I write obituaries for the gods

Mrs. Redfield chuckled, her demeanor resembling that of a lady reminiscing at a tea party.

"For a time, her idealism influenced all of us, to the point that the gangs in Liberty actually had a peaceful ceasefire... You should know which period I'm talking about."

“And then? Liberty District is back to the same state,” Jiang Zhengge said, looking directly at Mrs. Redfield. “Thanks to you.”

“What else?” Mrs. Redfield seemed completely unfazed by Jiang Zhengge’s provocation. “The Rom hunters are dead, dead with their purity and idealism. That path is not the way to survive. I have so many people to feed; ideals can’t satisfy them.”

"Besides, Xiao Jiang, you have no right to criticize me. The last time I saw you, you were still a passionate investigator."

Mrs. Redfield smiled.

She recalled the first time she met Jiang Zhengge. That day, she entrusted tide Leina to deal with the "wind demons" raging in the slums, but the young man interfered at the last minute and got tide Leina into that old Toyota.

This one turn completely lured tide Leina away.

"She's very disappointed in you, isn't she?" Mrs. Redfield murmured. "After everything you've been through, you still choose to be loyal to the Bureau of Investigation."

Jiang Zhengge stared at Mrs. Redfield's dark skin, his gaze steady.

“You have two choices,” Jiang Zhengge said. “Choose one, it’s up to you.”

"Do I even have a choice?" Mrs. Redfield smiled.

"The first option is to wait for death. We will attack the port, and after you have been squeezed dry, I will execute you on the spot. After all, once the fighting starts, we won't have time to keep prisoners."

“Very decisive,” Mrs. Redfield nodded. “What’s the second option?”

“We’ll take you into the port, and you’ll order all the Red Gang’s men to lay down their weapons.”

Jiang Zhengge looked directly into Mrs. Redfield's eyes:

“Your men will be kept as prisoners, or you can go further and help us fight the rebels to atone for your crimes.”

After hearing Jiang Zhengge's suggestion, Mrs. Redfield chuckled:

"Hehe... You're so clever, Xiao Jiang. That was a pretty good trick."

She shook her head, her expression regretful.

"It's a pity, but whether I help you or not, it's unlikely to have much impact on the outcome of the battle."

"What do you mean?" Jiang Zhengge narrowed his eyes.

"Why do you think I'd stay outside and not go to the port to guard things now that things have come to this? Do you really think I have such high standards for my quality of life? I started from the bottom."

Mrs. Redfield sighed:

"Because the port has long been emptied by the rebels and the super-Americans, and there are hardly any of my people left there."

"Of course, the main reason for giving up the port is that once things are over, our group will all board the ocean liner and head to the United States. After all, they are the host country, so it's normal for them to be a little controlling."

"The Ocean Ship?" Jiang Zhengge frowned.

The name, like an old scratch on the hull of a ship, resounded in Jiang Zhengge's mind with a startling sound.

“The Bureau of Investigation doesn’t want this wrecked ship, we can buy it and modify it, it’ll still be usable,” Mrs. Redfield chuckled. “As far as I know, I’m not the only one who wants to leave on that ship, Director Louis… seems to be planning to run away as well.”

“Louis…” Lin Chen whispered from the passenger seat.

Surprisingly, after experiencing a crushing defeat, Louis actually planned to defect to the superpower, the United States.

Jumping from the Bureau of Investigation to the Foundation, and finally to Super America, he truly is a traitor to three masters.

“However, if you’re willing to do me a favor, I can still help you,” Mrs. Redfield said softly.

“That depends on your bargaining chips,” Jiang Zhengge said, looking at Mrs. Redfield.

“I can give you the position of defender of democracy,” Mrs. Redfield smiled. “You should understand what I mean, right?”

"You mean, the location of his true form?" Lin Chen looked at Mrs. Redfield.

"Ah, as expected of the Investigation Bureau's elite, they got the crucial intelligence so quickly. I was even planning to use this information to earn some favors..."

Mrs. Redfield nodded approvingly at Lin Chen, then looked at Jiang Zhengge again:

“He’s dead. Now that my men have laid down their weapons, you should be under a lot less pressure.”

“Sounds good,” Jiang Zhengge nodded. “So, what do you want?”

“I need protection and a pardon,” Mrs. Redfield smiled. “After the war, I want to stay in Liberty.”

“That’s strange. I thought you were planning to sell the Liberty District for a good price,” Jiang Zhengge said.

“Isn’t it because we can’t sell them?” Mrs. Redfield shrugged. “People get old, Jiang. When you get old, you have to compromise all the time. Even if you watch everything you have disappear before your eyes, you can only watch.”

“We need to have a talk,” Jiang Zhengge said.

He gave Lin Chen a look, then got out of the car and walked with Lin Chen to the other end of the alley.

“That’s a real monster,” Lin Chen said, staring at the Cullinan’s opaque rear window. “We just blasted so many of her men to death, and she can still cooperate with us without batting an eye.”

“These are the monsters that this city of Yudu has spawned,” Jiang Zhengge said in a low voice. “In their eyes, profit is always paramount.”

"Old Jiang, are you planning to cooperate with her?" Lin Chen asked Jiang Zhengge.

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend,” Jiang Zhengge said. “As long as her interests conflict with those of the rebels, we can naturally reap the benefits. It’s not too late to deal with her after we’ve dealt with the rebels.”

"Moreover, the biggest variable is still the defender of democracy. That madman is now in dire straits. Who knows what kind of madness he might have? It would be best to get rid of him first."

“Hmm, that makes sense.” Lin Chen nodded.

Lin Chen looked at the luxury car in the rain, and the image of Mrs. Redfield's calm and composed demeanor flashed through his mind.

“But I always feel uneasy about doing business with this kind of person…” Lin Chen said.

“You’ll get used to it eventually,” Jiang Zhengge patted Lin Chen on the shoulder. “Of course, it’s right to stay vigilant. When dealing with these things, always assume they’ll try to trick you.”

"..."

In the back seat of the Cullinan, Mrs. Redfield looked out the window at the two people talking in the distance.

“You’ve really found yourself a good home, Oswald. Those are all honest people.”

She turned her head and, as expected, found Oswald staring at her.

"How much did the Mercury Society participate?" Oswald asked Mrs. Redfield.

"How much do you think someone of my rank could know?" Mrs. Redfield shrugged. "However, I do know something... Lavasis has reappeared."

Upon hearing the name Lavasis, Oswald's knuckles immediately cracked.

He didn't speak, but just stared silently at Mrs. Redfield.

At that moment, the car door was opened, and Jiang Zhengge got in.

“Then let’s make a deal,” Jiang Zhengge said. “No tricks, ma’am, this is for your own good.”

"Of course."

Mrs. Redfield shook her head helplessly.

"In the end... it was you who gave me face, Xiao Jiang."

......

Port, bar.

Chen Minghao was straddling an American soldier, punching him hard in the face.

One punch, two punches, three punches.

Cheers surrounded him, and the strong smell of alcohol irritated his nostrils, making it impossible for him to distinguish the taste of blood from that of wine.

Chen Minghao stood up and wiped the two rings on his fist after the soldier stopped moving.

"Is anyone else here?!" Chen Minghao roared.

Seeing him covered in blood, the white men cursed and left, shrinking into a corner of the bar.

Seeing that they had all run away, Chen Minghao silently sat back down by the bar, took a glass of wine from his subordinate, and drank it all in one gulp.

"You don't need to go."

Zhao Tianmu sat down next to Chen Minghao and looked at the bloodstains on his body.

“Those white people are unreasonable. What if they start using guns?” Zhao Tianmu said.

“They don’t dare,” Chen Minghao slammed his glass down on the bar. “They’re a bunch of cowards.”

“Then we can’t take that risk,” Zhao Tianmu’s tone became more serious. “What will happen to the brothers of the Rat Gang if you die?”

"You're just afraid they won't listen to you," Chen Minghao chuckled. "Don't worry, they're not stupid. Even if I die, they'll find a way to survive."

"And what about your wife?" Zhao Tianmu sighed.

When his wife was mentioned, Chen Minghao's movements noticeably slowed down.

“She’s safe now,” he said softly. “That’s enough.”

Seeing Chen Minghao's decadent appearance due to excessive drinking, Zhao Tianmu became somewhat impatient.

To be honest, he had never seen such a stupid leader. Just because his subordinate was provoked by a foreigner in a bar, he personally stepped in and beat that white man half to death.

It's important to understand that the American soldiers brought by the American army were used to being arrogant and domineering in the Liberty district. Not to mention, the Red Gang's cultural roots are from the West Coast, so they would naturally be more biased towards their own hometown.

Even in this situation, Chen Minghao acted like a madman, wanting to rush up and fight to the death.

Should we call him loyal and righteous, or foolish?

“I’m here to tell you that the leader just issued a notice that Mrs. Redfield will be arriving at the port soon,” Zhao Tianmu said. “The Bureau of Investigation has already infiltrated the Liberty District, and Mrs. Redfield is preparing to flee.”

"Travel on a long-distance ship?" Chen Minghao didn't even turn his head.

“After all, there’s no other way, is there?” Zhao Tianmu said. “The fleet of the super-American should be there to meet us on the high seas.”

“That’s great,” Chen Minghao swirled his wine glass. “So, what should we do?”

"At my command, prepare to escort Mrs. Redfield onto the ship," Zhao Tianmu said.

"At your beck and call?"

Chen Minghao turned his head and looked at Zhao Tianmu.

"Say it again? I didn't hear you clearly."

Zhao Tianmu took a deep breath:

"This is Director Louis's instruction. If you..."

The next second, Zhao Tianmu felt himself being lifted up and slammed hard against the bar.

His eyes flickered: a pair of crazed, somewhat red eyes came into view.

"You expect me to take orders from you, you bastard?" Chen Minghao roared. "Don't fucking act all high and mighty! You're a dog! You're a dog!"

"You're a dog too!" Zhao Tianmu roared. "If it weren't for Director Louis giving you face, you would have been arrested by the Investigation Bureau long ago!"

"I couldn't be happier!"

Chen Minghao glared fiercely at Zhao Tianmu, his nostrils reeking of alcohol.

"If I hear you..." he breathed heavily, "tell me what you want to do, but don't fucking make me do your orders!"

"You dare touch me...don't you want your life..." Zhao Tianmu roared.

Chen Minghao smiled cruelly:

"What? You want to kill me and then start a war with the Rat Gang? Sure, go ahead and try... You killed so many of my brothers on Guter Street, they just need an outlet for their anger, how about we go all out, you don't want to live anymore, I don't want to live anymore, okay? Neither of us should live anymore! Okay!"

Chen Minghao's loud shout drew everyone's attention in the bar.

For a time, the rebels and the Rat Gang were on the verge of war.

Zhao Tianmu, panting heavily, looked at the mad dog that had pinned him to the bar, his lips twitching slightly.

"Calm down..." he said in a trembling voice, "We can cooperate..."

"Tell me what to do," Chen Minghao said in a low voice.

“Gather your men and go to the lighthouse area,” Zhao Tianmu said in a low voice. “Keep a close watch.”

Chen Minghao stared at Zhao Tianmu for a while before letting go and patting his dirty haute couture coat.

"Rat Gang!" Chen Minghao roared, "Come with me!"

"..."

After watching him leave, Zhao Tianmu pressed his earpiece and whispered: