America 1919

"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 collaborations.

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!" Your journey continues with M-V-L

Faced with Donnie's firm refusal, Nucky didn't speak for a long time, then suddenly burst into laughter. "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!" Donnie laughed.

"Of course, it was a joke!" Nucky also laughed. "Donnie, everything about you is good, you just lack 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!" Nucky laughed. "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 all come to Atlantic City to discuss the specifics of forming the alliance!

One very important item on the meeting's agenda is the selection of ports, and Atlantic 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 Philadelphia to smuggle spirits from England together. I won't meddle in that business, but when it comes 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 Atlantic 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 been laying 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 plan. It seemed that he could work directly with the city gang lords without Nucky, even collaborating with government insiders like Harry Rosenthal and David Thompson.

But in reality, Nucky's role was irreplaceable, at least at the current stage.

Nucky inquired, "What contribution do you want me to make?"

Donnie explained, "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 Atlantic 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 play in the matter; as long as Atlantic City was still Nucky's territory, without the cooperation of the local snakehead like him, even if the liquor reached Atlantic City, it would attract the attention of the law enforcement.

Nucky laughed 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, "Welcome 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 entire company.

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 Philadelphia.

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!"