America 1919

"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 played 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 become a State Senator of New Jersey, but also be promoted to the Magistrate of Atlantic City? I think this offer would perfectly match the cooperation between us!"

Brad Dorn, now a well-known lawyer in Atlantic 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 like last time, settled into Donnie's arms. Although her demeanor was now more seductive, her voice remained cold.

"I assume, Donnie, that you didn't come solely to discuss this matter with me."

.

That evening, Donnie met with Mobley Hawk, the leader of the Atlantic City 3K Party, at the home of William James.

Mobley Hawk, a 43-year-old white male, owner of the Hawk Tavern in Atlantic 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 Atlantic City, I didn't expect you would conduct business with us!"

Mobley, clad 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 Dollars are the most wonderful thing in this world!"

Mobley nodded and said, "Yet according to our information, Nucky has already entrusted all the alcohol business in Atlantic City to that negro, LeBron. Mr. Block, can you really go against Nucky's orders?"

Donnie replied nonchalantly, "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 Atlantic 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, exclaiming, "Mr. Hawk, how could you think such a thing? Don't you know I am now in competition with LeBron? To be honest, the more misfortune that befalls LeBron, the happier I become!"

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 black people in Atlantic City was not only because LeBron had bootleg liquor, but more importantly, LeBron James was the most influential black person in Atlantic City.

As a white supremacist, Mobley could never stand the sight of a black 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 would come all this way just to talk business, would you?"

Donnie laughed 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 Atlantic 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 these last few days, haven't you?

Plus, I've heard that Eli has been busy with something in the police department lately. 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 black man eating in the same restaurant as them.

The Ku Klux Klan indeed has a significant influence in Atlantic 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 Klan, it's hard to guarantee that Nucky won't find someone more compliant to take over as the leader of the Klan!

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 Klan'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 glass.

"Then here's to a happy cooperation between us!"

"To a happy cooperation!" Donnie raised his glass as well.

.

"Does Mobley really have the influence in Atlantic City to disrupt the General's plans?"

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 Atlantic City, nor should you overestimate the General's influence there right now. Although Mobley can't yet compare 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 relationship 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 a complicated matter that involves various parties' interests. Even if I explained, 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, Donnie lay 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 Atlantic City. It looks like it's time to start setting up the next plan in advance!"