America 1919

Gilbert came and went in a hurry, securing Donnie's loan and then heading straight out of Atlantic City without even considering Bruce's offer to treat him.

Such haste even made Donnie wonder if the man had taken his loan and simply absconded. Discover more content at empire

However, Donnie now had little mind to concern himself with Gilbert's affairs.

For today, a great event expected by all had occurred!

After the final election, Harding had become the 29th President of the United States and would officially move into the White House come March of next year.

This news delighted Donnie.

No matter how later generations would rank Harding as one of the worst Presidents in American history, right now, his election was an incredibly celebratory event for Donnie.

After all, all of Donnie's previous actions were deeply branded with Harding's mark, and if someone else had won, Donnie would certainly have faced some backlash.

Donnie was pleased, and the man of the moment, Harding, was even more joyful!

To celebrate his victory, Harding decided to revel in Atlantic City for two days.

"Donnie, my friend, today we drink until we drop!"

The future President of the United States was at this moment with his shirt open, his tie hanging around his neck, his meticulous hairstyle now tousled, a picture of reckless abandon.

"Harding, you can enjoy yourself to your heart's content in Atlantic City; not a single paper in Atlantic City, nor those from other cities, will report on it!"

Donnie was also holding a glass, smiling.

"That's exactly why I chose to celebrate here in Atlantic City!" Harding laughed.

"Donnie, we can finally rest for a few days; the pressure before this was just too immense!"

Harry D'Agostino was also happily joining in.

"The future of American justice will depend on you, Harry!" Donnie replied.

After internal discussions within Harding's campaign team, Harry D'Agostino was set to become the United States Attorney General the moment Harding assumed the presidency.

"Of course, I'm ready to contribute my strength to American justice!" Harry, raising his glass and casually touching the bottom of the woman next to him, declared righteously.

Donnie expressed his belief in Harry's words.

"Harry, what about the road between Atlantic City and Philadelphia?"

That was what Donnie was most concerned about. Although there were currently over a dozen trains a day between Atlantic City and Philadelphia, a road would bring even more tourists to Atlantic City.

More importantly, the wealthy preferred to drive to Atlantic City.

Harry smiled and said, "Donnie, rest assured, there will be no more surprises with this; Harding has already agreed to Indiana's other conditions. You can be at ease."

It was Indiana that had been competing with Atlantic City before.

"My friend, the people of Atlantic City will forever remember your kindness!" Donnie thanked him.

"Donnie, you're really the most peculiar man I've met. It would be understandable if Nucky were invested in this; after all, he controls a considerable amount of Atlantic City's land, but are you truly only considering the city's development?"

It was clear that Harry had drunk too much!

Donnie laughed and said, "If Atlantic City is good, then I am good, and if I'm good, isn't that good for all of us?"

Harry thought about it and then nodded seriously, "That's true!"

Donnie didn't talk with Harry for too long and went looking for Albert Furr in the room.

Now, the businesses under Donnie's control were developing smoothly, and with the addition of Morgan's $3 million loan, not only was the Surf Hotel's construction not short of funds, but there was also a surplus cash flow of $2 million.

It wasn't actually that much at first, but with the establishment of the Family Alliance, even though Donnie's bootlegging wasn't nationwide yet, he had operations in several major cities nearby.

This had provided Donnie with a considerable amount of cash flow recently from his bootlegging business.

Cash flow was useless if it just sat in his hands, a mere number. It had to be spent to make money grow, and that was a sound principle!

After some deliberation, Donnie decided to split the money into two parts.

The first part, $1 million, would be invested in tranches into American automobile and steel stocks.

During the Roaring Twenties, the U.S. stock market soared wildly, even reaching an unhealthy state, reflected notably in automobile and steel stocks.

The second part was to prepare for the next phase of his development.

For the next several decades, or even a century, oil would be the most important commodity on the global energy market!

Coincidentally, there were three strategic oil reserves in the United States... those that were the center of the greatest scandal during Harding's term.

But Donnie knew it wouldn't be easy.

Perhaps from the very moment Harding decided to run for President, oil magnates had already been plotting for these three oil fields.

Now, Donnie didn't have enough capital to compete with these people.

So everything had to be an attempt for now.

Unfortunately, Donnie was disappointed when he failed to find Albert Furr anywhere in the room after searching the entire area.