CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43: DECEMBER

After the seemingly endless cold rain in Winster finally ceased.

The coldest December arrived.

The first major event in Winster that December was the official establishment of the Prohibition Bureau.

Even though the Prohibition Agent’s initial operation against Ethan completely failed and cost many personnel, it didn’t stop them from holding a grand founding ceremony.

Not only did all the city’s major figures attend, but all the newspapers also focused their flashbulbs on them.

The next day’s newspaper headlines naturally included them.

Moreover, they soon produced decent results.

This was largely thanks to reports from enthusiastic citizens and the utterly poor operations and lack of vigilance from Ethan’s peers.

Many small workshops were easily cleared out, and some underground ’whisper bars’ were also wiped out.

This actually helped Ethan and his team, reducing competition, and the price of bootleg liquor unexpectedly doubled in a short time.

As for Ethan and his business, the Bolita family was basically unaffected.

Firstly, Ethan was already cautious, whether it was production or sales, done in the secret areas of their turf or private territories.

Secondly, the skirmish in the rain made Prohibition Agents apprehensive.

Obviously, they would not act against Ethan until they fully understood his situation and were well-prepared.

Other families, however, were affected.

For instance, the Murich family.

The head of the Murich family, Haska, was already a playboy-type character, very lax in managing the family.

Otherwise, in recent years, they wouldn’t have been increasingly outdistanced by a few other families to the point where the Bolita family nearly encroached on their romantic businesses.

This time in the bootlegging business, they didn’t need to do anything, just sell the liquor, yet they almost messed that up.

Haska boldly sold the liquor in his brothel, as if afraid others wouldn’t know.

The end result was that three of their family’s brothels were shut down.

Then there was the Evans Clan.

Lewis was extremely resentful; unable to act against Ethan temporarily, he naturally wouldn’t spare George, who had cut off one of his hands.

The Evans Clan became a major target of suppression.

Both of the hotels under their name had issues, leaving them in despair too.

Besides the fervent Prohibition movement, there was one more thing Ethan didn’t expect.

Or rather, he expected it, but not to such an exaggerated extent.

His Winster typewriter became a hot commodity with people everywhere trying to buy it from him.

Primarily after the battle in the rain, the fame of the Winster typewriter spread wide. Big Zola was utterly smitten, bragging whenever possible about how impressive the Winster typewriter was, like a storm sweeping away leaves, rendering Prohibition Agents powerless to fight back.

Such rumors quickly returned to Winster. People combined them with grapevine info, such as Lewis taking ten guys along and except for him, the other nine had more bullet holes than the sum of all their fingers and toes, thoroughly establishing the position of the Winster typewriter.

Even Sandro jokingly called Ethan, saying he wanted to buy a batch of guns from him.

Of course, Ethan wouldn’t sell.

This kind of powerful tool, he would only control it himself in the short term.

There’s not much money in selling guns.

Unless one day, he could control these guns, such as making them ineffective against the Bolita family, or producing even more powerful firearms.

That would be the day for circulation.

However, spreading fame had its benefits, as he discovered his control over the firearms segment grew heavier.

This means that spreading fame could strengthen control.

Today the weather was clear, and Ethan planned to go to school.

Since his last enrollment, he’d been so busy that he hadn’t attended a day of class.

Winster University hadn’t mentioned expelling him, but Dean El phoned, tactfully suggesting he should attend a day or two per term.

Ethan happened to be free today, so he planned to go. It was also the perfect time to meet Gustav, as matters regarding ancient languages should be prioritized.

After all, the strength of the ’True God’s Name’ was most important.

Everything else served this purpose.

After dressing up and tidying his hair, Anya reported, "Young Master, Haska from the Murich family is here to see you."

Ethan listened and smiled.

It seemed Haska hadn’t yet resolved the shutdown of his brothels.

He came to seek Ethan’s help.

During the last rain skirmish, when Lewis came to search, he was called away by a phone call, thanks to the great efforts of John Hott.

Thus, afterward, Ethan took the payments he received from fat Sindore and gave his share solely to John Hott as a gesture of gratitude.

The two arranged a meal, which was pleasant, though Ethan declined the opportunity to meet the big boss behind John.

However, John Hott, having gained a favor, offered that any future overt matters requiring handling could reach out to him.

This is something Ethan could certainly help Haska with.

"Let him wait for me in the reception room."

Five minutes later, Ethan met Haska in the reception room.

Haska was still as graceful, well-dressed, and dapper, with no extraneous hair or wrinkles on his face, to the extent that his age was indiscernible. Provided he didn’t speak or act, he could captivate ladies from eight to eighty.

"Ethan, it’s wonderful that you agreed to see me."

As soon as he spoke, he exposed his urgency.

"What’s the matter, my friend Haska?"

Ethan and Haska exchanged a Fengcui greeting of cheek-touching and embraced.

"Well, you know, my venues..."

"Oh, I remember, your venues encountered some small trouble, haven’t they been resolved yet?"

"Yes, oh, I’m not sure, I just thought you might help me, so here I am."

"Of course, we’re friends, I’ll think of something."

"Really?"

Haska’s face shone with joyous relief. He promptly grasped Ethan’s hand: "What do I need to do, what do you need?"

"I need nothing, Haska. We are friends, and friends should help each other."

"Oh, heavens, I don’t even know what to say. I apologize for my past foolishness, for trying to oppose the Bolita family."

Haska lowered his head, appearing like he was about to kiss Ethan’s emblem.

Ethan supported him and embraced again.

"No need for such words between friends."

Haska was deeply touched.

However, a contemplative look appeared on Ethan’s face.

The Murich Clan, not bad either.