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

Chapter 38 Is this city provoking us?
Excuse me?

Is Chicago a place with a simple and honest people?
Even if those in the media shouldn't be too concerned about their reputation, it's still quite rare to see someone so shameless.

Have you forgotten that the wildly popular, no, wildly popular, erotic novel "Fifty Shades of Grey" was written in Chicago?
By the way, this was even written by your own The Sun newspaper?

In addition, Edward, that pervert, also came from Chicago!

Now they're saying they're drinking some kind of damned "holy water," but the more we smell it, the more it smells like alcohol! This is a blatant violation of the prohibition order!
How dare your newspaper, The Sun, claim that a city with such a "bad record" has "simple and honest folk customs"?
Our colleagues from other places were seeing the true colors of The Sun up close for the first time, and they all exclaimed "Holy crap!"
As for local competitors, that's not surprising at all.

Just as Logan was seen as an inspirational and upright man by almost everyone in the United States, his colleagues in Chicago scoffed at him.

The kind of newspaper you read reflects the kind of boss you get. Just by reading The Sun, you can tell that Logan is a shameless guy, as thick-skinned as an old politician.

Of course, people in Chicago really like to see through things but not say it.

Chicagoans who read The Sun proudly puffed out their chests, thinking, "Aren't we just a simple and honest people?"
So many people have been harmed that even their deceased family members cannot rest in peace. What's wrong with not going to the streets, not causing trouble, not buying things for free, and just drinking some "holy water"?
Actually, to say that so many people can't taste the so-called "holy water" because it's alcohol is pure nonsense.

However, their attitude towards Prohibition has already undergone a complete 180-degree turn.

They had once supported prohibition, encouraged by conservatives like Edward; however, a fire at the distillery caused widespread panic, and gang warfare plunged the city into chaos.

Back then, I felt that alcohol was really a bad thing, and it was a good thing I abstained from it!
But the shock of the winery fire was quickly forgotten, the gang shootout didn't last long, and Chicago seemed to return to calm.

The tension dissipated, and Chicagoans began to relax, growing tired of their Puritanical lifestyle. Many started reminiscing about the days when they sat in corner pubs, sipping drinks.

When Edward's misdeeds were exposed, Chicagoans also developed a resistance to the prohibition he had so vigorously promoted. Not to mention, when emotions are running high, alcohol really is a good thing!

There's a saying that goes something like this: the only reason something becomes a deadly temptation is to ban it!

Chicagoans are now finding themselves craving alcohol more intensely than ever before, even those who didn't drink before.

As a result, the so-called "purifying holy water" became very popular.

Of course, his unusual appearance also fooled many people.

Some reporters from other places, unaware of the situation, also joined in the "purification" effort, only to spit it out after taking a sip.

Damn it, this is clearly alcohol!

If you're going to drink, then drink. What nonsense about purification?
However, Chicagoans would argue that alcohol disinfects, and how is disinfection not purification?

Their confidence left the reporter speechless.

They were curious: the church was too busy distancing itself to care, the media was too busy chasing trends to care, and the public had no complaints. So where were Chicago's Prohibition agents?
……

“Great question!” Donald exclaimed in Logan’s office, his tone exaggerated. “The Prohibition agents in Chicago are incredibly dedicated!”

"They're cracking down on Chicago's bootlegging operations to make sure no alcohol is produced locally in Chicago, so we can't afford to be distracted!"

Logan clapped his hands upon hearing this, saying, "I admire people who are this dedicated. I really need to get The Sun to give them a good shout-out sometime."

Donald became interested. "How can you blow this?"

Without pausing, Logan immediately launched into a praise speech: "Chicago's Prohibition agents are people of good character and professional skills. They follow the call of their conscience, abide by the law, and use their expertise to effectively monitor the complex chemical processes of industrial liquor manufacturing plants, or to uncover the equipment of cunning private brewers and smugglers. They are people that the government and the public can trust greatly..."

"Shit! I know perfectly well that you're a liar who doesn't even blink, so why do you still go looking for trouble?"

Donald wore a pained expression as if he had "eaten shit".

Others might not know, but how could this guy not know?
Chicago's Prohibition agents have no conscience whatsoever!

They're all living a life of luxury, raking in the money from the gangsters.

But can we blame them?

The federal government hires them to enforce alcohol laws, paying them only $35 to $50 a week; while the mob lets them do nothing and they can earn $5000 a week. If they can continue helping the mob crack down on bootlegging and eliminate competitors, they can earn at least $10,000 a week.

None of my family members understand this; it's not a tenfold or twentyfold income gap, it's a hundredfold or two hundredfold gap.

conscience?

What is that? Even a dog wouldn't eat it!

In short, Chicago's Prohibition agents either became dogs of the Mafia or dogs of the Irish Gang; only Logan can still boast about it!

"Getting back to the main point, I'm thinking of placing an ad for my bar in The Sun. What do you think?"

Donald, not wanting to be disgusted by Logan, quickly got back to the main topic.

This certainly doesn't mean running a blatant "Underground bar welcomes you" ad in the newspaper.

He wanted to transform the underground bar into a club, adding more live performances and making it a daily entertainment and social venue for Chicagoans.

Of course, alcoholic beverages are indispensable here.

Logan stroked his chin. "Isn't this taking too big a step?"

"No, no, no, this is... what Richard said again, yes, it's the will of the people!"

After Edward's bizarre reverse assist and the market testing of "purifying holy water," Donald felt that Chicagoans would no longer have any objection to gatherings for drinking.

Besides, with Prohibition agents reduced to dogs, isn't it perfectly normal for them to run an advertisement?
Logan thought this must be the butterfly effect.

If he hadn't gone mad and caused the two "chosen ones" to take power so early, Chicago would still be in a gang war right now.

If it weren't for his ability to freely transport alcohol, Chicago would still be rife with counterfeit alcohol, and people wouldn't be as fond of alcohol as they are now.

If he hadn't exposed the pastor's perverted behavior and broken down the church's defenses, Chicagoans wouldn't be in this "what's the point" mentality now.

At least, it should have been later in the alcohol ban that the general public became accustomed to the prevalence of underground bars.

So, what if there's a bigger butterfly effect? ​​Would things get even more interesting?

With that thought in mind, Logan readily agreed, "Let's give it a try. I can give you a 10% discount on the advertising fee."

Donald: "..."

In short, the Irish club became the first underground bar to openly advertise in the newspapers during the Prohibition era.

The Chicago Mafia quickly followed suit.

For a time, Chicago was filled with semi-public bars that shouted "Come on, have fun!" which greatly soothed the trauma of Chicagoans.

Reporters around the world who were still covering the Edward Corpse Scandal were shocked!
The prohibition order seems to still be in effect...

No wonder this place produces a freak like Edward; this city just doesn't seem normal.

They didn't tolerate Chicagoans being lenient either; in between reporting on the corpse scandal, they also reported on Chicagoans' disregard for Prohibition.

At the Prohibition headquarters in Washington, D.C., Prohibition Commissioner John Cramer remained silent after reading the related reports.

So, is this city provoking them?

……

(End of this chapter)