America 1919

Just as Donnie started to get busy with the Miss America city finals, Robert found Donnie with a bottle of whiskey in hand.

"What's happened? Your face looks like you ate a bowl of cockroaches for breakfast!"

Margaret rolled her eyes at Donnie, then prepared chopsticks and a bowl for Robert; they were having breakfast at the time.

"Someone drank this whiskey at our tavern last night and died!"

Robert placed the whiskey on the table, his face clouded with anger. Stay tuned to M-V-L

Donnie put down his milk, "Did this come from LeBron's supply?"

Donnie was still confident in the quality of the whiskey produced in Elwood Village.

Robert nodded, "That's right, LeBron has been making more and more little moves lately; it seems he can hardly restrain himself!"

Donnie said, "I'll have Robinson give a heads up to the other three newspapers; this won't get out to the press!"

The issue with LeBron could wait, but the most pressing matter was that someone had died from the liquor at Block Tavern. If the media got wind of this, it could potentially impact Donnie's nationwide bootlegging operation during a critical moment.

Robert spoke with a sense of helplessness, "The papers in Atlantic City will obviously not be a problem, but I'm worried that the news might get picked up by Philadelphia and New York. Last night, there were quite a few guests from those two cities at the tavern."

Donnie massaged his temples and asked, "Apart from our Block Tavern, have there been any other issues at different taverns?"

Robert explained, "Taverns in both the West District and North District have encountered this problem, but no one has died."

Donnie nodded, "So, LeBron didn't just sell this poor quality bootleg to us alone; the quality of all his bootleg is like this?"

LeBron's bootleg mainly supplied the West District, North District, and East District. The North District was his exclusive supply area, while the West and East Districts were a joint supply with Donnie. As for the bootleg in the South District of Atlantic City, it was all supplied by Donnie!

"That's correct. I've already made inquiries in the East District. Because of the economic environment there, they purchase LeBron's high-end liquor, so they haven't experienced this issue. But the bosses of the taverns in the East District have also told me that the quality of LeBron's high-end liquor is only on par with what used to be his mid to low range!"

Robert explained the current situation to Donnie.

Donnie said with resignation, "So, LeBron has been blinded by the vast profits now!"

During Prohibition, bootleggers in the United States, for the sake of greater profits, even chose to adulterate their products with industrial alcohol, leading to nationwide deaths due to consumption of this imitation liquor.

Robert stated, "LeBron can't stay. We told him before that he absolutely can't mix industrial alcohol into the bootleg, as it would ruin the reputation of Atlantic City. Obviously, he didn't take our words to heart. Moreover, LeBron has missed two dividend payments to us!"

Donnie looked up, "Why wasn't I informed about this immediately?"

Robert explained, "At the time, you were busy with the Miss America local preliminaries, so I didn't tell you right away!"

Donnie waved his hand dismissively, "I just showed Nucky a bit of our strength. If we take out LeBron now, it could easily arouse Nucky's suspicions!"

The collaboration between Donnie and LeBron was a secret, unknown to Nucky.

If Nucky found out that Donnie still had control over LeBron, he would certainly take action.

"By the way, how's LeBron doing in the North District?" Donnie inquired.

"Like the midday sun. After several months of restructuring, LeBron has once again made the North District impregnable. Probably taking cues from Pierce's actions and the influence on the West District, the entire North District now has only LeBron's gang; all other gangs have been eradicated by him!"

Robert continued with his explanation.

Donnie scoffed, "It sounds like this LeBron is quite capable!"

Robert said, "The most challenging part now is, as LeBron's reorganization of the North District is completed, Nucky will value LeBron's influence there even more. With the election approaching, Nucky certainly won't want to see any issues with LeBron at this time."

Donnie chuckled, "So LeBron feels he's got the upper hand now and even has the audacity not to pay us our dividends?"

Robert responded, "That seems to be the case."

Donnie asked, "How's that Irving who's close to LeBron doing now?"

Previously, Robert had mentioned to Donnie that Irving was a very ambitious man. To avoid the current situation, Donnie had instructed Robert to make contact with Irving.

"It's hard to say!" Robert said with a hint of helplessness.

"What do you mean?"

"Just a couple of days ago, LeBron publicly declared that he's not getting any younger and has decided to retire officially in the next two to three years. As one of LeBron's top lieutenants, Irving is naturally the most favored contender to take over the North District after LeBron's retirement. At this time, Irving will undoubtedly show his loyalty to LeBron fervently.

Getting him to turn on LeBron might not be so easy!"

"Retire?" After listening, Donnie laughed again, "LeBron's only in his thirties, right? If he really wanted to retire, I'd be more inclined to believe that he'd abdicate in favor of people like Irving."