The Mafia Empire
Chapter 49: Chapter 49 Power Of Money

If Dave's promotion represented a new chapter for them, the announcement about profit sharing directly affected everyone's personal interests. Especially after hearing the girls earlier share their experience counting the money, these young people couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealousy. Something as simple as that had generated tens of thousands of dollars—a truly astronomical amount!

Some of them were already daydreaming about how great it would be if they, too, could get a share.

As these thoughts swirled in their heads, Dave dropped the good news, and all eyes lit up with excitement. They couldn't help but cheer loudly.

Sure, it was only 1%, and 99% wasn't theirs. But everyone understood that even a 1% share represented several hundred dollars. The association had only 29 members, so each person would get at least 10 dollars.

And that was just for Ternell. What if they expanded the illegal liquor trade to the entire state or even the whole country? Then 1% of the profits each month could reach tens of thousands of dollars, or more!

Being a member of the association meant receiving a monthly stipend, which they could see as a salary. Now, they would get an additional 10 dollars or so. This sizable income would change every family's situation, which was exactly what they had hoped for—through their own hands and hard work, they could change their family's difficult circumstances.

Julian smiled as he listened to the cheers of "Long live the Fellowship Association!" and "Long live Julian!" coming from the next room. He wasn't smiling because of their loyalty but because of the sheer power that money had over people.

With money, you could do anything. That was the universal rule in any world.

From the Emperor of the Empire to the common folk, no one could escape the grip of money. Perhaps money took on different forms at higher levels, but its essence never changed.

While the young members of the association were cheering for Julian on one street, three grim faced men were sitting together on another.

These men were part of the city's high end illegal liquor suppliers, controlling the mid to high end market for strong illegal liquor in Ternell. The launch of "First Love" and "Snow Elf" hadn't affected the low end fruit wine market, because at 5 to 6 dollars a glass, these drinks were beyond the reach of low end consumers.

So whatever changes occurred in the mid to high end market, it had no connection to the lower end market.

But for the business of these three men, the impact was heavy.

Ternell was a small city, and the three of them were already unhappy with how the mid to high end strong liquor market was divided. If it weren't for the fact that a gang war wouldn't guarantee profits exceeding the costs, they would have torn each other apart long ago. Their mutual dislike wasn't a secret, but that didn't mean they'd allow an outsider to enter the market.

In just one night, their revenue had plummeted. Both young and middle aged customers had been drawn to "First Love" and "Snow Elf," either out of curiosity or genuine preference. The first day's sales were outstanding.

Perhaps it was just a temporary trend that would die down over time, but no matter how much it cooled off, some people would continue choosing these two drinks, taking up a portion of the market.

Money had a way of making people do things they'd never imagine. The three men, who had previously been at each other's throats, now sat together, united by their frustration.

These three men, judging solely by their attire and appearance, might be mistaken for members of high society. Each wore suits tailored by the finest seamstresses in the city and shoes handcrafted by the most renowned cobblers. A few trendy or classical accessories adorned them, making them look like big shots.

But beneath this exterior, they were nothing more than bootleggers, violating both imperial law and divine mandates by selling high proof illegal alcohol.

The power of money is remarkable, it can transform a person into someone else with just a little bit of spending.

The room was small, and Wood, seated near the door, appeared to be in his forties. His slicked back hair was meticulously combed, not a single strand out of place, even as his head moved. His thick yet short eyebrows resembled two triangular patches of hair above his eyes, and his narrow eyes gleamed with a cold, fierce light. In the entire city of Ternell, no one was unaware of his reputation.

People "respectfully" called him "Wood the Lumberjack." At nineteen, he took an ax and chopped three vagabonds who attempted to rob him into dozens of pieces. It took him less than a decade to climb to the top of Ternell's elite. Even today, some people would boast about his past deeds to flatter him. He was an interesting character.

Ever since becoming one of the elites, he saw himself as different from the people he once looked down upon. He was always careful about maintaining his image, presenting himself as a cultured and sophisticated man no matter the occasion.

No one would believe that Wood, who now wore a sullen expression, could be the same man who normally appeared so gentle.

The silence in the room made him uncomfortable, and even his breathing became heavier. He tugged at his collar and knocked his knuckles twice on the table. "Gentlemen, we need a plan. We can't let this unknown person destroy our business!"

Two bottles of alcohol sat on the table—Snow Elf and First Love. Each man had two glasses in front of him, and they had all tasted both. They had to admit, they preferred the rich, slightly bitter flavor of First Love over the cool, fruity taste of Snow Elf. Overall, these newly introduced high proof bootleg liquors surpassed their own in both taste and quality.

"Have you looked into these labels?" asked a man in his thirties, with fair skin and somewhat handsome features. His thick eyebrows and large eyes matched the current societal ideals of beauty, and his flaxen hair gave him a refined and gentle appearance—a benefit of his mixed heritage, which allowed him to stand out visually.