Dual wielding volcanoes, killing through the west

“Mm.” Amy nodded matter-of-factly.

"Then why didn't you tell me before?"

Amy shrugged nonchalantly. "Isn't this normal? When I worked for Rancho, everyone under him made a little extra money. Everyone knows it. Is there any need to bring it up specifically to make me seem like I'm particularly clueless?"

“You’re thinking wrong. It’s not like that at all. It’s a funding issue.” Jimmy sighed. “It’s very easy to ruin the atmosphere of a place, but it takes a lot of money to rebuild it. Schools, railways, post offices, stations… all of these cost money, and a lot of money at that. When you invest in such big projects, the money melts away like snowflakes falling into a furnace.”

"If we don't use some tricks, how will we have enough money?"

"So, you moved the subsidies that were originally meant for everyone to these projects?" Amy muttered under her breath. "You're an outsider, and you're doing such a thankless job... Be careful, if this gets out, they might not know what to think of you."

"After the great victory, the boss has already distributed money several times. The overall living standards in Sanma Town have improved a lot compared to before. With the snake oil and plantation industries, life is still pretty good. As for these subsidies... it's not a big problem to withhold them for now."

"Most people are short-sighted. The benefits and convenience of infrastructure such as schools, railways, post offices, stations, and trains often take several years, or even more than a decade, to become apparent. Asking people to use the money they can enjoy now to subsidize the future is something most people would certainly not be willing to do."

Jimmy's eyes were resolute. "Even if we're discovered, it won't have anything to do with Red China..."

"At worst, I'll take the blame!"

Chapter 591: There is a one percent chance that we will see a wider starry sky.

"Boss." After entering the room, Jimmy had already composed himself and showed his signature smile again. "Oh, the strategist is here too."

“It’s been a while since we met alone, lawyer.” Igor didn’t say much, tossing him a Red Apple cigarette from a distance. “Sit down, let’s talk.”

Zhang Renfeng didn't stay in the high-backed chair behind the table. Instead, he got up, moved the chair out from behind the table, and sat down opposite Igor and Jimmy. He dusted off the back of the chair and slowly took his seat.

Without a table to separate them, there was no traditional hierarchical barrier; it was more like a conversation between gang brothers. Igor and Jimmy were both extremely astute, and from this tiny detail, they naturally understood Zhang Renfeng's intention, both of them taking a moment to realize it.

After he sat down, Zhang Renfeng looked at him with a smile and stared at him for a while before finally speaking, "If you don't have enough money, why don't you write a letter to say so?"

"You...you knew all along?" Jimmy scratched his head awkwardly. "When did you find out?"

“Just now.” Zhang Renfeng pointed in the direction of the corridor, “when you and that girl were talking about this in the corridor.”

"Huh?" Jimmy was startled at first, then remembered his first encounter with Zhang Renfeng in Scarface Village. Wasn't it Zhang Renfeng who, through the wall, heard his breathing and heartbeat in his room before breaking down the door? He immediately slapped his thigh, realizing, "Oh..."

If I hadn't known about my boss's extraordinary abilities beforehand, being asked this question out of the blue would have been quite terrifying. If I had actually lost control and taken the money, and considering my boss's usual behavior, I'd probably be sweating bullets right now.

But Jimmy had a clear conscience, so he had nothing to worry about. He simply said, "Back then, weren't you fighting in Lagras? You even had Evelyn bring the letter back. How could I let you be distracted by matters at home at a time like this?"

"Mainly, I didn't expect you to win so quickly and return victorious... In my estimation, if it had turned into a protracted war, it would have lasted for several months. I've prepared to provide long-term material support, and I've stopped spending money on infrastructure projects as much as possible."

Igor nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly.

Even Jimmy, the strategist on site, didn't expect it to end so quickly.

The combined forces of Pinkerton detectives and bounty hunters, fully armed and backed by the Osborn family, sounded incredibly powerful! Igor had originally estimated that Lagras would serve as a base for a protracted struggle. Who could have imagined that Zhang Renfeng could sweep them all away like a whirlwind, even uprooting the Osborn family in the process?

"..." After hearing Jimmy's answer, Zhang Renfeng remained silent for a long time, then patted him on the shoulder, "Thank you for your hard work."

“It’s my fault for not thinking this through properly, mainly because I had no experience with this before.” Igor sighed, his tone quite heavy. “My own father, my uncle, and my brothers and nephews have ravaged this place. It will be difficult to repair it.”

“Infrastructure construction is a long-term investment, and the kind of long-term investment that is difficult to quantify. With a post office, information flow can be improved; with a railway, trade can be facilitated; with a school, the general quality of life in Sanma Town can be improved, at least so that people can read and understand basic principles... But these investments are difficult to translate into actual benefits.”

"Just two or three months ago, we were still dealing with America's most backward plantation economy, and now we suddenly want to step into the ranks of civilized cities... That's going to be quite difficult."

"It's already quite an achievement that you were able to assemble a management team and manage so many people well."

……

Jimmy's smile faded somewhat.

What moves a person most is often when their hard work is highly recognized by another person.

Although they were all seasoned veterans and wouldn't show any outward signs of losing their composure, Jimmy was still somewhat moved.

“To be honest, Igor… you’re probably the most visionary person I’ve ever met,” Jimmy remarked. “Sometimes, doing the right thing is much harder than you think.”

“Since it’s the right thing to do, we should stick to it. Of course, we should learn from our previous mistakes and not take too big a step. We can go slowly, but we can’t stop. We should prioritize and do things one by one.” Zhang Renfeng pondered for a moment, then changed the subject, “I called you here today because there’s something else going on.”

……

Now we're finally getting to the main topic.

Jimmy adjusted his posture, no longer leaning back in his chair, using body language to show that he was listening attentively.

“Sanma Town is where it is today because of your hard work, bit by bit. Of course, that’s a bit of an exaggeration. There’s also Logan, Black Palm, and the whole team. Everyone worked together… Today, let’s stick to the facts and talk about you.” Zhang Renfeng said, “To be honest… what you’re doing now has far exceeded the content of our verbal agreement.”

"Although Logan and the others are comrades-in-arms, there is still a layer between them, and they can't be as open and honest with each other as we are. So, it's best not to let them know about this."

"Why beat around the bush like that?" Jimmy couldn't help but laugh. "That's not like you."

"Okay, I'll be frank then."

"Through your continuous efforts, you have laid a certain foundation here. I believe that with your abilities, you can thrive in this place. Although this is a 'town,' in reality, the territory is as big as half of New Orleans. As it develops in the future, you will be one of the earliest key figures, and your life will only get better and better."

"If... you choose to stay here and continue to work in Sanma Town, that's perfectly fine too."

Jimmy asked almost without hesitation, "What's the second option?"

Zhang Renfeng and Yi Ge exchanged a glance.

“Do you remember when we asked you to apply for patents for several of Tao’s inventions?”

“I remember.” Jimmy nodded.

"We have built a much larger stage for you."

“But on that stage, our foundation is quite shallow, we don’t have many of our own people, and we have to start from scratch. You have to play along with the big banks, play games, and test them, and you can’t stop for a moment. Those people won’t stand on the same side as Logan and Black Palm.”

"Partnering with a big bank?" Jimmy's eyes widened. "Me...us?"

Zhang Renfeng nodded.

"..."

Jimmy's expression changed several times, from astonishment to disbelief, and then to joy and excitement.

Everyone has path dependence; no one can change the beliefs in their hearts.

However, only those who truly want to accomplish great things are willing to make such drastic changes to their style of doing things!

Jimmy immediately said, "Just one thing..."

“I find that little girl named Amy quite useful; she has to come with me.”

“Okay.” Zhang Renfeng nodded.

Chapter 592: From this moment on, we are accomplices!

"Want some?"

As night fell, the light and shadow cast by the kerosene lamp in the spacious room shifted and changed unpredictably.

Angel Eyes didn't rush into business. Instead, he handed him a teardrop-shaped glass container, about the size of half a finger. This exquisite little thing contained a clear, sparkling liquid that refracted a bright light.

“I recognize this thing.” Zhang Renfeng took the teardrop-shaped glass container, held it up to the light, and examined it carefully. “What’s it called… whose tear?”

"【Prometheus's Tears】."

"That's quite a peculiar name." Zhang Renfeng placed the glass pendant on the table, crossed his legs, and relaxed for once, asking curiously, "Why does this guy named Mithius shed so many tears?"

"You don't know the story of Prometheus?"

“How would I know?” Zhang Renfeng shrugged and said irritably, “You people here always have God on your lips, but I haven’t heard anyone mention his name.”

"He is a hero of mankind... at least that's how it is in legends. In reality, I'm more inclined to believe that he is a human being whose primitive worship of 'fire' has been passed down in a concrete form."

Angel Eyes, in a somewhat ethereal broadcasting voice, began to tell the story: "Long ago, in the human world, there was no fire. In winter, humans had no means to resist the cold and wild beasts, and countless lives were harvested by the scythe of death."

"A human named Prometheus made a great vow, sneaked into the heavens, and stole fire. From then on, humankind had fire, no longer fearing the cold and wild beasts, and could eat cooked food. From then on, human civilization took a giant leap forward."

"However, the gods in the heavens saw the fire that rose on earth. They were furious at Prometheus's presumption and thus nailed him to Mount Caucasus, where he had to endure the wind and sun and the pecking of eagles every day. On the second day, his entrails would grow back. This is the story of Prometheus."

Zhang Renfeng frowned and muttered, "Our country seems to have similar legends as well..."

"A long, long time ago, a great flood swept across the world, drowning countless people and animals."

“A leader named Gun could not bear to see the world suffer disasters, so he went to heaven and stole the Breath Soil. In the end, he was executed by the Heavenly Emperor on Mount Yu.”

Angel Eyes' tone remained unchanged: "Myths often contain the wisdom of our ancestors."

"Whether it's fire or the earth, these precious resources are controlled by those in power. Humans, as lowly as dust, have to suffer from hunger, cold, floods, and wild beasts day and night, and have to rely on their breath to live cautiously."

……

silence.

Logically speaking, a sudden silence in interpersonal communication should always make people uncomfortable; this is an instinct rooted in ancient times. But for some reason, when Zhang Renfeng was with this divine being, even in silence, he didn't feel anything was amiss.

Those eyes were indeed strange, yet nothing could be seen through them. It was as if what sat opposite was not flesh and blood, but emptiness.

Empty, nothing.

Faced with this void, he had ample time to organize his thoughts into appropriate sentences.

“I deliberately didn’t mention you in front of everyone earlier because I have other expectations for you, and the fewer people who know, the better.” Zhang Renfeng pursed his lips, hesitated for a moment, but decided to cut to the chase. “Of course, I also need to make it clear to you beforehand that these jobs are definitely not as clean as those of our other colleagues. If you’re not willing…”

……

Angel Eyes waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to say anything more.

"I have one question for you, and you must answer me truthfully."

Zhang Renfeng was actually quite pleased. This incredible teammate had always been incredibly reliable, but he had never been sure how to communicate with him. Now that he was actually taking the initiative to ask questions, it was quite a rare occurrence.

He quickly nodded, indicating that Angel Eyes could ask whatever he wanted.

"What you just mentioned, those less-than-clean things..."

Do you have a share?

After a moment of silence, a hint of murderous intent flashed in Zhang Renfeng's slightly narrowed eyes.

The night wind howled and pounded against the windowpanes, like a ferocious beast, trying to tear this warm little house to shreds with its claws and teeth painted by the night.

From that brief silence, Angel Eyes read what he wanted to hear, and a mysterious smile appeared on his lips. "Just give me the list when you need it."

"You... you just agreed like that?" Zhang Renfeng asked in surprise. "This is very important, won't you reconsider?"

“There’s nothing to consider. Since we’re both involved, it means that from now on, you and I are accomplices. This is probably the closest relationship I can imagine between two living individuals.”

"Perhaps I can use this to... truly become human."

Angel Eyes stood up, pushed the chair in, and narrowed his eyes, which seemed to transcend the mundane world, revealing an indescribable complex emotion. "The night is long, so I won't take up the time of the next person."

"Huh?" Zhang Renfeng looked completely bewildered. "What do you mean by 'next'..."

"About three minutes." Angel Eyes patted his shoulder. "Just wait patiently."

He didn't explain further, got up and left, fading out of the room like a shadow. Zhang Renfeng was left even more bewildered, taking out his pocket watch, counting down the seconds, and anxiously waiting for the minute hand to complete its third revolution.

"What is all this nonsense...?"

----

As they walked the third lap, in the dim light of the gas lamps in the corridor, the girl, wrapped in a silver-gray cashmere shawl, appeared at the door as expected.

It was obvious that she was already in bed, but for some reason, she got up in the middle of the night, not dressed formally, but just wearing a plain white ramie robe.

As the lamplight slanted across the porch, her bare legs, as white as fresh snow, trembled uncontrollably from the cold. The night wind, carrying embers from the fireplace, swept past her body, and the girl suddenly shivered, instinctively squeezing her knees together, her toes curling into startled buds.

Her snow-white skin, bare of underpants, showed faint red marks from the friction against the coarse linen. Bathed in the warm light of the room, the girl's figure was already beginning to show its fullness. This contrasted sharply with the slight arch of her feet as she walked barefoot on the floor.

Zhang Renfeng stared at her feet for a few seconds, his brows furrowing deeply, his face showing signs of rising blood pressure.

"Mr. Hongzhong...I...I have something I want to say to you...ah!"

Before Evelyn could even gather her thoughts, Zhang Renfeng jumped up and strode towards her. With a gentle pull, he lifted the girl into his arms, eliciting a startled cry from her.

Clearly, this direct contact was not something she had anticipated.

With a maximum load of nearly a ton, Zhang Renfeng picked up this little girl as if she were nothing, without any difficulty in speaking, "You little girl, why didn't you wear socks when you came over? The wooden floor is soaked with cold air in the middle of the night, it's so cold."

"Colds and flu usually start from not keeping your feet warm. The cold seeps in from the soles of your feet and all the way up to your forehead! You're a theatrical actor, and the leading actors in our area are very particular about this. What if you catch a cold and ruin your voice?"

"No...that's not it, Mr. Hongzhong, I wanted to...please put me down first! I can walk by myself, why...why do you have to do this..."

Evelyn's tone was slightly reproachful. Regardless of her feelings for Zhang Renfeng, she was already seventeen years old this year, and being held like a little girl would naturally elicit an instinctive resistance. Even her own family, her parents, had never had such intimate physical contact with her.

Perhaps it was because the wooden floor was too cold in the middle of the night, and she had been standing in the cold wind for too long, she could even feel Zhang Renfeng's body temperature.

Zhang Renfeng couldn't even sense the faint strength in her struggles. She listened to his rambling as she was carried to the warm fireplace.