Chapter 44: The First Deal
Chapter 44: The First Deal
Alberto watched Lance seated confidently across from him. His initial irritation began to ease as he observed the young man’s composure.
Grabbing a cigarette, Alberto tossed one to Lance. "I’ve been troubled by something these past few days. You may not know yet, but our state is about to join the Prohibition Alliance."
Lance whistled softly. "Prohibition, huh?"
Alberto nodded grimly. "That’s right. Prohibition."
"I own bars and nightclubs—places that thrive on alcohol sales. If Jingang City enforces prohibition, those businesses are done for!"
He took a deep drag, exhaling slowly. "Since my father’s time, we’ve built our livelihood on loans, liquor, and... let’s say ‘personal services.’ But now, they’re slowly squeezing the life out of us, Lance."
"Two years ago, they passed the Usury Act. Now, they’re about to ban the most profitable alcoholic beverages. Next, they’ll probably outlaw personal services entirely."
"I heard someone’s proposing a full ban on all adult services. It’s murder, I tell you!"