Dual wielding volcanoes, killing through the west

"Is this their headquarters?"

“Unfortunately, that’s not the case. This place is more like a transit point.” Meteora shook her head. “The Osborne family is a prominent family in northern America. Their main business is mining, oil and mineral metal reprocessing. They are powerful and well-established, and are quite famous in the north.”

"However, with the end of the war, more and more new companies sprang up like mushrooms after rain. Roanok sensed the crisis and tried to extend his reach to various places in the south. What you saw in Numa Town should be a pilot project of this kind."

"As for Lagras..."

Meteora turned around and glanced at the city not far away.

Through the bridge, the lingering sounds of the hustle and bustle on the other side, amidst the dust and mist, appear beautiful and full of vitality.

“You should know that gambling alone cannot support a city like this. Lagras’ prosperity, like those civilized cities in the north, is supported by its developed industry.”

"Various factories, with machines roaring day and night. Minerals are extracted from pits and mines, mixed with the blood and bones of workers, and transported here, where they are processed and refined by workers into useful metals, which are then sold to different customers in exchange for a steady stream of money... This entire mature industrial chain belongs to Roannock Fuel Company."

It sounds familiar.

If it weren't for Zhang Renfeng and his group, and if the company and the Zola El family had finally reached an agreement to build the factory near Numa Town, things would probably have ended up like this.

It's just smaller in scale.

But once they taste success, factories will spring up like weeds before long. Polluted land, air, and water will become the norm. Given these guys' bottom line, doing something like this is probably as commonplace as eating and drinking.

"The vast majority of people here have been harmed by the company. Unfortunately, there is no savior who will come down from the sky to save them all."

At this point, Meteora's expression suddenly changed, and he extended his right hand to Zhang Renfeng, "Join us, Red Center!"

"Huh?" If this were a comic book, Zhang Renfeng's face would be filled with three question marks at this moment.

"The purpose of this organization from the very beginning was to take revenge on the company and take back everything that the company had taken from us!"

"With you on the team, our chances of winning would be much greater. In White Torch Town, you wiped out the Nordlin family; in Three Horses Town, you wiped out the Zorael family; and in Windblown Sands, you killed Ryan Childer's second son. No one is more professional in this regard than you; you are a true professional!"

……

"what……"

Zhang Renfeng was somewhat amused and exasperated that he was known for his skill in wiping out entire families. Apart from some details, such as the fact that the Zola El family was not completely wiped out, it was pretty close to reality.

After the invitation was extended, the people behind Meteora seemed to suddenly remember the series of incredible achievements that Hongzhong had accomplished in just half a year. They held their breath and their eyes were full of anticipation.

In the world of martial arts, reputation usually depends on fellow travelers and friends, but Hong Zhong is an exception. Anyone who's ever been in the south knows his name well. In different versions of the story, Hong Zhong's identity switches between different races, but he's never portrayed as human, because physiologically, it's difficult to see him as human.

If he were still that stable boy in the wind and sand, he would probably have just gone for it if he received such an invitation. He would have said something like, "This and that, this and that, you beast, you should be killed!"

But right now, he is the leader of the Red Center Gang, a gang he founded that is transforming into a larger collective.

not to mention……

"How long have we known each other?" Mike slowly stepped forward, standing half a body length ahead of Zhang Renfeng, and looked at Meteora. "About 30 minutes?"

"When? Where?"

"What exactly do you mean by plundering? Is it robbery or theft? What's the plan? What are the enemy's manpower and weaponry like? How are they distributed? How is the power structure divided in the city? What will the reward be afterward? ... You're already trying to recruit people without discussing anything. Isn't that a bit too hasty?"

Being able to act as the leader's mouthpiece and express the leader's thoughts in a reasonable way is also the function of a strategist.

With Igor absent, Mike fulfilled his role admirably—their entire understanding of the Osborne family was limited to Meteora's words just now. Given the rarity of the situation, it was incredibly reckless to force themselves to do such a thankless task.

Zhang Renfeng was reckless, not stupid.

……

“I see. I apologize for my intrusion.” Meteora showed no obvious disappointment, as if she had expected this. “Are you going to Lagrass for some other business?”

“****.” Zhang Renfeng said in a deep voice.

"Then I won't take up any more of your time. Otto, take two men and remove the obstacles so they can pass."

"Oh, and..."

"Hans Humphrey, Mayor, you'd better watch out for this guy."

"What?" Zhang Renfeng asked curiously, "Is he someone from the company?"

“Worse than that,” Meteora said gravely, shaking his head. “He’s an ambitious man.”

Chapter 479: The Banquet

"We're being followed."

Angel Eyes' tone was so calm, so calm, that it made Ego wonder if this guy even had human emotions. Could he not be human?

“Sure enough, I knew something was wrong.” Theon had clearly noticed as well. “After we entered the city, people kept glancing at us.”

“Being tall has its advantages,” Igor sighed. “I can’t even see anything.”

At this moment, the three of them walked side by side down the street in Lagras, a rare occasion for Angel Eyes to take action with his teammates.

Zhang Renfeng's task for the three of them was to go ahead to Lagras to gather intelligence and, incidentally, have Igor finalize the cotton deal. Selling all the cotton piling up in the warehouse at once would put a major burden on their minds.

The three of them arrived on horseback, and because of Ego's size, riding alongside Theon on the same horse, they went unnoticed by the Rangers. By staggering their arrival times, they easily crossed the bridge.

The outermost part of Lagras, surrounded by factories, chimneys, and dense residential areas, doesn't look much different from St. Quintac—it's also pitch black. Only when you go further in does the city gradually become bustling, with real traffic, throngs of tourists, and a dazzling array of shops, beginning to live up to its name as a city that never sleeps.

However, as they walked, Angel Eyes, who was the most skilled in magic, quickly realized that something was wrong.

“The middle-aged man with the bow tie, the newsboy who just passed by us, the woman hanging clothes to dry on the second floor, the old man holding a newspaper at the three o’clock position… they are observing us in a very frequent way, it’s really interesting.”

"Can it really be specified down to each individual?"

Theon was shocked by the Angel Eye's abilities. He prided himself on his counter-surveillance skills; when May and Alana broke into his house, Theon had sensed something was wrong just from a slight mark on the lock. But now, walking down the bustling street, he could only rely on his intuition to feel that someone was watching him, and he could pinpoint the exact person.

"Are you really a bounty hunter? Or are you some kind of assassin?"

"..." Angel Eyes gave an ambiguous smile.

"Such intense surveillance is unlikely; it must be targeting us specifically." Igor had already sensed something amiss. "Or perhaps our group is too conspicuous?"

Just as they were wondering what was going on, a luxurious carriage slowly drove up from the street and passed by the three of them.

In that brief moment, Theon noticed the people in the carriage.

"Evelyn? She's here too?"

"That famous actress?" Angel Eyes narrowed his strange eyes, looking at the carriage that was gradually disappearing into the distance, and smiled, "She is very famous in some towns in the south, and is known as the 'Pearl of this Century'. I have long wanted to meet her."

"So, she's been touring between different towns, and she sends a few letters to White Torch from each place she visits. But we've all been too busy lately to even go to the post office, so we don't know much about her situation. Maybe it's just a coincidence."

"..."

"A coincidence?"

After turning several corners, the carriage quickly disappeared from sight, and Igor's expression gradually became serious.

“I don’t believe it,” he said in a deep voice. “Let’s split up. Theon and I will go find the sea merchants and discuss the cotton. Angel Eye…”

In the blink of an eye, Angel Eyes had vanished, and he was talking to thin air.

“Okay.” Igor shrugged helplessly. “I believe he will suddenly appear when needed.”

----

"Miss Dietersdorf, we've arrived. Please come in."

This wasn't the first time Evelyn had been invited by important figures in town, and she was quite experienced in this. She nodded slightly to the person who came to pick her up, offering a standard, neither servile nor arrogant, business smile. In these situations, there was no need to be overly enthusiastic; just getting through the motions without making a mistake was enough.

That being said, this time the inviter seemed somewhat different from before—he chose a rather simple venue, with no intention of flaunting his superior status; it was so simple it could be described as unpretentious. Despite its simplicity, his attire was impeccably neat and appropriate, just like the meal itself, without much embellishment.

It's very difficult to distinguish between different social classes based on appearance alone. Once naked, they all look pretty much the same.

That's why remarkable people need to use clothing to show it off, and this man has ingrained this principle into his very bones.

His suit was generally dark and meticulous, without incorporating any of the currently trendy Laonki suit elements.

Fryk's suit jacket, Kiley waistcoat, and Château de Château trousers—this combination, popular since the time of Louis XVI, remains a classic upper-class men's social attire. However, with the gradual advancement of cultural trends, fewer and fewer people dress this way in modern times.

Evelyn felt a pang of sadness, because her father wore a similar outfit, much like her own corset. No matter what, it was never comfortable to wear. But for the sake of appearances, they had no choice but to wear it.

He was holding a newspaper, but upon seeing Evelyn arrive, he stopped reading, put the newspaper away, and placed it aside, revealing the same deep, businesslike smile—a small smile, not so small as to be seen as unenthusiastic, but certainly not one to give off any sense of intrusion. For someone like him, the smile itself was a weapon of rejection.

“Welcome, Miss Dietersdorf.” Hans Humphrey, the mayor of Lagras, was sitting opposite her. “Your presence makes this city even more enchanting.”

……

Evelyn wasn't sure what he was planning to do.

The Dietersdorf family had been completely destroyed in that fire, leaving him with only a noble surname. But the man before him was the mayor who truly held power in the city, and his overtures seemed rather abrupt.

Of course, it's possible he has other ideas. Since she's already here, Evelyn decided to stick to the topic and see how things go.

"Don't mention it, I should be thanking you for the invitation." She placed her hands on her lap, her back straight, and smiled gracefully. "This is my first time performing in such a bustling town."

"Really?" Hans' tone was quite calm. He wiped his hands with a napkin and picked up his knife and fork. "As far as I know, you have performed in White Torch and Saint Quintak before."

"How does this compare to that?"

“…” Evelyn did not answer directly, but chuckled softly, “My mother once told me that the audience in this city has always had a very high level of appreciation for art.”

“A discerning eye, huh?” Hans used his knife and fork with remarkable elegance, unhurriedly cutting a piece of beef with his knife so that it didn’t scrape against the bottom of the plate, thus avoiding any unpleasant noise. “So what? As far as I know, Mr. Lecter’s appreciation and understanding of art is unparalleled, isn’t it?”

"..." Evelyn's movements were slightly hesitant.

She realized she had been deceived. This man was not a gentleman at all; his attire, behavior, and etiquette as an old nobleman were merely a facade.

A true gentleman would not ask such a question during a meal.

“I’m sorry, Miss Dietersdorf, perhaps it’s inappropriate to bring this up in this setting. I had a brief encounter with Mr. Lecter during a previous business meeting, and it was absolutely horrible.”

"He was sitting right in front of me, eating the same food, drinking the same wine, and chatting amicably about the same things... In fact, he was a completely different person, or rather, a different creature. But the Lecter I knew was a deep, cautious, and extremely shrewd man. It's truly something to celebrate that you managed to escape from such a monster."

Chapter 479: Both sides were in an awkward situation.

Having said all that, Evelyn couldn't possibly be oblivious to his unspoken message. She gently placed her knife and fork on the table, her brow furrowing slightly. "What exactly are you trying to say? Why don't you be more direct?"

Facing each other face to face is a fairly clear signal.

Hans gave a meaningful smile. "In short, I especially hope to meet the guardian angel behind you."

At this point, Evelyn could easily see through his meaning. All that fuss—the grand invitation to perform in Lagras, the chauffeured car, the dinners—was all a setup. He wanted to use her as a pretext to meet Red Center!

However... after learning of the other party's ulterior motives, the previously harmonious atmosphere suddenly became somewhat stiff.

But then he thought, isn't this exactly what Mr. Red Center entrusted him to do? As the Red Center Gang's official diplomatic representative, he could use his reputation to arrange meetings with whoever he wanted to see. Back at the Pearl Shell Restaurant, it was Evelyn who took the initiative to extend invitations to Dunn and McCain, thus luring the two of them over.

Conversely, others can also contact Hongzhong through this connection.

What do you intend to do with him?

"The word 'exploit' isn't quite accurate. I prefer to use another word to describe my relationship with most of my partners."

Hans did not deny his intentions, but simply raised his hands and made a quotation mark gesture, "Win-win."

"You won twice by yourself?" After bringing it up, Evelyn's words carried a hint of sarcasm.

“Mayor Mason of St. Quintak gets along very well with that person, doesn’t he? If Mason can do it, I have no reason not to.”

He put down his knife and fork, picked up his wine glass, and gently swirled it with his wrist. The rich brandy rippled in the glass, releasing an intoxicating fruity aroma. He said, "He's like a sharp scalpel, helping me to cut away the festering sores rooted in this city."

"Similarly, at the appropriate time, I will give him reasonable compensation, which is a win-win situation."

“He’s not a mercenary you can summon and dismiss at will, nor will he do any dirty work for you,” Evelyn said seriously. “If you have any bad intentions, I suggest you give up now. His tolerance for rulers with low moral standards is practically zero.”

After saying that, Evelyn didn't intend to stay any longer. She stood up decisively, silently pushed her chair into the table, and said in a cold, emotionless tone, "Thank you for your invitation. Since we have already received payment in advance, we will still go on stage on time for the performance."

Good night, Mr. Humphrey.

……

"What if I told you that this commission is related to the Illuminati?"

As if a pause button had been pressed, Evelyn's steps stopped just as she was about to disappear from Hans's sight.

Hans didn't rush to speak. He first used his fork to pick up the remaining steak, spread the sauce evenly on it, and put it in his mouth, chewing slowly. After fully enjoying every texture of the steak, he picked up his glass, swallowed a large gulp of brandy, and rinsed his mouth like a mouthwash, letting it fill his mouth and thoroughly cleanse his taste buds with the rich alcohol before swallowing.

He was quite confident in the bait he had thrown out.

"Well, Miss Dietersdorf, are you... even slightly interested in my proposal?"

"The Illuminati you're talking about, are you...?"

"Yes, that's right, just like you think. It's a very large and complex mysterious organization. Structurally, it's more like a secret society or something, isn't it?" Hans' tone sounded somewhat casual, but the bombshell he dropped was enough to keep everyone on the edge of their seats.

"Right now, they're somewhere in this city."