Reborn in 1878: America's Number One Bandit

Chapter 21 If you don't accept it, you're looking down on me

A week later, at the entrance of the Malin County Court.

A small-scale auction is underway.

The items up for auction are the entire estate of the late rancher Abel Clark.

More than 1,800 acres of land.

And the apple orchard above that is about to have a bumper harvest.

"Nineteen thousand five hundred dollars! Anyone else bidding higher? Nineteen thousand five hundred dollars!"

The auctioneer's spittle flew in the California sun.

Several farmers in the vicinity were whispering among themselves.

Clearly, this price is close to their psychological limit.

This orchard is very tempting.

But pulling out nearly $20,000 in cash all at once is not an easy task for anyone.

"Twenty thousand! My God, the madman from Bob's family has put up twenty thousand!" A gasp rippled through the crowd.

A portly man proudly puffed out his belly.

The auctioneer was preparing to bring down the gavel.

A man in a smart suit parted the crowd and walked forward unhurriedly.

"Sir, my client has no interest in participating in the bidding."

He spoke politely to the auctioneer.

He then took a document out of his briefcase.

“But as Mr. Abel Clark’s largest creditor, my client has the right to priority repayment of this debt.”

He handed over the IOU for $30,000.

When the auctioneer and several prominent figures in the town were present.

Seeing the amount of up to 30,000 US dollars on the IOU.

They gasped when they saw Abel Clark's unmistakable signature.

The noisy scene instantly fell silent.

The next thing is simple.

After a preliminary assessment by a notary public.

After confirming that there were no issues with the signatures and the paper, the auction ended prematurely in a comical manner.

The entire farm was valued at less than $30,000, which was far from enough to pay off this huge debt.

According to the law.

The complete ownership of this land and orchard naturally fell into the hands of this mysterious creditor.

They were still British assassins.

Actually, he could have come forward himself.

According to the Burlingame Treaty signed in 1868.

Citizens of the Qing Dynasty have the right to legally purchase and own land in the United States, and their property rights will be protected by the U.S. Constitution.

The Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, passed in the same year, further clarified this.

No state may “deny granting equal legal protection to ‘anyone’ under its jurisdiction.”

The key word here is "any person".

Not just "citizens".

This means, from a constitutional perspective...

Chinese landowners, like any white landowner, had the right to demand equal protection under the law.

But Lawson was equally aware of this.

This set of laws written on paper is a joke in the real American West.

Especially in California.

The local laws here clearly state: "No Chinese, Black, Native American, or any other non-white person may testify in court against any white person."

This is the most hypocritical and absurd aspect of American law.

It gives you the right to own property, but deprives you of the ability to protect your property with the law.

This is similar to the law allowing you to own a beautiful house.

But if a white thug breaks in and sets your house on fire, even if you see it with your own eyes, you have no right to testify against him in court.

Unless another white person is willing to testify for you, the arsonist will go unpunished.

Of course, there are solutions.

That means hiring a white bodyguard.

When that white thug comes to burn down your house, have your white bodyguard shoot him in the head.

If a white man kills another white man, and they are both white brothers, things will be much easier to discuss in court.

However, to avoid trouble, Lawson still chose the British assassin.

Whether it's held by a middleman or by the person holding it personally, there's no fundamental difference.
During this week of building the new house.

He gained more than two hundred more fearless assassins under his command.

This is just the result of him refreshing the quota of 29 people every day.

Once the system is upgraded to the next level, the number of items refreshed daily will skyrocket to 47!
What is that concept?
In a single day, they could conjure up three teams the size of the Finnian Scarface gang out of thin air.

Well-equipped, ruthless marksman, fearless, and able to hit any target accurately.

Just asking are you afraid?
Although the apple orchard was registered in his name, he had no intention of managing it himself.

He sent fifty elite soldiers to take over, operate, harvest, and sell the produce...

All he has to do is sit at home and wait for the golden apples to turn into shiny silver dollars.

He only cares about results.

Just two days before the ownership of the apple orchard was finalized.

After a week of having a good time outside, Jack and Isabel finally returned to Coleman Parker's manor.

The two were inseparable, shamelessly indulging in their passion. Isabel felt as if she had been given a second chance at life.

The past thirty years of my life have been like a gray silent film.

It wasn't until she met Jack that her world was painted with vibrant colors.

When Isabel learned that the fat man Coleman Parker had been killed by thugs a few days earlier, she felt not even a little sadness.

It was that miser who abandoned her first after she was kidnapped.

Moreover, compared to Jack, that fatso is nothing but a lump of greasy lard.

Jack is a hundred times stronger, a hundred times more handsome, and a hundred times gentler than him.

Most importantly, in some ways, Jack is a god-like figure.

It was with Jack that Isabelle realized how happy it could be to be a woman.

The fat man had no children.

They didn't even have a single relative.

Legally, Isabelle Parker is the sole legal heir to all his assets.

So yesterday, Isabel dragged Jack to the town church and quickly registered their marriage.

Immediately afterwards, I rushed to the notary office again today.

A property transfer agreement was signed.

He wanted the three thousand acres of fertile land left by Parker, along with all the cattle, horses, and cash.

The entire property was transferred to her new husband, Jack Anderson.

Faced with this enormous fortune that had fallen from the sky, Jack (whose body had now been taken over by Lawson) solemnly refused.

"No, darling, I can't accept that."

He was full of deep affection, thinking only of you.

"Why? Jack, why?" Isabel cried out, gripping his hand tightly.

"Isabel, listen to me."

Jack (Lossen) cupped her face in his hands and said gently,
“Your husband just died and you immediately remarried, giving all your property to me, an outsider.”

Have you ever thought about what the people in town will say about you?
They'll say you're unfaithful, that you're a greedy and wicked woman, they might even suspect...

"You and I conspired to kill Parker so we could seize his wealth."

"I do not care!"

Isabel shouted, "I don't care what those gossipy women say! Jack, I only care about you!"

"But I care!"

Jack (Lorson) softened, "I can't let you bear such a dirty reputation because of me. This inheritance is what Parker left you, so you should keep it well."

Isabel was deeply moved.

She felt that Jack was simply a saint sent by God to save her.

He not only gave her a new life, but also considered her reputation in every way.

Little did she know, this was nothing more than a ploy by Lawson to lure her in.

He understands this kind of love-struck person all too well.

Being love-struck can happen to anyone, regardless of gender.

The more you push her away, the more she will try to hold on to you.

Sure enough, Isabel threw herself into his arms, crying.

"No, Jack, listen to me."

She sobbed uncontrollably, “This estate, this land, has never been home to me.”

It's just a cage imprisoning me!
It's a cage that Parker built with money!

Now that he's dead, I'm free.