Dual wielding volcanoes, killing through the west

"If no one knows how to pick locks, the only option is brute force, usually using explosives or something similar, to try and blow it open. If it contains banknotes or something similar, it might be burned."

Mike licked his lips. The hardships he had endured along the way were finally about to turn into results, and he couldn't help but feel excited.

Nervousness, anxiety, anticipation... all of these are contained in this one moment!

"crunch..."

The metal door opened.

To everyone's disappointment, the three-layered safe did not contain cash or jewelry, but rather thick notebooks.

“This is…” Mike had sharp eyes; he spotted something valuable in the mountain of books at a glance, “Bonds! Bearer bonds!”

It was rare to see Mike show such excitement; even his usually deadpan eyes widened in surprise.

Zhang Renfeng knew almost nothing about this, scratched his head, and couldn't help but ask, "Is this very valuable?"

“Simply put, these bonds don’t record the creditor’s name; they only recognize the bond, not the person. Interest is paid upon seeing the bond. Although it belongs to Cheddar, Cheddar’s name isn’t on it, so we can still redeem it.” Mike waved the stack of bonds in his hand, his smile becoming even more uncontrollable than AK’s. “These blank pieces of paper can be sold for money; a few thousand dollars shouldn’t be a problem!”

Alana also showed a shocked expression. Back when she was with the Thunder Gang, even when they hijacked a train with the entire gang, they had never had such a huge haul.

“That’s true, but… when you actually try to redeem these bonds, the bank will definitely notice, right?” Xiaomei expressed a different opinion. “These people don’t have proper jobs, so why would they hold so many bearer bonds… and the like? One or two is fine, but if they redeem so many together, it’s hard to guarantee that something won’t be discovered.”

In other words, selling stolen goods also takes time.

"Let the lawyer worry about how to convert it into money; he'll definitely have a way." Zhang Renfeng lifted the entire safe and poured out the thick books inside one by one, smashing them on the ground. "Compared to that, I'm more curious about what's written in these huge books."

“It might be a menu. I heard it’s Anna Katzburg’s menu…” Igor told a lame joke, casually flipping open a book, but his pupils instinctively contracted sharply, and the rest of his sentence was abruptly cut off in his throat.

What's wrong with Anna Katzburg's recipes?

Nobody cares.

Everyone was shocked by the densely packed words on the notebook.

"What the hell is this?" Zhang Renfeng muttered. "Is it because I'm a foreigner that I can't understand a single word?"

"No, I also..." Alana hesitated, "Xiaomei?"

The usually quick-witted girl shook her head, indicating that she had no clue.

Judging from the content, it's just a combination of uppercase letters and numbers. It's amazing that such a large sheet of paper could be completely filled with writing!

“This can’t be exchanged for money, can it?” Alana flipped through a few more books. Having grown up in a gang, she didn’t know many words and couldn’t understand them. Naturally, she quickly lost interest and tossed them aside. “They’re heavy and thick. I’ll just take the checkbook.”

Xiaomei flipped through the book page by page, her brows furrowed, racking her brains, but she couldn't come up with a solution.

Just like a painter, no matter how skilled they are at painting, they cannot use knowledge they have never encountered before. No matter how intelligent she is, she cannot know any field of knowledge she has never touched before. In her eyes, these huge books are truly heavenly books.

However, one thing is certain.

"Since it was kept in the safe along with the checkbook, it must be something very important to Cheddar, right?"

Zhang Renfeng made a decision: "Take them all! It doesn't matter if you can't understand them for now. These are all handwritten copies. As long as they don't fall into Chaider's hands, that'll be enough to give him a hard time."

"It's just a few books, so I'll bring them along."

With the intention of thoroughly disgusting Cheder even if he couldn't understand them, Zhang Renfeng took all these large handwritten volumes and stuffed them into his saddlebag.

Xiao Mei's Tennessee trotter and Alana's foxtrot were not well-suited for carrying heavy loads. Mike and Zhang Renfeng's horses took on the task. With a total of seven books, plus bearer bonds and other items found in the carriages, the trip was quite fruitful.

But once you step out of the train carriage, another problem arises.

The engineers, the driver, and two trembling employees were all bound hand and foot, blindfolded, and left outside the carriage.

“Believe me, Red Center, there are only two possibilities when you rob a train.” Mike’s hand was already on the revolver, and he said in a deep voice, “The first is to succeed, the second is to leave a witness.”

“We’re all wearing masks.” Zhang Renfeng touched the face mask on his face.

“Voice, height, gender, clothing, what kind of gun they used… all of these have been witnessed. Following these details will easily lead us to them,” Mike said in a deep voice. “If you want to eliminate any future threats, this is the best way.”

Chapter 105: I want everyone to know that I did this!

The only ones who can truly keep secrets are the dead; Zhang Renfeng knew this all too well, without Mike needing to remind him.

However, what truly troubled him was not simply the question of whether to kill or not, but a deeper issue.

"What do you think?" He suddenly turned around and, unusually, asked for other people's opinions.

"Hmm? Hmm..." Xiaomei suddenly met his gaze, hesitated for a moment, as if she had gone through a great internal struggle, and finally said in a low voice, "I'm sorry, Mr. Hongzhong, I think... Mr. Mike makes a lot of sense."

“From a rational perspective, after this train returned, so much stuff was lost and so many people died. It’s easy to imagine that Cheder won’t let it go. These survivors will become their weak point, and they may face endless coercion and bribery. No matter how good their promises sound now, it’s only a matter of time before they betray us. Cheder has plenty of money; he doesn’t need much, even just $500 would be enough to bribe many people.”

The number $500 seems to have always been a scar in the young girl's heart. When it unconsciously slipped from her lips, Xiaomei's eyes visibly dimmed.

His father resisted the temptation of $500, but looking at the whole of Windblown Sands, there was only one Barry Marston.

There's not even a need for coercion; from a human nature perspective, "incentives" are enough.

“They didn’t see our faces, but they could still provide a lot of useful information. To the Pinkerton detectives, these clues were like the smell of blood, guiding them forward. The more clues they pieced together, the deeper their understanding of us became, and naturally, the more dangerous it was for the Red Center gang.”

"It's better to nip all of this in the bud!"

"Hmm." Zhang Renfeng nodded, giving a very calm "hmm," revealing nothing about his attitude.

He turned his gaze to Alana.

"Huh?" Alana's expression changed, and she twirled a few strands of golden hair in her hair, looking troubled. "Do we have to talk to them one by one? You guys can decide these things. I'm not very good at this kind of thing..."

“It’s okay, we’re a team now. I want to hear what you all think,” Zhang Renfeng insisted. “Just say what you think.”

Alana hesitated slightly, stammered for a moment, and finally spoke, "I think Mike and May are both right, but..."

“That’s how Tuku is. He kills people indiscriminately, without asking why or leaving any survivors. His reasons are pretty much the same: as long as all the witnesses are killed, no one will know that he did it or what he did.”

Alana's tone was conflicted, and her expression was quite troubled. Compared to Xiaomei, she was more emotional and couldn't see things so clearly. "Chedel's men opened fire on us. It's either them or us, so we can't be lenient. We have to kill them! But these people..."

After a long silence, she shook her head. "I don't know what to say anymore. You can decide for yourselves!"

……

"Don't look at me." Realizing the silence, Igor waved his hand with a smile. "In the end, I'm not one of you. I'm just a dwarf juggling in a circus. What grand principles could I possibly know? Whether you kill me or let me go, it's an internal matter for your gang. I'm an outsider and have no say in it."

“You were involved in this too, my friend.” Zhang Renfeng’s tone was very sincere. Looking into his eyes, he said in a deep voice, “Even if you’re an outsider, I want to hear your opinion.”

“I’m just a dwarf, nobody cares what dwarfs think. They treat me like a talking animal, and if I don’t do what they want, they yell at me and beat me.” Igor’s tone suddenly changed, “...You’re the only exception.”

"You saved me, and you also saved those captured slaves. Although I don't know how things went afterward, it's clear that you were the one who sent them down the mountain. Their original fates will be completely changed because of this, but you won't get a single penny out of it."

Igor raised his disproportionately large head to meet his gaze and asked, "Why? Why do something that brings no benefit?"

"If you're just an ordinary bandit, then there's nothing to say, just kill him. It doesn't matter who you kill, it's all the same."

“But… if you are ‘Red Center,’ the one who rescued me from the den of thieves, the one who gave new life to those poor slaves who had reached the end of their road, then perhaps you shouldn’t have killed them. Perhaps you are not just an ordinary bandit.”

……

Zhang Renfeng was stunned by these words. During their previous journey together, he had a vague feeling that this dwarf was no ordinary person, but what he was saying now was far more profound than he had expected. In just a few words, he had seen through the essential problem that was troubling him.

So, what kind of gang does the so-called "Red Center Gang" want to become?

Mei and Alana had nowhere to go and would have to wander around with him for a long time. As for Mike... it was said before that after hijacking a train, they would go their separate ways and be even, but after several operations, his bounty also increased, and he ended up on Chedel's kill list.

Leaving the gang and acting alone before Cheder is physically eliminated is definitely not a good choice. Sticking together is the better way to avoid the open and covert attacks of bounty hunters and pursuers. It's foreseeable that he'll likely remain with him for some time.

As the saying goes, three make a gang, four make a group, and with the addition of the lawyer Jimmy, there are five of them, making a respectable gang.

Since it's called the Red Center Gang, it means he has the responsibility and obligation to lead these people to survive in this chaotic and wild Western world. Going it by shoddy steps won't work; he needs a clear direction.

This decision is the first step towards a different world.

"...I understand, thank you for your suggestions, everyone does." After a moment's thought, Zhang Renfeng nodded and made his decision. "Leave this to me, you can go back now."

"No matter the outcome, I will handle it well."

----

As the sound of galloping horses faded into the distance, the train driver felt a huge weight lifted from his shoulders—after being bound for so long, it was finally over. He felt that even breathing for another second would be torture. Kill him or release him, just give him a quick death!

But when Zhang Renfeng actually removed the white cloth covering his eyes, he shuddered and quickly closed his eyes tightly, struggling and screaming, "No—! No, no, no! I know the rules, I can't live if I see your face!"

"What's your last name?"

“Thomas…”

“Mr. Thomas,” Zhang Renfeng said in a deep voice, “look at me.”

"no no……"

"Look at me!" He slapped Thomas on the shoulder, startling him into opening his eyes.

"I...I won't say anything, I won't say anything!"

“I won’t kill you, nor will I kill the rest of the people. You will still drive this half of the train back as before. Chedel will definitely ask you who hijacked the train. You must tell him honestly… it was me. Tell him everything you’ve seen. And answer other people, like the newspaper staff, who come to interview you truthfully as well.”

A sinister smile crept across Zhang Renfeng's lips as he said in a deep voice, "I want everyone in New Austin and New Elizabeth to know that it was Red China who stole Ryan Childer's train!"

Chapter 106: Dividing Gold and Silver with a Large Scale

Baiju Town.

Cactus Tavern.

Compared to the windswept, sandy tavern, this place is far more "upscale." Despite its name, it boasts spotless wooden floors, beams, and walls, all worn smooth by time, displaying varying shades of color.

The walls are adorned with the heads of prey, and in the gaps are popular oil paintings depicting scenes of Western cowboy life.

The bar counter is made of heavy logs, displaying a variety of bottles. Behind the counter, dozens of wooden barrels, bound by iron chains, steadily support the brewer's hard work. The ruggedness of industry and the simplicity of nature create a wonderful balance in this small space.

A man who exuded suspicion from head to toe, wearing a thick padded jacket, a cowboy hat that seemed out of place on him, and carrying a satchel, stepped into the store.

His mind was like it had some kind of mechanism, constantly turning around, as if he wanted to look at everyone who came to drink here. Finally, he found the person he was looking for, quickly walked over, but instead of sitting at his table, he deliberately pulled out the chair next to him and sat down back to back.

"..." Zhang Renfeng was speechless. He stood up and sat down opposite him. "What are you doing?"

"Uh... Shh!!" Jimmy first gestured for him to be quiet, then furtively looked around. "And you're talking about me? There's a $7000 bounty on your head here! I deliberately didn't sit at the same table as you to avoid being recognized. Hurry up and sit back down!"

“Calm down. It’s been a long time. Most people here probably don’t even know what skin color I am.” Zhang Renfeng leaned back in his chair leisurely. “On the contrary, you’re so nervous that even people who are fine with you will give you a second look.”

"Relax, have a few sips of what you ordered..."

"Martini." Jimmy picked up his glass, took a sip, and realized that the pubs in this big city were different; they even had fresh ice on hand. This drink had a few pieces of crushed ice in it.

After taking a sip, Jimmy did calm down a bit and accepted the fact that he was sitting at the same table as a fugitive with a 7000 bounty.

"The matter you asked me to handle is done." Jimmy placed his bag on the table, lowered his voice, but couldn't hide the joy in his eyes. "Boss Red, you did a fantastic job! I heard that the night he received the news, Chedell was furious, the worst he'd ever been, even more so than when his son died. There was supposed to be a meeting with Mayor Wendigo of White Torch that day, but everything was postponed."

"However, after this incident, I didn't dare to distribute the bonds you gave me all at once. I have a friend in the banking industry who has a great need for bonds, so I sold some to him first. $5000 is all in this bag."

Jimmy patted his satchel, which made two solid thuds, a testament to the reassuring weight of the US dollars. "There are still about half of the bearer bonds left. I plan to sell them off in batches after things calm down."

The total came to approximately ten thousand dollars, more than Mike had anticipated. It's fair to say that the Red Center Gang's starting point already surpassed that of most gangs. For example, the Wolf Pack gang on Sparrow Hills, after more than eight years, had only accumulated a little over a thousand dollars – the stark contrast is striking.

Zhang Renfeng stared at the handbag for a while, seemingly not concerned about the money, but rather pondering something else. After a long while, he asked, "What about your share?"

"I?"

Jimmy was filled with anxiety for a while, not expecting the other party to ask such a question. He was stunned for a long time. Then he remembered that all the promises he and Hongzhong made were only verbal and had no written documents to prove them.

He had laundered so much money for the Thunder Gang, doing countless things that skirted the edge of the law, yet Chadwick hadn't given him a single cent. This feeling of "taking on huge legal risks without receiving an equivalent reward" disgusted Jimmy. The sly Jimmy wasn't known for nothing; he was always the one swindling others, how could he tolerate others swindling him?!

In addition, the wrathful and irritable nature of Tuku from the Thunder Gang made him afraid to quit, fearing that if he quit today, the Thunder Gang would come knocking on his door tomorrow.

These guys wouldn't understand what "resignation" means. In their eyes, if you work for them for a day, you have to keep working for them, otherwise you're a traitor. The gangs' methods of executing traitors are all terrifying in their own way, and Jimmy doesn't want to experience any of them.

After Tuku's death, he immediately seized the opportunity and clung to Red's coattails. He wasn't after anything else, just someone to have a backer in a pinch. After all, when a knife is to your throat, the law is just a worthless piece of paper. Though they called themselves "partners," Jimmy subconsciously never intended to get a share of the profits.

Seeing that he didn't speak for a long time, Zhang Renfeng took the initiative to ask, "What are your standards for taking this kind of job?"

"Um, I..." Jimmy's nimble tongue seemed to be tied in knots. Saying too much or too little didn't feel right, and he couldn't grasp the other party's psychology. So he gritted his teeth and told the truth, "As long as there is no defense process, if there is income, we charge a 10% consultation fee."

Zhang Renfeng calmly said, "Ten percent? That's too little. Without your information, this money wouldn't even reach the table. Let's split it 70/30. From now on, all the jobs you bring in will be split according to this standard."

"??!"

Upon hearing the profit-sharing ratio, even the seasoned veteran Jimmy couldn't help but gape, looking utterly astonished, his mouth agape.

Being able to go toe-to-toe with the gangsters' magic was a feat he never dared to dream of.

For him, 30% of this income, $1500, was an enormous sum of money that seemed to come out of nowhere.

"Isn't that a bit much?" Jimmy waved his hand politely, "I didn't really put in much effort, so taking 30% isn't right, is it? After all, it's your people who have to fight for the train..."

Zhang Renfeng waved his hand, not to refuse, but to indicate that he didn't need to say anything more.