April 17th, Monday

Another day, another dollar. Prohibition era is in full swing. As a man of crime, operating in the underground world off alcohol, drugs and murder, I find myself thriving in this lucrative business. The demand for illegal substances, mainly alcohol is trough the roof, everyone wants to buy. Women, clergy, officers of the law, politicians, hell, even kids are coming this way, buying for their families or for those less fortunate ones for themselves. We aren't doing anything bad, we are just meeting the demand is what often would I tell myself. We are just reaping the profits, supplying the masses with that they crave, they are coming to us, we are not forcing anyone to buy, expect some business that profit from alcohol sales.

It has bee some time since government passed the law and made all of this illegal, banning sale and production of alcohol. Nothing really changed, business was simply moved from the streets into the underground, they created business for us. We did not ask for it, but we will profit of it. Streets are empty and "clean" just as they wanted, but in reality, they are now more full than ever. Hidden drinking establishments are everywhere and not so hidden, but no one cared, no one dared touching the flow of the money, as they all benefited greatly from it. Wherever people gather, my business follows, reaping the benefits of the hotspots for those who are looking to escape the dry law and mundane lives, but indulging in the pleasures of the alcohol. 

Business is expanding, profit is growing, with that, the money that is sent upwards to the big guys. Operations are growing more extensive, we need more people, they are coming every day, more and more. Principles being trampled, religion being pushed aside, legality of it all, ignored. Until recently, those hard working man and women that earned every penny trough their own blood, sweat and tears are now coming my way, looking to get that extra dollar for the family. Operations are growing, it is not only smuggling anymore. We are producing, distilling, brewing and creating those very hotspots that bring the money in, other business follow. Food, gambling, prostitution. With that, growing is the network of associates, both legal and illegal. Politicians, police, gangsters, medical staff... everyone is on it and everyone wants a piece and we will share the wealth, as it keeps us safe and very much alive.

The police is corrupt, always is, always was. Easily bribed, whether in cash or some free booze, occasional dinner on the house and a hooker for the night, it costs us nothing, yet we gain so much. Our reputation as gangsters is changing, still we are considered ruthless, there are people that need to disappear and we are forced to do so, murders, blackmail, stealing, burning, looting, we are doing it all, for sake of the business and everyone who is benefiting from it. But it is changing, we are becoming more and more respected, we feed families, both our as in private and our Omerta families, we are feeding families of all those officers, smugglers, judges, politicians, workers, drivers, distillers, you get the gist of it all.

They money is pouring in, it started corrupting me. I want more, for myself and for the family, pushing more and more upwards. It is a good life, not very safe, but I would rather live 30 years as a king than to die as an old man in some cold and humid apartment at the end of the city just because fair labor was not paid enough. Fancy flats, cars, suits that money can buy, watches, rings, gold, jewelry... When it all started I never expected that I might end up here, but life does not wait, it just lays the path for us, hundreds of choices can be made and we all make them, some end up having everything, some end up having nothing.

Hydra closes the journal, leaving the pen on the side.