Chicago!There's no need for too much elaboration. Among the entire Great Lakes region, it's one of the most prosperous and developed cities, with a population of over two million people. Various universities, businesses, and government organizations are all present, and canals and railways converge here as well. At least a third of the wealth in the Great Lakes region flows into this city day and night.However, let's take a look for ourselves before making judgments. As soon as they stepped off the first-class train car, Niall and Frederick were immediately struck by the stifling heat. Chicago was much hotter compared to the cooler mountain town of Brook, despite being located further north.
A courteous train attendant helped the two men unload their luggage and navigated them through the bustling crowd, guiding them through a special staff passage. The reason? Obviously, it was because Frederick generously tipped the attendant with a one-dollar bill.The economic crisis had long since drained the common folk's pride. If they went to Pittsburgh now, the same taxi driver who had previously rejected Frederick's tip would likely feel embarrassed and take the money without hesitation.
Before they could even exit the station, their impeccable outfits—diamond tie clips that shone under the sun, sapphire-studded watches, and silk handkerchiefs embroidered in England—caused a stir. A large group of ragged, emaciated men, women, and children rushed toward Frederick. To be honest, describing white people as "black" might seem inaccurate, but the reality was that the poor white citizens in front of them resembled the stereotypical "black" poor—thin, dehydrated, numb, and reeking.
Their words were nothing but pleas: "Please, spare a coin." Or "My child hasn't eaten for days, sir, please help him." This was the general sentiment that flooded the air.The attentive train attendant immediately blew her whistle loudly. Three guards emerged from the nearby guardhouse, wielding clubs, and began to beat the crowd, striking hard. Yet, instead of dispersing, the crowd's wails grew even louder and more desperate. Many of them held their heads and faces, now bruised and bloodied from the blows, with eyes deeply sunken, looking at Frederick as if begging for mercy.
"Do you have any spare change?" Frederick asked, covering his nose and mouth with his handkerchief. Initially, he had done so due to the poor air quality in Chicago, but now it also helped mask the stench coming from the crowd."A little..." Niall replied as he rummaged through his pockets."Little" was an understatement; Niall had plenty of coins. Coming from a farming family, he had never really used paper dollars. Most of his purchases, from necessities to alcohol and meat, were all priced in small coins. His cloth pocket was always full of them.
"Consider this my loan to you." Frederick reached into Niall's pocket and pulled out a handful of coins. He tossed them out to the crowd. The moment the coins hit the ground, the impoverished beggars and wanderers, who had been relentlessly beaten and were not willing to move, instantly scattered, rushing to collect the scattered coins. This allowed Frederick and Niall to finally escape. The two of them hurried off, and though they saw three of the guards mixing into the crowd to pick up the coins, they managed to slip away without further incident.
"Isn't Chicago supposed to be incredibly rich? Why does it look like this?" Frederick said as he and Niall climbed into a taxi.The reason Frederick had dressed so ostentatiously was to avoid being noticed as a newcomer in Chicago. He used to tip only a half-dollar, but now he gave a full dollar—it was all part of the same logic.However, upon arriving in Chicago, the situation was quite different. While the city boasted impressive skyscrapers, it seemed that the common people here were living worse than the small farmers in Brook County. Many of them were barely clothed.
"It's the economic crisis causing all this." Niall had expected Chicago, as a major city, to not fare too well, and this was exactly what they encountered.Chicago was indeed prosperous, with wealth flowing in and dense population numbers—these were undeniable facts. However, factory closures and bankruptcies were also a reality.
Additionally, with a large influx of African American migrants from the South seeking work and opportunities, competition for jobs had intensified. What had once been a city of abundant employment had now seen a sharp decline in job opportunities. Due to well-known reasons, the first people to be laid off and unemployed were often African Americans.No work meant no income. When people were destitute, they would resort to any means of survival—stealing, robbing, and committing crimes. Local gangs also contributed to the rising crime rates as they fought over territory, causing the city's law and order to rapidly deteriorate.
To put it bluntly, the urban area of Chicago was no longer suitable for living.In twenty or thirty years, Chicago would become a "black city," both literally and figuratively. The city center would quickly turn into slums and dilapidated areas, while the relatively wealthier citizens would move to the suburbs.
The conversation between the two men had caught the attention of their taxi driver. Frederick's wealth was apparent in his attire, and Niall looked like a professional assistant. It was clear they were newcomers to Chicago, and their luggage seemed quite heavy. Just the diamond gold tie clip on Frederick's chest alone was worth quite a bit.
"Business isn't great this month..." the driver thought to himself."Take us to this address," Frederick said, handing the driver a piece of paper, breaking the driver's moment of reflection."Yes, sir."
The driver took the address, which turned out to be a hotel owned by the Italian mafia, where many key mafia figures were said to be staying. Whether Frederick was going there to meet with a mafia boss or to negotiate a deal, the driver quickly dismissed any unrealistic thoughts. He stepped on the accelerator, and the taxi sped off, ready to take the two men to the hotel.The streets of Chicago were a far cry from their usual bustling state. With no decent jobs, many people had sold their cars, and the streets were filled with fewer automobiles and more horse-drawn carriages. Pedestrians, either in a hurry or aimlessly wandering like zombies, filled the streets. Once known for having the best public health system in the U.S., Chicago now had garbage scattered everywhere.
The taxi finally pulled up to the hotel. Frederick and Niall got out, and the driver, seeing a notorious gangster approaching Frederick to strike up a conversation, breathed a sigh of relief before speeding off.