America 1919

After touring the entire West District, Eli was so exhausted he had started to pant.

"Donnie, I really can't take it anymore. Just tell me what you mean, will you?"

Sitting in a slightly rundown café, Eli spoke to Donnie in a feeble voice.

Donnie gently swayed the coffee cup in front of him and said, "According to the statistics I've gathered recently, there are a total of 369 pubs, 388 inns suspected of operating brothels, and nearly 500 establishments suspected of running gambling dens in the West District. They can accommodate nearly 150,000 people showing up in the West District at the same time.

And how many people are there in the entire West District?

Including women and children, that's only just over 23,500 people. Besides holidays, and after tourists arrive in Atlantic City, they prefer to go to the boardwalk, to the South District. In fact, for the West District, these places have long surpassed the stage of saturation.

Add to that the dozen or so gangs big and small here, and it naturally forms the West District into the most chaotic place in Atlantic City, next only to the North District."

Eli clearly didn't know these statistics, and after hearing Donnie, he was somewhat astonished, "I didn't expect you to know so much about the West District."

Donnie gave a helpless smile and said, "I didn't want to be that familiar with it either, but there was no helping it; after all, we're friends. For your sake, my friend, I had to investigate these matters clearly!"

Eli said, puzzled, "But what's the use of knowing all this? These pubs, inns, and casinos all pay Nucky. They pay him, and Nucky lets them operate. And the more establishments there are, doesn't that mean our income is higher?"

These places pay Nucky money, but that doesn't mean the money belongs only to Nucky; it belongs to the entire Nucky's interest group.

Eli Johnson is a core member of this group.

Donnie laughed and said, "Is that really the case?"

"Isn't it?" asked Eli.

Donnie shook his head, "If that were the case, why would I bother taking you on a tour around the entire West District?"

Eli asked, "Then what do you mean?"

Donnie explained, "Atlantic City is a tourist city, which means the city's main income comes entirely from visitors from Philadelphia and New York, not from the locals of Atlantic City.

To a tourist, apart from the Atlantic City providing the services they want, the most important thing is to ensure their safety.

In the four districts of Atlantic City, the South District does the best business. You think it's because there are boardwalks, beaches, the symbols of Atlantic City, but more importantly, it's the safest part of Atlantic City.

I ask you, if the police department receives two emergency calls at the same time, one from the South District and one from the North District or West District, which one would you go to first?"

Eli replied without hesitation, "Of course, the South District. As for the North and West Districts, I'll deal with them whenever I have some free time!"

Donnie nodded and asked again, "And why would you choose to go to the South District?"

"Why?" Eli was stunned, then blurted out something meaningless, "Because that's the South District."

Donnie chuckled and said, "The most important thing is, even you know that the South District represents the face of Atlantic City. The North District is home to a bunch of niggers, and in fact, we might as well let them kill each other off. As for the West District, visitors coming to Atlantic City, with a little more money to spare, won't come to the West District.

This leads to a situation where even if you solve a case there, you won't gain much for yourself."

After thinking it over, Eli nodded and said, "That's what I was thinking!"

Donnie continued, "Now, let's reconsider the situation in the West District. Because there are far more running establishments than there should be based on their customer flow, this leads to frequent occurrences of fights and brawls here.

Also, because of the numerous gangs, they collect protection fees from these establishments. These places, already with a small clientele, end up paying even more protection fees than other districts, which results in them ripping off their customers.

Ultimately, in such an environment, only those customers with no choice will come to the West District and, understandably, not to seek discomfort.

This leads to the West District having the least customer flow in Atlantic City, second only to the North District.

Such a vicious cycle will only make the West District messier and poorer, and this situation will also lead to a decrease in the money that you, Nucky, receive!"

After listening, Eli wore a look of sudden realization, "No wonder I always hear Nucky say that these places in the West District are often delinquent in paying us money!"

Donnie laughed, "What if, at this time, you could change the status quo of the West District and turn it into another symbol of Atlantic City? What do you think would happen?"

Eli was stunned for a moment, not expecting Donnie to be talking to him about this matter, asking him to change the situation in the West District, and even to make the West District another symbol of Atlantic City?

"Haha!" After being startled, Eli suddenly burst out laughing and said, "Donnie, I understand what you mean, and I'm very grateful for your good intentions, but this isn't an easy task. The entire West District is a mixed bag of characters, and the entangled interests only add to the chaos.

To transform this place into a new emblem of Atlantic City, I'd rather believe that the general suddenly had a stroke this morning!"

Donnie said nothing, just quietly watched Eli laughing. That look in his eyes gradually made Eli stop his own laughter. Eventually, he even felt he had made a mistake and then cautiously looked at Donnie.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"Of course you did!", Donnie said candidly, "I said so much just now, actually just to tell you one thing, and that is the reason why the West District is chaotic is because there are no rules. To end the current chaos, as long as there are rules, everything will become manageable!"

Eli, feeling a bit guilty in front of such a Donnie, said, "What you mean is, you want me to put an end to the deceptive practices of these businesses in the West District and prevent the gangs from charging fees at will. But if we do that, we would essentially be cutting off these people's means of making money, and the whole West District would then descend into chaos.

The most important thing is, they won't listen to me."

Donnie shook his head in frustration. Eli Johnson was indeed easier to control, but he was also too foolish. Without a thorough explanation, he simply could not understand many things.

"The behavior you're describing would never be successful, and it would cause you endless trouble. The most crucial issue is, the chaos in the West District caused by a lack of rules is due to the fact that there is no reasonable planning for the current West District.

Imagine, the Pennsylvania Avenue we just walked past—if there were only three to five taverns, an equal number of lodging apartments, and casinos on the street, would there be brawls over competing for customers?"

"And if the number of gangs in the West District were reduced from over a dozen to just two, each overseeing different districts and free of entangled interests, do you think they would still fight?"

Eli Johnson was stunned for a moment, then immediately grasped Donnie's point, but soon had a new question: "But if that's the case, the taverns, lodging apartments, and casino owners who are banned from doing business, as well as the ousted gangs, will also create chaos!"

"It's a simple matter," Donnie continued to explain. "You need to find the two biggest gangs in the West District and form an alliance with them. Have them strategically swallow up the smaller gangs. Once you control that power, you can then effectively allocate the taverns, casinos, and lodging apartments in the West District through both legal and illicit means.

You can even designate suitable locations for these establishments on each street, determining the scale and so on, allowing the current owners of the taverns, casinos, and lodging apartments to auction them. The highest bidder wins. Just for this alone, I can guarantee it will make you a fortune.

Of course, there are a lot of details to work out. If you have the courage, I will have John help you with it. I can assure you that in less than three months, the entire West District will be transformed, and your prestige in the West District will reach unprecedented heights.

By then, whether it's your brother Nucky or the general, they will all start to look at you in a new light!"

Eli Johnson was enchanted by the vision Donnie painted, his eyes brimming with longing.

At last, Eli's voice trembled as he asked Donnie, "Can it really be successful?"

"It can really be successful!" Donnie assured confidently.

Eli suddenly slammed his hand on the table and laughed out loud, "Donnie, rest assured, as long as the West District becomes what you say, I guarantee you, I'll have the final say during the day, and you'll have it at night in the West District!"

"Heh heh!" Donnie chuckled softly, "I just hope to be a successful businessman. If the West District does well, so will my business. As for day and night, it'll be you who has the say!"

Eli laughed heartily.

Now that Eli had decided to proceed with the matter, the two immediately went back to John's tavern, and the three of them went to John's room, where Donnie began to tell them his complete plan.

Given that both Eli and John were not very smart, Donnie had to break down and spell out his plan in great detail.

By the time he finished explaining, it had already grown cool. Explore more at m,v l'e-m|p| y r

Eli Johnson stretched and said, "Donnie, your plan is excellent. I'll start implementing it right after I get back, and I hope that John, you'll coordinate well with me!"

John laughed, "Don't worry, I'm already very familiar with the situation in the West District. I assure you that no one will be left out of our plan!"

After Eli Johnson left, Donnie sternly told John.

"Call Robert immediately, have him arrange for Sean Be to come here!"