America 1919

Donnie naturally wouldn't agree to their proposal. In the end, he just smiled and said, "Wait and see, I believe it won't take long for them to understand what I mean."

Eventually, both parties concluded their dialogue in a way that was less than pleasant.

"The business at the tavern is also facing problems. Apart from some regular customers, there are hardly any new ones!"

After Donnie hung up the phone, Robert also helplessly said, "The impact of this issue is getting bigger and bigger now!"

There was no trace of worry on Donnie's face as he laughed and said, "The greater the impact, the more momentum we'll have. Right now, all you need to worry about is how you're going to handle the tavern business being too good in a few days time!"

Robert anxiously asked, "Can your plan really succeed?"

By this time, Robert was already aware of Donnie's plan.

Donnie patted Robert's shoulder and said, "Relax, the chances of success are very high!"

Just as the two were discussing the details of the next steps of their plan, an unwelcome visitor arrived at Donnie's Block Tavern.

Diesel Mallard!

"Donnie, there's a case that requires you to come back with us for an investigation!"

Diesel Mallard had a victorious smile on his face. He had been in Atlantic City for a quite some time now. As Walker had said, Diesel Mallard had always been keeping an eye on Donnie, but Donnie never gave him any real grounds for arrest.

Just when Diesel Mallard and his people were becoming somewhat disheartened, an incident erupted at Block Tavern, giving Diesel Mallard a glimmer of hope.

Though Atlantic City wasn't dry, everywhere outside of Atlantic City was prohibition territory, and this raised a problem.

How was Atlantic City getting its alcohol?

To put it simply, inside the city of Atlantic City, it was legal to sell, transport, and brew alcohol, but outside of it, that was not the case. Before this, Diesel Mallard's investigation mainly focused on illegal alcohol businesses like Donnie's and Nucky's outside of Atlantic City, but to no avail.

Now, however, with the incident of fake liquor causing death, Diesel Mallard saw a different angle. Atlantic City could sell alcohol, but they couldn't be selling fake liquor, especially not liquor that killed people!

"Mallard, are you referring to that incident that happened at Block Tavern a while ago?"

Donnie sat on the sofa, cigarette in hand, the smoke surrounding him, creating a blurred effect.

Diesel Mallard really didn't like Donnie's attitude and said coldly, "Since you already know, there's nothing more to discuss. Come with us!"

Donnie chuckled but didn't respond to his question or show any intention of getting up.

At this moment, Robert said, "Mr. Mallard, I think you might be mistaken about something. The legal owner of the Block Tavern on the boardwalk is me. It has nothing to do with Mr. Block. Even if you need someone to take away, it shouldn't be Mr.

Block!"

Diesel Mallard's expression froze for a moment. He had not actually investigated this, a common-sense mistake.

When the various taverns under Donnie were all named Block Tavern, everyone assumed that the owner of these taverns would be Donnie Block, but in reality, of the current Block Taverns, only this one was under Donnie's name, and even the two taverns on the boardwalk had been changed to Robert's name.

"Humph!" Not wanting to lose face, Diesel Mallard snorted, "Since you, Robert, have taken it upon yourself to admit it, then come with us!"

Imitating Donnie, Robert sat down on the sofa, lit a cigarette for himself, and said, "What if I say no?"

"Then you would be challenging the federal law!" Diesel Mallard said coldly, as his men drew handcuffs and guns as he finished speaking.

```

"I recall federal law stipulates that this case should be under the jurisdiction of our Atlantic City authorities!"

Eli Johnson, wearing a brown uniform, walked in with a few of his men.

Seeing Eli Johnson enter made Diesel Mallard feel a sense of foreboding, and a strong sense of helplessness rose within him; this was the reason everything in Atlantic City was going against them.

They had wanted to investigate Donnie; Nucky had many records that needed to be provided by Atlantic City. Yet the local authorities had no direct subordinate relationship with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, completely disregarding their presence.

Not only disregarding them but also putting obstacles at every turn, their wish to succeed was indeed very difficult!

"Is that so? If this matter is under your jurisdiction, why have you not taken any action for such a long time after the incident occurred?"

"That's because we are not like those of you who come from Washington, acting without evidence, only following your own preferences. We have already investigated the matter thoroughly during this period."

Eli's face bore a smile, happy to be able to stand strong against a Federal Agent like this.

"First, the Block Tavern incident has nothing to do with Mr. Block; second, the liquor at Block Tavern wasn't supplied by Mr. Robert but by LeBron James from the North District of Atlantic City. Just when we were about to arrest LeBron James, he was killed by a husband for having an affair with the man's wife.

Last, we successfully cracked down on LeBron James' illegal distillery."

"That's all we've been doing during this time. Now, Mr. Mallard, have you thoroughly investigated these events?"

Faced with Eli Johnson's continuous questioning, Diesel Mallard fell silent; he really didn't have a grasp of the situation as well as Eli Johnson did.

In such a circumstance, Diesel Mallard naturally could only leave without any solution.

After Diesel Mallard and his men left, Eli Johnson sat next to Donnie with a smug smile on his face: "Donnie, how about it, wasn't that handled smoothly!"

Donnie gave Eli a thumbs up!

Although Diesel Mallard's issue had been resolved, the matter of the death at Block Tavern was not yet over.

Today, in Philadelphia and New York, the major newspapers once again ran the story, clearly, some force wanted to blow the incident out of proportion!

"These damn reporters!"

Robert couldn't help but complain: "We've been treating them well, providing each one with a beautiful girl, yet they still smear us all over the newspapers!"

Slamming today's "Philadelphia Public Records Newspaper" on the table, Robert spoke angrily.

Your journey continues at empire

Donnie said with a laugh: "Don't take it to heart; these are things we had already anticipated, there's nothing to be angry about."

Robert asked Donnie: "When do you plan to carry out our plan? I can hardly wait!"

Donnie shook his head with a smile: "Don't be in a hurry; some things need to let the bullets fly for a while. Just now you were complaining about the reporters of these city papers not giving us face. Why not take this opportunity to give them some hardcore material, to let them understand who they can provoke and who they can't!"

John immediately perked up and asked: "Didn't you say before that we couldn't lay a hand on them?"

Donnie replied with a smile: "Of course, we can't physically assault them, but it's no problem to cause them some trouble!"

Then Donnie shared his ideas with Robert, and after hearing them, Robert also immediately showed a smile: "Even if these reporters have bosses behind them, this time they'll have to listen to our arrangements obediently!"

```