Dual wielding volcanoes, killing through the west

Logically speaking, the true nature of this "Blackwater Poison" organization is still unclear. The extent to which they were involved in these two cases is also unknown, far from reaching the level requiring Zhang Renfeng's personal decision.

Currently, not only New Orleans, but the entire South is within the sphere of influence of the Sanyuan Group. There are countless other matters of greater importance.

However, Zhang Renfeng instinctively sensed something was amiss in this matter. Even before the enemy's true identity was revealed, he was already on high alert. His vigilance, amplified by the support of the authorities, increased the efficiency of the investigation several times over.

Ren is directly in charge of overseeing the case, and all business operations, actions, and resource allocation must give way to this case.

----

"It's been quite a while since I've been to this place..." Under the cover of night, Zhang Renfeng looked around the black market shops and couldn't help but sigh.

Fourteen years ago, when they had just taken over White Torch Town, they made a deal with the town's black market boss, Kebiin, to deal with some illicit "spoils of war." But in reality, the Red Center Gang didn't send over much stolen goods after that.

As the town gradually developed and everything became more formalized, this so-called "black market" could no longer collect much. Its function changed, and it gradually became a hidden intelligence agency within White Torch City. Kobin was originally an assassin of the Hermitage of Mount Xun; concealment, infiltration, assassination, and information theft were all his strengths.

If Angel Eyes hadn't left, Zhang Renfeng had originally prepared this position for him. Although his personality was a bit eccentric, he was, after all, one of his own who had followed him all the way.

As for Kobiin… although he could be considered one of their own, he still carried the identity of the Xunshan Hermitage, which he couldn't shake off. The Xunshan Hermitage and the Sanyuan Group had a completely equal cooperative relationship. Since the threat of the Illuminati was almost completely eliminated, this opposing assassin organization gradually lost its purpose.

In his presence, one always has to think things through before speaking or acting, which adds a sense of restraint.

However, after more than a decade of getting used to it, he gradually grew accustomed to it. His black market was located in a secluded area, more like a small, isolated library, undisturbed by anyone on weekdays. When he had nothing to do, he would occasionally come here to sit, ask for a drink, and chat for an entire afternoon over a plate of chickpeas.

However, the atmosphere tonight might not be so relaxed. Even this seasoned assassin, who had seen many big scenes, looked somewhat tense.

Besides him, Igor and Xiaomei were also there, along with Zhang Renfeng, the highest-ranking figure in the Sanyuan Group. Almost everyone had gathered in this small wooden house.

There was no need to say anything; a letter was clearly laid out on the table.

"To Uncle Martin, who is far away..."

After reading just one line, Zhang Renfeng realized what he meant and frowned, "Uncle Martin?"

"That's right, it's Uncle Martin, the one the Howling Wolf Gang leader mentioned. This shows that the Blue-Clad Army and they are using the same code."

Ren explained, "Wasn't the Blue Shirts in Ukraine wiped out by Wu Sheng and Green Wine? Actually, those two only captured Glenburg, which was occupied by the Blue Shirts. There are still some scattered Blue Shirts left, but since you're coming back soon, they didn't have time to deal with them and left them to the local Ukrainian military and police."

"Without a leader, the remaining Blue-Clad Army is just a rabble and nothing to fear. The local firepower is enough to solve the problem. Wherever we went, the Blue-Clad Army abandoned their camps and fled at the first sign of trouble. We captured a large amount of ammunition, weapons, supplies, and intelligence."

"This letter was found in the camp abandoned by the Blue-Clad Army."

Zhang Renfeng finally breathed a sigh of relief. His intelligence network with the Howling Wolf Gang had dried up, and he was at a loss for what to do. Sending out scouts was like searching for a needle in a haystack, with no end in sight. He never imagined that one day, the intelligence would actually grow legs and deliver itself to his doorstep.

The saying "I searched high and low without finding it, but it came to me effortlessly" perfectly describes this moment.

"Good, good, good!"

He unfolded the letter and said "good" three times in a row. His eyebrows had just shown a hint of joy, but when he saw the contents of the letter, they immediately drooped.

Just as Simon said, the letter contained nothing but useless everyday talk.

The letter itself was merely a pretext, a smokescreen to deceive others. The truly important things were the other contents inside the envelope, such as maps, sketches, and memos. Zhang Renfeng was about to press for more information when he realized what was going on and sighed.

Needless to say, it was definitely not found. If it had been found, it would have been placed on the table.

“This letter was fabricated to be seen by others. If we use it to investigate a case, I’m afraid…” He threw the letter back on the table and sighed, “there’s no way to investigate it.”

“Old Zhang, you’re wrong about that.” Igor shook his unusually large head. “While the contents of the letter may not be credible, the letter itself is already a complex of many clues.”

“For example, this letter paper is different from ordinary paper. It is made of the classic kraft paper material. Look.” Xiaomei picked up the letter paper and applied a little force. The paper did not break in half, but rolled up. “It is quite tough.”

"If you run your fingertip along it again, you can feel that the letter paper is exceptionally smooth. There isn't a single bump from beginning to end, which shows that the craftsmanship during its production was top-notch in the industry."

Xiaomei held it to her nose again and took a gentle sniff. "...It smells like oranges. Ordinary letter paper just smells like paper. Only relatively high-end brands would scent their letter paper with perfume or face powder."

"This shows that the person who wrote this letter was a person of a certain level of refinement. He wouldn't have chosen paper that was too poor or too ordinary. This alone is enough to filter out many letters... Further analysis of his handwriting and writing style can reveal a lot of clues."

"The most important thing is that we now know their usual coded communication method—using the postal system to send letters. This letter went through the postal system in Ukraine before being received by the Blue Shirts. The letter also has a date on it, so if you calculate it, the Blue Shirts should have started planning the rebellion after receiving the letter."

"Conversely, if the next target of the Blackwater Poison is Mr. Igor, then..."

“Before the operation begins, there will definitely be similar letters sent to the post office in White Torch City.”

Chapter 945: A Man's Tears

Those below all called Xiaomei "Scarface Detective," and Zhang Renfeng finally understood how this imposing title came about.

In just a few words, what seemed hopeless took a turn for the better.

Now that the two were on the same side, Zhang Renfeng was naturally overjoyed. But then he thought, what if those with dirty hands thought they had done something flawless, only to have Xiaomei, in such a calm tone, tear apart their secrets bit by bit? They would be scared to death.

"So, our next target should be the post office." Zhang Renfeng nodded in agreement. "In that case, we should do it immediately..."

“We’ve already gone.” Igor rubbed his eyes, fighting off sleepiness. “After discovering this, we had Kobyin take some men to the post office. To avoid alerting them, the post office wasn’t closed, but all the mail was temporarily held and not sent. All the mail from the past month was kept, totaling more than 4000 letters.”

"For confidentiality reasons, Xiaomei and I took the time to compare each of these 4000-plus letters one by one."

"?!" Zhang Renfeng was surprised. Upon closer inspection, he saw that both of their eyes were bloodshot.

"Isn't this workload a bit too much?" He felt uneasy, and no matter what he said, it felt like he was talking without understanding the situation. So he sighed and said, "Igor, you can ask Wusheng for help. You've worked so hard to train him for so long. It's not a big deal to ask him to help you share some of the burden at a time like this."

“It’s alright, Mr. Hongzhong,” Xiaomei said with a soft laugh. “Actually, it’s not that complicated. Just the high-quality stationery alone can filter out a large batch. After the first screening, only about 80 letters remain. The rest is just a matter of comparing details such as handwriting and smell, one letter at a time. It’s not a problem.”

"What kind of talk is that?" Zhang Renfeng frowned, displeased. "How can we let the two of you shoulder all the heavy burdens!"

“Alright, Lao Zhang,” Igor offered another reason, “It’s not that I can’t get your son to do things, it’s just that…”

"Wu Sheng is still young and inexperienced. I have a feeling that this matter is of great importance, so I will personally take charge to ensure that nothing goes wrong."

"And finally, after several rounds of screening, we found this one."

……

He took out another letter. Based on his previous deductions, Zhang Renfeng immediately noticed the delicate and soft texture of the paper as soon as he held it. He gently sniffed it, and perhaps it was just his imagination, but he could also smell a faint orange scent.

"To, dear Uncle Jules..."

"Ha, well, this guy has gotten another uncle."

Zhang Renfeng skimmed through it; it was just another ordinary family letter, neatly written, with plain sentences and nothing particularly noteworthy. However, the many details revealed in the letter were enough to show that it was written by the same person.

"this one?"

“Of course not.” Igor took a small key out of his pocket and placed it on the table with a clang. “This was sent along with the letter.”

"A key?" Zhang Renfeng picked it up with two fingers and examined it closely. There was a tag on the key's lanyard with a combination of letters and numbers. "Why is it so small? What kind of door can be opened with this kind of key?"

“The door of the bank safe deposit box,” Igor explained. “Old Zhang, see the number on the label? That’s the bank’s safe deposit box number. As long as you pay and complete the relevant procedures, the bank will assign you a dedicated safe deposit box.”

"Of course, we've also been to the bank."

……

"In just a few days, you... have accomplished so much." Zhang Renfeng sighed, shook his head with a smile, and felt somewhat ashamed. "Everyone says I'm the head of the household, but I think if it weren't for you all supporting me, I would have been completely lost and clueless about this big family."

“What kind of talk is that?” Igor waved his hand. “Everyone has their own strengths. The family business we have today was built by you, one punch and one kick. You’ve already contributed, so it’s only right that it’s our turn. We’re all family, so why distinguish between yours and mine?”

"Getting back to the point, we went to Mesvid Bank and used this key to open the safe with the corresponding number."

"The things inside... ah..."

"But it really opened my eyes."

A larger, shinier envelope was taken out and placed on the table.

Zhang Renfeng was somewhat suspicious. He opened the envelope and poured out a thick stack of manuscripts filled with text. Over the years, he had made up for some of his shortcomings in recognizing English words. Of course, he still couldn't pronounce the obscure words, but he had no problem with the basic content.

He picked it up and began to examine it. The more he looked, the more his relaxed expression, as if he had solved a major case, vanished without a trace. Instead, cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

----

A detailed and comprehensive plan, almost without any blind spots.

The main proposal, alternative proposals, and alternatives to alternative proposals.

The name Igor was prominently displayed in the assassination target section.

The previous house plan was just an appetizer. Even the restaurants and pubs he occasionally frequented, and the Pearl Shell Grand Restaurant where a grand banquet would be held in a few days, and the possible routes Ego might take... all were investigated in extremely detailed terms.

A few days later, the circuit racing competition is about to begin, and the sponsors and organizers will be having a grand banquet at the Pearl Shell Restaurant. Igor will also be attending that banquet, and their main plan is to assassinate him in public at the restaurant. Depending on the situation that day, they have even prepared more than a dozen different methods, which are terrifying to even look at.

If the main plan cannot be carried out due to security conditions or other reasons on the day, the backup plan should be selected immediately—to carry out the assassination on the return journey.

If any unforeseen circumstances arise during the return journey, then proceed with the backup plan. Assassinate Igor at home.

Besides the assassination plan, the document also included a large section detailing Igor's background. It listed his preferred cuisine and tastes, his preferred mode of transportation, and his usual routes—virtually everything, big or small, was recorded.

“Hey, Lao Zhang, everyone says your wife is the pearl of Nanbang. In my opinion, I’m just as beautiful as her,” Igor said half-jokingly. “Look at my fanatic fan, he’s practically written down what time I go to the toilet, what time I take a shower, and what time I go to bed with my wife every day.”

"They think so highly of me, I'm actually a little embarrassed, hahaha..."

……

Hearty laughter echoed in the small wooden cabin. As the person involved, Igor even had the energy to ease the atmosphere with jokes.

But Zhang Renfeng couldn't laugh at all; his heart felt as heavy as lead.

In particular, he caught a glimpse of this line in the plan, his eyes closed slightly, and his heart ached as if it were being torn apart.

He was a tall, upright man who had built a vast empire, yet his eyes welled up with tears.

----

Observations suggest that since April 1893, the individual has exhibited symptoms of excessive sleepiness, with a significant increase in sleep duration. This is suspected to be a complication of primary dwarfism, caused by congenital gene deletion, hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction, and may be a precursor to hormonal imbalances.

Chapter 946: Alexandrite

"Don't do that, Lao Zhang."

Igor knew everything, but he didn't say much. He simply said, "Someone like me doesn't deserve to live such a wonderful life... Since we've embarked on this path together, I can accept whatever the outcome may be."

These words didn't offer Zhang Renfeng much relief, but at least they helped him focus his attention and refocus on the current situation. The banquet was quite large, and Zhang Renfeng himself was going to participate; it was fast approaching, and the assassins were undoubtedly already making preparations. Similarly, they only had a few days left.

“The Blackwater Poison gang… they really put a lot of thought into this.” Zhang Renfeng continued to peruse the assassination plan, his brows furrowed tightly. “They’ve gone to such lengths to be so detailed, it’s as if they’ve considered every possible scenario.”

There's an old Chinese saying, "How can one allow others to sleep soundly under one's bed?" But now, it's not just under the bed; it seems like someone is following him 24 hours a day, even at the dining table, the toilet, and the bathtub. This plan even includes an appendix summarizing Igor's daily life—more detailed than even the emperor's daily records.

What's even more frightening is that this record is based on months!

This meant that their people had been lying in wait very close to Igor, silently observing for today's grand plan, without being discovered. They didn't act rashly, but waited for the most opportune moment.

To kill Igor openly and honestly at the banquet, in front of everyone!

In this way, the news could no longer be concealed, and panic would spread rapidly in White Torch City, affecting the entire state of New Austin. It would then spread to sixteen southern counties. At the same time, similar cases such as the Blue Shirts case and the arms case would likely emerge one after another, shaking the foundation of the Triple Yuan Group.

“From an assassin’s perspective, I don’t quite agree with that view.” Koby shook his head and said in a deep voice, “Killing is killing. You shouldn’t get too entangled with the target. Contact, action, escape—a qualified assassination should follow these three steps.”

"Once it's done, you should immediately hide, disappear without a trace, leave no evidence, and destroy all written documents. It's best to stay far away from the crime scene, change your identity and name, and wait until the bounty and manhunt for this case are over before resuming your activities. That's the assassination logic an assassin should have."

Everyone who heard this was deeply moved.

It's often said that every profession can produce an expert, and that's certainly true. Even assassination, a shady business, is essentially a "job," and the rich experience of those involved is invaluable. Besides, Zhang Renfeng also felt that what he said made a lot of sense.

"But now, they haven't even killed anyone yet, but they've already invested so much time in this matter. It's really strange."

"Generally speaking, assassinating someone doesn't require such a complicated and detailed plan. The more steps involved, the more likely things are to go wrong at each step. The fact that they made things so complicated gives me the feeling that..."

Koby rarely gave such a long speech, but this matter happened to hit him squarely on the head. "This Blackwater Poison doesn't seem to be simply about 'assassinating' Igor. Or perhaps there are other political considerations involved... I have no idea."

The plans are all laid out here; they've even prepared three assassination plans alone. Koby's words seem rather unconvincing.

Even if everyone thought he was right, they couldn't gamble on whether he had such intentions. Their lives were in their own hands, and they had to take action on the day of the banquet.

Zhang Renfeng's first thought was to call off the banquet.

But then I realized that this wasn't a solution at all; it was just a simple escape, which wouldn't solve any problems. Moreover, there would be another time. The most critical thing was watching the enemy lurking nearby, unable to detect them, and helplessly watching intelligence leak.

If the banquet were suddenly canceled, they would definitely realize that the intelligence had been leaked and would immediately change the coded message. This time, it was a fluke that we managed to catch them; it would be too difficult to repeat the same trick next time.

“Sigh…” Zhang Renfeng couldn’t help but sigh, “Old Mike is right. Although we seem to be a large and powerful family, in reality, we are now in the open while the enemy is in the shadows. We are much weaker than we were 14 years ago.”

They all knew perfectly well that this was the price they had to pay for building a large family business.

Most of the groups and families that Zhang Renfeng wiped out one by one during his gang days also had this kind of trouble. Strong control over resources, even if you can mobilize the police of an entire city, does not mean you are omniscient and omnipotent.

You can't exactly dig out everyone's brain to see what they're thinking, can you?

They could have easily disguised themselves as ordinary citizens, infiltrated the city, and slowly observed the weaknesses of this behemoth before launching a surprise attack. However, Zhang Renfeng usually didn't observe much before leading his team in a direct assault, crushing them with his overwhelming military superiority.

Now, the situation has reversed, and they are the ones who need to be wary of others.

"Old Zhang, look here."

Igor took the plan from his hand and skillfully flipped through it. It was clearly meant to assassinate him, yet he read it so thoroughly, almost memorizing it. Zhang Renfeng, watching from the side, couldn't help but feel a sense of absurdity and wanted to burst out laughing.