America 1919

The Public Committee primarily exists for the interests of the city and its residents, and under the authorization of state laws, it enacts various resolutions and regulations. For example, fee regulations, penalty regulations, and management implementation regulations, as well as the city budget, civil servant salaries, and district adjustments, all require the approval of the Public Committee.

There's also the state representative Ashuwebb, who is the Minister of Human Services for New Jersey; the Department of Human Services is responsible for providing social welfare and other public services, including healthcare, food assistance, children welfare, and senior services, etc.

The reason Atlantic City, New Jersey chose these two people to serve as directors of the Surf Hotel was because they represented local welfare and they diluted the gambling nature of the Surf Hotel's business to an extent.

Besides them, there were representatives from the Mellon Consortium and the Morgan Consortium!

"Donnie, earlier everyone agreed to let you manage the Surf Hotel because everyone believed that since the business was your idea, we all trusted you to bring more profit, but now these people are clearly using their special abilities to take our profits here, and you should give us an explanation!"

Ashuwebb spoke up in support of Nucky.

Aside from a representative from the Mellon Consortium who remained silent, the other directors also voiced their support for Nucky!

"Donnie, I know you're considering the reputation of the Surf Hotel, but everything has its limits. If the matter of these two men becomes known to others, there will be more professional gamblers thinking of using the same method to take away more funds from the Surf Hotel. Then what, do we just do nothing?"

Nucky continued.

Donnie sat there, gently tapping on the table, and then spoke in a deep voice, "Gentlemen, I understand your concerns. As the chairman of the Surf Hotel, I obviously can't let these people continue, but have any of you considered one thing?"

At this point, Donnie stopped tapping the table, then leaned slightly forward, looking at everyone, "We know these people are identifying the dice's numbers by listening to their sounds, but the ordinary gamblers don't know this. They just know that these two people have won money at the Surf Hotel!

Of course, we could tell everyone about this, but how many of those gamblers would believe it, or would rather not believe it?

If we make a move, then all gamblers will only have one thought, that the Surf Hotel doesn't allow people to win money, that the Surf Hotel can't take a loss.

Then, at that time, the Surf Hotel's reputation will be ruined!

Gambling business is actually the same as any other business; without a reputation, who will trust us, then who would want to come to Atlantic City to play?"

Nucky said, "We understand your concerns, but you still don't quite understand the psychology of gamblers. These people might resist accepting this at the moment, but their inner impulse to gamble won't be suppressed. Believe me, this matter will only ferment for a month at most. After a month, everyone will have forgotten about it."

At this point, Nucky glanced at Ashuwebb and Saskamaggio before continuing, "If you don't want to do something about it, Donnie, I can have my people take care of it and ensure that the impact will be minimized!"

Donnie still waved his hand, "I don't agree with your idea! You should know that no matter how secretive this matter is handled, there will always be leaks. The more secretly we do it, the more severe the backlash will be when it eventually comes out!"

Nucky angrily said, "Don't you know how much the casino has lost over these past two days because of those two? And I must remind you, it's not just those two winning money at the Surf Hotel now, there are already a lot of guests following their bets.

If we don't have a solution to this, today's losses in the casino will exceed those of the past two days!"

"Donnie, we can't drag this out any longer; the casino can't afford such losses!" Ashuwebb continued alongside Nucky.

Donnie pondered for a moment and said, "Give me one day's time, and I guarantee that tomorrow these people will spit out all the money they've won at Surf Hotel in the past few days, not just that, but their principal as well!"

Seeing Donnie so resolute, the other members of the board naturally had nothing more to say.

Thus, the meeting came to an end.

After everyone else had left, Nucky stayed behind.

"Donnie, I hope you understand that my performance just now was not about our rivalry, but rather for the sake of Surf Hotel!"

Donnie, who was contemplating how to handle this situation, simply nodded and said, "I understand, Surf Hotel belongs to all of us, and to Atlantic City. I won't let anything happen to it!" Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire

Nucky nodded. Donnie's prestige was established, and Nucky himself knew he could contend with Donnie for more control over the management of Surf Hotel within its walls, but this should be limited to the Surf Hotel—it would be in his best interest not to get involved in anything else, or else his own outcome would not be good!

Having analyzed the current situation, Nucky now had his overall plan. If he wanted to return to his former position as the king of Atlantic City, there was only one possibility left!

To wrest control of Surf Hotel from Donnie's hands.

When the management rights of Surf Hotel fell into his own hands, Donnie would lose his base in Atlantic City, and at that time, according to his understanding of Donnie, Donnie would certainly leave Atlantic City on his own.

In other words, the two of them could peacefully complete the handover of power once again!

In summary, their competition had turned into an internal corporate struggle for ownership of the company, a war that would forgo the previous bloody competition.

Moreover, Nucky was very clear that despite the board's current support for him, it was because they did not understand Donnie's handling of this matter, not because they were dissatisfied with Donnie's management of Surf Hotel.

After all, in just the few months since its opening, Surf Hotel's profits had reached five million US dollars per month!

This is quite a substantial income!

Nobody would want to squabble with money!

After explaining his thoughts, Nucky left the conference room, and Nate walked in at that moment.

Donnie glanced at Nate and asked, "Are those two still down in the casino?"

Nate nodded and said, "Yes, our people have been keeping an eye on them!"

Donnie said, "Go invite those two up here, and remember to be polite. Don't make it seem like we're going to do something to them!"

"Yes!"