Chapter 46: Allied Powers + Entente Powers vs. United States Army

The pressure fell entirely on the Prohibition Bureau.

Commissioner John Cramer’s hair was falling out in handfuls.

At this point, the Bureau had no choice but to step up.

The "dry faction" not only demanded action from them, but also insisted on a sweeping victory to wipe out the "rebels" and ruthlessly crush the momentum of the "wet faction."

The problem was that John Cramer, for the love of God, could not find anyone willing to lead the charge right now!

He could obtain regular military support, but not a single officer wanted to get involved.

If not for the spectacle pulled off by the Chicagoans, no matter how fierce the bandits were, they would never have been taken seriously by U.S. army officers, united as one.

But now?

Fighting had been turned into a circus act by the Chicagoans. Winning was expected and would not bring any promotion, while losing would be an absolute laughingstock.

There was no need, absolutely no need; dispatching a few common foot soldiers was the most the Prohibition Bureau deserved.

After searching everywhere, John Cramer made the pathetic discovery that the only commander he could rely on was still Colonel William, who was recovering in the hospital.

Deeply gloomy after being thoroughly battered by the Chicago bandits, Colonel William wasn't afraid to lead a team for revenge, but he felt obliged to offer a reminder:

"Sir, this is a conspiracy by the Chicagoans."

"I know. Not only have we lost the moral high ground, but our hands are tied as well!"

John Cramer said with an equally gloomy expression.

"However, everyone is forcing us into a frontal assault. William, to be frank, the current situation is grim for the Prohibition Bureau."

Colonel William remained silent.

Fearing that William might be frightened, John Cramer hurriedly comforted him, "Look on the bright side. The previous defeat was just a bunch of thugs bullying people with sheer firepower. With everything brought to light, I can equip you with more troops and stronger firepower. No matter how you look at it, the advantage is ours!"

Colonel William stayed silent.

The unsettlingly familiar words cast a shadow over his heart.

Sir, that is the logic of a normal person, but are those damn Chicagoans normal people?

...

The situation remained silent, silently fermenting.

The West Coast.

Los Angeles at this time was not yet the City of Angels of later generations, but it already possessed a hint of the glamour of a movie capital.

Michael Vaden was one of the directors who had come here to chase his dreams.

He had been a war correspondent for the U.S. military during World War I and transitioned into directing after the war ended, constantly looking for an opportunity to make a war film.

Alas, novice directors are always stuck at the very first step of dream-chasing: failing to secure investment.

Fortunately, on this particular day, an investor suddenly approached him, offering to finance a major war epic.

"I must state in advance that this carries a certain amount of danger."

Michael Vaden understood. "Is it because you are pursuing a higher level of realism? I have no problem with that; I’ve even been to the battlefield..."

"No, I mean, it is a one-hundred-percent real war. You are going to the battlefield once again."

Michael Vaden had a bad premonition. "Where did you say you were from just now?"

"Chicago!"

Michael Vaden's eyes widened.

In the entire United States right now, who hadn't heard of the bizarre happenings in Chicago?

"So, what I am going to film is..."

"Correct, a tournament battle between the Chicago mafia and the Prohibition Bureau."

Michael Vaden was speechless, tilting his head back to look at the sky.

What the actual hell!

You bunch of lunatics are not only forcing the Prohibition Bureau into a gladiatorial match, but you want to make a movie out of it too?

That’s going too far, my friend, way too far!

Michael Vaden quickly packed his luggage. "When do we start shooting?"

"Right now!"

...

When Michael Vaden arrived in Chicago, he realized that the film he was going to direct was not an "ordinary" war movie.

In the words of Logan, the planner, they were going to make a "reality show" movie!

"We have already communicated with quite a few theaters to shoot the Chicago war as a long series of films, released in separate units such as pre-war, outbreak of war, and post-war, allowing audiences across America to enjoy the Prohibition battle simultaneously."

"Well, maybe not simultaneously, but it must be fast. Shoot fast, edit fast, release fast."

Before Michael Vaden could even marvel at Logan’s bizarre train of thought, he couldn't help but complain, "Impossible, movies aren't made this way..."

Logan waved a hand. "I don't need you to tell me how to make a movie. I just need you to use your camera to capture the real war as it happens, and edit it according to my requirements. That's all."

"Finish it a day ahead of schedule, and I'll give you an extra five thousand dollars in bonus!"

Michael Vaden swallowed back the "Then I can't do this job" that was about to slip out of his mouth.

Damn it, this is why these ruthless capitalists are the most hateful—they always throw money around to get their way.

"I can start working right now."

Five thousand extra for finishing a day early? He would grind his fingers to the bone!

Michael Vaden received the latest model of a sound motion picture camera—unbeknownst to Logan, he was launching the world's first feature-length sound film.

Well, if this could really be considered a movie.

Michael Vaden aimed the lens at a rugged-looking German veteran.

This was a mercenary recruited by the mafia from Europe.

"Hans, why did you come to participate in this tournament battle?"

Hans answered honestly, "Because just signing up gives me twenty thousand dollars in settlement money, and I can collect another ten thousand after the fight. If unfortunately I die, my family will receive an extra twenty thousand..."

Michael Vaden was instantly filled with a sense of empathy.

We are all poor souls here, everyone just selling their lives to ruthless capitalists!

However...

"You can't say it like that. Come on, this is your actual line."

...

"Let's go again, naturally. Hans, why did you participate in the tournament?"

"Because drinking made my life different. After experiencing the cruel war, in order to seek relaxation for my body and liberation for my soul—I must drink! At that moment, my dead ego returned to my body once more..."

"I cannot imagine what those veterans who went to the battlefield should do after the U.S. enforced prohibition. I heard there are veterans in Chicago rising up for the right to drink, so I came."

"I came to prove that old soldiers never die!"

Hearing certain phrases that sounded inexplicably familiar, Michael Vaden lowered his voice to ask Logan, who was nodding in satisfaction beside him, "Who wrote this?"

Logan casually replied, "I copied it from Upton Sinclair's novel *The Jungle*."

Michael Vaden was speechless, once again gazing at the heavens.

Although I knew this whole affair was far from serious from beginning to end, did it really have to be run by such a makeshift crew?

Yet, even with such a hastily assembled makeshift crew, employing shooting, editing, dubbing, and scoring methods that Logan considered utterly amateurish, they managed to deliver the finished product just before the outbreak of the war.

Coinciding with the highest-tier propaganda method of the era—the release of the film—the *Sun* launched a massive promotional campaign for the "Chicago Faith Tournament Battle"!

...

Upon catching wind of the news, the Prohibition Bureau directly booked a movie theater in Washington.

To John Cramer's surprise, this turned out to be a sound film, but his attention was immediately captured entirely by the content.

Accompanied by the opening music, a gentle male voice spoke: "Welcome to watch *World War II (Mini Edition)*, part of the documentary film series chronicling the Chicago Battle of Faith. This series will comprehensively present to you the origins and conclusion of this legendary war..."

The scene shifted to reveal Hans, accompanied by a narrator's voice: "This is Hans, an outstanding former German army non-commissioned officer. Drinking is a part of his life. Let us hear why he crossed the Atlantic to participate in the anti-prohibition war in America."

Following Hans was an Italian soldier: "This is Matteo, a former Italian sub-lieutenant..."

Then came an Irish soldier: "This is Tyger, a former British army sergeant..."

"What you are seeing are hundreds of European veterans who, driven by their inner beliefs, eagerly crossed the ocean to participate in the pro-prohibition and anti-prohibition war in Chicago."

"Coincidentally, the South Side tournament is dominated by the Central Powers from the European war, while the North Side tournament is dominated by the Allied Powers. Times have changed, and now, the Central forces will unite with the Allied forces to fight the active-duty U.S. military, historically known as—World War II (Mini Edition)!"

The entire "movie" lasted less than forty minutes, interspersed with photographs of cheering, enthusiastic Chicago crowds, monologues of European veterans, and scenes of training and drinking.

Resolute gazes, violent gunfire, hearty drinking, paired with stirring music—the atmosphere was ignited!

Yet, the members of the Prohibition Bureau felt only a deep, profound malice!

After a long, prolonged silence, John Cramer stood up in rage, drew his gun, and riddled the screen with bullet holes.

"F*ck the damned *Sun*, f*ck the damned Chicagoans!"

"We can't drag our feet anymore, or we'll end up fighting the entire world alone!" (Expressed with bitter indignation)