Dual wielding volcanoes, killing through the west

In a struggle of this magnitude, there is no middle ground; you are either a friend or an enemy.

This time, the enemy would be even more troublesome and difficult to deal with. He could sense that the Krenchikov and Uranus families did not intend to physically destroy Zhang Renfeng and his group. This was different from the Illuminati.

They just wanted to make Zhang Renfeng like them.

But Zhang Renfeng is Zhang Renfeng.

Igor believed that even if he lived another hundred or two hundred years, and his experience became richer, his essence would remain unchanged.

“I will never associate with them.” Making this momentous decision took Zhang Renfeng less than a few seconds; his tone was resolute and brooked no argument. “They are them, and we are us. Igor, write me a letter immediately to decline this lady’s offer!”

"..."

Igor smiled from the bottom of his heart, then let out a long sigh of relief. The fatigue accumulated from many days of work seemed to be relieved at this moment.

But he shook his head.

"No, writing a letter to refuse would be too direct. On the surface, we remain allies with Donghao Bird Bank. The resources and connections they can provide are still very useful at this stage and can help us solve some problems."

"We are still in the 'mutual exploitation' stage, and it remains to be seen which side can gain more benefits in the process."

"so……"

"Do you remember what we talked about at the very beginning?"

Igor cast a meaningful glance at him.

----

"You want me to marry Evelyn?"

"That's not wrong, but a more accurate way to put it is... we need you to marry the surname 'Ditasdorf'."

Igor clenched his fists, and his small body seemed to ignite with flames, unleashing an astonishing amount of energy.

"In the circles of southern nobles, although this surname has declined, it was once quite prestigious. It is like a key that can unlock the treasure trove of the entire southern prefecture. It makes those old nobles who still have power, resources, and prestige willing to gather under the banner of the Sanyuan Group."

“Old Zhang, don’t be fooled by our current manpower and equipment. If this force were spread across the dozen or so states south of America, it would be nothing.”

"After the civil war, most of the old-school aristocratic forces in the south went into hibernation. They were not completely wiped out, nor were they satisfied with the distribution of the spoils after the war. They were just waiting for a suitable opportunity, waiting for a person with enough weight, prestige, and ability to gather the strength of the masses and compete with the north again."

“If the battle lines are drawn out, for ten, twenty, or fifty years… I have full confidence in the development potential of the Sanyuan Group, and that it can compete with the two major families in the north. But for now, we are, after all, a rising star. If we want to contend with those two behemoths, we must bring in enough allies.”

"You mean..." Zhang Renfeng pondered for a long time before finally speaking, his tone still somewhat detached, "...a political marriage?"

"In fact, that is correct."

Igor nodded, his eyes deep, as if he were discussing something other than marriage, or as a seasoned general speaking eloquently about battlefield tactics. "But you two aren't entirely without a foundation of affection, are you? At least, her feelings for you... even if you were a block of wood or a stone, you should be able to sense them."

Zhang Renfeng, of course, had no way to refute this point and lowered his head.

Igor continued, "A political marriage between two parties who are in love is a win-win situation from the perspectives of emotion, reality, and interests."

"Around the time of Lagras, she expressed this idea very bluntly. However, the time was not right then. The Red Center Gang had not yet fully transformed from a gang, so even if it had succeeded, it wouldn't have had much practical significance."

"Times have changed. Now, the timing and circumstances are quite ripe."

"it's time."

Chapter 882: Are you a rule-abiding person?

The moonlight spilled onto the mountain path, so cold it seemed as if frost had been frozen in it.

Zhang Renfeng was extremely conflicted. Every time this happened, his feet would move on their own as if they didn't obey his commands.

When I looked up again, I was already standing in front of my old friend's grave.

When faced with emotions he couldn't resolve or process, he would always instinctively go to the mountain to seek solace from his deceased friend. Even without saying a word, simply standing there for a while, feeling the mountain breeze, and listening to the wind rustling the leaves and the birds chirping, would relieve his stress. Once his mind was at peace, the answer would naturally emerge.

However, this time, a pale figure appeared before the tranquil grave.

Qasim stood there quietly, the bright moonlight casting a wondrous halo around his snow-white attire, making him appear even more sacred and inviolable.

He had no heartbeat or breath, and so he simply stood there, like a stone. The white-tailed deer that had built its nest not far from the grave was completely unaware of his presence, still lying there, fast asleep.

"In trouble?" Kasim didn't even turn his head; he knew it was Zhang Renfeng just by the sound of his footsteps.

"I guess so...sigh..."

Zhang Renfeng walked to the grave, brushed the leaves off his clothes, sighed, put his hands together, and silently recited a few words as a way of saying hello to the captain.

It's common to hear older people say, "I've eaten more salt than you've eaten rice." The age difference truly translates into life experience. If someone decades older can have such an impact, Zhang Renfeng can't even imagine how much salt Qasim, who is over two thousand years older than him, has accumulated.

Theoretically speaking, there is no one more suitable to comfort him than him.

So Zhang Renfeng recounted to him everything he had discussed with Yi Ge that afternoon, down to the smallest detail.

----

"And then?" Qasim's tone was flat, as if he had heard something so ordinary. "So far, I can't tell what's confusing you. The advice your strategist gave should be the best solution you could find in your current situation."

“I know that. Igor’s abilities are no joke. But what I’m concerned about is…”

Where is my junior sister?

In front of someone a hundred times his age, Zhang Renfeng had nothing to hide and spoke frankly, asking, "What about the wolves?"

"What do you mean, what to do?" Qasim seemed to be in another world.

“According to Igor, the marriage with Evelyn is a grand political alliance. There will definitely be a lot of fanfare and pomp. I am not only marrying Evelyn as a person, but also her surname. She is a key to unlocking the entire southern state.”

Zhang Renfeng sighed deeply, his brows furrowed. It was hard to imagine that someone who could easily conquer the heavens and the earth would show such helplessness at a time like this.

"But... my junior sister doesn't have such a distinguished background. She and I are both foreign refugees."

"Where will I put her then?"

……

“I don’t understand what’s troubling you,” Qasim asked calmly. “Do you love her?”

“Of course.” Zhang Renfeng nodded, pondered for a moment, and reaffirmed his feelings, then laughed self-deprecatingly, “Otherwise, why would I have been so unable to control myself that night?”

"And what about her? Does she love you?"

"She jumped off the cliff without hesitation for me. So... I think..."

When Zhang Renfeng said this, he didn't feel particularly proud; instead, he seemed rather solemn—it was a sense of responsibility that arose after realizing the other person's deep love. "She must love me too."

"That's fine."

Qasim shrugged, as if the two were discussing a simple problem, like one plus one equals two, and said, "You marry her."

"But wouldn't a grand and elaborate marriage with Evelyn be tantamount to announcing to everyone that she is now my 'legal wife'?"

Zhang Renfeng rarely showed such a conflicted expression, and his tone was extremely distressed. "According to the customs of my hometown, Evelyn has taken the position of the principal wife. If I marry Xiaolang, her status will be almost the same as that of a concubine."

“Even according to the unspoken rules of this country, she would be treated as my mistress, not my wife… This is truly…”

The downside of political marriages is that they are not just a "marriage," but a show, a highly significant social event.

From the moment he married Evelyn, it signified that he had officially taken over the remaining connections of the Dietersdorf family. This surname brought no real benefit; it was merely a business card, a key, allowing Zhang Renfeng easier access to the "circles" of power in the southern states.

Of course, it's not impossible to achieve the desired result by directly using his military force as a deterrent.

But given the current situation, to counter the large capital alliance in the north, Zhang Renfeng needs more friends, not more potential enemies. The south is so vast, with over a dozen prefectures and counties; even with immense power, he can only try to solve one problem only to have another arise.

With the name "Dieter Stafford," many things can proceed smoothly thanks to this connection.

Thinking about this, Zhang Renfeng felt conflicted and saddened – faced with the other side's offer of a marriage alliance, he had no other choice but to respond with a marriage alliance.

The only advantage is that Evelyn's family has long since declined and disappeared, and she has no powerful backing. She only possesses a priceless noble surname, so she doesn't have to worry about any tactless family members jumping out to make things difficult for her.

It must be said that this move was indeed flawless, taking into account the interests of all parties involved.

No matter how skilled Igor is, he is not a prophetic being.

He could never have known that after that fall off the cliff, his relationship with Little Wolf had already reached a new level.

At that lavish and grand wedding, amidst the celebrations of numerous guests…

How should I face the little wolf?

How will she face herself after this?

----

“Rules… right?” Kasim murmured. “I have a few questions for you.”

"Ah."

"Have you ever robbed a train since you came to this country?"

"We survived the robbery."

Have you ever robbed a bank?

"Take it."

"Have you ever killed anyone?"

"Killed."

"How much?" Qasim asked calmly.

"...This...I don't remember..." Zhang Renfeng tilted his head, trying to recall carefully. Unfortunately, reality wasn't a game; it wouldn't record his kill count anytime, anywhere. "Around a thousand people, maybe a little more?"

"You committed a crime back in your hometown, that's why you fled, right?" Qasim asked. "I heard from Istavo that you killed some official, didn't you?"

"Correct."

"What official?"

"He is the Governor-General of Liangjiang."

"What level?"

"Um... this... should be an imperial envoy, a first-rank official."

"Have you killed anyone else?"

"Killed."

"How many?"

"I...I don't remember either..."

“Alright, now go over all your answers in your mind.” Qasim pointed to the cross not far away and said in a deep voice, “Answer me one more question in front of my old friend.”

Are you a law-abiding and etiquette-conscious person?

----

……

……

……

"what……"

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha……"

The knot in my heart that had been clenching for so long suddenly loosened.

After a long pause, Zhang Renfeng couldn't even empathize with his past self from just a few seconds ago. Suddenly, he felt that his recent distress and confusion were particularly ridiculous.

Ultimately, what he couldn't overcome was his own internal struggle. Rules and regulations established from childhood often take root in the subconscious, influencing his way of thinking. Even a tough guy like Zhang Renfeng was no exception, which is why he got stuck in a rut.

But Qasim's two thousand years of life were not in vain.

With just a few words, he managed to swindle Zhang Renfeng out of the dead end he had set for himself.

"Thank you for your understanding." Zhang Renfeng then hurriedly left, waving to the cross-shaped tombstones of Qasim and the captain as he spoke, "I'll definitely let you know when everything is ready. You must come and support me then."

Chapter 883: Two Weddings

"That's about it, everyone. Let's double-check the process one last time."

Henry held a crumpled sheet of paper covered in dense writing in his hand. He addressed his subordinates in a deep voice, “The exhibition will officially begin in thirty minutes. The venue will be illuminated by 2000 electric light bulbs. The entire venue and seating area must be lit up so that guests from all angles can see the venue clearly.”

"Inspecting electrical circuits and ensuring backup power are of paramount importance. We must keep the site as bright as daytime. At the same time, the city's infrastructure lighting must not be interrupted to ensure that people's daily lives are not affected."

"Is there any pressure on this? If so, bring it up now and I'll coordinate with the electrical manufacturing company. We can't afford to make a mess of things when it's actually starting, or we'll become a laughing stock."