Brandy sat on the bed in the jail, looking at each other with the town sheriff, Curtis Malloy, outside the iron bars.
Sheriff Malloy felt that he was falling into a confrontation with a powerful bounty hunter and an excellent sharpshooter, and he felt a little nervous.
And Brandy felt that he just left town for a long time, and he went from being popular to being criticized, and now he is in jail. Now, in addition to being full of doubts and puzzles, he only has time with Malloy.
The police chief stared in embarrassment.
"I said, Sheriff," Brandy said helplessly, "you invited me here, took my gun off, put me in jail, and then just stared at me here.
It’s been ten minutes and I don’t even know why I was treated like this. Do you think this is reasonable?”
Sheriff Malloy didn't say anything, he just pulled up a chair and sat down, continuing to smoke his cigar, as if he was completely unmoved as you played with his lips and tongue.
"Taking a step back, even a death row prisoner will know what crimes he has committed, right?" Brandi continued, "You are now imprisoning a federally certified bounty hunter without knowing why.
Here, according to relevant laws, even if you are the town sheriff, you have to serve at least one year of hard labor in the prison on Sisica Island."
Sheriff Malloy still didn't speak, but Brandy found that when he mentioned that he would serve a year of hard labor, Sheriff Malloy's hand holding the cigar trembled obviously, so Brandy knew what he was saying.
It worked.
"I think my words should have touched your soul," Brandi became more and more calm at this time, "But don't worry, Chief Malloy, you and I are friends, I will not embarrass you, as long as you
Tell me the whole story, and I'll pretend it didn't happen."
"Also, a friendly reminder, don't think about killing people and silencing them," Brandi reminded again, "You should have seen that I also brought two friends with me. If they don't see me leaving you safe and sound before dark,
When they come out of the office, they will notify my other friends that no matter what they do to you and your police officers, it can be legally classified as self-defense. Even if they go to court, they will not be punished.
Acquitted, and you and your men will just become part of the mud paved on Valentine's road."
Sheriff Malloy took a deep drag on his cigar until the cigar in his hand almost burned his fingers before he put it out.
Sheriff Malloy sighed and said, "Brother Brandi, speaking of which, this matter is indeed related to you. I really had no choice, so I took this step."
He got up from the chair, walked to his desk, opened a drawer, took out a piece of yellowed paper, and handed it to Brandi through the gap between the prison bars.
Brandy took the strange-smelling paper. The writing on the paper was black and red. If she smelled it carefully, she could detect a faint smell of rust.
"Written in blood?" A trace of doubt arose in Brandy's heart, and he began to read what was written on the paper:
"To the people of Valentine,
In recent times, our brothers and sisters have been ruthlessly injured and hunted, all because of a person you should all be familiar with. We do not expect you to release them. We only hope that you can hand him over within three days.
Come out, in this way, we will choose to treat the residents of this town well, otherwise, in the morning three days later, no chickens or dogs will be left."
There was no signature on the paper, but from the meaning revealed between the lines, Brandy could probably guess the identity of the person who left the note.
He handed the piece of paper back to Sheriff Malloy and said, "Let me guess, is the person who came to deliver the letter wearing a strange robe and talking in a high-spirited manner?"
Sheriff Malloy was a little surprised at first, and then he answered with a clear understanding: "It seems that this matter really has something to do with you. Yes, one of the people who came was indeed wearing a strange robe and...
He shouts about purification and judgment like a madman, looking like a fanatical believer, but what he says is not the teachings in the Bible at all."
"Huh?" Brandi keenly captured the details in Chief Malloy's words and said, "You mean, besides the kind of person I mentioned, there is another person? Does he have any characteristics?"
Sheriff Malloy pondered for a while and said: "That man is completely different from his companions. He is dressed in a sloppy cowboy dress and has a strong Irish accent. He looks very gangster and is a standard outlaw."
"Irish accent? O'Driscoe? Is he in alliance with the Shepherd? And he came here specifically to deal with me?" Brandi felt for a moment that he had really become a real man of the hour. After all, in theory, he could
The person being targeted by two legendary wanted criminals should also be a legend.
"Oh, by the way," Sheriff Malloy added: "The Irish gangster also kidnapped a little girl during the chaos and said that if he couldn't hand you over on time, he would do it in front of everyone in the town at the appointed time.
Give her face..."
Sheriff Malloy did not say anything further, but Brandy knew that no matter what the words behind her were, the little girl would not end well.
"So?" Brandi was no longer anxious at this time. Now that he knew the whole story, the matter would be easy to solve. "You just compromised with a cult organization that endangers the country and a notorious gang.
, imprison a bounty hunter who has made outstanding contributions to the security of this town and even this state, and plan to hand him over to those scum?"
"I...this..." Sheriff Malloy was a little at a loss when asked by Brandy. Finally, he sighed heavily and said, "Oh, I can't help it. Brother Brandy, what's the situation in our town?
I also know that there are only eight people in the entire police force including me. Even counting the existing vigilantes in the town, there are only less than twenty people at most. It is impossible to stop those gangsters and cultists. They threatened to do so.
More than a hundred people were used, and there were even heavy weapons."
Brandi asked: "Can't we ask for help? The bailiffs in charge of this area, the state's Mounted Police, or if that doesn't work, go to the U.S. Army for help. Aren't these all feasible methods?"
When Chief Malloy said this, he felt like his head was as big as a bucket: "Your Excellency, the bailiff of this state has already come here once this month. I don't know when he will come again next time. You also know that the whereabouts of the bailiff are elusive.
Yes, we just can’t find him at all.”
"As for the Mounted Police, there is no hope. I heard that all the Mounted Police in this area are now focusing on handling the case of Mr. Cornwall's private train being robbed. It is impossible for them to focus on helping us, because
Gains and possible losses are simply not proportional.”
"The situation of the U.S. Army is similar. They will only focus on driving out or even killing the Indians, and will not care about the survival of a small livestock town on the territory of this state."
Having said this, Chief Malloy sighed again and said: "We are truly alone and helpless now."
"So, you are going to sell me like this?" The smile at the corner of Brandi's mouth was full of sarcasm and cruelty.
Chief Malloy smiled helplessly and said, "If there is any other way, I don't want to do this."
"Then what if I can do something?" Brandi stopped smiling, her face became serious, and her eyes became sharper.
"Oh?" Sheriff Malloy immediately became more energetic after hearing this, "What method? Please tell me in detail."
"You have to let me go first," Brandi said calmly, "Look at the sky, it's going to be dark soon. If you don't hurry up, those thugs and cultists haven't come over yet, and my friends will probably
Your whole town will be destroyed soon."
Sheriff Malloy subconsciously turned to look out the window and saw some stars flashing in the blue sky. He immediately jumped up from his chair, hurriedly took out the prison key from the drawer of his desk, and handed Brandi the key to the prison.
Released.
Brandy slowly emerged from the jail, flexed her wrists and neck, and said, "You made the right choice, Mr. Sheriff."
"What is the method you just mentioned?" Sheriff Malloy asked impatiently.
"Of course we are looking for reinforcements, my dear Mr. Sheriff," Brandy tied his gun belt around his waist and said, "With less than twenty of you, how can you possibly stop more than a hundred bloodthirsty gangsters?"
What about fanatical lunatics and heavy weapons spraying hot bullets?”
"But at this critical moment, where can we find reinforcements?" Sheriff Malloy asked anxiously.
"You don't have to worry about this," Brandi said lightly, "all you need to do is trust me."
At this time, there was a noise outside the door.
"Did you hear that?" Brandi smiled, "My friends are coming to pick me up."
Valentine, the main road entering the town.
Dutch, Arthur, Charles, Javier, Micah, Bill, and Lenny were confronting the police in Valentine Town with guns at this time. They were all riding on their own horses. Out of caution, everyone
Everyone covered their faces with scarves.
Dutch held up his two Scofield revolvers, locked the two policemen with their guns, and shouted: "Police in the city, listen, we just want to take away our friends, we don't want to hurt any of you.
People, I hope you will release our friends as soon as possible, otherwise, I can't guarantee that the people under my command will do anything extraordinary."
"Boss is right," Micah cheered, watching the excitement, "If you don't send our youngest and most promising friends out in one piece, I bet I will kill all of you."
Ashes, I mean every living person in this town!"
"Micah, you've gone too far." Arthur on the side reminded him quietly.
"Oops, I'm sorry, I'm on top," Michael smiled a little awkwardly, and then changed his words, "I just said it wrong, we don't care about civilians, but you dogs wearing badges, we will be the only one when the time comes.
I won’t even stay!”
"Shut up, Micah!" Dutch shouted in a low voice.
"Okay, boss." Micah immediately shut his mouth obediently.
"I'll stress it again," Dutch shouted loudly, "You don't want to challenge our patience, okay? Now, I'll count down to the tens.
After counting to ten, if our goal is not achieved, you will be responsible for the consequences. Ten!"
"Hey," at this moment, Brandy and Sheriff Malloy came out of the Sheriff's Office together. When Brandy saw this situation, he immediately shouted, "I'm fine, put your guns down and don't be impulsive.
"
Seeing that Brandy was safe and sound, Dutch pointed his gun in the air and said, "Brandy, are you okay?"
"Don't worry, I'm fine," Brandy responded, mounted her horse and walked up to Dutch, saying, "I was just chatting with Mr. Sheriff."
"It's okay," Dutch smiled slightly, and then shouted loudly again, "Fellow police officers in Valentine, I hereby advise you to be polite to Mr. Brandi Munny, otherwise, you will not
Nothing will end well, trust me."
"Come on, boss, I have an important report here," Brandy whispered to Dutch for a while, then suddenly asked Sheriff Malloy, "Mr. Sheriff, let me ask, did they say anything about the little girl?"
Have you been tied somewhere?"
"Not really." Chief Malloy shook his head and said.
"It seems they haven't reached that level of arrogance yet." Brandi thought, and then asked: "Then have they said where they will send me if they catch me?"
"They did say this," Sheriff Malloy said. "They said that if they catch you, you will be sent to Mr. Thomas Downs' ranch as soon as possible."
Brandy nodded thoughtfully, turned his horse's head and said, "Then I'll take my leave now. Mr. Sheriff, relax, I'll definitely give you a surprise tomorrow."
Eight men and eight horses rushed out of Valentine at high speed, leaving only Chief Malloy and his policemen looking at the smoke and dust they left behind, looking a little silly.
"Chief, why did you let him out?" a police officer under Chief Malloy asked with some annoyance.
"If I don't let him go, we will all be doomed today," Chief Malloy replied angrily to the policeman. Then, he looked at the billowing smoke and dust gradually disappearing on the horizon and murmured, "Besides, I believe
He, since he said there is a way, then there must be a way."
Horseshoe Lookout at night.
Around the campfire, all the members of the Van der Linde gang sat together and listened to Brandi share information.
"You're saying that Colm O'Driscoe and a cult called 'Seventh Generation' are going to kill Valentine with the purpose of catching you?" Dutch asked.
"You can say that," Brandi nodded and said, "After all, I sent two of the mid-level leaders of that cult to prison, and I also made Colm's plan to kidnap the eldest lady of the Cornwall family go through.
, I guess both of them are eager to chop me up alive now."
Arthur joked: "I didn't expect that the little baby who was still young on the snow-capped mountains has become so capable. I am very pleased." His words made almost everyone present laugh.
"Okay, let's all be serious, let's talk about business now," Dutch stopped everyone's laughter and said, "Now, Hosea, what do you think we should do about this matter?"
"If you ask me, we can actually run away now," Hosea took a puff of cigarette and said calmly, "Now Valentine is no longer safe, but now we are all here, not a single one of us is safe.
Not bad, so now, we'd better leave quickly and run far away. No matter whether that town will remain on the territory of this country in three days, it has nothing to do with us. Now, what we need most is
What I'm worried about is that Detective Pinkerton will catch up with us at some point following the scent and traces. As long as we run fast enough, those brats won't be able to catch up with us. We'll make a big circle in the east and then return.
In the West, by that time, the bounty will no longer make much sense, we can just buy a few pieces of land and live a retired life."
"But you overlooked one thing, my old man," Dutch said. "We are broke now and don't have a penny in our pocket. What will we use to buy the land? Our own bounty?"
"So, Dutch, what do you think?" Arthur asked.
"What do you mean," Dutch paused, then continued, "why don't we beat the hell out of Colm and his bunch of bastards in Valentine?"
"Dutch, are you crazy?" Hosea almost jumped up from his chair. He said, "The train ticket has attracted Cornwall's attention. According to Cornwall's temper, he will definitely
Detective Pinkerton was hired at a high price to investigate us. In other words, we have attracted the attention of Detective Pinkerton. Now there is just such an opportunity for Detective Pinkerton and other departments of the judiciary to divert their energy to those evil people.
Regarding the cultists and Colm, if they really make enough noise, then we might really be able to completely escape capture, so why do you want to get involved?"
"Because I hate Colm and I want him dead, it's that simple." Dutch said through gritted teeth.
"Dutch, although I hate Colm too, I don't think it's appropriate to end a relationship with them now," Arthur also advised, "Besides, the risk is too high for us to do this, but the return is too low.
The biggest gain from defending a town is reputation, but in our current situation, reputation is a burden we cannot bear."
"Then we don't want that reputation," Dutch said with a wave of his hand. "We give up all this reputation to that police chief, and then we ask for higher financial rewards. Doesn't this meet our needs?"
"
"Then have you thought about it later?" Hosea persuaded him earnestly, "Do you think we won't be investigated because we helped the police chief? Going there to get involved will only make us more noticeable.
.Let’s go, Dutch, this country is so big, where can’t we make a fortune?”
"However, precisely because this country is so big, there are not many opportunities to beat up Colm. I can even say that this is the only one." Dutch's eyes were filled with the flames of revenge at this time.
"Dutch," Arthur said, "didn't you say that revenge is a fool's game."
"While you can still move, people should be more stupid." Dutch waved his hand again, indicating that this topic could be ended, "Okay, I have made up my mind. I will go to Valentine to negotiate with the Sheriff tomorrow morning. You guys
There is no need to say anything more."
Hosea and Arthur looked at each other and shook their heads helplessly.
"Now that the boss has made up his mind, I have another unmerciful request." Seeing that the dispute between the gang leaders had ended, Brandy said in his heart that it was as expected.
"Say it, Brandi." Dutch looked at Brandi and said.
"I learned from the Sheriff that Colm's men also captured a little girl as a hostage. Although he didn't know where those guys took the little girl, the Sheriff said that those guys asked them to take the girl hostage.
I sent him to the Downs Ranch south of Valentine, so I guessed that the little girl was probably there. Even if she wasn't there, the ranch was probably a camp for those people. I wanted to take away the girl who suffered misfortune because of me.
Rescue the little girl."
"Humph, that guy Colm still likes to play dirty tricks," Dutch sneered at Colm O'Driscoe, and then said, "Well, this is what should be done, Bran
Dee, no matter what the situation is over there, going alone is the same as sending yourself to death."
Dutch immediately shouted: "Arthur, Charles, Lenny, you and Brandi, go and rescue the poor girl. If the girl is not there, kill everyone there and leave no one behind."
.”
"As you wish, Dutch."
Arthur responded and called to Brandi, Charles and Lenny to leave the bonfire together, mount their horses and run towards their next destination. This chapter has been completed!