Dual wielding volcanoes, killing through the west

Having said all that, everyone could guess what had happened, especially Alana, who felt a sense of déjà vu. Because in Scarface Village, there was an identical red house—there she had witnessed a brutal murder, and the killer himself had been beaten to death by Zhang Renfeng in that same house a few days later.

“Penny is only six years old…” Xiaomei gritted her teeth in anger, feeling as if she was about to explode with a breath stuck in her chest. “You bunch of beasts!”

"Little girl, it's no use blaming me. I'm not into that kind of thing, but some people do."

Rams smirked, revealing a grotesque grin on his half-covered, bloodied face. “Where there’s money, there’s service. That’s what we call a ‘market.’ That red house is the source of all of Castor’s power. What he provides is this kind of service—no matter how outlandish or taboo it may seem to outsiders, he can satisfy them.”

"How can they demonstrate their uniqueness from ordinary people if they don't do things that are unacceptable to them?"

"..."

Zhang Renfeng seemed to have heard enough. He didn't ask any more questions, stood up solemnly, and remained calm, showing little anger.

But those who know him well know that this is like the calm before a volcanic eruption; the real magma is surging and raging beneath the invisible surface.

He made a gesture, and his companions understood immediately, following him and turning to leave.

"Wait...you said you'd spare my life!" Rams seemed to realize something and struggled violently. "Let go of me!"

“Yes, I did say it, and I did it.” Zhang Renfeng turned around, her gaze as icy and chilling as ice. “But it didn’t.”

"And...you haven't fed it in a long time either."

"Snapped!"

Zhang Renfeng snapped his fingers lightly, accompanied by a clear whistle.

"You can move now!"

It's obvious that the last sentence wasn't said to himself.

The black greyhound that had been lying low at his feet suddenly turned its head, stared intently at Rams's face, and grinned as if it were showing a smile.

----

“Bang!!”

The plate slipped from his hand and fell to the ground, drawing stares from everyone in the hall, their faces showing varying degrees of displeasure.

The soft pink lighting, the labyrinthine gauze decorations, the psychedelic fragrances floating in the air... every detail is designed to create the most perfect haven of tranquility. Noise is not allowed in such a place, which is one of the "services" offered by Castel.

Caster himself hurried over, looking very worried. He first took Gwen's hand and asked with concern, "Are you alright?"

After checking her hands thoroughly and confirming that they were unharmed, Castor breathed a sigh of relief.

"..."

Gwen felt no warmth of being cared for; she felt like a commodity, and Castor's actions were like checking if a commodity was damaged and whether it could still be sold.

“I told you not to rush. You just got caught in the rain and you’re still weak.” Castor squatted down and helped her pick up the grapes that had fallen to the ground one by one. He smiled softly and said, “This is a big deal and can’t be taken lightly. Have someone go and get a new plate.”

Gwen seemed to be having a nightmare. She didn't say a word and handed the plate of grapes to a passing servant—also a young girl, who was almost completely naked.

She was probably the most dressed girl in the entire hall.

How long will this kind of life continue?

……

"Those outsiders, did they go to your house?" Castor asked suddenly, his eyes half-closed.

Chapter 301: What I Hate Most is Failed Investments (Third Update Today!)

"I didn't say anything!" The girl seemed to suddenly react, lowering her voice, "I didn't tell them anything!"

"I know, I know, shh... don't disturb the other guests, let's go somewhere quiet to talk."

Castor held up a finger, speaking to her gently and kindly, like a caring elder next door. But those who truly knew him would never interpret this gesture as an act of kindness. The enchanting lighting, the relaxing environment, the dreamlike decor—it was all part of a vast web woven by this spider. Once you were caught, you could never easily escape.

"You fell in the rain, and those people helped you. In return, you let them into your room to take shelter from the rain for a while. These are all normal social procedures, nothing much to say about them."

In the shadows where no one was around, Castor picked up a glass and poured her a full glass of sweet wine, smiling as he precisely recounted what had happened to her about thirty minutes earlier.

It was as if this guy had been eavesdropping from behind the closet while she was talking to Zhang Renfeng and the others, which sent chills down one's spine.

Gwen wasn't surprised; this was one of the reasons for the nickname "Spider"—no matter what happened, the situation was always under Custer's control.

He always arranged everything in advance to be able to show that gentle smile, because the cruelest and most terrible things didn't require him to do them himself. Often, while the resistance against him was still in the planning stage, the workers who participated in the conspiracy would have already been skinned alive and hung on the shore as a warning the next morning.

"You've always been a smart girl, knowing when to do what, and you'll never let me down."

His hand fell from the table and gently touched Gwen's metal prosthetic leg. Even though it shouldn't have any sensation, the girl felt a chill run down her spine.

“In thirty… no, in twenty minutes.” Castor pulled out his pocket watch with his left hand, glanced at the time, lowered his voice, and looked mysterious and enigmatic, as if the next thing he was about to say was a secret worth a thousand pieces of gold. “The opportunity to turn your life around is about to arrive. Seize this opportunity, and your life will be incredibly smooth from now on. You might even step into a world that ordinary people like us wouldn’t even dare to dream of.”

"This time, let's bring Aliya and that new girl along too."

"What?!" Upon hearing this, Gwen clenched her teeth, like a cat with its fur standing on end, her eyes filled with anger and disbelief. "No way! They're so young, their bodies aren't ready at all. How can we send them to those beasts?"

"I can go by myself... Isn't that what we agreed on?!"

"Shh, shh, be quiet." Castor continued to comfort her softly, but his eyes, movements, and the calmness in his tone didn't seem like he was talking to a living person; it was more like he was soothing a stressed cat or dog. "I understand you, really, you want to protect them. But this is a cruel world, and you can't protect her forever."

"You may know how to win a man's heart in the shortest amount of time... You have a talent for that, just like you did on stage. But you don't understand men, children, especially men with power. At least, not as much as I do."

Castor's smile was unpredictable. As he opened and closed his mouth, Gwen saw a giant spider weaving its web, enveloping her inside.

sizzle...

sizzle...

"Based on my understanding of Mr. Pine, his interest in you is almost exhausted."

“A man who holds power and is his age rarely spends too much time on one woman. What he pursues is nothing more than a ‘stimulating’ experience that suits his fetishes. That’s why I won’t let you spend too much time with him; if I had to put it in a way, it’s a form of scarcity marketing.”

Even so, the stimulation you can provide for him is visibly fading.

“Of course, there’s another side to the story…” Caster gently lifted Gwen’s arm and smiled tenderly, “If you’re willing to sacrifice a little more of your limbs, I believe he will rekindle his interest in you. And this time, he will show extreme fervor and obsession.”

Gwen frowned as if she had been burned by hot coals, forcefully pulling her arm back, her heart pounding.

She knew very well that if doing so would truly bring commensurate benefits, Castor wouldn't even blink an eye.

Last time it was the legs, this time... maybe the arms? And next time? And the time after that?

The thought of her possible fate made her tremble with despair, like a bird tightly held in the palm of a hand.

“See, you’re not as brave as you think.” Castor smiled, as if he had anticipated her reaction, and comforted her instead, “It’s okay, Gwen, it’s not your fault. It’s the human instinct to seek advantage and avoid harm. Feeling fear allows you to stay away from danger and make the right choices.”

“If you go with her, Mr. Ilyn Payne will get a whole new ‘excitement,’ you won’t have to bear the pressure alone, and I can earn my share of the money… Isn’t that great? A win-win-win situation, isn’t it?”

"This metal prosthesis, which was custom-made by Mr. Tao and is very close to your original size, cost a lot of money."

He tidied Gwen's hair and removed the burrs from her clothes on her shoulders, speaking patiently and gently.

It's as if you're talking to a beautifully dressed doll.

“Now, I need to go to the dock. Our distinguished guest will be arriving soon, and as the agent of Windhaven Harbor, I must personally greet him. As I said, this may be a life-changing night for you and that poor child. My loyal employee will stay here; if you need anything, just ask him, it will be the same.”

Before he could finish speaking, a tall man named Iron Bucket, wearing a helmet on his head, pushed open the door and entered.

His heavy breathing sounded like that of a bear walking upright, its head almost touching the ceiling.

Gwen couldn't quite remember if this was the tallest person she had ever seen, but in terms of ruthlessness, he was probably among the top, second only to Ramsay Bolton. She had personally witnessed Iron Bucket crush a man's head with just five fingers, simply because the man was drunk, staggering, and accidentally vomited on her shoes.

Through the helmet, the girl felt a chilling gaze and instinctively shrugged.

"Now, wash your face, go to your room, and act like a caring older sister. Describe what's about to happen to her in the happiest way possible. I hope that in thirty minutes, Mr. Payne will receive a sensible and comforting gift, not a screaming, crying, and frightened child."

Castor patted her on the shoulder and repeated earnestly, "You're a smart girl, Gwen, you know that..."

"What I hate most is 'failed' investments."

Chapter 302: At this moment, you are God's angel

“Red, red…” The black-haired girl pointed to the red brick wall and taught earnestly, word by word.

"rid?" Aliya blinked, tilted her head, and pronounced it very awkwardly. Perhaps she didn't understand whether the word meant red or brick, so she asked, "What is that?"

"Oh dear, where did you come from? How come you can't even say such a simple word? Didn't your parents teach you?" She shook her head, somewhat helplessly, and sighed very maturely, "Fine, I won't teach you anymore. Let whoever wants to teach you do so."

Aliya couldn't understand what she was saying, and stared at her curiously.

Gwen, who had just entered, witnessed this scene. In any other place, this moment would be filled with innocence and childlike wonder, making one unconsciously smile.

Unfortunately, it happened right here, in a room of the red house.

The extravagant decorations, expensive toiletries, gorgeous to the point of being garish, the spotless new bathtub, and the gold-plated faucets... all these things combined, filled with adult desires, ironically made the scene before us a dark comedy.

"Gwen?" The dark-haired girl noticed her expression was off. "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Aliya told me your leg is bleeding again, and the wound hasn't even healed yet? Are you sure it's okay to get a prosthesis on so soon?"

Aria seemed to only then notice this, and quickly got up, moving closer to Gwen's right leg with a worried look on her face.

"I……"

The more she was like this, the harder it was to speak, as if a wad of paper was stuck in her throat, blocking all the words she was about to say.

“I’m sorry, Penny…” Gwen had so much to say to this dark-haired girl, and she didn’t know where to begin. Especially since everyone in Windhaven knew about what happened on the riverbank this morning, but she, locked in the red house, was completely unaware.

This is incredibly cruel for a child.

"It's not good news."

……

After stammering through her words, Aliya was somewhat surprised; she had seen such a profound expression on the face of a six-year-old girl. Aliya, also six years old, stood there blankly, perhaps partly due to the language barrier. She was unaware of the situation she was about to face.

"Finally... it's here." Penny sighed, her still-childish face revealing a deep sorrow as if she were about to face death.

Humans are far more adaptable to their environment than we imagine. Even as a child, Penny learns and grows at a rapid pace in the harsh ecological environment of the Red House.

She witnessed firsthand how cheap human life was here. Here, making a small mistake, like knocking over a dish, wouldn't be a big deal; what was truly terrifying was losing your value as a source of income. For example, failing to withstand some cruel game, suffering a mental or physical breakdown, or becoming pregnant, rendering you unable to provide Castor with even a penny for an extended period.

In this situation, the only outcome for the girls is likely to be being "dealt with".

"Time is running out, listen to me!"

Gwen gritted her teeth, glanced back warily, and crouched down to whisper to the two girls, "Remember what I told you before? There's a secret passage inside the Red House. Go up to the second floor, through the storage room, and there's a crack in the wall at the base."

“There’s a mud pit down there. It just rained, so there’s some cushioning. You’re all still young and your bodies are relatively flexible, so you shouldn’t get hurt if you jump down from there.”

"In a little while... you guys run and go find those outsiders. They live on the mountainside, and it seems they've set up a temporary camp. The one in charge is a rare yellow-skinned guy; you can tell just by looking at him."

"Remember, only go halfway up the mountain, never go up! There's the Rams gang on the mountain, and they have a lot of hunting dogs. You can't escape from them. If they catch you, you'll definitely be sent back here, and the consequences... will be terrible."

Only today did Gwen reveal her long-held plan.

Ultimately, it was because she herself felt that the plan was not feasible, not even a gamble, but rather somewhat suicidal. The two girls had no supplies, didn't know the way, and one of them didn't even speak the language. Under such circumstances, it would be a miracle to complete the first step without being discovered and successfully leave Fengxi Harbor.

If any link in the chain goes wrong, they will face utter ruin.

Custer's methods of dealing with traitors have always been quite horrific; she dared not gamble her own life and the lives of her two children on such a bleak future.

However, at this point, there is no room for negotiation.

If they continued to wait in the red house, in fifteen minutes they would be facing a group of people who had completely lost their humanity and could not be called "human." It was hard to say what would happen. Rather than gambling that Ilyn Payne would have mercy and let them return unharmed, it was better to strike first and take their fate into their own hands.

Even if it means death, at least it was my own choice!

"And what about you, Gwen?" Penny keenly realized that in the scenario Gwen had just described, only the two of them had successfully escaped. "What are you going to do?"

“…” Gwen pondered for a long time, bit her lip, and patted Penny’s head. “That gap is too big for an adult’s body to squeeze through; only a child can.”

"I'll buy you some time. When you see the hall in complete chaos, do as I say and start taking action."

No one is truly at peace when they know they are about to face death, and Gwen was no exception.

What is truly great is the choice made after panic, despair, pain, and anger.

"Penny, I'm entrusting Aliya to you. If in the end you still can't escape, don't be afraid..."

Gwen took a deep breath, and before opening the door, she turned around, revealing a somewhat stunning smile. Her tone, however, was like that of someone giving their last words, tinged with sadness, "No matter where you go in the end, your sister will always be there, waiting for you."

----

"..."

The brightly lit hall, like a large ship sailing at sea, was swaying slightly.

The man with the iron bucket that had been guarding the door immediately turned around, casting a huge shadow that almost completely covered her body. His head was covered by a bucket helmet, expressionless, and his metallic, reflective face gave off a suffocating sense of oppression.

"Not ready yet." Gwen bit her tongue, using the pain to calm herself down.

"...Time...is running out." This was one of the few times Iron Bucket spoke, his voice echoing beneath his helmet, sounding deep and hoarse.