Expanding the bootleg liquor business into Saint Denis would undoubtedly bring Davey enormous sales volume and profits—but it would also sharply raise the risks.
After all, bootlegging was illegal. Back in the lawless West, federal law enforcement was thin on the ground, and the pressure from major distilleries wasn't that severe. But Saint Denis was a truly civilized city, with a population of hundreds of thousands.
As the eastern gateway of civilization, Davey's operation was bound to clash head-on with the distillery owners sooner or later.
And their methods would naturally involve leveraging federal law to strike back.
To survive and thrive under those conditions, Davey needed enough manpower and a vast network of connections.
His earlier contact with the Women's Rights Association was one part of that plan.
Now, with his identity issues finally resolved, Davey could head to Saint Denis openly.
...
Three days later.
Saint Denis Train Station.
Fifty employees dressed in black combat uniforms were already assembled on site.
Davey arrived in Saint Denis in person.
Though he was a top-tier sharpshooter, caution was never a bad thing. This wasn't a game—there were no respawns after death. No amount of care was too much.
Saint Denis was hardly a safe place. Gangs were everywhere, and if someone took a shot at him from the shadows, it would all be over for nothing.
Being someone who valued his life, Davey naturally made thorough preparations.
"Oh, Davey, my brother—this kind of spectacle really makes us look important."
"See all those beautiful ladies looking our way? If I went over to strike up a conversation, they definitely wouldn't turn me down."
"Whoa—who am I seeing? Miss Stella! Damn it, why is she so beautiful?"
Mac had come along as well. Davey had booked two entire train cars, and before the brothers even stepped off, the employees were already clearing the area.
The sheer display drew plenty of onlookers, which made Mac smug to no end.
Not far away, Stella—wearing a tailored lady's gentleman-style outfit—stood out sharply from the crowd.
"Were you speaking ill of me, Mr. Mac?"
Stella walked over openly and asked.
Mac might be a bastard, but since this woman was likely his brother's lover, he didn't dare joke carelessly.
"Oh, Miss Stella, of course not. I was just praising your beauty."
Stella pressed her lips together in a soft smile, then shifted her gaze to Davey.
"Long time no see."
Davey smiled faintly.
"Shouldn't you give me a hug?"
"Of course."
Hearing that, Davey didn't hesitate. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Stella.
"This isn't exactly a gentleman's hug," Stella said, her cheeks flushing slightly as she gently pushed him away.
A proper greeting hug was usually just a light touch, but Davey's embrace had been tight and firm, leaving her almost short of breath.
"I apologize on behalf of my body, Miss Stella. It has very poor manners."
Davey, thick-skinned as ever, showed no embarrassment at all. He simply stood right beside Stella—far closer than ordinary friends would.
Stella didn't resist.
"Alright, Davey. There are too many people here. I'll take you to the estate first. There are some documents that still need your signature."
Before coming to Saint Denis, Davey had written to Stella, asking her to help him purchase an estate there as his base of operations.
Property prices in Saint Denis were high, but Davey's financial foundation was clearly solid. The estate cost a full $150,000.
Of course, $100,000 of that was a loan. Davey only needed to put down $50,000 upfront.
In Saint Denis, the most luxurious residence was the mayor's mansion. Davey's new estate naturally couldn't compare to that level of extravagance, but the mayor's mansion alone was valued at around $300,000.
That alone showed just how wealthy the mayor was.
In this country, you don't hold office without money.
Rue Flavienne.
This was Saint Denis's wealthy district.
The mayor's mansion and the Bronte mansion were both located here.
Naturally, Davey's newly purchased estate was here as well.
In a sense, Davey, the mayor, and Bronte were now neighbors.
Fifty employees marched through the streets in a conspicuous display, drawing widespread attention, while Davey and Stella rode in a luxurious carriage.
About half an hour later, they finally arrived at Davey's new mansion.
"Wow. This thing's massive—way better than the place in Valentine."
Mac's eyes practically glowed. He knew this would be where he lived from now on.
This was Saint Denis. Back when he was wandering around with Dutch, he never would have dared to dream of a life like this.
The employees were equally excited. At Davey's signal, they began setting up security around the entire estate.
Meanwhile, staff from the Saint Denis bank had already been waiting.
A $100,000 loan was significant enough to warrant a personal visit—it represented a massive amount of interest.
The Saint Denis bank manager took this deal very seriously. He knew it wasn't a bad debt. Davey's reputation had long since spread through Saint Denis's upper circles, thanks to Bronte.
After the documents were signed, the bank staff took their leave.
From this moment on, this place was officially known as the Saint Denis Land Mansion.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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