Let's Lay Our Cards on the Table

Silence descended.

Click. Click-clack.

With only the sound of logs crackling in the fireplace filling the living room, our Governor simply stared down at the letter of commitment Mr. Ahern had presented.

Five million dollars. It was an amount that could, at the very least, cover a significant slice of the New York State annual budget. And in these times, with the American economy not just hitting rock bottom but digging into the basement, it was, quite literally, a sum with omnipotent power.

Even for a man as quick with calculations as Mr. Roosevelt, receiving this much money all at once would be enough to make his calculator break down.

"Woof! Woof!"

The one who broke the silence was the black Scottish Terrier the Governor kept. The solemn-looking creature ran up to Roosevelt and suddenly began rolling on the floor from side to side, as if it were undergoing some kind of military discipline.

"Haha, our Maggie is quite clever. When things get quiet, she likes to show off her tricks to lighten the mood."

"You have a fine dog, sir."

"She’s been a great help during difficult times. Maggie, come here."

"Woof!"

She understands words well; she must be quite sharp. Maybe I should raise a dog, too? It would probably be good for Jay’s emotional development.

Soon, the black dog jumped onto the wheelchair, and Roosevelt, sitting with Maggie on his lap, pointed to the letter of commitment.

"So, is this a bribe?"

"In society, purchasing bonds is usually called an investment."

"Ha."

At my answer, Roosevelt scoffed.

"It’s not something a Governor should say, but you can easily find 4% interest bonds at any bank on Wall Street. Do you really expect me to believe that choosing our state bonds and buying five million dollars' worth is a sensible investment? Let’s stop the smoke and mirrors now that you’ve come all this way. What is it that you want?"

Well, considering he didn't tell me to get lost immediately, it seems he’s already half-hooked.

"As I mentioned earlier, the biggest reason is an investment in you, Governor, who will become the next President."

"Heh, my. Anyone listening would think Mr. Hoover was about to hand me the keys to the White House."

"Given that America has failed under the current administration, the next President will naturally come from the Democratic Party. And among the presidential candidates from the Democratic Party, you are the only one with a real chance of winning, Governor."

"If we’re talking about presidential candidates, there are others besides me......."

"Because with the money I’ve invested, you will show the people of New York and America hope, Governor."

Well, since the policies he’s going to test in New York have actually started to show results, that’s not a lie.

"...Truly, you have a silver tongue that belies your age."

"I’ll take that as a compliment."

Then... shall we move on to the secondary objectives?

"I think I’ve already stated the biggest thing I want, and the others are just a little... secondary."

"Secondary, you say? I have a feeling those are the real core of your request."

"Well, I don’t think you’ll particularly dislike them, Governor."

"Hm?"

"First, I’d like you to provide some subsidies to New York State dairy farmers. The pretext could be... facility modernization for hygienic milk supply."

I have to save the dairy farmers first.

"Ah, come to think of it, I heard you were in the milk business as well."

"To be precise, I am in the business of supplying hygienic and safe milk. The children of Chicago are already growing up drinking our safe milk. Is there any reason that shouldn’t be the case for New York? As the demand for milk increases, the farmers' income will rise as well."

Of course, it will be our SMC providing those facilities and logistics services to the New York farmers.

"Hmm... the picture isn’t bad. You and I seem to see eye-to-eye quite well."

"The other thing will also be quite to your liking."

"I’m looking forward to it."

Then, I should live up to those expectations, right?

"I’ve heard there are quite a few people in the New York City government who are in league with gangs."

"So, are you asking me to protect them? If you’d listened to even a fraction of my campaign promises, you’d know that’s......."

Oh, you really should listen until someone finishes speaking.

"It’s the opposite. Please, deal with them all."

"...Weren’t you a gangster?"

"Oh, come now. I only engage in legal business."

That’s not a lie. If there’s no law against it, it’s legal for now, right?

"Woof! Woof!"

"It seems Maggie thinks you’re talking nonsense."

This is why I hate smart dogs.

Although there was a bit of noise at the end, the deal with FDR was concluded satisfactorily. Aside from the secondary issues, the reason I met him was ultimately to hang a five-million-dollar debt over the future dictator. If he sucks up all that approval rating with the money I gave him, shouldn’t he repay that favor?

If by any chance he forgets that favor, a tragedy might occur where a copy of the investment commitment he signed with me ends up in the papers alongside a headline like [President in League with Gangs!], but surely a political genius like Mr. Roosevelt wouldn’t do something so stupid.

The secondary issues I discussed with him were distributed as press releases to major New York dailies in less than two days, and the Masseria and Maranzano families, who had been cozying up to the city government and got hit as a bonus, seemed busy trying to clean up the mess. Thanks to that, Luciano, who was under Joe Masseria, seemed to have gained some room to maneuver.

"Truly... how on earth did you do it? Governor Roosevelt isn’t the type of person who would take money so easily."

Gulp.

Still sitting on his bed like a mummy, wrapped in bandages, Luciano asked his question. I swallowed the steak I’d been chewing while sitting at the table opposite him and continued.

"When there’s a job that can’t be done with money, you should start by thinking whether the amount was insufficient."

Of course, the fact that this is a time when he’s more desperate for cash than usual was one of the reasons the Governor accepted it, but still.

"Now, I will leave the rest to Mr. Luciano. This should be enough, right?"

"It’s a gift too large to be expressed by the word 'enough'. I’m already worried about how I’ll have to repay this debt later."

"You can look forward to it."

Luciano is the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠one who, in real history, took care of both organizations on his own and unified the American underworld. If I’ve pushed him this far, he’ll handle the rest well enough. I just need to collect the returns on my investment.

"The steak was delicious. I hope to see you in better health next time."

"Next time we meet, I’ll have the repayment ready. Travel safely."

Leaving the mummy behind, I took Rizo’s car, left Luciano’s new hideout, and returned to the hotel. It seems my business in New York is mostly finished... should I go see the kid’s piano skills tomorrow? Since Christmas is coming up, it would be nice to buy Jay’s gift in advance, too.

While I’m at it, Sonny would be happy if I bought him one, too, right? When I get back, I’ll have to ask Nitti about a decent department store.

However, it wasn’t Nitti who was waiting for me and my friends when we returned to the hotel.

"Are you by any chance Mr. Lee Jun?"

As soon as we entered the lobby, a man in a black suit spoke to me in familiar Korean. What is this, who is this guy?

"Who are you to block our......."

"Wait. Let’s have a word."

McGurn and Ricardo, who naturally couldn’t understand Korean, were about to step forward with scowls, but I stopped them and asked the man.

"My name is indeed Lee Jun, but who are you?"

"My name is Yoon Chi-young. I serve Dr. Syngman Rhee at the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Korean Commission in America."

Yoon Chi-young... who was that? I feel like I’ve heard the name. But setting that aside, Dr. Syngman Rhee?

"I see. And what business do you have with me?"

To my follow-up question, the man who introduced himself as Yoon Chi-young gave a short answer.

"The Doctor wishes to see you. He said he wants to have a close discussion regarding the independence of our motherland."

Hmm... I didn’t expect them to make contact first. Even if it weren’t for the Provisional Government issue, he’s someone I’d have to meet at least once while living as a Korean in America during this era. Besides, if it’s Washington D.C., where Dr. Rhee is currently active, I’ll be visiting there quite often soon enough.

However.

"If you could tell me a date that works for you, I will make arrangements for a meeting in Washington."

Is it really at the level where I have to bow down and go find him myself...?

"Do I have to go in person?"

"Dr. Rhee is the only figure who can lead the independence of Korea. If you truly desire the independence of your motherland, the time will never be wasted......."

"I have to return to Chicago in a few days, so it’s not easy to clear my schedule to go all the way to Washington."

I’m busy. I have to pick out gifts for the kids tomorrow right away. Do you know how hurt kids get if you don’t give them a proper Christmas present?

"Chicago... did you say?"

Perhaps not expecting me to answer like this, the man stopped talking and fell into thought for a moment. Well, it’s not like I can only meet him if I go there myself, right?

"If it’s meeting in New York, I think I could spare some time."

"Is that so?"

"So... tomorrow evening would be possible."

"Tomorrow evening is too short notice......."

"If that’s difficult, I’m sorry, but you’ll have to come to Chicago yourself later. I’m a bit busy with business."

Dr. Syngman Rhee is, regardless, a famous enough person to be in history books. I was curious enough to want to meet him once, but it’s also true that there’s no reason I *must* see him right now. If I’d built up enough connections in Washington during that time, it might have been helpful, but would his connections really be more useful to me than FDR and Senator Glenn?

In other words, it’s like a bonus meeting while I’m in New York anyway. If it doesn’t work out, it can’t be helped.

"...I will speak to the Doctor. Would it be alright if I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gave you an answer tomorrow morning?"

At the words of Mr. Yoon Chi-young, who had been thinking for a moment, I nodded.

"That’s fine. I don’t have any other schedule tomorrow evening."

Even though the other party’s expression seemed to have soured, that’s their problem.

Although Mr. Yoon Chi-young returned with a rotten expression after hearing my answer, Dr. Rhee’s reply came unexpectedly quickly.

'The Doctor said he will visit the hotel in person to match your schedule tomorrow evening.'

Since I couldn’t stand up a guest who was coming all the way here by train for several hours, I spent the early morning touring New York’s department stores and toy shops, picking out Christmas gifts for Jay and Sonny, and accessories for Rita.

By the way, even if it’s the era of "real men," aren’t there too many dangerous toys out there? Especially the toys with the name of a mad scientist named Gilbert; they were a sight to behold. A glass-making set where you melt glass at 1,000 degrees Celsius and blow it yourself, a lead casting set where you pour molten lead into molds to make toy soldiers, and even a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠chemistry set that contained various poisons in glass bottles that would at least leave you crippled if you ate them.

As expected of the land of liberalism, I couldn’t help but click my tongue while looking at toys containing the educational spirit of the United States, which teaches the principles of survival of the fittest from childhood.

If they can sell things like this for money, I could sell them too, easily.

When I returned to the hotel after avoiding the landmines threatening our children and picking out suitable toys:

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Lee."

I was finally able to meet 'that' Dr. Syngman Rhee. He was slightly younger than the version in the black-and-white photos I knew, but the elderly Dr. Rhee, who still looked quite aged, sat across from me with a gentle smile.

"It’s a moving experience to meet you in person like this, Mr. Lee. I’ve heard you’ve been conducting a series of very large businesses in Chicago."

"Oh, it’s nothing; it’s just work to make a living."

"That’s a bit too large in scale to call it just that."

At my answer, Dr. Rhee waved his hand and continued.

"I believe that the power you possess, Mr. Lee, must be directed toward the right place."

"Independence, you mean?"

"What do you think would happen if the funds you possess were combined with the diplomatic power I have and my influence in Washington? We could diplomatically isolate Japan and gain the official support of the United States. It means we could achieve the liberation of our motherland with our own hands."

As expected, judging by how he speaks, it’s not for nothing that he became President. Do people all end up like that if they stay in Washington for a long time? Well, the problem is something else, though.

"I am deeply impressed by your noble will and passion, Doctor."

"Mr. Lee, then......."

"However, I am a businessman. Before starting a business, one must always analyze the probability of success first."

"...What does that mean?"

Toward Dr. Rhee, who was making a slightly uncomfortable expression, I continued.

"May I ask specifically about the... 'influence in Washington' you mentioned a moment ago?"

For now, let’s lay our cards on the table.