George Kurle must die!
But George Kurle absolutely couldn't die at the hands of Donnie.
After hearing Donnie's words, Bill Cody and Ralph Rivers were scared stiff; they had not anticipated that Donnie would be so ruthless, wanting to buy back the Korla Bar he was given by George Kurle at a low price, and now plotting to kill the man!
What shocked them even more was that they were expected to carry out the deed!
"I, I..." Bill Cody dared not agree to Donnie's request. He understood George Kurle's status in Atlantic City all too well. If he killed the man, his own family wouldn't be able to remain in Atlantic City, or even the United States for that matter!
"Donnie, listen to me, Donnie," Ralph Rivers shouted, but only those present could hear him over the sound of the waves crashing against the cliffs.
The smile remained on Donnie's face, but now he lifted the handgun and aimed it at Ralph Rivers, saying, "You're wrong, the ones who will kill George Kurle are the two of you, not me!"
After speaking, Donnie's gaze shifted back and forth between their faces, his voice turning cold, as cold as the current temperature.
"My patience is limited. There are only two choices before you: either George Kurle dies, or the two of you and those four in the car will die," Donnie said. "One life for six, you can do the math, can't you?"
Bill Cody and Ralph Rivers both heard the finality in Donnie's voice.
"I, I have something to say!"
Just as Donnie was about to pull the trigger, Ralph Rivers suddenly shouted aloud.
With a smile, Donnie looked at Ralph Rivers. "You agree?" he asked.
Ralph Rivers didn't directly answer Donnie, but immediately said, "Actually, Nucky has always wanted to deal with George Kurle. I am Nucky's man planted by George's side, I know Nucky thinks highly of you, and you could seek Nucky's help. I believe Nucky would definitely assist!"
Donnie's eyes brightened, surprised to find that Rivers was Nucky's man. It made sense, considering that even though Nucky had agreed to George Kurle becoming the Deputy Public Safety Officer of Atlantic City, it didn't mean Nucky was coexisting peacefully with the general. The approval of George Kurle's position was merely a move to balance the mood of the old timers in Atlantic City.
Seeing Donnie silent, Rivers thought Donnie was moved and continued to persuade, "The general's status is a thing of the past. Now Atlantic City belongs to Nucky. As long as Nucky is willing to speak, all problems will cease to exist!"
Bill Cody, although surprised to learn that Rivers belonged to Nucky, also looked at Donnie with hope, hoping Donnie would heed their advice.
However, Donnie's response crushed the glimmer of hope that had just risen in them.
"I solve my own problems. I won't go to Nucky, so it's still the same two choices. What's your decision?" Donnie asked.
Rivers was shaking all over, trying to continue persuading: "Nucky will really help you, just believe..."
Bang!
Amid the sound of the waves, a gunshot pierced the night, and Ralph Rivers, who was just trying to persuade Donnie, was shot in the forehead and fell in a pool of blood. Under the moonlight, one could see his eyes wide open in disbelief that Donnie had actually fired.
Bill Cody, on the other hand, collapsed to the ground.
Actually, Donnie had already realized that only Bill Cody could do this job, because he had something at stake, whereas Ralph Rivers had nothing to lose, making him harder to control.
Especially now that Ralph Rivers revealed his true background.
Donnie didn't go to Nucky because he didn't want Nucky to have leverage over him. If Rivers told Nucky about this, wouldn't everything that happened tonight be in vain?
"My patience is limited. If you refuse again, the next shot will be for someone in the car!" Donnie's voice sounded like a demon emerging from hell, chilling Bill Cody to the bone.
.
The next morning!
Donnie, wearing a somewhat worn jacket, appeared on the second floor of the Ritz Hotel in Atlantic City, exchanged for 50 US Dollar chips, and began to casually try his luck at one of the gambling tables.
Clearly, Donnie was on a lucky streak today. An hour later, his 50 US Dollar chips had turned into 60.
However, Donnie was indifferent, continuing to place casual bets at each gambling table.
Meanwhile, the news of Donnie's appearance at the Ritz Hotel casino reached Louis, who informed Nucky, who was entertaining guests in his study.
"Donnie's here?"
Hearing that Donnie was at the Ritz Hotel, Nucky was delighted, his polished head gleaming even brighter with his mood. With a smile, he said, "Let him come in."
Louis, looking oddly, said, "Donnie hasn't come to see you. He's in the casino."
Nucky showed a hint of confusion and reconfirmed, "Donnie isn't here to see me?"
Louis shook his head, "That's right. Do you want me to bring him up?"
Nucky waved his hand, "No need. We can't initiate this."
Louis asked, "So what do we do now? Should we have Joe get ready on his end?"
Nucky pondered for a while. He had to admit that he was somewhat unable to see through Donnie's actions at the moment. "As we agreed earlier, if Donnie returns Korla Bar to George this afternoon, then let Joe go find him. If not, there's no need!"
Although Nucky didn't know the saying 'unchanged in response to myriad changes', that was indeed how he was acting at the moment.
After all, all the mysteries would be answered by this afternoon, so there was no rush at the moment!
Louis said softly, "I think Donnie doesn't have a way to deal with George Kurle's situation!"
Nucky laughed heartily, "You rarely express your own opinions!"
Louis chuckled awkwardly, "It's just because I saw you, boss, take a keen interest in this Donnie, so I thought a bit more about it!"
Nucky waved his hand and said, "Alright, don't put too much thought into him. No matter what, he won't be able to turn the tide!"
After speaking, Nucky told Louis to go invite the next person seeking help to come to him.
.
George Kurle woke up very early today, earlier than usual, because he was going to meet someone, someone who, from a biological perspective, was his father!
'Commodore' Louis Korle.
The Commodore was born on Christmas Day in 1857. His parents were German immigrants from New York. His father was a chef in New York and later, attracted by the tourism industry in Atlantic City, moved the family there.
His experience as a chef in New York allowed the Commodore's father to accumulate some wealth, so after moving to Atlantic City, he bought a lodge and renamed it Korla Lodge!
This was the first property of the Korla Family in Atlantic City!
At eighteen, Louis received Korla Bar from his father's hands and expanded it. After building some prestige, Louis joined the Atlantic City Yacht Club, actively participated in its activities, and it was during that time he received the unofficial title 'Commodore', which stayed with him for life.
And the Korla Lodge he managed was then called 'The Corner' by the people of Atlantic City, where the Commodore became the underground emperor of Atlantic City.
However, the Commodore now no longer lived at 'The Corner', but in his own seaside villa!
It was a Georgian-style seaside villa. Led by the servants of the villa, George Kurle entered the Commodore's study.
But when he opened the door, his brow furrowed slightly, because a young, handsome, flamboyantly dressed man was giving the Commodore a massage.
The once women-loving Commodore had come to fancy men after going to prison!
"Dad, I will take back Korla Bar today, and it'll become our base of operations for bootlegging!"
George Kurle stood in the middle of the study, speaking in a calm tone.
The Commodore opened his bleary eyes, and a spark of shrewdness and discontent flashed in his deep pupils, ending with a kindly smile.
"Nucky has already convinced City Hall to ensure that Atlantic City continues to have its days with liquor. Soon not just people from Philadelphia but from several other cities too will come to Atlantic City, and a small bar won't satisfy their appetites!"
George Kurle said, "Then should I take this chance to acquire a few more bars?"
The Commodore masked his disappointment well, and said, "A single bar isn't important. What's important is that you use your experience from fighting in France to find some suitable friends to bring over more fine wines for us.
I believe that by next year, whiskey and rum will become the important chips in controlling Atlantic City!"
George Kurle could only nod, "I understand."
Then the Commodore gestured to the young man massaging him to open the drawer in front of him, and the young man took out a stack of cash, looking about ten thousand US Dollars!
"This is your operational fund. I hope that in two months, you can get around Nucky and establish a good rapport with the Coast Guard!"
A sincere smile appeared on George Kurle's face. After taking the US Dollars, he said with a laugh, "Thank you, father. I won't disappoint you!"
"Go," the Commodore closed his eyes again and waved him off.
Leaving with the money, George Kurle drove away from the Commodore's villa, heading straight back to law enforcement.
"Bill, Ralph!"
In the law enforcement's lobby, George Kurle called out loudly.
Bill Cody, who looked somewhat frail, came over pale-faced. "Ralph hasn't arrived yet!"
"He must be at some lodging house again. Never mind him, let's go have some fun!"
Saying this, George Kurle dragged Bill Cody out of law enforcement, climbed into his car that hadn't been turned off, and took out the still-unwarmed ten thousand US Dollars from his jacket pocket, totally unaware of Bill Cody's expression, boasting.
"We're going to enjoy ourselves!"