Dual wielding volcanoes, killing through the west

Pushing open the door, Marion was somewhat shocked. Could such a lavish decor really be associated with the concept of a hospital?

Several tall, burly men immediately surrounded them. The man in the lead had a fierce face and a face full of menacing features. He looked like someone not to be trifled with, and he had a black mole on his face.

Marion recognized the man; he was a notorious hoodlum in the vicinity of White Torch. He didn't have a proper job and spent most of his time at the Cactus Tavern, either gambling or drinking. He would take any job he could find when he was short of money, regardless of whether it was respectable or not. He was known as "Badger."

This guy had also tried to extort money from the Jade Theatre, threatening to throw cow dung onto the stage during a performance if they didn't pay. He didn't want to pay, but Oscar advised him to avoid trouble. Badger is stubborn, but he knows his limits; this time he accepted the money, which would keep the guy from bothering him for at least six months.

Marion naturally didn't have a pleasant look on his face when he saw this scoundrel. He considered himself a minor celebrity, and by no means would he associate with badgers.

However, if you go any further, you'll find a solid wall of people.

"What do you mean?" Marion was furious that a mere thug dared to stop her. "So you've switched to begging here?"

“I’m now an employee of Dean Chilton, responsible for the overall security of this hospital, as well as his personal security,” Badger asked methodically. “Do you have an appointment?”

"Ha, hahaha..." Marion laughed a few times, raising her voice, as if explaining to the onlookers, "No way? You're serious? You don't know him? He's just a thug!"

“Do you know who I am? I’ve ridden horses with Chilton Miria Harganda, you bastard, let me through!”

“Even sleeping with him last night didn’t work,” Badger sneered. “Without an appointment, you can’t see him. If you have an appointment, it’s simple. Show me the reply, then go over there and wait. Master Chilton will see patients after nine o’clock, according to the order of appointments.”

Being blocked at the door by a thug made his face turn pale and then red, especially with people watching, he couldn't help but lash out.

“Listen, you bastard, I…”

The badger, however, lost interest and waved his hand, "Get him out of here."

Two burly guards rushed over, grabbed his arms, and were about to clear him out like trash.

"Wait, wait! What are you doing?! I'm the dean's partner, we have business dealings, we..."

……

"What are you doing so early in the morning?" A rather authoritative voice came from behind. Badger quickly waved his hand, signaling the guards to stop.

"Dean, this person didn't make an appointment and tried to force his way in," Badger said in a deep voice. "According to what you told me, I'm trying to get rid of him."

Chilton was wearing a purplish-red suit without a tie, which hung loosely on his body. Beside him was a woman with a good figure, who looked to be no more than twenty years old, quite young. Her clothes were disheveled, and her eyes were somewhat dazed. She just let him put his arm around her waist, without moving, staring at the wall in the distance.

Chilton pulled his glasses down slightly and stared at Marion for a long time, until the fawning smile on his face became somewhat stiff.

"Oh! I knew it, it looked familiar." After a long pause, he finally admitted it, laughing heartily, "It's that theater owner, right? The Emerald Theater that I invested in?"

“Yes, yes, yes, it’s me.” Marion nodded repeatedly, like a chicken pecking at rice. “Thanks to you, the theater business has been doing well. I was just thinking of sending you this month’s share of the profits.”

“Okay.” Chilton nodded, took out a cigar, cut it, and put it in his mouth. He kicked the woman next to him in the butt, and she seemed to wake up from a dream, lighting his cigarette for him. “Leave the money, you can go now. Next time, just give the stuff to Badger directly.”

"..."

Marion's expression suddenly became incredibly comical.

"Hahahaha—" Chilton seemed to want to see that expression on his face, laughing heartily and patting him on the shoulder. "Seriously? I was just kidding! Come on in, my partner! Badger, remember this face, don't stop him from coming again!"

"Just remember to come in the afternoon if you want to see me in the future."

Chilton's tone suddenly turned cold. "You mean, early in the morning... many patients' 'family members' are still resting. If you bump into them, and they bump into you, how embarrassing would that be, wouldn't it?"

"Snapped!"

He slapped the woman's head hard, like a shepherd driving away stray lambs, and scolded, "What are you standing there for? Go, quickly change into your hospital gown and go for a run with them!"

……

Along the way, Marion occasionally encountered a few so-called "patients' family members," and only then did she understand what he meant.

You can see several familiar faces in the courts, prosecutors, and police stations.

You are in me, and I am in you; that's the beauty of the world.

----

The newspaper was spread out on the table. Chilton glanced at it briefly and smiled, "It's well written. I was quite moved when I read it."

"What should we do? The newspaper has already been sent out, and everyone in Baiju Town knows that the little girl is going to hold an exhibition."

Chilton's tone was somewhat amused. "Although the newspapers didn't mention the cause of his death, they clearly stated that this was Theonado's farewell exhibition. Once the show starts, he'll be all over White Torch. Everyone will know that the Australian shrike visited your little theater and left its antlers and carcass on the stage."

"What do you think we should do?"

……

“Dean Chilton, look—'a fallen noblewoman,' who happens to be a stunning young beauty, that gimmick should attract quite a few people, right?” Marion chuckled, then added, “But that guy has recently had a yellow-skinned bastard by his side…”

“He’s just a bounty hunter, what’s so special about him?” Chilton sneered.

"You knew all along?" Marion was astonished.

“If I weren’t as well-informed as you, would I be able to do this?” Chilton retorted. “Don’t worry, I’ve taken care of everything.”

“There are plenty of ways to deal with an outsider.”

Chapter 142: Three Things I Want to Tell You (Part 42)

Looking at herself in the mirror, Alana felt like crying. For a moment, she felt like a doll who could be dressed up at will, being held in the palm of the young lady's hand and played with in a dress-up game.

“It fits you perfectly, Miss Morgan.” Evelyn straightened the hem of her tailcoat, her voice tinged with a smile. “You look great in British style; there was a short hair trend there for a while.”

Alana's blonde hair was extremely stiff and couldn't be bent down with a comb, so Evelyn gave up and simply let it hang there, which actually made her look even more energetic.

“These are men’s clothes.” Alana was very resistant to them. The suit and trousers made her look like a city person, but they were not very convenient for movement. She complained, “Wearing these close-fitting clothes, I have nowhere to put my weapons. If something happens, I will be at a disadvantage.”

“We’re going to the pawn shop today, and we’ll be in a public place the whole time, so there won’t be any danger.” Evelyn put her hands around her neck and helped her tie her tie, saying softly, “Even an Australian shrike wouldn’t kill someone in public, would it?”

"Uh... sigh..."

Alana sighed, wanting to explain, but feeling a deep sense of powerlessness; she and this young lady were clearly from different worlds.

"Why do these kinds of tasks always end up falling on my shoulders?" After sighing, Alana said with a serious expression, "Listen, madam. The situation outside is far more complicated than you see. Besides, you're so beautiful and a fallen noblewoman. You're practically meat delivered right to my mouth. I'd be doing myself a disservice if I didn't take a bite."

"My advice is, after this funeral is over, don't hesitate, leave as soon as possible!"

“Go? But…where can we go?” Evelyn’s tone was hesitant, her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, making her look incredibly pitiful. “I was born and raised in this town, and I’ve never been anywhere else.”

Alana sighed, her tone filled with disappointment. "You can go anywhere, as long as there's a theater. You can still make money as an actress, right? Just don't go here. Did you see the look in their eyes? They practically want to devour you whole."

……

Walking down the street, it's hard to hide your personal style.

Evelyn's upright posture allowed her to be recognized even when she was dressed in inconspicuous clothes and her face was covered by a black veil.

Her back injury hadn't fully healed, so she couldn't walk too fast. She could only move slowly, which actually made her more in line with people's stereotypical image of a noblewoman. As she passed by, people could be heard whispering among themselves, and no one even carried her on their backs.

Evelyn was used to this; it was something she had endured almost every day for as long as she could remember.

Alana's presence intensified their discussions, as her attire resembled that of a handsome young man, and her presence alongside Evelyn sparked suggestive thoughts.

The news of Theonado's death has spread like wildfire throughout White Torch. With his passing, the last man of the Dietersdorf family is gone, leaving only a beautiful 17-year-old girl in the once-illustrious Muse family.

Many people are agitated by this.

----

"Hmm, hmm, this is... a peacock sapphire brooch. As expected of Miss Dietersdorf, she either doesn't make a move at all, or when she does, it's such a generous gift."

Inside the pawn shop, a man with a small mustache was examining Evelyn's brooch closely with a magnifying glass, his eyes revealing greed.

Holding an exhibition requires money, and right now, Evelyn's savings aren't enough to rent out the entire Hall of Light. Reluctantly, she had to pawn the jewelry her mother had left her; thankfully, she had no attachment to these inanimate objects. Seeing them always brought back memories of her mother's disapproving frown and her father's indifferent, numb expression.

The peacock holds a sapphire in its beak; it is exquisitely crafted and dazzlingly bright.

"Great stuff, but unfortunately... it's been stored for too long and there's a slight scratch on the surface, which might affect the price."

"Wear it worn out?" Evelyn asked, somewhat surprised. "I've always kept it in its box, and I've hardly ever worn it except for some important occasions."

"What you don't understand is that when it comes into contact with air, some of the metal oxidizes, blah blah blah, it's related to chemistry," the pawnshop man said with a smile, putting away his magnifying glass. "The original price was around $80, but I'll take a loss, considering how beautiful and charming you are, I'm willing to offer $120. What do you think?"

Evelyn was speechless. Whatever the price, why does it have to be based on her face? Is her face even worth $40?

She sighed, about to speak, when Alana silently moved a chair over. She dragged the chair legs on the ground, making a screeching sound.

It's said that one is influenced by one's company, and even though she wears a suit and dresses like a young English gentleman, the experiences of the past fourteen years cannot be easily erased. In essence, she is still that girl who lived with bandits in Scarface Village.

This trick of dragging the stool was something Tuku had also used on Zhang Renfeng and his group; Alana was subconsciously imitating him.

"Um, Ms. Dietersdorf?" The man was unsure what she wanted, wiping the sweat from his brow. "And this is..."

"boom!"

Alana slammed her legs on the counter and looked at him with the eyes of someone looking at trash; her aura was nothing like that of a 14-year-old girl.

Evelyn's brain completely shut down, which was related to her lack of social experience. Just as she had never met a man like Zhang Renfeng, she had never met a girl like Alana.

"I have three things to say, first..."

Alana pointed to herself, "I am a subordinate of Mule of the Thunder Fury Gang."

Even lying needs to evolve with the times. Didn't Zhang Renfeng say before that the Thunder Strike Gang is now run by someone called Mule? Since that's the case, let's borrow that name for now. Anyway, Mule will probably never find out.

Due to a series of unforeseen circumstances, she misspoke, placing herself a generation below Mule's; in reality, she should be considered Mule's colleague...

Regardless, the name of the Thunder Gang still carries significant weight in Auzhou. The shopkeeper frowned noticeably. A pawnshop, with its somewhat shady business nature, couldn't possibly avoid contact with gangs; clearly, he had heard of the Mule.

"Secondly, I do not accept the results of the previous appraisal. Please give me a new price."

"Thirdly, this is just a small suggestion from me. Before you speak again, you'd better think carefully about the consequences. That's all I have to say."

----

The man at the pawnshop stared at her for a long time, his face turning pale and then red, seemingly unable to believe that Evelyn would actually be involved with a gang.

After a long while, he turned from anger to laughter, gritted his teeth, and quoted the price again.

Chapter 143: Moths to a Flame (Part 43)

"I can't believe it, this is worth so much..." Evelyn was still immersed in the twist of fate as she left the store, her voice becoming excited. Then she regretted it, "If I had known this would happen, why didn't I pawn it sooner?"

"Honestly, it's all because you lack life experience that you got scammed. Such a huge sapphire, and he thinks he can just take it for $100? He might as well just rob it!" Alana complained. "My bottom line was $250, but he asked for $80. That kind of swindler should be shot!"

This is the advantage of having work experience; Alana now has a good grasp of the pricing for gold and silver jewelry.

Before Jimmy joined the gang, the Angry Thunder Gang sold most of their stolen goods on the black market. Since buyers and sellers on the black market are less transparent, prices are generally cheaper. Raising the black market price by about 30% brings it to roughly the price of a normal pawnshop.

To Alana's surprise, the pawnshop in the city was even more corrupt than the black market!

Perhaps seeing that Evelyn was childless and still a virgin, destined to be exploited sooner or later, he harbored wicked thoughts and decided to take advantage of her first.

It's foreseeable that as long as she stays in this town, such incidents will only increase.

"Selling this brooch for $300 is definitely good value. That should be enough to cover the cost of that exhibition, right?"

"Once the exhibition is over, you should leave as soon as possible. Go anywhere, just don't stay in this town."

“Hmm.” This time, Evelyn didn’t argue, but nodded. She felt a little defeated at being deceived to her face. “Miss Morgan…”

“Just call me Alana,” she said, arms crossed. “I feel a little nauseous when people call me ‘Miss’ or something.”

"Alana," Evelyn finally mustered her courage and asked, "Can I come with you?"

"Huh?!" Alana was silent for a while, making sure her ears were working properly, and looked at her with an expression that said, "Do you know what you're saying?"

“I have nowhere to go. After leaving White Torch Town, I don’t know where to go.”

Evelyn clutched the hem of her skirt, one of the few times she had been so incoherent in front of others. "I...I can't bear to see you leave...You've spent more time with me than my brothers and my parents!"

"Do you even know what we do?" Alana sighed, recalling her own state after the Thunder Fury Gang was wiped out. "We're bounty hunters, living a life where we don't know tomorrow."

“I don’t care if you’re a gang!” Evelyn said firmly. “As long as I can be with you, that’s all that matters.”

"..."

Alana was speechless for a moment. When she looked at Evelyn again, she saw a beautiful moth, drawn to the warmth of the fire, flying towards it.

"This isn't something I can decide, but we'll be staying in White Torch Town for a while." She sighed slightly. "You'll have to ask..."

----

The moment their eyes met, she instinctively sensed something was wrong. The tall man holding the newspaper wasn't looking at it, nor was he looking at Evelyn; he was looking at her, which was rather unusual.

Looking again, for some reason, a freight wagon was parked on the wide street, with several tall horses tethered to it.

"Wait, Evelyn, I..."

The next moment, several men by the roadside suddenly dropped what they were carrying, rushed over, and shoved a sack over Evelyn's head. They then grabbed her and, like throwing away some cargo, roughly tossed her into the hungry carriage!