Wait

Ah, the eternally gaping chasm between these damned, dithering nobles and a true outlaw with vision! These aristocratic Saint Denis families, bless their cautious, withered hearts, preferred to play it agonizingly safe. They relished the slow burn, the meticulous consumption, the excruciatingly detailed planning of every single, perfectly calculated move.

But Mr. Dutch Van der Linde? Oh, he operated on a different plane entirely. With one audacious, lightning-quick maneuver, he simply uprooted entire empires. While those effete nobles were still twiddling their thumbs, contemplating the philosophical implications of "consuming step by step," Dutch was already sketching out his next grand coup d'état. While these damned Saint Denis dignitaries were still lost in their labyrinthine fantasies of gradual dominance, Dutch and Mr. Rhodes Brown were already galloping their horses outside the city limits, along the dusty, winding path leading to Shady Belle.

"Oh ho ho," Mr. Rhodes Brown chuckled, a rare, genuine grin spreading across his face, his eyes alight with boyish delight. He stretched, inhaling deeply the scent of the open air. "It's been an eternity since I last found myself astride a horse, outside the suffocating confines of the city. To suddenly burst forth today… it feels truly exhilarating!" He gazed around, utterly charmed by the seemingly pristine wilderness.

He'd never truly seen the wilderness around Saint Denis, not like this. His time in the city had been a blur of frantic business, of endless receptions, of fawning sycophants. This unexpected moment of leisure, this simple act of riding, stirred a forgotten nostalgia within him. It was just… odd. Why, pray tell, were there so many peculiar mounds dotting the landscape around Saint Denis?

"Oh, the scenery in the West is positively enchanting, even this swamp seems to possess a certain natural allure. But… why are there such peculiar mounds sprouting around these swamps, Mr. Van der Linde?" Mr. Brown pointed a gloved finger towards a small, grassy mound, barely ten meters from the Saint Denis railway line, his brow furrowed in genuine confusion. "Is this some sort of special landform unique to the region?"

This particular mound was not large, perhaps only two meters high. If such a thing appeared in the rugged mountains, it would be commonplace, but a mound in a flat, sprawling swamp? It simply didn't compute. The mound was completely cloaked in various wild grasses, giving it a surprisingly unique, almost natural appearance. It just looked… a bit strange against the swampy backdrop, resembling, from a distance, a collection of forgotten graves.

Listening to Mr. Brown's delightfully naive question, Dutch's eyes twinkled mischievously. Without missing a beat, he launched into a perfectly fabricated explanation. "Yes, Mr. Brown, indeed! This is a highly specialized landform unique to the Saint Denis swamp, known affectionately as the 'Swamp Undulating Landform.' I once conversed with a rather eccentric geologist, and he enlightened me on its fascinating origins!" Dutch delivered the lie with the gravitas of a seasoned academic, a straight face that would put a poker player to shame.

"Hey!" Arthur, riding silently beside him, clamped a hand over his mouth, his shoulders shaking with barely suppressed laughter. Damn it, 'Swamp Undulating Landform'?! he thought, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes. Those are the bloody bunkers the Van der Linde Gang built! There are probably three gunmen hunkered down in that very mound right now, with rifles pointed directly at us! If Mr. Brown knew the truth, he'd probably have a heart attack and fall straight off his horse!

"Swamp Undulating Landform?" Mr. Brown repeated, a look of profound, albeit misplaced, wonder on his face. "This is truly a magical landform! Oh, Mr. Van der Linde, I am genuinely impressed by your breadth of knowledge. However, aside from being rather… undeveloped, the West doesn't seem to hold much danger at all. Look! We've been riding for quite some time now and haven't encountered a single perilous situation, which is utterly contrary to all the information we received before our journey! Damn it, those employees responsible for the Western survey are shockingly irresponsible! The West is not, as they claimed, overrun with gangs! This place, sir, hides countless treasures, just waiting for us to explore! And they, with their false information, dared to deceive us!" He shook his head, a look of genuine indignation on his aristocratic face.

As the group continued their journey, the surrounding scenery underwent a subtle, yet profound, transformation in Mr. Brown's eyes.

Soon, lines of caravans, laden with goods, began to appear along the road, stretching into the distance. The roads in this particular area were vital arteries, leading both to the bustling metropolis of Saint Denis and the thriving hub of Rhodes, which naturally led to an ever-increasing flow of pedestrians and carriages.

"Oh, Mr. Van der Linde!"

"Look, it's Mr. Van der Linde and Mr. Morgan! Hello, gentlemen!"

"Mr. Van der Linde, sir, please! Try these apples I'm transporting!"

Greetings, effusive and heartfelt, erupted one after another from the passing populace. Almost eighty percent of the carriages and pedestrians recognized Dutch and Arthur instantly. They even recognized the distinctive, exclusive uniform of the Van der Linde Gang at a glance, and each person radiated an almost startling enthusiasm.

"Hello, gentlemen," Dutch called back, waving repeatedly, his smile warm and genuine, a perfect imitation of a beloved public figure. Arthur, too, offered a polite nod and a wave, returning greetings to the pedestrians who recognized them.

Mr. Brown, riding alongside, was utterly, thoroughly surprised. He watched the disappearing pedestrians down the road, his eyes wide. "Oh, Mr. Van der Linde," he exclaimed, his voice laced with unfeigned astonishment, "it seems your prestige in Rhodes is exceptionally high; every single person here actually knows you!"

"Hahaha, Mr. Brown," Dutch chuckled, a grand, expansive gesture with one hand. "This, my dear sir, is merely because I have bestowed upon them the most precious gift of all: a livelihood. Just moments ago, you remarked that there was no danger in the West, which, I must gently correct you, is a slight misconception. Look ahead, Mr. Brown, at that patrol team. These are my men, specifically dispatched to meticulously maintain law and order in the territory of New Hanover. Just a week ago, the West was indeed overrun with every manner of nefarious gang. As for why you don't see a single one today? That, my friend, is because I, personally, have already cleared out every last one of them in New Hanover!"

Dutch rode his horse, his arm sweeping dramatically to encompass the approaching figures at the intersection. "And this, Mr. Brown, is precisely why I seek to establish a mutually beneficial cooperation with a man of your esteemed caliber. I have, through my… endeavors... discovered several lucrative mines in New Hanover, and I have a strong suspicion you might find them quite… interesting."

Mr. Brown squinted, looking up to see a formidable team of ten gunmen on horseback at the intersection, riding towards them with purposeful strides, clearly on patrol. Their attire was indeed the distinctive style of the Van der Linde Gang's uniform, leaving no doubt as to their allegiance. At this moment, seeing Dutch and Arthur, this disciplined group of men hurried forward, their faces breaking into respectful, almost adoring grins as they saluted.

"Mr. Van der Linde!" they chorused, their voices filled with genuine respect.

"Hello, gentlemen," Dutch replied, nodding warmly, his attitude completely devoid of any capitalist arrogance or aristocratic hauteur. He was simply… a good boss. "Have there been any problems recently?"

"No, sir!"

"Alright, gentlemen," Dutch continued, his voice easy, familial, "don't forget to rest when you're not working yourselves to the bone. The saloon in Rhodes is also ours, you know. I think you can go have a couple of free drinks after you finish your shifts. Oh, and don't forget to bring your women; life needs a little romance after all, doesn't it? Hahaha…"

Dutch's words were simple, devoid of any pretense or superiority. He spoke like an ordinary, slightly concerned elder brother, offering a casual instruction that effortlessly stirred deep gratitude and bubbling excitement in the hearts of these gunmen. With such a boss, who wouldn't work themselves to the bone for him? Their eyes blazed with fervent loyalty; even with just this brief, fleeting contact with their leader, the warmth of his benevolence had already permeated their entire beings!

And Mr. Brown, observing this entire, astonishing display from the side, was even more profoundly shocked.

Damn it, he thought, his jaw slack, what in the name of all that's holy is this man's tactic for winning people's hearts?! Giving these people a livelihood, personally spearheading the utter elimination of gangs throughout New Hanover, and now these effortless, yet devastatingly effective, displays of treating the "worthy" with such genuine, heartwarming respect—all of it screamed that Mr. Dutch Van der Linde was not merely clever; he was an exceptionally capable, profoundly insightful, and frighteningly charismatic individual!

No wonder Miss Camille had told him before she left: Mr. Dutch Van der Linde is a very interesting man. He had originally dismissed it, thinking the man might be clever, after all, he'd managed to launch the 'VDL' Clothing Store and somehow transform his band of scoundrels. But now, it was blindingly, terrifyingly clear: he was not just clever; his personal ability and his raw intelligence were equally outstanding, and he possessed some terrifying abilities that he, Rhodes Brown, simply did not!

He felt an urgent, compelling need to completely re-evaluate Mr. Van der Linde!

The thought jolted him, and finally, he took the initiative, his voice surprisingly eager. "Oh, Mr. Van der Linde," he began, a new light in his eyes, "regarding the mine cooperation you just mentioned… I believe we can most certainly discuss it in considerable depth! I think this could prove to be quite the opportune moment for me as well."