You Guys Need to Make a Sacrifice
"My God, that wasn't a human! Bullets were raining down like a storm, but that man in the car... he didn't care about the chaos outside at all. He was lighting a cigar as if he were in his own living room! The way that cigar smoke drifted leisurely through the gunpowder haze of the muzzles... it was a sight you'd only see in a nightmare!"
A single wisp of cigar smoke rising calmly amidst a hail of deadly bullets! Is this the superhuman nerve born from a heart forged in steel, or is it...
"Lee, you really are... insane."
My father-in-law, who had spread out the Chicago Evening American from the previous evening, pointed at the illustration of me with the cigar in my mouth and clicked his tongue.
"Even if you're confident in your glass... to think of lighting a cigar in that situation, you're a madman. Did you not think about Rita waiting at home?"
Father-in-law, you’re smiling while saying that, aren't you?
"I apologize, Boss."
I bowed my head at my father-in-law's words, which were honest despite the tone of his voice.
However, he shook his head.
"No, you succeeded, so there's nothing to apologize for. You intended this from the start, didn't you? I finally understand why you asked to borrow a cigar. You’ve pulled off a spectacular promotion!"
That was true.
Since the president himself proved the product's effectiveness with his own body, there could be no better promotional effect.
Looking at the state of the glass later, I realized that if the support had been a little late, I would have been turned into a honeycomb, but hey, isn't being alive the only thing that matters?
"Come to think of it, I heard talk of Mr. Lee on the streets this morning."
It was then that Gu-jik, who had been standing by the suite door, spoke up.
"Are you talking about me?"
"The newspapers carrying the story of Mr. Lee sold out, and they even printed extras. By now, there shouldn't be a single person living in Chicago who doesn't know Mr. Lee."
"Haha..."
It seems the people of Chicago were more bored than I thought.
Well, if I become famous, the company name will become famous too, so it’s not a bad thing.
"It seems you've even earned a nickname, 'Bulletproof,' was it?"
"Excuse me?"
BTS? Dynamite?
Should I go out and dance?
As I blinked, having unintentionally unleashed a bit of Korean pride 100 years early in Chicago, Gu-jik chuckled and continued.
"It’s a nickname that anyone who saw the photos and illustrations in the paper would nod at. You’ve made a name for yourself in Chicago, Mr. Lee."
"Well, thanks to that, I did get a bit of a scolding from my wife."
I recalled yesterday's events.
Click!
'Honey, if you do something like this one more time, I’ll shoot you myself, so keep that in mind.'
Hmm, that was a side of her I hadn't seen before.
Recalling her scolding—physically—for the first time in my life, I felt a chill run down my spine. I shuddered and looked at my father-in-law, Al Capone.
"Boss, regardless, since the product has gained recognition through this incident, I intend to pioneer new sales channels."
If I’ve done the advertising, shouldn't I be earning the advertising fees?
Since I couldn't recycle the lead bullets embedded in the glass like Zhuge Liang, the first step to making money was finding someone to buy the goods.
"Good. Since everyone knows what a staggering piece of work this is, if we just find someone to buy it, the money will roll in on its own."
As if he had expected it, my father-in-law nodded and continued.
"So, do you have a place in mind?"
"Yes."
The problem was that it was likely a place my father-in-law wouldn't be fond of.
"I am thinking of supplying the federal government, specifically the military."
At that moment.
"...The federal government?"
Gu-jik’s expression darkened, and my father-in-law, who had been holding a cigar in his mouth, twisted his face.
"Lee, are you saying you’re going to hand this over to the guys who are hell-bent on catching us? Or, don't tell me you want us to become the federal government's dogs?"
As expected, that was the reaction.
Fortunately, the St. Valentine's Day Massacre didn't happen in this world, and thanks to that, my father-in-law and the Chicago Outfit hadn't drawn the ire of the federal government and the new President Herbert Hoover like in the original history.
But even if the priority was pushed back a bit, the situation where they still didn't like us remained the same.
That was why I had a reason to make this succeed.
"It’s not about becoming the federal government's dogs; it’s about using the federal government as a shield."
"What?"
"The federal government will end up protecting us instead."
"...Explain."
My father-in-law took the cigar out of his mouth and gestured for me to speak with a serious expression.
I began to explain.
"First of all, only SCC can produce this transparent plastic, PMMA. Now that the effectiveness of this product is known, the military will definitely be interested in its performance."
"And?"
"In such a situation, if we can strike a deal with the military or the federal government, the situation will change from that point on. We are the only ones who can produce this new plastic, and they need it."
"Couldn't they just forcibly take it?"
"To establish a concrete production method and actually produce the product using only the patents I’ve submitted would take at least three, maybe five years. Only I know the details that aren't in the patents."
"Hmm."
"Because we provide what they need, touching the Boss and the organization behind the company will become a bad business decision, unlike before. At the very least, they will have to think twice."
In any case, my father-in-law, Al Capone, is the most famous criminal in America.
Thanks to handling the tax issues, the immediate excuse to attack us was gone, but to them, my father-in-law was still like a treasure goblin whose reputation and approval ratings would go up if they hit him.
Since it would be difficult for me to be safe if my father-in-law went to prison, I needed to give this small, fragile Al Capone a thorn shield so that they would think, 'Is it really okay to hit this guy?'
Actually, this plan wasn't without risks, but isn't it better than just sitting still and getting hit?
Of course, the money earned from military supplies would be decent as well.
"If we succeed in military supply, it’s possible to generate as much revenue with this single piece of plastic as we do with the bootlegging business right now. Rather than a business that has to be folded whenever Prohibition is repealed, I think finding a new financier like the military will be helpful for the organization's finances."
"The military, huh."
After hearing my explanation, my father-in-law put the cigar back in his mouth and fell into thought.
How much time had passed since then?
"Lee."
"Yes, Boss."
"Military supply isn't an easy task. In the end, if you can't make connections with people who have influence in politics, especially in the administration, you won't even be able to get in and will be kicked out at the entrance."
I bowed my head immediately at the call of my father-in-law, who had opened his mouth after much deliberation.
My father-in-law's words continued.
"For now... I'll connect you to someone useful. He’s a hypocritical guy, so I don't know if he'll listen to you, but if it’s you, not me, he’ll probably give you a meeting."
"Thank you, Boss."
Still, since he’s building a bridge for me, is it a success for now?
"If things go wrong, you must ensure it doesn't harm the organization. If that happens, I'll have to shoot you with my own hands."
"...Of course."
...Is it a success?
A few days later.
I headed to a villa in the suburbs of Springfield with Ahern.
This villa, which was registered as being owned by a Republican Springfield city councilman.
The reason I went to the trouble of driving all the way to this remote place was to meet one of the two U.S. Senators from Illinois.
"Mr. Lee, and Mr. Ahern. It’s a pleasure to meet you."
He doesn't look particularly pleased, though.
"It’s a pleasure, Senator. It’s an honor to meet you like this."
I shook hands with Otis F. Glenn, the man extending his right hand with a stiff expression, while wearing a bright smile.
But, he’s a bit different from the Senator I imagined?
If you're a Senator, shouldn't you be muscular, jumping out of helicopters, and blocking knives?
I tilted my head inwardly at the appearance of Glenn, who looked nothing like the Senator I knew, except for his receding hairline.
Soon, Glenn, who had finished shaking hands, opened his mouth.
"I, for one, didn't expect to meet the rumored 'Bulletproof'."
"Ahem."
No, this person shouldn't even be from Chicago, so how does he know that?
"According to the newspaper article, you had great nerve, but you look a little different from the illustration."
"Ahem, newspapers always have a bit of exaggeration mixed in."
"Anyway, since you’ve come all this way, let’s sit down and talk. Although I don't have much time to spare for our Mr. Bulletproof."
With those words, Ahern and I followed Glenn to the sofa in the villa's living room.
Soon, sitting face-to-face with the Senator, I took out the items I had prepared in advance from my briefcase and placed them on the table.
"Hmm, is this the famous 'magic glass'?"
"To be precise, it’s the main material for that glass. It’s a substance called PMMA."
After placing the acrylic sheet on the table, I explained in detail to the fascinated Glenn about the patents I held, the performance of the acrylic sheet, and the specific fields of application.
"And......."
"Wait, seeing as you mention military vehicles and fighter jets... it seems you want to supply the military."
"Yes."
To Glenn’s straightforward question, which cut off my explanation where I had been rambling like a market peddler, I nodded without hesitation.
If the other party already knows what you want, there’s no need to speak at length.
"Military supply, it’s a good thing for a company belonging to our state to succeed in military supply. Jobs will be created, and the state government's tax revenue will increase. It’s also a good thing that such an amazing new material is used for the nation, of course."
"Then......."
"However."
Damn, I thought it would go easily, but I guess not.
Glenn trampled on my lingering expectations and continued.
"Mr. Lee, you must know that the background of you and your company is a great burden for opening an official transaction with the federal government. The President, who has just moved into the White House, wouldn't want to carry the suspicion of being in collusion with a famous criminal like Al Capone from the beginning of his term, would he?"
...Well, I think I’d be the same if I were him.
That doesn't mean I have any intention of giving up, though.
"He is simply my beloved wife's father and one of my investors."
"Well, I don't know if the President would think so. This case is too risky. For me, for the party, and for the President as well."
It’s not easy.
Actually, issues like collusion could be faked by setting up a paper company overseas, but the problem was that the Senator in front of me didn't seem to have any intention of listening to me.
"Then, if there were a benefit worth taking that risk, the story might be a little different."
If so, I’d have to use a different method.
"If you’re thinking of bribing me, that’s troublesome. Meeting you in this place is dangerous enough as it is, and I don't want to get any more entangled with you or your father-in-law......."
"It’s not money."
At my answer that it wasn't money, Glenn looked at me with questioning eyes.
I continued.
"You’re right. You, Senator, have just taken your seat, and the President must be busy setting up the new administration."
"The person who knows that well......."
"In times like that, wouldn't things become easier in the future if you could show the public some kind of achievement?"
Politicians are beings who live off popularity, and to do that, they must produce plausible results and be known to the people.
What I will provide is exactly that.
"For instance... delivering strict legal judgment to a massive gang that makes the lives of citizens difficult, for example."
"Are you saying you’ll have your father-in-law turn himself in right now?"
"Of course not, my father-in-law is a legitimate businessman."
To the Senator, who was looking at me with an absurd expression, I shook my head and continued.
"As you know, there is a gang in northern Chicago that calls itself the North Side."
North Side, that’s how it is.
You guys need to make a sacrifice.