Chapter 158: Ch.157 Establishing a Distillery

Chapter 158: Ch.157 Establishing a Distillery

Su Ming carried the small barrel of liquor as he quickly made his way through the underground passages. The appearance of the Sorcerer Supreme had added a sense of reality to his situation. This wasn't just any normal 20th-century New York; it was the Marvel Universe, where people with extraordinary powers existed, whether seen or unseen.

There was nothing wrong with his plan, and the Ancient One's attitude didn't pose any issues either. However, he needed to accelerate his progress and expand the scale of his operations.

Soon, he found an abandoned underground reservoir that suited his needs perfectly. He deliberately chose this location because it was directly beneath 177A Bleecker Street.

In other words, he was setting up shop right under the New York Sanctum.

If the Ancient One loved to watch, then she could get her fill as a neighbor. She might be curious about something new, but observing the same thing for decades would likely cause her to overlook certain details—an example of the psychological tactic known as "hiding in plain sight."

She wouldn't question him about it either; from her perspective, Su Ming knew nothing, and his choice of location was purely coincidental.

Another advantage of this spot was the New York Sanctum itself. It had a similar effect to the Muggle-Repelling Charm from "Harry Potter." If you weren't a guest of the sorcerers, you wouldn't see it, making it the perfect cover for his distillery.

On this street, there was a 176 and a 178, but no 177A. People who weren't invited by the sorcerers would subconsciously ignore the oddity, which meant that no one from the surface would be able to find Su Ming's distillery.

The Ancient One was right—it wouldn't be their last meeting. Now, they would be neighbors, encountering each other often. Su Ming, in a way, was becoming a constant presence, like a familiar face seen every day.

The Ancient One probably used cosmetics too, he thought idly.

After choosing the site, he proceeded to purchase some equipment and raw materials. Being as strong as a human crane, he simply rented a truck, drove to the coast, found a drainage tunnel, and moved everything underground. Using the complex underground tunnels, he transported the equipment to the space beneath the Sanctum and assembled it. The small barrel of liquor given by the Ancient One also came in handy as a starter batch.

The next day, he began recruiting workers. He targeted former distillery workers or unemployed individuals with no ambition, prioritizing those with families, especially those with elderly relatives or children.

The Prohibition era had caused many legitimate distilleries to close down, so there were plenty of workers available. Su Ming didn't have to look far; just walking through a few slum areas, he found many sunbathers who had once been brewers.

The bolder ones were already brewing their own moonshine, but these people, due to various concerns, were afraid to start up their own operations. Su Ming planned to bring them on board.

These workers were desperate for money, and their families made them easier to control. Su Ming had the funds and the power; all he needed was their loyalty.

Moonshining was a risky business that could land you in jail, so the wages were correspondingly high.

However, recruiting was easier than Su Ming had anticipated. All he had to do was approach someone like a spy making contact.

"Hey, have you heard of Amway?" Su Ming asked in a secretive manner, his shifty behavior piquing their curiosity and making them more willing to listen.

"Amway... what's that?" the target asked, confused.

"Don't ask what it is. There's a job that pays $100 a month. Are you interested?" Su Ming lit a cigarette and asked nonchalantly.

"Yes, yes! I'll do it!" The target's face lit up with excitement.

Who wouldn't take the bait? The average worker's wage at this time was $20, and Su Ming was offering five times that.

Su Ming gathered the workers together and led them through the labyrinthine tunnels to the distillery. When they realized they'd be making liquor, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

"Sure thing, boss."

A young man with glasses followed him, jotting down his instructions.

He was an Irish immigrant Su Ming had stumbled upon during his recruitment. The young man was literate, a rarity in this era, where the literacy rate was around 14%. Finding someone who could read and was quick-witted was no easy task, so Su Ming had kept him close to handle errands and day-to-day management.

After all, the distillery was underground, and Su Ming couldn't live there full-time. He had rented a small apartment across from the New York Sanctum and managed everything remotely.

Irish names could be strange, especially those of Nordic descent. Su Ming couldn't pronounce the young man's original name; it sounded like a string of incantations.

For convenience, Su Ming gave him a new nickname: "Gin." After all, they were running a distillery, so why shouldn't his men have liquor-related code names?

Of course, the vibe was entirely different. The other "Gin" was a long-haired assassin in black; Su Ming's was a skinny guy with glasses.

"I'll be staying in the bar from now on, to prevent any trouble. If you have any trustworthy family or friends, bring them in to work here. The pay is $80 a month."

Seeing how enthusiastically the workers were cleaning, Su Ming mentioned hiring more staff, which made them very happy. After all, the pay was excellent.

Such a good opportunity was best given to family first. Friends couldn't be trusted as much as family, and it was better for the money to stay

within the family.

Su Ming had a purpose behind this. By tying the workers and their families to his business through blood and money, he was securing their loyalty.

"Alright, this underground bar isn't small, but I only need 20 people. Think carefully about who you want, and submit the list to Gin," Su Ming said, patting the young man on the shoulder, causing him to wobble. "He'll review and approve them. Just a reminder: if you bring in someone untrustworthy, it'll end badly for everyone involved. I'm not running a charity."

"Of course, boss. I'll have my little brother come in tomorrow. He's totally reliable!"

"Right, boss. Do you need a pianist? My son can play a bit."

Seeing their eagerness, Su Ming turned to Gin and said, "You know what to do, right?"

"Leave it to me, boss."

Gin pushed up his glasses, showing a confident expression.

Su Ming was curious about what the young man had done before. With that kind of poise, did he really need to come to America as an immigrant? What was he hiding?

But Su Ming hadn't found anything suspicious. The young man was alone, spent most of his time with Su Ming, and hadn't done anything wrong.

If you're going to use someone, you have to trust them. I'm not Batman; I don't need to suspect everyone.

Su Ming nodded, turning to walk deeper into the basement, where a small room had been sectioned off as his quarters.

"It's all in your hands now. If you do well, the bar and distillery will be yours to manage in the future."