Dual wielding volcanoes, killing through the west

"No." Zhang Renfeng patted his pocket and said with a troubled expression, "To be honest, those things have to be made on the spot, which is a lot of trouble. I only have five left. This morning the mayor was meeting with me, and I figured nothing would happen, so I didn't bring them with me."

“Very good. The process was all wrong, but the result was all right. There’s nothing to worry about.” Igor scooped a spoonful of soup into a small dish, tasted it to check the saltiness, and said, “Tomorrow, you will still go to White Torch Town as usual and do what you were doing.”

"From your description, Wendigo is a very intelligent man. A smart mayor knows exactly what's important."

----

Looking at the 25 bodies that he had finally managed to collect, Gordon's heart didn't just skip a beat, it pounded wildly.

At first glance, I was already shocked by the scene and didn't think much about it... Getting a person's tongue out is a technical job. The Australian Shrike has also taken human tongues a few times, and its method is much more delicate. It makes an incision in the neck to bleed the tongue out, and after the blood has flowed out, it makes a horizontal cut from the inside to cut off the tongue and take it away.

But looking at the wounds on these 25 people who died, they don't look like they were caused by a knife. It looks more like a punch piercing a person's throat, a finger sticking in, and then the tongue being pulled out!

In terms of explicit content, it's hard to say which is more brutal compared to the murder scene at the Shrike in Australia. Gordon just felt that Old Zhang's method of killing had a simple and brutal beauty; he didn't play any tricks or pretense. He would just do whatever he wanted to you.

“Don’t even mention 25 people, even 25 pigs would take a while to slaughter.” Wendigo stood at the scene, looking around without fear, a strange smile appearing on his face instead. “They handled it so cleanly. Did they cut out their tongues so that they would be unable to speak even in hell? Or do they think that deep down, they don’t have the right to speak?”

"What about the body on the electric chair? Who was it?"

“We checked, and it’s the doctors here who particularly advocate electrotherapy, which uses electric shocks to treat patients’ mental illnesses… It’s a common method at this hospital.”

Recalling the scene, Gordon frowned. "When they found him, the guy was sitting in a chair, and part of his body was charred. He was stuck to the chair, and we had to use a file to separate them completely."

"Does torturing someone with electricity mean they should die from the torment of electric current? Haha... Interesting, really interesting."

Wendigo murmured, "That man named Bruce Zhang really likes to use karma as a form of punishment."

"Only God can control cause and effect. Does he see himself as a God from another land?"

“Mayor Lecter, I’m sorry.” Gordon swallowed hard. “I brought this person in, and now that something like this has happened, I should take responsibility.”

“Take responsibility?” Wendigo retorted with a smile. “Sheriff Gordon, when did I say that someone needed to be held responsible for these people’s deaths?”

“Shouldn’t that be?!” Gordon’s eyes widened. “Excuse me for speaking frankly, Mayor, but among these 25 people, quite a few are judges, prosecutors, and police officers from this town… There are already quite a few whose identities have been verified. Now that they’ve all been killed, those connected to them and the forces involved certainly won’t let this go.”

“You’re right, Sheriff Gordon, anyway…”

Wendigo said meaningfully, "They can't 'speak' anymore either, can they?"

Chapter 148: Hey, I have a brilliant idea!

By the time Mike and Mei returned to the camp, it was completely dark.

In fact, Zhang Renfeng wasn't too worried about them. After all, Gordon and Mike still had a past working relationship.

Besides, to outsiders who didn't know the situation, he and Mike were just temporary colleagues, not someone who would be implicated. As for Xiao Mei, it was Mike who introduced her to Gordon, which meant that they had completely severed ties with each other in terms of their public identities.

They could have come back much earlier, but they stayed until so late to help Zhang Renfeng find out more information, including the police station's attitude towards his violent killing.

The news they brought was almost exactly what Igor had predicted.

"They turned that mental hospital upside down, only to find out it wasn't a hospital at all, it was a fucking brothel!"

Mike, who had been starving in town all day, ate the stew with gusto as he spoke, his voice filled with righteous indignation: "That guy named Chilton is actually the owner of a brothel. He hires a bunch of idle thugs to violently control the patients who are 'sent' here by various means. Many of them are like Evelyn, who were kidnapped on the street."

"To put it another way, this place is even worse than a brothel, because they don't pay you."

"As for his loyal customer base... you've seen it, it's the same group of guys you took out. Judges, district attorneys, White Torch Sheriff's Office, and some businessmen. Chilton used this hospital as a base to build his network. These people come in as patients' families, have no hindrance, come in at night and leave during the day, exchanging intelligence and interests together."

“Heh…haha…” Igor shook his head and laughed for no apparent reason, because he remembered that when he first arrived in White Torch Town, this guy seemed to have sent someone to deliver an invitation letter for a visit.

In order to gain more connections, he resorted to any means necessary, even daring to befriend members of the Thunder Fury Gang.

"Damn it!" Alana rubbed her bandaged head, which was still throbbing, and cursed angrily, "These people who look like humans are doing things that are not human!"

"It's pitiful that those who were arrested and brought in are mostly mentally challenged and can't explain themselves when asked questions."

"Those who disobey the rules in here are beaten. The men are beaten however they want, and several patients have been beaten to death during their stay. The women are slightly better off; at least they aren't hit in the face... If they still disobey, then that 'scientific machine' will be used."

Mike put a quotation mark on his finger and said with utter sarcasm, "As far as I know, it's just tying someone to an electrical wire and electrifying them. These days, technology has advanced by leaps and bounds. Torture is torture, but they even use this fancy new term... electrotherapy? Haha..."

"After being tortured like this a few times, anyone would become mentally impaired, their brain damaged by electricity. How could such a person possibly be in a good state?"

Mike sighed and said bitterly, "These bastards are very powerful when they're all in cahoots. If they call someone mentally ill, then that person is mentally ill."

“They just arrest people and then the family wants to sue, but the judges and district prosecutors have their own people in them, so they can’t win the case at all. Over time, they also come to believe that their family members do have mental illness and are indeed receiving treatment in regular medical institutions.”

As Zhang Renfeng listened, he inexplicably calmed down, because the things he needed to do next were clearly presented to him through Mike's narration.

"I'm going out for a bit, I'll be back tonight, you guys go to sleep first."

He dusted off his hands and suddenly stood up.

Everyone knew what he was going to do.

"Hey," Igor said in a casual tone, "have a couple of bites before you go."

"Don't worry, I'll be back soon, it won't be long," Zhang Renfeng said with a smile. "Leave me some food, okay?"

----

Inside the mansion.

Dean Chilton practically peeked through the crack in the door, eagerly awaiting the arrival of his distinguished guests. He hurriedly opened the door, his face beaming with smiles, bowing repeatedly. "Please, please come in! It is truly an honor...a great honor! Dinner is ready, please..."

“We’re not here for a meal, Chilton.” The leader narrowed his eyes and spoke with a firm tone. “Your current situation can’t be resolved by treating us to a meal.”

He made such firm statements as soon as he walked in, but Chilton knew in his heart that it was nothing more than a way to lower the price, like asking the supermarket owner if something could be cheaper. If he really wanted to distance himself from them, he wouldn't have come at this time.

In other words, once you've entered the door, it means there's room for negotiation, but you have to bleed a little.

It's just a matter of how much is given out.

"Of course, I've also prepared a generous gift for everyone... a five-figure sum, a number that I guarantee will satisfy you all."

Chilton stopped beating around the bush and went straight to the point. Sure enough, upon hearing that there was a five-figure sum to be split, the several gentlemen in suits stopped and exchanged glances.

"Well then, it's getting late. Please take your seats, Judge Brown."

……

The candlelight was bright, the plating exquisite, and a luxurious dinner that looked and smelled delicious failed to whet anyone's appetite.

Both the attendees and the organizers had something on their minds.

“Lecter takes this matter very seriously. He wants to investigate it thoroughly.” A gentleman tapped the edge of his plate with his fork, using this slightly crude gesture to emphasize the seriousness of the matter. “The 25 people who died there have already been thoroughly investigated. As for the rest, he hasn’t found them yet.”

"Hmph... He really doesn't understand the rules. We shouldn't have elected him in the first place." Another man with a gray beard sneered. "If it weren't for the unanimous support of the judicial system, how could an outsider like him rise through the ranks to become the town mayor? Now look what's happened, the guns have been turned on us instead?"

“You’ve gone too far lately,” Brown said coldly, staring at Chilton. “Building connections right under his nose, do you think he’s blind? Now the opportunity has come knocking. Let me tell you, don’t be fooled by Wendigo’s usual nice guy persona. He’s ruthless, the kind who’d eat people without spitting out the bones.”

"He's determined to get rid of you now, and also to intimidate us. This important position in the police station is held by one of his old dogs. What can a bunch of us office workers do?"

……

“I accept that the hospital was destroyed by him. As long as I’m still alive, I can start over anywhere.” Chilton gritted his teeth. “My thinking is simple: I can’t go to jail! If I’m locked up, I’ll definitely lose all the hard-earned money I’ve saved over the years. Rather than letting that old dog ransack my house, I’d rather give it to you all.”

We've finally gotten to the point.

The expressions of the banquet guests changed slightly, their eyes flickering uncertainly, as if beneath their suits and ties lay a pack of wolves transformed into humans.

“The whole town is watching you now. Getting us to help you with this is going to be very difficult…”

So you'll have to pay more.

Chilton understood the subtext, cursed inwardly, but smiled apologetically, "Of course I understand that, but what I hope you can help me with is something else."

"Another one?"

"Only by making a bigger commotion can we cover up the hospital's scandal. I thought about it all night and came up with a brilliant idea..."

Chilton held up one finger and said confidently, "Red Center."

……

"What?!" Upon hearing the name, everyone shuddered in shock, their PTSD kicking in.

"Of course it wasn't him personally, but rather using the name of this madman. We'll say that the bounty hunter who broke into the hospital and went on a killing spree was Red Center."

"Anyway, nobody knows what Hong Zhong looks like or what his name is. So let's all stick to one story and insist that he is Hong Zhong. What's wrong with that? Just think about it. When the legal and political circles of Fengchuisha, as well as those prominent social figures, all stick to one story, what a powerful media storm it will create! This kind of explosive gossip will spread like a typhoon throughout the entire town of Baiju."

"The mayor of Wendigo has partnered with the serial killer, offering him shelter and refusing to issue an arrest warrant—people are bound to panic. How can a mayor like that possibly lead a good development?"

Chilton said in a deep voice, "As long as more people believe him, he will naturally become a true member of the Red Party even if he is not one. At that time, Wendigo will have no choice but to issue an arrest warrant for that yellow-skinned foreigner in order to prove his innocence. In this way, he will be subject to our control in terms of public opinion!"

"Such a golden opportunity to turn defeat into victory, I hope you will all consider it carefully after you return!"

Chapter 149: You really want to eat it?

Making a move against Evelyn was actually part of his plan: the "distinguished guests" he served were all worldly-wise and sophisticated, and ordinary women simply didn't meet their standards. Noble ladies like Evelyn, with her high birth and elegant demeanor, were the kind of high-class women who best suited their tastes.

It is precisely because such a dazzling pearl is defiled that it produces a unique and stimulating effect.

Theodore's death, in a sense, was exactly what he wanted. The passing of the last adult male in the Dietersdorf family marked the imminent disappearance of this noble surname from history. From then on, Evelyn, the flawless jewel on the stage, became an irresistible target for those in power.

Chilton was well aware of his own business acumen; he was a pimp, working in the service industry. Therefore, he needed to provide the best service and handle things flawlessly to satisfy them. Thus, when Marion approached him, it was a perfect match, providing him with a convenient way to save face.

As for the outsider Huang Fan mentioned, he didn't take him seriously at all—with all the connections he had built up over the years in Baiju Town, how could he not handle an outsider? Even if he killed him in the street, he would simply find a subordinate to take the blame, smooth things over, and he would be out in a couple of weeks.

Considering the worst-case scenario, he also confided in his men: if anyone dared to cause trouble, beat them to death, and if they died, it was their responsibility.

The only thing they misjudged was this guy's fighting ability; it wasn't surprising that he could flip the table at any moment.

Now, he doesn't have much time left to operate behind the scenes.

"There's still a chance! Think about it, everyone. If I get arrested, the Wendigo will definitely start with me and drag out a whole bunch of people. What good will that do you? Instead of waiting for them to find something on us, we might as well strike first."

"The key is to muddy the waters. Once the waters are muddied enough, a deluge of voices demanding accountability will come flooding in. More importantly, the investor he brought to White Torch Town, Ryan Childer, has a blood feud with Red Central over the murder of his son!"

"Imagine what he would do if he heard that Wendigo was providing protection for Red Center?"

Chilton swallowed hard. In fact, this was just a plan he came up with on the spot, and he himself had no idea how much chance of success it had.

But even such an immature plan is better than doing nothing. Waiting for Gordon to come to the door is tantamount to admitting that one will be abandoned.

After years of "serving" him, he'd seen through these so-called high-ranking officials. He knew that once he was actually in prison, these guys might pay to bribe guards or inmates to kill him inside, but they wouldn't waste their time, energy, or money to get him out.

The worst part is that he already knows too much he shouldn't know. If he really goes to prison, he's definitely doomed!

We must survive in this gap, in this narrow space.

"We should still be able to speak with the newspapers... whether it's the Pearl Daily or the White Torch Town Times, right?"

"Take advantage of this time, while they're still trying to frame me, to leave and launch an operation, catching them off guard. If we drag this out any longer, once that guy has finished compiling all the charges he needs, that old mangy dog ​​will come knocking on my door to arrest me!"

"All my money is already in my account at Mesvid Bank. My properties and houses are all in White Torch Town, so there's nowhere for me to run away. Once we get through this disaster, I will make sure you all get your share of the money clearly and fairly. I will never treat you unfairly!"

As he spoke, he noticed that everyone's expressions were a little off, as if they had seen something terrifying. Their necks were stiff, their faces were ashen, and they seemed to be glued to their chairs.

The look in his eyes seemed to be looking at him, yet it didn't seem like he was looking at him.

"Gentlemen, what... what's wrong with you all?"

Amidst his confusion, Chilton felt a sense of foreboding. "Is there some flaw in my plan?"

……

Judge Brown instinctively sat up straight, his lips seemingly glued together. He made several attempts to open his mouth, but ultimately no sound came out.

Seeing this, Chilton seemed to sense something, and the complex expression on his face vanished instantly. He completed the slowest head turn he had ever made in his memory, and one could almost hear his spine cracking inside him.

----

Zhang Renfeng stood behind him, head slightly lowered, holding onto the back of the chair, looking at him expressionlessly.

The candlelight illuminated his dark pupils, making them flicker and appear less human.

"……what……"

When a person is under extreme stress, their brain becomes disordered.

Chilton's pupils constricted instinctively. Although they had never met before, his subconscious already knew who the newcomer was. He didn't have time to think about how the man had entered his room or how he had silently appeared behind him.

He instinctively tried to stand up, but Zhang Renfeng pressed his shoulder down and forced him to sit down again.

"Don't look at me, eat your food. It would be a waste not to eat such a sumptuous dinner." Zhang Renfeng smiled and pushed him and his chair forward again, the wooden legs dragging on the ground, making a creaking sound. "You guys continue chatting, just pretend I'm not here."

……

"I...I swear...what I just said was all nonsense, it was this guy who came up with it. It's absurd!"

Seeing the situation turning sour, one of the prosecutors quickly stood up and explained, his main strategy being to shift the blame, assuring them, "Don't worry, as far as we know, Mayor Lecter has no intention of dealing with you. Such an absurd plan is simply impossible for us..."

"Do I look like Hong Zhong?" Zhang Renfeng interrupted him in a calm tone and asked this question without any politeness.