America 1919

"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't come 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 becoming 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.

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"The KKK might have some influence in Atlantic 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 accept 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 Atlantic 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 Atlantic City!"

A slight change flickered across Donnie's composed 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 Atlantic 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 accepted Nucky's offer, he would be putting his fate into Nucky's hands. Nucky could boost him now and suppress him later. 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 Village. 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 Village.

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 Carl laughed 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 Atlantic City asked me to call home to check up on the family!"

Old Carl laughed heartily, "You can pass the phone to that bastard now!"

Donnie held the phone and, stifling his laughter, 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 planning 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 Village's solidarity!"

In fact, Donnie didn't know about Nucky sending people to Elwood Village to look for Old Carl, but even before this happened, Donnie had already made arrangements for Elwood Village.

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 dollars, which he sent back to Elwood Village through John. Not only did he expand his own distillery, but he also bribed the whole village to become his workers and security guards.

By this time, the entire Elwood Village had become the Block Family's Elwood Village.

Elwood Village, 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 Village's combat 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 Village might be able to protect your distilleries, but they can't protect you. If you get caught, then the trouble in Elwood Village will naturally be resolved, so you're still within my control!"

Donnie shook his head with a smile, "Robert isn't coming out because Mobley remembers the Major's kindness to him and is wary of your and the Major's power in Atlantic City. But if I were to be caught, Mobley wouldn't let it go so easily."

"Your relationship 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 manipulate 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 relaxed, "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 income in Atlantic City.

So, if you could give me half of the Atlantic City liquor supply business from LeBron's share, I promise, before the elections, the KKK won't bother LeBron's black 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 Atlantic City these days?"