New York

However, today's New York Small Newspaper would likely disappoint him.

Tony opened the newspaper in his hand, and what greeted his eyes was a black and white photograph.

This surprised him immensely, as small newspapers generally didn't print photos because it consumed more ink.

This was the first time he had seen a photo in a small newspaper for a long time.

The black and white photo might have been very clear when taken, but when printed on the newspaper, it became somewhat blurry.

However, even if blurry, one could still make out the content with a bit of time.

Tony looked closely, and finally, he understood what the photo was about.

It seemed to be a banner hung across a street. The words on it weren't entirely clear, but they were legible.

'The highest masters and the lowest bandits in America are useless to society as a whole; they are all bandits...'

"Whoa!"

After clearly seeing the words in the photo, Tony's scalp tingled.

This was the first time he had seen such... such rebellious words!

Damn it, who was this person? How dared they utter such profound words?

Tony felt his scalp warm, his heart pounded, and the words made him feel a sudden enlightenment, or perhaps, an emotional breakdown.

Tony's fingers suddenly clutched the newspaper in his hand, his nails even piercing the thin pages.

"Huff, huff, huff!"

Tony took deep breaths; he felt dizzy. These words were like a giant pendulum that suddenly slammed him awake, yet also made him feel guilty, afraid of being seen and reported to prison.

But with just this one sentence, the one cent he paid was already completely worth it.

Thinking of this, Tony couldn't help but carefully take the newspaper back to the repair shop, then entered the restroom. After confirming he was alone, he cautiously began to read.

"'The American West May Usher in True Prosperity, the End of the American East Has Arrived!'

The content of this small newspaper is entirely written by the small newspaper reporter Toby based on his observations in the American West, without any exaggeration.

There has always been a group of American literati who, after the American Civil War, blindly satirized the American West and glorified the greatness of the American East, without distinguishing right from wrong or black from white.

I used to think so too. If it weren't for the newspaper's impending bankruptcy, which fortunately led me to work in the American West, perhaps I wouldn't have had these experiences.

To be honest, I once felt proud and honored that America was a free country. I also felt a sense of pride and prestige from the praise for America.

If I really hadn't seen the American West.

In my mind, and in the works of those American literati, the American West has always been a symbol of savagery, backwardness, and incompetence.

It wasn't until I saw a disabled veteran with no legs pouring me a drink in a tavern in Rhodes, a town in the American West, that I realized my perception had always been wrong.

In the tavern in Rhodes, I saw that all the service staff were disabled; some were missing arms, others missing legs. I didn't understand why the owner of this place would hire these disabled people; it seemed like a complete waste of money.

However, through inquiry, I learned that these people were all veterans who had retired from the United States Army. Their disabilities were a result of fighting for the country.

Because of this, I couldn't help but feel very guilty.

But they told me not to feel guilty, because they didn't ask for our pity; having Mr. Van der Linde pity them was already enough.

For many years, because of their disabilities, they had been begging in the American East, unable to find work at all. The relief and subsidies that the United States Government should have provided were nonexistent, and many of them starved or froze to death.

But now it's different. The American West, which we call a wild land, doesn't care about their disabilities. It hires them, giving them a job that can support themselves, allowing them to be self-reliant and have their own dignity.

The American East prides itself on freedom, democracy, and human rights, but I once saw hundreds of veterans gathered at the gates of the Washington government, wearing ragged and dirty clothes, holding up 'protest' signs, demanding that the United States Government issue their veteran's pay and relief funds that should have been distributed twenty years ago.

The American West is rumored to be a backward place, but its humanitarian care has become the final refuge for countless disabled veterans and those who cannot survive.

At this moment, I can't help but reflect: Is democracy truly democracy when it's merely proclaimed verbally, or is it when people are given a job, allowing them to live a healthy life, that human rights are truly upheld?"

Hiding in the restroom, Tony felt deeply shocked as he read the newspaper in his hand. He then recalled the scene of protesting veterans he had seen at the government gates recently, which made him feel even more strongly that the words in the newspaper were incredibly accurate and profound.

"Damn it, I can't believe the books I usually read were actually deceptions written with subjective biases!

This is simply a crime of deceiving the populace!"

Tony felt particularly angry, and at the same time, developed a great curiosity and fondness for the American West.

A thought suddenly arose in his mind: to save money, buy a train ticket, and go to the American West.

Of course, perhaps he could read more of this New York Small Newspaper before deciding whether to go to the American West.

The New York Small Newspaper was quietly spreading within New York State, in small numbers. Most of its readers were those with little money, as the price was indeed cheap.

The original New York Small Newspaper didn't have any particularly memorable news, but today's issue made most people who read it remember the image and the newspaper's name.

Most people, like Tony, found the newspaper very interesting and thought they might buy another copy next time to see the situation in the American West.

And some retired veterans, who had received the newspaper and were desperate but didn't know about the Veteran Club, had already made up their minds, sold all their belongings, bought a boat ticket, and headed for the American West.

There was no hope left in the American East, so it was better to go to the American West and see. If it was truly as described in the newspaper, then they would indeed have a new lease on life.

----

"Signor Bronte, here is today's New York Times."

The servant delivering the newspaper brought New York's most authoritative newspaper, the New York Times, into Signor Bronte's room.

That's right, Signor Bronte had already arrived in New York and had begun his plan with the money provided by Mr. Van der Linde.

For a Big Boss like him, who had made his way in the less regulated American West, the New York gangs, bound by more rules, were undoubtedly small fries in his eyes.

Signor Bronte had already made a slight name for himself in this place, thanks to the people he had recruited and Mr. Martelli's ruthlessness.

However, the time was still too short, and his foundation was insufficient. To grow stronger quickly and provide greater value to Mr. Van der Linde, he was now sitting in this luxurious hotel suite, waiting for people to come and recruit him.

A woman sat on the bed, affectionately holding Signor Bronte's head, allowing Signor Bronte to lean comfortably while reading the New York Times.

"Eliza, go to the hospital more often these two days." Signor Bronte's vision had broadened significantly due to the ups and downs, and he had recently started to enjoy reading various political newspapers.

Of course, his main goal was to look at the names of officials and their related positions, then find opportunities to corrupt them, adding more parasites from the American East for Mr. Van der Linde.

"Are you really going to send me to the American West?" Eliza asked softly, holding Signor Bronte's head.

"Of course, only there can Mr. Van der Linde protect you, and protect my child!

Damn it, I've never craved having a child as much as I do now!" Signor Bronte's eyes were filled with desire, the desire for a child.

His fondness for Jack in the game might also be due to this reason.

He longed to have a child, but he didn't dare to. Now, standing with Mr. Van der Linde, he finally dared.

This had become his nightmare for many years.

He wanted a legacy!

Just as the two were being affectionate, the room door was knocked again, and then the voice of the legendary survivor, Mr. Martelli, sounded from outside.

"Big Boss, Mr. Smith wants to see you. I think he might be interested in our armed firepower."

Signor Bronte suddenly sat up from the bed.

"Good! Tell his people that we will go to the banquet tonight."

"Yes, Big Boss!" Mr. Martelli's voice disappeared outside the door.

A cold smile appeared on Signor Bronte's face.

"Money, money, money. How much money is considered rich? Why is it always so easy to control them with money?"