Chapter 365: Fraudulent Immigration
The devastating fire in Chicago raged on for two full days and nights, leaving behind a cityscape of destruction. Two-thirds of downtown Chicago had been reduced to scorched earth, with hotels, commercial buildings, opera houses, banks, and postal buildings engulfed in flames. Tragically, burnt corpses littered the streets, and many more had perished, consumed by the inferno or drowned in Lake Michigan as they sought refuge from the flames.
In an effort to prevent the outbreak of disease, the bank staff at the Hechingen Bank branch in Chicago spent two weeks disinfecting the area surrounding the bank and established refugee settlements for the affected residents.
Despite being located away from the city center, the Chicago branch of Hechingen Bank was the largest bank in the city, with ample greenery in its surroundings, in stark contrast to the desolation left by the fire.
One day, as Odyssey, the bank's president, enjoyed tea in his office, he received a telegram from the New York headquarters. He couldn't help but wonder aloud, "Why didn't I know about the East African immigration agency in Chicago? Have you heard of it?"
His secretary shook his head, replying, "Neither have I, Mr. President."
The telegram revealed that the New York headquarters wanted the Chicago branch to cooperate with an immigration agency, but the notion of facilitating immigration from the United States to other regions seemed improbable.
Odyssey didn't doubt the agency's success. Chicago had been ravaged by the Great Fire, and many citizens had lost their life savings. Refugees had flooded the streets, and without immediate assistance, even basic necessities like food became scarce. Spontaneously organized rescue efforts were in place, but the situation remained dire.
Considering the magnitude of the disaster and the loss of savings for many, Odyssey found it plausible that an East African Immigration Agency had appeared in the United States. Given the sizable German population in the U.S., particularly the German-speaking community, such an agency would have its work cut out for it.
With the cooperation of the Chicago branch, the East African Immigration Agency swiftly commenced operations in the city. Immigration officers began approaching potential immigrants, targeting mainly Germans but discerning based on appearances, clothing, and accents.
The agency extended its services to Chinese survivors of the Chicago fire, too. Chinese immigrants were easily identifiable, thanks to their distinctive queues (braids). The immigration officers conversed with them in rudimentary Far Eastern dialects, offering job opportunities and a fresh start.
Many Chinese immigrants in Chicago were unskilled laborers, and they had little choice but to accept whatever opportunities came their way. Having already embarked on the journey to the United States, they were willing to seize any chance they could find.
The East African Immigration Agency began recruiting people from Chicago over the next few days. Though they primarily sought Germans, they were flexible, often going by appearance and language. The chaos that followed the fire made people more open to taking risks.
With the disorder in the city, the immigrants were redirected to ships, and they were subsequently shipped to New York, from where they were to be transported to the southern part of the United States. However, the destination's exact location remained ambiguous, leaving the final say to the immigration officers. East Africa's location in the southern hemisphere fit this narrative perfectly.
Once aboard the ships, the armed personnel of the East African Kingdom took over. This transformation from enthusiastic recruiters to strict overseers caused anxiety even among genuine German immigrants, who had come to the United States to escape military conscription and war. The ships sailed from New York to East Africa under the guise of heading south.
This covert operation extended throughout the Americas. The East African Immigration Agency's reach included Canada, Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico as well. While the quality of these immigrants might not match those from the German region, they were still valuable in East Africa. Many of them were destined for work on the railways, which were crucial for East Africa's continued development.
Not just in the United States, but globally, the East African Immigration Agency was quietly at work, steering a new wave of settlers towards the burgeoning East African Kingdom.
(End of this chapter)