Dual wielding volcanoes, killing through the west

"...That's what he said." Having entered his own people's territory, Zhang Renfeng didn't seem to mind at all, and simply sat down. "What do you think?"

……

Sanyuan Timber Company.

The company's premises have been initially set up in Baiju Town, and the staff has been assembled and dispersed to the surrounding areas to solicit timber business. This company is not an empty shell; Igor has indeed purchased the corresponding wagons and horses, gradually spreading this network and extending the tentacles of the Red Center Gang to the southern states.

If it's on their way, the assassins of the Hermitage of Xunshan will disguise themselves as lumberjacks, hitch a ride with their caravan, and go directly to the assassination site, saving on reimbursement for their travel expenses.

Just as the captain assured him, the Abi Timber Company business was being gradually "transferred" to this "son." With insiders playing along, the company's business was naturally booming. Under these circumstances, if he still couldn't manage the timber company well, it would be a shame to betray his reputation as a shrewd strategist.

At that moment, Igor was sitting at his desk, reviewing a new batch of documents as usual.

After returning from Mingdeng City, Xiaomei resumed her daily assistant duties, mainly organizing the necessary documents according to his requirements and retrieving them immediately when needed.

At other times, Igor didn't restrict what she did, only requiring her to review the company's internal accounts after him and to learn how to handle some problems as appropriate.

Mike, who had been designated a "specially hired security guard," would frequently visit Theon to help him test the newly developed weapons. No one was better suited to do this than a seasoned veteran gunslinger; he had so much practical experience in handling, weight, and aiming, which could be poured into the molds of the new weapons.

The discussion about whether to intervene was ended with a single sentence before it even began.

“What about the chief?” Igor said in a deep voice. “He is one of us. Tall Tree is his hometown, and he is there now.”

Should we give up on him?

……

Zhang Renfeng raised his head.

Mike, as usual, stared with dead fish eyes.

The two looked at each other and smiled. For them, it didn't seem like a difficult decision.

“Perfect timing. Jarvis Cheddar… I killed his brother, and I doubt he’ll let this go.” Zhang Renfeng stretched his shoulders and neck, and the sinister killing intent unique to “Blank” flashed in his eyes. “This messy debt, we’ll settle it all together this time.”

Chapter 643: Flying General! Flying directly to the enemy's home base!

Strategically, one can underestimate the opponent, but tactically, one should not be complacent in the slightest.

Mike swept everything off the coffee table and spread the unfolded map on top. They had done this once before when they captured Three Horses Town, only now they were facing a much stronger opponent.

“Looking at the map, Granite State is a bit larger than New Orleans; the entire Hightree region alone covers an enormous area.”

Mike picked up a pen and circled the approximate area of ​​"Tall Trees" on the map. "In this region, plains are covered, and a river separates the grasslands from the dense forests. It is a truly fertile land, especially suitable for grazing. I heard that there are also lost herds of North American bison nearby. Just like other Native American tribes, they couldn't survive in their original places and migrated here."

"After crossing the grasslands and rivers, you'll reach a deep forest. In our time, no matter which legendary cowboy or tough guy you were, you had to stop and go around this forest. Some people called it the Whispering Forest, because once you went in, you couldn't tell which way was which."

"No matter what tools you have for finding your way, they will fail. The whole forest is like a maze. Only local Native American tribes can find their way. Outsiders who wander in will only end up going around in circles, their muscles going weak."

"At that time, when the wind blows, it will sound as if ten thousand people are whispering behind your back."

“It might not be just a rumor,” Igor analyzed. “Being exhausted, dehydrated, and under the intense stress of being lost can indeed cause auditory hallucinations.”

"Didn't they say no one had ever come out?" Xiaomei muttered, "Then how did these rumors start..."

“On the border of the Hightree region, there are some merchants who do business with Native American tribes, but it doesn’t involve money. Native Americans have their own social groups, and US dollars and the like don’t circulate well among them, so it’s more about bartering,” Mike explained. “Some daily necessities, as well as things like guns and bullets, are exchanged with them by Native American tribes for clean animal furs.”

"These rumors about the Whispering Forest were first brought about by these merchants."

"Huh? Is that so?" Xiaomei exclaimed in surprise, saying softly, "I thought they were generally hostile towards outsiders..."

“This is just a trade market,” Zhang Renfeng said with a smile. “It’s perfectly normal for each party to get what they need.”

This is the power of "modern civilization"—a river or a forest alone cannot stop its infiltration. There are always some things that Native American tribes simply cannot replicate using their traditional handicraft production methods.

Of course, robbery is an option, but robbery inevitably leads to conflict, which results in bloodshed, injury, and death—a poor choice for both sides. No one is born wanting to die. In comparison, establishing a trade market to satisfy the interests of both parties is a better solution.

"That's why these merchants maintained a relatively good relationship with the Native American tribes. They gradually formed a group, with each person specializing in providing a particular product. Several merchants were even invited to visit the interior of the High Tree. Most of the rumors circulating in the market now related to the High Tree originated from them."

"They hold a special leaf in the mouths of their horses to keep them from running wild in the forest. The deeper they go, the quieter the forest becomes, and time seems to move particularly slowly. Every ten meters or so, a special kind of tree appears—its bark is very rough, and you can clearly see human facial features. According to them, it is the embodiment of the 'ancestors,' and also the eyes and ears of the king of tall trees."

"This is getting weirder and weirder," Xiaomei complained. "Is this really a place for humans to live in?"

"The most amazing thing is yet to come. The so-called 'tall tree' refers to an ancient tree in the center of the forest that has existed for an unknown period of time."

"The King of the Trees, [Flash], lives on that ancient tree."

"Then how does he go to the toilet?" Xiaomei asked a very practical question.

“Uh…” Mike immediately froze. Clearly, the person who wrote this story probably hadn’t thought about this issue either.

"In short, Shan ruled the entire Hightree region and was regarded by all the Indian tribes as the embodiment of chief, king, and leader. Apart from Hightree, the Indian tribes in other places were not doing well. In their eyes, Hightree was like a holy land, and they came from all directions to join Hightree. Shan also welcomed all comers; he was willing to take in anyone who had nowhere else to turn."

"Over time, the population there gradually increased, and many vigorous young men from the Native American tribes settled there."

"You can easily imagine their attitude towards these incredibly wealthy businessmen and merchants."

After hearing what he said, Zhang Renfeng also began to have doubts, perhaps he had misjudged the situation.

The train hijacking might have been a rash decision made by a few young men in the tribe, without any intention of exchanging hostages for ransom; they just wanted to have some fun. The idea that outsiders had taken their homes and land, and that they were retaliating by hijacking the train, sounds quite reasonable.

"Where are our people?" Zhang Renfeng pondered for a moment and asked, "How are things going with Calaway?"

When assigning tasks in Three Horses Town, Karlovy, Alana, and the entire Lamo'en Raiders were tasked by Zhang Renfeng with recruiting soldiers. Using the security department of the lumber company as a cover, they dispersed and traveled to various southern states and counties to recruit willing individuals.

Right now, Zhang Renfeng sensed that a major battle was imminent. He didn't know how many soldiers Jaworth had brought, but he had to figure out his own side's trump cards.

If the odds are within one to ten, he should consider joining the next battle.

“More than we expected,” Mike said in a deep voice. “The team has expanded to 200 people.”

"So many?" Zhang Renfeng was somewhat surprised.

When they separated, the Lamon raiders had already conducted one round of recruitment in Lagras, recruiting nearly a hundred people. Now, just over a month later, their numbers have doubled. At this rate of expansion, it's quite remarkable.

Especially when they recruit, they don't just take anyone. Those who come in must at least be approved by Meteora and Caloway, possess a certain level of combat skill, and not disrupt the team's morale, yet they still maintain such a high speed. In the past, Zhang Renfeng might have genuinely worried about whether logistical support could keep up.

Now that a major bank is backing us up, we don't even have this little worry anymore.

"but……"

“To fight a real army, these numbers are still too few,” Igor reminded. “Besides, these new recruits aren’t ready to fight right away. They need to undergo basic training, such as shooting, horseback riding, grenade throwing, and artillery loading. We need to turn them into our own soldiers.”

"To start fighting a proper army right away, I'm worried it might be a bit..."

----

"Let's not move for now." After a moment's thought, Zhang Renfeng quickly made a decision. "Let me go to the front lines and see what the situation is."

Chapter 644: Some Fight, Some Get Rich

Under the starry night, on the grassland, three steeds rode somewhat lonely.

The night wind blew across the waves, washing over the horses' hooves in gusts. A lantern, large enough to illuminate the path ahead, hung from the reins of the chestnut Turkmen warhorse.

White Torch and Talltree were separated by the state of New Elizabeth. The trains within White Torch were still in good working order, but after crossing New Elizabeth, the railway was cut off near Talltree, forcing them to travel by horseback, day and night.

"Want one?" Mike pulled two high-end cigarettes from his pocket.

Zhang Renfeng shook his head, lit a cigarette, exhaled, and murmured, "I remember, the last time the three of us came out like this was... almost a year ago, right?"

"So many things have happened this year." Xiaomei's laughter was tinged with emotion. "If you had told me before that a year later I would become a gang member, adventuring everywhere, and eventually becoming a special purchasing agent for a company, I probably would have fainted from fright."

In this era that is not friendly to most women, Xiaomei's experiences in just one year have been more exciting than most people's entire lives.

Currently, the other members all have their own tasks, and Zhang Renfeng hasn't asked them to come. As the first group selected to head to Gaoshu to scout ahead, it's once again this classic trio. Once again, riding horses under the night sky, they're about to embark on another magnificent adventure.

Xiaomei couldn't help but sigh, "This is the story that started us."

“Little girl, listen to my advice.” Having been through so much together, Mike’s deadpan expression softened slightly when he looked at the girl, and he said very seriously, “Aren’t they going to build a series of infrastructure projects in Three Horses Town? Like a railway, clinics, churches, schools, and so on…”

"You're fifteen this year. Once this busy period is over, you'll probably only be two or three years older, which is the prime of your youth. While your mind is still clear, go to school and catch up on all the knowledge you've missed."

"Go to school?" Xiaomei asked, somewhat surprised.

“Yes, that’s right, Old Mai, we have to let the children go to school!” Zhang Renfeng nodded in agreement, patted the saddle lightly, and said with shining eyes, “I was just thinking about this too, but there are just too many things to do, and I’ve been overwhelmed.”

"But..." Xiaomei hesitated, "I...I've never thought about it. Not only me, but even my parents have never mentioned it. Going to school is usually something only rich boys consider..."

To be fair, Xiaomei's level of education is not too far behind that of her peers. At least she can read and write, and recognize most words, which makes her a cultured person.

It wasn't that her parents didn't love her; it's just that, as a lowly sheriff, the educational opportunities her father could provide were limited. Xiaomei never even considered going to school. To her, school was a place that only existed in her imagination—she knew such a place existed, but she had no idea what it was for.

“Do you know what my biggest regret in life is?” Mike sighed and murmured, “Besides killing, I’m basically useless. I’m not up to any great responsibility. Jack’s gang was my school. In that kind of school, all I learned was how to kill, shoot, ride horses, cheat, gamble, and drink.”

“People like Igor, who can still absorb knowledge even in the mud, are very rare. Most people completely degenerate in the swamp, and it is already quite difficult for them to maintain their moral bottom line and not kill innocent people indiscriminately.”

At this point, Mike's tone became incredibly firm, "I've been saving money so that my granddaughter, Holly, can have as much of a better life as possible. I want her to receive an education and become a cultured and refined person..."

“I have a feeling that the era of violence and bloodshed in the West will come to an end one day. This world will be taken over by civilized people.”

"Little girl, you're so smart, it's a real shame you don't go to school."

"..." Faced with this heartfelt advice from an elder, Xiaomei remained silent for a moment, pursing her lips, unsure of what to say.

“I don’t think… it has anything to do with intelligence. What other kids have, my kids should have too,” Zhang Renfeng said with a smile. “Once the school in Sanma Town is built and the timber company’s business stabilizes, you and Alana can go to school together. We’ll definitely have the final say on the schools there. And Leo, Amy, Anna… I wonder if Evelyn has ever been to school. More knowledge will be very beneficial for your future!”

……

In the shadows cast by the light, Xiaomei's expression shifted several times, revealing a complex mix of emotions, before finally settling on a helpless smile.

----

"stop!"

At the end of the road, heavily armed soldiers set up a checkpoint and stopped a carriage. Several strong soldiers stepped forward, dragged the driver directly from the driver's seat, and shoved him onto the grass.

Several other passersby were watching this scene with lingering fear, their faces not looking too good.

Clearly, what this driver went through, they had just gone through as well.

"What are you doing here? What's in the cart?" A soldier dressed as a junior officer stepped forward slowly, holding a black-covered notebook. After looking the driver up and down, he sneered and demanded, "What are you rushing to deliver so late at night?"

"Sir... I... I'm an employee of 'Oyasan Store,' you know Oyasan, right? That famous brand that makes canned goods and cigarettes." The driver wiped the dirt off his face, spat out the grass from his mouth, and pleaded desperately, "I have to deliver the goods before dawn, please have mercy..."

"Do you have a pass?" the notebook interrupted him.

"Pass? Pass?" The driver was taken aback.

"Those with passes, if you gather seven people, you can pass. Those without, well..."

The notebook's face darkened. "Do you know we're at war? Why should I let you pass? Who knows if this truckload of supplies is actually going to those Native Americans?"

"How is this possible?" the driver exclaimed in terror. "I've never heard of needing any permits!"

"Let's get a replacement tomorrow morning," a soldier joked. "It's $30 a copy."

This amount was undoubtedly beyond the reach of an ordinary working person. The driver's expression froze for a moment, then turned deathly pale.

Everyone laughed.

The notebook waved its hand, "Since we can't prove it, let's confiscate this truckload of goods as suspicious materials."

"oh---!!!"

The soldiers cheered, and the atmosphere was incredibly enthusiastic.

"No...no! I need this job, sir!" the driver screamed desperately, crawling on his knees to the notebook and pleading, "Please, let me go! If I don't make it by tomorrow morning, I'll be fired. My whole family depends on this job to support them..."

"boom!"

The notebook held the gun to his forehead and pulled the trigger expressionlessly.

A gunshot rang out.

The figure fell to the ground.

"That's fucking disgusting..." The notebook's tone and eyes were full of loathing. "It's stained my pants leg."

He kicked the driver's corpse and waved his hand sharply, "Brothers, unload all this cigarettes, alcohol, and canned goods. We're going to have some fun tonight!"

Chapter 645: You Play Me, I Play You

"Everyone."

While the soldiers were happily unloading the cargo, the notebook slowly walked up to the remaining passersby, revealing a forced smile. "These are extraordinary times, and extraordinary times require extraordinary measures. I am stationed here on the orders of Colonel Jaworth Cheddar, and I must fulfill my responsibilities to the soldiers fighting on the front lines and not let any suspicious elements leak out from me."

"I believe everyone knows what to say and what not to say after we get out."

The group looked at each other, then quickly nodded in agreement.

These people were subjected to all the usual exploitation, but since they didn't come in horse-drawn carts, the soldiers found a pretext to drain their wallets, and that was it. What truly cost the driver his life was the cargo of supplies—canned goods, cigarettes, and alcohol from the valley, all of which had a very good reputation.