"I also think that LeBron's argument is likely about the consequences of substituting industrial alcohol, and he wants to firmly control the North District in his own hands before we take action, to prevent problems within his own ranks!" Donnie gently tapped on the desk and, after pondering for a moment, said, "I remember you telling me before that this Irving is a fervent yet particularly fickle believer!"
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Robert found the matter quite amusing. A fervent religious believer, by all means, should not change their faith so easily. Yet Irving was different; his faith was incredibly steadfast when he was devout, but when a change was needed, he switched it quite decisively.
"Let's set up a meeting with Irving tonight!"
Donnie thought it over and made a decision.
Now, with his business growing larger and larger, Nucky must be feeling dissatisfaction. However, given his current influence in Atlantic City, he had no choice but to turn a blind eye.
But as Walker once correctly said, human greed is insatiable.
Now that Nucky had gotten a taste of Donnie's visible profits, he already harbored ideas of wanting a share. What about the future?
"The North District must be in our hands!" Donnie said earnestly.
Eli Johnson thought he had the West District under control, not realizing that he had already been sidelined by John and Sean, meaning the West District was actually entirely under Donnie's control. If the North District were added, then he would have the strength to directly compete with Nucky.
There would be no need to avoid Nucky on some matters any longer!
"I will get on this right away!"
Robert casually picked at his scrambled eggs and then left.
That evening, Donnie met Irving at the Block Tavern.
"From now on, I'll have you come through the front door!" Donnie sat in his office, smiling at the somewhat restrained Irving.
Donnie didn't want his tavern to be affected, so black customers could not appear inside the Block Tavern, and his relationship with Irving had to be kept secret, hence Irving was brought in through the back door by Dwight.
Irving was flamboyant, but he couldn't help feeling a bit nervous when he saw Donnie, as Donnie's legend had begun to spread throughout Atlantic City.
In less than a year, Donnie had become a big shot in Atlantic City, bringing the city to new heights – if that wasn't legendary, what was?
"Thank you, Mr. Block!"
Donnie chuckled, "I heard LeBron's business has been doing well lately. He's even upgraded his car to a Rolls-Royce, hasn't he?"
Irving hurriedly said, "It's not like that at all. In fact, LeBron's business has been very tight lately. Getting a Rolls-Royce was just for appearances!"
Having been summoned by Donnie individually and hearing him bring up LeBron, Irving probably guessed the reason Donnie had called him.
Donnie was dissatisfied with LeBron!
But just as Robert said, LeBron announced his decision to retire, and as an outsider, Donnie could be certain it was just a smokescreen.
However, it was different for someone like Irving who was on the inside.
He genuinely believed LeBron would retire. Since LeBron planned to retire, Irving himself might become the new boss of the North District. But with LeBron's current prestige in the North District, he couldn't betray LeBron.
Donnie understood Irving's thoughts, "Irving, do you know how this world came to be?"
Irving was clearly taken aback. He was here to listen to Donnie talk about LeBron, but the topic suddenly shifted to faith.
As a devout Muslim, Irving confidently answered, "Of course, it was created by the almighty Allah. All things in the world must follow Allah's will, and so Allah spoke and it was easy.
There was the vast, expansive sky; the wide, boundless earth; the vast oceans, rivers, and lakes; the towering mountains, rolling hills, and vast deserts; the smoothly moving sun, moon, and stars; the lively birds, animals, insects, and fish; the colorful flowers, plants, and trees.
The seamless transition from day to night, the interchange of light and darkness; the orderly change of seasons, which produces the cycle of warmth and cold."
"After all things on earth were created, Allah then made human beings from clay, thus began the development of human civilization!"
Donnie smiled, "I've also heard a creation myth before, which I can share with you!"
Irving frowned slightly. As a steadfast Muslim, any stories from other doctrines were false and disrespectful to Allah in Irving's heart.
But the man before him was not someone he could afford to offend!
Donnie, regardless of whether Irving wanted to listen or not, continued, "It is said that before heaven and earth were formed, the cosmos was chaotic. In this chaos, there was a great egg, and after eons, a giant with an axe emerged from this egg.
As the giant grew taller, and when he thought the world shouldn't be as it was, he lifted his axe and cleaved the chaos, with clear vapors rising and turbid vapors descending."