Chapter 259 - 269

Chapter 259: Never Far Away

“I’m willing, Davey. Of course I am.”

“That’s wonderful. I finally won’t have to worry about my thesis or my internship anymore.”

“How should I thank you, Mr. Land?”

Catherine’s voice was bright with happiness, and her last words carried an unmistakable hint of intimacy between lovers.

Davey replied casually, “There’s an old saying—one repays a benefactor by offering oneself.”

“So, my dear Miss Catherine, would you be willing to offer yourself to me as thanks?”

Catherine answered without hesitation, her heart full of joy. “Mr. Land, it sounds like you don’t want me to be the chief designer of your garment factory at all. You want me to be the lady of the factory instead.”

Davey laughed. “Why not?”

“Then it’s settled,” Catherine said contentedly. “You mustn’t let anyone else take my place.”

Those words made Davey’s heart jump.

Fortunately, it was only a phone call—Catherine couldn’t see his expression.

“Of course, Catherine. The position of the garment factory’s lady will always be yours. No one can take it from you.”Eastern 

“But I’m curious,” Davey added. “How did you get my phone number?”

Catherine replied, “Silly. Of course Stella told me.”

Davey asked instinctively, “Oh? And besides my number, what else did she tell you?”

Catherine didn’t think much of it. “Stella told me a lot about you.”

“I really never imagined that in just a few months, you’d already become such an important figure in Saint Denis. Davey, I’m so proud of you.”

“Even though Stella didn’t say it outright, I know you must have worked incredibly hard.”

“Oh, and I have more good news. You’ve already met Lemieux in Saint Denis, haven’t you?”

“You dummy—didn’t you realize that the address I used to write to you was at the Lemieux estate?”

Davey replied, “Of course I knew. When I was invited to the mayor’s banquet in Saint Denis, I already guessed you had a close relationship with the mayor.”

“But I didn’t want to approach the mayor because of you.”

Catherine could hear the pride in Davey’s words.

“Maybe it doesn’t have to be that way, Davey. If I can help your career in any way, I’d be very happy to do so.”

“And besides, you’ve always been my pride.”

Davey asked, “So what exactly is your relationship with the mayor?”

Catherine explained, “Lemieux used to be my father’s secretary. The reason he was able to become mayor of Saint Denis was largely because of my father’s support.”

“When I traveled west for sightseeing, I stayed at Lemieux’s home.”

Davey had once asked Stella about Catherine’s family background. Stella only knew that Catherine’s father was a high-ranking federal government official—she didn’t know his exact position.

But the fact that even Mayor Henri Lemieux had once been his secretary was enough to make things clear.

In the game’s storyline, even if the player spared Jean Marc and exposed Mayor Henri Lemieux, the worst that happened was that he resigned and returned east.

That alone showed how powerful his backing was.

Catherine’s father was that backing.

Of course, none of this would change Davey’s plan to remove Henri Lemieux.

Saint Denis had to be firmly under his control.

Continuing to work with Henri Lemieux was never the outcome Davey wanted.

“All right, Catherine, so that’s how it is,” Davey said with a laugh. “I regret it now. I should’ve told the mayor earlier—told him you’re my girlfriend.”

“Maybe that would’ve brought me quite a few benefits.”

He said it jokingly.

Catherine giggled. “It’s not too late to tell him now.”

“Or you could wait a bit. School will be on break soon, and then I’ll go to Saint Denis.”

“I’ll go with you to see Lemieux. I think he’ll be completely shocked.”

“I can already imagine the look on his face.”

Hearing that, Davey pictured Lemieux’s expression as well and couldn’t help laughing.

“That really is a great idea, Catherine.”

“I bet the mayor’s mouth will drop so wide you could stuff a whole apple into it.”

Happy moments always seemed to pass too quickly.

After chatting for a while, Catherine said reluctantly, “I think I should hang up now, Davey, even though I really don’t want to.”

“Of course, I’ll call you often. Compared to writing letters, I much prefer hearing your voice.”

Davey said softly, “More than phone calls, I just want to see you as soon as possible, Catherine.”

Catherine comforted him, “Soon. At most, a month, and I’ll be there.”

“Goodbye, Davey.”

“Goodbye, Catherine.”

Hearing Catherine’s voice again stirred a deep longing in Davey’s heart.

He had thought he was close to forgetting her, because of Stella.

But now he realized that Catherine had always been there, deep in his heart—never truly far away.

As he lingered in those thoughts, Elisa knocked on the door.

“Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Land. Have you finished your call?”

“I have to interrupt you because Miss Stella has been waiting downstairs for quite some time.”

...

Chapter 260: Preparing to Build the Arsenal

Living room.

Stella had no idea that Davey had just been upstairs on the phone with Catherine.

Davey had been a little uneasy at first, but seeing Stella calmly report everything as usual, he finally relaxed.

“Mrs. Berry arranged for three hundred women to come in for interviews. The factory was already short on staff, and I checked with HR—most of them are suitable, so I accepted them all.”

“Mrs. Berry is very pleased. This is a major breakthrough for the Women’s Rights Association.”

“However, there’s a chance we may face pushback from other factories. That’s something I think you should be prepared for, Davey.”

The garment factories Davey had purchased already had all their equipment in place, so it was only natural to get production running as soon as possible.

Everything he had previously discussed with Mrs. Berry had now reached the implementation stage.

Stella was the one handling all of these matters.

Although she was officially a consultant for Davey Security, in reality, aside from security-related affairs, almost everything else was being managed by Stella.

After all, a competent lawyer usually had a solid grasp of finances as well.

Davey’s people looked impressive on the surface, but finding someone who could truly stand on their own and handle management was almost impossible.

They could fight, sure—but when it came to management, they were hopeless.

It wasn’t that Saint Denis lacked capable talent. The problem was that loyalty couldn’t be guaranteed.

Loyalty was a line that couldn’t be crossed.

In a place as chaotic as Saint Denis, loyalty was both cheap and incredibly expensive.

“I have to remind you, Davey, workers’ wages aren’t a small expense,” Stella said.

“The garment factories’ accounts are already empty.”

The two garment factories employed a total of eight hundred workers.

Wages in garment manufacturing were relatively low, but the average monthly pay was still around twenty-five dollars.

That meant Davey had to pay out twenty thousand dollars every month.

“Don’t worry, Stella. That amount of money is nothing to me,” Davey said calmly.

“I’ll transfer fifty thousand dollars to the garment factories for operations and to purchase raw materials.”

In reality, Davey didn’t have much cash left—less than seventy thousand dollars in total.

But that wasn’t a problem.

Moonshine had already begun selling in Saint Denis, and daily production was expected to reach thirty thousand bottles.

Since it was an agent-based business, Davey settled accounts as soon as the moonshine reached the distributors.

That allowed the distillery to recover costs quickly—at a rate of eighteen thousand dollars per day.

Of that eighteen thousand, fifteen thousand went straight into Davey’s pocket.

Moonshine sales in other regions of the West brought in another two thousand dollars or so each day.

Most of that income, however, went toward paying employees’ wages—especially since Davey was about to recruit another two hundred workers.

With the existing staff included, Land Security would soon have three hundred eighty employees, and wages alone would cost forty thousand dollars per month.

Then there were other expenses—the Veterans’ Club, the mansion, horses, and countless other costs.

The bigger the operation, the bigger the spending.

Up to now, moonshine remained Davey’s largest and most important source of income.

And the Saint Denis moonshine business would continue to support even larger investments.

“Fifty thousand dollars? That’s more than necessary. Looks like your funds are plentiful again,” Stella remarked.

She understood Davey’s general situation, but she wasn’t deeply involved in the moonshine business.

The Saint Denis moonshine operation didn’t pass through her hands at all.

“That’s right, Stella. And next, I’ll need to invest in even more factories.”

Money sitting still had no meaning. Only when it was spent did it truly become money.

In the current West, just a few thousand dollars was enough to open a small factory.

And for Davey, a few thousand dollars was only a matter of days.

Since that was the case, why not open many factories?

“So, what kind of factories are you planning to open?” Stella asked.

“First things first—if I’m helping you with all this, you’ll need to hire me as legal counsel for these factories.”

Even though she and Davey were already involved romantically, in the new United States, women valued independence and their own careers.

That was very different from more traditional societies.

If you worked, you deserved to be paid.

“Of course, Stella. You’ll be the legal counsel for every factory under my name,” Davey replied.

“I plan to open quite a few factories, so you may be busy for a while—but I trust you can handle it.”

“First, a canned food factory. You know how vast the West is—preserving and transporting fresh food is a real challenge. Canned goods extend shelf life, make storage and transport easier, and meet people’s need for long-term food supplies.”

“As the West continues to develop and the population grows, demand for convenient food will only increase.”

“Vegetables from my farm can be shipped directly there.”

“Next, a leather factory. A leather factory in the West won’t have trouble finding buyers, will it?”

“Of course, we’ll also need a lumber mill. We could even make our own furniture. I’ve built quite a few houses in Valentine, and buying furniture is far too expensive.”

“With our own lumber mill, we’d be selling to ourselves.”

“Oh, and I almost forgot—a textile mill. Since we already have garment factories, why not open our own textile mill as well?”

As he spoke, what Davey truly wanted to build was something else entirely—his own arsenal.

In the West, firearms were essential tools of life and work, used for hunting, self-defense, and law enforcement.

Davey’s Land Security Company also required vast quantities of guns and ammunition.

Buying firearms and ammunition was an enormous expense. If he had his own arsenal, he could achieve complete self-sufficiency.

Moreover, the West currently had no arsenals at all. Every gun and bullet was shipped in from the East.

If an arsenal existed in the West, there would be no shortage of buyers.

But building an arsenal wasn’t as simple as setting up other factories.

It required the proper production licenses. Technology itself wasn’t the issue—offer high enough wages, and plenty of Eastern arms-industry experts would be willing to move west.

The real difficulty lay in obtaining approval.

Establishing an arsenal required passing through multiple departments and layers of approval.

First was the state government. For Davey, that wasn’t much of a problem.

Whether it was the current Mayor Lemieux or the future Mayor Jean Marc, both would likely approve and support it.

The real obstacle was the Weapons Manufacturers Association.

Although it wasn’t an official government body, it held considerable influence in the United States.

The Association reviewed applicants on technical capability and industry standards, evaluating whether their production methods met requirements and whether the weapons produced were reliable and safe.

Only with the Association’s approval could a company even hope to obtain the qualifications to build an arsenal.

After that came approval from the federal Department of War—the most critical step.

The Department of War oversaw national military affairs and defense construction, and it conducted extremely strict reviews of any enterprise involved in weapons production.

They examined the applicant’s background, production capacity, factory security, and the type and intended use of the weapons, ensuring everything aligned with national military strategy and security needs.

Finally came the Treasury Department, which reviewed matters from the standpoint of taxation and economic regulation.

So if Davey wanted to build an arsenal, he first had to demonstrate that he could contribute sufficient tax revenue to the United States—proof that he had the financial strength to operate such a facility and pay taxes on time.

At present, moonshine wasn’t taxed at all. With his current status, there was no way he could pass the normal approval process.

In this case, no amount of money would help.

In the East, money mattered—but meeting the conditions mattered just as much.

“Well, it looks like I really will be busy,” Stella said, sounding both pleased and a little overwhelmed. “With so many factories, Davey, do you still want the same thing as before—the best equipment?”

“Of course, Stella. Every factory must be equipped with the best and most advanced machinery, all purchased from the East.”

“Money isn’t a problem,” Davey said generously.

“Davey, you may not realize it, but when you say things like that, you’re actually very handsome,” Stella said with a smile.

Davey replied, “Then may I invite the beautiful Miss Stella to have dinner with me?”

Stella shook her head. “As much as I’d like to, I already have plans.”

Davey put on a wounded expression. “You just said I was handsome, and now you’re going on a date with someone else?”

“I’m heartbroken, Stella.”

Stella was speechless. “Davey, it’s Mrs. Berry. She introduced me to the Women’s Rights Association. Tonight, she’s inviting several other prominent ladies. Do you really want me to turn that down?”

Davey immediately recovered. “Of course not, Stella. I respect your decision.”

Watching Stella leave, Davey let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Lately, whenever he faced her, he couldn’t help feeling a bit guilty.

That evening, after enjoying a hearty dinner, Davey cleaned up and dressed properly.

Tonight, he was heading to the casino to attend a banquet.

...

Chapter 261: Grand Korrigan

Night.

Lemoyne State, along the Lannahechee River.

The Grand Korrigan—this was the name of the luxury cruise ship.

A lavish gambling vessel, it was famous for hosting high-stakes games, drawing gamblers and thrill-seekers from all over.

It was known as the Queen of the Lannahechee River.

At the mayor’s banquet some time ago, the Van der Linde Gang had learned about this ship from a wealthy businessman.

That was when Josiah Trelawny devised a plan targeting the luxury gambling cruise.

Dutch, however, showed little interest. His attention was entirely focused on robbing the tram station.

To ensure that plan went smoothly, he frequently gathered intelligence about the tram depot.

The game didn’t highlight this much, but in reality Dutch acted with considerable caution.

The operation against the gambling cruise ship was jointly planned by Strauss and Trelawny.

Trelawny had Arthur change his clothes, get a haircut, and rent a carriage.

They had already selected their target in advance.

A wealthy businessman named Desmond Blythe, who made his fortune in the hosiery trade. He was rich and loved gambling.

He was also a regular guest on this gambling cruise ship.

Under Trelawny’s arrangements, Arthur would board the ship disguised as an oil tycoon and join the games.

Trelawny had already bribed the dealer, with Strauss secretly providing support.

The plan was to bleed Desmond Blythe dry and force him to wager the Swiss-made Reutlinger Pocket Watch he had pawned to the ship.

According to the plan, after winning Desmond Blythe’s Reutlinger Pocket Watch,

Arthur would ask to take a closer look at it.

Then, together with Javier Escuella disguised as a guard, they would force the casino manager to open the safe and loot the cash and valuables inside.

The result had been a success.

In the end, they walked away with six thousand dollars and the valuable Swiss-made Reutlinger Pocket Watch. All in all, it had gone smoothly.

But this time, things were different.

“Trelawny, what’s going on? Why are there so many people?”

“If it’s like this, how are we supposed to move?”

At the dock, Arthur handed his gun to George, the coachman and a friend of Trelawny’s.

Then he noticed the area beside The Grand Korrigan crawling with security personnel.

“Oh, shit. That’s Davey’s security company.”

“Sorry, Arthur. I didn’t learn about this beforehand. The casino owner actually hired Davey’s Land Security Company to handle security. This is going to cause us serious trouble.”

Trelawny took a closer look and quickly recognized the men in black combat uniforms.

He had dealings with Davey before and was familiar with how his people dressed.

But the sight of them made his stomach sink.

He knew exactly how capable Davey’s men were.

The casino’s original guards wouldn’t have been much of a threat, but Davey’s employees were elites.

“So what do we do, Trelawny? Call the whole thing off?”

Arthur didn’t want to clash with Davey’s men either, even though he trusted his own shooting.

But he wouldn’t be allowed to bring a gun inside. That would make it a completely uneven fight.

“Let’s go in first and see, Arthur.”

“Strauss and Javier Escuella should already be inside. We’ll have to adapt as we go.”

Trelawny spoke with resignation.

Something unexpected had come up, but there was no turning back now. They could only push forward.

They presented their invitations and submitted to the weapons check.

They were just about to be let through.

Suddenly, one of the employees murmured something to a colleague nearby, then stepped forward.

“Sorry, gentlemen. Please wait a moment.”

Trelawny smiled faintly. “Oh? Is there a problem with our invitation?”

He wasn’t worried. The invitation was genuine, and gamblers were always welcome. Getting one hadn’t been difficult.

“It’s not the invitation. It’s something else.”

“I’m sorry, but you can’t enter just yet.”

The employee’s tone was firm.

“Why?” Arthur snapped. “I want a proper explanation.”

The employee didn’t back down. Other guards nearby immediately moved in.

“Easy, easy, sir.”

“We’re guests here. Just guests here to gamble, right?”

“Is this how the Queen of the Lannahechee River treats her guests?”

Trelawny held back the increasingly irritated Arthur and smiled at the guards.

“I’m sorry, sir. Please wait a moment.”

The guard repeated the same words, signaling several others to cut off their retreat.

Surrounded by armed personnel, Trelawny and Arthur felt something was wrong.

Trelawny even began to suspect something had gone wrong on Javier Escuella’s end.

According to the plan, Javier Escuella was supposed to incapacitate a guard and take his place.

Had he been exposed—and sold them out?

Just as the tension reached its peak,

Mac stepped out from the ship.

He spread his arms and laughed loudly. “Well, if it isn’t you two. Trelawny, Arthur.”

“My friends, seeing you here really makes me happy.”

“Cartman, that’s enough. They’re my friends.”

Hearing this, Cartman nodded to the surrounding guards.

They immediately dispersed.

“My apologies, gentlemen. Sorry about earlier.”

Cartman’s voice was calm.

Trelawny frowned. “Sir, what you did just now was extremely rude.”

Cartman didn’t bother replying. He simply turned and walked away.

His arrogance left both Trelawny and Arthur seething.

Mac chuckled. “Ignore him. Germans are like that. You get used to it.”

“Come on, old friends. Welcome aboard The Grand Korrigan.”

Cartman recognized Trelawny and Arthur,

though they didn’t recognize him.

Back when Trelawny and Arthur had dealings with Davey, Cartman had been responsible for Davey’s personal security.

That was how he knew they were members of the Van der Linde Gang.

He was well aware of the gang’s reputation—a group of wanted outlaws causing trouble across the West.

Even though his boss, Davey, had once been one of them.

Seeing them show up on the cruise ship immediately put Cartman on guard.

The Van der Linde Gang was notorious for robbery, after all.

So he chose to stop them first and have someone notify Mac inside.

Land Security Company employees enjoyed high pay, but they also underwent intense training, including strict security protocols.

If a security operation failed, there would be thorough reviews and accountability afterward.

Under normal procedures, dangerous individuals like the Van der Linde Gang would have been barred from boarding altogether.

But given their complicated relationship with the boss, Cartman decided to inform Mac—at least that way, responsibility wouldn’t fall on him if something went wrong.

“Mac, what are you doing here?”

“Is it because Land Security Company took over security here?”

Arthur asked curiously.

“No, Arthur. That’s only part of it.”

“I own a share of this gambling ship.”

“Oh—and so does Davey.”

“So, Arthur, and Trelawny, I know you’re planning to stir something up here.”

“Maybe you’ve already got a solid plan.”

“But I’d advise you to keep things calm. Davey and I are running this place now.”

“Of course, as long as you don’t go too far, it won’t be a problem.”

The moment Mac saw Arthur, he knew the Van der Linde Gang had their eyes on the casino.

He’d once been one of them himself and knew their habits well—and this ship was loaded with cash.

There was no way they’d suddenly decided to quit robbing and take up gambling instead.

Trelawny and Arthur exchanged glances, both at a loss.

It was clear their plan was probably doomed.

Once inside the ship, they also spotted Javier Escuella and Strauss, both wearing helpless expressions.

...

Chapter 262: Friend or Foe

Mac himself was a gambling addict.

After greeting Arthur and Trelawny, he headed straight for the gaming tables.

After all, this was a rare opportunity, one he had only gotten with Davey’s approval.

“Javier Escuella, Strauss, what’s the situation now?”

“Looks like our plan has run into some serious trouble.”

The group moved over to the bar and ordered a few drinks. Trelawny was the first to speak.

Strauss glanced at Javier Escuella and said, “Honestly, we didn’t expect Davey’s security company to take over this place.”

“But I’ve already heard from Mac—the cruise ship didn’t originally invite them specifically for security.”

“Mac and Davey have both gotten involved in the gambling business here. We don’t know how much of the profits they’re taking, but it’s clearly going to be a sizable share.”

“That’s exactly why Land Security Company stepped in. The cruise ship is paying Davey a substantial amount for this.”

“Clearly, Davey understands far better than we do how to make large sums of money legitimately.”

There was a trace of envy in Strauss’s voice.

Davey was simply too good at business. Even robbing a bank, they probably wouldn’t earn as much as he did.

“Is Davey here too, Strauss?” Arthur asked.

He wasn’t particularly worried about the plan—this wasn’t something he needed to stress over.

Even if it fell through, it wasn’t a big deal. Dutch would come up with something else sooner or later.

Saint Denis was a city Arthur truly disliked, but he had to admit there were countless places there worth robbing.

“Maybe you should ask Mac, Arthur,” Strauss replied.

“But I heard he’s talking business with the Casino manager right now. Maybe Davey wants a piece of the gambling industry as well?”

Strauss’s words made it clear that Davey was on the ship, just not in this main hall.

“So what do we do about our plan, Strauss?”

“We’ve already come all this way. We can’t just leave empty-handed.”

“You know how much I’ve spent on this—expensive suits, a luxury carriage, and money to build connections.”

“If we stop now, I’ll take a huge loss.”

There was a hint of bitterness in Trelawny’s voice.

This plan had been his idea, and all the expenses had come out of his own pocket.

Altogether, it had cost several hundred dollars.

That was nothing to Davey, but for him, it was a significant investment.

Having it fail before it even began left him deeply unwilling to accept it.

“Don’t rush, Trelawny,” Strauss said, adjusting his glasses.

“Didn’t Mac just say it himself? As long as we don’t cause too much trouble, he won’t interfere.”

“We’ll proceed according to the original plan—just cancel the final robbery.”

“I have no desire to offend Davey. Everyone knows he’s a major figure now, and he knows us far too well.”

“Even if we keep things discreet, it would be extremely difficult to hide anything from him.”

“We might earn less, but at least we’ll still make something. You won’t lose money, Trelawny.”

Hearing this, Trelawny finally relaxed.

Under the circumstances, being able to turn any profit at all was already good enough.

“Arthur, let’s move according to the original plan.”

“Alright.”

...

On the observation deck at the top floor of The Grand Korringan,

Davey sat across from the Casino manager.

Moonlight spilled over the snow-white tablecloth, reflecting off the luxurious silverware.

An opened bottle of red wine sat nearby, its label quietly hinting at its value and depth.

An attendant bent slightly at the waist in respect, pouring the wine from a glass decanter into tall stemmed glasses.

Exquisitely arranged French dishes covered the table.

The steak was cooked to perfection, crisp on the outside and tender within.

Baked escargot lay bathed in rich garlic butter, garnished with fresh herbs and slices of lemon.

French foie gras had been cut into evenly thin slices, paired with sweet-and-tart fruit preserves and crisp toasted bread.

There were also various desserts and thick soups.

“Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Avery, but I’m not particularly fond of French cuisine,” Davey said.

“Compared to this, I tend to prefer Eastern cuisine. Maybe next time I could invite you to give it a try.”

“At my estate, I have a chef from the distant East—said to have once served an imperial court.”

Davey took a small sip of wine as he spoke.

Steak, escargot, foie gras—he ate these every day and had long grown tired of them.

Eastern cuisine offered a wider range of flavors, with dishes that changed often enough to keep things interesting.

“Well then, Mr. Land,” the man replied.

“I’ve never tried Eastern cuisine before. After all… perhaps I’ve been a bit biased.”

“But if it’s a chef who once served an imperial court, it may indeed be worth trying.”

Daniel Avery, the Casino manager of the cruise ship.

As an elite white man from the East, he held deeply ingrained prejudice against others, viewing them as uncivilized.

However, he still maintained a certain level of respect for imperial institutions and old empires.

Even though those ancient empires were now in serious decline, the United States still regarded them as historic great powers.

After all, they had once been vast realms with enormous populations.

In 1899, the United States had a population of roughly seventy-five million.

Due to massive immigration, the number was rising rapidly, but even counting undocumented immigrants, it would not exceed one hundred million.

By contrast, the great empires of the distant past had once ruled over hundreds of millions.

Anyone with even a basic understanding of history knew that for long stretches of time, ancient empires had dominated the civilized world.

Of course, Daniel Avery’s respect extended only to imperial authority, not to ordinary people.

“Mr. Avery, trust me—once you try it, you’ll be full of praise,” Davey said.

“And perhaps Mr. Grand would enjoy it as well.”

“If possible, I’d like to invite Mr. Grand to sample a royal banquet from the East.”

“What do you think, Mr. Avery?”

Davey hadn’t actually needed to come here.

And it certainly wasn’t for Arthur and the others.

He was here for the true owner of the cruise ship—Grand Korrigan.

A wealthy eastern merchant with extensive connections even within the federal government.

The ship itself bore his name, which said plenty about his influence and arrogance.

“I’m afraid Mr. Grand wouldn’t agree, Mr. Land, even if it were a royal banquet from the East,” Daniel Avery replied.

“Your friends were far too rude. When I informed Mr. Grand about what happened here, he was furious—though for the sake of the ship, he had no choice but to compromise.”

“He has a very poor impression of the West. I doubt he would accept your request.”

Daniel Avery was referring to the casino profits.

Earlier, Davey had demanded a fifty percent cut of the gambling cruise’s earnings.

Facing threats from local gangs, Daniel Avery had relayed the matter to Grand Korrigan in the East.

In the end, for the sake of the ship’s interests, Grand Korrigan had agreed.

“You’re right, Mr. Avery. They were indeed quite rude,” Davey said calmly.

“But that’s also because Mr. Grand and I aren’t friends.”

“If Mr. Grand and I were close friends, I believe none of this unpleasantness would have happened. Don’t you agree?”

“Of course, I’d also be very happy to count you as a close friend, Mr. Avery.”

As he spoke, Davey clapped his hands.

An employee behind him pulled out a stack of dollars and placed it on the table in front of Daniel Avery.

“These three thousand dollars are my show of sincerity, Mr. Avery,” Davey said with a smile.

“Would you be willing to offer a friend a small favor?”

Daniel Avery cast a greedy glance at the three thousand dollars on the table,

but he didn’t reach out to take them.

“I would very much like to be your friend, Mr. Land, and your sincerity is clear,” he said slowly.

“But there are some things that are beyond my authority.”

“Mr. Grand is furious, so I’m afraid I must refuse.”

Davey’s expression immediately turned cold.

After a moment of thought, he understood the situation.

He hadn’t even fully stated his request, yet Avery had already refused outright.

The fact that even three thousand dollars couldn’t sway him said everything.

There was only one explanation: Grand Korrigan was already preparing to move against him.

Naturally, Avery didn’t dare accept any benefits.

“I’m a very stubborn man, Mr. Avery,” Davey said quietly.

“In my eyes, there are only two kinds of people.”

“Friends—or enemies.”

“Since Mr. Grand doesn’t wish to be my friend, then he is my enemy.”

“Please convey this message to Mr. Grand for me.”

“The Grand Korringan will not be returning to the East.”

“It will remain in Lemoyne State, Navarro Bay.” 

...

Chapter 263: You Should Apologize to Me, Mr. Land

The Grand Korrigan wasn’t limited to the West.

Most of the time, it operated in Eastern waters.

After all, compared to the savage, impoverished, and underdeveloped West,

the East was far wealthier, with far more rich people.

The population of the United States was largely concentrated in the East, accounting for nearly 90 percent of the total.

In 1899, the West had only just begun to be developed.

Out of a total population of seventy-five million, the East held eighty percent, while the entire West made up only twenty percent.

Within the West, Washington State and California alone accounted for ten percent of the region’s population.

Saint Denis, where Davey was based and considered the eastern bridgehead, had only five to six hundred thousand people.

As for New Austin, West Elizabeth, New Hanover, Ambarino, and Lemoyne, the combined population of the five states was probably only around one million.

Most of that population was concentrated in Saint Denis, followed by Blackwater, Rhodes, Van Horn, Annesburg, and similar towns.

Given all that, Grand Korrigan’s arrogance was easy to understand.

“Are you sure you want to do this, Mr. Land?”

“I don’t think you truly understand just how important a figure Mr. Grand Korrigan is in the East.”

“You should know that in a place like the East, brute force alone doesn’t get you very far like it might in the West. The number of powerful people there is far beyond what you can imagine.”

“Any one of them in a single city is not someone you can afford to provoke, Mr. Land.”

“The fact that Mr. Grand Korrigan can operate a cruise ship casino is proof enough of his strength.”

“Forgive my bluntness, Mr. Land, but do you know how many dollars the ship beneath your feet is worth?”

“Your entire fortune put together doesn’t earn as much as this one ship.”

“Its construction cost was 1.2 million dollars. Did you hear me clearly? One-point-two million dollars!”

When Davey said he intended to keep the ship, casino manager Daniel Avery immediately became agitated.

He nearly shouted as he spoke to Davey.

And he wasn’t wrong.

Davey’s entire fortune really did fall short of this luxury cruise ship.

One-point-two million dollars was an astronomical figure in the West, even in Saint Denis.

What’s more, the Grand Korrigan was only one of Grand’s many properties.

“So, Mr. Land, do you understand now?”

“I hope you’ll apologize for what you just said.”

After his outburst, seeing Davey remain silent, Daniel Avery assumed he had been intimidated.

That was exactly what he expected.

In the poor, backward, and uncivilized West, being frightened by such an enormous sum was perfectly normal.

Daniel Avery lifted his chin slightly, openly displaying his arrogance and disdain.

Davey chuckled softly, his tone calm.

“Maybe you’re right, Mr. Avery. If I add up everything I own, it really doesn’t compare to the luxury cruise ship under our feet.”

“But there’s one thing I need to remind you of—this is the West.”

Daniel Avery clearly hadn’t realized that the man in front of him was already getting angry.

There was obvious contempt in his voice.

“So what if it is, Mr. Land?”

“I know you’re famous in Saint Denis, a big shot in this city.”

“But you’re not the only big shot here.”

“And let me remind you that even the mayor of Saint Denis, along with every member of the council, is insignificant in front of Mr. Grand.”

“So, Mr. Land, are you ready to apologize?”

Davey smiled.

He picked up the glass of red wine on the table and slightly turned toward the senior employee behind him—the legendary hunter and sharpshooter, Kerry Laval.

“Kerry, I think Mr. Avery may have had a bit too much to drink.”

“Would you mind helping him sober up?”

Kerry Laval was the first sharpshooter Davey had ever recruited.

Since then, he had served as the captain of Davey’s security team, responsible for protecting him.

Davey trusted Kerry’s loyalty.

The fact that Kerry was willing to give up his status as a legendary hunter for his wife and child was proof enough of his devotion to his family.

Now, his wife and child lived in the high-end apartments Davey had built at the Valentine Land Farm.

Davey’s promise to his senior employees was clear.

If they died while carrying out a mission, their wives would receive a large compensation payout, along with a monthly pension from the company for the rest of their lives.

Their sons would attend Land Elementary School and be supported by the Land Security Company until their eighteenth birthday, with full access to education.

If they were accepted into a university, all expenses would be covered by the company.

After graduation, Davey’s businesses would give them priority in hiring.

All Davey asked for in return was loyalty.

“At your command, Mr. Land,” Kerry said, bowing slightly in respect.

Then he walked toward Avery. “It would be my pleasure to serve you, Mr. Avery.”

As Kerry approached, several other employees followed him.

“What are you doing, Mr. Land? What are you trying to do?!”

Avery shouted hoarsely, struggling as he tried to call out to the nearby security guards and sailors on the ship.

Several sailors heard the noise and rushed over.

They were immediately stopped by other employees.

When the employees drew their guns, the sailors fell silent at once.

They knew they were no match for these fully armed men.

Seeing how useless his people were, Avery couldn’t help but curse, “Useless! All of you are useless!”

But with a revolver pressed to his head, he didn’t dare say anything more.

“Mr. Land, I was wrong. Please forgive me.”

“I shouldn’t have done this. I’ll help you contact Mr. Grand.”

“He’ll be your friend, I promise. I’ll be your friend too.”

Davey didn’t respond.

He simply turned and looked toward the night view of the eastern city.

Separated by nothing more than a river, the eastern side glowed brilliantly with lights.

On the western side, vast darkness stretched out, with only Saint Denis showing a faint, dim glow.

Seeing that their boss had no new orders, Kerry and the others continued without hesitation.

They tied Avery up with rope—tight and secure.

“No, don’t do this, Mr. Land!”

Avery begged repeatedly, but Davey remained unmoved.

Once Avery was bound, several employees dragged him to the edge of the deck and kicked him overboard.

The deck was high—nearly twenty meters above the surface of the sea.

Along with Avery’s scream—

Splash. He dropped straight into the water.

This wasn’t because Davey had prepared a rope dozens of meters long in advance.

The rope was already there on the deck.

Its primary purpose was to secure the cruise ship to the dock when it was moored at port.

Such ropes were typically extremely sturdy and long, designed to accommodate changes in water level and different docking conditions.

Most of the time, however, while the ship was at sea, they were used to punish disobedient sailors and slaves.

At that moment, Arthur and Javier Escuella were coming up.

They suddenly heard a scream nearby and saw a figure fall into the water not far from them.

“What’s going on?”

Arthur and Javier Escuella hadn’t had time to react.

The sailor who had brought them up took a closer look and cried out, “Mr. Avery! It’s Mr. Avery!”

Without waiting for the two of them, he hurried toward the deck.

Arthur and Javier Escuella exchanged confused looks and followed after him.

Earlier below deck, they had already won all of the chips from the hosiery tycoon Desmond Blythe, including his Reutlinger Pocket Watch.

Unlike before, they now had no way to continue their original robbery plan.

For the moment, all they could do was quit while they were ahead—cash in the chips for dollars and keep the Reutlinger Pocket Watch.

It wasn’t exactly in line with the Van der Linde gang’s usual style, but at least Trelawny’s stake had been recovered, with a small profit on top.

On the stairway to the deck, Arthur and Javier Escuella saw the sailor who had brought them up earlier.

A revolver was pressed to his head, his hands raised, not daring to say a word.

One of the employees glanced at Arthur and Javier Escuella, then barked at the sailor, “Get lost.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll leave right away.”

The sailor didn’t dare say another word and hurried off.

They all knew who was on the observation deck.

The entire cruise ship was already under the control of the Land Security Company’s employees.

“Gentlemen, this is not a place you should be,” one of the employees said.

“I just want to take back what belongs to me,” Arthur said.

“A Reutlinger Pocket Watch. I won it.”

“You’ll get the watch when you leave, but not now,” the employee replied.

“You should leave immediately.”

He didn’t recognize Arthur or Javier Escuella, but they were still guests of the gambling ship.

Arthur was reluctant, but faced with several armed employees, he had no other choice.

Just as they were about to leave—

“Let them come up. They’re my friends.”

Hearing that, the employee stepped aside.

Arthur and Javier Escuella immediately recognized the voice. They exchanged a glance and walked up.

They saw Davey seated at an elegant dining table, a lit cigar held between his fingers.

“Arthur, Javier Escuella,” Davey said as he stood and walked toward them.

“So it really is you, Davey.”

Arthur broke into a grin the moment he saw him.

They were old friends.

After giving Davey a friendly hug—

“Mr. Land,” Kerry called out.

Davey nodded.

Kerry waved his hand, and two employees began turning the rope winch.

Avery, who had fallen into the sea, was slowly hauled back up. 

...

Chapter 264: Leave Bronte’s Business to Dutch

“Mr. Land.”

“Please, spare me.”

“Spare me, and I can give you important information.”

“It’s about Mr. Grand.”

“And Bronte—yes, Bronte. They’re joining forces to deal with you.”

“And the mayor.”

Avery begged loudly, choking out the words as seawater poured from his mouth in broken spurts.

Davey was surprised—but not because Grand Corrigan had teamed up with Bronte and the mayor against him. What surprised him was Avery’s stamina in the water.

After being tossed into the sea for so long, he could still shout with such strength.

Davey couldn’t help but laugh as he said to Kerry, “Looks like Mr. Avery still isn’t sober. He’s already started talking nonsense. His drinking habits are truly awful.”

“So keep helping him out.”

Kerry replied calmly, “Of course, Mr. Land.”

Avery screamed in terror. “No—don’t do this, Mr. Land! Everything I said is true!”

Davey didn’t react. He led Arthur and Javier Escuella over to the dining table and instructed the waiter, “I have friends here. Bring us some more dishes.”

The waiter answered with a trembling voice, “Y–yes, sir,” before hurrying away.

Arthur watched the scene. Though he didn’t understand what Davey was planning, he burst out laughing.

“Davey, I thought you’d turned into a civilized man.”

“Looks like we were wrong. You’re still the same as ever.”

Arthur liked this version of Davey. It felt closer, more familiar.

That earlier version—dressed like a gentleman, holding a wine glass, pretending to be some city aristocrat—had always rubbed him the wrong way.

So when he saw Davey punishing people in the old, familiar way, it finally felt like the Davey he remembered.

“Does a wolf in sheep’s clothing really become a sheep?”

“Arthur, I’ve told you before—you should read more books. History books, preferably.”

“If you’ve read the history of the United States, you’d know that civilization is built on barbarism.”

“And the so-called civilized world of America was built on the corpses of the Native Americans.”

“Some wolves put on sheep’s skin and truly start believing they’re sheep.”

“But not me, Arthur. I’ll always remember—I’m a wolf.”

Arthur and Javier Escuella exchanged looks.

They didn’t really understand what Davey was saying, but it somehow sounded profound.

“Have you been reading philosophy lately, Davey?”

“I take back what I said earlier. You’re completely different now. Hearing you talk like this, it feels like you’ve become a poet—or a philosopher.”

Davey smiled. “Alright. If that’s how you want to see it.”

Arthur glanced at the casino manager who was still being lowered into the sea and asked, “So, Davey… are you planning to rob this cruise ship?”

Davey didn’t answer directly. Instead, he asked, “Arthur, would you rob Cornwall’s train?”

Arthur looked confused. “Didn’t we already rob Cornwall’s train?”

Davey shook his head. “I mean the train itself, Arthur. Not what’s on the train.”

Arthur fell silent. “Of course not. What would be the point of robbing a train?”

Davey replied, “Then why would I rob this cruise ship?”

Arthur was even more speechless. Talking to Davey now felt like they weren’t on the same wavelength at all. He couldn’t make sense of it.

Just then, Avery was hoisted back up.

Unlike before, he was now barely alive, completely unable to speak. Seawater gurgled nonstop from his mouth. He had clearly swallowed plenty down below.

“Kerry, help him.”

“If he doesn’t make it, I suppose the sharks will be getting an extra meal tonight.”

Hearing this, Avery’s eyes flew wide open, a desperate will to live surging through him.

Kerry pressed on his chest, forcing the seawater out of his body. After a long while, Avery finally managed to breathe again.

But he was shaking all over, his face deathly pale. The suffocating terror from the depths still clung to him.

“Mr. Avery, I think it’s time we had a proper conversation.”

“You have three minutes to tell me everything.”

“Otherwise, the sharks really will be eating well tonight.”

“So, begin your performance, Mr. Avery.”

Davey’s tone was calm, but to Avery it sounded like a devil whispering in his ear.

Just moments ago, he had nearly died—had even felt himself slipping away.

Only someone who has truly faced death understands how terrifying it is.

It’s like someone who attempts suicide: once they survive a single attempt, they’ll never want to try again.

“It was Mr. Grand,” Avery gasped. “He contacted the mayor—the mayor of Saint Denis, Henri Lemieux.”

“He learned about your situation, Mr. Land—about the moonshine.”

“The mayor told Mr. Grand that someone has already figured out your moonshine formula, and that they can crack it quickly as well.”

“Once they have it, they’ll join forces to deal with you.”

“The mayor has also introduced Mr. Grand to Bronte—the Italian.”

Davey listened without surprise, and without anger.

His relationship with Bronte had always been one of mutual exploitation. The mayor was no different.

For greater profit, it was only natural that once they obtained the moonshine formula, they would work together to eliminate him.

The formula itself wasn’t particularly complicated. No one had bothered to analyze it before.

Send the moonshine to a few research institutes in the East, and its components could easily be identified. With a few trials, they could recreate a drink almost identical in taste.

“Would you be my friend, Mr. Avery?”

Avery answered immediately, “Of course, Mr. Land. I’ll be your loyal friend. I can do anything you ask.”

When his life was at stake, loyalty came cheap—though it would likely last only as long as the danger did.

Davey didn’t mind. “Perhaps you can tell me more about Mr. Grand.”

“He brought his beloved cruise ship all the way to this poor, backward, and barbaric western region. He must have run into trouble.”

“What kind of trouble did Mr. Grand face?”

Avery forced a bitter smile. “It started with the economic crisis seven years ago—in 1893.”

“Mr. Grand invested heavily in the steel market, railway companies, and European agricultural export firms.”

“That depression caused many foreign investors to lose confidence in the American market, leading to mass withdrawals.”

“Major rail companies like the Northern Pacific and Union Pacific collapsed or shut down, wiping out Mr. Grand’s investments.”

“European agricultural prices fell, banks failed, and his loans were squeezed from all sides.”

“This ship wasn’t originally a gambling vessel. It was converted after that. But business in the East became too difficult, so Mr. Grand brought it west.”

The economic depression of 1893 led to widespread bankruptcies, stock market crashes, bank failures, and massive unemployment.

The East was hit hard, while the West was barely affected.

That was why western development had accelerated in recent years—many businessmen saw opportunity there and rushed in to invest, speeding up the development of the entire western United States.

“Davey, if you want to take down Bronte, maybe I can help.”

“And the mayor—lately I’ve been handling some matters for him. It might be useful to you.”

Arthur spoke up immediately.

“I’ll help too, Davey,” Javier Escuella added.

“Thank you, Arthur. Thank you, Javier Escuella,” Davey said.

“But taking out Bronte isn’t simple, and it doesn’t mean much to me personally.”

“As for the mayor, I’ve already made arrangements. Arthur, you might be able to help in certain areas, but we’ll need a plan. Now isn’t the time.”

Davey certainly wanted Bronte dead.

But he couldn’t be the one to do it.

Saint Denis was full of gangs, and there were unspoken rules—you didn’t casually assassinate gang leaders. Everyone lived in the same city. There had to be order.

If gang bosses were killed off at random, no one would feel safe.

Of course, someone like Dutch—a true outlaw, unbound by such rules—was perfectly suited to take care of Bronte.

...

Chapter 265: The Embryo of an Industrial Cluster

Making money is often not that complicated.

Because of Davey’s intervention, Arthur and his group’s plan to rob the cruise ship failed. As a result, there was no need for them to jump into the water to escape. The gambling cruise would remain at sea until dawn the next day before finally docking. With no other option, Arthur and the others had to stay on board.

Strauss suggested, “Our original plan may have failed, but we didn’t lose money. I just did the math—after deducting Trelawny’s costs, we still made over a thousand dollars.”

“So why don’t we keep gambling?”

“The dealer’s our friend. We won’t lose. We can just keep winning.”

“Just now, we made nearly two thousand dollars in less than an hour.”

“Even if we don’t make that much later, the night is still long. There are plenty more hours ahead.”

Trelawny’s eyes lit up when he heard this. “That’s actually a great plan. It feels more reliable than the last one. What do you think, Arthur?”

Arthur nodded. “Maybe we can give it a try.”

As it turned out, more often than not, gambling really did make money faster than robbery.

The next day, when the cruise ship docked, Arthur and the others stood there staring blankly at the money they’d won. After a single night of gambling, they had earned nearly ten thousand dollars. It was downright absurd.

Even after setting aside a cut for the dealer, they still had eight thousand dollars left. In the game’s storyline, after all the robbing and killing, they only ended up with six thousand dollars in the end.

“This gambling money came way too fast. It’s unbelievable we made this much,” Javier said, his eyes shining as he looked at the thick stack of bills in Arthur’s hand.

Trelawny burst out laughing. “That’s because luck’s been on our side, hasn’t it—even though he took nearly two thousand dollars.”

The “luck” he was referring to was, of course, the dealer.

Just like with the silk-stocking tycoon Desmond Blythe, with the dealer’s help they kept winning chips. Naturally, they would deliberately lose a few smaller rounds now and then, but once the stack of chips grew large enough, luck inevitably tilted in their favor.

“Gentlemen, maybe we should get into the gambling business. It’s much faster than robbery.”

Trelawny said cheerfully as they divided up the money.

Strauss immediately shot the idea down. “That’s only because this gambling ship is under Mac’s control.”

“He’s helping us. Without his permission, we would’ve been kicked off a long time ago—maybe even thrown into the sea.”

“Believe me, Trelawny, if you get addicted to gambling, you’ll lose everything.”

“No one will allow you to keep doing this forever.”

Trelawny shrugged. “All right, Strauss. You’re right.”

“But for now, gentlemen, maybe we should find a hotel, enjoy a proper massage, get some rest, and then prepare for our next plan.”

This proposal was unanimously approved.

A bath, a massage, maybe a cup of hot coffee—this was the rhythm of a man’s life. No one disliked that.

As they were leaving, Arthur glanced back at the luxurious cruise ship. Just by bribing a dealer, they had made eight thousand dollars. How much money did this ship make in a single night? And how much of that ended up in Davey’s pocket?

Thinking back to the things Davey had once said to him, Arthur suddenly felt a sense of clarity.

So this was the right way to embrace civilization.

...

Saint Denis, the Land Mansion.

Several staff members from the Saint Denis Bank arrived at the estate.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Land. I’m Johnny, president of the Saint Denis Bank. It’s a pleasure to serve you.”

The president of the Saint Denis Bank was a major figure, not only in the city but across the entire West. Yet for this loan, he had come in person. There was no helping it—the customer was king.

Given the sheer size of the loan, Johnny naturally treated it with the utmost seriousness. If this deal went through, it would account for nearly half of the bank’s annual lending target.

“Mr. Johnny, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Davey said with a smile.

“I didn’t expect you to come personally. I’m surprised—and honored.”

As he spoke, he instructed Elisa to have the other maids bring out brandy, Cuban cigars, and refined desserts.

“Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Land,” several of the bank staff said in unison.

Johnny continued, “My apologies, Mr. Land, but may I take a look at your factory documentation and the advance payment receipts for the equipment?”

“After all, three hundred thousand dollars is no small sum. It will need to go through strict review before we can obtain approval from the board and shareholders.”

“Of course, given your credentials, I don’t expect any problems.”

Davey nodded. “Of course.”

Elisa brought over the documents, and Johnny carefully checked the seals and dates. Even though he knew Mr. Land had ample financial backing, he remained cautious—the amount involved was simply too large.

The reason Davey could borrow such a large sum was that he was using his factories as collateral.

A canned food factory, a leather factory, a furniture factory, a textile factory, a paper mill, a flour mill, and a printing factory—six factories in total.

None of them were small workshops. Even the smallest, the printing factory, employed around thirty workers. The largest, the canned food factory, was expected to hire four hundred people.

Altogether, these factories would provide over a thousand jobs. For Saint Denis, this was a substantial industrial undertaking.

More importantly, all the equipment purchased for these factories was the latest machinery from the eastern United States. The cost of the equipment alone already amounted to one hundred thousand dollars.

These industries were exactly what the West currently lacked. If they operated normally and turned a profit, their estimated value would easily reach four hundred thousand dollars. A loan of three hundred thousand dollars was clearly within a reasonable range.

Even in the worst-case scenario of bankruptcy and liquidation, the combined value of the factories and equipment would still exceed two hundred thousand dollars.

“Mr. Land, your credentials are excellent,” Johnny said.

“Given your strong profile, our bank is willing to offer the lowest interest rate—four percent. Would that be acceptable to you?”

In 1899, the United States was at the tail end of a long cycle of low nominal interest rates on high-grade bonds, with such bonds sitting at around three percent. A four percent loan rate was more than enough to demonstrate the Saint Denis Bank’s sincerity.

This was also closely tied to the bank’s board of directors. Quite a few board members were secretly Davey’s partners in the bootlegging business. They knew exactly how profitable his operation was, so they had no concerns about recovering three hundred thousand dollars.

Even if all of these factories went bankrupt, Davey could still rely on the enormous profits from bootlegging to cover the loan.

Davey nodded. “That’s an excellent rate. I have no objections at all, Mr. Johnny.”

Johnny went on, “The three hundred thousand dollars will be repaid over five years, in sixty installments, starting from the second month after the loan is issued once you sign.”

“The total monthly payment of principal and interest will be seven thousand five hundred fifty dollars and one cent.”

Davey chuckled. “Mr. Johnny, your work really is meticulous.”

He was clearly referring to that last single cent.

Johnny smiled awkwardly. “My apologies, Mr. Land. Bank policy.”

Davey smiled, picked up his pen, and signed his name.

Borrowing three hundred thousand dollars at a four percent interest rate meant repaying a total of four hundred fifty-three thousand dollars over five years. The bank would earn one hundred fifty-three thousand dollars in interest alone.

“Pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Land.”

“The pleasure is mine, Mr. Johnny.”

Johnny was satisfied. At the very least, his personal performance targets were now met. As the president of the Saint Denis Bank, he was still just an employee subject to annual evaluations.

Davey was satisfied as well. Though the interest payments were substantial, three hundred thousand dollars would provide powerful support at this stage, allowing him to open more factories and expand on a larger scale.

Davey had long-term plans for these factories and wasn’t worried about sales at all. His farms and ranches could supply raw materials to the canned food factory, leather factory, textile factory, and flour mill.

The furniture factory was already a hot business. The paper mill could produce low-cost paper, while the printing factory could secure orders from Hector Fellowes, the owner of the Saint Denis newspaper. After all, Davey was on good terms with Fellowes.

One of the reasons Davey wanted to establish paper and printing factories was also tied to his plan to open many elementary schools. Beyond the Land Elementary School in Valentine, he intended to build schools within his industrial park, providing convenience and educational benefits for workers’ children.

By opening more factories, hiring more workers, and offering jobs to an increasing number of immigrants—along with benefits such as education—he would gradually form a true industrial sector, a cluster of factories.

At that point, Davey would control a vast workforce, a sizable voting bloc, and large volumes of tax revenue as a major taxpayer.

All of this would provide tremendous convenience for his future operations and his standing in the West.

...

Chapter 266: Dutch’s Decision

Shady Belle Camp.

On the second-floor balcony of the abandoned manor.

“Have you made up your mind, Dutch?” Hosea asked, a trace of worry in his voice.

Dutch held a cigar between his fingers. “Of course, Hosea. I’ve already gotten word from Bronte—the Pinkertons have discovered our presence in Saint Denis.”

“It won’t take long before they start coming after us.”

“So we don’t have much time left. We need to get out of here before the Pinkertons reach Saint Denis.”

“And for that, we need enough money to go somewhere new.”

Hosea replied, “Dutch, I’ve always felt Bronte isn’t a simple man. I once heard Davey say that the Pinkertons no longer have law enforcement authority in Saint Denis.”

“Maybe we don’t need to be so afraid of them. They might not be able to do anything to us.”

The moment Davey’s name was mentioned, Dutch felt a knot of irritation tighten in his chest.

“Hosea, we can’t place our safety in someone else’s mercy,” Dutch said firmly.

“Yes, the Pinkertons may not have jurisdiction anymore—but does that mean they won’t act?”

“Or what if they come after us as bounty hunters and drag us back to West Elizabeth for trial? Can you accept that?”

“We have to leave. And before we do, we need a lot of money.”

Hosea sighed. “But this plan to rob the tram station… it doesn’t feel reliable.”

“Bronte wouldn’t be that kind.”

Dutch reassured him, “Don’t worry, Hosea. I know Bronte isn’t a good man.”

“That’s why I’ve spent time learning everything I can about the tram station.”

“All the money is stored in the station’s safe, and it’s only collected once every seven days.”

“I’ve seen it—there’s a lot of it. Tens of thousands of dollars, at least.”

“And there are no guards inside the station. We can take it easily.”

“At the very least, Bronte didn’t lie to us about that.”

“Maybe Bronte isn’t a good person, but we share the same interests, don’t we?”

Hosea was persuaded. He knew something about the tram station himself, and it really was just as Dutch described—easy to hit.

“When’s the next time they collect the money?”

“They picked it up two days ago,” Dutch replied. “So we’d need to wait five more days. No—better to be safe. We move in four days.”

“I’ll contact Arthur. Me, Arthur, and Lenny.”

“We don’t need many people. Three will be enough.”

“As soon as we get the money, we leave immediately.”

“I’ve already arranged things with a captain. As long as we pay for the tickets, we’re gone.”

“To a new place. Somewhere no one knows us.”

“To start our lives over.”

“Don’t you want that, Hosea?”

Hosea nodded. They really did need to leave this place.

The Pinkertons weren’t in the best position either. Maybe after a few years of living under assumed names, everyone would forget about them.

“All right,” Hosea said. “But just to be safe, I’ll go see Davey.”

Dutch’s expression darkened. “Why go see him?”

Hosea explained, “He’s our child too, isn’t he, Dutch?”

“Once this plan is done, we’ll be leaving. We might not see him again for many years.”

“I’m old. This could be the last time I ever see Davey.”

“And about the Pinkertons—maybe I can get some information from him, make sure we truly have enough time to get away.”

Hearing that, Dutch’s expression softened.

“Fine,” he said at last. “But don’t tell him about our plan.”

“It’s not that I doubt him. It’s just that some things don’t need to be said.”

Hosea nodded and turned to head downstairs.

Below in the camp, Mary Beth sat quietly, writing her novel. When no one disturbed her, she could lose herself completely in her writing.

“Mary Beth!”

Hosea called out to her.

She looked up. “Hosea? Do you need something?”

“I’m planning a trip to Saint Denis,” Hosea said. “To see Davey. Would you like to come with me?”

He asked her along because he knew Davey and Mary Beth were on good terms. He still remembered the last time Davey had been with the gang—during the bonfire celebration for Sean’s return, when Davey and Mary Beth had danced together. Bringing her along might be a good idea.

“Of course. Why not?” Mary Beth replied with a smile.

Compared to the wandering life of the camp, Mary Beth preferred city living. She seemed like someone who belonged in the civilized world by nature.

In the camp, she often heard things about Davey, stories that filled her with longing and curiosity. Sometimes she wondered what her life would be like now if she’d chosen to leave with him back then.

But she didn’t want to betray Dutch.

She wasn’t like Abigail, who wanted a more stable life for little Jack. Still, it couldn’t be denied that Dutch had sheltered them.

Her, and Sadie, Molly, Karen, Susan—though not Molly, of course.

They didn’t have to sell their bodies like prostitutes, nor steal constantly like petty thieves. The robberies were handled by the men.

Even though they drifted from place to place, they had steady food and a stable life. They could do things they enjoyed without worrying about tomorrow.

They truly had reason to be grateful to Dutch.

Other gangs never took in the elderly or women. In this era, women without family or men to rely on often lived terribly difficult lives.

In that regard, Dutch really had done an exceptional job, with his own unique charisma. That was why, unless absolutely necessary, no one ever left the Van der Linde Gang.

...

Saint Denis, Flavian Street.

Outside the gates of the Land mansion.

Hosea and Mary Beth arrived on horseback. Just as they dismounted, several employees dressed in black uniforms approached them.

“I’m sorry, sir. Ma’am,” one of them said.

“You’ve entered private property. Please leave immediately.”

Hosea smiled. “We’re here to see Davey. We’re his friends.”

The employee asked, “May I have your names?”

Hosea gestured to himself. “Hosea. And this beautiful young lady is Mary Beth.”

“And you shouldn’t address her as ‘ma’am.’ That’s rather impolite.”

The employee nodded. “My apologies. Please wait a moment.”

One of them hurried inside to pass along the message.

Before long, a woman dressed in a maid’s uniform came out.

“Mr. Hosea, Miss Mary Beth, hello,” she said politely.

“I’m Elisa, Mr. Land’s maid.”

“Mr. Land is currently handling some matters. He asked me to convey his apologies and request that you wait for a while.”

“I’ll take you to the sitting room.”

“Thank you, Miss Elisa,” Hosea said.

Elisa smiled. “Please don’t call me that. I’m just Mr. Land’s maid. Elisa is fine.”

Wealth truly changed people.

Elisa had once been a child from a poor family, but after becoming Davey’s personal maid, her life naturally grew comfortable. She might not have been strikingly beautiful, but she had her own youthful charm. Years of good living had given her healthy color and a bright, energetic demeanor. Even dressed in a maid’s uniform, she looked like a young lady from a wealthy household.

The estate was vast, with employees patrolling the grounds. The luxurious décor inside the mansion reminded Hosea of the last time he’d seen such opulence—at the mayor’s residence.

Mary Beth felt a little stiff. She’d heard people say that Davey had become someone important, but it hadn’t truly felt real until now. Only at this moment did she realize that Davey now lived in a world completely different from theirs.

The sofa was so soft it seemed ready to swallow a person whole.

Elisa brought over fine tea, red wine, desserts, and biscuits—along with high-end Cuban cigars. She knew the two were once Mr. Land’s companions.

But just as Hosea and Mary Beth sat down, a furious roar echoed from upstairs.

“You idiots! Didn’t you tell him who paid for that equipment?”

“I don’t accept apologies. Take your men and your guns, and get every piece of my cargo back.”

“Hang their corpses at the port of Van Horn. Let everyone know the price of crossing me!”

...

Chapter 267: Invite Milton Over for Coffee

Davey was furious.

The equipment he’d paid a fortune for in the East had been robbed.

He was usually the one robbing others. Yet in a place like the West, someone actually dared to steal from him.

That was unacceptable.

The West ran on savagery.

Robberies happened almost every day.

What good was Cornwall’s reputation? The O’Driscoll Gang robbed his trains. The Van der Linde Gang robbed his trains too.

So when word spread that a ship was carrying extremely valuable cargo, a robbery was bound to happen.

Of course, Davey hadn’t suffered any real loss.

Under the terms of the purchase contract, the seller was responsible for door-to-door delivery. Until the goods arrived at Davey’s factory in Saint Denis, they weren’t considered officially delivered.

Equipment that expensive was naturally insured.

If it was robbed, the insurance company would cover the loss.

None of it would come out of Davey’s pocket.

Originally, the equipment could have been shipped directly to Saint Denis.

But the seller chose Van Horn Trade Port because transportation was cheaper, saving on freight costs—after all, shipping was covered by the seller.

As a result, Land Security Company didn’t provide escort services for the shipment.

That was how the equipment ended up being stolen.

There was no financial loss, but his pride had taken a hit.

Why would Cornwall spend tens of thousands of dollars wiping out the Van der Linde Gang after losing goods worth only a few thousand?

It was a warning—to everyone else.

Davey was now facing the same situation.

After finishing his phone call, Davey went downstairs.

“Hosea, Mary Beth. Long time no see.”

Hosea held his coffee and smiled.

“Looks like we came at a bad time, Davey.”

Mary Beth had been eating dessert. When she saw Davey come down, she immediately set her fork aside.

“What happened? What got you this angry?” she asked curiously.

Davey shrugged.

“Some small-time punks came out of nowhere and robbed the equipment I bought from the East. That stuff cost me quite a few dollars.”

His mood now mirrored how Cornwall must have felt when he found out his train had been robbed.

Hosea couldn’t help commenting, “People still dare to steal from you out West?”

Davey laughed.

“Didn’t Dutch rob Cornwall’s train back then?”

Hosea burst out laughing.

“You’re right, Davey. Out here in the West, people rob the rich.”

“Now that you’re rich, of course you’re going to get robbed.”

“So this is what they call the troubles of the wealthy?”

“I’d like to experience that kind of trouble myself.”

Davey helplessly took the cigar Elisa had lit for him and took a puff.

“Alright, Hosea. I’ll admit it—you’re absolutely right.”

“It really is a happy kind of trouble.”

With just a few jokes, the atmosphere between them grew noticeably warmer.

Hosea could tell that Davey was still the same man he’d always been. He hadn’t changed or started looking down on his old companions just because he’d gotten rich.

Mary Beth relaxed as well, picking up her fork again and savoring the dessert.

Such delicate sweets were something she’d never enjoyed before. This was her first time.

Hosea casually asked, “Equipment? Planning to open a factory, Davey?”

“And equipment shipped all the way from the East, too.”

Davey shook his head slightly.

“You’re underestimating me, Hosea.”

“Not one factory—six. That’s on top of the two garment factories I already own.”

“So before long, I’ll have eight factories in total.”

“That alone will provide thousands of jobs for the people of Saint Denis.”

Hosea was stunned.

Eight factories. Thousands of jobs.

Davey was becoming a true industrialist.

“That kind of scale must require over a hundred thousand dollars in investment,” Hosea said.

He knew Davey’s moonshine business was profitable, but he hadn’t realized it was this profitable.

Over a hundred thousand dollars.

Back when they robbed the cash transport in Blackwater, they’d only gotten around that amount.

And now, just a few months later, Davey had already made that much?

Davey waved his hand.

“A hundred thousand dollars wouldn’t even come close to opening eight factories.”

“This time, my investment is four hundred thousand dollars.”

The number left Hosea completely speechless.

Mary Beth’s mouth fell open beside him.

Four hundred thousand dollars.

How much money was that?

Even in her dreams, Mary Beth wouldn’t dare imagine such a sum.

Seeing their reactions, Davey laughed.

“Of course, three hundred thousand of it came from a bank loan.”

“Using the bank’s money to grow your own business—that’s the right way to do things, isn’t it?”

Hearing that three hundred thousand was borrowed, Hosea finally felt a little more at ease.

But new thoughts quickly surfaced in his mind.

He had recently been investigating Lemoyne Bank, preparing for one final robbery.

“Did you take the loan from Lemoyne Bank?” Hosea asked.

Davey knew perfectly well about Hosea’s plan to rob Lemoyne Bank.

He could forget plenty of other events, but this one was unforgettable.

Hosea’s death happened during that very plan.

“Of course not,” Davey replied. “Lemoyne Bank doesn’t have that kind of money available for a loan.”

“I’m not saying they don’t have the money. They just wouldn’t approve a loan of that size.”

Hosea was puzzled.

“Isn’t Lemoyne Bank the largest bank in Saint Denis?”

Clearly, banking wasn’t something Hosea understood well.

“It’s not the same thing,” Davey explained.

“Lemoyne Bank is indeed the largest bank in Saint Denis, but it’s a Western bank. Its business mainly serves the West.”

“Saint Denis Bank may be smaller in scale, but its board of directors and shareholders are all from the East.”

“So in reality, Saint Denis Bank has far deeper pockets and much greater lending capacity than Lemoyne Bank.”

Hosea more or less understood. In any case, it made little difference to his plans.

Whether it was Lemoyne Bank or Saint Denis Bank, robbing either one would be enough to set them up for life.

After a brief pause, Hosea finally brought up the real reason for his visit.

“Davey, I’ve heard that Pinkerton has been keeping an eye on us lately.”

“Have you heard anything about the Pinkerton Detective Agency?”

Davey truly hadn’t been paying attention to Pinkerton’s movements.

But based on how things unfolded, Pinkerton appeared during Dutch’s robbery of Lemoyne Bank.

They might already be in Saint Denis.

“Sorry, I really haven’t been following them,” Davey said.

“You know this, Hosea. They’re not much of a problem for me right now.”

Hosea looked slightly disappointed.

“Alright, Davey.”

Davey suddenly smiled.

“That said, getting information on them wouldn’t be a problem at all.”

“Elisa.”

Elisa bowed slightly. “Mr. Land.”

“Call Pinkerton headquarters,” Davey instructed. “Tell them Land Security Company may be interested in establishing a cooperative relationship with them here in the West.”

“Let them know I have a good relationship with their senior agent, Andrew Milton.”

“Have them pass along a message asking Andrew Milton to contact me immediately.”

Elisa bowed again.

“Understood, Mr. Land. I’ll contact Pinkerton right away.”

Hosea was completely stunned.

You could do that?

Davey smiled.

“You should know this Agent Milton, Hosea. He was responsible for handling the Cornwall contract against the Van der Linde Gang.”

“The Pinkerton Agency won’t turn down a partnership with Land Security Company.”

“I don’t think it’ll take long before Milton calls me back.”

“I don’t know his current situation yet, but I can ask him directly.”

“If he’s already in Saint Denis, I’ll invite him over. Maybe we can have a cup of coffee together.”

“I doubt Agent Milton will refuse my invitation.”

“After all, this concerns Pinkerton’s interests in the West.”

....

Chapter 268: The Valkyrie’s Transformation

“Thank you, Davey.”

Hosea was deeply moved. Davey hadn’t forgotten him, nor had he forgotten the Van der Linde Gang.

The bond they’d shared over the years was real.

In truth, Hosea had always known that Davey was willing to help them. He never once saw Davey’s departure as a betrayal.

Everyone had the right to pursue a better life.

Strictly speaking, the Callander brothers were different from the rest of the gang. Unlike those who merely sought protection, the once-notorious Callander brothers had joined the Van der Linde Gang more as partners than subordinates.

They had contributed a great deal to the gang.

“What are you saying, Hosea? Are you treating me like an outsider now?”

“Even if I’m no longer part of the Van der Linde Gang, we’re friends forever, aren’t we?”

Davey said with a smile.

Hosea smiled back. “You’re right, Davey. We’re friends forever.”

The two soon began reminiscing about the old days they’d shared.

Years of wandering, robbing, and surviving together had left them with far too many memories to count.

Mary Beth sat quietly to the side, listening. Just like back at camp, she remained gentle and reserved.

Before long, the desserts were gone, and the chilled fruit juice was nearly finished.

Although refrigerators had already been invented in the United States, they were still in their early stages and considered luxury items.

Even so, Davey clearly didn’t care about the cost.

Seeing that Mary Beth’s plate and glass were empty, a maid immediately brought over a fresh serving.

“Thank you,” Mary Beth said softly.

“My pleasure, Miss,” the maid replied with a smile.

Davey’s estate employed quite a few servants. A manor of this size required constant care and maintenance.

At that moment, Elisa was on the phone with Pinkerton headquarters.

Pinkerton took the call from Land Security Company very seriously.

In its current decline, with layoffs becoming common, every contract mattered to Pinkerton.

They were already familiar with Davey’s situation—a wealthy and influential client.

As a result, the two sides quickly reached an understanding, and Pinkerton promised to contact Milton at once and have him call Davey.

Less than twenty minutes later, the phone in Davey’s study rang.

“Mr. Land, it’s Agent Milton on the line.”

Davey smiled at Hosea. “Looks like we’ll be able to ask him about his whereabouts after all.”

Hosea followed Davey into the study.

Davey picked up the receiver.

“Hello, Mr. Milton.”

“Hello, Mr. Land. I hear you’re interested in working with Pinkerton,” Milton’s voice came through the line.

“Of course,” Davey replied. “You’ve probably heard the news—some equipment I purchased from the East was robbed.”

“That was extremely expensive equipment. Surely this is exactly the kind of situation where Pinkerton should be involved.”

“I trust you, Mr. Milton. I’m confident you’re more than capable of handling this for me.”

Milton hesitated slightly. “But I’ve heard that you’ve already arranged for your own people to deal with the matter, Mr. Land.”

Davey chuckled. “Does that interfere with our cooperation?”

“No, of course not,” Milton replied. “Pinkerton would be very happy to work with you.”

The voice on the line was loud enough that Hosea could hear everything.

At that moment, he couldn’t help but reflect on it. The Pinkertons they feared like monsters were, in the end, nothing more than hounds driven by money.

Did Pinkerton really not know the past of the Callander brothers?

And yet, they still bowed before the dollar.

“I’d like to meet with you in person, Mr. Milton,” Davey said.

“As soon as possible, if you can. That equipment is rather urgent for me.”

After a brief pause, Milton replied, “That won’t be a problem. I’m already in Saint Denis. When would you be available, Mr. Land?”

The moment those words were spoken, Hosea knew Bronte had lied to them.

Bronte had claimed that Pinkerton had only just received intelligence on the Van der Linde Gang and was still on the way.

But in reality, the Pinkertons were already in Saint Denis.

Hosea grew anxious. He needed to return immediately and warn Dutch.

The tram station was very likely a trap.

Davey didn’t answer right away. He glanced at Hosea.

Hosea gave a slight shake of his head.

“Tomorrow would be a good day,” Davey said into the phone. “If it’s convenient, you can come to my estate. I believe you know the address, Mr. Milton.”

“I look forward to our meeting, Mr. Land,” Milton replied.

After hanging up, Davey said calmly, “It seems Pinkerton is moving faster than you expected.”

“I need to head back,” Hosea said at once.

“I have to tell Dutch and the others about this as soon as possible.”

Davey nodded. “Alright. Looks like our talk ends here for today.”

“Once I learn more from Milton, I’ll send someone to inform you.”

“Thank you, Davey,” Hosea said sincerely.

As they were leaving, Mary Beth hesitated and asked softly, “Will we see each other again, Davey?”

Davey smiled. “My door is always open to you, Mary Beth.”

“And to you too, Hosea. To all of our friends.”

...

Not far from the Land estate, at Bronte’s mansion.

Bronte was answering a phone call.

“We’re ready, Mr. Bronte.”

“Then have your people begin, Colm.”

...

Shady Belle.

Arthur had just returned.

Sadie felt that life had been unbearably dull lately.

“Ever since I joined you, all kinds of strange things have happened,” she said.

“And now you and Dutch have even entered Saint Denis high society?”

“Seems that way,” Arthur replied.

Sadie raised her dagger. “I think I’ve already said goodbye to civilized society.”

Arthur mentioned how even someone like Bill could dress up in a gentleman’s suit and attend the Saint Denis mayor’s banquet.

At that point, anyone could.

Just then, Dutch called Arthur over to discuss plans for robbing the tram station.

“Dutch, when are you going to take me along on a job?” Sadie asked proactively.

Dutch clearly didn’t think Sadie would be much help in a robbery.

With a grin, he joked, “Get a few more like her, and we could rule the world.”

Arthur shot back, “Get a few more like her, and there won’t be much of the world left.”

Dutch shared the results of his investigation into the tram station.

He believed it was time to make a move.

“I’ve never robbed anything in the city before,” Arthur said.

In truth, he was worried. A city robbery would draw far too much attention.

But once Dutch had made up his mind, Arthur wouldn’t argue.

It had always been that way.

“Just the two of us?”

“We might need one more.”

“We should bring Lenny.”

“Why not Micah Bell?” Dutch countered.

Arthur replied evenly, “That depends on whether you want to be soaked in blood or happily counting money.”

Arthur hadn’t forgotten what happened in Strawberry.

Because of that, he had a much clearer understanding of Micah Bell.

“I just wish I could do something to help you two get along,” Dutch said.

Internal conflict was the last thing he wanted in the gang.

“The solution’s simple,” Arthur replied. “Make him change.”

“That’s a good one.”

Suddenly, movement came from outside the trees.

“Look—over there, by the woods.”

Dutch immediately sensed something was wrong.

Gunfire erupted.

“Everyone, take cover—!”

The fight broke out.

Unlike the original events, Kieran wasn’t with the gang this time. He was staying with Davey in Valentine, tending to his horses, and so he wasn’t killed by the O’Driscoll Gang.

Although the O’Driscoll Gang had the numbers, the Van der Linde Gang was far from weak now.

Dutch, Arthur, and Micah Bell—three deadly shots.

Along with Lenny, Charles, Javier Escuella, Bill, Sean MacGuire, and the rest of the crew.

The O’Driscoll assault was quickly beaten back.

As Arthur cleared the battlefield, he saw Sadie kill three O’Driscoll men with her dagger.

In that moment, Arthur saw Sadie in an entirely new light.

Sadie completed her transformation into a true badass widow.

When Hosea and Mary Beth finally returned to camp, they were met with corpses scattered across the ground and chaos everywhere.

....

Chapter 269: God Has Forgiven Him

Shady Belle Camp.

They worked until nightfall before finally hauling all the bodies into the swamp to feed the alligators.

Fortunately, the O’Driscoll Gang’s attack hadn’t cost the Van der Linde Gang a single life.

In small-scale fights, sharpshooters were practically unstoppable.

Dutch and Arthur had completely controlled the battle.

Arthur in particular—armed with nothing but a revolver—had easily suppressed waves of O’Driscoll men. The moment one of them peeked out, he was dead.

Dutch was no less fearsome, firing with both hands and landing headshots with near-perfect precision.

And then there was Micah Bell. The so-called “rat” was undeniably one of the top gunslingers in the West.

The O’Driscolls might have looked overwhelming in numbers, but under the fire of those three sharpshooters, they dropped like wheat before a scythe.

“That slippery bastard Colm sent his men to die again,” Dutch cursed.

Colm knew full well how strong the Van der Linde Gang was, which was why he never showed up in person. To him, his men were expendable. If they died, he could always recruit more.

“Dutch, Colm knows where our camp is. We might need to move,” Arthur said grimly.
“He could’ve tipped Pinkerton off about this place.”

The O’Driscolls’ attack had come out of nowhere—they hadn’t received a single warning. Shady Belle was no longer safe.

Hosea said, “I went to see Davey today. Bronte’s information was wrong—maybe deliberately so.”
“The real situation is this: Pinkerton’s senior agent, Milton, has already arrived in Saint Denis.”

At the mention of Davey, Dutch’s expression tightened.

“Hosea, how can you be sure Bronte’s the one who lied, and not Davey?”

Hosea bristled. “Dutch, don’t let jealousy cloud your judgment. You should trust Davey—he was one of us.”
“Even if he’s left the Van der Linde Gang, the bond is still there. It always will be.”
“He hadn’t heard anything about Pinkerton. Right in front of me, he called Pinkerton headquarters. Using his Land Security Company partnership as leverage, he asked them to have Milton contact him.”
“Mary Beth and I waited less than thirty minutes before Milton called back.”
“And he told Davey they were already in Saint Denis.”
“That’s the truth.”

Dutch’s face darkened further. Arthur felt a knot tighten in his chest as well. No one could afford to ignore the threat Pinkerton posed.

But this time, Dutch didn’t flare up.

With the gang’s survival at stake, he didn’t have the luxury of clinging to jealousy over Davey.

“Arthur. Hosea.”
“We don’t have much time.”
“We need to get out of here as soon as possible.”
“Colm bringing his men here proves this place isn’t safe anymore. But leaving takes money.”
“So the plan to rob the tram depot has to go forward.”

Hosea shook his head. “Dutch, the tram station tip came from Bronte. He even hid the news about Pinkerton from us.”
“Bronte has plenty of men in Saint Denis. I don’t believe for a second he didn’t know Pinkerton had arrived.”
“So maybe we should drop the tram depot job.”
“Compared to that, robbing Lemoyne Bank is a better option.”
“I heard from Davey that he took out a three-hundred-thousand-dollar loan from the Saint Denis Bank. That means Lemoyne Bank must be holding a large amount of cash.”
“If we pull that off, we’ll have more than enough to leave.”

Three hundred thousand dollars.

The number stunned both Arthur and Dutch.

Davey could secure a loan like that now?

Dutch recovered first, but he shook his head.

“No, Hosea.”
“It’s a good plan. Lemoyne Bank definitely has serious money.”
“But it’s too dangerous.”
“Robbing a bank in the middle of a city like that will cause a storm.”
“Bronte may not be trustworthy, but I’ve seen the tram depot with my own eyes. There’s a lot of money in there.”
“Maybe not as much—but enough for us to leave and start over.”
“And it’s safer. Isn’t it?”

Hosea fell silent.

If they were thinking about the gang’s safety, the tram depot was indeed easier than hitting a bank.

“You’re certain you saw it yourself, Dutch?”

Dutch grinned and tapped his eyes. “Of course, Hosea. Both eyes. It’s in the little office at the depot—in the safe.”
“Packed with cash. Stack after stack. At least tens of thousands.”
“And while I was scouting the place, I found a friendly captain willing to take us to Australia… or Tahiti.”
“We pay for passage. Once we arrive, we pay for land.”
“He won’t ask questions. And then we disappear. Start fresh.”
“Grow mangoes. Or whatever else we feel like.”

He was already painting the future in bright colors.

Arthur couldn’t help himself. “What the hell kind of place is Tahiti?”

“The South Pacific,” Dutch said. “An untouched paradise.”

In Dutch’s mind, Tahiti was what the West used to be—wild, free, unspoiled. He wanted that life back.

“Who lives there?” Arthur asked.

“Tahitians, I suppose.”

Arthur glanced at Hosea. “That gambling riverboat brought in good money. But it’s not enough for all of us to leave and live free.”

There were too many mouths in the Van der Linde Gang. Even tens of thousands split up didn’t go far.

Arthur wanted one last big score—something truly substantial.

Hosea understood then that the decision had already been made.

“Fine.”

He gave in.

Even though he believed the bank job was the safer bet, he didn’t trust Bronte one bit. He had always suspected the tram depot tip was a trap.

But Arthur had chosen to back Dutch.

Two votes to one. That was that.

...

The next day.

Pinkerton Senior Agent Milton and his deputy, Ross, arrived at the Land mansion on Rue Flavienne.

“Who would’ve thought the infamous Callander brothers would end up like this?” Milton said, studying the grand gates.
“Living openly on Rue Flavienne, in a mansion this size.”
“Life is unpredictable.”

He took in the sight of the well-trained employees in black combat uniforms stationed at the entrance.

“Bootlegging made them rich beyond measure,” Ross muttered.
“And those liquor agents back East? A bunch of fools.”
“Whoever pays them is who they serve.”

There was bitterness in his voice.

Once, they had represented justice, and the Callander brothers had been criminals.

Now, the roles had reversed.

They were here to serve criminals.

Pinkerton’s files still contained detailed records on the Callander brothers. But those records meant nothing now.

The Saint Denis court had already sentenced the Callander brothers to hang.

Legally speaking, they were dead.

Everyone knew the men who swung from the gallows had been stand-ins—but unless someone formally challenged it, the law stood.

And challenging it would mean confronting the entire Saint Denis judicial system.

Pinkerton didn’t even have formal law enforcement authority. How could they possibly take on Saint Denis’s courts?

“Relax, Ross,” Milton said calmly.
“We have to accept reality. He’s our client now.”
“And at least they’ve changed, haven’t they?”
“Valentine’s Land Elementary, the Veterans’ Club, and these factories about to open will provide thousands of jobs for Saint Denis.”
“That’s enough for me.”
“God forgives those who repent, doesn’t He, Ross?”