Dual wielding volcanoes, killing through the west

……

……

"Thirty thousand, please."

Snowflakes were falling heavily on Sparrow Mountain and by the frozen lake.

Zhang Renfeng smiled and said to Mike, who was fishing, "Thirty thousand US dollars, and you'll never have to worry about anything for the rest of your life."

----

"Mm." Zhang Renfeng nodded and said calmly, "I understand."

"There's another surgery coming up, isn't there? Tonight, no, I'm afraid it'll be sometime soon... Thank you all for your hard work."

The attending physician was somewhat bewildered.

Just now, Mike Reinhardt, or rather, Il Ilan, died on their operating table.

He was prepared to be held accountable to the point of death.

However, Zhang Renfeng had no intention of holding anyone accountable. After saying this, he slowly got up and left without saying goodbye to anyone.

“…You guys stay here.” Igor waved his hand and instructed the others, “I’ll go with him.”

----

Walk out of the hospital.

I walked onto the street.

A gust of wind blew in my face, carrying with it the mournful sound of sobbing.

Many of the injured's families were forced to wander the streets because the hospitals were too full. Some wept bitterly, some tore at their hair, some lay on the ground wailing... Zhang Renfeng witnessed all these different kinds of suffering.

He walked across the street, still without saying a word.

……

Finally, he arrived at Mike's home, in the city center, that once cozy and warm little house.

The large hole that Zhang Fulin had smashed into the roof still remains there.

A cold wind blew.

Zhang Renfeng's breathing gradually became heavy, and the veins on his forehead bulged.

"Old Zhang," Igor, who had been following behind him, seized the opportunity and asked, "What do we do now?"

……

After working all night, dawn was approaching.

Finally, a faint light appeared on the horizon.

"Order troops..."

"Point troops."

The anger in Zhang Renfeng's eyes had reached its limit! His teeth were clenched, and his furious roar shook the glass in the distance.

"Order troops!"

"Point troops————!!!!!!"

Volume 1: The Floating Red Dragon

Chapter 969: Three Days of Darkness

"Come on, Fulin, you come up too."

"I?"

Wouldn't that be a little inappropriate?

However, Zhang Fulin only thought about these words once, without uttering them aloud. In fact, given the current situation, he had no room to refuse. Looking at the sea of ​​people below, dressed in sharp suits and police uniforms, Zhang Fulin felt a pang of emotion, but still slowly walked onto the platform.

City center of Baiju, at the crossroads.

Just a few days ago, the place was bustling with people, but today, the atmosphere was eerily solemn. Thousands of people gathered on the high platform, surrounded by an impenetrable barrier, yet not a single whisper could be heard; everyone's expression was incredibly serious.

The people standing in the front row were all sheriffs, mounted police officers, and state troopers that Mike had trained over the past ten years. In a sense, he had countless students.

To them, Mike was no longer just a teacher, but also their direct link to higher levels of power. Now, that link has been inexplicably severed, and whatever the reasons, they have to come.

Standing behind them were the city government personnel of White Torch City. They were neatly dressed and stood in two rows.

Next were the local residents of White Torch City. Most of them didn't know who Mike was, only that he was a formidable figure who fought alongside the legendary "Red Center" in the early stages of the war. This alone was enough to command their utmost respect. Mike was usually quite low-key and never put on airs when he went out. The most expensive things he owned were probably his belt and his two treasured revolvers.

Those who had the closest contact with him were probably the anglers on the outskirts of the city who often went fishing with him.

In their eyes, Mike was a highly skilled and humorous old man.

The atmosphere offstage was lively, but the stage was equally vibrant.

Almost all the well-known executives of the Sanyuan Group were present, all dressed in black. In the very center of the platform stood a heavy solid wood coffin, with several bouquets of blooming white lilies displayed above it, adding a touch of solemnity and sacredness to this incredibly solemn scene.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

……

coming.

Heavy footsteps.

On the third day after the attack on White Torch City, the entire city entered a state of high alert. Although the identities and organizations of the attackers had been investigated and revealed, official statements alone were clearly insufficient given the magnitude of the incident. The shadow of death lingered, and people felt uneasy and fearful, instinctively seeking something that could provide them with absolute security.

Since 1879, White Torch City has undergone three rounds of expansion. The vast majority of newly relocated residents have only heard of Zhang Renfeng's past heroic deeds and regard him as a guardian deity of the community.

This was the first time they had seen Zhang Renfeng in full armor and wielding a weapon.

With each step, the ground around him trembled slightly. The armor was devoid of any superfluous patterns or decorations; it was simply a tin can perfectly conforming to the human form. The forging technique of this armor had almost reached the limits of what geometry could tolerate.

Except for the joints where necessary for movement, the armor is made as thick as possible in other areas, aiming to maximize its defensive properties.

It's no exaggeration to say that if it weren't Zhang Renfeng wearing it, an ordinary adult male would likely be crushed to death the moment he put it on. However, Zhang Renfeng walked freely while wearing it, as if he were wearing a piece of cardboard rather than a metal plate armor weighing nearly 100 kilograms.

With his armor and helmet on, he was now nearly 2.5 meters tall, his physique as imposing as a grizzly bear walking upright.

He held a long knife in his right hand, without any visible blade, yet its terrifying weight was enough to smash a person into pieces.

----

The moment he stepped onto the stage, without saying a word, all eyes were already on him.

Zhang Renfeng removed his helmet, and his narrow field of vision suddenly opened up, allowing him to see every face and every expression below. A hundred different faces reflected the world: some were fearful, some astonished, some admiring, some uneasy, and some expectant.

Regardless, we've finally reached this point.

He looked up, and in the azure sky, an eagle flew by.

……

"Friends who have come from afar, and all those who are steadfastly holding their posts in this city..."

Zhang Renfeng did not rely on any technology. Even though the total weight of what he wore and what he carried was close to 180 kilograms, his voice was still quite strong. He could make his voice amplify with just his internal energy. Even if the last person in the last row could not see him, every word would still be clearly delivered to his ears.

For the citizens who were witnessing his move for the first time, it was nothing short of a miracle.

Immediately, many people became unsettled. They suddenly realized that the older generation of Baiju City residents took the "guardian angel" story very seriously...

It might not be entirely fabricated.

"The past three days have been the most difficult and darkest three days since this city was founded. I want to express my sincere respect to you all!" Zhang Renfeng bowed slightly to everyone below the stage and said very sincerely, "Thanks to your perseverance, the order of this city has not been destroyed, and I am able to stand here and say some heartfelt words to you."

"Over the years, there have been many different opinions about me. I rarely explain these things. In essence, many things are in the past, and compared with the wonderful life I have today, those old stories are better left unmentioned."

"But now... these three dark days have changed my mind. Some things that should have been made clear long ago are now ready to be revealed."

"I am what you call 'getting rich'."

A murmur of discussion began to ripple through the audience. The word "get rich" undoubtedly represented the pinnacle of the entire Sanyuan Group, yet his very existence remained a mystery. Different versions of his image presented vastly different images. On this chilly morning, it was this "get rich," who had lived only in urban legends, who made his first real public appearance.

“About 14 years ago, I was known as the ‘Blank.’ Perhaps some of you have heard of the ‘Illuminati.’ In order to fight this organization hidden within the federal government, I needed an identity to conceal myself and at the same time protect the people around me.”

"Let's go back in time, a little bit, to before we became a 'blank slate'..."

"I am [Red Center]".

……

……

……

In an instant, an uproar erupted below.

This caused not only the officials and police officers who came to pay their respects, but also the people in the back rows to gasp in shock. Their expressions shifted from initial grief to an air of "Sorry, sir, I didn't recognize you earlier."

Clearly, compared to getting rich and getting a blank card, the name "Red Center" is the most famous, so famous that some people are afraid of it.

Among those who came to pay their respects were representatives of prominent families from the south. Their expressions were complex, tinged with lingering fear.

Fortunately, the cooperation with Sanyuan Group over the years has been generally pleasant, and we have indeed delivered a considerable portion of the benefits to the grassroots people in accordance with their requirements.

if not……

There are far too many, far too many examples of what has happened before.

----

“I remember when I was just starting out, I was wanted by both New Austin and New Elizabeth, with a $7000 reward.”

Zhang Renfeng smiled, raised his long sword, and pointed in the distance. "If I remember correctly, the Pinkerton Detective Agency hasn't withdrawn the bounty on 'Red Center' yet. They've even doubled the reward to $15000, and specified that he must be alive."

"If anyone is interested, they can tie me up and use the money as a reward."

Chapter 970: So, the war begins

The discussion below gradually subsided, and silence returned.

This was the first time Zhang Renfeng had made such a frank declaration about his past and his identity in a formal setting.

Generally speaking, a past crime, especially a serious crime that warrants a warrant for arrest, is a stain on a politician's record.

However, if this "politician's" influence has expanded beyond a town, a city, or even a state, the situation is different. Many listeners have already sensed from his confession that this man at the top of the group is about to make a major move. This is both a challenge and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; they are restless and beginning to feel a growing excitement.

“Speaking of bounties, Mike is also on the list; he was on the bounty list almost at the same time as me.”

When Zhang Renfeng turned his head to look at the coffin, he still had a smile on his face, as if he hadn't left yet, still sitting in that spot, with his classic dead fish-eye expression, staring at him without moving.

"The original Red Centre Gang consisted of just the three of us: me, him, and Messaria Marston. We spent countless long nights together. Countless times, I fought against enemies hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of times larger, and he was always there for me, steadfastly supporting me. He deserves some credit for the establishment and growth of this city!"

"He is the 'cornerstone' of the team. He may not be very noticeable, but he silently supports me and all of us."

"For me, his story begins with the wind blowing sand and ends in White Torch City."

"But he was already a world-renowned legend long before he met me."

"I will remember these past three days forever. I lost Mike, my dearest friend, my elder, my strategist!"

"I know... there are many others like me who have lost loved ones, spouses, and children in the past three days. Please believe me, I feel your pain as well!"

When he said those last few words, Zhang Renfeng really gritted his teeth, and his eyes seemed to be spitting fire.

Sound is the outward expression of emotion; his resentment, through this deafening voice, deeply penetrated the hearts of every listener. Stirred by collective emotion, regardless of reason, a flame began to rise in everyone's hearts.

Moreover, a considerable number of people, as Zhang Renfeng said, are indeed still immersed in the pain brought about by this large-scale attack and cannot extricate themselves.

Zhang Renfeng raised his long sword and swung it lightly.

The local sheriffs of Baiju City then brought forward the prisoners of war, who were bound hand and foot. These were the people who had participated in the assassination operation that night. Zhang Wusheng had specifically instructed during the search and capture operation that "as many prisoners as possible should be left alive." This foresight was now proving useful.

They were bound tightly like rice dumplings, their mouths gagged, only able to make muffled noises to ensure they wouldn't resist. Once on stage, facing the deafening roar of the crowd below, they turned pale with fright and screamed repeatedly.

Although there was no gallows, their eyes, which seemed to be spitting fire, suggested that they had already seen their own end.

……