Dual wielding volcanoes, killing through the west

Just as he was thinking this, he saw Theon wave to him and Ego.

----

To satisfy the Red Center Gang, the materials used in this house were of the utmost quality. Separated only by a wall, the companions' voices became muffled, as if noise had been reduced, and only a few words could be heard.

Theon offered him a high-end cigarette, which Zhang Renfeng refused, shaking his head. He didn't seem to mind, simply putting the cigarette in his mouth, lighting it, and exhaling a puff of smoke.

"There's something."

Halfway through his cigarette, Theon took a collectible cigarette card from the pack, glanced at it, and stuffed it into his pocket. Judging from his expression and actions, the card had failed to sell again.

"About Anna..."

"Wait a minute," Zhang Renfeng interrupted him, "Anna?"

"It's that little girl with the missing arm. Her real name isn't Alya; that's a fake name. She speaks a little German, but it doesn't seem to be her native language. Anyway, it's very difficult for me to communicate with her. Before you came back, she was staying at Gordon's house."

“The events during her time at Fengxi Port were very traumatic for her, causing her to lose some of her memories.”

Zhang Renfeng was taken aback at first, but after recalling the girl's experience, he felt it was still relatively normal.

She lost an arm because of someone else's bad taste, and then witnessed the terrible things that happened in Windhaven Harbor. Any normal person would have been mentally broken long ago, let alone a little girl whose mind is not yet mature.

Even if you send both the buyer and the seller to the deepest hell, the evil they have done to the living will not disappear.

"What manifests is that Anna has lost part of her memory. She doesn't remember who she is or where she came from. When asked her name, she only vaguely says 'Anna.' I'm not even sure if that's her name or the name of her family's dog."

“She speaks German, so she must be from your hometown.” Zhang Renfeng made a very naive mistake.

"..." Theon rolled his eyes at him, a rare occurrence. "In many parts of Europe, there are people who can speak German. I asked her about her impression of 'home,' and she only gave me three words."

"Castle, dungeon, forest."

Chapter 474: Black, fucking black

"what??"

Zhang Renfeng's eyes widened, but he knew that Theon wouldn't joke with him. "What is a castle?"

"You don't know?" Theon was surprised for a few seconds, but he quickly realized that this was normal.

In Zhang Renfeng's hometown, there was no such thing as a "castle"; at most, there were grand mansions. Although he had traveled across the ocean, he came to the relatively desolate western America, where people lived in towns and villages, and there was simply no way they had the manpower and resources to build a castle.

For him, it was a completely new term he had never heard before.

“In the past, lords could live in castles of different ranks according to their titles, and they had their own fiefdoms and subjects. This was a system of noble ranks in Europe. Assuming that what she said is true, then the castle she described must be quite impressive in terms of both size and volume.”

"It can't be that bad," Zhang Renfeng said incredulously, with a hint of self-deprecation. "Did we get so lucky that we picked up a princess from some country?"

……

Theon was adept at using silence to speak; silence made his next words even more powerful.

Zhang Renfeng's expression also changed.

“Have you forgotten, Zhang? When we went to Fengxi Harbor and wanted to check into a hotel, something happened. They used that as an excuse to kick us out. Now it seems that the excuse itself might actually be true!”

As the memories gradually became clearer, Zhang Renfeng also recalled the political scandal hidden deep in his memory—about a month ago, the little princess of the Duchy of Luxembourg went missing in the vicinity and has not been found to this day.

Zhang Renfeng had also seen this missing person notice on the bulletin board in Fengqi Port. It said that if anyone could return the princess to the embassy, ​​there would be a generous reward, and the specific reward could be discussed in person.

The princess has a deep red birthmark on the back of her right hand, which is probably the only way to identify her at present.

Recalling Anna's empty sleeves, Zhang Renfeng suddenly realized.

"This...this is too...this is too much of a coincidence?!" He was somewhat incoherent.

“I’m more inclined to believe that this is not a coincidence. At the very least, Caster should have known, but he didn’t care. Without an identifiable birthmark, there’s no way to prove it. How could this dirty, one-armed little beggar be equated with the Luxembourg princess?”

Theon analyzed, "Luxembourg is just a small country, and the royal family has many heirs. Having one more or one less might not be that important. But her status as a princess..."

He paused for a moment, seemingly suppressing the urge to vomit, before saying, "For the buyer, perhaps it's also part of its 'price'."

Despite the different environments and cultures, Zhang Renfeng, being a man, quickly understood what he meant.

Igor listened intently. He wasn't directly involved in the Windhaven incident, so he knew very few details. Now, he needed to gather as much information as possible to support his judgment.

"These beasts!" But Zhang Renfeng was not so calm. His eyes turned cold. "I'll skin them alive sooner or later."

"Regardless of Dunn's motives, the house he gave us came at just the right time." Theon looked around and smiled complicatedly. "If we had set up a few tents and pitched them in the open like before, the girl might not have been able to adapt. Now that she has the arm that Tao made, even if we all go out and leave her alone at home, she won't get cold."

"The question is, what are your plans for dealing with her next?"

"What do you mean by 'how to handle'?" Zhang Renfeng asked, somewhat suspiciously. "Send her home. If she really is a princess of Luxembourg, we'll send her to that embassy. We can't let a little girl with a missing arm stay in a gang forever, can we? What kind of behavior is that?"

Letting Evelyn join is barely acceptable, after all, she has a skill and as an outsider, she can indeed play some role.

But allowing a disabled girl under ten years old to join a gang... no matter what, Zhang Ren wasn't that heartless. His first reaction was to help her to the end and send Anna back to her hometown.

----

"Do not."

Igor, who had been silent from the very beginning, suddenly spoke up, expressing a firm denial: "No."

"After she was sent there, the person in charge there, upon seeing the princess in this state, the first thing they asked was, 'What happened to her hand?' What do you think the embassy staff would say?"

Zhang Renfeng was caught off guard by the question.

"You mean, someone will frame us for this?" Theon understood what he meant.

"That's clearly not how it is, is it?" Zhang Renfeng said in surprise. "Anna can testify for us."

"You still don't understand, Lao Zhang. A princess from one country disappears on the soil of another country, and when she is found, she is missing an arm. This is a rather 'major' diplomatic incident!"

Igor explained, "In that situation, the victim's opinion was no longer important. Someone had to be dealt with for the matter to be considered closed. Providing someone who was already dead wouldn't be enough to explain things."

"In this situation, who do you think will be their target? Is it the Medal of Honor war hero, Ilyn Payne? Or the Red Center gang, which has repeatedly distinguished itself, turned New Orleans upside down, and already posed a certain threat to them?"

"..."

"Damn it." After a moment of silence, Zhang Renfeng spat on the ground and muttered, "It's fucking dark. Why is it so hard to do something a normal person should do?"

"That's how the game of thrones works; you're in me, and I'm in you."

Ego's expression remained calm, as if he were already used to it. "Ilyin Payne's medal was awarded by them themselves. Even if he were dead, he had to be a combat hero without any stain on his record."

“This matter cannot be rushed; it must be carefully considered… It has far exceeded the limits that the ‘gang’ organizational structure can handle, and it will involve many other forces.”

“Once the person is sent out, it will inevitably cause a huge uproar in the political arena. At that time, the existence of the Red China Gang may be exposed to the government—this is not what I want to see. We do not yet have the ability to confront violent institutions such as the government and the army head-on. Therefore, if we really have to do it, it cannot be us who do it.”

Igor stubbed out his cigarette. As the strategist in charge of strategic direction, he set the final tone: "Don't spread this matter any further beyond the three of us. Three people is the maximum number we can keep a secret."

"Let's discuss this in detail when we get back from Lagras."

Chapter 475: The Gambling Table of Fate

"Blind bet?"

Xiaomei was completely bewildered, holding a deck of cards in her hand, as if the writing on them came from another world.

Although she had joined a gang and followed Zhang Renfeng around, which had honed her into a fairly experienced gunslinger, she was still fundamentally the same person. Before joining the Red Center Gang, Xiaomei had always been a dutiful daughter at home, and naturally had no opportunity to get close to the gambling tables.

At most, I would pass by the Red Bird Tavern and, when I saw others playing cards, I would stand on the sidelines and stop to watch, as if it were a spectacle.

At first, it was alright, but after a few drinks, he started slamming the cards harder and harder, and a good deck of cards would be completely ruined after just a few games. The way he argued until his face turned red over the points and suits left a deep impression on Xiaomei, and from a young age, she was convinced that he was no good.

Of course, Alana is the other extreme.

Living in Scar Village, it's hard not to be exposed to all kinds of gambling. Even against veterans like Mike and Calaway, she held her own, her card-drawing posture and technique befitting a seasoned pro.

"Lagrass is also known as the city of con artists. In order to avoid being scammed out of everything, even your underwear, once you go in, it's best to learn a little bit."

“My father told me that once you sit down at the card table, you’re bound to lose; it’s just a matter of time,” Xiaomei muttered softly. “I don’t understand. It’s fine to play for free, but why are so many people willing to spend money to participate in this game of chance?”

"Humans, subconsciously, don't value things they haven't paid for." Mike has a huge advantage in this kind of game. He keeps a poker face the whole time, no different from anyone else, just mechanically and steadily sorting the cards in his hand. "Only when money is spent does the outcome of this game have any meaning."

"To sum it up simply, it's just incredibly cheap." Calaway grinned as he played five cards in a row. "Watch this full house!"

……

Zhang Renfeng wasn't very interested in poker; perhaps it was because it was a foreign game that he found it difficult to truly immerse himself in. While everyone was giving Xiaomei an emergency lesson in poker, he went outside the carriage.

He declined Dunn's offer to arrange a private carriage for them, instead paying for a spacious four-horse carriage himself. He also brought along his own horses, which had been free-ranging for a long time, including his own red Turkmen warhorse, to serve as the main force for the journey. This type of carriage could seat two people in the driver's seat.

Chief.

This tall Native American man skillfully drove the four-horse wagon, just as he had contributed to the gang. He always worked diligently in places unseen by others.

Kraken couldn't possibly build a snake farm in Numa Town by himself. His skills were almost entirely focused on catching snakes, and he knew nothing else. It was far too difficult for him to venture into the uninhabited land fraught with danger.

Thanks to the chief's volunteering to be his bodyguard and accompany him to explore the wild, Kraken was able to acquire such a large variety of snakes in such a short time.

For Native Americans, environments like jungles and grasslands were no different from being at home. ——————

"Speaking of which, what's the situation back in your hometown now?" Zhang Renfeng leaned back in his seat, the night wind and the sound of horses' hooves making him feel quite comfortable. He half-closed his eyes. "I remember you initially fought in underground boxing matches in San Quintak to raise $20,000 to buy your settlement, right?"

The chief smiled noncommittally.

“If it weren’t for you guys, I probably wouldn’t even have saved up $50 yet… I would still be taking who knows how many punches.” The chief sighed and said with emotion, “And now, I’m only $7000 away from that number.”

So far, the chief was the last member of the Red Center Gang to join, but because of his special circumstances, Zhang Renfeng gave him a separate share of $10,000 after the Battle of Saint Quintak. During the subsequent assault on Sanma Town, he also participated in the profit-sharing as a gang member, adding up to another $3000.

With a net worth of $15,000, he is probably the richest Native American in America.

Of course, the financial situation within the gang is a completely different world from that outside. Besides his personal charisma, the reason why the members of the Red Center Gang are willing to go to great lengths for Zhang Renfeng is that when it comes to paying him, this guy won't even blink an eye.

“If you’re really in a hurry, just go talk to Igor.” Zhang Renfeng waved his hand, his tone quite domineering. “Hector’s scattered assets have been almost all recovered on this trip, and the amount is quite considerable. It’s not impossible to give him an advance payment of $7000.”

“A special privilege beyond the rules, once is enough.” The chief seemed very honest. Even when faced with a huge sum of money that could immediately change his predicament, he was not tempted. His hands remained steady as he drove the cart, without the slightest fluctuation. “This is good for everyone.”

"and……"

"I'm already so lucky, what more could I ask for?"

……

"Well, that's fine too." Zhang Renfeng wasn't too concerned. Right now, many areas under Igor's leadership are being invested in. The biggest expense is Tao's project, while the other smaller projects are reportedly in cooperation with the major banks behind Mesvid.

Igor also explained that this was to "not put all your eggs in one basket" and to diversify your investments. In short, after all that explanation, Zhang Renfeng only understood the concept that the strategist repeatedly mentioned—don't treat money as an asset, but rather as a form of currency for circulation.

Most magic tricks that make money from money work the same way.

The dividends from these investments alone should be enough to cover the $7000 in a short time.

He began to worry about another issue: "Ultimately, after you pay the money, will you really be able to get the land back?"

"...I don't know. Ultimately, there are many different opinions within the tribe about how to treat these agents who are expropriating the land. Almost no one supports me; they think it's impossible for us to reach that number through normal channels."

A bitter smile appeared on the chief's weathered face. "Judging from the results, they were right."

"Most people think that rather than being kicked out like a dog, they should be ruthless and bite off a piece of their flesh before they die. However, our opinions don't count."

"The final decision will be made by the [King of Tall Trees]."

"Gaoshu?" Zhang Renfeng was somewhat surprised. He had heard this place name from other people more than once.

Among the mercenaries of the Golden Company, the one called Old K, a mixed-race man who controls North American yaks, is from Gao Shu.

Silverfrost, whom I met at Dover Hill, didn't seem to be an Indian, but she claimed to be from the same High Trees. After we parted, she hurried there to bring back slices of the Rhododendron strain to show her mentor.

With so many coincidences, it was hard for him not to care.

"Chief, Gao Shu, what exactly is going on...?"

----

A somewhat chaotic hoofbeat interrupted their conversation.

The chief immediately lowered his voice and warned, "Someone's coming."

Chapter 476: The Raiders of Lamoine

Before entering the city of Lagras, there is a bridge specifically for large vehicles like horse-drawn carriages. At this moment, the entrance to the bridge is completely blocked by a horse-drawn carriage parked sideways and several wooden boxes containing unknown contents.

"What's going on?" Within seconds, Mike sensed something was wrong and poked his head out of the carriage. "Are they robbing us?"

"It seems so." Zhang Renfeng sighed, somewhat helplessly. "Isn't it a big city?"

“Big cities are divided into many places. Strictly speaking, we haven’t even entered the city yet.” Mike was used to it. “This kind of robbery is very common and the methods are very crude. It’s just that the economy is good now. Twenty years ago, you could run into them on the outskirts of any big town.”

The chief tightened the reins, bringing the carriage to a slow stop in front of the obstacles.