In the early morning, Valentine was bathed in the late spring sunshine as always, only today, it was much less populated, and an abnormal sense of depression could be felt over the town from a long distance.

At this time, Brandi and his party also happened to enter Valentine from the dirt road south of the town.

At the request of the little girl, Marty Rose, Brandi dismounts her next to the grocery store.

Marty jumped off the horse briskly, looking refreshed and not looking depressed from last night's late night. She bowed respectfully to Brandi, Arthur and the others, and said, "Thank you, gentlemen, I don't know how to repay you, I can only note your kindness first, and when I grow up and am more capable than I am now, I will definitely repay you all." ”

Brandy, Arthur, Charles, and Lenny looked at each other, a little surprised by the little girl's precociousness, but their faces were still full of warm smiles. Brandi bent down on the horse, gently stroked Marty's little head with the palm of his hand, and said: "I know, you are a child with a sense of justice, but in the future, you must remember that it is more important to protect yourself than to do justice, because only in this way will you have more opportunities to do justice in the future, understand?" ”

"I understand, Mr. Manny, I will be more cautious in the future," Marty nodded earnestly, and then, pulling out the Schofield revolver that Brandy had given her from the large pocket of her thick skirt of rough fabric, "this is your gun, Mr. Manny." ”

Brandi glanced at the gun, only hesitated slightly, then took out six .44 caliber revolver bullets from his pocket, stuffed them into the little girl's palm, and said, "Now it's yours, remember to keep it and use it to protect your family, okay?" ”

Marty looked at Brandi with some surprise, not only her, but Arthur, Charles, and Lenny also looked at Brandi with something wrong, surprised, and even more confused.

Although Marty subconsciously wanted to refuse, Brandi's unquestioning eyes made the clever little girl understand that there was no point in refusing. So, after only a moment's hesitation, the little girl put the gun back in her big pocket along with the bullets, bowed deeply again, turned and ran away.

"Give a gun to a little girl?" Arthur asked, slightly surprised, "What do you think?" ”

"It's a clever girl, and I like it," replied Brandy, "and, believe me, this little girl is a good girl." ”

"How do you tell?" Lenny was puzzled.

"That's a long story, I can see it anyway." Brandi didn't say it explicitly, but he knew very well why he was able to make that judgment.

He felt a temperament in the little girl's eyes, and the same temperament he had felt in Sadie before.

The four of them tied their horses to the door of the Smithfield Tavern, Charles and Lenny planned to go to the tavern for a drink, while Arthur and Brandy arrived at the sheriff's office, where they noticed that the two horses, "Earl" and "Silver Dollar", were waiting outside the door of the sheriff's office.

Pushing open the door, in addition to Sheriff Malloy, who will definitely be there, Ducky and Hosea are indeed there in the office.

When Ducky saw Brandi and Arthur enter the door, he immediately stood up and introduced him very enthusiastically: "Mr. Sheriff, let me introduce you, this is my most capable brother, Arthur Callaghan, as for this, I don't think I need to introduce him, you should also know what a wonderful young man he is." ”

"Of course, Mr. Mackintosh, of course I know how good Mr. Manny is," Sergeant Malloy said, rising from his seat, holding out his right hand to Arthur, "a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Callaghan." ”

"I'm glad to meet you, too, Sergeant." Arthur nodded, and also stretched out his right hand, holding it with the sheriff.

Hodge Mackintosh, one of Ducky's common pseudonyms, is used to hide from the police, along with Arthur's Arthur Callaghan, Brandy's "Billy the Kid", and the gang owner's shared vest, Tacitus Kilgo.

Of course, this method is actually very clumsy in Brandi's opinion, especially now, in front of Detective Pinkerton, who has cross-continental law enforcement powers and criminal investigation technology that is ahead of the times, this method is like a trick of a low-level magician, and at a glance, you can see that it is all flawed.

However, Brandi also understands that this method is not bad, because even after more than a hundred years, there is no unified identification in this country, not to mention that in this era when there is no concept of unified identification at all, it is actually easier to change your face than to change your clothes, which is why Brandi knows that this method is flawed, but he also made himself two vests, as for that defect, he feels that with his acting skills, it is enough to make up for it.

"By the way," Sergeant Malloy shook hands with Arthur and motioned for Arthur and Brandy to find a place to sit at will, while he sat back on the chair behind his desk and asked Brandi, "I heard Mr. Mackintosh say that you took someone to rescue the kidnapped little girl last night, how is it going?" ”

"The little girl must have been reunited with her family by this time," replied Brandy, "and as for the bandits, we have all killed them, and their bodies have been dumped into a nearby ravine." ”

Sergeant Malloy straightened his seat in some surprise and said, "Four people killed at least twenty people?" That's amazing. ”

"Exactly, Mr. Sheriff," said Dutch, "So, what do you have to hesitate about? With the addition of our people, there are nearly 30 people on our side, and they are relying on the home field, and the advantage is mine. ”

"The stakes are still too great," said Sergeant Malloy with a sad face, "and even if each of your men could make one of the fives, we would not escape the fate of being beaten into a sieve." ”

Ducky and Sheriff Malloy began a new round of arguments, and Brandy saw that he couldn't interject, so he quietly approached Hosea, who was silent, and asked quietly, "How was the talk?" ”

"Not very well," said Hosea, sighing, "Ducky advocates relying on Valentine for the defense of the town, and if the time is right, he intends to take the initiative." ”

Brandi nodded nondeniably: "It's like Ducky's style." ”

"But the sheriff doesn't seem to have much confidence," said Hosea, tapping his finger on his forehead with some apprehension, "and he intends to move the rest of the townspeople elsewhere first, and then give up the town first, and then return here and take the town back when he has contacted the bailiff and the army." ”

"If you do this, the daylily will be cold." Brandi thought so and asked, "Why doesn't the sheriff have faith?" ”

"Think about it, you know, more than twenty people against more than a hundred, no matter how you think about it, you can't win," Hosea replied helplessly, "You know, my idea is not to come to this troubled water, but Daqi just won't listen." ”

"Hosea, what do you think we should do in the current situation?" Arthur interjected at this point.

Hosea sighed lightly and said, "Just one word, run." ”

Arthur was silent, and Brandi stopped talking, knowing that Hosea had seen farther and knew better what was the best option for the gang in this situation.

However, in a practical sense, it is absolutely impossible to persuade Ducky to run away, in the current situation, Hosea is powerless, and Arthur, even if he is confused, will only unconditionally obey Ducky's orders, as for himself, he is even more unsuitable to play such a role, not to mention that he is not a confidant like Hosea and Arthur for Ducky, only because he is more familiar with Valentine's situation is qualified to sit here, just to say that this matter is because of himself, It was decided that Brandi could only stand on the side of supporting Ducky, not to mention, as far as his own wishes were concerned, he also did not want to compromise with a bunch of scum and madmen.

While he was thinking about it, he suddenly heard Sheriff Malloy say, "Mr. Mackintosh, your ideas are very bold, and your companions are all good at it, but, despite this, the gap between us and the other is too great to risk the lives of my men and the whole town." ”

Immediately, Sheriff Malloy stood up, and Ducky, Hosea, Arthur, and Brandy all stood up.

"Still, I'm grateful that you've been able to help." Sheriff Malloy shook Ducky's hand and said.

Ducky and Hosea looked at each other and didn't say much. Ducky exchanged a few more polite words with the sheriff, and then beckoned Hosea and Arthur to leave with him, as for Brandi, Ducky didn't care, intentionally or unintentionally, and Sheriff Malloy also intentionally or unintentionally did not give the eviction order, Brandi knew what the two were thinking, and didn't say anything, just watched the sheriff send his companion away.

"Your friend is very bold, but alas, to be fair, he is a little overly arrogant." Sheriff Malloy closed the door and turned back to Brandy.

Brandi smiled helplessly and said, "Although I don't want to say that, it's true that he always has faith in himself. ”

"It's okay to have that kind of self-confidence for a cowboy who lives in the world, but I can't put the lives of the townspeople on the self-confidence of a few cowboys." Sheriff Malloy sat back at his desk and began to smoke a smoking.

Brandi smiled slightly and said, "Then you still have a chance to arrest me and give it to them, don't worry, I will tell my friends that I volunteered, and they won't mess around." ”

"Don't laugh, Brother Brandy," Sergeant Malloy said with a wry smile, "since I've decided to let you go, I don't have any reason to go back on my word, you should leave as soon as possible, even if they come, I'll tell them that you're already gone, maybe they'll let Valentine go." ”

"I think you're joking," Brandi said with a smile, lighting a cigarette as well, "counting on scum and lunatics to show you mercy?" Are you a first-day police officer? ”

Sergeant Malloy sighed and said, "Or else? Leaving with almost two hundred ordinary people? Not to mention whether there is anyone who wants to, even if no one objects, if they are attacked by those bastards on the road, more people will lose their lives. ”

"So, are there still nearly two hundred ordinary people in the town now?" Brandi asked.

"Yes," said Sergeant Malloy, with a sad countenance, "there were less than fifty men among them, and these were all shepherds, drunkards, and vagabonds, most of whom had never even touched a gun, and the very few who could use a gun, even if there was a big living man standing less than five yards from him, they could shoot empty guns, and they could not fight, and it would be a waste to give them guns." ”

"None of this is a problem," Brandi smiled, "the real problem is with you, Mr. Sheriff. ”

"Me? What's wrong with me? Sheriff Malloy was puzzled.

"Your biggest problem is that you don't trust the townspeople to be able to protect the town." Brandi leisurely exhaled a smoke ring and said.

"How should I trust them to protect this town?" Sheriff Malloy asked rhetorically, "I was chosen by them to be this sheriff because they are incapable of protecting themselves, and these people, usually for a little profit, are eager to fight to the death, and now that the catastrophe is coming, they did not flee for their lives because they did not have the ability, otherwise who would be willing to stay in such a dangerous town?" ”

"Oh? Really? Brandi smiled a little slyly, but more confidently, "How do I think they just have the ability to protect this place?" ”

"Do you really expect these untouchables to help us get things done?" Sergeant Malloy was still confused.

"It's not about helping us get things done, it's about getting them to protect the land and the homeland," Brandy corrected, "Alright, Mr. Sheriff, what you need to focus on now is the defense of the town and the personnel of your own side, and I'm going to have a good chat with my friends now." ”

Pushing open the door to the sheriff's office, Brandi was somewhat surprised to find that Ducky, Hosea, and Arthur were all waiting, and Ducky saw Brandi coming out of the house and asked, "How is it?" Has there been any change in the sheriff's attitude? ”

Brandi immediately briefly recounted the situation of his conversation with the sheriff, and then said, "Sheriff Malloy is still confused, but he basically accepted my proposal, so I think our next arrangements should be adjusted." ”

"You mean, with the help of the power of all the populace in the town to resist those cultists and Odrysco? IMHO, I actually have the same concerns as the sheriff, and we can choose to trust them, but are they really reliable? Hosea was skeptical.

"I think trust is always mutual," Brandi explained, "and it's better to let them believe that they are capable of protecting their homes than that they are capable of protecting their homes, and that with Mr. Sheriff's wise leadership and our strong support, they are capable of doing their part to protect their homes." ”

"Now I see what you mean," Dadge suddenly realized, "that is, our priority now is to win hearts and minds, right?" ”

Seeing that Ducky had a comprehension, Brandi smiled and nodded, and said, "That's right, boss, you're right. ”

"In that case, it's only a little trouble," said Ducky, confidently, "and leave it to me to win people's hearts, and as for you, Brandy, I have a difficult task to hand over to you." ”

"Just tell me, boss." Brandi said.

"I need you to help me get rid of all the bosses in this town, especially the gun shop, and if all the people are mobilized, then the weapons and equipment will have to come out of him," said Ducky, "and I think you should know that capitalists cannot be equated with ordinary people, and naturally they should be treated differently." ”

After thinking about it for a while, Brandi understood Ducky's intentions, nodded, and said, "Understood, boss." ”

"For this kind of thing, you'll need a helper who plays the role of a villain," said Dutchy, after a moment of silence, "and then, you can go to the tavern next door and find Maika, and you and him will complete the task." ”

"Huh? Maika? Brandi was a little stunned, and then said, "Boss, why don't you let Arthur and me, or Charles, or Bill, I have worked with them, and they are more tacit to cooperate." ”

Ducky patted Brandi on the shoulder and said, "I know, there was a misunderstanding between you and Maika, and the relationship between Maika and the other people in the camp is not very good, but, no matter what, you are all brothers of the Van der Linde Gang, all of you, me, Daqi Van der Linde's brothers, for your brothers, even if they usually don't like the eye, they must unite at critical moments, and they can't form gangs and small groups in the gang, so it will affect the unity of the gang, I say this, can you understand?" ”

Hearing this, Brandi's pupils shrank slightly, and he raised his eyes to look at Ducky, who couldn't see more emotion in Ducky's smile.

He thought about it, and finally could only compromise: "Okay, boss, I'll go to Mika, there will be a result within today." ”

Daqi nodded with satisfaction and said, "That's right, I'm sure you can do it, after all, until today, you have never let me down." ”