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Chapter 106: Hail Hydra!
🕑 Added 2024-12-22 15:00:44 +0000 UTCThe busy Chicago night was as lively as ever.
Half a year had passed, and as the war neared its end, various domestic controls in the United States were gradually relaxed. Society as a whole was becoming more comfortable.
Chicago was more lively now than when Josh had arrived last year, and nightclubs of all kinds had multiplied compared to last year.
Among them, the Joy District Nightclub stood out—it was the largest and most luxurious. Rumor had it that the owner behind the scenes was a big shot from New York, and because of its high-end nature, its customers were mainly Chicago's upper-class elite, including key members of prominent families such as the Leibler, McCormick, Armour, and Crown families. Executives from major corporations such as Boeing, Chrysler, and Curtiss—companies with numerous subsidiaries in and around Chicago—were also frequent visitors.
A luxurious Cadillac V16 pulled up slowly in front of the nightclub. Josh got out of the car.
This V16 was the same one Josh had 'borrowed' and driven in Paris last year. It had since been repainted and fully restored.
Given his current status, a mere car was of no interest to Josh. Especially since the car's original owner, Scappa of the Moretti Mafia family, had been killed in a gang war months before.
With the defeat of Germany and Hydra, American factories that had once produced tanks were gradually shifting back to automobile production; though the war with Japan was not yet over, the demand for tanks in Asia was minimal and could not feed the massive American industrial base.
Technically, Josh could afford a better car, but he didn't bother, not out of cheapness, but simply because he found cars of the era unattractive. After Europe was divided, Josh planned to venture into the automotive industry himself, and within a year he expected to be driving cars made by his own company.
For now, this V16—rich in sentimental value—served its purpose. Otherwise, it would just sit in his collection.
As Josh stepped outside and took in the lavish facade of the nightclub, his expression became a little strange.
This nightclub belonged to Wilfred Malick—the very man Josh was meeting tonight. Interestingly enough, the Malick family was a major shareholder in this establishment, and after receiving Malick's invitation, Josh had assigned Dix to gather information on the Joy District nightclub. That's when he learned the nightclub had ties to his own Blackwater gang.
In Chicago—and all of Illinois—Blackwater was the dominant force. Nightclubs, a gray-market industry, had to pay respect to local powers regardless of their backing, so the Blackwater gang had a hand in nearly every major nightclub in Chicago.
Previously, Josh hadn't been interested in such businesses because of their modest profits and lack of prestige. Blackwater's focus had always been elsewhere, so Dix rarely reported on these ventures.
After his European tour, however, Josh realized the strategic importance of such establishments.
Nightclubs, despite their marginal nature, were excellent sources of information and social interaction. There is some truth to the saying that men have three major interests.
While Josh still didn't appreciate these establishments, he now recognized their value. Fortunately, Blackwater's influence had already infiltrated many related industries.
Especially now that Dix was directing significant Blackwater resources toward Las Vegas.
"Boss?" Seeing Josh pause at the entrance, Vito, one of his guards, spoke to remind him.
Josh, who had come back to his senses, nodded and, after being warmly received by the doorman, walked into the nightclub, while the other bodyguard next to Vito also handed over a tip.
More striking, however, were the array of barely dressed women who stood in the hallway, bowing and greeting Josh and his escort in sync.
Josh, accustomed to far more lavish displays during his European travels, maintained his composure. After scanning the lineup, he chose a woman who seemed the most attractive and had her link arms with him as they proceeded.
He had no real interest in such women. It was simply a matter of blending in. Walking around this place as three unaccompanied men would undoubtedly draw unwanted attention.
The kind of gossip he'd heard in Paris was not something he wanted to encounter in Chicago.
"Mr. Kahn?" As they entered a large hall, a stunning woman, also barely dressed, approached Josh and called him by name.
"That's me," Josh replied.
"I'm Wilma. Mr. Malick has been expecting you. Please, this way." The woman pointed to a door at the side of the hall.
Josh nodded and followed, with Vito and the other guard in follow.
They were led into a spacious private room where a middle-aged man with a thick beard sat on a long sofa. Two guards stood at a distance behind him.
The man was unmistakably Wilfred Malick.
"Ah, Mr. Kahn! You're here at last! Please, have a seat," Malick greeted Josh warmly, gesturing for him to sit down.
"The pleasure is mine, Mr. Malick. I've heard a lot about you," Josh replied as he confidently sat down.
"Haha, just a little fame. Compared to you, Mr. Kahn, I'm nothing." Malick replied, avoiding any foolish questions about how Josh knew him. After all, Malick's family was well-known, and the invitation he sent clearly identified him. It wasn’t as if Josh, a man of his stature, would respond to an anonymous invite.
It was because Josh was very famous in the United States at the moment.
When the military publicized the victory in Europe, especially the Return to the Eagle's Nest project, Josh's name came up.
Compared to the past, when he only appeared in the newspaper once or twice when promoting bonds, Josh was now considered a real leader in various fields and was officially on the list.
Even Roosevelt had heard of someone like Josh.
This was also the reason why Hydra had waited until now to contact Josh... They could also decide whether or not to contact Josh after analyzing and judging Josh's character through all of his actions.
If Josh were a true and determined anti-hydra, then Hydra would not be foolish enough to come forward on its own, but would instead go into temporary hiding, waiting for the opportunity to eliminate Josh, who could potentially threaten Hydra's existence—just like the Project Insight they wanted to accomplish in the future.
However, according to intelligence from Europe, Josh is not a staunch anti-hydra as officially propagated.
Although Europe's Hydra and America's Hydra were completely divided for a time due to Schmidt's betrayal, it would be pure overthinking to really believe that the Council of Nine has no influence in Europe.
You have to know that the origin of Hydra is Britain, not Germany.
And like Britain, they are a meddler who will meddle in everything.
So the Council of Nine was well aware of the fact that Josh had been secretly gathering a lot of power from the former Schmidt faction of Hydra during that time.
Naturally, they wanted to find out what Josh was up to.
"Let's skip the flattery, Mr. Malick. I assume this invitation isn't just for entertainment. Let's talk business," he said with a smile.
Malick chuckled. "Young people get right to the point. Very well. I'm here on behalf of Mr. Chadwick to inquire about Ms. Whitney Frost—his fiancée."
"Hasn't this matter already been covered? DreamWorks and the military's statement made it perfectly clear? Ms. Frost was killed very unfortunately when she stepped on a bomb while out for a walk." Josh replied without missing a beat.
"Oh, Mr. Kahn, I'm afraid it's not that simple. As far as I know, Whitney seemed to have been involved in an intelligence theft case for no reason while she was in London, and was detained by the military for two days. Not two days after she was released, she stepped on a bomb. This is too much of a coincidence!” Malick smiled slightly, trying to continue to make a fuss over Whitney to test Josh.
Josh grinned. "Come on, Mr. Malick. You know better than anyone if her death was accidental. While Ms. Frost may be gone, the Brightlight Serum has undoubtedly fallen into your hands, hasn't it?"
Malick's face hardened. "I don't know what you mean, Mr. Kahn."
"Hail Hydra!" Josh tossed a token engraved with Hydra's emblem onto the table, ignoring the shocked expressions around him as he calmly uttered Hydra's sacred motto.
There was no need for restraint tonight. Apart from Malick and Josh's entourage, no one else would leave this room alive.
