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

Chapter 7 My Mafia Also Wants to Run a Newspaper

The small offices of The Sun newspaper were almost bursting at the seams with the influx of newspaper distributors.

This group was among the first to keenly sense the business opportunities brought about by the "Chicago Shock".

Chicago is one of the largest transportation hubs in the United States, and local newspapers can easily be distributed far and wide via the extensive rail network. Newspapers from major cities are also very popular in less developed out-of-state areas and remote rural towns.

In those days, there was no internet. People like Anne Olson learned about everything in Chicago through newspapers from other cities.

Newspapers that lack the capacity to establish distribution channels throughout the state or even the country are also happy to have these distributors help them expand their influence.

The publishers didn't care about the truth or moral bottom lines. All they saw were the countless outstretched arms and waving coins at the crowded newsstands in Chicago, all for a copy of the vibrant and compelling The Sun.

In the words of a southern merchant wearing a wide-brimmed hat and boots still stained with red clay, "After reading this newspaper, those old bachelors in town will probably stop going to the tavern and just squat at my door waiting for the new paper!"

This statement was unanimously agreed upon.

A businessman from Indianapolis chuckled and said, "Our small hotel owners have always wanted a newspaper like this to put under the pillows in every room as a special service; well, or as a condiment to a special service."

Even a captain of a cargo ship that sailed the Great Lakes came personally to request a bulk order of The Sun—so that his sailors could have some "mental entertainment" during the long and tedious voyages.

This large out-of-state army, speaking a variety of accents, crowded around Richard's desk, creating a cacophony of anxious buzzing:
"I want five thousand copies! I'll take them right away!"

"Damn it, leave me two thousand copies! I'll take them on the next train!"

"Hey buddy, prioritize my order! I brought cash!"

Richard's face was practically beaming with joy.

Having just finished processing additional orders from local newsboys and retailers, we've received another wave of orders from out of state.

Fortunately, we listened to Logan's advice and printed a sufficient quantity initially, otherwise we would be laughing and crying now.

"Gentlemen," Richard finally spoke, his voice hoarse but reassuring, "please calm down. We have enough for the first print run, enough to satisfy every one of you."

However, after this wave of orders, we will definitely need to print more.

Because the telegraph machine on Logan's side went completely mad.

The ticking sound was as dense as a sudden rainstorm, and the paper strips poured out like a waterfall, almost burying Logan, who looked utterly hopeless, alive.

These were distributors who couldn't come to the newspaper office in person, but they kept sending order telegrams using the contact information in the newspaper, the clicking incessantly starting from noon.

Logan was so pale from counting the telegrams that he turned ashen-faced.

By evening, all the out-of-state merchants had left, and with the clanging rhythm of the train wheels, every train car leaving Chicago was crammed with bundles of brand-new copies of The Sun.

Richard's voice was so hoarse he could barely speak, yet he remained full of energy.

This is a glory the newspaper has never experienced before!

And this is only the first issue of the new The Sun!
"So we still need to let young people drive change, huh? Hey, where's Logan?"

Richard, who had been excited all day, then realized that Logan had disappeared without him noticing.

……

"When hiring, we must expedite the process."

Logan felt as if he had escaped a life-threatening situation.

Damn it, this is not the life of a newspaper owner he had always dreamed of!

How should an ideal newspaper owner live?

On ordinary days, he would take photos of girls alone; when he was in a bad mood, he would rant and rave in the newspapers; and when he felt good venting, he would order his employees to clean up his messes...

Being a boss these days is more tiring than being a dog, what's the point!
Logan regretted not anticipating the manpower shortage that would result from the newspaper fire.

It wasn't too surprising that the newspaper became so popular.

I've already said we should trust the wisdom of future generations—

There's a Hollywood movie called "The Blair Witch Project" that packaged the film as a true story for publicity, using viral marketing to make a killing off fans.

Of course, there are no conditions for viral marketing in this day and age, but all he needs to do is get the first issue of the newspaper in order to get things going. Besides, people these days are still relatively simple-minded (and easy to fool).

Simply presenting the novel's opening as a "missing person notice" is enough to create a buzz.

"So Hollywood is truly a treasure trove of material!"

Thinking of Hollywood's bounty, Logan couldn't help but recall another person who had been poisoned by Hollywood plots, and felt it was time for a second stint—or rather, a second meeting.

Yes, I'm talking about Al Capone.

……

That's right, "Han Solo" has stood Al Capone up for ten days.

It's not that I'm deliberately favoring one over the other, okay, there's a bit of that, but the key point is that "Han Solo" can easily find out about Donald's movements, but he has a hard time finding out Al Capone's whereabouts. He's a charlatan, not a real god; in fact, he doesn't even know which way the doors of the Chicago Mafia hideout open, and he only recently learned where Al Capone would be.

—It was the first time this underground bar had appeared, but this time there were very few customers, making it quite a miserable place.

Not long after Han Solo appeared, the Capone brothers rushed out, both surprised and delighted.

This is certainly not a coincidence.

After initially stabilizing the Irish faction's power, Donald began plotting to cut off the Italians' reach.

He didn't directly take over the underground bar that the Italians had invaded his territory, but he used his geographical advantage to cut off the alcohol transportation channels.

If they can't even supply enough alcohol, can an underground bar still be called a bar?
Logan learned from Donald that Al Capone had arrived and was preparing to negotiate with him.

In the familiar cellar, Han Solo didn't say much; with a wave of his hand, a $50,000 Canadian whisky appeared out of thin air.

Al Capone and Ralph Capone breathed a sigh of relief when they saw this move again.

Do you know how they got through those ten days?

They can't just openly declare their status as the "chosen one" like Donald—Al Capone was just the second-in-command of the Chicago Mafia—would they be asking for trouble by making such a claim?

The initial excitement turned into immense pressure after Han Solo failed to appear. Had the two men not been present, Al Capone would have wondered if he was hallucinating.

Now I'm 1000% sure it's not a hallucination, and I'm no longer panicked or flustered.

Moreover, the Venerable One left behind a method of transaction.

"Han Solo" asked casually, "Are you aware that a newspaper called The Sun appeared today?"

"Ahem..." Al Capone nodded, looking slightly embarrassed.

Of course he knew that his younger brother had brought them this newspaper early in the morning, and seeing it made them... look very healthy.

"Han Solo" pointed to the wine box, his voice calm and even, "Use this quantity as a base. Prepare a large enough warehouse. When you need a few more base quantities of wine later, place an advertisement in this newspaper in the name of Hogwarts, saying that you want to buy a few Philosopher's Stones. The Dark Force will respond to you."

Alcapone's heart skipped a beat, and he tentatively asked, "...The Philosopher's Stone? Is it real?"

Han Solo gave him a meaningful look but offered no explanation.

Seeing this, Ralph Capone mustered his courage and asked another question: "Why advertise in The Sun? Can't we do it in other newspapers?"

This is, of course, because it makes it easier for me to see the ads promptly.

But he would never allow the disguise to be associated with his true self.

Han Solo quickly came up with a nonsensical answer:
"I saw it, at the newsstand, the chords of primal desire resonated!"

—A group of sleazy men awkwardly covered their erect crotches;

"I saw it, the glint of primal sparks in my eyes as I swept across the newspaper!"

—A lewd gaze that seemed to want to stick to the Page 3 girls.

"I saw it, the tremor of the primal soul in the accelerated heartbeat of glimpsing the forbidden!"

—Who knows what kind of rubbish is going on in my head?

Han Solo's gaze was deep as he uttered each word slowly and deliberately, "When they come together, I see the Dark Force!"

Al Capone's face looked rather grim in the dim light.

Ralph Capone looked bewildered and subconsciously asked, "What's the use of gathering the Dark Force?"

"Those who can gather Dark Force will be qualified to make a deal with the Sith!"

Han Solo left after uttering his last words.

Al Capone remained silent.

Ralph Capone pondered for a moment before exclaiming in shock, "Doesn't that mean those Irish guys can also buy alcohol from His Excellency?"

They came here to negotiate with the Irish gang, so they couldn't be completely clueless. They knew a bit about the connections of Donald O'Connor, the leader of the Irish gang.

During the day, they even mocked, "The O'Connor family is utter garbage, they can't do anything but publish sex articles in their newspaper."

Who would have thought that this could also gather dark primal forces?!
That's true, aren't tabloids the best way to satisfy people's lust?

"Bang!" Capone slammed his hand on the table with such force that a bottle of whiskey bounced slightly.

"I've made up my mind. Our Mafia is going to start a newspaper too!"

"what!?"

……

(End of this chapter)