Dual wielding volcanoes, killing through the west

Chapter 315: White Horse, White Horse

The carriage traveled along the rain-soaked road, the wheels squeezing the pebbles on the pavement, the slight bumps actually making Igor quite comfortable. He leaned back in his chair, sipping his drink, his eyes half-closed, like a cat enjoying the afternoon sun.

In the camp, he was a diligent cook. Although everyone knew that he was no ordinary person, there was always a layer of secrecy between them, and no one dared to reveal it.

He can only shed his pretense and reveal his true self when he is with his own people.

"You've been running back and forth these past few days, you must be exhausted."

"It's nothing special," Varga replied succinctly. "The situation in New Elizabeth is also following your strategy—a conservative approach, requiring minimal effort. White Torch Town is even easier; even the mayor is one of ours, and all business is progressing steadily without any obstacles."

"Our heartthrob, Mr. Chadl, hasn't been seen for a while," Igor asked casually. "Any news about him lately?"

“He’s in Granite State, which isn’t our territory.” Varga, as expected of someone Igor had personally trained, was well-prepared for any information during his rare meeting with his superior, even without Igor’s orders. “He seemed to have a premonition and decisively abandoned the banking business in White Torch, and even abandoned New Austin, moving on to other towns.”

"It is said that this time, a large oil field was discovered in the High Trees region of Granite State, which he sees as his second pot of gold to revitalize his business. As for his businesses in New Elizabeth, he has adopted a conservative strategy and become much more low-key than before."

A businessman's intuition is often the sharpest, especially one like Ryan Childer who has made his mark in various fields. You could call him shrewd, but he's definitely not stupid. Even without being physically present, he sensed a shift in the political landscape simply from rumors circulating online.

Baiju Town has undergone tremendous changes and is no longer suitable for him to interfere. Fortunately, his bank is still in its early stages of operation and has not invested too much. He is just trying to break even and treats it as a long-term investment.

As for the second son's revenge... so much time has passed, he has long since entered a state of sage-like composure.

However, the pain of losing his son didn't linger in his heart for long. Once Ryan reverted to being the shrewd and cold-blooded businessman he was, after careful consideration based on the intelligence that kept creeping into his ears, he realized that the cost of forcibly avenging Colin far outweighed the benefits, so he temporarily gave up.

If I can't afford to mess with them, can't I at least avoid them? At worst, I'll just quit playing here and go make money where you can't reach me, is that alright?

"Ha, after railways, sugar, and banks, is it oil this time?"

Igor laughed sarcastically, "That old man won't be satisfied until he's stuffed all the money in the world into his own pocket."

The carriage stopped in front of the Cactus Tavern, which was Ego's habit: unless he had special fieldwork to do, he would meet with Jimmy here every week at this time to exchange intelligence and conduct a review and reconciliation.

Currently, Jimmy has no connection with the Thunder Gang; ostensibly, he is merely a legal advisor to the Ryan Childer Group.

But this business tycoon doesn't seem to intend to involve Jimmy in his oil business in Granite State. After all, the details of the laws and their enforcement vary greatly from state to state, and he prefers to hire the most renowned local lawyers in each place and use his money to make them fight for him.

As everyone knows, Tuku is illiterate and, apart from his fancy killings, has no talent for managing a gang.

Therefore, during his tenure, Jimmy, the acting head of the Thunder Gang, largely managed the gang's finances. Now that he's joined the Red Center Gang, he'll also be responsible for handling difficult-to-sell assets, such as bearer bonds and especially valuable jewelry.

Selling the valuable items found in Angelo's mansion on the black market would be a waste. In such cases, Jimmy would use his connections to find specialized buyers and sell them for a reasonable high price.

Igor has even more to manage—because he holds two positions, not only as the cook for the Red Center Gang, but also as the current mastermind for the Thunder Fury Gang.

At first, the two identities created a sense of disconnect, but as the family meetings progressed, this disconnect gradually diminished, and he became increasingly inclined towards the former identity. His mind was preoccupied with how to poach members from the Thunder Fury Gang and bring them to the Red Center Gang.

However, the Cactus Tavern was unusually lively today. Even before the carriage had come to a complete stop, the jubilant noise coming from inside could be heard.

"Strange," Varga frowned. "At ten in the morning, where are all these people coming from?"

----

"Seven of Diamonds, Seven of Diamonds..."

Jimmy held his breath and carefully used his hand to flip over one of the cards scattered on the table, his heart almost leaping out of his chest.

The cards are revealed.

It's a three of hearts.

"ah----!!!"

The onlookers immediately erupted in cheers, "We lost! We lost! Drink!"

In this era, taverns were often associated with many dangerous activities. Even the most basic games like cards or blackjack could lead to players pulling out guns if they couldn't handle losing. Even more thrilling was the game of stabbing fingers with a dagger, a race to see who could stab the fingers the fastest. A slight misstep could result in a finger being chopped off – it was all about the thrill.

Jimmy didn't dare touch that kind of game. What he was playing now was the gentlest kind of "card counting": a deck of cards was scattered on the table, and two people were given one minute to memorize them, then all the cards were turned over. Each person could turn over two cards at a time, and if the suit and rank matched perfectly, they would score one point. At the end, the person with the most points would be the winner. It was essentially a game that simply tested one's memorization skills.

"Oh, really..." Jimmy clutched his head, his tone filled with disbelief, yet also tinged with a gleeful laugh. Encouraged by those around him, he gritted his teeth, raised his glass, and gulped down the cool, chilled whiskey in one go, slamming the glass down heavily on the table with a "thud."

Feeling top-heavy and dizzy, a sensation of lightheadedness inevitably rises from the soles of the feet to the top of the head.

"Ha—amazing, amazing! I've never seen... honestly, I've never seen anyone better than me at this game... You just guessed seven sets of cards correctly in a row..."

"It's not a guess, my friend, it's a memory."

Sitting across from him was a very charming man, at least in Jimmy's eyes.

His face was very deep-set, his eyes bright and piercing, with a hint of cunning. This white suit and red vest combination might have seemed too flashy on others, but on him, it was perfectly appropriate, complementing his气质 (qi zhi - inherent quality/temperament). His not-too-thick mustache, high-bridged nose, and slightly sunken eye sockets—everything about him was perfectly coordinated.

The man hung his hat on the chair next to him, pointed to his forehead with his finger, and said with a smile, "I've always been very confident in my memory, especially... my memory for numbers."

……

Igor stood frozen in place, dumbfounded, his expression one of utter astonishment!

“Laro…”

“Long time no see, my friend.” Laro put on his hat and said with a smile, “Well then, Mr. McGill, it’s an honor to meet you. The person I’ve been waiting for has arrived.”

Chapter 316: The Brain of the Zolael Family

Genes are truly amazing things.

Despite Igor being only half the height of Laro, the angle and posture of the two leaning against the exterior wall of the Cactus Tavern were practically identical.

Laro used the stiff leather on his boot to strike a match, lit a high-end cigarette, and offered it to Igor first. The latter accepted the cigarette silently without saying a word. Then, Laro lit one for himself, and the two of them put the cigarettes in their mouths almost simultaneously and began to puff away.

"call……"

Thick smoke billowed out, and a deafening silence swirled between the two.

"How's it going in Mexico?"

Laro squinted, a charming smile plastered on his face, seemingly greeting everyone who passed by. But upon closer inspection, it became clear that he wasn't smiling at anyone. His gaze pierced through each person, landing on the void behind them.

“I had a very pleasant conversation with Mr. Edelman, and a preliminary contract has been finalized.” Laro patted Igor on the shoulder and laughed. “That’s just how it is in that place; one warlord is always replaced by another. As long as they keep changing, we can make a profit and give this tottering Zolael family a big boost.”

“Congratulations.” Igor’s tone was somewhat complicated, but at least for this moment, it was mostly sincere. “Once again, you have become a hero who saved the family.”

The most heartbreaking thing in this world is not unfairness, but that there are people who are more talented than you and work harder than you.

As the West became more civilized, the era when having guts and a gun meant you could make a fortune was gone forever. Within the Zola El family, if he truly admired anyone, it was his own brother.

In a family known for its cruelty and ruthlessness, he was almost like a mutant, possessing qualities that his family lacked. Sometimes, Igor couldn't help but wonder if Laro had drained all his nutrients while he was in his mother's womb, causing him to become such a deformed being.

"...Do you know that guy inside?" Laro asked with a smile.

“Jimmy McGill?” Igor remained calm, revealing no flaw. “Isn’t he Ryan Childer, the legal advisor Tuco sent? What’s wrong?”

The more times like this, the more you need to stay calm.

Igor didn't deny his relationship with Jimmy, because logically, they should know each other. He was sent by his family to take over Tuco's business in New Elizabeth, so it was inevitable that they would cross paths. It was perfectly reasonable for them to arrange a time to settle accounts at the Cactus Tavern.

"Before coming here, I took a quick look at the accounts for this period of time..."

Laro paused, seemingly unintentionally, and leaned forward slightly. A hint of sharpness finally appeared in his smile. Like a tiger that had been dozing, he spotted his prey, stretched his body, and was about to launch a swift attack to devour it whole!

"..." Igor's composure was extraordinary. Even after being given such a hint, he still did not show any fear on his face, and he didn't even blink.

When you have confidence in yourself, you'll project an air of self-assurance.

He personally reviewed and oversaw all the accounts related to the Thunder Fury Gang.

He also made a series of reasonable modifications to some of the business and figures related to the Red Center Gang. He was confident that even Laro, who was quite sensitive to numbers, would not be able to see any problems on the surface.

Under those wide-open eyes, he felt scrutinized, as if the gaze had pierced his skin and scraped against his bones.

……

"You have done an excellent job in the task entrusted to you by His Excellency Hector. As a firefighter who hastily rushed into the scene, you have done a fantastic job."

After being tense to the extreme, Laro suddenly relaxed, returning to the relaxed atmosphere he had at the beginning. He smiled and patted Igor on the shoulder, "Well done, bro, I'm so proud of you!"

“Ha…it’s nothing…” Igor suddenly realized that the scrutinizing gaze hadn’t disappeared; it was just hidden behind his gentle smile.

What a brilliant surprise attack! What he really wanted to see was his reaction the instant he thought he was safe! How could he forget that the terrifying thing about this white horse was its ability to deal with people and extract information from them—it always managed to get what it wanted in its own way.

Don't let your guard down!

"It's just my duty."

“Yes, it’s my duty.” Laro narrowed his eyes, gave him a meaningful look, crossed his arms, bit his cigarette, and looked at the bustling pedestrians in front of the door. “Everyone has their own things to do. If you cross the line… bang!”

He made a firework gesture, "It'll be just like that guy inside."

“What’s wrong with him?” Igor asked.

“A traitor,” Laro replied calmly, exhaling a puff of smoke. “He betrayed Tucu.”

"How did you do that?" Igor tried to keep his tone calm. "Did you get anything out of him?"

“No, he’s very clever. Even when he’s drunk, he knows what he can and cannot say. That’s his job, using his tongue to babble and turn black into white.” Laro gave Igor a meaningful look and said with a smile, “But no matter how eloquently he speaks, once he has done something, he will definitely leave a mark on the world.”

"Traces can never be erased."

"What traces?" Igor's mind raced, and he immediately realized, "If you mean the new black laborers at the White Bison ranch, then..."

“That was your idea, I know.” Laro interrupted him directly. “You went to the Wolf Shepherd Gang to find out the source of the pressure on the family business. You had a good heart and rescued a group of slaves who were locked in the dungeon and were about to be sold. There was nowhere to put them, so you put them directly to the White Buffalo Ranch... That was the retirement place that Lord Hector originally arranged for you.”

Only now did a hint of shock finally appear on Igor's face.

This intelligence was not deliberately hidden; anyone could find it if they wanted to.

What truly astonished him was that Laro, who had just returned to his homeland, had managed to sort everything out in such a short time!

“I understand, brother. You’ve always been like this, investing too much unnecessary emotion in unnecessary people… But let’s not talk about it for now.”

"What really aroused my suspicion was Scarface Village."

"Scarface Village?"

"Besides the Thunder Gang, there were many other people in Scarface Village: bars, stables, brothels, flea dens... Tuku was used to a comfortable life and needed someone to serve him. After Tuku died, where did all these people go?"

"On January 19, 1879, a large group of people came down from the mountain, boarded a stagecoach, and were taken to a nearby inn."

"Then, the senior lawyer inside... arranged places for them one by one. Although it was rough, it was still quite appropriate. This was no easy task; the funds and energy required far exceeded expectations. He only managed to get it done by relying on his connections."

“I just spoke with him for a while. This Mr. McGill is the kind of person who won't do anything without a reason. It's hard to imagine him suddenly having a sudden burst of kindness and doing such a good deed. So, putting myself in his shoes, there's only one possibility left…”

"Who paid him to do this? Who do you think that person is?"

After asking a series of questions, Laro smiled calmly and continued to look at Igor.

The answer is self-evident.

Chapter 317: Pinkerton, Dark Clouds Return!

“Actually, the chain of evidence isn’t quite complete up to this point,” Laro said, changing the subject. “At most, it can only prove that he was indeed paid to do this.”

"Do you need evidence?" Igor's tone was full of sarcasm. "If it were Tuku, we should have used our fists to settle things if we felt anything was amiss."

“I’m not a stock photo agency, buddy,” Laro said, his eyes wide and a half-smile on his face. “Don’t compare me to that kind of stuff.”

"What really aroused my suspicion was that train that was hijacked by the Red China Gang."

train?

Igor's furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and he sighed inwardly.

Although he was present when the train was robbed, he did not participate in the initial planning.

He had his suspicions then: how could the Red Center Gang have obtained such precise information? That was a bearer bond worth ten thousand dollars; even if Ryan was rich, he wouldn't just throw money away like that. A freight train of this caliber must be a top secret.

The potential gains are huge, but the risks are equally high—anyone with a brain can see that this is just the same robbery method as the previous one by the Thunder Gang. The only difference is that the Thunder Gang would return all the stolen goods, while the Red Center Gang would keep them all.

"This guy most likely betrayed us back in Scar Village. Tuku isn't very bright, and after a few drinks, he doesn't know how to keep his mouth shut. It wouldn't be surprising if he leaked some secret information to you. That would explain a lot of things."

Laro's lips curled into a grin, a cold glint flashing in his deep eyes. "The moonshine camp was destroyed, and our business partners in San Quintac, the Italians, were also wiped out. All of this has traces. Lord Hector would never tolerate his business being undermined, yet he went and killed Tucus, defecating in our faces in the Red..."

"Thinking about how he was treated afterward, I feel a little sorry for this unfortunate guy."

He casually tossed his cigarette butt to the ground, a slight smirk playing on his lips, but his eyes held no mirth. What he said was utterly terrifying: "Brother, I learned some really interesting things during my trip to Mexico. Colombian ties and Blood Eagles are so outdated. Do you know how they deal with traitors there?"

"Red imported fire ants." Igor didn't let him pretend and gave the answer directly.

“Haha, as expected of you, you even know such obscure things, but you definitely haven’t seen that scene.” Laro squatted down, laughing and patting his shoulder. “That guy’s body was buried in the desert, only his head was sticking out. They poured syrup all over his bald head and just left him there. Then, ants would crawl along the syrup, crawling all over his head, densely packed, crawling into his nostrils, his ear canals, his eyes…”

"Don't underestimate them because they're small. In no time, the man's face was covered in blood from their bites, but he still had to stand in the blazing sun for a long time before he could die. At that point, he was practically begging us to shoot him dead."

……

"Does it have to be this way?" Igor asked abruptly.