Dual wielding volcanoes, killing through the west

Istavo sat amidst the pile of antiques, hunched over his desk writing something with a fancy quill pen, the light from a kerosene lamp filling the space.

The sound of crashing waves could be heard from time to time, echoing the warm-toned lighting and giving the enclosed space a strong sense of security.

“It’s alright, Qasim,” Istavo said without looking up.

"..." Dressed in white, Kasim stood silently behind Istavo the entire time, his gaze fixed on Zhang Renfeng ever since Zhang Renfeng pushed open the wooden door. Only after these words were spoken did he withdraw his somewhat frightening gaze and slowly leave the captain's cabin.

Before leaving, I closed the door behind me.

"What are you writing?" When interacting with Istavo, there was no need for unnecessary probing or pretense. Zhang Renfeng simply asked what was on his mind. "A novel?"

"The last sentence of the letter I sent to my family was something I couldn't figure out how to end it."

Istavo's tone was somewhat complicated—he recalled the last time he parted ways with Zhang Renfeng at the teahouse, when he had made a bold statement that after going to sea, he would write a moving autobiography of Captain Istavo based on his experiences over the years.

Time flew by, and he possessed everything he had once dreamed of: a large ship, a captain's cabin large enough to hold his dreams, and a crew of loyal sailors. But when he picked up his pen again, the words that flowed were for his family.

"You're married?" Zhang Renfeng was somewhat surprised, but her tone revealed genuine happiness for him.

“After a few years at sea, I’ve saved up some money, but… it’s still far from enough to support the woman’s family.” Istavo shook his head and sighed softly. “What do you call this situation where you’re from?”

"Marrying into the wife's family."

"Yes, that's pretty much it. Sometimes, I'm quite conflicted... She has everything, does that mean I can't give her anything?" He twirled the quill pen in his hand, and as he talked about these everyday matters, a smile unconsciously spread across his face. "Today is my third daughter's thirteenth birthday."

Zhang Renfeng asked curiously, "What does it feel like to become a father?"

“I can’t explain it, but I’m willing to risk everything for her,” Istavo said in a deep voice.

"everything?"

“You’ll understand everything someday.” Istavo put the letter and pen aside. “Let’s not talk about this now…”

"We'll be there soon."

Zhang Renfeng's expression changed.

On the ship, the days passed one by one. He didn't keep track of how much time had gone by; even the concept of "time" became almost irrelevant. He gradually fell in love with this small, cramped world, as if staying here would allow him to escape the nightmarish past. He could sit on the deck, staring at the horizon where the sky met the sea, from sunrise to sunset, emptying his heart of pain and sorrow.

Even such days eventually come to an end.

“Our destination is the United States of America, where everyone speaks English.” Istavo paused, deliberately slowing his speech, as if to give Zhang Renfeng more time to think. “It’s a very large country. Nobody knows you there, and you can start your life anew as an ordinary person.”

"However, there's something I have to tell you first—that country is different from yours. There, you're the 'foreigner.' Your skin color is a minority, and you're called a 'yellow bastard' by the locals. They'll discriminate against you and suppress you because of that, and even if you go looking for work, you're unlikely to find anything decent."

"What you will face is an unfamiliar language, a malicious social environment, and a culture completely different from what you have grown up with. There is no emperor in that land, but the tycoons dominate everything, and they are just as ruthless when they eat people up."

Zhang Renfeng remained silent, his eyes showing no surprise or anger, only numbness.

“But you won’t have to suffer like that on this ship. I have more than one ship and more than one port in America. What I’m doing is already taking shape! You can stay, stay here, just like Zhuogen, Atian, and Qasim, and stay with me…”

"Do not."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Renfeng shook his head, his tone resolute and leaving himself no room for negotiation.

"why?"

“I’ve been living in a daze these past few days on the ship… But if I had to say what the only thing I’ve figured out is this one thing.” Zhang Renfeng sighed, his tone heavy. “Someone like me is simply not suited to be someone else’s subordinate, even if that person is you.”

"Don't look at me like that, Istavo. You saved me. That's a debt of gratitude I'll remember for life." Seeing the disbelief written all over his face, Zhang Renfeng smiled bitterly. "This is something I've learned through trial and error over the course of my life."

Every sleepless night, staring at the ship's deck, Zhang Renfeng would review his experiences over the past few months. Only after dissecting and analyzing every person and event in his mind did he finally understand.

Yu City.

That night, everyone in the tent faced a choice, and everyone chose to turn a blind eye and align themselves with the highest leader.

I am the only exception.

Therefore, everything that happened afterward was actually inevitable; it was destined from the moment he made that choice.

He couldn't guarantee that his choice would change if a similar option were presented to him next time.

In that case, being alone and not involving anyone after making a choice is perhaps the best course of action.

……

This time, it was Istavo's turn to fall silent. He stood frozen like a stone statue for a long time. Only when a wave crashed against the ship, causing the captain's cabin to shake slightly, did he snap out of his reverie and ask, "But, once we get there, how will you make a living?"

"I don't know, let's take it one step at a time." Zhang Renfeng was quite optimistic and laughed. "If all else fails, I'll go raise horses for someone. Dealing with animals is much more enjoyable than dealing with people."

“Heh…” Istavo laughed, “Someone like you, even if you were willing to condescend to raise horses, I’m afraid it wouldn’t last long.”

"Since you've made up your mind, then... well, best of luck."

He said no more, but extended his hand as a friend, shook it gently, and offered his blessings.

"That was also Robin's hometown—during the Civil War, he was a Union officer who fought to liberate slaves. But his style of doing things was too flamboyant, and after the war, he was purged and had no choice but to go out and lay low."

“A few years have passed, and the government should have forgotten about him. He’ll get off at that stop. You can live with him for a while to get familiar with the situation in America. I’ll leave you some money for emergencies.”

"Okay." Zhang Renfeng took a deep breath and pursed his lips. "I won't thank you for your kindness. If you need anything, just come to me."

"In two years, when my third daughter turns fifteen, I would like to ask you to be her godfather."

"Well... see you again in two years."

----

As she reached the door, Zhang Renfeng stopped, turned around, and said softly, "'Even when you can't see me, I wish you good morning, good afternoon, and good night.'"

"How about ending that letter to your family with this sentence?"

Chapter 562: After the Story

At this point, Zhang Renfeng's expression became somewhat dazed, as if he had been splashed with cold water. Suddenly, he snapped out of his reverie and pulled himself out of the mire of memories.

Xiaomei had already vaguely guessed, "So, that Robin is..."

"That's right, he is the [Man in Yellow]."

Zhang Renfeng sighed. From this point on, he skipped over many details of the story and shifted the perspective from that distant Loess Plateau to America. "We landed at Blue Magpie Port, and after that, he took me with him for a while."

“We robbed a bank once. He came up with the whole plan. After we succeeded, we went through Sparrow Mountain. That’s where I met the Minis, who ran a shop on the snowy mountain.”

"After we came down the mountain, he invited me to team up with him again and do a few more big heists, but I refused."

Even now, when he recalls this past event, his eyes are still full of weariness.

"At that time... I was really tired, even breathing felt tiring. I didn't want to think about these things anymore. The climate in Baiju Town was okay, and the surrounding scenery was also nice, so I thought, why not just settle down here for now? Anyway, I have money and won't starve. I'll just find some work and settle down for a while."

“I bought a house in White Torch and met a cookie-selling brat named Oliver. I remember he had emerald eyes. He was killed by the Nordlin family and hung on a horse like a hunted weasel…”

“I can’t stand this kind of thing… I couldn’t stand it before, and I still can’t stand it now. They killed a child who had done nothing wrong so casually, just because he wanted back his 25-cent reward. Nobody found it strange, as if it were all just a matter of justice.”

"Since no one else is willing to take care of it, then I will."

"After killing the Nordlin family, I left White Torch and went to Windswept Sands in New Elizabeth, where I stayed in a stable."

"There's no need to talk about what happened after that."

……

After the story was told, no one spoke for a long, long time. Everyone was still immersed in the aftertaste, unable to extricate themselves from it.

A person of another skin color crossed the ocean and arrived on this unfamiliar land. While Hong Zhong's rampage was undeniably exhilarating, anyone with a modicum of common sense could tell that the story behind it all had nothing to do with a happy ending. Everyone had prepared themselves mentally, but they never imagined that what actually happened would be far more devastating and cruel than they had anticipated.

This seemingly omnipotent man had also lost everything.

“Istva White Ulysses, I fully understand what this person means to you.” Mike sighed deeply. “I’m taking back all the advice I gave you before.”

"If you don't make the decision yourself, you'll regret it for the rest of your life. Just do what you think is right."

"And you, Igor, what do you say?"

"..."

"So, in the past two years, apart from the recent meeting at Saint Quintak, you haven't seen this old friend again, right?" After a moment of silence, Igor continued, "Then, where is the 'old place' he mentioned?"

“Blue Magpie Port, the port where we disembarked,” Zhang Renfeng said in a deep voice. “He will be waiting for me there.”

For Zhang Renfeng, there were far too many things involved behind this. Besides the heavy past, there was also the unbreakable bond between him and Istavo. These factors were beyond the scope of rational thought, especially since it was Istavo who had initiated the trip. He was determined to go, no matter what.

When a person is truly determined, nothing can stop him.

Of course, for the Red Center Gang, the fewer actions Zhang Renfeng took, the better. He was the commander-in-chief, the marshal, and the backbone of everyone. The high degree of obedience throughout the entire New Orleans territory was, in a sense, built upon the prestige of the "Red Center."

If even the slightest mishap were to happen to him, the current favorable situation would crumble in an instant.

Igor finds it hard to imagine whether the Red Center Gang would still exist without Red Center.

On the other hand, he also knew that it was completely meaningless for Zhang Renfeng to talk about these things at this moment.

"I understand." After thinking everything through, Igor nodded. "This is your own past, and it's only right that you face it yourself."

"I'll take good care of this stall for you, but you have to promise me one thing."

“No matter what happens, no matter how this ends… you have to come back alive.” Igor’s tone was very heavy. “At this point, the Red Center Gang is no longer just yours. This city, the entire New Orleans, and all those you saved will remember.”

"..." Zhang Renfeng's expression was somewhat taken aback. After thinking for a while, the dejected look on his face faded, and the determination that once belonged to "Red Center" reappeared between his brows.

"I see."

a man of his words.

Once he sets his mind to something, he is determined to do it; this is one of his life principles.

----

"To be honest, I don't even know your name."

In the corridor, Ego looked at those heterochromatic eyes that shimmered with an eerie light, and felt a sense of being scrutinized. Although the angel eyes were expressionless, that playful gaze always made one feel that he was smiling, and to alleviate this anxiety, Ego could only smile back.

"I heard from Mike that you joined this gang because you wanted to 'become human'?"

Such abstract reasons, even when uttered by someone like Igor, seem utterly out of place. Money, status, respect, power, the warmth of home… people approach this gang with all sorts of motives, but their demands are at least within the realm of human comprehension. Only this guy's demands seem to transcend the human species altogether, reaching some unknown realm.

Not only Ego, but everyone in the gang was unsure how to communicate with Angel Eye.

Fortunately, he didn't seem interested in the gang's social interactions. When the team gathered, he would lean against a corner and listen quietly. When it came to carrying out missions, he always completed his part with exceptional skill and precision, without any compromise.

"...A name is just a title. You can call me whatever you want," Angel Eyes chuckled softly. "What do you want me to do?"

“Hongzhong cannot be allowed to get into trouble. If he does, the gang will collapse. If the gang collapses, all the previous efforts will be in vain, and none of us will have a good ending.”

Igor emphasized, "He always has an innate trust in those he respects. This is his strength, but when applied to a team, it can be fatal."

"Just in case, we need a hidden sentry. In case of any unforeseen circumstances, Hongzhong's life will be the top priority!"

……

“Understood, Blue Magpie Harbor.” Angel Eyes didn’t hesitate for a second, turned around, and with silent steps, slowly disappeared from Ego’s sight. “I will arrive before him.”

Chapter 563: This time it's a real infiltration!

Blue Magpie Harbor.

An incredibly luxurious cruise ship is anchored in the harbor. Its spacious deck provides an excellent venue for socializing and relaxation. Lounge chairs and bars are set up in the expansive space, the lights are twinkling, and the tables and chairs are all quietly arranged, without a single person in sight.

The man wearing the clown rabbit mask was a little uneasy. When a place that should be full of people is deserted, people instinctively feel uneasy.

Because humans are social animals, the absence of other humans in a seemingly safe place suggests that danger may lurk beneath the surface. In such situations, the yellow-skinned man leading the way becomes the sole guide in the darkness, and he dares not utter the words "yellow barbarian" lightly.

“Sir…” he asked cautiously, “Are you sure Mr. Istavo is here? What did he want with me? Could you tell me?”

"That's not my responsibility. I'm only responsible for inviting you here." Ren's tone was very cold, businesslike, and he was unwilling to have any interaction with him outside of work. "You can talk to him about the specifics yourself."

Passing the stairs and cabins, one arrives on the deck, where a lavish banquet is already prepared: candlelight, silver platters, a long table, and dishes that could only be described as "luxurious." Istavo, dressed in formal attire, leans his wooden cane, carved with cicadas, against the table; his expression is serene, his eyes slightly closed.

"You're here, Mr. Gray. Please have a seat."

This title surprised the man wearing the clown mask.

According to their rules, members of the Illuminati avoid using each other's names when meeting privately to maintain secrecy. Istavo's actions at this moment are practically an open secret; tonight's gathering, at least on the surface, has nothing to do with the Illuminati.

He also tacitly removed the clown rabbit mask from his face, revealing a somewhat fawning smile.

"Captain, I don't know why you summoned me here..."

Istavo didn't answer, but waved his hand and said, "No rush, let's eat first."

"Let's eat and talk."

----