North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 42 The Lion in the Cage

"This old guy, how did he survive?"

Jason replied, "According to Old Cameron himself, the bodies of the rangers around attracted the wolves."

"Even though Old Cameron was buried in the ground pretending to be dead, he was still targeted by a giant gray wolf king."

"When the wolf king was about to bite Old Cameron's head, he suddenly turned around and bit the wolf king's nose!"

"With his nose firmly bitten, the wolf king desperately struggled, jumped, and retreated, and actually dragged old Cameron out alive from the soil!"

"Even after being dragged out, Old Cameron refused to let go until he bit off the wolf king's nose and scared the pack away...!"

Ah Zu couldn't help but be surprised and said, "So cruel? Is this true?"

Jason puffed on his pipe and shrugged. "That's what Old Cameron boasted about himself. Anyway, when he came back alive, his legs were completely broken, and there were indeed scars on his face from being bitten by wolves."

"Haha!" Vic shook his head disapprovingly. "Compared to the outrageous story that Old Cameron boasted about himself, the version I heard might be more true."

"Old Cameron was buried in the ground, and nearly had his head eaten off by wolves, when he happened to encounter a gang of bandits passing by."

"Old Cameron offered a large sum of money to the gang to rescue him."

"Old Cameron, who survived, immediately gathered the rest of his men and wiped out the entire gang. Then, despite being seriously injured, he attacked the Comanche camp and slaughtered hundreds of Indians, including every man, woman, and child!"

A Zu grinned: "Obviously, this story is more true and believable!"

"But no matter which story is more true, it shows that old Cameron is definitely a ruthless person!"

Vic continued, "I heard that if his legs hadn't been crippled and his face hadn't been disfigured by the wolf, Old Cameron would have had a chance to be promoted to general."

"Later, Cameron Sr. left the army, left Arkansas, and returned to the Cameron family. In a very short time, he promoted his eldest son to the mayor's throne."

"The Cameron family is already quite powerful, and with the cunning and ruthlessness of Old Cameron, and his son being the mayor, he single-handedly controls half of San Francisco."

"The Cameron family owns San Francisco's largest shipping company, largest shipyard, largest gold mining company, largest trading house, and the largest real estate...!"

"It is said that the Cameron family also has a lot of shares in companies like Bay Area Bank."

Every time Vic mentioned a Cameron family business, A-Zu's eyes brightened a little.

Because he wants everything the Cameron family has!

A Zu remembered old Cameron's hideous face deeply.

"Who is pushing old Cameron?" asked A-Zu.

"That's Paul Cameron, Cameron's second son. He controls most of the Cameron family's assets."

So, A Zu remembered Paul Cameron's face again.

"Cameron family, is there anyone else?"

"And there's the youngest son, Daniel Cameron. He's in the Arkansas Rangers. I heard he's already been promoted to major in his thirties, and he's doing just as well as his father!"

"Gone?"

"Cameron Sr. also has two daughters, both of whom married into powerful families in the Bay Area."

"What about the third generation of the Cameron family?"

"They are all still very young. I heard that Cameron Sr.'s eldest grandson is still attending Yale University. The rest seem to be underage."

Jason puffed on his pipe and said, "Old Cameron hasn't made a public appearance in a long time. I wonder what he wants to do today."

A Zu pondered, "With the mayor's son just dead, the Cameron family's position is bound to be shaken and no longer as stable as before." "Old Cameron's appearance today shows that he's still alive and well, and it will deter those greedy people who covet the Cameron family and make them put away their unnecessary thoughts."

"I see!" Vic continued. "Indeed, most of San Francisco is trembling at old Cameron's feet!"

"Is this old man really that powerful?" A Zu was a little unconvinced.

"Hehe! When old Cameron first returned to San Francisco, there were quite a few people in the Bay Area who disobeyed the old man's will."

"Old Cameron first gathered the elite retired soldiers from the army and placed them in the militia camp. Then, he colluded with the Skinners."

"After making preparations, regardless of whether they are from the underworld or the legitimate society, Old Cameron will first let the Skinning Gang kill and rob people, and then let the militia battalion rush in and kill everyone in the name of suppressing bandits."

"In those two years, it wasn't just one or two families that were wiped out, but more than a dozen! They were all once wealthy and noble upper-class families!"

"Old Cameron also has a fleet of armed merchant ships at his disposal. No one dares to mess with him, whether on sea or on land."

"The previous mayor and his family of more than a dozen disappeared while on vacation at sea, along with their boat. Later, Mayor Cameron Jr. took office smoothly."

A Zu frowned slightly. "Armed merchant ships, militia camps, and colluding with the Skinning Gang...!"

Jason continued, "The current acting mayor is the former deputy mayor, a puppet supported by the Cameron family!"

"I heard that old Cameron wants to wait until his grandson graduates from college and then come back to take over as mayor!"

"What a calculated plan! Will old Cameron live to see his grandson return and succeed him as mayor?"

Jason shrugged. "The old fellow, who wasn't killed by the Comanches or the wolves, is quite tough! Who knows how much longer he can live?"

"But...!" A-Zu smiled slightly: "I feel that old Cameron won't live long!"
-
"Boom boom boom!"

At this time, the auctioneer on the auction table knocked the gavel and the auction officially began.

More than ten minutes later, old Cameron bought the pair of ferocious lions that were roaring continuously, and then left the auction house surrounded by a crowd of people.

No one competes, no one dares to compete!

An hour later, A Zu raised his hand and bought a second-hand boat for $6,800.

This is a paddlewheel steam sailing ship that is 70% new and has a displacement of more than 300 tons.

The shipyard workers waiting outside the auction house drove the paddle steamer directly back to the shipyard's small dock.

Back at the shipyard, A-Zu closed the door and continued to tinker with the work he had been meticulously crafting over the past few days.

Not long after, he walked out the door carrying a black viola case.

At the same time, the Cameron family was gathered in the huge back garden, watching the pair of lions that had just been delivered home.

A huge male lion with yellow-brown mane and a sturdy lioness were circling around in a steel cage, feeling very uneasy.

"Ouch...!"

Angry roars continued to emanate from the mouths of the pair of lions.

Moreover, after drifting on the sea for so long, these two caged beasts were extremely hungry!

They were once the kings of the grassland, but now they have become cats in cages and pets watched by these weak humans!
Old Cameron, sitting in a wheelchair, admired his newly acquired pet with great satisfaction.

He bought this pair of lions to send the clearest message to everyone that this old lion is not only not dead, but also still as powerful as ever!

(End of this chapter)