Dual wielding volcanoes, killing through the west

"Hiss..."

As the aroma filled the air, he diced the dill and carrots, squeezed them, sprinkled them with fine salt, added olive oil, and squeezed in Italian balsamic paste. The sauce was now ready. Once the bear steaks were cooked, this sauce would be poured over them for dipping.

Let alone bear meat steak, even leather boots would taste delicious dipped in this sauce.

The bear paws are braising to remove the gamey smell, then cooked with chicken, venison, and other ingredients. But since these bear paws are wild, the process of removing the gamey smell alone will take one or two hours. I estimate that we won't be able to eat them until nine o'clock at night, so I'll just prepare them as a late-night snack.

The remaining bear meat was used as an ingredient for a stew, along with the leftover venison and rabbit meat, and a variety of side dishes and seasonings. This was the camp's staple food; with so many people, personalized meals became a luxury, and Igor had to cook large pots of food. But this is where a chef's skill is truly revealed—even with large pots of food, he could make it look, smell, and taste delicious.

With this flavorful and aromatic broth, someone like Zhang Renfeng, who expends a lot of energy, could easily devour four black bread rolls in one go.

As for the fish Mike caught, Igor didn't waste it either. After quickly processing it, he used another pan to fry and grill the fresh fish with oil and seasonings. The aroma of scallions and fish filled the air, and in no time, the surface of the fish had a golden and crispy appearance. Fish lovers, especially Mike himself, simply couldn't resist it; he loved this taste.

Coffee, beer, campfire, laughter.

Everything is available.

Igor stood in the camp, watching them from afar. His relieved smile faded, replaced by a somewhat forlorn expression.

It's like being in a different world.

Chapter 279: The Red Center Gang's Team Building Activity - Outdoor Barbecue

“Ah…this is truly…the finest of the finest! I…I’m a little…” Theon was clearly a bit tipsy and excited, so he changed his usual demeanor, swaying as he stood up and raised his glass to Ego, “Erlauben Sie mir, dem Koch meine Komplimente zu machen. (Please allow me to offer my praise to the chef.)”

“Gern geschehen. You’re welcome,” Igor replied with a smile. “We should pay our respects to the chief; I simply added or subtracted from what he provided.”

On the other hand, the chief himself was already eating while shaking his head and sighing, seemingly one step closer to the point where his clothes would burst off.

In tribal life, the methods of processing food are nowhere near as good as in the city. Adding a little salt and pepper is already considered a luxury.

In most cases, they roast the prey and then bite into it whole, enjoying the saltiness naturally present in the prey. For them, hunting and eating are simply means of survival, unlike in the civilized world where people seek to enjoy the food itself and create a more pleasurable taste experience.

For Igor, his culinary skills were like a game-changer.

He lamented that he was getting older and his appetite was gradually shrinking, so he could no longer enjoy these delicacies as much as he did when he was young.

Some of the more medicinally valuable offal, such as bear bile and heart, were not cooked directly by Igor, following Zhang Renfeng's advice. He said that these things would be even more valuable if used to make medicinal liquor. Especially since it came from a healthy wild grizzly bear, the effects would definitely be top-notch.

In the early stages of his training, Zhang Renfeng inevitably suffered falls and injuries, which he overcame by taking medicinal wine and baths, so he naturally knew the benefits of it.

……

"Once again, for the addition of new partners..."

"cheers--!!"

"Boom!"

The nine cups clinked together, and the celebratory atmosphere rose into the sky along with the bonfire.

Apart from Evelyn, Xiaomei, and Alana, who were all underage girls, the other men all had glasses full of alcohol. Zhang Renfeng had even brought over a wooden stake beforehand so that Igor could stand on it and toast with everyone at the same height.

Theon and Mike both drank authentic whiskey; the chief, not knowing much about alcohol, simply took the Kentucky bourbon that was always kept in the camp; Calaway drank brandy; and Ego, with the most refined taste, had the famous cocktail "Agarita Sunrise" in his glass.

Zhang Renfeng was the most generous; he drank illicit liquor seized from the illicit liquor dealers of the Nu Lei Gang.

Perhaps it was the added attribute of being a loot item that made him drink with exceptional relish.

With plenty of wine and meat, it's time for singing and dancing to add to the festivities.

……

"Completely blackish-brown, covered in fur~~??"

"Go along the main road from one end to the other!"

"This one! That one! Boy, goat, dancing bear!"

"Jumping and twirling, slowly walking towards the beauty! Beauty! Beauty! Oh, she's so sweet, pure, and beautiful! Honey in the maiden's hair~~~??"

"Hair! Hair! Honey in the girl's hair!"

……

"Bear! She sings, beautiful bear!"

"Together, under the vast sky and the boundless sea~~~??"

"Bear, bear, a young girl's face."

This song, which seemed to stretch on forever, has finally come to an end. This passionate song is simple, straightforward, and catchy. It started with just Calaway singing, but later Mike, Ego Huang, and Theon joined him, turning it into a spontaneous ensemble.

It seemed to be a song commonly used by older generations of people who ventured into the world of martial arts. Zhang Renfeng secretly memorized the melody and lyrics, knowing he might need them someday.

Then, the chief took out a bone flute made from a swan's neck bone and began to play a long, melodious tune.

The sound was unlike any musical instrument in the human world; every note was unadorned, possessing a primal, rugged beauty. The chief played a tune by the campfire, and contrary to his burly appearance, it was a delicate and sorrowful melody.

Just like his current situation, amidst the inescapable oppression, there is also a glimmer of hope for new life.

----

At midnight, even the precious bear paws were stewed until tender and soft, and together with the mixed venison, it was a highly nourishing dish. Igor served this extremely nutritious late-night snack, cut it into several pieces, and distributed it to everyone so they could try something new. This stuff was so potent that Evelyn got a nosebleed after eating it. According to her, it was the most fragrant, freshest, and most unforgettable taste she had ever had.

After a hearty meal and drinks, the camp gradually quieted down. Kalowee was already completely drunk and fast asleep in his tent. The chief, however, insisted on setting up his own tent, which was quite unusual in shape and stood out among the many ordinary tents, appearing exceptionally tall.

On a tree branch next to his tent hung a dreamcatcher he had woven himself. Like the peregrine falcon, he believed that hanging this thing would give him a good dream.

Reality was already oppressive enough; he didn't want to bring that oppression into his precious sleep.

……

"Aren't you sleeping yet?"

"..." Igor took a sip of the wine at the bottom of his glass, slowly turned his head, and looked towards the source of the sound.

“I’ve been waiting for you for so many days, I need to check the accounts with you.” Igor took out a small notebook from his pocket, the source of all the figures being calculated by himself. “The first, and most important, thing: Dunn Harganda, do you remember him?”

“Bella’s father, that arms dealer,” Zhang Renfeng said with a smile. “What’s wrong?”

“Just as we planned, he’s already the mayor of White Torch Town. On the surface, he’s in charge of the town. Gordon is still the head of the police station, and he’s familiar with us, which makes things much easier.” Igor flipped through the notebook and said in a deep voice, “I’ve already spread the word that all the shady businesses in the city are under the protection of our Red Center Gang.”

"Simply put, we are responsible for maintaining order and stability in the entire underground market and providing them with a market environment. In return, they pay us a certain amount of protection money."

"I've set this figure at seven percent, after all, it's the early stage of a startup. The specific management will be handled by Kobiin, who is the head of that underground black market."

Zhang Renfeng's expression turned serious as he pressed on, "The only entities that collect fees are the 'underground' markets, right?"

“Only the ‘underground’ market,” Igor repeated. “I wouldn’t touch the legitimate businesses; otherwise, wouldn’t I be like the mafia?”

The Italian gang in San Quintac is the ultimate form of the Mafia.

He collects protection money for his legitimate business; he also controls all the illegal businesses, making it difficult for him not to become extremely wealthy.

But Zhang Renfeng's style of doing things was completely different from his.

He wouldn't interfere with people's legitimate businesses, only charging protection fees for their shady dealings, such as the black market and bootlegging. The income was naturally less, but it was a steady, long-term source of revenue. The established rules also contributed to the city's overall safety and prevented the black market from using money transactions to create new mafia groups that could spread unchecked.

With the reputation of the Red Army in charge, who would dare to act recklessly?!

“This method works, as we’ve proven during the two weeks you were away.” Igor closed the notebook and continued, “The money is settled weekly. After Dunn was elected, it took a week to share the rules of the game. The second week it officially started operating, and... our income was $180.”

Chapter 280: Ascending the Divine Path

180 dollars.

Compared to the Hongzhong Gang, who easily earn over ten thousand yuan a month, this might not seem like a large number.

But Zhang Renfeng valued the stability of this income even more, as it was firmly tied to Baiju Town. Zhang Renfeng, or rather, the Hongzhong Gang represented by Lao Zhang, had evolved from a group of violent robbers into a higher level.

They began to control the operation of a city and profit from it.

As long as Baiju Town exists and their established rules remain in place, they can reliably receive this sum of money every week.

There's no risk of being shot; you can earn this money even if you do nothing all week. And as the city develops, this income will gradually increase.

This money could be used for logistical expenses to maintain the camp. If all $180 were converted into food, it would be enough to feed eight people.

"Well done, Igor, absolutely brilliant."

"This move is great in every way, the only problem is, we're practically original investors in this city, right? McCann Mesvid and I are pretty familiar with each other, we see each other all the time, so if we were to rob a bank again, it would be a bit... haha..."

Zhang Renfeng scratched his head awkwardly, "Can you imagine that scene? How embarrassing!"

"Not only can we not rob it, on the contrary, we have to protect the bank from being robbed by anyone," Igor said in a deep voice. "The Mesvid-Chieder Bank is an important asset of White Torch Town, and the mayor of White Torch Town was put in power by us. You could say that this bank is now under the protection of the Red Center Gang. If anyone tries to rob it, it's a slap in our face!"

"Hahaha……"

Zhang Renfeng twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a bitter smile.

One day, that old man Cheddar's assets will actually become his own protection. Fate is truly an unpredictable thing.

"Hmm~~" He stretched, his eyes drooping, and yawned, already showing signs of sleepiness. "Sure enough, we're all novices in this field. It just won't work without you managing it."

He waved his hand, "No, I can't stay up any longer. I'm going to sleep now. You should get some rest too."

"..." Igor looked at him with some surprise. He had prepared a set of words, but they were completely useless. This miscalculation made him, who thought he was well-versed in human nature, feel even more that the man in front of him was different from ordinary people and was completely unpredictable.

The night wind blew.

The campfire flickered.

"You don't ask?"

"What do you want to ask?" Zhang Renfeng turned his head, his face calm, as if he really didn't know and there was nothing worth asking. "The accounts have already been reconciled. You've explained everything very clearly."

"Of all the things I just mentioned, which one could a dwarf accomplish single-handedly?" Igor pointed a finger at himself, a hint of confusion in his expression, and asked a series of questions, "Who am I? What forces are behind me? What is my purpose in joining the Red Center Gang? And so on. There are many questions you can ask."

“There are many,” Zhang Renfeng said calmly, “I just don’t care that much.”

"what?"

“Fish have their ways, shrimp have theirs. As long as things can be resolved, why am I overthinking it?” Zhang Renfeng turned around and said with a smile, “Aren’t we partners? This kind of trust is the most basic thing, isn’t it?”

……

It's hard to imagine what Igor was thinking after hearing those words. He remained silent for a long time, and for the rest of the night, he maintained the demeanor of a serious thinker.

Even after Zhang Renfeng fell asleep, Mike, who was on night duty, got up and found that he still hadn't closed his eyes. But Mike had been in the underworld for so many years and was quite shrewd in dealing with people, so he knew that there was no need to disturb him at this time; he should just let him think things through on his own.

----

"woo woo woo woo……"

The mournful crying woke Zhang Renfeng from his sleep, his face filled with bewilderment. Why would someone be crying in the camp? Was he still dreaming?

He rummaged through his pocket watch and saw it was 8:20 AM. Last night's party had been so lively; everyone had let loose and had gotten up late this morning. Looking around, he saw a rather young woman kneeling in front of a tent not far away, weeping softly and resentfully.

None of the three girls had been drinking last night, and they were all awake now, gently comforting her.

Mike stood to the side, looking at him with a helpless expression.

"What's going on?" Zhang Renfeng walked to the bucket, scooped up a handful of cold water, and splashed it on his face to quickly sober up. "And who is this?"

“Actually, there’s something else I didn’t tell you last night.” Igor’s tone was a little awkward. “The location of the camp has been discovered by some people in town. You killed the Oswald Shrike, and coincidentally, that guy was the mayor who had a good reputation before… All these factors combined have caused your reputation among the people to skyrocket.”

"Many people are starting to see you as... how should I put it..."

Igor carefully chose his words: “Something like a ‘god’.”

"What the hell?" Zhang Renfeng was completely baffled. "I don't understand. What kind of nonsense logic is this?"

"The murder scene of the Australian shrike was already horrific, but after the truth came out, people learned that the creature also ate people, raising the level of horror to the level of a 'cannibal'," Ego shrugged and explained. "So, what are you, who defeated the demon?"

"It can only be a god."

“Heh…heh…” Zhang Renfeng broke out in a cold sweat, his lips twitching. “I don’t want to be associated with that word at all, not even a little bit.”

In fact, once the rumors started spreading, whether he wanted to or not was no longer important.

His battles with the members of the Cold Cicada Gang were witnessed by many. Legend has it that he was a chosen one from across the ocean, invulnerable to blades and bullets, his punches and kicks as powerful as cannonballs, capable of easily shattering walls. Furthermore, he could run swiftly across rooftops.

Among them were the homeless—those who had been bribed by Zhang Renfeng to live in his house. They already regarded Zhang Renfeng as their boss, and knew that after their boss took down the Australian Shrike, the news spread like wildfire throughout the streets and alleys.

The most terrifying thing is that even after this much information has been disseminated, most of the details about the combat performance are still true.

When people encounter problems that they cannot solve by relying on their own abilities and exhausting all their efforts, they naturally turn to the gods for help. However, in the past, the gods were invisible and intangible, and most of the time, people could only go to church, put their hands together, and pray silently, hoping that the voices from heaven could truly be heard.

And now... the gods have concrete forms, locations, and even skin colors.

----

"Mr. Zhang, Mr. Zhang!"