Dual wielding volcanoes, killing through the west

Guido wasn't sure what he was thinking, so he continued to threaten, "I know you've been harboring an Italian's enemy. Your horses were bought from that yellow-skinned barbarian. He's quite unhappy about it. You probably don't understand the rules of this city... because when he's unhappy, bad things happen."

Hearing the commotion, members of the opera troupe gradually gathered around.

Despite the language barrier, anyone with eyes could tell that the current situation was far from optimistic. Combined with Zhang Renfeng's earlier intrusion backstage, they could roughly guess what was going on.

Whispering discussions began to rise from the crowd.

Seeing this, Guido revealed a smug smile, twirled the extremely flashy extended-barreled revolver in his hand, and performed a very elegant gunfight.

Calaway watched from the side, snorted coldly, and a look of disdain flashed in his eyes.

"Don't think we won't lay a hand on you just because you're foreigners. Use your brain, which is barely bigger than a donkey's, to think about this: you're on Italian territory right now. Here, we're the law."

"Hand him over, and I can forgive and forget everything that happened in the past. You and your men might still have a chance to live. Otherwise..."

"I'll make sure you don't leave here alive!"

……

Guido secretly cheered in his heart.

Thinking about it carefully, this troublesome yellow-haired guy was actually quite beneficial to him—Yellow-toothed Guy, Carlo, Skinny Pete, several core members of the gang who were more senior than him had all been taken care of by him. At this moment, the only core members left in the Italian gang were himself, Red-haired Charles, and the old and useless Clementine.

The opponent's current confrontational reaction only makes him more certain that he can capture them right here in this theater and hand them over to the Italians, which would undoubtedly be another great achievement.

From that moment on, no one could challenge his position within the gang. He would rise to become the gang's second-in-command, surrounded by beautiful women, wealth, and absolute power. Once he personally captured him… all of this would no longer be a dream!

His neck suddenly felt tight, an unusual sensation that pulled him out of his reverie.

Bow down.

But then a shimmering golden rope was found, somehow, around his neck. Following the direction of the rope, the other end was held in Zhu Kuilong's hand. He gripped the rope expressionlessly, as if leading a silent cow or sheep.

"Wait a minute, what are you doing..."

"Boom--!"

Before he could recover from his confusion, Zhu Kuilong turned to the side and yanked him sharply. Guido instantly lost his balance and crashed headfirst into the floor. The extended revolver in his hand also slipped forward due to the sudden jolt.

"Clap!"

He was stepped on by Zhu Kuilong.

"Shit!" Calaway sobered up instantly—he was the first among everyone to react.

With his exceptional dynamic vision, he managed to catch Zhu Kuilong's movements. But all he knew was that the man opposite him had swayed for a fleeting moment. How he threw the rope and how he landed it so precisely on Guido remained a complete mystery.

Lowering his body and adjusting his center of gravity, Calaway, a seasoned marksman who had lived to this age, quickly adjusted his shooting posture based on his opponent's skill level.

There's no energy left for aiming; you have to rely on muscle memory, which is hip-firing!

……

"when--!!"

The sound of metal clashing together, sparks flying everywhere.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye.

Calaway remained frozen in place, his left hand still holding the gun, as if under a spell. This usually carefree drunkard showed such horror for the first time in public.

It was knocked down...

His prized "speed" was utterly crushed.

The Colt revolver, adorned with a skull and rose carving, that had slid to a distance marked his defeat.

What truly horrified him was that he hadn't seen when or where Zhu Kuilong had drawn the gun. Zhu Kuilong had neither a belt nor a holster; it was as if a brand-new revolver had simply appeared in his hand with a simple reach!

It was only then that most of the sheriffs realized what had happened and began to raise their Lancaster rifles.

"Hold (Stand by) —!!!"

Contrary to his usual behavior, Calaway roared at his men, silencing their attack.

Zhu Kuilong flicked his wrist, and a gilded bracelet appeared in his right hand, which he held high.

At the same time, he gripped the rope buckle tightly with the index finger and thumb of his left hand, and pressed the edge of his cloud blanket with the other three fingers, crouching low as if he were about to lift the cloud blanket at any moment.

With a sudden exertion of force from two fingers, the knot tightened rapidly like a python, causing Guido's face to turn blue and purple. He repeatedly pounded the ground and coughed in pain.

"The Italian gang, right? I've always wanted to meet them. You stole my things, and I've never known who to hold accountable for this, but today I do."

“That’s just his personality. I’m not surprised if he makes enemies with anyone. But on the other hand, I’ve been looking for him for a long time. The time, resources, and energy I’ve invested in this matter far exceed your imagination.”

"Deep-seated grudges, you better get in line at the back..."

His phoenix eyes suddenly snapped open, and he roared, "I said it's your turn, then it's your turn!"

Chapter 244: You're not as smart as you think, Hongzhong (Third update today!)

Zhang Renfeng squeezed through the crowd and was immediately startled when he saw the golden rope around Guido's neck and the bracelet in his right hand.

Sure enough, in the previous duel, apart from the Entangling Silk Force, my senior brother hadn't displayed any other techniques. He was still holding back his strength at about the level it had been seven years ago, just playing around with me. Once we were to get serious, all sorts of strange and wonderful things would probably come out one after another!

Even though he was the one being chased, he turned around and advised, "Senior brother, calm down first. This stalemate isn't going to work... You weren't like this before, were you? This is a proper policeman, you're practically a government official."

Where has your social skills and social graces gone?

"Thanks to someone, my status in the court has plummeted. I can no longer even get into the official, gentry, and wealthy merchant circles I used to be in. I can only return to being a commoner and perform on the streets. Half of my earnings come from wind, and all of mine come from rain! I can barely afford the props I earn in a day."

Zhu Kuilong rolled his eyes at him and said irritably, "You've already fallen so low, with nothing but a worthless life, why bother with social niceties?"

The power of these words left Zhang Renfeng speechless; on this particular matter, he had absolutely no room for rebuttal.

“Besides, what will happen to our duel if they put you in jail?” In Zhu Kuilong’s mind, the sect’s rules were more important than anything else. “I can’t exactly bring two stools to the jail to fight you, can I? Don’t forget, after you lose, I’ll have to take you back.”

“Although I don’t think we’ll lose so easily, but…” Zhang Renfeng seemed to have something difficult to say. After hesitating for a long time, he lowered his voice and explained, “This matter is actually not as dangerous as you think. It’s just a formality.”

"What do you mean?" Zhu Kuilong frowned. "You're going with them?"

"Don't worry, senior brother, I know what I'm doing." Zhang Renfeng's tone was very confident, just like Zhu Kuilong remembered, as if he could handle anything with ease. "That bastard named Angelo... has poisoned this city too deeply. He has harmed too many good people. Now that I've seen it, this matter is far from over."

"I will not only destroy his physical body, but also uproot his arrogance!"

"..."

Seeing that he had gone this far, Zhu Kuilong said no more. With a flick of his wrist, the rope loosened on its own and slid down from Jido's neck. He was finally freed from the agony of suffocation, his eyes wide open, gasping for air, accompanied by violent coughing. Having suffered so much, his entire demeanor had diminished, and he dared not make any further rash moves. He merely glared resentfully at Zhu Kuilong, but when he saw the coil of rope in Zhu's hand, a look of lingering fear crossed his face, and he sheepishly took a step back.

He stepped back, leaving only Calaway to maintain the facade. He pulled a pair of handcuffs from his pocket and waved them at Zhang Renfeng, as if asking if he minded.

The outstretched hands said it all.

With a "click," the tight metallic sound of the handcuffs clicking rang out, and Zhang Renfeng's wrists were completely handcuffed.

“I heard that the guy who assassinated Abraham Lincoln was wearing one of these on his wrist when he was on trial,” Calaway said casually. “Using it on you is quite an over-the-top treatment.”

"Really?" Zhang Renfeng seemed quite interested, his eyes lighting up. "The president... is that the most powerful person in this country?"

“How would I know?” Calaway said, unconcerned about such things, rubbing his nose. “No matter how much power you have, if you get shot in the back, you’ll still have to go see God. If you ask me, of all the people and things God has arranged in the world, this is the fairest one.”

"Finally! You've fallen into our hands, you yellow-skinned barbarian!"

Guido's voice was already hoarse, perhaps from losing face in front of everyone. His expression was unusually ferocious, as if he wanted to immediately pull out his gun and use bullets and gunfire to wash away his shame. "Just wait, in the next few days, we'll have plenty of time to let you know what it means to offend the Italians..."

"Boom!"

Zhang Renfeng plunged his toes into the ground, and with a slight flick of his ankle, a sharp, splinter-like piece of wood flew out of thin air, grazing Jido's neck and instantly silencing his incessant chatter. With a hiss, it flew over ten meters and embedded itself deeply in the wall, without the slightest tremor.

If someone brushes with death twice in one day, even the toughest man would back down, let alone someone who's just pretending to be tough.

He touched the side of his neck, and when his palm opened and the glaring crimson blood hit his eyes, Guido immediately closed his eyes and even took two steps back.

“That’s right.” Zhang Renfeng nodded in satisfaction, but said with a hint of sarcasm, “If you want to make threats, you’d better stay far away.”

"At this distance, killing you is as easy as eating or drinking."

----

San Quintucker, police station, first floor detention area.

It is a big city after all; even the layout of the prison is not on the same level as that of other towns.

Unlike those town prisons with their damp, sunless walls, where prisoners seem destined to rot in mold, the cells here are all individual cubicles. They're somewhat like zoo cages, keeping various animals inside for people outside to observe. Officers and prisoners share the same room, separated by a thin pane of glass and an iron door.

To show their respect for Zhang Renfeng, they prepared a luxurious private room for him in the center of the hall.

"Someone will come to see you in a bit." Calaway opened the cell door, tossed him a pack of cigarettes, and instructed, "Take it easy and talk to him slowly, whatever he wants to talk to you about."

"So fast?" Zhang Renfeng was somewhat surprised, his eyes widening slightly, before he revealed a disdainful expression. "He doesn't even have this much patience, he can't wait to show his true colors. It really makes one wonder how he got to this position."

“They have connections, look at me, I’m the best example.” Calaway seemed to still be recovering from a hangover, half-closing his eyes and laughing self-deprecatingly, “As long as you’re in the right place and make the right choices, even if I was a wanted criminal before, I can transform myself and put on this glamorous outfit.”

"In a person's lifetime, there are only one or two truly pivotal opportunities that can determine their destiny. If you seize them, there will be a dramatic change."

"You agree, right, Red Center?"

……

"Don't look at me like that, there are only two reasons." Calaway waved his hand, a hint of cunning appearing in his devilish smile. "First, I'm not as stupid as you think."

"Secondly... you're not as smart as you think."

"Since you know this, why are you still helping me?" Taking action here would undoubtedly be a poor strategy. After pondering for a moment, Zhang Renfeng still asked, "Considering more practical factors, wouldn't it be more profitable to exchange my head for the bounty?"

"Heh...hehe...kid, you've only been to two states, that's nothing." Calaway shook his head with a smile, suddenly adopting the tone of an elder instructing a junior, "To be honest, your bounty is nothing special in my eyes."

"I'll consider it when you become a wanted person across the entire territory, just like us."

Chapter 245: I just happen to know a good lawyer

Zhang Renfeng never imagined that one day he would use the eight characters "hearing his voice before seeing him" to describe a man.

A series of nauseating laughs came through the glass and iron gate. Looking through the gaps in the cage, most of the sheriffs stood up, their faces beaming, to welcome the Italians.

This scene makes one wonder whether the daytime job of a sheriff is his primary duty or a side job. Interestingly, Chief Inspector Calaway didn't join in; instead, he leaned against the wall, drinking by himself with a sneer on his face, simply observing as if watching a farce.

Finally, with the sound of the key turning, the heavy iron door slowly opened, and Zhang Renfeng finally saw his face clearly.

He was slender, with a smiling face, a floral headband tied around his forehead, a flashy shirt, a purple tie, and a sash-shaped scarf draped over his shoulders.

His outfit had a very avant-garde fashion sense, completely out of place in this city. His lips were pursed, as if he were always giving a breathy smile, but like an anglerfish's lantern, it was nothing more than a trap to lure people in.

No one would believe that this man, who controls half the city, would be as friendly as he appears.

He walked alone at the front, followed by the Italian gang's henchmen and the police officers from the station. Without exception, they all looked at him with considerable hostility. But Zhang Renfeng, who was used to all sorts of big scenes, felt inexplicably amused when he saw them all staring at him with serious expressions.

Surrounded by a large group of people, Angelo enjoyed the limelight, chatting and laughing with a slightly overweight man in a black suit next to him.

“See that, Clementa, the barbarian locked in a cage. You always seemed to have some unrealistic predictions about him… but now it’s all over.” Angelo’s tone carried a slight hint of smugness. “Like all uncivilized beasts, he was locked in a cage, while I was outside.”

"But it's alright, I understand you. As a strategist... you're getting a bit too old, so it's normal for you to make some misjudgments."

Angelo chuckled and patted Clementza's protruding belly, making two muffled thuds. "You've aged too much, my friend. This line of work is no longer suitable for you. It's the young people's world now. Just live a peaceful life in your little detached house with your cat."

Clementa's expression was somewhat complicated, it was hard to tell whether he was happy or embarrassed. He stood to the side, his back slightly hunched, like a lackey.

"Look who this is?" After mocking his own strategist, Angelo bent down and, with the air of an absolute victor, knocked on the iron bars of the big boss's house. "Oh... it's you... to be honest, I don't even know your name yet."

"My surname is Zhang." Zhang Renfeng leaned back in his chair, sitting lazily, and grinned. "The pronunciation of my name is a bit complicated. In your local dialect..."

I don't care what your name is.

Angelo gripped the railing with both hands, pressed his headscarf against it, widened his eyes, and interrupted him, "Who do you think you are? You're just another one of my defeated opponents! Every now and then, someone like you pops up. If I had to remember all your names, my head would have exploded long ago."

"Is that so?" Zhang Renfeng's expression was very relaxed. Even though he was the one locked in the cage, he looked at Angelo with an expression as if he were watching a monkey show. "I'm really sorry that you lost tens of dollars. You won't hold it against me, will you?"

"..." Angelo's face turned ashen, and the smile that had been on his face was about to burst.

The world is vast, but the US dollar is the greatest.

For a seasoned veteran like Angelo, nothing can truly break his defenses except money.

Zhang Renfeng was well aware of this. He had successfully ruined many of Zhang's businesses—private liquor, casinos, underground boxing matches—and countless of his underlings had been killed. A rough estimate suggested a loss of at least ten thousand yuan. Since this money couldn't be made public, Angelo had no choice but to swallow his pride and deliberately say it was "a few dozen yuan," giving the impression of someone who had gotten a good deal but was still acting innocent.

"Damn yellow-skinned bastard... Who do you think you are, a masked hero?" After breaking down, Angelo's tone became even sharper, "You trespassed on my territory, broke my rules, and for what reason?"

“You are nothing, just a stinking yellow bastard. Nobody will even give you a second glance when you walk down the street.”

"And I, I 'own' this city!" He spread his arms wide like a peacock displaying its plumage, a gesture that was both furious and intimidating. "I can easily decide when and where you die. And I guarantee I will make sure you die in the most agonizing moment, making you repent for every decision you've made!"

"..."

Zhang Renfeng suppressed his smile and slowly stood up.