New Gods of North America

When gangs are about to start an operation, they often display similar characteristics.

For example, they might occupy a relatively suitable high point near the steam train line, and then occasionally use binoculars to observe the nearby terrain and the end of the railway.

After the gang arrived near the steam train line, they spent the night in a valley.

The next day, they looked ready to take action.

This location was still some distance from the position the bartender had told Wayne, but because the scale of the map was large enough, it was still within the circle drawn by the bartender, albeit 'on the line'.

The error from the center point was almost enough for the gang to commit the crime and run away.

Perhaps even the gunshots wouldn't be heard.

The detective agency had been keeping their distance, hiding in the forest, mainly relying on Doug's birds for surveillance, and occasionally peeking through the gaps with binoculars.

The night before, they had also found a valley and set up traps in advance, preparing for 'divine justice' or 'earth-shattering' events.

Practicing launching projectiles wasn't possible at this time, as the gunshots would attract unnecessary attention.

But fortunately, they weren't aiming for precision anyway; they would just conduct a few more tests on-site to get the distance right.

Before the gang succeeded, the bounty hunter teams usually wouldn't take action.

The good news was that no one should be able to predict the detective agency's plan in advance.

However, the bad news was that there might be 'mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind', bounty hunter teams that suddenly appeared to compete for the spoils, and maybe even play the role of the gang.

Anyway, as long as there was no evidence to the contrary, no one would check the bullet rifling or ballistics.

Observing that a small team in the gang was moving in a different direction along the steam train line, towards a small wooden railway bridge, Linna led a few members to ambush them in advance.

After about a few tens of minutes, Doug's pigeon brought back a small note, telling the main force that everything was done.

There was also an unexpected surprise, because the small team was responsible for 'squatting' there, so they didn't need to report information to the gang's main force.

As long as the gang's main force didn't sense anything unusual, they might not send anyone to confirm.

This kind of on-the-spot news wasn't very reliable, after all, the prisoners might lie.

But Wayne still chose to temporarily trust Linna's interrogation and disposal abilities.

Since the bow had already been drawn and the arrow nocked, even if there were any unexpected situations, they could only stay vigilant and adapt to the circumstances.

Knowing the location of the gang's main force and the railway sabotage point, and looking along the steam train line, their planned crime location could be initially confirmed.

Lane took two people to the valley prepared for the ambush to confirm the arrangements and pass on the news.

Chef Parker and Emma were also hiding in a relatively safe high place there, and if necessary, they could also act as 'grenadiers'.

The rest of the main force quietly led their horses to a suitable location, ready to jump out and harass them.

This gang was also 'picky'. First, a freight steam train came, looking like it was carrying beef cattle and some other things, feeling like all agricultural products, and the gang didn't make a move.

...

Seeing a gang member responsible for putting his ear to the rails to listen for movement, and then making a gesture towards this side,

William Kidd, the leader of the 'Garry Adventure', once again took the binoculars from his 'first mate' and observed the steam train coming from afar.

This time the direction the steam train was coming from was right, and most of the steam train's carriages had windows, instead of the almost completely enclosed 'containers' from before.

Passengers traveling from the East Coast to the West carried a relatively higher proportion of cash or valuables, and unlike agricultural products, they were not difficult to transport and sell, which was often a good choice—a steam train that might be carrying dozens or hundreds of beef cattle, it would be a waste to rob it, and everyone couldn't possibly drive the cattle or transport the wheat to sell in the town.

So William Kidd nodded and gave the order to the 'first mate':

"Everyone mount up and prepare to depart."

"Yes! Captain."

When they were about the distance where they could faintly hear the sound of the steam train running, William Kidd rode his horse, guarded by the 'first mate' and several other important members, and took the lead.

When the cavalry reached a position where the drivers on the steam train could roughly see the situation,

William Kidd took the lever-action rifle in his hand and began to fire warning shots into the sky.

The 'crew members' saw that the captain had officially issued the order to plunder, and a burst of cheers erupted from the team, followed by everyone firing their guns one after another.

Like ships meeting on the sea, the pirate flag was officially raised.

These intermittent gunshots were both intimidating and warning the staff and passengers on the steam train, and also notifying their companions responsible for sabotaging the railway, telling them that they could officially take action.

Then, as expected, soon on the other side, a little further away in the direction the steam train was traveling, an explosion was heard.

"Boom—"

The steam train very obediently began to brake urgently, the sound as unpleasant as fingernails scratching a blackboard, sparks seemed to be able to come out of the rails.

"Money! We're here!"

The cavalry's forward speed slowed down slightly at this time.

Experienced members were patiently waiting for the final moment,

As long as the steam train completed the final slide and was fixed on the railway, the next step would be the happy harvest time.

"Captain, someone is coming over there. It looks like a little over ten people, all carrying weapons, they should be local law enforcement."

The 'first mate' was still vigilant. William Kidd looked in the direction the first mate indicated, and with so few people, they were overestimating themselves.

So William Kidd waved his hand, "Prepare to meet them."

"Yes!"

Under the command of the 'first mate', the 'third mate' led a row of members in the cavalry to turn their horses around, facing the direction the group was coming from.

William Kidd then controlled his horse, and the remaining members also stopped temporarily, so that the team would not be too scattered, and they would consider whether to support their companions or launch an attack on the steam train depending on the situation.

The person leading the opposite side was a little strange, approaching on horseback while occasionally firing shots into the sky, not knowing who he was trying to scare.

Something seemed to fall to the ground on one side of the cavalry, raising a little dust.

William Kidd turned his head and glanced at it, not paying much attention.

As long as they were experienced veterans who were familiar enough with firearms, they would be able to learn how to observe the best 'engagement distance'.

The group coming over at this time was still a little far away, the distance from this side should exceed 450 yards.

At least they had to wait for them to advance half the distance, close to about 200 yards, before it was really time to open fire.

But what surprised William Kidd a little was that,

The leader of that group actually pulled on the reins at this time.

Not only did he stop in place, but his companions also stopped continuing to approach and began to disperse their formation, turning into a horizontal row.

What's going on?

Warning us not to rob this steam train?

Is it useful?

William Kidd signaled the first mate to hand over the binoculars, and looked over there for a while.

The leader looked like a young man, with some kind of badge on his chest, but it was neither a police badge nor a church symbol.

But the little girl next to him was good-looking.

The 'first mate' leaned over slightly at this time, "Captain, I don't think they dare to continue to approach. The steam train has stopped, shouldn't we continue to act according to the plan?"

William Kidd glanced over there one last time. At this time, they actually started to freely shoot at this side, and were slightly adjusting their positions, slowly approaching step by step.

Such a long distance... Heh, either rookies or cowards.

On flat ground, more than 250 yards, even if facing the other side and walking in a straight line, it is common for people not to be hit after firing all the bullets.

If the hand deviates slightly, the final error may be more than ten or even dozens of yards, most of them will hit the ground in advance, or fly high over the head, and the rest can only be regarded as 'stray bullets', and the possibility of being hit in the crowd is not high.

When the 'third mate' turned his horse around, he deliberately led his men to get a little closer to that side.

Even though they were still so far away, they began to retreat.

Maybe it's some local gang?

They dare not continue to approach, and are unwilling to sit idly by, so they have to stay a little further away, and 'fire warning shots' uselessly.

As for those gunshots, just listen to them as boring music.

William Kidd chuckled, "If they get any closer, we will counterattack, otherwise we will ignore them.

"Continue to act!"

...

Watching one of Doug's gray pigeons circle around and finally fly into the steam train's cab with a small note,

After confirming the best angle and distance, Wayne increased the frequency of free shooting to prevent the gang members from continuing to approach the steam train.

As bullets continued to fall near the gang's cavalry, and even one person fell off his horse, the gang quickly realized that something was wrong, and began to imitate and shoot back or launch projectiles towards this side.

So the two sides began to 'bang bang bang' shoot at each other from a distance.

It was naturally more uncomfortable for the gang at this time.

Usually, after forcing the steam train to stop, the next step is to destroy the car door or find a way to climb in through the window, then enter the carriage, kill anyone who tries to resist, and then search or threaten the passengers to hand over their belongings.

There were probably more than thirty people in the gang's main cavalry at this time, still a little distance away from the steam train.

If they divided more than a dozen people to drive away Wayne and the others, then the number of people controlling the train and chasing would not be very advantageous, and the efficiency would definitely decrease.

But if the main force acted together,

If they only cared about the train, their backs would be attacked, and if they didn't care about the train, they would have to delay time dealing with the detective agency's members, without any gains.

Moreover, in this day and age in America, while people cherish their lives, they also generally admire the so-called 'tough guy' image.

If no one resists, then people will tacitly surrender when they encounter bandits, but as long as someone jumps out to make a demonstration, then it is likely that people will follow suit and fight back together, and the number of resisters that may appear in the steam train will also increase.

Seeing the steam train 'tremble' in place and then slowly start to restart again,

Wayne knew that the staff on the steam train had believed the small note that said the railway ahead was still safe and was signed with the name 'Wayne National Detective Agency',

So he quickly reminded the agents, "Hurry up and do the last wave of launching, once the steam train leaves, they will probably come after us."