to Antic City Broadcast!"


    Donnie too was thrilled and grasped Brad Dorn''s hand, this news was indeed timely rain for him, as he had been worrying about how to further expand Miss America''s influence.


    At the very least, to ensure more viewers would tune in when the documentary was released.


    Now Brad Dorn had brought him such good news!


    "Haha, this is what I should do, after all, the reward you''ve offered, Donnie, is just too tempting!"


    Brad Dorn, havingpleted his mission, was very happy as well.


    Donnie did not let Brad Dorn down and immediately threw a grand party for him at Block Tavern.


    Although negotiations between William Fox and Donnie had been unsessful, William Fox had be a loyal patron of Block Tavern.


    Every night, William Fox woulde here for a drink, y a couple of games, and sometimes even take a girl from Block Tavern back to the Ritz Hotel.


    Today, as usual, when the evening lights wereing on, Williams Fox arrived at Block Tavern.


    The familiar bunny girl immediately came over to serve him.


    Seeing Donnie and Brad Dorn among others happily chatting away, William Fox asked curiously, "What happened that has Donnie so happy?"


    The bunny girl took William Fox''s coat and said with a smile: "Mr. Brad has obtained a business license for our boss''s broadcastingpany, and Antic City Broadcast will be the firstmercialpany in the United States. Our boss is celebrating with Mr. Dorn and others right now!"


    As a filmmaker, William Fox certainly knew about broadcasting and understood even better the power of the firstmercial broadcaster in the United States.


    Instead of asking the bunny girl to take him to a private room for a few games as usual, William Fox spoke to her a bit urgently.


    "I need to have a serious talk with Donnie!"

 Chapter 116: 90, The Development of the Radio Station (7K Mega Chapter, Please Subscribe~)

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    "Dear Donnie, after giving it some thought and considering our rtionship, I''vee to realize that the previous price was indeed unfair as a friend''s price. So, I''ve decided to reduce the cost of each documentary from $150,000 to $130,000."


    Upon meeting Donnie, William Fox seemed quite eager to speak.


    Donnie turned to nce at Brad Dorn, who was hugging two women and holding a bottle of whisky, about to put on a performance for everyone, then turned back to William Fox with a smile that grew increasingly bright.


    "Mr. Fox, I cannot ept this price, and besides, we don''t necessarily need documentaries anymore!"


    After saying this, Donnie pointed towards Brad Dorn and continued with augh, "Do you see him? He''s my hero. Just now, he has helped me secure the firstmercial radio license in the United States. Tomorrow, my people will head to New York, Phdelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, and other cities to build our broadcasting stations.


    In a week, millions of radio users in these cities will be listening to our programs."


    "Do you think they''d still need to go to the cinema to watch documentaries after hearing every detail about the girls participating in the Miss America pageant?"


    Dammit!


    Hearing Donnie''s inebriated words, William Fox cursed silently but still kept a smile on his face, saying, "Of course, they''ll need it. It''s precisely because they''ve heard about those girls that they''ll be even more eager to see their true appearances. So I''m sure they will go to the movie theaters."


    "So dear Donnie, you need the Miss America documentary just like... that gentleman needs a room right now!"


    William Fox pointed towards Brad Dorn in the middle of the saloon who had already started unbuckling his belt.


    "Dammit!" Donnie cursed loudly, shouting, "Dwight, aren''t you supposed to take Mr. Dorn to find a room?"


    Dwight, who was enjoying the spectacle, quickly came to Brad Dorn''s aid as he began to pull down his trousers, escorting him toward the stairs, nked by two scantily d women.


    Watching themotion unfold before him, Donnie rubbed his temples. Couldn''t these native Americans show some restraint?


    "Mr. Fox, I agree with what you''re saying, but your price is too high, I cannot ept it. I would rather give up the Miss America preliminaries documentary and look for a more reasonably priced filmpany than ept a documentary costing $130,000!"


    Hearing Donnie actually considering giving up on the Miss America preliminaries documentary, William Fox became even more anxious, hastily grabbing Donnie who was attempting to leave.


    "Dear Donnie, we at Fox Films are absolutely the most professional documentary productionpany in the entire United States. Trust me, even if you approach otherpanies, they won''t be able to give you this price!"


    "OK!" Donnie Block burped, resignedly saying, "Then I can only give up on filming the documentary!"


    After finishing speaking, Donnie shook off William Fox''s hand and thenughed loudly, "This time, I''m joining my party. Good Lord, don''t Californians ever rest?"


    Watching Donnie Block leave, William Fox stomped his foot in frustration, then immediately went to the phone by the saloon bar.


    "Dammit! Listen up, as soon as Walker arrives in Los Angeles, call me immediately!"


    At this moment, William Fox suddenly realized that the roles between him and Donnie had reversed.


    In the past, he was in the position of power, able to wait for Donnie to make various offers for him to choose from.


    But now the situation had turned around, and it was he who needed to make the offers to get Donnie''s agreement.


    All because of amercial radio station!


    At the same time, William Fox deeply regretted not listening to Walker''s suggestions earlier. Walker had warned him that Donnie was a very capable man, so why hadn''t he heeded that advice?


    Now, only Walker could help him!


    Donnie didn''t care what William Fox was thinking; with themercial radio license, this was definitely something that could infinitely increase the influence and business prospects for him.


    So tonight, Donnie drank too much!


    When Donnie woke up, he found himself in an unfamiliar bedroom.


    The soft curtains, the exquisite vanity, and therge, neat bed all indicated that this was someone''s home.


    "You''re awake, so hurry up and get dressed. Brad will be back soon!"


    As Donnie rubbed his head, Elena came in and brought his clothes over.


    Donnie, while putting on his clothes, asked somewhat confusedly, "How did I end up here?"


    Elena replied calmly, "You were already drunk when you arrivedst night, it was your driver who brought you here!"


    Donnie asked, "So we...?"


    Elena paused, turning to look at Donnie with a slight change in her expression.


    "I see!" Donnie chuckled. Perhaps he had been a bit impulsive after seeing Brad Dorn''s conditionst night?


    However, Donnie didn''t feel any guilt about it; after all, it wasn''t their first time.


    "Thank you for your hospitality, I''m heading out!"

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    Donnie, dressed sharply, greeted Elena before leaving her ce and saw Dwight waiting for him in the car.


    "Let''s go, back to the tavern!"


    Donnie didn''t ask Dwight why he had requested toe here the night before.


    By now, Dwight had be apetent driver and naturally didn''t inquire about Donnie''s activitiesst night either.


    Upon returning to the tavern, Chris said to Donnie, "Bruce just called and said to call him back as soon as you get here!"


    "Could it be more good news?"


    Donnie went to the phone and dialed the hotel in Phdelphia where Bruce was staying.


    "Donnie, it''s a done deal!" came Bruce''s excited voice on the line. "I''ve found a film productionpany here willing to shoot each documentary for 70,000 US dors. Fox wanted 150,000. Let him have his fun!"


    Donnie too was overjoyed after hearing this; good news seemed to being one after another these days.


    "That''s great, How''s their quality?"


    While the lower price made Donnie very happy, he was even more concerned about their capabilities.


    "I''ve seen the films theirpany has made, the quality is definitely not an issue, and I''ve already sent the film over to you. You''ll be able to see it by noon today."


    Delighted, Donnie said, "Okay, if there are no problems after I''ve watched it, then have them send someone over to discuss the specifics."


    "Will do!" Bruceughed, then continued to update Donnie about the private speakeasy business in Phdelphia¡ªa topic he hadn''t delved into in detail while he had been contacting filmpanies these past few days in Phdelphia.


    He only knew the gist of it: Philly''s bootleg business was currently controlled by two major gangs, one led by Salvatore Be of Sicilian descent and another by Harry Rosen, known as ''Nig''.


    Furthermore, these two gangs had been provocatively jostling over Antic City''s speakeasy businesstely, causing the Phdelphia police much headache.


    "That''s all I''ve managed to gather for now; I''ll have to wait for more detailed information!"


    "Okay, I''ll be waiting for your good news!"


    After ending the call with Bruce, Donnie would''ve cracked open a beer to celebrate if not for the fact he had drunk too much the night before.


    "Boss, William Fox is here!"


    Dwight approached Donnie and whispered.


    Donnie looked toward the tavern''s entrance and indeed, William Fox, wearing a ck suit, walked in.


    "Dear Donnie, I''ve thought it over. We''ll go with your figure, 110,000 US dors per documentary. We can sign the contract now and I''ll send ourpany''s filming team to each city immediately!"


    William Fox chose topletely capitte, otherwise, he might indeed lose Donnie as a client.


    Donnie shook his head, his expression one of regret, "Dear William, if you had told me that figurest night, we would already be partners. However, now, if you still want to partner with me, then the price must be reduced to 60,000 US dors!"


    Since the filmpany in Phdelphia had offered a price of 70,000 US dors, it clearly indicated that thesepanies were still making a profit.


    Donnie suddenly felt the anticipation of being a client holding a bidding process.


    As Donnie''s mood improved, William Fox''s souredpletely.


    He had already conceded, and yet the other side was still pushing further.


    However, considering the benefits these three documentaries would bring to hispany, William Fox forced a smile through clenched teeth, "Donnie, you truly have a sense of humor. Not to mention 60,000 dors, there''s no way any filmpany could make that work for even 70,000!"


    Donnie spoke indifferently, "I''m not joking with you, William. Our staff is currently in Phdelphia and has already contacted the filmpanies there. They have epted our offer!"


    William Fox''s face went pale; he hadn''t expected Donnie to be so cunning, already sending his staff to Phdelphia while negotiating with him.


    Phdelphia''s film industry had indeedgged far behind Los Angeles.


    Butcking as it might be, it still existed.


    "No, dear Donnie, I''m familiar with Phdelphia''s film industry. Their technology is outdated; they couldn''t achieve the quality you''re after!"


    William Fox still tried to struggle.


    But Donnie, uncaring, smiled and said, "Our documentaries don''t actually require that advanced technology. As long as it can perfectly capture the looks of those girls, that will be enough. So Mr. Fox, is yourpany willing to bring the price down to 60,000 dors? For Walker''s sake, if the prices are equal, I''ll choose Fox Films!" Discover more content at mvl


    Obviously, William Fox couldn''t ept the 60,000-dor price tag. Fox Films had be a first-ss filmpany in Hollywood while Phdelphia''s filmpanies were like small workshops inparison.


    A small workshop could drastically cut costs, but argepany couldn''t.


    In the end, William Fox could do nothing but leave Block Tavern with a sense of resignation.


    At that moment, Donnie was indifferent to William Fox''s departure.

 Chapter 118: 90. The Development of the Radio Station (7K Mega Chapter, Please Subscribe~)_3

    .


    The broadcast station''s license hade through, and Donnie naturally began to prepare the station.


    Preparing a broadcast station''s most important requirements were a host and broadcast equipment.


    When Brad Dorn applied for the license, Donnie had already purchased the broadcasting equipment, and at the same time, Donnie had also moved his own broadcastingpany to the West District.


    After breakfast, Donnie had Dwight drive him to Antic City Broadcast, located in the middle of Pennsylvania Avenue.


    When Donnie entered thepany, some clerks were already at work, and Robinson from the Antic City Post was waiting there, alongside a white male in his thirties, Mashang Evans.


    Although the Antic City Post and Antic City Broadcast were two separatepanies, they both were under Starry Entertainment, and even Starry Entertainment was part of the media conglomerate.


    After due consideration, Donnie moved the Antic City Post to the West District first. Some of the business between the twopanies could interconnect, so bringing them together also made management easier and more convenient.


    As for Mashang Evans, he was previously the deputy editor of the Antic City Forum. Considering that the content of the broadcastingpany was simr to that of newspapers, Donnie had already poached Evans while Brad Dorn was applying for themercial radio license.


    Now, Mashang Evans served as the general manager of Antic City Broadcast.


    "How''s the search for the host going?"


    Donnie, sitting in his own office, asked Mashang Evans.


    Mashang Evans had already known about the broadcasting license being approved and was clearly well prepared.


    "Boss, these are the hosts I interviewed before, take a look at their information," Mashang Evans said.


    After reviewing the information handed to him by Mashang Evans, Donnie asked, "Howe there are no women?"


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    Mashang Evans was startled by Donnie''s question. Antic City Broadcast was the firstmercial radio station in America, previously military-used, and there was no precedent for female hosts, right?


    Moreover, although women''s rights had been liberated, in a more general sense, most Americans still believed that women should not be in the public eye, especially in roles like a host.


    Furthermore, the hosts Mashang Evans had been searching for were actually some from hosting positions within luxurious hotels of Antic City... even if he wanted to find professionally trained ones, there weren''t any to find!


    Naturally, all these hosts were men.


    "Boss, you want a female host?" Mashang Evans asked, despite being taken aback by Donnie''s question.


    "Exactly!" Donnie said, "And I want at least two female hosts. They should partner up with the male hosts separately!"


    Having said that, Donnie smiled at Mashang Evans and continued, "During work hours, men are at their jobs and won''t have too much time to listen to the radio, but it''s those women who are the main audience for the broadcast. Evans, you aren''t still harboring the same ideas from your time at the Antic Forum, are you?"


    Hearing Donnie''s teasing, Mashang Evans blushed. Back at the Antic City Forum, Evans had been a pioneer against the Miss America pageant, often publishing sensational and shocking opinions under his own name.


    Even calling him the foremost opponent of Miss America in Antic City wasn''t an exaggeration.


    "Of course not, boss, you have to believe in my professional integrity!" Evans responded.


    Donnieughed heartily and said, "I do trust you, otherwise I wouldn''t have poached you to be the general manager of Antic City Broadcast."


    After the joke, Donnie turned to Robinson and said, "The broadcastpany has just been established, and many personnel organizations haven''t been set up yet. In the meantime, the Antic City Post will need to coordinate with the broadcastpany, share news promptly, and don''t worry about it affecting the newspaper''s sales.


    People are used to reading the newspaper every day, and not every family has a radio!"


    To create a broadcastingpany with a nationwide reach, Antic City Broadcast couldn''t focus all of its content solely on Antic City.


    Rather, it needed to look nationally and, in that case, thepany would need to establish news reception departments in major cities across the country.


    For the broadcastpany at present, this was quite a challenge... the capital investment was too great.


    Currently, relying on the poprity of Miss America, the Antic City Broadcast could keep going, but this wasn''t a long-term solution.


    In the United States, in Europe, running a broadcastpany was essentially doing news.


    After the profits from Miss America were ounted for, Donnie would really start to expand the broadcastpany''s scale.


    So under the current circumstances, they could only rely on the Antic City Post''s newswork.


    Robinson was a good-natured person and had already felt that Donnie didn''t quite trust his abilities. Now, he naturally wouldn''t have any objection to Donnie''s requirements!


    "Alright, boss!"


    Then Robinson said to Mashang Evans, "Manager Evans, please assign a staff member dedicated to liaise with us. We will share all the news we receive with you every day!"


    Evans humbly expressed his thanks: "Thank you, Manager Robinson!"


    Donnie continued talking to Mashang Evans, "Besides regr hosts, I need you to find a host who can tell jokes."

 Chapter 119: 90. The Development of the Radio Station (7K Mega Chapter, Please Subscribe~)_4

    Donnie was actually looking for a stand-upedian, though the term stand-upedy wouldn''te into being until the advent of television; at present, such performers were known as jokesters.


    Antic City Broadcast Company shouldn''t just have news; it needs to have entertainment as well.


    Even the state broadcaster in the future would air TV dramas during the prime eight o''clock slot, essentially to regte the mood of the viewers; after all, listening to news for too long invariably leads to fatigue!


    "Boss, do you mean to air this program during the breaks in the news segments?"


    Mashang Evans quickly grasped Donnie''s intent.


    "Exactly, that''s what I mean!"


    Afterward, Donnie detailed the formats of some broadcast programs he was familiar with to Mashang Evans, naturally, including content that suited the current national conditions of the United States.


    By the time Donnie finished the conversation with them, it was already afternoon!


    The next day, the Antic City Post featured an advertisement for Antic City Broadcast''s radio station.


    The appearance of this ad did catch the attention of many in Antic City¡ªnot because everyone wanted to listen to the broadcast, but they felt proud of the news that Antic City Broadcast would be the firstmercial radio station in the United States.


    Since the United States is a country of immigrants, it''s impossible to expect the people of the country to feel a significant sense of belonging to America.


    On the contrary, they feel a greater sense of belonging to their city or state; otherwise, Texas wouldn''t asionally stir up talk of independence!


    Having the first broadcastpany in the United States is what truly made the people of Antic City proud.


    Mashang Evans also seized this sentiment promptly and began strategizing with Robinson focusing heavily on this aspect for promotion.


    Indeed, the people of Antic City ate it up, showing tremendous enthusiasm for the radio station that would start broadcasting in a week, even spurring a sales boom in radios throughout Antic City.


    Donnie was naturally very happy when he learned of this.


    However, what made Donnie even happier was that Walker had called from Los Angeles, informing him of the sessful invitation to Charlie Chaplin to serve as a special judge for the Miss America finals.


    "Charlie is very happy to serve as the special judge for Miss America and asked me to express his thanks to you for inviting him!"


    In his previous life, Donnie wasn''t a fan of celebrities but knew Chaplin''s character to be rather arrogant, so he didn''t take Walker''s words to heart.


    "Walker, I understand. Without your help, it would not have been possible to invite Mr. Chaplin!"


    Donnie expressed his gratitude to Walker once again.


    "Haha!" Walkerughed heartily, "Donnie, you''re too kind. After all, I''m also a judge for Miss America myself. It''s only right that I do what I can to contribute to the influence of Miss America!"


    The two chatted about Charlie Chaplin''s arrival in Antic City and some details to be aware of. Then, Walker proactively brought up William Fox''s matter.


    "William has already called me..."


    Hearing Walker bring up William Fox, Donnie said, "Walker, you must understand, I''ve put everything into this Miss America event..."


    "Donnie, you''ve misunderstood me. I''m not trying to plead on behalf of William. In fact, I''m not very satisfied with what he did before either. It''s your right to choose apany that''s more suitable for you to coborate with. What I wanted to say is, I hope William''s issue won''t affect the friendship between us!"


    After hearing this, Donnieughed and replied, "Of course not!"


    The two ended their call in good spirits.


    Donnie sat at the bar of the tavern, a smile on his face, pleased with how smoothly things had been going recently.


    "Donnie!"


    Just then, a familiar voice called out. Nucky was walking in with Lucy on his arm, and beside them was another woman, graceful and fair, with eyes as clear as a stillke.


    Donnie stood up and opened his arms to embrace Nucky,ughing, "Nucky, it''s been a while since you''ve been to this ce!"


    "Haha, are youining that I don''te by often enough?" Nucky joked.


    Donnie nodded, "If that''s how you want to interpret it, I have no objections!"


    Nucky nced helplessly at Donnie and then said to the woman beside him, whom Donnie found unfamiliar, "Miss Breton, you see, that''s the kind of man Donnie is, sometimes even I can''t handle him, so your matter will still need his approval!"


    Miss Breton smiled, "I''ve heard of Mr. Block''s great reputation since I came to Antic City, and I hope for Mr. Block''s continued support in the future!" Read exclusive adventures at mvl


    After Donniepleted the hand-kissing gesture to Breton, Nucky introduced her, "Donnie, this Miss Breton is a social phnthropist who wishes to sponsor our Miss America pageant and also hopes to be one of the judges!"


    Social phnthropist?


    Upon hearing this term, Donnie''s gaze towards Breton shifted slightly; in the United States, those who bore this title tended to have one thing inmon¡ªthey were wealthy!


    "I''m very grateful to Miss Breton for holding our Miss America in such high regard!"


    "I have immense respect for your decision, Mr. Block. The hosting of Miss America allows many American women to see the beauty in themselves and gives them the confidence to step out of their homes and serve society!" Breton said with a light smile.


    Um, this rhetoric sounds awfully familiar!


    Donnie asked, "May I know how much you are prepared to sponsor, Miss Breton?"


    Miss Breton replied, "I''m just an ordinary person, so I can only afford to provide a maximum of 50,000 US Dors in cash, and I hope Mr. Block won''t find it too little!"


    Hearing the amount, Donnie nced towards Nucky. Although 50,000 wasn''t a small sum, the mere idea of bing a judge in the Miss America pageant for 50,000, especially being brought by Nucky himself, was something Donnie couldn''t quite figure out.


    Nuckyughed, "Breton, Donnie will surely take your suggestion seriously. Why don''t you allow Lucy to show you what the best tavern in Antic City is like in the meantime? I think it won''t take long for Donnie to give you a satisfactory answer!"


    Miss Breton gave a reserved nod and then said to Lucy, "Then I''ll be in your care, Miss Lucy!"


    After the two women left, Donnie took Nucky to his office.


    "Nucky, who exactly is this woman, isn''t she from some family?" Donnie inquired.


    Nuckyughed heartily and said, "A year ago, this woman was just a waitress at a Western restaurant in Clevnd!"


    Donnie''s eyes lit up. Although Nucky seemed to give a piece of useless information, Donnie had already guessed the hidden implication behind it.


    "So, the 50,000 she''s offering is basically just an unsigned check?"


    Nuckyughed again, "Exactly, that''s it!"

 Chapter 120: 91, raise funds, raise funds, still raise funds

    To be able to garner such care from Nucky and his willingness to let her be a judge for Miss America, her identity was quite telling.


    The future mistress of the President of the United States, Harding!


    "It seems that Miss Breton has quite the ambition!"


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    Donnie said teasingly.


    Nucky spoke dismissively, "Women, they sometimes can''t see their own situation clearly."


    Whether it was Donnie or Nucky, they had both realized that Breton simply wanted to establish her image in front of the American public with the increasingly popr Miss America.


    Maybe in doing so, she could have the opportunity to appear in public with Harding in the future.


    Clearly, neither Donnie nor Nucky were optimistic about this.


    The reason why Harding could rise from a country boy, a small-time journalist, to the President of the United States was entirely because he chose a powerful wife, Florence!


    Florence''s family was one of the top ten consortiums in the United States, the Clevnd Consortium.


    It was precisely because of her status that the handsome Harding, who looked like a Hollywood actor, was willing to marry Florence¡ªwho was five years his senior, divorced, and with a child... and what''s more, she was in-looking!


    After bing President, Harding had wanted to rid himself of his wife''s control, but while the thought was pleasant, reality was harsh.


    Harding never managed to free himself from his wife''s control throughout his life; even many tabloids med Florence for Harding''s death.


    Nucky was unaware of this history, but he could tell from Florence''s situation that Breton''s desire to rece her was impossible!


    "Regardless, she is someone Harding took notice of, we still have to give Harding some respect," Nucky said to Donnie.


    Donnie nodded. The original purpose of hosting Miss America was to connect with America''s upper echelons, and now that they had Breton as a connection, Donnie certainly wouldn''t let it go.


    "Of course, after all, she is one of the President''s future women..."


    After discussing Breton, Nucky and Donnie moved on to talk about the Miss America preliminaries. "The old timers in the city are getting impatient, it seems like we don''t have to worry about the Antic City preliminaries!"


    Donnie nodded, "I''ve never been worried about the situation in Antic City, but rather the situation in the other cities."


    Nucky reassured him with a smile, "You can rest assured about that too, I''ve already spoken with the other cities, and they are very satisfied with the current situation. The tickets have already sold out eighty percent."


    The rules set by Donnie were the same for the preliminaries in all the cities.


    The events were to be held in the most famous tavern in each local city, and rich businessmen in the city would be invited. Of course, an invitation was just an invitation¡ªthe necessary fees would still need to be paid.


    An entrance ticket costing a thousand US Dors was definitely a huge sum for the average person, but to those wealthy individuals, a thousand dors might just be a wager for a round of cards.


    Both Donnie and Nucky took a thirty percent cut from this revenue!


    Even so, the taverns in those cities were eager to host the event.


    Moreover, for the day of the Miss America preliminaries, Donnie and Nucky also took a thirty percent cut from the profits of the flower sales in the tavern.


    With each flower priced at twenty US Dors, they aimed to let these American tycoons show off their wealth.


    After discussing the situation in several cities, Donnie and Nucky left the office and came to the main hall.


    Lucy and Breton were dancing gracefully on the dance floor. While others might approach and join in the dance, no undue incidents urred. Everyone might not have recognized Breton, but they knew Lucy.


    Aside from someone as audacious as Donnie, no one dared to provoke Lucy.


    Upon seeing the two descend the staircase, Lucy, with Breton in tow, approached them. Although Breton didn''t speak, her eyes were fixed intently on Donnie, clearly eager to know his decision.


    "Wee, Miss Breton, to be one of the judges for the Miss America finals. I hope Miss Breton can strive for greater rights for the vast majority of American women. After all, women can hold up half the sky!"


    Because of the phrase "women can hold up half the sky," a light twinkled in Breton''s eyes, and she reached out to shake hands with Donnie again. "Do you really believe that, Mr. Block?"


    Donnie, along with Nucky, Lucy, and Breton, approached an empty table and sat down. Then, Donnie smiled and said, "Of course, otherwise, why would I think of organizing Miss America? It''s really about showing more people the independent American women of the new era.


    The women in the United States during this era are no longer appendages of men, they have the right to vote, can work, and, in fact, many women have already taken on the responsibility of supporting their families.


    But they have not received the corresponding respect, and this is something I cannot ept!"


    After Donnie finished speaking, a yboy Bunny carrying drinks walked over.


    Breton looked at the yboy Bunny as she set down the drinks and left, and asked with a smile, "But Mr. Block, your tavern still uses the bodies of women to attract customers, is this what you advocate as independence for women?"


    Donnie showed a look of dissatisfaction, Nucky and Lucy thought that Breton had hit a sore spot for Donnie, hence his discontent.


    Breton, on the other hand, thought she had seen through Donnie''s hypocrisy.


    "Miss Breton, I thought you were someone who genuinely considered the well-being of women, but now it seems that is not the case, and this disappoints me greatly."


    "Did I say something wrong?"


    Breton was somewhat dissatisfied with Donnie''s usation and did not hide her displeasure at all.


    Watching Breton''s reaction, Nucky shook his head slightly, just such a state of mind that allowed Donnie''s words to reveal her true inner thoughts ¨C how could she aspire topete with Florence under such circumstances?


    "Of course!" Donnie said loudly, "Miss Breton, do you know thedy who just served us? Do you know her name? Her background? Her family? You criticized her job, suggesting she earns her pay by selling her body?"


    Breton''s face turned red, clearly enraged by Donnie''s barrage of questions.


    "No matter what her issues are, they shouldn''t be the reason you make her do this job!"


    How can a woman who has been the President''s mistress and fantasizes about recing his wife dare to self-righteously criticize a yboy Bunny''s job at this moment?


    Fortunately, Donnie knew Breton well enough to not be infuriated by such a woman, not because of her status or actions, after all, Donnie was not a paragon of virtue. He felt this way simply because the woman was incredibly foolish.


    "Susie Benning came to Antic City with her parents five years ago, living in the West District, which was second only to the North District at the time. To support her family, Susie''s father had to work at the docks. Despite only this, Susie still received a good education and became a student at Columbia University this year.


    However, the exorbitant tuition fees at Columbia University deterred Susie, and now she works two jobs every day. In the mornings, she works at a bakery, and in the afternoons and evenings, she works at Block Tavern, all to earn enough money to pay for her university education.


    She has never looked down on her work, always arriving each day full of energy, and Susie also understands that only by having worked at the very bottom can she speak out for women in simr situations after she graduates from university.


    Such a determined, idealistic, and ambitious woman ¨C I really can''t understand, Miss Breton, as a woman who purports to speak on behalf of women, why would you look down on her job?"


    Donnie''s words left Breton feeling quite ashamed, and she even stood up immediately, "Mr. Block, I apologize for my inappropriate remarks just now, and I hope you can forgive me!"


    Donnie shook his head, "You shouldn''t be apologizing to me, but to Susie, whom you''ve looked down upon. If she knew what you just said, she would be very heartbroken!"


    "Indeed, that''s what I should do!"


    Having said that, Breton stood up and walked towards Breton''s direction.


    "Not bad, she isn''t hopelessly stupid!"


    Nucky said with a smile as he watched Breton''s reaction.


    Tang Fei said, "After all, she has spent some time around Harding."


    "What do you two mean?" Lucy did not understand the implication behind Donnie and Nucky''s words.


    Donnie and Nucky exchanged a smile and did not answer Lucy''s question but clinked their sses together.


    Seeing their actions, Lucy pursed her lips, then said to Donnie, "I didn''t expect you to be so kind-hearted, Donnie. Are all the yboy Bunnies here in Block Tavern in a simr situation?"


    Donnieughed heartily, "Only Susie is in that situation. In fact, Susie has already earned enough to cover her four years of university tuition!"


    Lucy, although not as clever as Donnie and Nucky, was still smarter than Breton. She understood the meaning behind Nucky''s words after hearing this.


    "Poor Breton!"


    Since Harding is behind Breton, then based on the characters of Donnie and Nucky, if they did not extract all the value from this woman, it wouldn''t fit their character.


    "Donnie, I am very grateful for everything you''ve done for Susie. You are truly a man who acts to fight for more rights for us women!"


    By then, Breton had already returned to Susie''s side, while the distant Susie stood there utterly confused. That woman must be sick,ing over to give a random cheer and then spouting some nonsensical things.


    Why does the boss have such a dim-witted person around him?

 Chapter 125: 93, Crazy Match (7K Mega Chapter, Please Subscribe~)

    "Ladies and gentlemen of the audience, now entering is contestant number one from the Antic City division of the Miss America pageant, Shannon Parker, a contestant of French descent."


    Shannon Parker is 22 years old, 167 centimeters tall, weighs 112 pounds, with measurements of 98, 55, 99, which one could say is a perfect ratio, especially Shannon Parker''s thighs which are no less than 90 centimeters long....


    Shannon Parker is currently a student at Drexel University in Phdelphia, and her childhood dream was to make her own contribution to the development of Antic City after graduating from university...."


    On the T-stage in the hall of Block Tavern, Shannon Parker appeared in a one-piece purple swimsuit, with its most striking feature being the absence of the traditional skirt found in swimsuits, reducing the fabric around the waist and exposing parts of her fair skin.


    "Eli, aren''t you guys from the public safety department going to step in and stop this?"


    The Mayor of Antic City, Baharach, joked.


    ording to the current situation in the United States, women''s swimsuits are subject to strict regtions: the hemline must be long enough to cover the thighs. If you were to visit the beaches of other cities in the United States, you would often see police measuring the distance between the bottom of women''s swimsuits and their ankles.


    "I''ve already decided, once this beauty pageant is over, I''m going to drag Donnie Block back to the public safety department for a thorough interrogation!"


    Eli Johnsonughed as he spoke.


    Those around, hearing Eli''s joke,ughed as well.


    Shannon Parker walked with an unpracticed model''s stride, turning a circle on the T-stage, asionally stopping to show off her body''s beauty to the audience.


    Once she had finished showcasing her ''beauty'', she would be stopped by the host, who would typically ask her questions, such as why Shannon Parker had decided to enter this year''s Miss America.


    Shannon Parker''s understanding of feminine beauty!


    Shannon Parker''s own ideals, among a series of other questions.


    After Shannon Parker hadpleted her Q&A, the host announced loudly,


    "Now it''s time for everyone to contribute their flower value; please remember, this is just the initial flower value. After all 32 beauty contestants have showcased their feminine beauty, there will be a second round of flower value voting, and the total of the two rounds will reveal the top eight contestants from the Antic City division of Miss America.


    In two weeks, they willpete for the top three spots!"


    As the host''s words fell, the hall began to stir with excitement.


    Not everyone who came in had a rtionship like Carmen Farmer and Leck Young, and of course, everyone had their own favored girl in mind.


    So, right after the host finished speaking, people immediately started sending flowers to Shannon Parker!


    "Thank you to Mr. Jerry Ward for his 10 flowers. Mr. Jerry Ward is a director of the Camden-Antic City Railway Company, and every resident of Antic City should thank Mr. Jerry Ward; without his railwaypany, we would not have so many tourists."


    The host expressed gratitude toward Jerry Ward.


    Basking in the attention of the entire audience, the appreciative look on stage from Shannon Parker made Jerry Ward''s pride apparent on his face.


    "Thank you to Mr. Seymour Richards for his 20 flowers. While we thank the Camden-Antic City Railway Company, we should also thank the Phdelphia-Antic City Railway Company for their contributions to our city, providing even more tourists!"


    Jerry Ward abruptly turned to Seymour Richards with a fiery re, as the two railwaypanies were already inpetition, and neither of them had thought that their rivalry would extend to this arena.


    "Oh, and again, thank you to Mr. Jerry Ward for another 20 flowers...."


    Watching Jerry Ward and Seymour Richards vie for supremacy, Donnie and Nucky exchanged knowing smiles in the distance.


    This was the scene they wanted to see, as rivalry would drive higher flower sales and generate more profits.


    Donnie had prepared a full....100 flowers for the evening''s contest, and as soon as the flowers were brought onstage, tavern staff would immediately collect them and then bring them back out for the second round of auctions.


    The cost of a single flower was only ten cents, while here, each flower was valued at 20 US dors.


    Just for Shannon Parker alone, they had sold...65 flowers, valued at 1300 US dors!


    And the number was still rising. By the time Shannon Parker left the stage, her flower value had reached 73 flowers.


    She was ranked first among the 32 contestants!


    After her, the second and third contestants...took turns to take the stage, whichpletely pushed the evening''s atmosphere to one climax after another.


    Those who did not have the privilege to attend, while listening over the radio to those tycoons spend fortunes on a woman, felt an immense envy and wished they were among the participants.


    Backstage in the dressing room of the Block Tavern, as Carmen Farmer smugly observed that Jessica Dole was about to go onstage, but her swimsuit hadn''t been fixed yet.


    When Jessica Dole''s predecessor took the stage, Carmen Farmer prepared to enjoy the spectacle, but Jessica Dole suddenly pulled a brand-new swimsuit from her bag,posedly put it on, and gave Carmen Farmer a triumphant smile, ready for her turn!

 Chapter 126: 93, Crazy Match (7K Mega Chapter, Please Subscribe~)_2

    As one of the most favored contestants in the Antic City division of the Miss America pageant, Jessica Dole''s appearance naturally garnered considerable attention.


    However, unlike Shannon Park, Jessica Dole''s flower count was rather scattered instead of being concentrated on just one or two individuals.


    This was simr to Jessica Dole''s own situation; she was not attached to any one individual or a few people, and the current flower throwing for Jessica was actually for two purposes.


    First, Jessica Dole was indeed very beautiful, standing 170 cm tall, weighing 117 pounds, with measurements of 86, 64, 86. Although she did not have Shannon Park''s explosive figure, her proportions were perfect, and what was more important, she had a sweet face that conveyed a kind of charm within her every smile and frown.


    Such a beauty, even without any backing, would have no problem getting votes.


    Secondly, among this group of people, not everyone would give up after just one try; many hoped to earn Jessica Dole''s favor with their flower throwing!


    In such a scenario, Jessica Dole eventually received 69 flowers, ranking her fourth among the thirteen contestants who had appeared!


    There was no way around it; the top few individuals had too much support from their powerful backers!


    "There''s definitely a problem!"


    Inside the Block Tavern in the West District, a man who had bet on Jessica Dole shouted loudly upon hearing the flower count she had received over the radio.


    "How could Jessica Dole possibly be only in fourth ce? There''s definitely something wrong here!"


    The man''s outcry immediately met with agreement from many others.


    They were different from those guests at the live event, who were like wealthy people out to enjoy the nightlife, intent on winning over a beauty contestant that very night. Therefore, they were very purpose-driven, willing to give tips for some of the pretty contestants.


    But they definitely wouldn''t pay beyond the tips.


    On the other hand, the listeners outside had no hope of taking home any contestant, so they were simply judging based on who they found attractive.


    "What''s the hurry? It''s just the first round of the election, and there''s a second round toe. I believe Jessica Dole will definitely make it smoothly into the top eight!"


    Magichi leaned against the bar with a rxed smile on his face.


    "Magichi, who are you trying to kid? In the second round, it''s definitely going to be those big shots going crazy with flower-giving for their girls. Jessica Dole is a good girl; she''s bound to lose!"


    "Hmph, if Jessica Dole can''t make it into the top eight, then I swear I will never bother with the Miss America pageant again!"


    Conversations like this were taking ce in thousands of taverns, both big and small, throughout Antic City.


    This also reflected Jessica Dole''s poprity at that time.


    When Jessica Dole returned backstage, her expression was a bit grave. Not even half of the contestants had been on stage yet, and she had only managed to secure a fourth-ce result, which was somewhat unexpected for her.


    "Could it be that I was too confident?"


    Jessica Dole couldn''t help but reproach herself.


    "Hehe!" At that moment, Jessica Dole heard a disdainfulugh.


    Without looking, Jessica knew that it was Carmen Farmer, who was about to go on stage.


    "Realizing your regret now? Toote!"


    Carmen Farmer said softly to the silent Jessica Dole beside her.


    Jessica Dole didn''t converse with Carmen Farmer and instead returned straight to her spot.


    Carmen Farmer''s appearance immediately captured the attention of the guests in the Block Tavern of the West District, as they had already heard from Richel about Leck Young''s support for Carmen Farmer.


    "Thanks to Mr. Leck Young, chairman of Antic City''s premier entertainment pier, for his one hundred flowers. Mr. Leck Young''s entertainment pier is the biggest and most luxurious in Antic City, with the widest array of amusements. The countless seafood thatnds there every day can be said to contribute to the dining tables of every Antic City resident!"


    "Wow!"


    Hearing that Leck Young had contributed 100 flowers to Carmen Farmer straight away, many people gasped in amazement¡ªthat was 2000 US Dors.


    It was an amount that would take an average person two years to earn.


    Carmen Farmer, with one hand on her hip, stood at the center of the T-stage, her smile radiant, frequently casting flirtatious nces at Leck Young.


    She seemedpletely unaware that she had received the least amount of flowers from the others among all the contestants who had appeared!


    But with Leck Young''s financial power, Carmen Farmer still obtained 112 flowers, currently leading all the contestants who had appeared.


    And because of this, Carmen Farmer stepped off the stage with a bright smile on her face.


    "Donnie, I have to say, you''ve reallye up with a good business this time!"


    At this moment, Nucky''s smile was as brilliant as Carmen Farmer''s, who had just left the stage.


    Up to that point, fifteen beauty contestants had appeared, with a total of 1215 flowers sold, bringing in a revenue of 24,300 US Dors. This money was as good as found.


    Donnie, smiling, said, "It''s a good business we''ve run together."

 Chapter 127: 93, Crazy Match (7K Mega Chapter, Please Subscribe~)_3

    Nuckyughed heartily, "That''s right!"


    One by one, the beauty contestants made their appearance, and when the first round ended, three hours had already passed.


    But during these three hours, no one felt bored; each beauty contestant''s arrival created quite a stir on site.


    It was also during this time that Bruce found Donnie and whispered something in his ear.


    After Bruce left, Nucky gave Donnie an inquiring look.


    Donnie smiled and said, "Bruce and his team have already tallied the preliminary peripheral statistics!"


    Excitement instantly washed over Nucky''s face. Although the sale of the flowers at the venue had already brought in $44,800, and it seemed like they had earned quite a bit, both Donnie and Nucky understood that the big money tonight came from the peripheral ie.


    "Until the beginning of thepetition, a total of 48,672 bets were ced throughout Antic City, amounting to $579,885 in wagers, with an expected revenue of about $100,000!"


    Nucky''s smile upgraded once again. This didn''t even include the ie from the other ten cities. If that were added, the two of them could earn more than $600,000 just from tonight''s ie alone!


    With their profit-sharing agreement, each would take home around $300,000!


    "I am now extremely grateful that I agreed to partner with you, Donnie!"


    Nucky couldn''t help but exim at this moment.


    The smile on Donnie''s face was just as radiant; this was only the beginning, with even more ie toe.


    Breton, sitting on the other side of Donnie, felt waves of emotion upon hearing the discussion between Donnie and Nucky.


    Although being with Harding ensured Breton a carefree life, even a better one than most, it didn''t mean Breton had ever seen real wealth.


    After all, Harding was still being supported by his wife!


    But now, these two men sitting beside him were making hundreds of thousands of dors in just one evening... Breton was unaware of the ie from other cities.


    To Breton, it was an enviable situation. If Harding had the ability to earn like this, then they wouldn''t need to evade Florence at all.


    "Congrattions to you both. I believe that due to this event, history will surely remember your names in future America!"


    Breton made a rare, insightfulment.


    Looking at Breton, Donnie suddenly had an idea and said, "Breton, I believe that the strength of one person is always limited. I have a friend in Antic City, Elena Dorn, who is the president of the WCTU. If you wish, I can introduce you to her. Perhaps if you can find some inspiration in the operational model of the WCTU, you might be able to start your own organization.


    A charity dedicated to protecting American women!"


    Breton''s eyes lit up. Why did she want to be a judge of Miss America if not to increase her social influence?


    If what Donnie was saying could really happen, then her ambition could be a reality.


    Although Breton could be foolish at times, she knew her limitations.


    "If it can be sessfully organized, that would indeed be good, but I am just one person. To build such an institution is likely to be..."


    Donnie smiled and said, "Miss Breton, please allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Donnie Block, president of the Mutual Aid and Friendship Association in Antic City. If you wish, our association can handle all the procedures for your new institution!"


    Breton excitedly asked, "Really?"


    "Of course, I have no reason to promise Miss Breton something that can''t be realized!"


    Donnie said confidently.


    Nucky, observing the conversation between Donnie and Breton, appeared puzzled and didn''t understand why Donnie was doing this.


    Just as Breton was about to ask Donnie for more details, the second round of tonight''spetition began!


    The 32 beauty contestants who had just left the stage were back on the T-shaped catwalk. Unlike the previous time when they appeared one by one, this time all 32 contestants took the stage together.


    "I believe that just now, some of you must have overlooked a few, so the second round is to make up for that regret. Now, to each guest at each table, if you think the ranking of a certain beauty contestant does not match your prediction, now is the time to cast your flowers for her.


    Ladies and gentlemen, this is yourst chance. The second-round finals only have thirty minutes of time, starting now!"


    As the host finished speaking, the crowd immediately grew restless.


    Walker, sitting at another table, couldn''t help but turn his attention to Donnie. He knew that now was his time to shine.


    "What''s the current ranking? What position is Jessica Dole in now?"


    In the Block Tavern in the West District, those previously unhappy with Jessica Dole''s ranking immediately asked loudly.


    "Tenth ce, just five flower values away from the eighth ce, Taylor Howard!"


    Magichi shouted back in response.


    "Damn, vote now, what are those people thinking? Isn''t Jessica Dole good enough to be in the top eight?"


    "Thank you, Mr. Block, for the ten flowers given to Jessica Dole. Thetest tally has Miss Jessica Dole ascending to eighth ce in the Miss America Antic City rankings, just one flower value away from seventh ce, Miss Nia Coffey!"

 Chapter 128: 93, Crazy Match (7K Mega Chapter, Please Subscribe~)_4

    ```


    "Haha, I told you Jessica Dole couldn''t possibly miss the top eight, Donnie has a good eye!"


    "Rigged, absolutely rigged, Donnie is the organizer of this Miss America pageant, how can he cast a direct vote? If it''s like this, how can anyone elsepete with him?"


    Taylor Howard also had his own supporters, who immediately expressed their dissatisfaction upon hearing that it was Donnie''s vote that had helped Jessica Dole surpass Taylor Howard.


    However, they soon heard the host''s voice weing Donnie Block''s vote but also indicating that as the organizer, Donnie only had this one chance to vote and couldn''t continue to do so afterward.


    Donnie just smiled and said nothing after listening.


    Then, Taylor Howard''s supporters cast their own flowers, a whopping 20 at once, not only propelling Taylor''s rank above Jessica Dole''s but even catapulting him directly to the seventh position, surpassing Nia Coffey''s ranking.


    Jessica Dole dropped from the eighth to the ninth ce again, which caused Carmen Farmer, who had just been a bit nervous, to smile once more.


    It was then that Walker finally made his move, calling out his vote of 20 flowers for Jessica Dole.


    With Walker''s appearance, it effectively meant that thepetition''s biggest troublemaker had arrived.


    The battle spread first among the ninth, eighth, seventh, and sixth ces, but as Walker kept adding flower value to Jessica Dole, supporters of other contestants continued to reinforce their favorites.


    The entirepetition became an image of extreme madness.


    By that point, those waiting by the radio for the live broadcast couldn''t even discern the specific numbers of flowers being added for each contestant.


    The host, quick with his words, simply started announcing rankings.


    A new ranking appeared every second.


    In such a scenario, the rich individuals inside had already entered a state of excitement, and all they were doing was continuously pulling out their cash or filling in their checks.


    There was no time for them to think in the middle of it all, just purchasing flower value for the contestants they supported.


    When the battle reached the first ce, Carmen Farmer, the atmosphere of the entire evening really reached its climax.


    "50 flowers! 50 flower values, Mr. Leck Young has contributed a one-time gift of 50 flowers for Miss Carmen Farmer, aiding her in reiming the champion''s throne within ten seconds after losing it!


    No, wait, Mr. Walker has also contributed 50 flowers for Miss Jessica Dole, allowing Jessica Dole toplete the upset, moving from ninth to champion."


    Naturally, things couldn''t just end like that.


    Leck Young had dered before thepetition started that he intended to make Carmen Farmer the preliminary champion. Now, some unknown outsider dared to challenge him, Leck Young certainly wouldn''t give up!


    But when the thirty minutes of chaos ended, everyone who had voted copsed in their seats as the host announced the end of the contest.


    Only then did they realize just how crazy they had been.


    "I finally understand why you decided not to use this promotion system in the finals two weeks from now!"


    Nucky was the second most sober person on the scene; the first was Donnie.


    "After such an impulse, these people will definitely regret it by the evening, and such madness won''t happen in the finals!"


    Donnie didn''t refute Nucky''s words, but that didn''t mean Donnie agreed with him.


    The reason why he wouldn''t use this method for the regional finals wasn''t that Donnie thought people would be rational by that time, but because Donnie wanted to fully establish the Miss America brand.


    ```


    After the preliminaries, there will definitely be people questioning the fairness of thepetition... despite suchpetitions having no fairness to speak of.


    Therefore, the regional finals and the grand finals are actually to dispel such doubts, allowing the selection of Miss America through votes, which can be seen as a way to mitigate some of the negative criticism.


    Although this means that Donnie and Nucky will earn less from the value of flowers, it ensures that Donnie can profit from this brand for a long time!


    The fewer the allegations of maniption, the greater the peripheral earnings.


    "Who is this Walker? He''s ridiculously wealthy. He just tossed at least 300 flower values on Jessica Dole, that''s 6000 US Dors!"


    During the data calction phase, the people outside had already begun discussing the matter, and the name that came up most was Walker''s!


    6000 US Dors, that''s not only a lot for a Miss America contestant just gaining some fame, but also for Hollywood actresses, unless they are among the very top few.


    "Who knows? It must be some scion of a major family; otherwise, they wouldn''t be able to afford it!"


    "I didn''t expect that these family scions would actuallye to our event, it''s really surprising!"


    "What''s there to be surprised about? These people have nothing better to do every day than to vie for attention and jealousy, right?"


    The outside discussion about Walker had already started, and the same was true inside the venue; everyone was specting about Walker''s identity.


    Even Nucky asked Donnie out of curiosity, "Whose family does this fellow belong to?"


    Donnie, looking at Walker who was trying to maintain a calm and smiling face in the distance, said with augh, "He''s from New York, a bastard of the Astor family!"


    Nucky suddenly understood and lost all curiosity, "So it''s him!"


    As Walker''s greatest rival, Leck Young''s eyes nearly shot fire upon looking at him.


    Spending an extra 3000 US Dors for no reason would make anyone angry.


    "Kid, I''ve got my eye on you now!"


    Leck Young, abandoning his manners, came up to Walker leaning on his cane.


    "Mr. Leck Young, that''s hardly the way we treat our guests in Antic City, Mr. Walker hase all the way from New York because of our warm hospitality, you shouldn''t tarnish Antic City''s reputation!"


    When Leck Young came over to Walker, Donnie also walked over.


    Leck Young couldn''t help but ask Donnie, "From New York?"


    Donnie nodded, "Yes, Mr. Walker Astor hase especially to Antic City to support our regional contest, I think Mr. Leck Young, you should show your hospitality!"


    Donnie spoke loudly enough so that others heard too, and these were Antic City''s most prominent figures who naturally understood what the Astor name signified!


    Leck Young snorted and turned to leave!


    At this point, the data tally was alsopleted.


    Leck Young kept his promise to Carmen Farmer, and she got the first ce in the regional contest as desired, while the previously highly-favored Jessica Dole became second, thanks to the wrench Walker threw into the works.


    Donnie was unconcerned with such rankings. What mattered to him was how much money he had made tonight!

 Chapter 129: 94, Huge Returns (7K Large Chapter, Please Subscribe~)

    People outside were concerned about the list of the top eight contestants from the Miss America Antic City pageant; they discussed which beauty contestant didn''t live up to her name, which one was ranked too low, which was ranked too high.


    After the celebration ended, Donnie cared about whether the influence of this event had spread out and exactly how much money he had made!


    Unfortunately, he had to wait until the next day to get a rough idea of these matters!


    When Donnie woke up, it was already morning, and lying beside him were the third and fourth ce contestants of the Miss America Antic City pageant!


    Without bothering with these two, Donnie got up and after having a bite of breakfast in the Ritz Hotel''s restaurant, headed to the stronghold of Starry Entertainment.


    All the financial reports on the betting values for Miss America were handled by Starry Entertainment.


    The external betting was managed by Robert.


    When Donnie strode into Starry Entertainment, the smile on everyone''s face indicated the sess of the previous night.


    The ounting manager Terry Rollins handed over the financial report he had prepared as soon as Donnie sat in his office!


    "Boss, ording to the statistics fromst night, a total of 32 tickets were sold at the preliminarypetition, totaling 32,000 US dors in cash, while 5,120 flowers were sold, with revenues of 102,400 US dors, totaling 134,400 US dors. After all costs, our profit is 107,520 US dors, ording to the share, we will give Mr.


    Nucky 53,760 US dors, and we will have the same amount of money."


    This does not yet include the ie from all the Block Taverns across Antic City!


    Furthermore, profits from sales in the other ten cities have already been established via telephone contact; preliminarypetitions in ten cities have provided us with a total of 161,280 US dors. This sum is ours alone, Mr. Nucky''s portion has been removed!


    Therefore, after calctions, we pulled in a total of 215,040 US dors fromst night''s Miss America preliminarypetition!"


    Upon hearing this figure, even Donnie could not remain unaffected. Originally, based on his calctions, even considering external earnings, he expected to gain an ie of around 300,000 US dors at most.


    But the situation now was such that, without even adding the external ie, his earnings had already surpassed 200,000 US dors!


    It could only be said that the influence of the top-ranking brother was indeed tremendous!


    After learning of this data, Donnie did not leave the ce. Instead, he asked Robinson, who was waiting at Starry Entertainment, toe to his office.


    "Boss, sales data from this morning''s newspapers have note out yet, but I''ve already sent people to monitor every newsstand. ording to the data reported by our people, at least two out of ten people in Antic City today, including tourists, will buy our newspaper."


    And I believe that as the Antic City pageant''s top eight speeches begin, the newspaper''s sales will surge even higher!"


    As the permanent poption of Antic City is around forty-five thousand, the tourist poption can exceed ten times that number. Following Robinson''s estimates, today''s sales of the "Antic City Post" could surpass 90,000 copies, far exceeding the existing poption of Antic City.


    Moreover, this number would also set a record for newspaper sales in Antic City and possibly the entire state of New Jersey!


    The "Antic City Post" is priced at 3 cents per copy, meaning if we are to sell 90,000 copies, that''s an ie of 2,700 US dors, the sales for a single day. With a profit of 0.6 cents per copy, the "Antic City Post" would have a ie of 540 US dors in one day.


    The newspaper industry is such that if your sales volume is high, your advertising revenue naturally increases as well.


    "Very good!" Donnie was pleased with the result.


    "Every day, and I mean every day, you need to publish the previous day''s voting ratio for the top eight contestants. Starry Entertainment will provide you with the exact data!"


    In theory, such data should be easy to calcte, but in reality, it''s not the case because Donnie intended to create a tense atmosphere.


    The so-called tense atmosphere meant making the votes for these top eight contestants close to each other, continuously encouraging all voters to keep buying the "Antic City Post" and voting for their preferred beauty contestant.


    In the end, even if a contestant was perceived by the audience to have the highest voting rate, the final decision still required votes from the judges at the scene.


    As for the judges'' final votes... Donnie could manipte those as well.


    In short, to put it simply, Donnie wanted to truly control the oue, with the aim being to better circle in money!


    Money from betting pools on the sidelines!


    This required a massive amount of calction, a workload beyond what the "Antic City Post" could achieve.


    Robinson nodded, "Understood!"


    Afterward, Robinson reported another matter to Donnie: "Boss, the other three newspapers contacted me again this morning. They''ve buckled and allowed us to invest."


    Last night, Paul Ss and the others were reluctant to agree to discuss an investment with the "Antic City Post."


    But this morning, even though the sales volume of each newspaper had not been released, they had staff monitoring the newsstands too. The dismal sales made them realize that the only way forward was to ept investment from the "Antic City Post," otherwise they would not survive.

 Chapter 130: 94, Huge Returns (7K Large Chapter, Please Subscribe~)_2

    After listening, Tang Ji smiled. Since they wanted to talk, he would have a discussion with them. However, he reminded himself that although it was impossible to acquire absolute controlling interest in the first round of negotiations, he must ensure to secure a certain level of influence within theirpany.


    Robinson nodded, indicating his understanding.


    Afterward, Donnie discussed some future development details of the "Antic City Post" with Robinson, and then Robinson left Starry Entertainment.


    Following Robinson''s departure, Donnie met with the third person at Starry Entertainment!


    Gus Erickson, a film director from the Phdelphia Film Production Company, a director of British descent!


    "Mr. Erickson, did the shooting go smoothly yesterday?"


    Donnie asked Erickson with a smile.


    Erickson was also smiling. As a director of British descent, Erickson looked down on the United States and its film industry. He had been reluctant when he was assigned by thepany to Antic City to oversee the filming of the Miss America city preliminary contest documentary. His wallet, however, didn''t allow him the luxury to decline.


    But after spending a night with a Beauty Contestant who failed to advance yesterday evening, Erickson immediately fell in love with Antic City.


    "Extremely so, I think many must have already told you, Mr. Block, that this Miss America event was very sessful. But I still want to say that it was absolutely an unforgettable extravaganza!"


    Watching Erickson''s attitude change dramatically, Donnie asked with a smile, "So, in one week''s time, will yourpany be able to fulfill our contractual agreement and edit the entire documentary?"


    "No problem at all!"


    Erickson assured, "This isn''t a movie shoot, nor an excessively raw-footage documentary. I''ve already made a call with thepany this morning; the shooting in the other ten cities has also gone very smoothly. Everyone is heading back to Phdelphia today, and we guarantee to edit the whole documentary inside one week!"


    Having received a positive response from Erickson, Donnie said with a smile, "That''s perfect. Then, what about the issue of the release?"


    The screenings of the top eight contestants from eleven cities will be edited into a documentary and then released in theaters nationwide after one week.


    As for the release, that too will be managed by the Phdelphia Film Production Company.


    At that time, the revenue split between Starry Entertainment and the other party will be divided ording to the investment party, production party, and the cinemas, in a three-way split.


    Simply put, Tang Ji could take forty percent of the box office profits!


    Although the Jewish People were not yet inplete control of Hollywood, the exclusionary attitude in Hollywood was severe. Furthermore, as the anti-monopoly trial of Hollywood productionpanies had notmenced due to the Paramount case, most cinemas were actually held in the grip of various film productionpanies.


    William Fox, for instance, had started his own film productionpany from the cinema business.


    So now, even if Donnie wanted to distribute the film himself, finding suitable cinema partners was not a possibility.


    Erickson assured Donnie, "Mr. Block, please rest assured, ourpany will definitelyplete this coboration with yours perfectly!"


    Everyone knew that with a goldmine like the Miss America pageant in hand, Starry Entertainment was definitely not going to host it just once and call it quits.


    The Phdelphia Film Production Company was willing to lower their stance significantly to secure a long-term coboration with Donnie.


    "If that''s the case, then I have no concerns. We''ll meet again after a week, when I will make sure to thank Mr. Erickson properly!"


    "Then I won''t be shy!" Erickson said,ughing heartily.


    "Of course!"


    After ending his conversation with Erickson, Donnie left Starry Entertainment and returned to Block Tavern.


    At Block Tavern, Donnie''s true core team was already waiting: John, Robert, Bruce, and Walker, who hadn''t slept well the previous night.


    Seeing Walker, Donnie revealed a smile and asked, "How was it? It seems like Jessica Dole was very enthusiasticst night!"


    Walker showed an expression of resignation, "If we don''t talk about that matter, we are still good friends."


    Last night''s quarter-finals wouldn''t have been the same without Walker''s unexpected surge. Jessica Dole, therefore, expressed her gratitude to Walker at the celebration.


    At the time, Walker thought his spring had arrived. He had heard of the reputation of Jessica Dole, thinking she was an excellent girl, and perhaps he could enact a romantic scene with her in Antic City.


    Clearly, Walker hadn''t truly understood Jessica Dole.


    Jessica Dole''s rejection of everyone''s advances wasn''t because she despised the idea. She simply believed that she should not sell herself short.


    Her thoughts were quite straightforward: she believed that based on her performance, she could easily make it to the quarter-finals.


    Even to the final round!


    Before that, Jessica Dole had seriously studied the Miss America election. She thought that as long as she made it into the top eight, the possibilities of qualifying for the nationalpetition were limitless.


    Even securing a ce in the nationalpetition.


    With that being the case, she would be a woman known all over the country. At that point, maybe she could find a true wealthy man and engage in a romance aimed at marriage.

 Chapter 131: 94, Huge Returns (7K Large Chapter, Please Subscribe~)_3

    So, I really hadpleted a ss jump.


    Jessica Dole believed that truly wealthy people should have a certain filter for personal morals.


    That''s why Jessica Dole had rejected those who offered her their eager attention.


    In simple terms, Jessica Dole was a woman with very clear goals and a calctive mind.


    Although Walker was a good candidate, Jessica Dole wouldn''t really get involved with him without a full understanding of who he was.


    Seeing Donnie''s expression, Walker asked uncertainly, "You didn''t guess this already, did you?"


    Donnie immediately shook his head and said, "How could I? If I had known, I would have warned you!"


    Walker eyed Donnie skeptically, finding it hard to believe his words.


    Donnie then turned his gaze to Robert and asked.


    "Tell us about the ie from the outskirts of the other ten cities?"


    The ie from the outskirts was grey ie, something Donnie couldn''t possibly book into Starry Entertainment''s ounts.


    With a smile on his face, Robert said, "I''ve verified everything. The total betting from the outskirts of the ten cities is 7,693,571 US dors. I''ve already made calls to the responsible persons in each city this morning. After deducting all the necessary payments, the total ie is 1,389,376 US dors. ording to the profit-sharing agreement we discussed, we''ll get 410,000 dors!"


    Upon getting these figures, smiles spread across everyone''s face.


    Donnie looked at the group and said with augh, "Now, surely no one doubts that the Miss America pageant is profitable, right?"


    The group let out an embarrassedugh, previously puzzled by Donnie''s focus on the Miss America contest.


    Now that the solid figures were before them, to continue doubting would be stubbornness.


    "Once we get this money, take out 205,000 dors and send it to Nucky!"


    This money, being grey ie, certainly couldn''t be deposited directly into Donnie''s ount. Additionally, the betting funds collected by the major cities would surely be in cash. ording to the gang members'' usual way of doing things, they would definitely give Donnie cash!


    The same people who had just been excited heard that Donnie wanted to share this money with Nucky¡­ Even though they already knew about this, they still felt somewhat unhappy!


    "Donnie, we''re the ones doing this, aren''t we?"


    Donnie immediately shook his head and said, "Although we''re the ones doing this, we couldn''t possibly have connected with the people in the other cities so smoothly without Nucky. Plus, do you think Nucky doesn''t know about this? I can assure you that by now, Nucky definitely knows this number."


    John scratched his head and said, "I still feel a bit resentful."


    Donnieughed and said, "There''s nothing to feel resentful about. Business partnerships are like this; only mutual wins are true victories. Besides, if we were to shortchange Nucky on this, next time during the divisional finals, the betting ie from those cities might not even pass through our hands but go directly to Nucky instead."


    "He wouldn''t dare!"


    John burst out angrily.


    Donnie countered, "Why wouldn''t he dare? Although we have grown strongerpared to before, we are still far behind Nucky."


    John fell silent!


    Throughout this conversation, Walker had not spoken again and simply watched quietly as Donnie discussed these matters with his own people.


    So when Donnie and Walker entered Donnie''s office, Walker sincerely said to Donnie, "Thank you for your trust."


    Donnie hadn''t avoided Walker during the earlier conversation when in reality, he should have.


    Facing Walker''s gratitude, Donnie handed him a cigar andughed, "Didn''t you consider us your friends already?"


    "Of course not!"


    Walker immediately denied it, and then he added a bit sheepishly, "I''m just not used to seeing the way you all interact with each other!"


    Donnieughed heartily and said, "You''ll get used to it after we spend more time together. The ways of the upper-ss don''t exist here with us!"


    Having Walker around was actually very beneficial for Donnie.


    It wasn''t just about the moviepany or inviting Charlie Chaplin. Even without these things, Donnie would willingly engage with Walker, albeit in a different manner.


    The people around Donnie were either from Elwood Vige or formerrades from the military. A significant problem they had was theck of upper-ss thinking andworks.


    Walker was different. Although he was an illegitimate child, in an age where illegitimate children had inheritance rights, Walker''s upper-ss connections were something Donnie needed.


    Donnie and Walker didn''t have much conversation because a special visitor had arrived at the Block Tavern.


    Breton!


    It wasn''t Breton''s first time at Block Tavern, but this time she hade alone.


    "Donnie, you didn''t forget about what we discussedst night, did you?"


    On seeing Donnie, Breton''s face was lit with a smile.


    Donnie shook his head and said, "Of course not. If you need to, we can go see Miss Elena right now!"


    After their conversation the previous evening, Breton and Donnie now addressed each other by their first names; Breton''s full name was Nan Breton!

 Chapter 132: 94, Huge Returns (7K Large Chapter, Please Subscribe~)_4

    Both of them left the tavern, Dwight intended to drive, but Donnie took the keys from him.


    Now, Donnie''s ride had already been upgraded to a double-doored Rolls-Royce after acquiring Ponzi''s assets.


    After opening the car door for Breton, Donnie then seated himself in the driver''s position.


    "Donnie, are you this much of a gentleman to everydy?"


    Breton asked with a smile from inside the car.


    Donnie shook his head: "Not really, but I am definitely very gentlemanly towards beautifuldies!"


    "It''s a pity not all men are gentlemen like you, Donnie!" Breton said with a hint of regret in her eyes.


    Donnie knew she was talking about Harding andughed: "That just goes to show some men respect women in words but not in their bones."


    Breton felt somewhat disheartened, but thinking about the significant deed she had never done but had always wanted to do, she forced a smile and said, "So, does that make you a true gentleman, Donnie?"


    Donnieughed: "Wasn''t my behavior just now gentlemanly enough?"


    Breton, a bit exasperated, said: "Some men''s chivalry has an ulterior motive!"


    As a beautiful woman, especially one who was Harding''s mistress, Breton naturally nevercked suitors.


    When pursuers court a woman, they always act very gentlemanly¡ªBreton had seen many such men!


    "Then have they done something like this?"


    With a screech, Donnie suddenly stopped the car, and the abrupt inertia made Breton lunge forward. At that moment, Donnie stretched out his hand to block her! Chapter Your:


    After a brief moment of panic, Breton eximed: "What are you doing?"


    Donnie, looking pleased with himself, said: "Just wanted to do something not so gentlemanly."


    After he finished speaking, while Breton''s eyes widened, Donnie quickly leaned over. His hand, which had just stopped her from lurching forward, now cradled the back of her head, and with a firm pull, Breton found herself kissing Donnie.


    Clearly, Donnie''s move had startled Breton; first, she stared at him wide-eyed, then after realizing what was happening, she pushed him away fiercely.


    "What are you doing?" screamed Breton.


    Donnie gave a smug smile and said: "Didn''t I just say it? Doing something not so gentlemanly."


    "Do you know who I am? Do you know the consequences of your actions?" Breton couldn''t believe that Donnie dared to make such a bold move.


    "I know, but so what?"


    Donnie repeated the maneuver, and Breton''s resistance was once again futile.


    "You''re done for, Donnie Block, you''re done for! Do you realize what you''ve done?"


    Breton leaned against the car door, with both anger and disbelief on her face.


    But Donnie didn''t care at all and said: "No, it''s you who doesn''t understand the situation. Don''t forget who you are. You''re just one of Harding''s mistresses, not his wife. Now if you want to rece Florence, you can''t allow anything that would displease Harding to happen.


    Think about it, what would happen if Harding knew about what just happened?"


    My end may not be good, but I can assure you, yours will definitely be worse. Florence will learn of this and use it as a reason topletely shatter your dreams, and you, without my help, do you really think that with your abilities alone, you can sustain an organization for women''s rights?


    Think about it.


    If you want to obtain the position you desire, then our dealings must not be known to anyone else, and I will also actively help establish the women''s rights organization.


    Only then, might you have a chance to achieve the status you want."


    A candid conversation cleared away Breton''s initial horror and disbelief to be reced with a suspicious look at Donnie, "Can you really help me achieve the position I want?"


    Donnie said, "With my help, there''s still hope, but without it, you have no chance at all. I presume you''ve also spoken with Nucky since arriving in Antic City, has he rejected any of your proposals?"


    Breton fell silent, and Donnie''s smile grew even brighter.


    "I reckon Elena must be quite busy at this time, so how about we visit herter?"


    Seeing Donnie''s smile and reflecting on his recent behavior, Breton finally let go of all negative emotions, smiling slightly.


    "Since this is Antic City, of course I shall follow your arrangements, Donnie!"


    The car that was supposed to head to the WCTU headquarters suddenly turned, heading straight for Third District in the eastern part of Antic City.


    Therey a property that John had acquired previously... The original owner had been unable to sustain his gambling debts.


    Time had reached the afternoon!


    Donnie and Breton finally arrived at the WCTU headquarters to meet with Elena!


    Although Donnie didn''t explicitly reveal Breton''s identity, when he exined his reason for bringing Breton along, Elena was very happy.


    "We''ve been wanting to change the WCTU''s purpose, but unfortunately, internal resistance is too strong. If you, Miss Breton, can seed, that would be a very happy thing!"


    Breton also spoke with a smile, "Donnie said Mrs. Dorne, you are a very capable person, and I should learn a lot from you. I hope you can help me well in the future!"


    Elena''s smile vanished upon hearing Breton''sst statement.


    When she looked at Donnie, she found him absorbed in the books on the shelf in his office... Hmm, the book was upside down!


    Elena was not Breton; she was a very intelligent woman. Upon observing Donnie''s behavior, she realized that this foolish woman must be someone significant.


    Elena also understood how she should interact with the other party. She did indeed want to genuinely assist Breton in building up the organization at first.


    But now...


    "Donnie, Mrs. Dorne is really amazing. The suggestions she offered are very useful. I think I should spend more time with her!"


    After leaving Elena''s office, an excited Breton said to Donnie.


    Donnie smiled and said, "That''s best if it''s helpful. During this time, I will be looking for an office location for your organization in Antic City. After all, it''s easier to work with an office!"


    Breton nodded with a smile, "Exactly, that''s the way. We need to find an office location, and also recruit staff. Do you think it would be possible for Harding to send some people over to me?"


    As if he could send you people... Donnie smiled and said, "I think that''s possible!"

 Chapter 133: 95. Influential Power Further Expanded (7K Large Chapter, Please Subscribe~)

    ```


    The sess of Miss America continues.


    Good Morning Cereal is a cerealpany based in Phdelphia, United States. The day after the regional preliminary of Miss America ended, their person-in-charge, Anthony Roberts, arrived in Antic City.


    Today, he finally met Donnie Block.


    "Mr. Block, hello, I''m delighted to meet you today!"


    Upon meeting Donnie Block, Anthony Roberts was extremely humble. He had to be, considering the sales of Good Morning Cereal were increasingly disappointing.


    The breakfast cereal industry in the United States was among the first to reap the benefits of advertising, but that did not mean every brand''s cereal was equally sessful.


    Previously, Anthony Roberts considered advertising in newspapers, but there were already several cerealpanies publicizing there. Having suffered from theck of advertising before, Anthony decided this time to stay ahead of hispetitors.


    So, when he saw the newspaper report on the second day of the Miss America Phdelphia regionalpetition, he immediately had hispany investigate the impact of Miss America.


    This survey genuinely shocked Anthony Roberts: the event was alreadymon knowledge in the United States. More importantly, Anthony discovered two things that could be highly beneficial for him.


    First, ording to the information Anthony received, Starry Entertainment, the organizer of Miss America, had applied for amercial radio broadcast license. During the second round of regional finals, they would start broadcasting nationwide.


    Given the current poprity of Miss America, Anthony believed that once the Antic City Broadcast started, it would undoubtedly attract arge audience.


    Second, the top eight beauty contestants from the Phdelphia regional would tour Phdelphia to canvass for votes, sure to attractrge crowds. If at this time, one could have a contestant speak at theirpany, how much traffic would that bring? Chapter Discover:


    After understanding these two points, Anthony immediately bought a train ticket to Antic City that same day, wishing to meet Mr. Block, only to find that Donnie had no time that day.


    "Mr. Roberts, wee to Antic City. Regarding the coboration you''re interested in, my secretary Dwight has informed me about it. Ourpany is also very pleased to work with your esteemedpany!"


    Dwight is now Donnie''s personal bodyguard, driver, and secretary!


    Seeing Donnie''s attitude made Anthony quite happy; he saw it as a good start to the cooperation between the two parties.


    "Mr. Block is truly a business genius. Beauty pageants were held in Antic Cityst year, but none had the impact of your Miss America. I believe when ites to the regional finals, it will be a national news sensation."


    Donnieughed, "So, Mr. Roberts, you are also a guest of our Antic City now?"


    Anthony responded with a smile, "Ie to Antic City every month!"


    Donnie rejoined, "Antic City wees every valued guest like Mr. Roberts!"


    After the pleasantries, Donnie got straight to the point of the conversation. This is how Americans do business: no need for much beating around the bush as everyone can state their needs outright.


    "I wonder, Mr. Roberts, what level of partnership are you interested in?"


    Anthony was slightly taken aback and asked Donnie, "What levels of partnership?"


    Donnie exined, "ording to Starry Entertainment''s n for Miss America advertiser partnerships, we''ve divided our cooperation into three tiers."


    "There''s Tier C, this category ensures that by the time the regional finals begin, yourpany''s advertisements will appear in the Miss America promotional brochures. Those will include a detailed introduction to yourpany, along with Miss America''s appreciation."


    "For Tier B partners, yourpany surely already knows that ourpany owns its own newspaper and radio station. If you choose Tier B cooperation, whether it''s in the paper or on the radio when broadcasting content rted to Miss America, yourpany''s name will be mentioned. We''ll even craft a short story on the radio specifically to advertise yourpany''s products."


    "As for Tier A partnership, it is all-epassing. When thepetitions take ce, not only will there be posters disying your products at the venues, but our Miss Americas will also give speeches at yourpany beforehand. Lastly, there''s something you might not know yet, Mr. Roberts,"


    "We have filmed an exclusive documentary for Miss America. It might be toote for the preliminaries, but during the filming of the regional and national finals'' documentaries, the beauty contestants will showcase yourpany''s products to every viewer!"


    "Of course, different tiers of partnershipe with different financialmitments!"


    After listening to Donnie''s introduction, Anthony was shocked once again: first, he was astonished that Donnie had produced a documentary for Miss America that would be shown nationwide.


    Second, he was astounded by the tiered structure Donnie had created for the advertising¡ªsuch a system had never been seen before in the United States.


    As a sessful businessman, Anthony could already see the immense profit potential.


    "May I know how much the advertising fee is for each of these three types of partnerships?" Despite being impressed with Donnie''s business acumen, it ultimately pertained to Donnie''s own affairs. Anthony was still most concerned about how much he would need to spend.


    ```

 Chapter 134: 95. Influence further expands (7K large chapter, please subscribe~)_2

    Donnie chuckled, "The charge for a C-level advertising partner is 50,000 US Dors, for a B-level advertiser it''s 100,000 US Dors, and for an A-level advertiser, it''s 200,000 US Dors!"


    This is simply daylight robbery!


    After hearing Donnie''s quote, the first thought that popped into Anthony''s mind was just that.


    Donnie didn''t speak, just smiling at Anthony. As for whether Anthony would agree to this quote, Donnie didn''t care, as he wasn''tcking advertising partners at the moment.


    After pondering for a while, Anthony couldn''t help but ask, "Mr. Block, can the price possibly be..."


    Donnie shook his head, "I''m very sorry Mr. Roberts, the price is fixed and can''t be changed. Moreover, there is something you might not know. Actually, above the A-level, there''s an S-level partner, which is our exclusive title sponsor. However, this partnership has already been reserved by General Motors, which is why I only told you, Mr.


    Roberts, that we have three levels of partnership specifications!"


    Anthony was pondering this issue. Before this, an advertisement in a newspaper had only cost 10,000 US Dors, and that was for a top-tier newspaper, in a top-tier section.


    Now, to work with Donnie, the lowest tier of spending was 50,000 US Dors!


    "Mr. Roberts, if you need time to think it over, we can give you some time, but it won''t be long. The number of our advertising partners is limited, and there are simply too manypanies that want to work with us. While you are evaluating our strength, we are also assessing whether yourpany''s products are a good fit for our project!"


    Donnie said with a chuckle.


    Anthonyughed awkwardly, "Understood, understood. Give me one day, Mr. Block. Tomorrow at this time, I willmunicate ourpany''s decision to Mr. Block!"


    After seeing Anthony off, Bruce first looked at Anthony Roberts, who had just left Donnie''s office, then turned to Donnie, and finally asked, puzzled.


    "Am I seeing this first... I''ve seen scenes like this several times today. Have these people gone mad? They are actuallying to us offering money?"


    Bruce still couldn''tprehend the effect of advertising.


    Donnie tossed Bruce a cigar, then asked with a smile, "Let me ask you, why did you choose to enlist in the first ce?"


    Bruce replied helplessly, "You already know, don''t you? I was young and just a hot-headed kid. I saw the Military Department''s recruiting ad, and just like that, I signed up on a whim!"


    Donnie nodded, "Exactly, if the Military Department hadn''t advertised for recruitment, would you have known about enlisting?"


    Bruce nodded with some understanding, "So what you mean is, thesepanies thate to us for partnership, they also want to let more people know about their products through the Miss America event!"


    Donnie nodded, "That''s right, just like someone who has no idea about cereal suddenly decides to buy some today. Through our advertisement, he''s already heard of the Morning Joy brand of cereal. When he goes shopping and faces so many brands to choose from, which one is he going to pick?"


    After thinking for a moment, Bruce answered, "If it were me, I''d choose to buy Morning Joy brand cereal."


    "Exactly!" Donnieughed, "That''s the effect of advertising, to let those who don''t know about him learn about him, to make those with more choices choose him. Right now, the hottest event in the entire United States is the Miss America pageant we''re organizing, which is why these people are willing toe to us and offer money. They can let many more people know about their products through us!"


    Bruce suddenly realized, "I see what you mean now!"


    "Take care of pub matters for me; today I have to meet an important figure!"


    Donnie checked the time; it was already the hour he had arranged to meet Nucky.


    "An important figure?" Bruce immediately showed a curious expression, "How important?"


    Donnie chuckled, "Very important. If everything goes well, this person might be one of the most powerful individuals in the United States in a few months!"


    "OK!" Bruce immediatelyughed, "Leave the pub matters to me then!"


    Donnie picked up his coat and left the office, quickly making his way to the Ritz Hotel, the guest room Nucky used!


    The Ritz Hotel had a suite that had been converted into Nucky''s guest room, different from Nucky''s office. It was the ce Nucky chose when he needed to meet with more people, and also it offered space for various activities to those who came to this room.


    Under the guidance of Louis, Donnie entered the room.


    There were six people in the room: Nucky, two middle-aged men whom Donnie did not recognize, and three women. These three women were the beauty contestants from the Antic City division of Miss America who had not advanced.


    Their clothing now did little to conceal their bodies, and Nucky and the other two men appeared quite debauched.


    "Haha, Donnie, you''ve finally arrived!" Nucky was very happy upon seeing Donnie. After all, he had received a portion of the external revenue that very morning.


    "Gentlemen, let me introduce you to the new big shot of Antic City, Donnie Block!"


    "Donnie, you must get to know these two. This here is Harry D''Agostino, a big shot from Washington and the campaign manager for the future President Harding!"

 Chapter 135: 95. Influential Power Further Expanded (7K Large Chapter, Please Subscribe~) _3

    "This Phil Dupont, I think you must already know where hees from!"


    Nucky introduced Donnie to these two people.


    Donnie knew that Harry D''Agostino woulde, but he didn''t expect someone from the DuPont Family to also arrive, "I''m very pleased to wee both of you to Antic City. I believe the beauty of Antic City will not disappoint you!"


    Harry D''Agostinoughed loudly, "Yes, I really like Antic City. It''s a beautiful city; of course, a beautiful city is always full of beautiful women!"


    "Alright, girls, you can leave now, we have some matters to discuss."


    Nucky found his jacket, which he had thrown to the ground, and took out 30 US dors from inside it, which he divided among the three beauty contestants.


    After they left, Nucky casually straightened out his clothes, and then said to Donnie, "Donnie, Harry is here to discuss with you Harding''s speech in the primary finals, as well as some of the itinerary for the finalpetition.


    Phil wants to talk to us about their sponsorship of Miss America!"


    That was the consequence of the expanded influence of Miss America.


    Originally, ording to the previous agreement, Harding was only supposed to appear at the finalpetition to present the award to the winner of the finals.


    But with the sess of the city preliminaries, Harding, heeding the advice of his campaign team, decided to speak via radio during the primary finals.


    "Donnie, I have to say, the Miss America election is truly a stroke of genius. You''ve given us an excellent new avenue for publicity!"


    In the face of Harry D''Agostino''s praise, Donnie did not take it to heart. Anyone with a slight understanding of Harding, the President of the United States, knew that his campaign manager Harry D''Agostino was a smiling tiger.


    When he needed you, he could be very enthusiastic, but when he didn''t need you anymore, to him, you were like a vagrant on the street, not even worth a nce as he passed by!


    "I''m very happy to be able to offer more help to the future Mr. President!" Donnie humbly said.


    Harry D''Agostino said earnestly, "Donnie, I''m afraid the pressure on you won''t be small during this period. Both Harding and I hope you can withstand it!"


    Increase in influence doesn''t necessarily bring only good things; it can also bring some bad.


    If Harding could see the influence of Miss America, so could the other presidential candidates. Harding''s main purpose foring this time was actually to reassure Donnie so that he wouldn''t be swayed by others.


    Donnie nodded, "Of course, but Harry, you should also know that there are some people we simply can''t afford to offend!"


    Harry D''Agostino frowned slightly, but then his expression eased, and he smiled, "The United States is a society governed by the rule ofw; no one can force anyone else to do something against their will."


    "That''s true!" Donnie first chuckled, and then suddenly changed the subject, saying with a smile, "I heard that before Mr. Harry became the campaign manager for the President, he had spent some time in the Coast Guard?"


    Harry, hearing Donnie''s words, looked at Nucky, who didn''t speak, but there was a hint of something in his eyes.


    "Of course, it just so happens that I have a good rtionship with David Thompson from the New Jersey Coast Guard. If you need it, Donnie, I will arrange for you to meet him!"


    Donnieughed heartily, "If that''s the case, then it would truly be great!"


    At present, Donnie''s private liquor business was only limited to mid-to-lower grade homemade alcohol, which restricted Donnie''s business expansion, making it difficult for him to enter the high-end liquor market.


    The main problem was that Donnie didn''t have his own connections in the Coast Guard to bring European high-end liquor to Antic City.


    If Donnie could get through to the Coast Guard, that would also cover the only shoring he had in the bootlegging industry.


    Now that Harry had taken the initiative to visit and Donnie, who had already investigated some of Harry''s background, naturally wouldn''t miss this opportunity!


    After reaching a certain understanding with Harry D''Agostino, Phil then said, shaking his wine ss, "Donnie, I mainly came to discuss our uing partnership."


    Donnie was unconcerned with Phil''s demeanor; since he was someone from the DuPont Family, a bit of pride was to be expected.


    As long as the other party was willing to bring money, everything else was easy to talk about!


    "Of course, may I know what kind of partnership Mr. Dupont is thinking about?" Donnie asked.


    Phil Dupont said, "Of course, it concerns the continuation of Miss America. We believe that you, Donnie, definitely won''t settle for just one Miss Americapetition, so General Motors would like to establish a long-term partnership with your Starry Entertainment.


    General Motors will sponsor Miss America for the next three editions of thepetition, just like this year, three hundred thousand each year!"


    Donnie''s brow furrowed slightly. Three hundred thousand dors a year in advertising costs seemed plentiful, but that was from the current perspective. As Miss America''s influence grew and more people bought radios, the influence of Miss America was sure to exceed its current status.


    In Donnie''s view, maintaining an annual advertising fee of three hundred thousand in the future would be inappropriate!


    "I''m very grateful for Mr. Dupont''s confidence!" Donnie said lightly, "Maintaining a long-term partnership with General Motors is naturally good for us, but regarding the price..."

 Chapter 136: 95. Influence further expands (7K large chapter, please subscribe~)_4

    Before Donnie could finish, Phil Dupont expressed his dissatisfaction, "Donnie, you have to realize that an advertising fee of 300,000 US Dors is already the highest advertising fee at the moment. Do you still have anyints about this amount?"


    Donnie spoke without expression, "While the fee is high, I believe General Motors'' gains must have been substantial. Although we don''t have specific data on our end, I imagine General Motors'' sales data must be looking very good during this period, right?"


    In future times, after an advertising agencypletes an ad for a product, they will definitely check the sales data of the product in a timely manner, which is also a basis for the cooperation between the advertiser and the product maker.


    However, at the present, the cooperation model between advertisers and product makers is still being explored, so naturally, no such data is avable!


    "So, Donnie, you''re nning to make an exorbitant demand?"


    Phil Dupont''s expression was bing impatient!


    Donnie gestured dismissively, "It''s not about making exorbitant demands, but simply about re-pricing ording to the market. If the influence of Miss America were to decline, I believe that even if we raised our advertising fees, General Motors would certainly refuse!"


    Phil Dupont was somewhat speechless. The current situation was clear to everyone: Miss America''s influence was expanding. By the second event, as long as the organizers of Miss America didn''t make major changes out of the blue, the influence was absolutely going to continue expanding.


    This was why the DuPont Family sent Phil Dupont to negotiate a continued partnership with Donnie, even before the first Miss America had concluded.


    "Donnie, don''t forget, before this, no one was optimistic about the sess of Miss America. It was General Motors that offered 300,000, which allowed you to sessfully hold the event."


    Hearing Phil''s words, even Nucky furrowed his brow; it was clear that Phil''s statement had be somewhat condescending towards Nucky from the DuPont Family''s perspective!


    After all, it was Nucky who had facilitated the partnership with General Motors!


    "We are very grateful for General Motors'' assistance during Miss America''s most difficult time. Nucky has told me more than once how thankful he is for Mr. Pierre''s help. That''s why we decided to continue our partnership with General Motors. Perhaps, Mr.


    Dupont, you are unaware that right now, inside the Ritz Hotel, at least fivepanies want to secure a partnership with us, to be S-level advertising partners for Miss America.


    If it weren''t for Mr. Nucky telling me that the most important principle in business is integrity, we could easily call for a bidding conference after this Miss America event concludes


    and invite allpany representatives to bid for the exclusive naming rights of Miss America. I believe the price at that time would definitely exceed 300,000!"


    At this moment, Nucky''s feelings wereplicated after being directly addressed by Donnie. On one hand, Donnie''s words showed Phil the value of their friendship, but at the same time, there was a feeling that Donnie was using him as a pawn.


    His emotions wereplex, leaving him unsure whether to be grateful to Donnie or to resent this behavior.


    Phil Dupont was slightly taken aback; his focus was on another aspect altogether.


    Bidding Conference!


    Although there was no such thing as an advertising bidding conference in the American businessmunity yet, other forms of bidding conferences did exist, with auctions being one among them.


    Conveniently, Phil Dupont often attended auctions and was fully aware that an item would bring in a price far exceeding its original value after going through an auction.


    "Are you saying, Donnie, that you want to reject the friendship of the DuPont Family?"


    Having grown ustomed to the dominance and superiority afforded by the DuPont family name in any setting or ce, Phil DuPont was extremely dissatisfied with Donnie''s attitude at this moment!


    "No!" Donnie shook his head and said, "I believe that in the United States, there is not a single person who can refuse the friendship of the DuPont family. I am simply stating a fact: Miss America, as a maturemodity, if not matched with a price befitting her value, this would be a serious blow to her worth.


    Would the DuPont family want to own a product that can''t satisfy their status?"


    "Haha!" Just when the tension between Donnie and Phil DuPont was bing rather sharp, Harry D''Agostino suddenly burst intoughter: "Phil, why make the atmosphere so tense? We''re all friends here. I believe there''s nothing that can''t be solved at the negotiating table. Today is our day to be joyful, so let''s put aside our differences and start having fun¡ªthat''s what''s most important!"


    At this point, Harry D''Agostino stood by Donnie''s side. After all, the regional finals were about to start, and the Miss Americapetition had be a battlefield of great interest to Harding. As Harding''s campaign manager, Harry D''Agostino couldn''t afford any mishaps.


    Even if they were currently in urgent need of the DuPont family''s support, exceptions could not be made!


    With Harry D''Agostino smoothing things over, the drawn swords and taut crossbows between Donnie and Phil DuPont began to ease, and Nucky took the opportunity to speak with a smile.


    "That''s right, Phil, didn''t you say you really liked Tanisha White, the contestant who ranked fifth in Antic City? Now with Donnie here, that Miss America can''t be hard to find!"


    These Miss America contestants, already having fans of their own outside, were seen by those fans as the loves of their lives. But, in truth, to men like Donnie and Nucky, these girls were just ythings!


    Furthermore, these girls were also a crucial tool for Donnie to connect with high society.


    The girls had signed contracts with Starry Entertainment, which also signified that Starry Entertainment had officially begun its foray into the entertainment industry.


    If these girls wanted a better future, they needed to listen obediently to Donnie.


    With the tension gone and the arrival of the girls, the room buzzed with excitement.


    However, it was at this time that Nucky found Donnie, wanting to have a private talk.


    Clearly, the content of Donnie''s recent conversation with Harry D''Agostino had put pressure on Nucky.


    "Donnie, are you thinking of smuggling some whiskey and brandy into the country from overseas?"


    Nucky didn''t beat around the bush, asking outright.


    In Antic City, the bootlegging industry had always been under Nucky''s control. Not even Donnie or LeBron had encroached upon it.


    This was one of Nucky''s means to maintain his grip on Antic City.


    After all, not everyone can afford to drink fine liquor!


    Now that Donnie had suddenly proposed using Harry D''Agostino''s connections to get through to the Coast Guard, this was something Nucky couldn''t ept.


    Donnieughed and said, "Nucky, don''t worry, not a single bottle of my smuggled liquor will flow into Antic City!"

 Chapter 137: 96. Expand the private liquor business nationwide (7K megachapter, please subscribe~)

    Donnie Block had indeed never considered dealing in high-end alcohol in Antic City.


    It wasn''t out of concern for Nucky''s influence but simply because it wasn''t necessary, and Donnie also understood that he had no advantage inpeting with Nucky in Antic City.


    "So, you''ve already made contact with those people in Phdelphia, New York?"


    Nucky guessed Donnie''s intention. If it wasn''t in Antic City, it could only be in nearby big cities like Phdelphia, New York.


    Donnie nodded, "Indeed, Meyer, Salvatore Be will arrive in Antic City in the next couple of days."


    Nucky smiled. As long as Donnie was not dealing with high-end alcohol in Antic City, there was no threat to him.


    "Ah, I remember now. Salvatore is also Italian!"


    Donnieughed, "That''s right, Italians in the United States are quite united!"


    Nucky, still smiling, said, "After those two arrive, give me a call. It''s been a long time since I''ve seen them."


    Donnie naturally had no objections, and he also understood that Nucky''s actions were definitely to confirm again through Meyer and Salvatore what he had just said.


    Salvatore, who was based in Phdelphia, was the first to arrive in Antic City.


    "Haha!" Although it was the first time Salvatore met Donnie, he still gave Donnie a big hug, "Donnie Block, I''ve heard your name long ago. You are our Italian pride in Antic City!"


    Salvatore''s enthusiasm had its reasons, as he had been fighting life and death in Phdelphia with Harry Rosenthal, and then the Miss America pageant had surfaced in Phdelphia.


    Both wanted to take down the Miss America Phdelphia preliminary representative, and in the end, Donnie chose to cooperate with his fellow countryman Salvatore, directly earning Salvatore a few hundred thousand more from the Miss America Phdelphia preliminaries, and with this ie, Salvatore was already nning to purchase more weapons from American arms dealers.


    Of course, someone like Salvatore could only go through the ck market to buy weapons, and it was not possible for him to legitimately go to an arms store.


    Donnie alsoughed heartily, "I''ve long heard of the great name of Salvatore Sava as well, and many of our fellow Italians have said they have received your favor."


    Salvatore waved his hands indifferently, "That''s only right. We Italians are naturally united!"


    "Donnie, this Miss America thing was truly impressive. I didn''t expect such an event to bring us a few hundred thousand in ie!"


    Donnie cautioned, "Salvatore, the more we seed, the more careful we need to be. I''ve inquired about Harry Rosenthal. He won''t contently ept defeat by you, and I''ve heard from my people that Harry Rosenthal''s men have already started causing trouble for ourpany''s Miss America candidates!"


    Salvatore''s growing power due to the pageant''s sess was definitely not what Harry Rosenthal wanted to see.


    To prevent Salvatore''s influence from increasing again during theter regional finals, Harry Rosenthal had toe up with some strategies.


    Causing trouble for the Miss America contestants was one of Harry Rosenthal''s tactics.


    Salvatore also frowned, "There''s such trouble?"


    Donnie spread his hands, "You know I have no need to deceive you!"


    Salvatore nodded, "I got it. I''ll handle this and ensure those girls won''t have any problems!"


    Donnie smiled, "Your word is enough. Now we can properly discuss the private alcohol business."


    Salvatore nodded, his expression unusually serious, "Exactly, damn Harry Rosenthal, if only I could know where his distillery is!"


    In Phdelphia, Harry Rosenthal owned at least three private distilleries, but no one knew their location. Salvatore had his own distillery as well, but herey the problem: Salvatore couldn''t find Harry Rosenthal''s distilleries, yet Rosenthal had found and bombed his.


    "I''m about to meet with David Thompson from the Coast Guard. If all goes well, he''ll agree to cooperate with me. Now, Salvatore, do you want to partner up or just get booze from me?"


    Donnie asked Salvatore.


    "Of course, partnership!" Salvatore immediately opted for the second option; though it meant putting in his own capital, it also meant higher profits.


    Donnie was very pleased with Salvatore''s choice. After all, their rtionship would be firmest when both sides became amunity of shared interests, strengthening Donnie''s business in Phdelphia.


    "Since that''s settled, let''s divide shares into four parts. Both of us will hold forty percent, David Thompson from the Coast Guard gets ten percent."


    "And the other ten percent?"


    "That''s for another intermediary I''vee to know David Thompson through. Besides, with this connection, it would be much easier to resolve any issues that might ur in Phdelphia!"


    Donnie nned to bring Harry D''Agostino aboard his ship as well. Although he was a smiling tiger, even a smiling tiger had its uses.

 Chapter 138: 96. Expand the private liquor business nationwide (7K megachapter, please subscribe~)_2

    After Harding ascended to the presidency, Harry D''Agostino, as the campaign manager, officially entered the National Government and became one of the big four of the Department of Justice in the United States!


    ording to the American political system, the Attorney General is one of the four major members of the President''s Cab, alongside the Secretaries of Defense, State, and the Treasury.


    Salvatore asked, "Can I meet with the other party?"


    Donnie shook his head, "You can''t. If you have any doubts about this matter, you can choose to take the goods directly from me. As a friend, I will certainly give you the lowest price!"


    Salvatore thought for a moment, then shook his head with a smile, "No need, I naturally trust you, Donnie!"


    Donnie smiled and continued, "Since that''s the case, then we''re agreed on this matter. Now, you need to give me the supply amount for the high-end liquor in Phdelphia, so I can prepare in advance!"


    Salvatore replied, "That''s no problem, I will tell youter."


    By this time, Donnie and Salvatore had officially finished discussing business.


    Afterward, Donnie had John take over in hosting Salvatore properly.


    .


    "So this time I have to go to Ennd again?"


    After Salvatore left Donnie''s office, Bruce came to Donnie and learned about his next itinerary there.


    Donnie nodded, "That''s right, do you remember Billy Magini, whom we cooperated with on the battlefield? I''ve made contact with him. He has his own channels in Ennd to acquire whiskey, brandy, and such purely distilled liquors. I need you to go to Ennd this time to discuss the details of the coboration with him!"


    "Wow!" Bruce whistled, "I didn''t expect you still had contact with him!"


    Donnieughed, "Did you forget, when I was in the army, everyone except George Kurle was my friend?"


    "Forgot. I only remembered you once broke Billy Magini''s nose with a punch!" Bruceughed.


    "Those are not important matters now; anyway, now I am very good friends with Billy Magini!" Donnie said proudly, smiling.


    Bruce shook his head, "Then when do I leave? Besides, bringing those liquors back from Ennd won''t be simple."


    Donnie to buy, Billy Magini to sell; but there was still a missing and critical link: transportation!


    In fact, if given a choice, Donnie would prefer to transport goods from Canada, but unfortunately, he had no connections there.


    But Billy Magini had a significant advantage: he was responsible for transportation!


    "Billy Magini will take care of that, but when you go this time, there''s another important thing: you need to observe Magini''s situation. He makes everything sound too easy, and I am worried there might be some exaggeration in his ims," Donnie said with some concern.


    Bruce nodded, "Understood. If that kid dares to cheat us, I''ll make sure his nose breaks again!"


    .


    The following day, Meyer arrived in Antic City, and with him came ''Lucky'' Charlie Luciano!


    Meeting with Meyer was more or less the same as the meeting with Salvatore; the two sides had already cooperated over the Miss America side business.


    Although the volume of Meyer''s previous cooperation with Donnie was not substantial, the high-end liquor market was different.


    Even though Meyer previously had channels for high-end liquor, he was just a middleman. The money he earned was substantial to an ordinary person, but not enough for them.


    And most importantly, the profits from American high-end liquors were now far higher than those from mid- to low-end liquors.


    Put it this way, before Prohibition, a bottle of high-end brandy cost only five or six US dors, but its market price had soared to 75 US dors a bottle now.


    It was nearly catching up to the monthly wages of an ordinary person!


    Meyer also chose the cooperative approach.


    "Donnie, do you recognize thisdy?"


    After the official business was concluded, Meyer introduced the young woman who was with him to Donnie.


    Donnie, who seemed somewhat familiar with her, thought briefly beforeughing, "This is ourpany''s Yaxia Durle, the winner of the Miss America New York regional preliminarypetition!"


    Although Miss Americas from other cities had also signed with Starry Entertainment, this was handled by employees that Starry Entertainment sent to those cities.


    Donnie had only seen photos of these girls!


    "Haha, I knew you would recognize her, Donnie!" Meyerughed, "Donnie, what do you think about Yaxia winning the New York regional championship?"


    Hearing Meyer''s question, the expectant Yaxia by his side immediately showed a look of anticipation; although it was only a regional championship, it was already a great honor for Yaxia.


    The Starry Entertainment staff had already informed these girls when signing them that after thepetition, they would be sent to Hollywood. Then, they''d be real stars, and even without going to Hollywood, just by having the title of Miss America, they would receive more opportunities locally!


    As for how a newly established Starry Entertainment could connect with Hollywood filmpanies and why thosepanies would promote them, these were not concerns for the girls at the time.

 Chapter 139: 96. Expand the private liquor business nationwide (7K megachapter, please subscribe~)_3

    Donnie asked with a smile, "Meyer, I think Miss Yaxia who''s aiming for the top spot in the preliminarypetition must already be a hot favorite for the regional champion by now, right?"


    Actually, Donnie also wanted to expand the "Antic City Post" to other cities at this time, but the "Antic City Post" did not have the capacity to do so at present. Even if it were possible, it would only rank as a lesser-known newspaper, which would adversely affect the Miss America event.


    Therefore, in the end, Donnie chose to coborate with local newspapers; however, no one had anticipated the Miss Americapetition to be such a huge sensation prior to this.


    Thus, those newspapers had all secured their coboration with Starry Entertainment at a low price.


    Meyer nodded proudly and said, "Of course, Yaxia is naturally the biggest favorite!"


    Although the voting data was controlled by Starry Entertainment, their control could not be baseless; at the very least, they had to ensure that the girl with the most ''flower value'' was leading ahead of the others in the initial stage.


    This was also to demonstrate the fairness of the Miss America pageant!


    Donnieughed, "That''s right. If you, Meyer, wish to earn less and are willing topensate for mine and Nucky''s losses, I have no objections!"


    Hearing Donnie''s words, Yaxia''s face immediately showed a look of disappointment because she knew Meyer all too well, even knowing about the mole on his body!


    Sure enough, after hearing Donnie''s words, Meyer immediatelyughed and said, "I think second ce isn''t bad either!"


    Donnie nodded; respect was still necessary toward this underworld kingpin from New York.


    "After thepetition is over, I will arrange for Miss Yaxia to meet some Hollywood directors!"


    Yaxia, who had be disappointed because of Meyer''s denial, was instantly excited when she looked at Donnie.


    "Haha, if that''s the case, then that''s great!" Meyerughed heartily.


    At this point, Donnie saw Charlie, the lucky guy with a sullen face who hadn''t spoken, "Charlie, we haven''t seen each other in quite a while, and your friends in Antic City are starting to miss you!"


    Hearing Donnie''s teasing, Charlie''s face grew even darker, but remembering that Donnie still held leverage over him, he could only suppress his dissatisfaction.


    "Charlie, that''s where you''re wrong. Since you have your own friends in Antic City, why did you always make excuses when I invited you toe over?"


    Meyer asked curiously.


    "I, I was just not feeling well at the time!" Charlie said awkwardly.


    In Donnie''s mind, these Miss America contestants were just tools for him to make money. To any capitalist, it would be hical not to squeeze everyst drop of value from a product.


    "Walker, what do you think about us establishing our own filmpany in Los Angeles?"


    Donnie asked Walker.


    Walker was startled and asked, "You want to set up your own filmpany?"


    Donnie nodded, "Indeed I have such a thought. As you know, the Miss Americapetition will alwayse to an end, but I need these Miss Americas to continue to advertise the brand after the beauty pageant ends. Therefore, I need them to be in the public eye continuously. Apart from movies, I can''t think of any better way to do this!"


    Walker nodded in agreement with Donnie''s opinion, but still threw cold water on him, "It''s very difficult to seed in Hollywood. You should know that the exclusionary sentiment in Hollywood is very serious, and you have no prior experience in the film industry. Even if you establish your own filmpany, it would be difficult to seed there.


    You can see this from United Artists, founded by people like Charlie Chaplin, Pickford, Dous, and Griffith¡ªeach one a famous Hollywood star¡ªand even so, theirpany remains a small one in Hollywood, unable to break the monopoly of the major studios."


    Hollywood is not only exclusionary, but there''s also a severe issue, which is the major studios'' monopoly over the American film industry''s production, distribution, and exhibition.


    Originally, Chaplin and others wanted to use their joint efforts to establish a filmpany and use their fame to break the monopoly of the major Hollywood studios.


    But as the saying goes, the idea is beautiful, the reality is cruel.


    Under the pressure of the major studios, the mere survival of United Artists was already quite an achievement!


    After Walker told Donnie about these issues, Donnie realized that his earlier thoughts were a bit too idealistic.


    But Donnie still remembered that, wasn''t United Artists at one point during the ''30s and ''40s one of the big eight in Hollywood?


    Which means, they must have used some operationster on to develop!


    "If we take a stake in Chaplin''s United Artists?" Donnie thought that since United Artists could riseter on, taking a stake in them now at their lowest point would also be a good decision.


    Moreover, investing in thispany would mean that he and the current hottest stars in America would be colleagues.

 Chapter 140: 96. Expand the private liquor business nationwide (7K megachapter, please subscribe~)_4

    ```


    By then, if my Miss Americas could make an appearance in their films, that would be quite the treat!


    Walker, however, seemed to hear something amusing, "Donnie, aren''t you a bit too naive about Hollywood matters? Didn''t I just tell you? Even Chaplin and his group aren''t shooting their own movies under theirpany''s name anymore. Investing in such apany is of no benefit to you."


    Donnie firmly believed his memory was not mistaken; United Artists would definitely flourish in the future. Most importantly, as Walker had just mentioned, he had no foothold in Hollywood. If leveraging United Artists would grant him sessful entry into Hollywood, then everything would be much easier!


    "Leave the benefits to my judgment. All I want is for you to help me make the connections so I can sessfully invest in United Artists!"


    Seeing Donnie''s mind was made up, Walker spread his hands and said, "Well, I don''t think it''s a difficult task. Chaplin and the others would very much wee a shareholder from Antic City who cannot meddle in their Hollywood operations. Isn''t Chaplining to Antic City as a judge for the Miss America finals? Just have a good talk with him about this matter then!"


    Donnie smiled, "That''s the Walker I know!"


    Walker said helplessly, "I''m starting to worry that you might lose all the money you made from this Miss America event!"


    Donnieughed heartily, "No worries, if I lose it, I''ll just sell you to United Artists!"


    .


    On the night of Meyer''s arrival in Antic City, Donnie arranged a dinner party. The attendees included Antic City''s Donnie Block, John Block, Nucky, Eli Johnson; New York''s Meyer; and Salvatore from Phdelphia.


    At the dinner, the six of them were drinking and making merry, quite lively.


    When the atmosphere reached its peak, Donnie made a proposal!


    "Gentlemen, I have a suggestion!"


    Now no one could ignore Donnie''s suggestions, so everyone turned to him.


    Donnie smiled, "Though we haven''t seen the profits from the bootlegging business yet, I believe everyone has seen the profits from the Miss America event. This has shown us something very important!"


    Salvatoreughed loudly, "Donnie, just say what you have in mind!"


    Donnie smiled, "It''s quite simple. Through the Miss America event, I believe we all saw that when we band together, the profits are enormous. So why not continue our partnership for the long term?"


    Donnie''s words brought a sudden silence to the room, as everyone pondered what he had said, especially Nucky who felt that Donnie had be increasingly boldtely.


    "Donnie, better speak inly about what you have in mind!"


    Salvatore asked Donnie.


    Donnie exined, "Gentlemen, our bootlegging businesses are already united, but our transportationwork is underdeveloped. I was thinking, if we could unite with the bosses of other city gangs to form an offensive and defensive alliance, we could establish aplete transportation route that covers east-west and north-south across America.


    Furthermore, to avoid harm to our individual interests within this alliance, we could delineate our territories. We might even settle stupid wars between families through negotiations. Just imagine, if we had such an alliance, we could control all the mob business in America!"


    ```


    "How enormous would that business be?"


    Donnie''s words made the breathing of everyone present begin to grow heavy, as his suggestion was simply too tempting for them.


    And Donnie''s suggestion would, in fact, a few yearster, be brought up again by Charlie, who had been cooped up in the warehouse of Block Tavern for several days, and used Al Capone''s incident to hold that event in Antic City. At that time, Charlie Luciano was the initiator of the United States Syndicate, and Nucky was the host of this grand event.


    At the time, seven American crime organizations participated... This was Charlie''s mandate. He had a mysterious fascination with the number seven!


    And this organization also came to be known as the Seven Gangs!


    Now Donnie had spoken about this n in advance, and he also believed that more family factions from other cities could be invited!


    "Donnie, if we join the alliance you''re talking about, then whose opinions will everyone listen to at that time?"


    The biggest problem one faces when initiating an alliance is always who will be the spokesperson for the alliance!


    Donnie had clearly long had his own n: "When the timees, we canpletely establish a gangmittee, where the leaders of families from each city will automatically be members of themittee. If we encounter a problem that everyone can''t solve, we can decide by a show of hands."


    Everyone else must ept the result!


    "How should we convince others to join?" asked Meyer, who had been silent up until now.


    Donnie said with a smile, "I believe that as long as there are interests, everyone will definitely participate. The alliance has no right to interfere in the internal affairs of each family, which gives each family absolute autonomy. And we now have amon interest... bootlegging!"


    Salvatore asked, "What if there are two major families in one city?"


    Everyone knew Salvatore was asking about his own situation.


    Donnie exined, "It''s simple, family matters are to be settled by the family itself. If a family can''t solve its own problems, it can pay to get help from other families in the alliance. I believe everyone is quite willing to do such a thing!"


    Salvatore was somewhat tempted; if he could solve his adversary Harry Rosenthal with a sum of money, Salvatore would be very willing to spend it!


    At this moment, Nucky suddenly spoke up, "So, are you saying that only one family can participate from a city?"


    When Nucky asked this question, everyone looked at Donnie. This proposal was Donnie''s, but the issue now was that in Antic City, everyone knew there was Donnie, and there was Nucky, and they were not from the same organization!


    Donnie nodded, "I believe so, because only in this way can we solve the problems better!"


    Nucky gave Donnie a meaningful look and asked, "What about my Antic City?"


    Donnie replied straightforwardly, "Of course, Mr. Nucky would represent it, but I hope Mr. Nucky can choose John as your assistant, and I, I''m just a businessman and merely a proposer of this idea!


    It''s that simple!"

 Chapter 141: 97, Private wine, media double-barrel approach (7K big chapter, ask for subscription~)

    Salvatore, Meyer, and Eli looked at Donnie with a change in their eyes.


    They all understood that if the alliance Donnie was talking about was truly established, it could very well be the biggest gang in the United States, representing powerful forces and enormous wealth.


    But now Donnie was only willing to be a proposer, and he didn''t even want to join, which puzzled them.


    Nucky looked at Donnie suspiciously, wondering what he was thinking, but no one else knew.


    Donnie acted precisely as a proposer would, afterying out all his ns, he stood there, looking around at everyone, and finally said,


    "Gentlemen, if you are interested in this idea and wish to discuss it, then I''ll leave this space to you."


    In the end, Donnie, seemingly indifferent to the matter, saw that although no one spoke, their intentions were quite clear, so he left promptly and decisively.


    "What''s so good about mixing with gangs? Even if you be the biggest in the nation, so what?"


    After leaving the room, Donnie headed to the Ritz Hotel''s dining room to continue his dinner.


    Proposing the Seven Gangs Alliance, for Donnie, had only one purpose: to use the alliance to spread his private liquor business throughout the United States.


    Just as Donnie thought, being involved in gangs was a dead-end, even in the United States. Nucky, isn''t he the underworld emperor of Antic City?


    In the end, he was still taken down by the National Government for tax evasion. Al Capone, the most infamous gang leader of The Great Prosperity Era, eventually couldn''t escape prison. By the time he was released, he was already suffering from syphilis.


    The once giant of Harbour City, Brother Da Fei, had said something that Donnie found very reasonable: "Out of ten who join the gangs, nine meet with a bad end."


    Not to mention Donnie''s own life experiences, he actually looked down on these gang members in his heart.


    Moreover, Donnie was not worried that after the alliance was established, it would leave him behind; after all, John had already been embedded in it like a nail.


    More importantly, as long as Donnie firmly controlled the source of the private liquor, the alliance couldn''t do without him.


    "Donnie!"


    Just after Donnie had finished ordering his meal, he heard someone calling him!


    Donnie looked up and saw Harry D''Agostino and ady from South Brenton approaching the restaurant.


    Seeing the two of them, Donnie was slightly taken aback. Although one was Harding''s campaign manager and the other was Harding''s mistress, their appearing together still seemed a bit strange.


    "Harry, Miss Brenton!"


    Despite his puzzlement, Donnie stood up and greeted them with a smile.


    Since they had met, both took a seat at Donnie''s table.


    "I thought there would be at least two girls by your side, Donnie!" Harry joked as he sat down.


    "Harry, you know I could sue you for nder for that!" Donnie joked back, then told Harry, "The Antic City Broadcast is all set. When is President Harding arriving in Antic City?"


    "The election isn''t over yet!" Harry replied modestly, "He''lle over on the day of the district finals."


    Donnie nodded, "No problem, we''ll coordinate with President Harding''s speech then!"


    Harryughed, "Speaking of which, there''s something we could learn from you, Donnie. I''ve been watching the Miss America tour in Antic City, especially their daring venture into the North District to speak. It''s quite impressive!"


    During his days in Antic City, Harry had gained some understanding of the city, knowing that the North District was a predominantly ck neighborhood.


    Donnie replied with augh, "Nobody can tell which of the tens of thousands of votes cast were from ck people. When counting, ck and White are the same, just a vote, a number!"


    "Haha! That''s very true!" Harryughed heartily.


    Donnie continued, "However, I think for President Harding''s national speeches, he doesn''t need to do that; people like Nucky can snag the ck votes easily!"


    After briefly considering it, Harry nodded, agreeing with Donnie''s statement. Even though decades had passed since the American Civil War, the discrimination against ck people in the United States hadn''t lessened.


    If Harding made a high-profile appearance in the ckmunity to speak, it could cost him White votes.


    "I''ve spoken on the phone with David Thompson. I was wondering, Donnie, if you''d be interested in ying golf together tomorrow?"


    Donnie immediately nodded, "Of course, you should know that I''ve already bought my own golf equipment!"


    "Haha!" Harryughed again, "Then I''ll see you on the course tomorrow!"


    "Harry, there''s also something else I hope I could get your help with," Donnie remembered another matter¡ªif he could get Harry''s assistance, then the promise he made to Old Carl would be resolved.


    "Of course, if I can do it!" Harry didn''t make any promises.


    Donnie said with a smile, "It''s quite simple, I''m hoping you could write a rmendation letter for my brother Cameron to Columbia University. After all, Harry, you''re an alumnus of Columbia. With your help, I believe Cameron can be admitted to Columbia smoothly!"

 Chapter 143: 97, Private Liquor, Media Attack from Both Sides (7K Mega Chapter, Please Subscribe~)_3

    "Just do as I say!" After a brief rest, Donnie''s fighting spirit was rekindled, and soon a beautiful melody filled the room!


    .


    The next day, Donnie met with Harry D''Agostino at the agreed time of nine o''clock.


    "Donnie, I''m sure you didn''te over early just to have breakfast with me, did you?"


    After seeing Donnie, Harry D''Agostino handed him the rmendation letter that had already been written, while joking around.


    "Of course!" After looking over the rmendation letter and finding no issues, Donnieughed and said, "Actually, I have a business proposition I''d like to discuss with you, Harry!"


    Harryughed heartily upon hearing this. He wasn''t surprised by Donnie''s suggestion and quipped, "Then I must listen carefully. Now, who in Antic City doesn''t know that Donnie, you are the best at business? An event like Miss America that nobody had faith in has turned into a veritable gold mine under your management!"


    Donnie shared his ideas about the bootlegging business with Harry D''Agostino.


    "Right now it''s just Phdelphia and New York, but if we add other major US cities, I can assure you that the illicit alcohol trade''s annual revenue will be an astronomical figure!"


    Talking about the bootlegging business in the presence of the future US Attorney General, Donnie felt nothing amiss.


    It wasn''t just Donnie who didn''t feel anything amiss; Harry D''Agostino also saw nothing wrong with it, rather, he was surprised by Donnie''s suggestion.


    Just as Donnie had said, if the business deal went through, his annual ie would exceed tens of millions of US dors.


    Even the big shot Harry D''Agostino found his breath getting heavier at the thought of that number.


    Harry D''Agostino did not raise any objections. Instead, he suggested his own idea: "For a business like this, just having me and David Thompson isn''t enough. The transportation of illicit alcohol within the United States involves the Federal Bureau of Investigation, state police, city police, and some gang members. Your previous profit distribution is incorrect!"


    After only a quick thought, Donnie agreed with Harry D''Agostino''s suggestion, saying, "Regarding the distribution of profits, we can discuss it slowly. The most important thing now is, Mr. Harry, are you willing to be one of the passengers on this big ship?"


    Harry D''Agostinoughed heartily, "Didn''t I just answer that question for you?"


    Donnie, fully understanding, said, "If that''s the case, I believe our meeting with David Thompson will be very pleasant!"


    "I think so too!"


    Now, Harry D''Agostino''s behavior waspletely different from before. He was no longer just a middleman; he had be one of the participants.


    With Harry D''Agostino''s involvement, meeting with David Thompson afterward was much more straightforward; after a brief conversation, all issues were agreed upon.


    .


    "It still feels like a dream to me!"


    Robert sat on the sofa in Donnie''s office, finding the current turn of events somewhat incredible.


    "I believe that before me, both Harry D''Agostino and David Thompson must have received such offers. Why did they choose to cooperate with us so readily? I don''t believe they don''t have people like us around them?"


    Facing Robert''s perplexity, the others also showed the same expressions.


    It was Walker, attending Donnie''s internal meeting for the first time, who now spoke in Donnie''s ce to provide the answer.


    "It''s simple. They definitely have such people around them, but those people don''t have the reach that Donnie does now. First, Donnie used the Miss America pageant to make contacts with the gang leaders in ten US cities.


    Secondly, Donnie suggested establishing a national family alliance yesterday to Nucky and the others, and they have already epted his suggestion.


    Finally, when Donnie merged all these resources, he had be the person most likely to monopolize the entire US bootlegging business."


    At this point, Walker took a sip of whiskey from his ss and continued.


    "Those around them don''t have the ability. You may not know these people, but I do. In their eyes, there''s only profit. When the benefits we offer are too substantial to refuse, those rtionships around them just don''t matter anymore!"


    Walker''s exnation enlightened everyone in the room about Donnie''s intentions.


    Donnie, looking at John who sat across from him, said, "John, in that alliance, you don''t need to make too much of an effort to assert yourself. Just remember one thing, try to care only about the bootlegging business. As for the rest, let Nucky decide everything and don''t contradict his opinions!"


    Johnughed heartily and nodded, "Don''t worry, didn''t you already tell me that? Let Nucky handle all the showboating, while we focus on the core interests!"


    Donnie nodded in satisfaction. Inviting John to join the national family alliance was a necessary move. Within the organization, Donnie needed someone who could ry messages to him at any time.


    "Chris, in the next two days you need to return to Elwood Vige and inform Old Carl that our bootlegging nt needs to be expanded!"

 Chapter 145: 98, The documentary is a big hit (7K long chapter - subscribe now~)

    The Morty Code Theater is located on the left side of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.


    Having returned to Hollywood from Antic City, William Fox now drove here alone, but he did not get out of his car and instead sat inside it, watching the entrance to the theater.


    The reason William Fox came over today was not that a Fox Film Corporation movie was premiering, but rather that the documentary of the Miss America city district quarterfinals would be screened here!


    Originally, the shooting task should have been done by them, Fox Film Corporation, but due to William Fox''s greed, he lost this opportunity.


    Now, William Fox just wanted to see what would happen when the documentary premiered.


    At the theater''s main entrance, William Fox saw a Los Angeles division Miss America Beauty Contestant in an evening gown standing there, greeting and chatting with her supporters as they entered the cinema with their ticket stubs in hand.


    In other Los Angeles cinemas, other Beauty Contestants were doing the same thing.


    "How in the world did Donnie Blocke up with these strategies?"


    William Fox watched the entrance of the theater helplessly; the news of the quarterfinal Beauty Contestants greeting the audience at the cinema doors during the documentary premiere had already been made known to many through newspaper publicity.


    William Fox did not inquire elsewhere, but he was very clear about the situation in Los Angeles.


    What was the most exciting event in Los Angeles over the past week?


    Take that question to the streets of Los Angeles and ask ten people, and one passerby would eagerly answer that it''s Miss America!


    The top eight Los Angeles Beauty Contestants were frequently seen in every corner of Los Angeles within the week: pubs,panies, theaters, amusement parks, and even on the streets.


    Moreover, their activities were also extensively reported by several Los Angeles newspapers, including the "Los Angeles Times."


    Without exaggeration, Miss America is now America''s trending belle!


    The entire town was crazy about Miss America.


    In such a frenzy, of course, the documentary about Miss America naturally aroused the curiosity of countless viewers; after all, the vast majority had not been at the venue on the day of the contest, and they were eager to see what the scene was like?


    At the same time, these people were also curious about what the Beauty Contestants from other city districts looked like?


    Watching the endless stream of people, William Fox shook his head in pain; all of this should have been his!


    .


    In another corner of the city, three men and a woman were chatting.


    They were Hollywood''s hottest stars at the moment: Charlie Chaplin, Pickford, Dous, and Griffith, and they were discussing the premiere of the Miss America documentary.


    "Charlie, I think when you go to Antic City, you should learn from Donnie Block. The man is a genius. Just in this week, it seems like we have been abandoned by Hollywood. Everyone is talking about Miss America," Mary Pickford said with a gentle stir of her coffee, smiling at Charlie Chaplin.


    They already knew about Charlie Chaplin''s forting trip to Antic City to serve as a judge for the Miss America finals.


    Although United Artists had already been founded, and they were all well-known figures in Hollywood, without the backing of big studios, even if they made their own movies, there was no cinema to screen them.


    All the major Hollywood studios viewed these people merely as cash cows, and now that the cash cows wanted to leave and set up on their own, that was absolutely uneptable to the big studios in Hollywood.


    So, after initially high hopes during the startup phase, these individuals now realized the harsh reality. Although they were still struggling, in truth, they each had their own ns.


    Just as they said during United Artists'' early days, ording to their n, each person was going to produce five films a year, whether as a lead actor, director, or producer, but now they had reduced the number to the entirepany producing five films a year, and even this target was hard to meet.


    Thepany wasn''t making money, but that didn''t prevent these individuals from earning. They actually saw their situation clearly and began to ept film offers from the major studios again.


    With an air of arrogance, Chain spoke, "There''s nothing to learn; such tactics can be understood at a nce. It''s just a matter of cing more ads in the newspapers. My agreeing to go is actually to repay a favor to Walker. What does Donnie, a private liquor dealer from Antic City, know about the film industry?"


    Seeing Chaplin''s nonchnt attitude, the other three were ustomed to his personality and simply smiled, saying nothing more.


    "Regardless, I don''t think the box office for the Miss America documentary will be too bad!" David Griffith said, grinning as he looked at the scene outside the coffee shop.


    "Even some of my friends have been madly infatuated with Miss Americately."


    "This is because the documentary will not adversely affect the big studios, which is why they''re allowing it to be screened in their cinemas!"


    Chaplin did not like hearing his friends praise others during their gatherings.

 Chapter 146: 98, The documentary is a big hit (7K long chapter, please subscribe~)_2

    Although Charlie Chaplin was known as the master ofedy, with artistic achievements that were frighteningly high, in private he was actually a very serious person - some even called him the emperor on set!


    However, the three of them still rather agreed with what Chaplin had said, precisely because Miss America was a documentary, and behind it, Starry Entertainment, though also an entertainmentpany, seemed to have nothing to do with the film industry. No one would think that an entertainmentpany based in Antic City would affect Hollywood''s film industry in any way.


    "By the way, thewsuit from Edison has been filed; who will go to handle it?"


    Dous Fairbanks asked, holding Mary Pickford''s hand, as he addressed the others.


    In March of that year, Dous and Mary Pickford had a secret wedding in Glendale, California. Both of them had been married before - Mary Pickford had just divorced her former husband in early March, only to marry Dous by the end of the month.


    However, their marriage didn''tst forever; they divorced in 1936 and quickly found new happiness and families for themselves.


    But that was all in the future; right now, the newlyweds were very close.


    They had even nned to go to Europe for their honeymoon the following month.


    As for Edison''swsuit... the great inventor Edison''s life''s work was essentially inventing patents, then making money from those patents, and film technology was no exception.


    In fact, to deal with Edison''swsuits, filmpanies originally in New York and Phdelphia had flocked to Los Angeles.


    But this had merely changed state legal proceedings into federal ones.


    Until he lost awsuit in the 1930s, every filmpany had at some point been sued by Edison!


    Chaplin wouldn''t deal with such matters, and as a woman, Mary Pickford naturally wouldn''t attend such events. Dous raised the topic, clearly indicating he didn''t want to go either.


    So, they all turned their gaze to Griffith.


    Facing the eyes of the three, Griffith felt somewhat disgruntled. Among the four, Chaplin was arrogant and imperious, Dous and Pickford acted in unison, leaving Griffith, the one hailed as the greatest innovator in film history, filled with romanticism.


    This was precisely due to his character that when faced with situations he found displeasing, he wouldn''t speak out, preferring to let his feelings of discontent umte slowly.


    In the end, it was actually Griffith who first sold his shares in United Artists and left.


    "All right, I''ll handle this matter; you guys don''t need to worry!"


    Upon hearing Griffith''s response, the others showed relieved smiles.


    Chaplin, seated there, started discussing his ns for a new movie with Griffith, while Dous and Pickford discussed which country in Europe to visit first for their vacation.


    Griffith, while listening to Chaplin, nodded absentmindedly.


    .


    Not just in Los Angeles, but in other major cities across the United States, many were paying attention to the release of the Miss America documentary.


    In cities like Los Angeles, New York, and Phdelphia, where regionalpetitions were held,peting beauties promoted the screenings in theaters. In other major cities, beauties who had been eliminated from thepetition did the same, thereby harvesting a new wave of poprity.


    An audience member, having just watched the documentary, shouted to the beauty on stage taking a bow, "Sika, don''t cry, we will always support you!"


    Where someone shouted, others followed suit to echo the sentiment.


    Soon, the entire cinema erupted in support for Sika Kona.


    Sika Kona, standing on the stage with her eyes brimming with tears, had appeared on screen for less than a minute in a group scene in the film, yet unexpectedly she had garnered the support of the audience here.


    What Sika Kona didn''t know was that any other beauty standing there would have received the same apuse.


    It was merely a collective emotional release!


    .


    Amid the overwhelming buzz, the Miss America city preliminaries documentary reaped an impressive box office on its opening day.


    With screenings in over three hundred theaters across the country and movie tickets priced at only twenty cents each, the number of viewers surpassed a million.


    Converted to box office revenue, that was a whopping $200,000, but don''t forget it was just a documentary with a production cost of $70,000 and a promotion budget of $200,000.


    It seemed as if the box office hadn''t yet met the expenses, but this was only the first day''s earnings.


    Subsequent box office results, if calcted using normal patterns, would surely make Donnie Block some money.


    Of course, limited by current technology, neither Donnie nor the Phdelphia Film Company knew the exact box office numbers for the day, but the situation was telling.


    So, when Donnie received a call from Erickson, thetter sounded quite excited.


    "Donnie, the attendance in the theaters is very high. Thepany and I believe that this documentary will achieve impressive results!"


    "Yes, that is certainly very good news, but the credit all goes to you and your team!" Donnie''s tone was very calm.


    Erickson on the other end of the phone couldn''t understand why Donnie could be soposed; it was theirpany''s first investment in a documentary. Then Erickson assumed he understood: it must be because Donnie Block was used to big events, hence such news wouldn''t shock him.

 Chapter 147: 98, The documentary is a big hit (7K long chapter, please subscribe~)_3

    Thinking of this, Erickson''s admiration for Donnie grew even stronger!


    "Donnie, the work here is finished. I''ll be returning to Antic City tomorrow to continue gathering materials for the documentary of the Miss America Antic City finals, and we''ll meet again then!"


    Erickson thought he should also start working harder and learn from Donnie Block. Only through growth, like Donnie Block, who went from an unknown to a prominent figure in a short time, could he possibly achieve the sameposure in the face of anything!


    "Excellent, I''m very much looking forward to your return. My people will pick you up at the train station!" Donnie hung up the phone.


    "The news from Phdelphia surprisingly hasn''t reached us faster than our side. We knew about the attendance rate of the documentary at the theatersst night!"


    Walker said in a calm tone, holding the report in his hand.


    Donnie chuckled and said, "Phdelphia is a big city after all, different from Antic City. Antic City has only three cinemas capable of screening films, Phdelphia has dozens!"


    Walker nodded and said, "That''s true, Antic City is still too small. Moreover, itsmercial development is obviously distorted. In my opinion, the best path forward for Antic City would be to obtain a legitimate gambling license and be the first Casino City in the United States.


    Otherwise, as you said, if Prohibition really gets repealed, Antic City will lose its best development opportunity!"


    After finishing, Walker drank a sip of whiskey nonchntly, waiting for Donnie to speak.


    But when he looked up after a moment of waiting, he saw that Donnie was looking at him intently.


    "What''s wrong? Is there something amiss?" Walker asked, feeling a bit embarrassed.


    "Nothing, it''s just that you''ve got a st of bird poop on your face!" Donnie casually replied.


    "Bird poop?" Walker startled but then realized that he had been with Donnie all day, and it was impossible for him to be sttered by bird poop.


    "You''re kidding me!" In saying this, Walker made a move.


    However, although Walker was a West Point graduate, in terms of physical condition, how could he possibly be a match for Donnie, a king of soldiers seasoned on the battlefield.


    It didn''t take long before Walker started begging for mercy.


    When Donnie let go of Walker, he couldn''t help but sigh internally, Walker''s insight was indeed sharp. After the repeal of Prohibition, Antic City had begun to decline, and even though itter obtained a gambling license and became one of the two major Casino Cities in America, it never matched the up-anding Las Vegas!


    In 10 years'' time, Las Vegas closed all of its casinos and brothels, but after the arrival of the Great Depression, it swiftly legally became America''s first Casino City, an event that happened in 1931.


    In contrast, Antic City still has countless casinos, but it can only operate them underground and cannot bring this business out into the open.


    But this was a matter for the future. Donnie had to deal with the present problems.


    The documentary about the Miss America city preliminary contest had a high seating rate in the three cinemas of Antic City, which naturally was good news for Donnie.


    But new problems had also arisen.


    Nucky, who previously disapproved of this endeavor, was now inviting Donnie to the Ritz Hotel to discuss some matters at this juncture.


    Nucky looking for Donnie at this time could only be about the documentary.


    Previously, Nucky''sck of confidence led him to abandon the idea of investing in the documentary with Donnie. Now that the documentary''s box office showed a profitable trend, Nucky naturally had some thoughts.


    Donnie went to the Ritz Hotel and met Nucky.


    "Donnie, I had apse in judgment this time!"


    Upon seeing Donnie, Nucky''s face showed a bitter smile as he candidly admitted his previous misjudgment.


    Donnie, sitting with crossed legs opposite Nucky, smiled and said, "Everyone has their moments of wrong judgment, this time it was just that you, Nucky, were unfamiliar with the documentary genre!"


    Nucky''s spirits lifted a bit as his feelings were cated by Donnie''s words. He smiled and said, "But Donnie, you don''t understand the documentary market either, yet you were able to make a firm decision to go ahead with this project!"


    Donnieughed and said, "Truthfully, I''m not that familiar with the documentary market either, but I believe in our Miss America, I believe the poprity of Miss America can drive the documentary''s box office sales."


    Nucky nodded and said, "It''s a pity I didn''t have your firm belief; otherwise, this victory would have been ours together!"


    Donnie shook his head and said, "This is already our joint victory. The documentary''s box office is minor; the benefits brought by Miss America are enough to make us happy!"


    Nucky asked, "The documentary shooting for the Miss America city finals is about to start, right?"


    Donnie knew that Nucky wanted to get to the main topic, "Yes, that is the case, tomorrow the various filming crews from the moviepany will return to their respective cities!"


    Nucky smiled and said, "That''s perfect, my funds will be transferred to thepany''s ount this afternoon!"


    Donnie didn''t respond to Nucky''s words, making Nucky a bit dissatisfied, "Donnie, is your attitude an indication that you''re not willing to ept me as a partner anymore?"


    Donnie gazed directly into Nucky''s eyes and said, "Nucky, we are friends, and between friends, we must not only treat each other with candor but also hold genuine affection."

 Chapter 148: 98, The documentary is a big hit (7K long chapter, please subscribe~)_4

    "Your current actions make me think that you are trying to snatch the fruits of my victory, Donnie. We had already agreed that you wouldn''t get involved in the filming of the Miss America documentary."


    "At the time, it was you who brought it up!"


    When Donnie brought up the past directly, Nucky''s face turned ugly. "The past is the past, and now is now. Since we are partners, Donnie, we should move forward or retreat together!"


    Donnie had wanted Nucky to join the investment in the documentary because he was worried about this very situation, but Nucky had refused at the time.


    Now that Nucky saw there was a profit to be made, he wanted in, but Donnie was definitely not going to agree.


    Since they were partners, if Donnie kept giving in to Nucky''s demands, it was certain that Nucky would push even further in future coborations.


    At that time, Donnie would face endless trouble.


    "In business, Nucky, such behavior is called ''picking the low-hanging fruit,'' and I won''t agree to it. You have your ideas, and I have my principles; there''s no room for negotiation on this matter!"


    Faced with Donnie''s firm refusal, Nucky didn''t speak for a long time, then suddenly burst intoughter. "Donnie, my dear Donnie, why so serious? I was just joking with you. The documentary is your own business, naturally, I wouldn''t really think of stealing your thunder, so let''s just say I was joking!"


    Donnie knew Nucky hadn''t been joking, but since Nucky had chosen to back down, Donnie naturally wouldn''t puncture Nucky''s pretense.


    "Haha, so it was a joke? I was overthinking it!" Donnieughed.


    "Of course, it was a joke!" Nucky alsoughed. "Donnie, everything about you is good, you justck a sense of humor!"


    Donnie said, "I''ll make sure to learn how to be funnier!"


    "Alright, the joking is over, let''s talk about serious business!" Nucky became serious again.


    Donnie asked, "I wonder what this serious business might be?"


    "Of course, the bootlegging business!" Nuckyughed. "You had proposed setting up the American family alliance, and we''ve already talked to several other city family bosses. They are all very interested in establishing this alliance. If all goes well, by October, these people will alle to Antic City to discuss the specifics of forming the alliance!


    One very important item on the meeting''s agenda is the selection of ports, and Antic City is definitely going to be one of them. How important is that!"


    Probably, this was the most important reason Nucky had called Donnie over. Although the national family alliance was not yet formally established, many had already seen the huge interests it entailed.


    "It doesn''t seem like this matter has much to do with me, does it?"


    Donnie said with a smile, "Nucky, this matter is John''s responsibility. If you have any ideas, just get in touch with him directly!"


    "Come off it!" Nucky dismissed with a wave of his hand. "Donnie, you really think I don''t know that John is just a puppet you put forward? This matter can only be decided after discussing it with you!"


    Donnie spread his hands helplessly and said, "Alright then, Mr. Nucky, let''s hear your thoughts!"


    "I know you''ve already made an agreement with Meyer of New York and Salvatore of Phdelphia to smuggle spirits from Ennd together. I won''t meddle in that business, but when ites to the bootlegging business in other cities, I think we can reach a very good consensus for cooperation!"


    Donnie chuckled, understanding why he had first secured his social status in Antic City before developing his business.


    If it weren''t for that, Nucky would probably not be sitting here negotiating with me; instead, he would have directly forced me to hand over the business.


    "Nucky, I must say you are a very skilled negotiator. The Miss America business must have beenying the groundwork for this, right?"


    With a chuckle, Nucky neither confirmed nor denied Donnie''s question.


    "Okay, I have no problem with that, but you need to make your own contribution, Nucky. Otherwise, even if you join us, I believe it won''t be long before, even if I don''t say it, others will take away your share!"


    Donnie easily agreed to Nucky''s request.


    In fact, Nucky''s joining was already part of Donnie''s n. It seemed that he could work directly with the city gang lords without Nucky, even coborating with government insiders like Harry Rosenthal and David Thompson.


    But in reality, Nucky''s role was irreceable, at least at the current stage.


    Nucky inquired, "What contribution do you want me to make?"


    Donnie exined, "I will handle the Coast Guard issue, and I can take care of the intermediary connections as well, but Nucky, you need to provide the warehouse once this shipment of liquor arrives in Antic City, and you will also be responsible for the security of the bootleg liquor while it''s in the warehouse!"


    This was the role Nucky could y in the matter; as long as Antic City was still Nucky''s territory, without the cooperation of the local snakehead like him, even if the liquor reached Antic City, it would attract the attention of thew enforcement.


    Nuckyughed heartily, saying, "Of course, that''s something I should take care of!"


    Donnie nodded, "Since that is the case, then there''s no other issue."


    With that said, Donnie extended his hand, announcing, "Wee to the team, Nucky!"


    Nucky also extended his hand, and their cooperation became even tighter.


    Later, the two discussed the specifics, as with more people joining in, the most central issue was the distribution of profits.


    Both Donnie and Nucky could not decide this alone; it would be discussed in detail once all parties involved in the enterprise were on board.


    However, there was one certainty.


    That was that Donnie''s business operated on a point-to-multipoint basis, with Donnie, Nucky, Harry D''Agostino, David Thompson, and subsequent partners like the Federal Bureau of Investigation forming an entirepany.


    And their counterparts were the city gangs, with which they would form a single-line cooperation model. Take Salvatore for instance; the only business he could be part of was the bootlegging business in Phdelphia.


    The bootlegging business in other cities didn''t concern him.


    After all was discussed and agreed upon, Donnie left The Ritz Hotel, and Nucky''s face turned from one beaming with smiles to one covered with dark clouds!


    "Boss, is something wrong?"


    Seeing his boss''s demeanor, Louis couldn''t help but ask.


    With some regret, Nucky said, "The Donnie of today is not the Donnie of the past!"