America 1919

"Boss, are you alright?"

Steve Cotting rushed to Donnie's side after firing his gun, along with the other tavern patrons responsible for protecting Donnie, forming a protective circle around him.

Donnie, looking at the pale-faced Helen and Alice, asked, "Are the two of you alright?"

Helen, still somewhat composed, replied, "We're fine!"

Alice, however, was trembling all over and unable to answer Donnie's question.

With the efforts of Steve Cotting and others, the scene quickly calmed down.

After investigating, Steve Cotting said to Donnie, "Boss, it's confirmed, it was just this one person."

Bang!
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The tavern's door was suddenly forced open again, and the unexpected sound made Steve Cotting and the others swiftly turn their guns toward the entrance, only to find John and Robert arriving with their men!

"Donnie!"

John quickly ran to Donnie's side, "Are you hurt? We came as soon as we got the call!"

As he spoke, John reached to support Donnie's arm, inadvertently touching Donnie's wound.

"Ah!"

Following Donnie's low groan of pain, Helen and Alice, still in a state of shock, finally realized that Donnie was injured too.

Seeing the blood soaking through the back of Donnie's shirt, they both hurried to support him.

At this moment, Robert was already by Nevin Byrd's side, looking at Nevin, who was just as confused and startled by the gunshot, and asked him harshly, "Did you send someone?"

Nevin came to his senses, recalling the two slaps Donnie had given him in his own tavern, and now, the would-be assassin had showed up for their meeting – under such circumstances, few would believe it wasn't his doing!

"No, no, it wasn't me, absolutely not!"

Even though he knew no one would believe him, Nevin Byrd was vehemently denying it, understanding that if this accusation were proven to be true against him,

everything would be over.

Donnie could use this reason to launch a purge against him, and by then, nobody in Atlantic City would question it!

"If not you, then who could it be?"

Robert, in a rage, grabbed Nevin Byrd's collar.

"Robert!"

It was then that Donnie called out to stop Robert's actions and, with the help of Helen and Alice, made his way over to Nevin.

"Nevin, I will get to the bottom of this matter. If it truly was you who arranged this, you are aware of the consequences. You may leave now; I need to interrogate this assassin!"

"Donnie, please believe me, I just wanted to negotiate an additional operational right for Golden Hall, how could I possibly lay hands on you, am I not aware of the repercussions of crossing you?"

Although Donnie had no idea who had actually sent the assassin, he was already calculating that pinning the blame on Nevin Byrd would be most advantageous for him.

Whether Nevin was the true culprit was, in fact, not so important to Donnie anymore.

"Now that I'm not dead, of course, the consequences are serious, but had I been shot dead just now, the consequences would not have been so grave. Nevin, I need you to stay in Atlantic City for the time being, don't go anywhere, you understand?"

Nevin Byrd, looking at the indifferent Donnie, couldn't help but wonder if Donnie had arranged the assassin himself?

The gunman, of course, was not arranged by Donnie.

Because Donnie soon learned the assassin's name: Luther Ganaxy!

A subordinate of Newark Hubert Louis!

At that moment, Donnie was sitting in his office, with an Atlantic City doctor, summoned by Robert, attending to his wound. The bullet had entered from the right side of his shoulder blade and remained lodged inside Donnie's body.

The doctor needed to perform surgery to remove the bullet.

However, Donnie refused to go to the hospital and requested that the surgery be done in his office. Whether it was the battle-hardened Donnie or the Donnie from his previous life, he had experience with gunshot wounds and had gone through the experience of not having bullets removed at a hospital.

Once Donnie was assured that the gunshot would not pose a threat to his life, he already had a plan in mind.

"No, the reason you could infiltrate Block Tavern and pinpoint my location is not because you've been hiding out in Atlantic City for several days gathering intel, but because Nevin Byrd informed you of everything!"

Despite the local anaesthetic, Donnie could still feel the sting of the scalpel on his back.

The pain contorted Donnie's face, and combined with his smile, it struck fear into those looking on.

Luther Ganaxy was kneeling in front of Donnie, his expression stiff with fear.

Even when Hubert Louis was taken out by Luciano, despite doubts about Luther Ganaxy, the man had been truly loyal to Hubert Louis.

After Hubert Louis was taken down, Luther Ganaxy had been diligently investigating the incident.

He quickly uncovered that all the plans that night were orchestrated by Donnie.

So, Hubert Louis decided to avenge Hubert Louis and secretly arrived in Atlantic City, beginning to tail Donnie.

It was unfortunate for Donnie that everything had been going too smoothly for him lately, making both he and Steve Cotting let their guard down.