Hawq

"Shit! Arthur!" John glared furiously as Arthur approached. He felt a familiar, unwelcome pang of distress; he had just returned only to be subjected to Arthur's incessant mockery.

"Enough, you two! War is imminent, and we haven't even seen the enemy yet. We can't afford to fall into disarray internally! Arthur, less talk. John, pay him no mind. All right, both of you, go immediately and help our workers move the goods! Hosea can stay and talk with me!" Dutch's voice boomed, his frustration with their bickering evident as he sent them off.

"Why don't we let these gunfighters move them?" Arthur muttered under his breath, earning a cold glare from Dutch that sent him immediately toward the wagons.

Hosea, standing nearby, paused, then a realization dawned on him. Right, why weren't the gunfighters moving the supplies? He was in charge of assembling the team, but he'd spread them out too much. The gunfighters stood idle while the transporters did all the work, and the thought of having the gunfighters help hadn't even crossed his mind.

"Alright, old friend, don't space out anymore. I think your current state isn't quite suitable for going to Guarma. Perhaps you should just stay and enjoy your retirement," Dutch advised Hosea.

Arthur and John, being protagonists, were essentially unkillable. Arthur's only fatal flaw, Mr. Downs, had died some time ago, and he hadn't contracted tuberculosis. Who could possibly kill this ox-like man now? As for John, he had no fatal flaw, as the Pinkerton Detectives were currently no match for the Van der Linde Gang, which boasted 1,500 gunfighters (with 500 guarding the established fortresses) and nearly a hundred fortifications. As long as they didn't directly confront the United States Government, who else could threaten them? Ross?

"No, Dutch, I'm doing great! Damn it, my title as the Gentleman Killer back in the day wasn't just for show. Don't you know how capable I am?" Hosea waved his hand with a flourish, pulling his pistol from its holster and twirling it twice, brimming with confidence. "I feel incredibly young these days! I think I can fight for the Van der Linde Gang for another twenty years!"

This old man's marksmanship was indeed excellent. While not explicitly shown in the game, his ability to rob banks with Dutch and Arthur in his youth without ever being caught or killed was proof enough.

Listening to Hosea's words, Dutch burst into laughter. "Hahaha, alright, Hosea, you damn old man, you don't like a comfortable retirement, but you prefer exciting activities! Alright, old friend, in that case, let's prepare to move out!"

Dutch ended the conversation. Their talk wasn't hidden from the crowd. In the wilderness, over a thousand gunfighters, a dark, sprawling mass, watched their Mr. Dutch Van der Linde with fervent eyes, awaiting his pre-battle motivational speech. In fact, not only did the Van der Linde Gang members love to hear Dutch's mesmerizing words, but these workers loved them too. Every time they heard it, their blood boiled.

Looking at the troops before him, occupying the area of a football field, and seeing the longing and passion in their eyes, Dutch spurred his horse to the very front and center of the formation.

"Swish!" He raised his right hand high and took off his hat. "Hello, gentlemen!"

"Van der Linde!"

"Van der Linde!"

"Van der Linde!"

With Dutch's greeting, even before he began his inspiring speech, the gunfighters and even the surrounding transport workers were already boiling with excitement. They roared in unison, proclaiming their love, admiration, trust, and worship for Mr. Van der Linde. Even the workers transporting supplies shouted loudly, their eyes filled with worship and admiration. Their voices were so uniform that the surrounding birds paused in mid-flight, and so high-pitched that the Maxim gun in the wagon seemed to fire on its own.

This man who gave them everything, this man who only thought of them, just seeing him was enough to make one exhilarated!

"Swish!" Dutch raised his right hand high, making a stopping gesture. The next moment, the entire scene instantly fell silent.

"Gentlemen, hello everyone, I am Dutch Van der Linde.

I am very happy to see you all today, very happy to stand here today, and likewise, I am very happy that we can have the life we have now!

We are officially deploying troops this time, marching to Guarma, eliminating the illegal warlords on Guarma, and making Guarma our second home, the starting point for our arms business!

For the past five months, I have proven with my actions that I can bring you a better life, but I also hope that under my leadership, we can make our lives even better! Even brighter!

Our lives will surely become increasingly wonderful, and your families will inevitably, starting with you individually, become famous and powerful families in the United States!

At the same time, I also want to give you, and all citizens of the United States, a perfect, happy, peaceful, and free life! And this requires the collective efforts of all of us and future members!

Gentlemen, you are the flesh and blood of the Van der Linde Gang, you are the soul of me, Dutch Van der Linde, you determine the future of the Hope Happiness Factory, and likewise, you determine your own lives! May you, your families, your clans, and the Hope Ranch and the Van der Linde Gang be filled with glory and light in the future!

Hereby, I declare, the entire army advances, march to Guarma!

Tenne Sea!!!"

Dutch's speech was extremely inflammatory, and most importantly, he truly delivered on his promises and genuinely benefited the people. So even though his speech was extremely brief, it could still instantly ignite the most fervent response!

"Tenne Sea!!!

The scene was tumultuous, the sound like thunder! Dutch Van der Linde's speech made these gunfighters and the nearby transport workers tremble with excitement, shouting loudly, their eyes bloodshot. Death no longer had the power to make them fear, because Mr. Van der Linde was far greater than life itself!