Shadow Empire

Chapter 1255 Lair
"Quiet, baby, quiet!" The cowboy stroked his horse's mane. For some reason, when the rickety old bus in front of him stopped, the horse under him became a little restless.

While calming his mount, he shook the reins as he approached the carriage and peered inside through the window.

The car windows were fogged up, making it difficult to see inside, but it was clear that there were quite a few people inside.

His gaze quickly fell on the driver's face. "Where are you going?"

In rural areas, there were actually quite a few such vehicles, since not every household owned one at that time, and horses were subject to taxes when entering the city.

Yes, carriages, horses, and anything with livestock that enters the city are subject to taxation. This was a law enacted by the federal government more than twenty years ago, and it was also known as the "horse manure tax."

The general idea is that a large number of livestock enter the city and defecate everywhere.

This excrement gets run over by passing cars and carried to many places, causing a huge impact on the urban landscape, emitting a foul odor, and being very troublesome to clean up.

Therefore, every animal that entered the city was taxed. A horse cost fifty cents, which was very expensive. As a result, many farmers and cowboys preferred to buy tickets and travel to the city by car rather than ride horses.

These buses that travel through rural areas are essentially like ferries, regularly traveling between different regions to pick up and drop off people.

Today, however, the cowboy felt something was off about the vehicle, because this wasn't a place where they usually appeared.

The driver looked out the window at the cowboys and forced a smile. "Sir, we're going to..." He gave a general name of a place, southwest of Lawrence Farm, which was indeed a route they could take.

The cowboy glanced into the carriage again; it was too quiet inside, as if everyone had shut their mouths, waiting for him and the driver to speak.

This was different from the buses he had encountered before. The farmers and women there would urge him to hurry up, or they would chat among themselves, and there was a very peculiar... stench!
Yes, it smells bad.

It's summer now, and these farmers can't possibly bathe every day; the idea of ​​bathing every day only exists in literature and movies.

In the real federal countryside, the grime on one's body is, in some ways, the first layer of defense in one's body!
If they weren't so smelly that even they couldn't stand it, many of them might not change their clothes for ten days or half a month.

In the summer, this smell is simply unbearable!

But there was no such smell in the car, and he sensed something was wrong.

“You don’t usually come this way,” he said, gesturing to his companions. The other cowboys shook the reins and went around to the back of the bus.

The driver tried his best to appear harmless, saying, "We're in a hurry, so it'll be shorter this way."

The cowboy stared at him for several seconds. "Open the car door, I want to get in and take a look."

The driver subconsciously glanced at the "officer" sitting in the back through the rearview mirror. The latter nodded slightly, and the driver immediately said, "No problem." Then he pulled a switch, and with a "whoosh," the bus door opened.

The cowboy went around to the other side, dismounted, carried his weapon, and placed his right hand on the handle of the revolver in its holster at his waist before boarding the bus.

The room was full of seated people, mostly young people, whose demeanor was nothing like that of the farmers and peasant women in the area. The cowboy glanced around at them, then nudged a suitcase at his feet, causing it to wobble.

He turned to the driver and said expressionlessly, "Sorry for taking up your time."

"You'd better take a different route next time."

He was about to get out of the car when the driver and the people in the car breathed a sigh of relief. But at that moment, their superior suddenly pulled out a pistol and pulled the trigger at the back of the cowboy's head!

The moment the gunshot rang out, everyone was stunned. "We've taken down the cowboys outside, we're exposed!"

He didn't have time to explain anything. Some of the trainees in the car reacted quickly and immediately drew their pistols to shoot the cowboy outside the car, while others looked completely bewildered.

The cowboys outside the car were startled by the sudden gunshot and ducked back. Then, some of them saw their companion fall out of the car door and saw someone inside the car stand up. They immediately drew their guns and returned fire.

"Fire! Fire! They are the enemy!"

The gunfire erupted instantly, but ended just as quickly.

It took about thirty or forty seconds, since there were too many people on the bus, but the cowboys only had a few people.

The officer in charge got out of the vehicle, walked over to the cowboy who wasn't quite dead yet, and finished him off with a shot. "Drag them to the side of the road."

He glanced at the horse that had already run far away and shook his head.

The trainees quickly dumped the body on the ridge of the field by the roadside, and some even used tree branches to sweep up the loose soil on the ground to cover up the bloodstains.

After the scene was cleared, everyone returned to the car, and the officer instructed the driver to continue driving.

The atmosphere in the car was very somber.

The young men, who were veterans, seemed indifferent; they had seen far more brutal battles on the battlefield.

On the battlefield, humanity becomes a burden. Soldiers who still have humanity are unlikely to survive. When you see a little girl walking towards you carrying a clay pot, you either shoot her or you are likely to be killed by what's inside the pot.

When war breaks out, especially when it invades another country's territory and aims to destroy their homes and everything else, humanity can only be a burden.

Those who felt uncomfortable were from other law enforcement agencies. They rarely do this, shooting people without any evidence or threat, so they found it hard to accept, which made the atmosphere in the car very oppressive.

The officer knew he needed to say something, at this point, otherwise morale would likely waver.

“We take many courses in the training camp, but these courses are rigid and dogmatic.”

"Just like how schools teach children to distinguish between good and bad people, bad people always have a cunning look, while good people always have a kind face."

"But in real life, the bad guys might be the ones who look the most kind, while the good guys might not look like good guys at all!"

"The cowboy who just got on the bus only glanced at it before he wanted to get off. Do you really think he didn't notice anything wrong?"

The officer's question was rather pointed: "None of you realize that we've been exposed. This is the countryside, full of farmers. Our clothes are too clean, and there's even luggage here..."

He rubbed his temples. "Of course, it's also my fault. I should have sorted things out first. I overlooked the fact that we might encounter their people, and they might even stop us."

"Have you ever seen a farmer carrying a travel bag like this when he travels?" he asked, walking up to the travel bag that the cowboy had kicked twice.

It was a travel bag that didn't look cheap; it must have cost at least a dollar or two.

Farmers cannot afford or buy these travel bags, so that is the biggest flaw.

Everyone showed different expressions; some seemed to have just realized something, while others looked thoughtful.

"Don't underestimate these cowboys. They must have their own ways of contacting people. If we let them go, we might be facing even more attacks from cowboys next."

"This would pose a huge threat to us, our lives and safety would not be guaranteed, and it would also cause our mission to fail."

"Gentlemen, from the moment you join the National Security Agency, you have only one job, or rather, one goal."

"Defend the security of the Federation, defend the security of this society, and uphold the authority of the law!"

“Those cowboys are just accomplices of the Lance family. They profit from the criminal business and are also members of the criminal gang, so you don’t need to feel guilty.”

"I told you before we came that this mission is extremely dangerous; this is not a training exercise."

"You got one multiple-choice question wrong, which just made your score look worse."

"This is a real mission. If you make the wrong choice, the consequences could be unbearable—your life, your brothers' lives, the failure of the mission, and the continued harm to many more people!"

His tone was somewhat stern, causing some of those who had just doubted his actions and motives to lower their heads. "I brought you out here, and I hope to return with you and with a wealth of glory." "I know that some of you may still not be able to bear this, but that's okay. After this operation is over, I will allow you to apply for transfers to clerical positions."

"But I don't want to see you hold us back in this mission. If your actions pose a threat to us, I will drape you in the national flag if necessary!"

He didn't say it so bluntly, but he still made his stance clear.

One person dies, or a whole group dies.

After being scolded like that, the atmosphere in the car actually improved a lot, and the driver breathed a sigh of relief and continued driving.

The officer turned around and sat back down. "Speed ​​up a bit, just in case."

Just as he was encouraging the new recruits and boosting their morale, the watchtower in the distance had already spotted what was happening.

They had already established a relatively complete control system here when dealing with another group of attackers.

The moment the gunshot rang out, the cowboys on duty heard it.

If it's just one or two gunshots, perhaps someone just encountered wild animals.

Wildlife in the Federation is somewhat rampant, often wandering near human settlements. It's common to see things like a few coyotes suddenly jumping out of a wheat field.

However, it was obvious that the gunshots were different; in addition to the revolvers commonly used by cowboys, there were also some unfamiliar gunshots.

The news was reported immediately after the gunshots rang out, and the entire farm was mobilized.

"What happened?"

A man who looked to be in his thirties, wearing overalls, ran out of a room on the farm. He was a member of the Lawrence family, had grown up on the farm, and dropped out of high school to work.

It wasn't that Lawrence Farm couldn't afford to send him to school; it was simply that he disliked school.

He preferred the unrestrained rural life to the various rules and regulations of high schools in nearby cities.

Here he could ride horses anywhere, carry a hunting rifle and go hunting with the cowboys, and do whatever he wanted.

No one will suddenly jump out and tell him to stop and that what he wants to do is not allowed.

No one required him to do this or that. His father and three grandfathers were all very tolerant and kind, and they supported him no matter what he did.

He got along best with the cowboys, and they liked this landlord who seemed to have no ill intentions. Gradually, he gained influence and prestige among the cowboys.

After the vineyard and the new farm were completed, this area was temporarily handed over to him.

Actually, there's not much to do every day except keep an eye on the transportation of the wine, which is the least likely problem to go wrong.

"Someone heard the sound of gunfire over there... Our people are on their way to confirm. We need to prepare for battle."

The man in overalls turned serious. "How many are there now?"

The cowboy next to him glanced back and said, "About 150 or 160 people."

"Too few!" said the man in overalls as he walked into the house. "I'll go call for backup and gather our men together."

The news spread quickly. Telephones were indeed very useful. Lance spent a lot of money to install internal and external lines throughout the entire farm, ensuring uninterrupted communication throughout Lawrence Farm.

The call was quickly made to old man Albert, who had been managing the entire cowboy community on the farm. He was also a cowboy himself and held a very high position and prestige among the cowboys.

Life on the farm is getting better and better, but he still maintains the habit of hunting every week.

After the overalls man briefly explained the situation, Albert's face showed no unease; instead, he became somewhat excited. "That sounds interesting."

"You did the right thing. Protect yourself first, then wait for me to bring people over!"

He hung up the phone as soon as he finished speaking, ignoring the pleas from the person in the overalls on the other end of the line not to take any risks himself, and ran straight out of the big house.

The new farm is larger than the old one, but some of the equipment and design still retain the style of the old farm.

The Lawrence family expanded too quickly, which led to a continuous increase in family members. The second and third generations, under the miraculous effect of money, became more united than ever before.

Even some members of the Lawrence family who didn't live on the farm before but went to develop in nearby cities have returned!
This is the meaning and role of money for a family.

The three elderly people were quite old, but they didn't object to the younger generation's "return home" and actually enjoyed the lively atmosphere.

Perhaps that's how it is when people get old, but they didn't mess around with how to distribute power within the family.

To reintegrate into the family and gain some power within it, they must demonstrate their value.

As the family population increased dramatically, the old farm was no longer suitable, so they spent money to rebuild a larger farm in a better and safer location.

In front of the main house where the three elderly people live, there is a large open space, which is where everyone usually gathers and has activities. In the very center of the open space, there is a huge "bell" hanging up.

Old man Albert rushed to the bell, untied the rope, and pulled hard. As the "clang clang clang" sound spread, many people immediately gathered around.

"Bring me my weapons," he said to the butler who had rushed over, then looked at the others. "Someone fucking infiltrated our farm, and they're over at the old house right now."

He pointed to a man in his forties with a scar on his face, "Call the lads and teach our enemy a lesson!"

Then he looked at another strong peasant woman in her fifties, “Take good care of the children, make sure they don’t run around, this isn’t a game!”

He instructed everyone on what to do, and the butler jogged over to deliver his armor belt, along with his two favorite rifles.

He fastened his belt around his waist, patted it, and then whistled a loud and powerful whistle.

A neighing sound came from the stable in the distance, and a black horse with a coat as smooth as satin galloped over; it was his horse.

The horse approached and snuggled against him, nuzzling his chest, and the old man's gaze softened considerably.

These people have spent their entire lives in the countryside; horses are as important to them as their families!

"Good buddy, I'll be relying on you to take care of me later!" he said, turning to the butler. "Where's my saddle?"

Soon the saddle was installed, and he refused the steward's offer to help him mount the horse. He grabbed the top edge of the saddle and easily flipped himself onto the horse.

This little movement was nothing to him, even though he was very old.

After he was seated, he raised his spear and said, "Young men, what are you waiting for?" With that, he spurred his horse forward!

During the time he was speaking, more cowboys had gathered around. They didn't show any fear on their faces; instead, they were excited!

These cowboys are different from those... fake cowboys; they need to hunt often and shoot animals.

They are more professional, and more ruthless!

A large group of cowboys followed him as they raced toward the old house, while an armored vehicle started up.

Although Albert was a traditional cowboy, it didn't mean he was a fool. He certainly knew that armored vehicles should be used when available, and not only armored vehicles, but also several modified pickup trucks following behind them.

Inside the bed of these pickup trucks, there was a machine gun standing upright, and ammunition belts were piled up around it!
(End of this chapter)