In the afternoon, on the outskirts of Valentine, the horseshoe lookout.

It's a little-known place hidden in the middle of a dense forest, perched atop a cliff, and only those who really know Valentine's surroundings know about it. Because of its horse-like shape, flat terrain and wide view, it was named Horseshoe Lookout by those who knew it.

Three days ago, the first batch of the Van der Linde Gang came here, and today, all the Van der Linde Gang members have basically been in place, and all kinds of logistical support work and personnel placement work have been basically completed, just waiting for the last few members to return to the team, and the Van der Linde Gang has officially settled in New Hanover, east of Griezri and with animal husbandry, coal mining and oil exploitation as its main industries.

Ducky van der Linde, the legendary outlaw and sharpshooter and excellent leader, is sitting in his luxury tent and that of his lover Molly, flipping through a book called "American Eden".

The author of this book is the famous writer and university professor Aveline Miller, who yearns for nature and freedom, opposes government and constraints, and is even extreme to the point of opposing the progress of human civilization.

Ducky admired Aveline Miller very much, and he agreed with his views on "freedom", and it was from Aveline Miller's writings that Ducky gained a sense of self-identity, which made him believe that everything he did was a struggle for a great cause—to create a free country of his own and to belong to the gangs, or an anarchist utopia.

This may be the reason why the Van der Linde gang is different from other ordinary gangs, although they do the same thing as a whole, but they have principles, ideas, and even programs, so that all the criminal acts of the gangs seem to have a higher explanation, that is, the struggle against the American government, which enslaves and binds the American people.

Because of this, Ducky always believed that he was not as great as Washington, the founding father of the United States, and Abraham Lincoln, who liberated black slaves, but he could speak to any powerful person in the country on an equal footing, and he preferred to see himself as a fighter, an unruly fighter against government oppression, rather than a criminal.

However, the failed business in Blackwater has thrown him into an unprecedented slump, and the gang can only hide under his leadership, and the brothers and sisters who used to fight side by side around him have been confused for a while, and all the plan in his mind is to find a place to stay and hide until the damned Pinkerton detectives lose interest in tracking them down.

However, perhaps it was the end of the day, they finally found a respite in the blizzard, the team was restocked, the gang had new members, they even beat up the Odrysco gang pups, and snatched a train, and now in a place close to civilization, the bonds that were snatched from the train in Cornwall were expected to be sold quickly.

All in all, the gang should now be back on track and starting to get things right.

Fresh blood, successful plans, all this seems to indicate that the series of encounters in Blackwater is only a temporary small setback, and Ducky van der Linde and the Van der Linde gang are about to return as kings.

However, because of this, Daqi has to continue to think about the future and think about the plan to make a fortune, because he is the head of this big family, and his eyes cannot be limited to the immediate food and clothing, the final destination of the gang, and whether everyone can finally live a good life without worrying about food and drink for the rest of their lives with the huge amount of money they have robbed, these must be included in the plan in his mind.

Suddenly there was a loud shout in the forest leading to the camp and in response to the shout, and Ducky put down his book and looked at the source of the sound, knowing that this movement meant that his outcasts had finally arrived home.

A carriage loaded with various supplies slowly drove into the eyes of the people in the camp, and it came to a steady stop outside the camp, and the four men on it also jumped out of the carriage.

"Boys, girls, don't be stunned, come and unload the truck, today is a good day!" The red-cheeked uncle shouted.

"Uncle," said Ducky, as he emerged from his tent, "it looks like you've done some real work at last." ”

"I've done a great job today," said the uncle, who patted Brandy, who had gotten out of the car with him, on the shoulder, "Well, look who I've brought back." ”

"Boss, it's been a long time." Brandi lifted the brim of his hat and bowed slightly, showing his respect for Ducky as the leader of the gang.

Daqi recognized the young man dressed as a gentleman in front of him at a glance, and he was very pleased that this young man had been away from the team for nearly half a month, but he still maintained his respect for himself and loyalty to the gang.

"Welcome back, Brandy," Ducky said, patting Brandi on the shoulder, "how does it feel to live in a civilized society?" ”

Brandi smiled, "Well, it's like being in a fancy cage where I can get anything but freedom." ”

Ducky nodded approvingly, and said, "It's very rare that you can feel this, kid, and that's why our gang is still wandering in the wilderness despite having the ability to get a better background in a civilized society." ”

As he spoke, Daqi turned around and faced the broad view of the Horseshoe Lookout, where the sun was shining, the trees were green, the mountains were undulating, the water was murmuring, the birds were soaring in the sky, the beasts were running and jumping on the vast land, the swimming fish often jumped out of the water, the scales and waves reflected each other, and the beauty of nature was in full view.

"Brandy, have you heard of Aveline Miller?" Ducky asked.

After thinking for a moment, Brandi nodded and said, "I think I've heard of him, but I don't know much about him." ”

"That's a pity, he's a great writer," Dudge said as he looked at the scenery in front of him, "and in his famous Eden of America, there is a line: 'The whole point of America is freedom.'" Freedom of thought, freedom of contract, freedom of action'. ”

"Great motto." Brandi commented.

"Yes, that's a great saying," said Ducky, "but the civilization and progress of the United States is gradually deviating from the description of this maxim, from the way the country should go, and the people who are on top of it, who flaunt their might and give orders in that white room and do nothing, are sinners for the ages." ”

Ducky's palm gently patted Brandy's shoulder and said, "I have a plan, a child, a big plan, we want to make a big profit, a lot of money, enough for us to fly away, or cross the ocean, to the west of this country, to Australia, or Hawaii, or Tahiti, anywhere, and then establish our own country, a truly free and equal homeland, in that virgin land that has not been invaded by civilization." ”

"What a touching goal," Brandi said inwardly, "I hope you'll remember your dreams by the end, hehe, but I think you'll definitely forget." ”

Just as Ducky was instilling the newcomers to the gang with his plans and dreams, the gang's philosophy and future, and so on, a gentle and magnetic voice of an old man came from behind them: "We have arrived, gentlemen, and it is good to go home." ”

Ducky and Brandy turned around together, and saw Hosea and Arthur jump out of a carriage full of various luggage, and as soon as the two of them arrived, Susan Grimshaw, who was in charge of logistics, directed the boys and girls in the camp to unload the cart and continue to improve the already decent camp.

"You're right, Hosea," Ducky cried out, as if welcoming his old fellow in this way, "this place is perfect. ”

Brandi greeted Hosea and Arthur, respectively. Although they had been separated for a long time after they had not joined for a long time, Brandi felt that both Arthur and Hosea welcomed him as if they were their closest relatives home, which made him feel some emotions called touching.

After greeting Brandy, Arthur went with him to help unload the car, and Hosea walked up to Ducky and said, "Let's hope this place will be as good as we thought it would be." ”

"Anyway, we survived, gentlemen." Ducky still loudly released the exhilarating feeling of the rest of his life.

Hosea replied almost ruthlessly, "For now." ”

Ducky, who had always maintained his interest in making a fortune, turned to sit down at the table in the middle of the camp and said, "Now, the time for development has come." ”

"Arthur and I were supposed to be in Blackwater." When Hosea said this, he looked at the chores in the camp with Brandy, Javier, Charles, and Lenny, chatting and farting, making excessive jokes, and in a trance, he felt as if he had seen Arthur, who was a child more than ten years ago, and for a while, he only felt that his crippled body was even more old.

"At that time, we had a big plan, and if it was done, we would have become the rich men of the American West by now," Hosea continued with his previous words, and there was no shortage of accusations of Ducky's misleadership, "but Maika got you interested in that ferry, and we ended up here." ”

"We've all made mistakes over the years, Hosea, each and every one of us," Ducky said in a striking voice, "but I've brought everyone together to keep everyone alive and to keep everyone out of pursuit." ”

Dutsy rose from his seat and walked towards the cliff edge of the horseshoe lookout.

Hosea followed, caressing Duditch's shoulder, and said worriedly, "I'm just a little worried, I'm afraid I won't see that day, Daci, I want to keep everyone safe before I die." ”

"Me too." Ducky agreed.

"But we are now trapped," said Hosea, as he stopped before Ducky, "stranded east of Grizli, penniless, far from the virgin western lands of our dreams." ”

"I know, my brother, but we're safe now," Ducky said in a persuasive tone, "and we'll make some money here, and then we'll go on and head out there, to the western United States, and in a few months we'll be able to buy a few plots of land." ”

"I hope so." Seeing that Ducky seemed to have made up his mind, Hosea didn't say anything more.

"Can you look around you?" Ducky stretched out his arms, as if to show Hosea the horse's shoe lookout that was now sprinkled with the setting sun, and he led his old fellow, who had been friends for decades, to the edge of the cliff with a wide view, and said, "The world has his comfort." ”

Then Leopold Strauss, wearing a pair of silver-rimmed glasses and dressed like a city man, came up to him and said to Ducky and Hosea, "Gentlemen, I'm going to town, you know, and see if we can make a little business." ”

"Of course, Monsieur Strauss," Ducky readily agreed, "do you need me to send a lad who is familiar with the situation to escort you to the town?" ”

"I'm old and not as good at fighting as you, but at least I can ride a horse." Strauss politely declined Ducky and turned away.

When Strauss left, Ducky whispered to Hosea: "I prefer to rob banks to loan sharks, and somehow seem to be more dignified." ”

Hosea didn't speak, just nodded nondeniably.

"Now, all put down your tools, all come around, come here," Dadge turned, raised his voice to keep everyone's eyes on him, and he led everyone to his tent, in front of which a large wooden barrel was placed on a delicate wooden box, Dutsy exclaimed, "I know this time is difficult, but we are safe now, but we are also poor, so now it is time for everyone to go to work." ”

"But, work for work, don't get into trouble," Ducky emphasized, "Brandi probably doesn't need me to say more, it seems that he already has a very reliable identity, but the others, if asked, you have to remember to say, we are migrant workers, after the factories in the north were seized, we were fired, and now it's getting late, from tomorrow onwards, everyone will go out and look for it, and see what opportunities you can find." ”

"And you, uncle, Reverend Swanson," Ducky pointed out two men, a gesture that caused the others to snicker at them, "stop loitering, it's time for everyone to work hard for their livelihoods." ”

"Brandy, I remember that I gave you the task of listening to the information when you left, so now it's up to you to give you a brief overview of what's going on in town."

Brandi nodded and said: "I have been in Valentine for almost half a month, and I still know a lot about the situation there, it is a livestock town, very small, so small that there is only one main road in the town, and the town is also very dirty, so that the only main road is also muddy, but I think it will be a good place to start, because although it is small and dirty, it has all the facilities that a big city should have, and most importantly, it is indeed full of idiots, so I believe that in Valentine, there are many opportunities, It's up to you to see if you can grasp it. ”

Hosea nodded, pleased with the answer.

"Also, we need food, real food," said Mr. Pearson, the gang's cook, "and every day we have to arrange for someone to go out and find food." ”

"And remember, whatever you find," Dutch said, showing the wooden box on top of the barrel, "the camp needs a share." ”

"By the way, I want to say a few more words about making money," Brandi said as he took out the blue steel card that represented his identity as a bounty hunter, "Thanks to Valentine's sheriff who is still upright but still lacks roots, I am now a regular bounty hunter recorded by the U.S. federal government, I can help you receive some bounty tasks that are only open to regular bounty hunters, don't have any resistance, this is the most suitable job for us, you can pick up the wool of capitalist society, And by the way, we can strike at the enemy who strikes us, so why not? ”

"Brandi is right, you can actually go to his side and show your face," Ducky said, smiling, "maybe we can transform into a group of bounty hunters here, so that even if we do a cancan in front of Detective Pinkerton and taunt them in the most vicious language, they won't do anything to me, because we're legitimate bounty hunters now." ”

When everyone heard this, they laughed when they thought about themselves dancing the cancan and mocking the Pinkerton detectives who had cornered everyone.

"Alright, now, let's all go and finish the last bit of work, Mr. Pearson, it just so happens that Uncle Pierson has brought back a lot of supplies today, and you can make a good meal for everyone, so that everyone can work with a hundred times more energy tomorrow, for themselves, for everyone, for the future of the gang," Ducky ended his words with an impassioned sentence, and when everyone dispersed, he stopped Brandi and said, "Brandy, you stay, I have something to ask you." ”

When Brandi heard this, he stayed behind and asked, "Is there something wrong?" Top dog? ”

"You've done a good job at Valentine, and it seems that you've done a perfect job with Hosea," Dudge first complimented him, and then asked, "It's just that I'm a little curious, how can that bounty hunter you take be a third-class 'veteran'?" ”

"Oh, this one, speaking of which, it's also a matter of luck." Brandi had expected Dutsy to ask about this, so he first briefly explained the rules for promotion and skipping the promotion of bounty hunters, and then recounted to Dutsy his elaborate adaptation of the capture of Obadia Feige.

Contrary to the facts, in Brandi's mouth, he was able to capture Feige by complete luck. He describes a bounty hunter and a criminal engaged in a fierce firefight, and he himself is the one who hides and picks up the leaks.

Of course, nearly half of what Brandi says is all true, and he is good at weaving this kind of story that blends truth and lies, because lies based on truth are the hardest to detect.

Ducky listened to Brandy's account and nodded, agreeing with his statement.

"Well, then, then I have no doubt," said Brandy, "but I must remind you, son, that loyalty is a very important, if not the most important virtue, for a person, and that you must keep in mind and practice it as a creed." ”

"It occurred to me that Hosea seemed to have raised Lenny by the standards of a lawyer," Ducky laughed suddenly, "and now that we have you as an official bounty hunter, haha, maybe one day, we will become the guardians of the law." ”

"As long as you are still leading us, you should have the final say in what kind of person we should become." Brandi slapped Ducky on the back without a trace.

Although Ducky is usually calm and shrewd, fair and just, in fact, an arrogant person like him has always been very useful for sycophants. He happily patted Brandi on the shoulder and said, "Haha, well said, do a good job, follow me, you won't bury your talent." ”

When night falls, the bonfire is lit, everyone sits around the warm campfire and eats stew, drinks beer, and someone plays the piano, and everyone sings those familiar or unashamed songs with the sound of the piano, the atmosphere is warm and happy, just like a family.

Or, they've been a family for a long time.