Dual wielding volcanoes, killing through the west

Before he could finish speaking, Calaway waved his hand and laughed, "Speaking of which, you and I weren't always like this, were we?"

"Didn't you recruit me to your side to intimidate the Italian gang and prevent them from acting rashly?"

Mason acquiesced.

The bond of shared interests is often more powerful than emotional factors.

Mason was helpless against the gang members lurking in the streets and alleys. At the very least, he couldn't let Angelo win over the police force any longer; he had to keep it firmly in his own hands. For various reasons, he appointed Calaway as Sheriff, because only the young Calaway could stabilize this vital source of manpower in the midst of turmoil.

“I do enjoy killing with guns, that’s true, but I’m not your assassin,” Calaway said calmly, his tone firm and leaving no room for argument. “So, let’s leave it at that.”

"Well, farewell."

Without hesitation, Calaway stood up and headed for the door.

"Where can you go after you leave me?" Mason asked. "To ride a horse across the desolate plains, far from civilization, and embrace savagery?"

"You're already 47 years old. You can't be called a kid anymore; you're practically an old devil, Calaway, aren't you?"

……

“Mason, you know, even though you talk about God all the time and often dine with those church guys, it’s all an act, isn’t it?” Calaway suddenly turned around and asked a strange question, “But have you ever really believed? Not even for a second?”

“Never.” Mason gave the same unvarnished answer.

"Ha, ha, me neither. Of all the gods in the world, I only believe in Death. Only he exists. Unlike those gods who ignore you if you don't pray, only he works diligently every day. I am Death's agent."

“But after experiencing certain things… people change. I’m 47 years old this year. Logically speaking, the first half of my life has been eventful enough. There’s nothing more I’ve never seen before.” At this point, Calaway shook his head with a smile. “Perhaps God let me see those things to teach my arrogant self a lesson?”

"Some people and some things are different after you've experienced them."

Mason realized something was wrong. "What exactly did you see that night during the operation to take down Angelo?"

“Let me give you a piece of advice, Mason: don’t forget him, and don’t treat him like a disposable tool to be used and then discarded.” Calaway didn’t answer his question directly, but just said with a smile, “He’s unlike anyone you’ve ever met before.”

----

"What... ten thousand dollars!?" For the chief, who had a very limited understanding of money, this number was almost beyond his comprehension.

As Angelo said, his wealth is largely abstract.

Those luxury homes, fixed assets, overseas business investments, and numerous accounts opened under other names—all these valuables were naturally absorbed by the municipal government that took over the investigation. Although it will take a long time to digest, it will undoubtedly provide a significant relief to San Quintak's debt situation.

Mason adopted Calaway's suggestion and did not regard Zhang Renfeng and his group as thugs who could be summoned and dismissed at will, but rather as long-term partners.

He personally funded the operation, giving them $10,000 as payment. Furthermore, everyone in the city connected to Zhang Renfeng and his group, including Dr. Kiran whose shop was vandalized and Trist, who lived in the mountains and faced financial hardship, received some form of financial assistance.

If you really wanted to hire a group of assassins with combat skills no less than the Red Center Gang to wipe out Angelo and his forces overnight, let alone whether you could even find such people, what would their market price be?

Paying only $10,000 is a huge profit!

After receiving the money and briefly discussing it with his team members, Zhang Renfeng gave it all to the chief without keeping a single penny.

"So much money, I...I really..."

"Don't worry about it. Although we're involved in a gang, we don't really care that much about money." Zhang Renfeng waved his hand, his face full of smiles. "Consider this a welcome gift since you're new here. We'll make more money from you in the future."

Joining the Red Center gang seemed to be the only way for the chief to go. Otherwise, he couldn't imagine how an Indian who had spent the first half of his life making a living on the land could get $20,000 in the civilized world.

Twenty thousand, that's twenty thousand!

And now, without even doing anything, that number has already been cut in half.

"And what about me?" Calaway, mounted on his horse, a slight smirk playing on his lips, looked like a mischievous boy heading out for a picnic, his face beaming with excitement. "What kind of gift are you planning to give me, Red Center?"

"...To be honest, I don't know you very well yet, but what you want is probably not something concrete like money or power."

Zhang Renfeng, riding his red horse, slightly pulled on the reins, turned around, and gave a meaningful smile. "I can assure you."

"With me, you'll never be bored."

Chapter 275: The Unpredictable Future

The massive ship cleaved through the waves.

Qiu Yun sat by the window, her brows furrowed and her face pale. On the table in front of her was a cup of hot tea, its surface undulating with the movement of the ship, mirroring her current mood.

"Human greed is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant." Zhu Kuilong calmly advised, "At the beginning, you just wanted to see what his country was like. 'I'll feel at ease after seeing it'—that's what you said when you came to me. In the end, going across the ocean for a piece of information is a very risky move, and there's a very high probability that you'll return empty-handed."

"And now, not only have we seen him in person, but we've also spent time with him, and it's all ended with a dignified farewell. It's far beyond what we expected at the time."

Qiu Yun didn't seem to be comforted by these words. She lay on the table, silent and without saying a word.

"Actually... I should have known long ago..."

He dusted off the hem of his robe, sat down opposite Qiu Yun, turned to look at the vast and magnificent sea, and sighed, "Very few people can live according to their own will. The vast majority of people are like donkeys on a millstone, blindfolded, struggling to pull it round and round."

"Ordinary donkeys can be whipped and will naturally pull the millstone. More advanced donkeys can be trained in a few different ways, like putting carrots around their necks. This makes them think that they can reach the millstone with a little effort, so they pull the millstone even harder... Round and round, the donkey is still a donkey, the millstone is still a millstone, nothing has changed."

"He has broken free from this cycle of reincarnation, and we should be happy for him."

……

"Uh...excuse me, Mr. Zhu, could you please stop talking..." Qiu Yun finally raised her head, took a deep breath, and noticed beads of sweat on her forehead. She interrupted him softly, "My head is spinning, and my temples are throbbing. You've been rambling on and on, it's making me feel terrible..."

"Seasick?" Zhu Kuilong finally realized. "Why didn't you say so earlier? I have medicine on me. Wait here."

He quickly went back into the cabin, took out the red box, which contained pills he had personally refined, as well as recipes for calming the mind and relieving dizziness.

"Thank you, Mr. Zhu...you've saved my life..."

"What a strange thing." Zhu Kuilong poured a pill out of the treasure bottle and asked suspiciously, "When we came here, you didn't seem seasick at all. You were running around like a little girl, running back and forth between the bow and stern of the boat. How come you started getting seasick on the return trip?"

"I don't know either. It seems like I haven't been feeling well, especially during the few days on the way back..."

These past few days?

With his mind racing, Zhu Kuilong suddenly thought of something and poured the pills back into the bottle. Before Qiu Yun could even react, he grabbed her wrist and moved his hand upwards to feel her pulse.

"Boss Zhu?" Qiu Yun was startled by his actions. "What, what's going on now?"

"..."

There was silence for a long time.

So long that even the sound of waves crashing against the ship became as loud as thunder, and Zhu Kuilong's expression grew increasingly serious. Although he was already quite rigid, at this moment, this symptom became more and more severe, as if the person sitting next to him was not a weak woman, but a hissing bomb that could explode at any moment.

"You slept with him?"

"...Nonsense, we...we're husband and wife!" Qiu Yun was a little annoyed by the question, her face flushed slightly, and she retorted, "What else can a husband and wife do if they don't sleep at night?"

But soon, she realized something, her face turning deathly pale in an instant, and she murmured, "No way, just... just one night, and I'm already pregnant?"

“I can’t tell. Even if there is one, the pulse is too weak right now. Generally speaking, it takes at least two months for a pregnancy pulse to appear.” Zhu Kuilong sighed. “If only the wolf were here, she could just smell it and know.”

"That little girl from the Rakshasa Kingdom?" Qiu Yun unconsciously clutched her abdomen, her brow furrowed with worry. "If... I mean... if it's true..."

"There's no need to panic so much. We're not even sure if she's pregnant yet. Maybe it's just seasickness caused by the long journey and physical discomfort." Zhu Kuilong's calm and collected tone was like a shot of adrenaline, truly hitting Qiu Yun's heart.

"Even if we do have it, there's no need to panic. Things will work themselves out. We can figure out a solution when the time comes."

Zhu Kuilong said in a deep voice, "The head of the [Reverse Number Tea House] is my fellow disciple, who is quite skilled in the arts of mountains, medicine, destiny, and physiognomy. After returning to China, don't worry about the opera troupe. Go to her place to recuperate for a while."

On the vast ocean, even the largest ship appears small.

Under the sunlight, the ship looked like a leaf, sailing alone on the sea.

----

The exquisitely crafted metal ship model caught Igor's eye, and he tried his best to imagine what it would look like as it raced across the sea.

Until the ear-piercing sound of a stool being dragged came from a room not far away.

“He’s awake,” Varga reminded him from behind. “Isn’t that…”

Igor reluctantly looked away, forced to admit that the old scoundrel did have a good eye for art. Every single piece displayed there was a perfectly lifelike, exquisitely crafted metal model; its unique texture and deliberately aged handcrafted marks were irresistible.

Counting on my fingers, I realized that I was probably that old bastard's biggest failure in his life.

Thinking about it this way, it's quite an accomplishment.

Every time I walk here, I feel like I'm being judged. The walls and doors of this room are still as tall as I remember. It's as if they would collapse and smash me into dust if I'm not careful.

"call……"

Igor took a deep breath and pushed open the heavy wooden door.

----

“Welcome, Uncle.” Eugene Zolael, the handsome young man dressed somewhat flamboyantly, smoothed his permed blond hair and gave him a mocking smile. “Perhaps we shouldn’t blame you for being late, after all, your walking distance is half that of the average person.”

“…If I earned a dollar for every dwarf joke I heard, I'd be the richest man in all of America by now.” Igor’s tone was perfectly calm. “As far as I know, you’re here quite early, Eugene. So, where have you been spending your precious time? At the barbershop?”

Eugene's expression changed, revealing an angry look. Just as he was about to lash out, he saw the old man sitting in the main seat half-open his eyes and let out a cough that was neither too loud nor too soft.

He had no choice but to shut his mouth.

Igor looked at the old man.

He is the origin of the name "Zorael," the source of true authority in the southern America, the cornerstone of a vast plantation family, and the true leader of the Thunderfury Gang.

In Fengchuisha, calling Chaidel a local "tyrant" is merely an exaggeration. At least on the surface, he and the town's inhabitants don't have a relationship of ownership and being owned. But here, most people and things in the village and town are indeed his private property, a part of his vast wealth that can be replaced at any time.

Hector Zolael.

Also known as, 【Fiery Horse】.

“It’s been a long time since I last greeted you.” Igor slowly pulled out a chair and sat down opposite Hector, almost across the table. “…Lord Hector.”

Chapter 276: Horses and Mules (Part 3)

From his appearance, he was just an elderly man, not threatening at all, nor did he exude any domineering air. He leaned lazily against the back of his chair, crooked and unsteady. He was covered with a blanket, his lips drooping, his eyes half-closed, and he wore a classic farmer's wide-brimmed hat on his head.

The twins sitting next to him were burly, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, their faces somewhat gloomy. Their clothes were practically identical, only slightly different in details. They too remained silent, staring intently at him.

Igor did not show any fear; he simply nodded slightly and smiled at the two brothers.

"Hmm..." Hearing Igor's greeting, Hector grunted twice, seemingly only shifting his posture, and asked indifferently, "Things are different now. You're a celebrity now, holding businesses in New Elizabeth and New Orleans. It'll be difficult to see you at family meetings."

“Since you’ve entrusted this business to me, I will spare no effort to make it a success.” Igor was somewhat unsure of Hector’s intentions, but he didn’t back down. Instead, he retorted firmly, “Otherwise, wouldn’t that be letting down Your Excellency Hector’s good intentions?”

"..." Hector looked at Igor from afar and suddenly asked, "Do you remember Tuku? By blood, he's your cousin."

"It's hard to forget." A cold smile appeared on Igor's lips. "Why bring him up all of a sudden?"

“His parents died young, and he was adopted by us. You all grew up together—you, Tucus, Daniel, Ruwin… and Laro.” Hector’s voice was hoarse and somber, like the babbling of a duck, annoyingly noisy. “What is our family’s language?”

“Blood is thicker than water,” Igor repeated expressionlessly.

"boom!"

Hector suddenly erupted, slamming his fist on the table and roaring, "Blood is thicker than water! Not money, not gold, but blood! Blood ties, family, that's what matters most, that's the foundation upon which our family is rooted and relies!"

"..." Igor remained unmoved. He was past the age where he would get excited after drinking two bowls of chicken soup or getting two injections of chicken blood.

Time and time again, expectations are met with disappointment.

He knew very well that Hector's "family" would never include him.

"So?" He maintained his composed demeanor and continued, "What do you want me to do? Go find that Red Center for a duel, and then get killed by him with one punch like Tuku did? Perhaps I should do that, and it will save you some trouble."

Perhaps it was his tone that was so contemptuous, for Daniel and Ruwin, the twin brothers, both turned their gazes toward him with undisguised malice, as if they wanted to tear him apart.

Igor didn't care at all.

“...The Pinkerton Detective Agency told me that you have information related to that Red Center, but you are deliberately keeping it to yourself.”

Hector's voice lowered, "Is it true?"

……

coming.

Even though he had kept a low profile, spending most of his time in the camp as an advisor to Hong Zhong, any action he took would inevitably leave a trace. Moreover, members of the Thunder Fury Gang had also been involved in the election of the new mayor of White Torch Town; anyone with a discerning eye would have noticed.

Igor could only ensure that no evidence would remain in the open.

But this isn't a courtroom or a trial. To make Hector distrust me, a few baseless accusations would suffice, since he's never liked me anyway.

“It’s true.” Igor spread his hands, a smile spreading across his face, and said with a hint of mockery, “I’m sharing a camp with Red Center now, eating food cooked in the same pot, and drinking coffee brewed in the same pot. When I sleep, his tent is right next to mine, less than two meters away. Are you satisfied now?”

"traitor--!!"

Eugene, beaming with delight, shouted at the burly man behind him, "He admitted it, you dog! Go cut off his dwarf's head!"