America 1919

"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 and laughing.

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 blazing, 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 place!"

Eli Johnson also said with a big laugh.

"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 become so warm toward you?"

John, who had been holding back his curiosity, finally couldn't resist asking Donnie his question.

Donnie explained, "It's simple, because now we have common interests. Don't worry about whatever conflicts we had before, as long as our interests align, Eli and I can become 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 villa business and bring all those clients over to The Fuli Tavern!"

"Shut down the villa business?"

Although he had already guessed it, John still felt a tinge of disappointment when he heard Donnie say the villa business was shutting down, after all, it was him who had managed that business.

Donnie nodded, "That's right, also, you shouldn't come 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 become skilled croupiers.

Only if he succeeded 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!"Nôv(el)B\\jnn

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 Atlantic City, there are already people competing 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 Atlantic 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 Atlantic City, and Donnie would have a constant flow of cash.

Moreover, with this industry, Donnie could also better control the gambling industry in Atlantic City!

"Robert will help you set up a financial company 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 financial company 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 a complicated mess.

To avoid trouble with the United States tax authorities, Donnie needed to equip John with a qualified accountant!

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 Atlantic City?"

John nodded as if it were obvious, "Of course, in Atlantic City, there can only be our outfit!"

Donnie waved his hand, "You're wrong to think that way. Atlantic City can't have only our family. If you go too far, you'll be facing a challenge from all the other casinos in Atlantic 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 Atlantic City.

Eventually, when we truly reach the peak of Atlantic City, the entire gambling industry should have an organized order!"

In Donnie's view, the ideal state of Atlantic City should be modeled after the development of Macau.

The most challenging time for Atlantic City was not now but ten years later when the United States would progress from The Great Prosperity Era into the Great Depression.

Especially with the fall of Philadelphia, Atlantic City would lose its most important customers.

This would lead to the gradual loss of Atlantic City's glory.

No matter how much Donnie expanded his industries in the future, Atlantic City would remain his base, so it must not fall into decline!

"Alright, I'll do as you say!" John nodded again.

Donnie smiled, clapped his hands on the sofa, and said, "Okay, I've already explained 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 had completed the acquisition of The Fuli Tavern, it actually represented another elevation of his status in Atlantic 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 could come 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 become the owner of The Fuli Tavern?"

Today, Olman had donned a suit, although he still looked round and chubby.

Donnie laughed and said, "My friend, it's been a while since we last 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 noncommittally, "I imagine you didn't come here just to celebrate my new ownership of The Fuli Tavern, did you?"

"Haha!" Olman burst into laughter 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?"

According 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 Atlantic City was curious.

"David Jabbar thought that Atlantic 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 Atlantic 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.

Donnie laughed 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 much lately, 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 planning 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 Atlantic City's biggest mysteries for a long time.

"Now that you've satisfied my curiosity, we can discuss the real matter," Olman said.

Donnie laughed 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 Atlantic City, yet they forget about the land, 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: "..."