Dual wielding volcanoes, killing through the west

That place was the stronghold of the Zola El family, and their understanding of the law was practically nonexistent, which was absolutely unacceptable. What Zhang Renfeng wanted was a solid rear base that could provide a continuous supply of logistical support in critical moments. Without people like Jimmy, it wouldn't be long before this place regressed to the era of the Thunder Gang, or even more backward.

Igor was a strategist of grand strategy; frankly, it was a bit of a waste to have someone like him as a gang strategist. Without him, the Red Center Gang might still be wandering around in the wilderness and caves, doing things like robbing trains and banks.

Finally, there's Old Mike, whose role is more like that of a strategist in a traditional gang—old, knowledgeable, and responsible for devising plans.

When an ordinary gang pulls off a big heist, someone has to come up with a plan, specifying when, who is responsible for what, and all the details are assigned by the strategist.

However, since White Torch Town, the Red Center Gang has rarely done this kind of thing, and Mike's decades of experience in the business have gradually become useless.

The others got up and left in perfect unison to find their rooms to rest, leaving the three high-ranking members of the Red Center Gang behind to discuss important matters.

……

“Just say it.” Mike sighed, took three glasses from the bar, grabbed a bottle from the liquor cabinet, filled the other two’s glasses, and asked, “Just how bad is the situation?”

“It’s hard to say. We don’t know yet who they will send or how many.” Igor took out a map of the area near Lagras from his bag, spread it out on the table, and pointed it out to the other two. “This was given to me by Hans. He brought it with him when he came, saying we might need it.”

"Hmph, that guy is frighteningly thoughtful."

Mike quipped, squinting his eyes and pressing the upturned corner of the map with his rough fingers. “We’re here. They’ll most likely come from the Tinland Plains, cross the Baddy Mountains, and head straight for Lagras.”

“That’s right, look here.” Igor’s finger moved down the map and pointed to the rear of New Orleans. He said in a deep voice, “Food can be produced from Three Horses Town. It’s too late to plant now, of course, but my White Bison Ranch still has a lot of food stored up. The Zolael family used to live a life of luxury and has stockpiled a lot of all kinds of supplies. It’s no problem to help them out for a while.”

"Arms distribution is even easier; they can be shipped from White Torch. Dunn's weapons production line can come in handy. Last time in Three Horses, Theon dismantled the Gatling gun and field gun, and the blueprints have been handed over to Dunn. Perfect, let them produce new weapons continuously and transport them to the battlefield."

"In urgent situations, we must act expediently. Weapon supplies from the rear can be transported to Lagras via the Saint Quintak train line. This should be the fastest way, and Mayhew should be willing to help with this."

At this point, Igor wiped his nose, smiled somewhat helplessly, and sighed, "That's all I can do. As for fighting... I know nothing about it and have never had any practical experience. I can only rely on you."

"Me?" Mike pointed to himself, then chuckled, "Are you serious?"

"Didn't you serve in the army before?" Igor asked.

"That was so long ago. Besides, I was just an ordinary soldier. After retiring, I spent a few years in the mounted police system, taught a few students, and never fought in any major battles again." Mike waved his hand and sighed, "Let's think about it the other way around. If we could have gotten some rank in the military, would there be the Red Center Gang now?"

The petty squabbles between gangs are completely different from a real war. This is why Igor insisted on keeping a low profile after arriving in Sanma Town.

Mike, Calaway, and Theon—three men with skills, all involved in the Civil War—were not cut out for military command. As for the Chief and Angel Eyes, they were simply not cut out for that path. Little May and Alana were too young to be considered either.

It's not the right time to confront the military head-on.

……

"I come."

Just as they were at a loss and struggling, Zhang Renfeng suddenly spoke up.

He said those two words through gritted teeth, his eyes gleaming, a complex ruthlessness creeping into his voice. "It's just leading troops into battle. I've done that before, nothing special."

Chapter 517: Putting an Elephant in a Refrigerator

"Old Zhang, did you participate in the civil war?" Igor was extremely shocked. He had never heard Zhang Renfeng mention this before, and he never knew that Zhang had such an experience.

But the misunderstanding was quickly cleared up. Zhang Renfeng waved his hand and said, "It's a pity I missed it. I arrived here by ship about two years ago. By the time I got here, it seems that the war in your country had already ended."

“In my own country, I once led a mountain battalion to suppress bandits. My side had 800 men, while the other side had 8000. Despite such a disparity in troop strength, we still won in the end.”

"Really? The troop ratio is one to ten! To win with such a disparity is truly divine military skill!" Igor exclaimed. "You're such a formidable fighter, you should be doing very well in your own country. What are you doing here?"

"..." A hidden, sinister glint flashed in Zhang Renfeng's eyes.

With his rich experience and life experience, Mike noticed the fleeting low pressure and immediately changed the subject, "You can't win a war with just leaders and logistics personnel. You need soldiers. Real soldiers, flesh and blood soldiers, at least soldiers who can shoot."

"The stories circulating outside are all about how the Red Center Gang broke through the Zola El family's defenses, but don't forget, in fact, it wasn't just the eight of us who did it. The tough battle in Tianma Town would have been several times more difficult without the 200 civilians we recruited in Numa Town."

He tapped the table and said with utmost seriousness, "I know you've always preferred to act alone, as that allows you to maximize your combat advantages. But this time, that solo approach definitely won't work."

“Right, isn’t he good at dodging bullets?” Ego came up with a rather bizarre tactic, “Then have Theon make a bundle of explosives, and you charge straight in under enemy fire. Twist off all their bullets, then throw the explosives directly into their trenches, and then…”

“Don’t be silly. No matter how fast a person moves, how can they possibly dodge a bullet?” Zhang Renfeng shook his head with a wry smile, revealing his secret to dodging bullets to his partner for the first time. “All I did was anticipate the ‘movement’ before the shot was fired.”

"Action?" Mike raised an eyebrow.

"When a martial artist's training reaches a certain level, they develop muscle memory, which allows them to subconsciously react to the actions of others. For example, if you clench your fist or raise your leg in front of me, I can actually feel it, but I just forcefully suppress it—this is my body making a judgment that you might attack me, and before that, I have to be prepared to counterattack. This is what is called 'preemptive strike'."

A master with exceptional talent, like a wolf, can anticipate Zhang Renfeng's predictions, thus achieving "being the first to anticipate."

Ultimately, it's just a contest of reflexes.

"Untrained people will subconsciously look at where he is aiming before they make a move. Their eyes move first, then their energy moves, and finally the actual action comes—I saw through this process, and the moment his eyes moved, I started to dodge, which allowed me to avoid the bullet."

He spoke with the tone of a magician revealing a secret, making it sound as if anyone could do it once they knew the trick. What he described was essentially the same as "how to put an elephant in a refrigerator," involving three steps, but no one but him could actually do those three steps.

“Such maneuvers have their limits. Take Calaway, for example. His reflexes are better than mine. I can’t react to his left-handed pistol.” Zhang Renfeng chuckled twice and said calmly, “If he wanted to, he could easily shoot me dead in one shot.”

……

“Back in the day, he was known as ‘Little Calaway,’ and many famous cowboys and gunmen died by his left-handed pistol.” Mike’s tone was complex, a mixture of pride and resentment at being outdone.

You can't deny your talent.

His nickname, "Reinhardt the Iron Wall," immediately suggests he's not the type to invincible with a gun. Fortunately, he's easygoing; Calaway's ability to draw his gun with his left hand is an advantage of reflexes that can't be learned, so he just needs to focus on doing his job well.

“I’m starting to think more and more, Old Zhang, you might have been born a few hundred years too late.” After a long silence, Igor sighed, “If you had been born before guns and gunpowder were invented, you would probably have conquered the whole world by now. There would be no chance for us.”

Zhang Renfeng smiled noncommittally, "Perhaps."

"So, even the seemingly miraculous skill of dodging bullets has its limitations, right?" Mike steered the conversation back on track. "You have to look into his eyes first. If someone is sniping at you from where you can't see them, or if ten people are shooting at you at the same time, you won't be able to dodge."

"..."

Zhang Renfeng pondered this statement briefly but did not dare to draw a conclusion.

He had actually encountered a sniper shot beyond visual range once before, in Sanma Town.

Among the four mercenaries from the Golden Company was a sniper named Raven, who was hiding on the rooftop. At that time, he had just lifted a 1.5-ton North American bison and was completely out of it. He wasn't sure if he had dodged Raven's sniper shot, but judging from his condition afterward, he probably took Raven out on the spur of the moment.

"In the end, we still need people... How many of you do you think we can recruit here on the spot who are willing to risk their lives for us?"

“Not a single one, especially since you avenged them tonight,” Mike said slowly. “After a great revenge, people are often feeling empty inside, and that’s when their mood is at its lowest. Besides, they’re all untrained civilians. After they’ve vented their anger, wouldn’t it be harmful to drag them back to the battlefield?”

"Ideally, we'd have readily available soldiers who know how to use a gun, ride a horse, and follow orders. They don't need training; they can go straight into battle..."

As they were talking, the three of them stopped talking in unison and looked at the figure walking towards them.

----

“It’s this late, and you’re still not resting?” Meteora’s gaze swept over the three of them slightly before handing the list to Zhang Renfeng. “Mr. Hongzhong, please take a look.”

This is a list, written in clear and legible handwriting, clearly the work of Meteora, who was obviously educated.

“Wow~~~ $67412…and that’s just in cash…” Zhang Renfeng gasped when he saw the items on the bill, but he quickly handed the list to Igor, saying with a sigh, “Running a casino is so profitable.”

“It’s called a casino, but it’s actually Joffrey’s private slush fund,” Meteora explained. “I had my men do a rough inventory of the casino, inside and out, and they found a lot of safes and his private secret rooms. In addition, there were many works of art, jewelry, gold bars and the like. I have no experience and can’t estimate their value, but they should all be quite valuable.”

"In short, I've had my men gather all these valuables into one room. I'd like to discuss with you the ownership of this money."

"The main force that captured Lagras was still your Red Center team, that's an indisputable fact."

"I wonder if you can accept a 20/80 split?"

Chapter 518: Letter

For Meteora, this was a very generous proportion, even far beyond Igor's expectations.

The casino was simply too large; searching it thoroughly would take the Red Center Gang at least half the night with their limited manpower. They also needed to hold a meeting to discuss future plans, so they outsourced the operation. To be honest, at this point, everyone was less concerned about money than before—getting through the next hurdle was the most important thing.

Of course, if I had known earlier that there was so much money stored in this casino, I might have rolled up my sleeves and gone for it myself.

“Hmm, I think this ratio could be… adjusted a bit more…” Zhang Renfeng coughed twice, looked at Igor, and said meaningfully.

Igor immediately understood and nodded in deep agreement.

"A 20/80 split... You can't accept that either?" Meteora was a little surprised, but after thinking about Zhang Renfeng's behavior throughout, it seemed normal. "From here on out, I won't add any decimals. You can give us 10% of this money as a reward for your hard work. Is that alright?"

Don't underestimate that percentage; even 10% of $67,000 is a whopping $6,700. In the real world of highway robbery, it would take countless robberies to reach that amount.

Furthermore, in this operation, the Lamon Raiders were merely following behind the Red Center Gang, picking up kills, and thus smoothly infiltrated the area. If they could actually get a ten percent share, it would be a sure-fire profit, enough to appease their men.

Not only that, but you can also build a relationship with a super-powerful armed group like the Red Center Gang, which is worthwhile from any perspective.

To everyone's surprise, Igor still shook his head slightly.

"You misunderstood. What I meant was... you've all been working so hard on this, how come you only got 20%?"

“?!” Meteora’s eyes widened in surprise.

"Old Zhang, what do you think?"

"It should be split at least 50/50," Zhang Renfeng said casually.

"...What...what did you just say?"

No one will complain about receiving too much money. Since ancient times, if you want people to work for you, you absolutely cannot skimp on this aspect.

Xiang Yu boasted that he could defeat ten thousand men, and that killing a hundred men with his sword was as easy as playing a game. Winning battles against overwhelming odds and storming enemy lines was as effortless as taking candy from a bag. But when it came time to reward those who had rendered meritorious service, he would hold onto the seal of office so tightly that he would round off the edges, unwilling to give it to anyone else.

His old rival was almost his complete opposite. He had a bad temper, seemed disrespectful, and was prone to losing his temper, but following him meant wealth and good treatment. In the end, Xiang Yu was invincible, relying on his personal bravery to almost completely overwhelm his opponents, but he couldn't control the course of the war and gradually lost it.

For the Red China Gang right now, whether they get a lot or a little money in this round is no longer important.

“They were being rather subtle, but this extra money isn’t just for nothing.” Mike handed a cigarette to Meteora, lit it for him with a match, and said, “Consider it as the commission fee for all of you.”

……

Meteora listened silently to the whole thing, the cigarette in his mouth burning down to about halfway, as he exhaled a long puff of smoke.

As a leader, his silence is understandable; after all, from this point on, it's a real battle. The two sides were originally strangers, and fighting this war together doesn't mean they'll become close allies. Meteora was fully aware of his own capabilities; his original ultimate strategic goal was simply to cause damage to the company, to create a huge disturbance, the bigger the better, without even necessarily killing Joffrey.

Although the company viewed them as a thorn in its side, it didn't take any real action, such as sending people to suppress them. Both sides maintained this tacit understanding of give and take, with neither side going too far, thus preserving a delicate balance.

Now, the balance has been shattered by the Red Center Gang, who descended from the sky.

If he were to get involved in this impending war, the subsequent situation would no longer be something a mere ranger like him could control. It was foreseeable that Roanok wouldn't give up so easily; what awaited the Red Center Gang was a massive, storm-like battle, and Meteora couldn't guarantee his own escape unscathed.

At the gambling table, the prize pool was still accumulating. If they stopped now, they could at least keep $33,500 and walk away unscathed. Dividing this money among sixty people would be enough for them to retire from gambling, and if they were frugal, it would be enough for the rest of their lives.

It is enough.

Of all the so-called gangsters and gunmen, how many can live peacefully until retirement? Meteora has seen too many people who blindly go all in, and their ends are rarely good.

……

But... what if, in this very bet, you win?

----

“...We only have sixty people.” Meteora, who had been silent for a long time, picked up the cigarette butt that was almost burning his lips and put it on the table to extinguish it.

"Sixty well-trained cavalrymen have joined us tonight." Zhang Renfeng smiled and extended his hand to him. "I will remember them!"

……

Years later, when you're old and bedridden, surrounded by your children and grandchildren, unable to move, and even the cries of your children are fading from your ears, will you regret not having the courage to hold his hand tonight?

After a moment's thought, Meteora finally reached out and shook his hand firmly!

"By the way, Red Center, my men found a letter while searching the basement. It seems to be addressed to the poker community, and the language used is... none of us can understand it."

With the important matter settled, Meteora and his companions went to announce this crucial decision, so they did not linger any longer.

Before leaving, he took out a letter and handed it to Zhang Renfeng, saying, "I think you might be interested."

"Really?" Out of curiosity, Zhang Renfeng took the unsigned letter. "Let me see."

----

He was stunned the moment he opened it.

Written language becomes quite unfamiliar if you don't look at or use it for a long time. Zhang Renfeng suddenly felt a little sad. It should be his mother tongue, but now he needs to slow down and wait for the language module in his brain to load before he can understand it.

"Chinese characters?" Igor leaned closer, naturally unable to understand a single word.

"He has excellent calligraphy skills," Zhang Renfeng remarked.

----

My son, my son, seeing this letter is like seeing you in person.

Last night at dawn, my heart ached terribly. Observing the night sky, I saw a red star falling into the sky and the moon encroaching on the constellation of Cartesian, which is an extremely ominous sign.

Uneasy, I cast a divination and obtained the Hexagram of Retreat (遁), line 1, number 6: Retreat to the tail, danger. Do not go anywhere. When you flee, you are at the very end; misfortune is already revealed. The master you serve may soon face a violent disaster, with bloodshed throughout your family. Flee quickly; if necessary, do not hesitate, cut your losses to survive!

My son, remember this well: avoid it immediately, avoid it immediately!