I was acting crazy in North America, and all the crazy people there took it seriously.

Chapter 17 Chicago Chaos (3) Black-on-Black?

"The Sun is a really good newspaper," Al Capone commented with great interest.

“But just a few days ago you were calling The Sun the garbage of Irish idiots.” Ralph Capone was baffled.

Al Capone choked, glaring at his older brother, "This is called looking at things from a developmental perspective. The Sun has done us a huge favor, you know?"

At first, Al Capone paid no attention to the newspapers at all.

Nonsense, he's busy killing people and setting fires, he doesn't have time to read the newspaper and spout nonsense.

After several surprise attacks, he chopped off several of the left and right arms of Mafia boss Johnny Torrio, leaving only one.

At the same time, they successfully sent people to infiltrate several of Johnny's wineries, even going so far as to use explosives to burn them to the ground.

By this point, even a fool would realize what was happening.

Johnny Torrio has realized that Al Capone betrayed him.

This is the most dangerous moment for Al Capone.

Even after being weakened through various means, Johnny Torrio still possesses formidable power. If he launches a desperate counterattack, Al Capone will inevitably suffer some bloodshed.

Al Capone was also prepared to draw blood.

Unexpectedly, things took a strange turn after The Sun newspaper stirred up public sentiment like a barking dog.

Protests and marches are one thing, Al Capone never takes them seriously, but it's a different story when politicians get involved.

Yes, Johnny Torrio bribed some corrupt officials in the state government, and even the Chicago police force from top to bottom was part of the same network of corruption.

But it's no use!
The fear that Al Capone's stabbing and arson sparked throughout the city, coupled with the frenzied hype by media outlets such as The Sun, attracted pressure from other politicians to put pressure on the police department and even the state government.

Johnny was under close scrutiny under pressure.

Who told him to be the head of the mafia? Who told him to own the majority of the shares in the distillery?
Al Capone suddenly found things were getting interesting.

He committed murder and arson, but Johnny was the one who took the blame.

Even Johnny's "protectors" were afraid that any move he made would cause greater panic, so they kept a close watch on him and put the most pressure on him.

So Johnny knew Al Capone was behind it all, but he didn't dare to do anything.

The most ingenious thing is that Al Capone did not violate the Mafia's principle of not cooperating with the legitimate world and betraying his own people.

It's all politicians and police attracted by the media's clamor; what does it have to do with him?

Now Johnny can only fight back against Al Capone through the Sicilian League.

The Sicilian Union was a puppet regime of the American Mafia, or more precisely, the New York Mafia, used to quell conflicts between Italian gangs in the United States. It had no real power of its own.

League chairman Michael Morrow has contacted Al Capone, urging him to reconcile with Johnny.

What a joke! Nobody would believe Johnnick would make peace with him.

Al Capone, in turn, advised Michael Morrow that Johnny was now practically public enemy number one in Chicago, and that stepping down would be the best option for the Chicago Mafia.

Michael Morrow's attitude has softened after Al Capone swore to God he wouldn't harm Johnny.

Given Michael's prestige, it's quite possible that Johnny would back down.

What was supposed to be a protracted tug-of-war turned into a one-sided affair after the newspapers' incessant chatter. Do you think Al Capone should praise The Sun?

"Unfortunately, this is an Irish idiot's newspaper; newspapers are still useful."

Al Capone realized that, at certain times, having a newspaper at your disposal to guide public opinion can be very useful.

“We Italians still need to have our own newspaper,” Alcapon said to Ralf Capon.

Ralph's face fell. "None of us know how to run a newspaper!"

Don't do what you did before, where Al Capone acted on a whim and became a laughingstock in the underworld.

Al Capone had also thought of this, and his face darkened slightly. "Hmm, no rush, we can't rush this time."

He finally understood that civilized people's affairs are not like fighting and killing. Fighting and killing require speed and urgency, while civilized people's affairs require knowing how to pretend—he was referring to the ability of The Sun to package its shamelessness as a moral benchmark.

As for now? Now we just need to savor the wonderful feeling of impending victory.

……

Al Capone was very confident about the future and placed a million-dollar order with His Holiness.

Han Solo also placed a large order with Canadian wine merchant Raymond.

After receiving the order, Raymond became extremely curious about "Han Solo".

"I heard Chicago is cracking down on bootlegging now. Doesn't that affect you at all?"

After delivering the million-dollar whiskey, Raymond casually asked "Han Solo".

Yes, he already knew that Han Solo's liquor was being smuggled to Chicago.

Those who work in this line of work need to have some understanding of the market.

Han Solo had an inscrutable expression, as if he disdained to answer his question.

Raymond wasn't embarrassed. He shrugged and continued, "As far as I know, quite a few people in Chicago have recently started smuggling whiskey from Canada, though of course, not from me."

"However, you know, I still have some connections here in Canada, and I paid special attention to their transaction times and smuggling routes."

Raymond smiled innocently and said, "Consider it a small gift from me. You can take a look if you need it."

Han Solo's pupils contracted slightly as he stared at Raymond for a while before revealing a faint smile. "I like interesting people like you."

"I accept the gift!"

Raymond politely handed several sheets of paper to Han Solo, saying, "I hope this will be helpful to you."

Raymond only breathed a sigh of relief after he was out of Han Solo's sharp gaze.

He could never figure out this big client.

Raymond received increasingly larger orders from Han Solo, and he even bought a distillery in Canada specifically to supply Han Solo.

Although he respects customer privacy, in theory, with such a large supply volume, he should be able to glean some information.

For example, the time it takes to clear out the warehouse, or the tire tracks left near the warehouse, can help us infer the customer's capabilities and the scale of manpower they are using.

But neither.

The wine in the warehouse seemed to have vanished into thin air.

Haha, how is that possible!
The only explanation is that "Han Solo" is backed by a large and more capable group than he imagined.

This gave Raymond a boost of spirits.

The business is growing bigger and bigger, and the customers are very generous with their money. They don't require much effort from him. Such high-quality customers are rare.

He didn't dare to dream of monopolizing the Chicago bootlegging market, but if he could get the biggest slice of the pie, he could make money effortlessly.

In particular, the recent fire at a private brewery in Chicago, which triggered a citywide crackdown on local breweries, gave him even greater hope.

In this way, the Chicago smuggling gangs that did not buy from him also became his competitors to some extent.

Don't be fooled by his talk of "small gifts"; he went to great lengths to find out the secrets of these "competitors." He did things like planting people in his Canadian counterparts and bribing border officials.

"Now we'll see just how capable this mysterious big client really is."

"Even cutting off the smuggling channels of one or two competitors can free up a share of the market."

"A large-scale liquor smuggling ring that dares to defy the wind should understand what I mean."

Raymond thought to himself.

……

Han Solo understood what he meant. The only problem was that he didn't have a large gang; he was all alone.

After looking through the "little gifts" Raymond left behind, he curled his lip and said, "These days, none of those who make it big are innocent."

Although bootlegging is not like some lightweight "free trade goods"—which can be transported by one or two people and whose channels are difficult to trace—it is difficult for bootlegging, a bulk commodity, to leave no trace, from transportation to storage.

In some cases, smuggling gangs with insufficient resources will even proactively request suppliers to cooperate with transportation.

But these aren't Raymond's clients!
This guy is even more interesting than Han Solo thought, since he can get his hands on customer information from his competitors!
He had no idea how big Han Solo's appetite was.

Han Solo never intended to take just a slice of the pie; he wanted to monopolize the Chicago market.

Originally, Han Solo only planned to use his space backpack to support Donald and Al Capone and dominate the Chicago bootlegging market.

Now, the "little gifts" Raymond gave him, which totaled nearly a million dollars worth of whiskey, made Han Solo feel that it was time for a high-end business battle.

—These whiskies, once successfully smuggled to Chicago, won't be sold in their original form. They'll be blended, diluted with water, and bottled, generating tens of millions in revenue!
"That won't do; wouldn't that be Gresham's Law, where bad money drives out good?"

"I can't let these unscrupulous businessmen harm American alcoholics! The interests of the American people still depend on my hard work to protect them."

Han Solo proudly puffed out his chest.

……

Chicago's Chinatown at night.

Although the residents of Chinatown are all of Chinese descent, it does not mean that it is completely isolated from the outside world. On the contrary, because of its mysterious atmosphere, some shops here will attract some strange customers.

Sure enough, a strange foreigner came to a certain herbal medicine shop.

Han Suoluo glanced at the medicine cabinet under the dim light, then asked in somewhat broken Cantonese, "Do you have raw aconite, blister beetle, mercuric oxide, toad venom..."

Logan had a lot of business to do in Hong Kong in his previous life, so he learned some Cantonese, which made communication with the people in Hong Kong very smooth.

The shop owner was initially impressed by the foreigner's ability to speak Cantonese, but his gaze paused slightly after he understood the medicinal herbs the foreigner requested.

Damn it, these are all highly poisonous medicinal herbs. What are you, a foreigner, trying to do?
Han Solo offered no explanation, but simply tossed him a leather bag filled with US dollars.

"Yes! We have all kinds of medicinal herbs!" The shop owner enthusiastically opened the medicine cabinet and began to introduce the herbs in detail.

Who cares what he wants to do? As long as he pays, he's the boss!
This is the largest and most reputable herbal medicine shop in Chinatown. All the Chinese medicinal herbs are imported from China, so they are authentic.

"Han Suoluo" didn't say anything, but simply took out a pair of gloves from his pocket, put them on, and casually picked up a piece of Sichuan aconite that the shopkeeper was showing him to examine.

"The quality is good, I'll take them all."

Han Solo readily stated the quantity he wanted to purchase.

Even the shop owner, who was still giving his presentation, was somewhat bewildered.

No, if it's for medicinal use, only a small amount is needed. Do you want so much? Are you going to eat it as food?

Judging from your appearance, you don't seem to be unaware of the poison!

The shop owner shivered inexplicably.

Forget it, forget it. There are so many weirdos in America, he can't possibly manage them all anyway. He should just focus on doing business.

"Han Solo" returned with a full load.

The shop owner guessed correctly. Although "Han Suoluo" didn't use these herbs as food, he certainly didn't use them to treat illnesses either.

After gradually digesting the strange and wonderful knowledge that came with the bootlegging alias, Logan discovered that the most valuable thing about this alias was not the space backpack, but the knowledge base itself.

Alcohol can be used as both a beverage and a solvent.

The knowledge base contains many recipes for soaking medicinal herbs in alcohol, which have extraordinary and special effects.

Logan is going to process something called "Bewitching Wine" this time.

……

It was another pitch-black night.

Southeast of Chicago, the roar of a convoy of engines ripped through the silence of the night.

Just as "Han Solo" was about to emerge from the shadows, the roar of another engine suddenly burst from the side, accompanied by a screeching sound of brakes, abruptly stopping the smuggling convoy!

The car door slammed open, and a group of men with indistinct faces jumped out, the barrels of their shotguns reflecting a cold light under the car headlights.

"You scum of the Wild Dog Gang, you're surrounded! If you know what's good for you, leave your goods and get out of here!"

Without saying a word, the convoy that was stopped stuck stuck gun barrels out of the car windows and fired shots!
In an instant, gunfire erupted!

Bullets whistled and flew around the convoy, sparks flying everywhere.

Shet!

Han Solo stared dumbfounded at the convoy in front of him, which was in a chaotic mess of fighting.

What is this? A double-cross?
Damn it, why is this world full of guys who like to take crooked and evil paths!
It’s really a deteriorating world and people’s hearts are not as old as they used to be!
And that smuggling convoy, it's like a leaky sieve, everyone can know your route.

Do you have any basic business skills?
Han Solo cursed the two groups of people in his heart.

Then, ping-pong-pong...

Ping Pong Pong...

The two groups of people were actually locked in a stalemate!

Han Solo covered his forehead, completely speechless.

Damn it, you thieving car team, you clearly had more men and you even surrounded the enemy, yet you were beaten to a standstill?

It’s really fun and fun!
Chicago gangs are doomed this year!
Han Solo's patience was finally exhausted by this long and clumsy double-cross. With a flick of his wrist, a small bottle of medicinal wine appeared out of thin air, and he took a few sips.

He put the small bottle of medicinal wine back into his spatial backpack, then focused his mind and held his breath, sensing the subtle direction and strength of the night breeze flowing through his fingertips.

Very good, the night breeze is gentle, and the night is beautiful.

With a wave of his hand, a large earthenware jar appeared before him.

He carefully removed the stopper from the earthenware pot, tilted the opening slightly, and aimed it towards the wind.

The colorless and odorless liquid in the earthenware jar evaporated into a wisp of smoke, which drifted away silently, carried by the breeze, and gently flowed forward.

……

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(End of this chapter)