Dual wielding volcanoes, killing through the west

"In ancient times, there was a fierce man in our country named Xiang Yu. He was strong enough to lift a cauldron and could kill a hundred people as easily as playing with them. He conquered cities and territories and won countless battles with fewer troops, earning him the title of Overlord. He was invincible throughout the world, but he gradually lost the war and was eventually forced to commit suicide at the Wujiang River."

"It is said that he was very considerate of his soldiers, and would ask them about their well-being if they had any minor disagreements. But when it came to distributing money and power, he would polish the official seal of office in his hand until it was smooth, and he would not give it to anyone else."

As he slowly recounted the story of his country, Zhang Renfeng bent his fingers and tapped the table twice, then chuckled, "Your specialty isn't risking your life, it's selling intelligence. Those risky jobs are done by gangs. We just need to do our own jobs well."

“By the way, speaking of this…?” Zhang Renfeng took out a piece of paper and handed it to Jimmy. It was filled with a combination of capital letters and numbers, which left the latter looking confused.

"what is this?"

“I don’t know. We found seven notebooks in Cheder’s carriage. They were all very thick and filled with this combination of letters and numbers,” Zhang Renfeng explained. “The one you have here was handwritten by Xiaomei. I have a feeling there’s something hidden in it.”

"If you have time, go and ask around for me."

Chapter 107: Thirty thousand, thirty thousand will be enough to live a worry-free life.

After the train robbery, Ryan Childer was furious, and news of Red Center's renewed feud with the business tycoon spread like wildfire throughout every tavern in New Orleans.

All the reports only focused on the train hijacking itself, while Cheder seemed unwilling to let the public know the amount of money lost or what specific items were stolen.

Only after this heist was completed did everyone realize how wrong their predictions were. They thought he was still operating near New Elizabeth, but little did they know that the Red Center gang had already crossed the border between the two states and even had the energy to pull off another big operation.

However, for Cheddar, who was usually very meticulous about losing even a single penny, this time he appeared remarkably magnanimous. Unlike in the Windblown Sands incident, he didn't gather a large group of Pinkerton detectives to retaliate. Instead, he chose to be angry but ignore Red's provocation, leaving the onlookers somewhat puzzled.

Perhaps... the amount of money he was robbed of was nothing to him, not worth worrying about.

But if that's the case, was his undisguised anger fake?

Zhang Renfeng, however, had foreseen this early on: his banking business was about to begin, and he was about to take his first step on a new track of making money.

At this point, if he were to openly mobilize his private army in Baiju Town, it might frighten his partners and even damage the bank's reputation. Capitalists are pragmatic; the stolen money is certainly gone, and at the very least, they can't afford to jeopardize their future profits.

Moreover, this wasn't Fengchuisha, where he made his fortune, but Baiju Town, a thousand miles away. It was hard to say whether he still held the same absolute power as a local tyrant in this town. Even if he were to spare the trouble of dealing with me, it would have to wait until his banking business was on track and could bring him stable income.

With the major client silenced, the Pinkerton detectives naturally ceased their operations and showed no intention of coming over for the time being. Their actions often served as a bellwether for bounty hunters; seeing that this group was inactive, several large bounty hunter groups also temporarily adopted a strategy of holding back.

No one came to disturb them, and they didn't even need to change the location of the campsite; it remained on the shore of Lake Annabelle.

Seeing the smoke rising from the campsite from afar, Zhang Renfeng felt a strange sense of security. Although there weren't many people in the camp, he felt a sense of peace, like being back home. After staying here for so many days, he had become accustomed to everything here, including the bitter cold rising from the frozen lake.

"Unfortunately, we never saw the white Arabian horse that Barbara mentioned, the one that roosted by the lake..."

……

Mike chiseled a hole in the frozen surface of Lake Annabelle, moved a rock, and sat down to fish. There was a campfire next to him, and two cups of freshly brewed coffee were placed around him to keep warm. With his thick winter coat, he was no longer afraid of the cold.

It's less about fishing and more about killing time by the lake and relaxing with your eyes closed.

After dismounting, Zhang Renfeng brushed the snow off his body and sat down beside him, gazing together at the vast white lake.

White Torch Town is quite a distance from the Snowfall Mountains. The mountain roads are winding and the temperatures are frigid, which is why most solo bounty hunters hesitate to venture there. Most people lack the courage to challenge this snow-capped mountain alone.

However, the round trip took up most of the day. But, touching the bulging bag, all the hard work was worth it.

He pulled a cigar from his bag and handed it to Mike, who naturally took it and put it in his mouth. After lighting it, Mike seemed to be overwhelmed by the spicy and pungent stuff, choking a couple of times, taking a big gulp of coffee, and complaining, "No matter how many times I try it, it's unbelievable. It's really baffling that rich people like this stuff."

What was seized from the luxury carriages were not only bonds, but also many luxurious daily necessities—food, drinks, and other items, all of them top-notch. Zhang Renfeng accepted them all without hesitation.

However, after actually trying it, I realized that more luxurious isn't always better. Luxurious luxury items are mostly for public places, giving people a sense of "I'm the boss" social value. But in this desolate wilderness, with only five of them alive, who are they socializing for?

How was the harvest?

"More than expected, ten thousand dollars."

"..." Upon hearing this number, Mike was unusually silent for a moment, rubbed his hands together, took a big drag on his cigar, and exhaled the smoke with a sense of satisfaction.

This bite was enough for him to taste something.

“He sold them in batches, about half of them were sold. The first batch was $5000. I gave him 30%, and we split the remaining 70% among ourselves.”

"Seventy-three split, same old rule, fine." Mike's expression was calm, as if he had expected this. "You're the boss, you decide."

Do you have any other suggestions?

"About splitting the money? Yes. Once the rules are set, they must be followed to the end. If we're going to split it, then everyone who participated should split it equally. Don't do that nonsense like 'I contributed more, so I get more; you contributed less, so you get less.' Trust me, if you do that, the gang will fall apart in no time."

Mike was imparting all his experience to Zhang Renfeng: "Even if someone messes things up, as long as they get the money in the end, they should still get their share. 'Contribution' is a very subjective thing. This is a gang, not a workplace. We can't assess members' performance."

"Everyone makes mistakes, including you and me. That's why a team exists for those kinds of times."

"I understand." Zhang Renfeng nodded. "Then let's do it your way, seven hundred each. We'll split the rest of the money after Jimmy finishes selling the goods."

"..."

After discussing the division of money, the two tacitly remained silent, staring at the lake for a while.

They knew very well that this was just an appetizer, and the main event was yet to come. Therefore, they used the silent snow scene to create a suitable atmosphere for opening their mouths.

"I said before, if we rob the train, let's just go our separate ways, okay?"

"Yes," Zhang Renfeng nodded.

"Later, a series of things happened, and as time passed, the situation changed. Both I and this little girl were put on high bounties. The bonds were sold, and all that came into my hands was only $1400, which was even higher than my bounty."

"I can't accept a profit of only $1400 if I take such a huge risk."

Zhang Renfeng didn't interrupt, but simply watched him quietly, acting as a perfect listener.

“$1400 can last a long time, but not long enough. I have a granddaughter to raise, in White Torch, and I haven’t been back to see her in a long time. Hmm… I had the little girl calculate for me what expenses I might need later, ha, all according to the standards of the wealthy. I also hope that when she grows up, she can have the best life…”

When talking about his granddaughter, Mike's expression softened slightly, and his eyes drooped, as if he had become a kind elder.

"Thirty thousand, thirty thousand US dollars, that should be enough to live comfortably for the rest of my life."

He cast his fishing rod, pulled the hooked fish ashore, and said, "I'll quit once I've made 30,000. Until then..."

"Thank you for your guidance, Red Center."

Chapter 108: New Year's Eve

This dinner was arguably the best meal the Hongzhong Gang had ever had since its inception; even the freezing weather made the environment seem lovely.

When Ego served the final dish, symbolizing cowboy style—wild-flavored cave-dwelling roast meat—the aroma alone was enough to whet anyone's appetite and make their mouths water.

Ever since Zhang Renfeng made the request to "hold a banquet," Igor has been busy at the camp all day long, almost without stopping.

Considering the appetites of five people, including two growing young adults, he needed to prepare some substantial dishes, and his answer was a feast mainly featuring beef. The same ingredients, prepared in different ways, could produce such a dramatic difference.

Incidentally, this yak was hunted by Mike and was purely "wild game." It took a long time just to skin and butcher it.

“Cave-roasted meat…” Mike brought the plate to his big nose, took a deep breath like he was smoking tobacco, and exclaimed, “It’s amazing that food roasted can have such a flavor. It’s incredible.”

"The key is the seasoning. If you get the seasoning right, all roasted beef will smell just as good." Igor didn't hold back, sharing his secret recipe with everyone as he served the dishes. "Minced garlic, minced onion, crushed dried chili peppers, salt, brown sugar, pepper, apple cider vinegar, and a little Worcestershire sauce. Mix them together and marinate the beef in it. Then take it out and put it on the charcoal to roast with the chili peppers."

"The beef grilled this way is thickly sliced, juicy, and flavorful, not just has a burnt charcoal taste. One bite..."

"It's so spicy!" Out of curiosity, Alana tried taking a bite and almost jumped up, her face turning bright red from the spiciness.

"This way of eating it with chili peppers is typical Mexican style, right?" Mike also took a bite of the cave-style grilled meat. "Where are you from, anyway?"

"I've traveled all over the country for so long, I can't remember anymore. Maybe I've been everywhere." Igor gestured with his hand. "You guys eat more, it was hard to make this."

Besides roasting meat in the cave, he also cut the oxtail into chunks and simmered it into a rich and flavorful oxtail soup. It can be said that he has made use of almost every edible part of the cow that can be cooked in a short time.

A bowl of refreshing pecans mixed with crumbled cheese.

The pumpkin is cooked with spices and has a thick, sticky texture and a sweet aroma.

The butter-baked quail, a work of art in itself, is seasoned simply with black pepper and salt, but the butter gives the quail an enticing sheen, whetting the appetite. In addition, Igor stuffs sliced ​​apples inside the quail, their fragrance mingling with the meaty aroma. Though small in portion, it's a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate—a perfect appetizer.

Of course, when it comes to camping in the wild, stew is indispensable. Igo's stew is different from that of the Mini Traveler's Shop, with its own unique flavor, which seems rather ordinary compared to the many other specialties he makes. Mainly, it's to ensure they have a place to have an extra meal in case they don't have enough to eat.

Zhang Renfeng looked somewhat dazed, as if the figures of his companions in front of him briefly overlapped with those in his memory.

Alone in a foreign land, a stranger in a strange place, I yearn for home all the more during festivals—Zhang Renfeng, by nature fond of adventure, found himself surrounded by unfamiliar people and things in a foreign land, which was quite exciting. He simply felt that writers had exaggerated the so-called homesickness.

Only now did he truly understand how heavy the weight of the words "leaving one's hometown" really was.

“Today…” Zhang Renfeng hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to speak, but as soon as he uttered those two words, his companions put down their bowls and turned to look at him, adopting a posture of attentive listening. It seemed that not speaking further would not work either.

"In my hometown, today is the last day of the year, which is New Year's Eve. On this day, every household prepares a table of good food, even if they have not eaten meat all year. They will make an exception during these few days of the New Year."

"Tonight's dinner is called the New Year's Eve dinner, a time for the whole family to gather and celebrate. Wealthy families will put up Spring Festival couplets, hang lanterns, and set off firecrackers. At the village entrance, they will invite people to perform operas, which adults and children alike love to watch. The operas will run from the first day of the Lunar New Year until the seventh day!"

"On the second day of the Lunar New Year, we worship the God of Wealth, visit relatives and friends, and pay New Year's visits to other people's homes. I remember there were also..."

……

At this point, Zhang Renfeng's tone became somewhat complicated, and he abruptly stopped.

He found that no matter how he described it, he couldn't find a suitable adjective to express even a tenth of the passionate atmosphere he experienced in his hometown.

Firecrackers, firecrackers, the drumming and gonging of the opera troupe, and the laughter and playfulness of innocent children all swirled in his mind before being blown away by the cold wind.

"As is customary, we give the kids lucky money tonight. But... since you've all joined the gang, I won't treat you like kids anymore."

Zhang Renfeng stopped dwelling on the past, took out a bundle of US dollars he had prepared earlier from his bag, and tossed it to Xiaomei and Alana.

The two girls had never seen so much money before, and they were so stunned that they stopped chewing.

“It will be the same going forward. The work that the lawyer takes in will be split 70/30. We will then divide the remaining 70% among ourselves, with everyone involved in the operation receiving a share,” Zhang Renfeng explained. “The first batch of bearer bonds was sold, generating $5000 in revenue. After deducting the lawyer’s share, each of the five of us will receive $700. The remaining half will be given to us after he sells them.”

Igor's eyes darted around, and a look of surprise, which couldn't be faked, appeared on his face.

"wait for me……"

"Whether it was a fluke or a coincidence, we wouldn't have gotten this money if you hadn't tripped us up." Zhang Renfeng didn't bother to discuss it with him and simply stuffed a thick wad of banknotes into his hand. "Don't be polite with me. Whatever your plans are, keep it. You'll always need the money eventually."

"..."

Igor opened his mouth several times, but in the end he didn't say anything. Finally, he stopped talking, put away the thick stack of US dollars, and patted the snowflakes off his palm.

----

Eat and eat, drink and drink.

For everyone else, today was just another ordinary day, no different from any other. As soon as it got dark, they naturally went to bed early. Perhaps it was the effect of the dollars, but the two girls were too excited to sleep, especially Xiaomei, who felt a thrill of revenge at the thought that the money had been taken from Cheddar.

However, one cannot remain excited forever, and by the middle of the night, the two had fallen into a deep sleep.

……

Aren't you going to rest?

Zhang Renfeng heard the noise on the snow early in the morning. Without turning around, he just stared at the flickering campfire and yawned. "I'm going to stay up all night tonight. My head can't touch the pillow until midnight."

"Ha." Igor couldn't help but laugh, quickening his pace to his side. "Are all the people in your country night owls?"

"There's only one day like this all year round." Zhang Renfeng sighed, looking up at the sky where the stars twinkled, his thoughts drifting far away. "And you?"

“It must be that cup of coffee.” Igor shrugged. “I used some cocoa beans I found on the train to brew a pot, and just a tiny sip has kept me energized until now. This stuff is really good at refreshing the mind; I’ll use it next time I have a task that requires me to stay up all night.”

……

After a moment of silence, Zhang Renfeng spoke up, "What are your plans next?"

Chapter 109: You really did see it, such a distant future!

Upon hearing this question, Igor's expression changed, and the smile on his face faded.

“If you have nowhere else to go, why not come with me?” Zhang Renfeng lay down, gazing at the dense starry sky, and said, “With an experienced person by my side to keep things in order, I can feel more at ease when I’m out here.”

……

"Ha, you're something else." Now that things were out in the open, Ego didn't pretend to be coy anymore. He shook his unusually large head and gave a strange smile. "You've already started to doubt me, yet you still have to put on this show with me in the dead of night?"

“You are very smart, Igor, very smart.”

Zhang Renfeng's tone was very relaxed. Although he was full of praise, it didn't sound like he was complimenting him. It sounded more like he was calmly stating a fact. "But people in the wolf's den won't like a dwarf who is too smart. You can't stop bullets with just your intelligence. So, you played the role of a stupid and slow-witted clown, which perfectly matched their stereotype of you, and you survived to the end."

Igor squinted, listening intently as Zhang Renfeng deconstructed himself, a look of utter enjoyment on his face.

The moonlight shone on his exceptionally high nose bridge, making him look like a strange sculpture.

“Even after we came out of the wolf’s den, you never fully trusted us and always kept your abilities hidden, which is normal. You just escaped from one gang and immediately fell into another. Time was short, and you didn’t have time to judge whether we were good or bad. I can completely understand why you did that.”

"Ah……"

“You already know that I’ve been holding back from you. So everything I told you before—my age, background, name, and experiences—may be false.”

Igor's eyes held a hint of something indescribable, a touch of coldness, but mostly confusion. "Even so, you still insist on recruiting me? Why?"

“It’s normal to hold back some things. You wouldn’t believe it if I told you… I still don’t know Mike’s real name.” At this point, Zhang Renfeng couldn’t help but laugh. “He has never mentioned it. I never asked what he did in the past. The two of us were just temporary partners in Fengchuishan, and we’ve gotten to where we are now without really knowing each other.”