Chapter 64 The Gears of History Turn
Calvo brought Lu Mingfei to an area near the edge of the city. The streets here were dark and dilapidated, surrounded by dilapidated buildings. The walls were covered with moss and stains, and most of the windows were broken and looked like they would collapse at any time.
However, among these dilapidated and low buildings, there stands a newly built four-story building abruptly. This building is particularly conspicuous and out of tune with the dilapidated scene around it.
The outer wall of the small building glowed coldly in the night, with bright lights shining through the windows. Even though it was completely dark, there were still many people queuing outside the door.
They were ragged, had haggard faces and thin bodies, and each of them had a desperate look on their face, like a group of beggars waiting for alms.
"It's right there." Calvo pointed at the four-story building, his tone revealing a hint of uneasiness. Then he closed his eyes. Lu Mingfei could feel a breeze beginning to linger around Calvo, and some invisible force hidden in the air began to flow.
"There are probably more than twenty people inside. How do we get in?" Calvo said after opening his eyes again, a hint of vigilance in his eyes.
"Kamaitachi? It seems that you have the same Word Spirit as your father..." Lu Mingfei said with emotion, with a hint of reminiscence in his tone. Kaczynski's Word Spirit had helped them escape death countless times on the battlefield, but he didn't expect that his son has inherited this ability now.
"You also know about mixed-bloods?" Calvo was obviously surprised when he heard Lu Mingfei's words. He always thought that Lu Mingfei was just an ordinary soldier who was very good at fighting, but he didn't expect that he knew so much about mixed-bloods.
"Of course," Lu Mingfei smiled calmly.
"Come on, I'll take you in to get some money." His tone revealed a calm confidence. The small building in front of him was just a non-threatening obstacle to him.
"There are only two of us, but there are more than 20 people inside, and they may all have guns. Can we really win?" Although Calvo kept up with Lu Mingfei's pace, his tone was still full of anxiety and worry.
Although he inherited his father's spiritual words, he was still a teenager after all. Facing such a battle with a huge disparity in numbers, he couldn't help but feel unsure.
"Gun? I have one too." Lu Mingfei responded casually. He then pulled out a pistol from his waist, skillfully pulled the safety, loaded the bullet, and the muzzle was slightly shining coldly, like a sleeping beast, waiting for the master's order to deliver a fatal blow.
As they got closer, the layout of the small building gradually appeared before their eyes. Through the open door, Lu Mingfei could clearly see the situation on the first floor.
There was a large desk in the middle, and behind it sat a man in a suit and a hat. He had a mustache and an expression of arrogance and indifference, not taking anything in front of him seriously.
Both sides of the table were filled with muscular men with grim expressions and dangerous looks in their eyes.
The sound of conversation in the small building also began to reach the ears of Lu Mingfei and Calvo, and the voices carried an obvious sense of threat and oppression.
"Jeffrey Brazeau, the fruit merchant?" The man in a suit spoke sharply with a strong hint of sarcasm. The pen in his hand casually moved across the paper, and he looked at the thin man in front of him with contempt, as if he was looking at a worthless commodity.
"Yes, business has been bad recently and my wife is sick, so I plan to borrow 100 marks for her medical treatment." The man's back was a little hunched, his tone was full of flattery, his hands were rubbing unconsciously, sweat slid down his forehead, showing his inner anxiety and helplessness.
"One hundred marks? Come on, put your fingerprints here." The man in the suit tore off a piece of white paper and began to scribbled the IOU on it. Then he handed it to the man opposite him and motioned for him to put his fingerprints on it.
"You have to pay us back 130 marks in a week. If you can't, I will smash your stall and take you to the mine to dig until you pay me back." There was no humanity in his words, only cold calculations and ruthless exploitation. The other party's pain and despair were just embellishments in his life.
When the man heard that he had to pay back 130 marks in a week, his hands began to tremble slightly and his face turned pale. He knew that he was unable to repay the money, but thinking of his wife lying on the hospital bed, he finally pressed his fingerprint on the IOU.
The moment the handprint fell, the man felt that all the strength in his body had been drained away. His body began to shake and it became difficult for him to even stand still.
"Roel, go get the hundred marks." The man in the suit put away the IOU and coldly instructed a burly man next to him. To him, this was just part of his daily routine. He was not even interested in looking at the thin man any more.
The sturdy man named Roel nodded, turned and walked up the stairs, and soon came down with a hundred marks. But before he handed the marks to the thin man, he deliberately showed off his strong muscles, with the veins on his arms bulging, as if he wanted to convey his strength and threat to the other party, and then he reluctantly handed the money to the man.
"If you can't pay the money back in a week, you should know what will happen." Roel said in a low voice with a sneer on his face, with a strong sense of threat.
"I know..." The man's voice was weak. He took the hundred marks from the strong man with trembling hands. The money was like a heavy piece of iron pressing on his heart.
Just as he was about to leave with the money, a crisp gunshot was suddenly heard outside the door, and then a scene that terrified him appeared in front of him.
A bloody hole suddenly appeared on the forehead of the sturdy man who had a threatening look on his face just now, and blood gushed out of it. The sturdy man widened his eyes, his body shook a few times, and then fell heavily to the ground with a muffled sound, and a pool of blood quickly spread on the ground.
"Help! Someone is attacking!" The man in a suit jumped up from his chair in fear the moment he heard the gunshots, and quickly hid under the desk like a frightened mouse. His voice was sharp and piercing with fear, echoing in the silent building.
The rest of the strong men reacted immediately and rushed towards the rifles leaning against the wall. The two strong men who seemed to be the leaders pulled out pistols from their waists. Their movements were swift and neat, with cruel lights flashing in their eyes. It was obvious that they had received rigorous training.
The other poor people who were still queuing at the door, when the gunshots rang out, scattered like a flock of frightened birds in an instant, and their figures fleeing in a hurry looked particularly embarrassed in the darkness.
The thin man holding the money also bent over and rushed to the door in a panic, staggering and almost falling.
Soon, there were only two people left at the door, still walking slowly towards the small building. Their steps were firm and they were not shaken by the chaos outside at all.
"Two people? They really don't know how to live or die!" After all the strong men got their guns, they quickly found a cover that could cover their bodies and then aimed outside.
When they saw that there were only two people outside, they immediately showed angry expressions on their faces. Two people dared to attack them? This was simply a naked humiliation for them.
Just as they were about to shoot, they suddenly saw the young man in military uniform at the door slowly raise the gun in his hand, with the muzzle slightly raised, aiming at a corner in the small building.
Then, the gunshot rang out again. It was only a short shot, but it was like the whisper of death, and it sounded particularly clear and deadly in the silent night.
"Ah! How come they are all dead! Wasn't there just one gunshot?" The man in a suit who was hiding under the desk poked his head out in horror. His face was as pale as paper and cold sweat kept rolling down his forehead. He originally thought that the strong men under his command could block the attack, but everything in front of him completely overturned his cognition.
He had just witnessed an incredible scene. After the sound of the gunshot, a dozen strong men holding rifles fell down one after another. A fatal bloody hole appeared on the forehead of each of them. Blood flowed out from the wound, soaking the floor. The air was filled with a strong smell of blood.
The man in the suit's mind went blank. He sat on the ground helplessly, as if all the strength in his body had been drained. He couldn't understand what was going on. There was only one gunshot, so why did everyone die?
But he had no time to think about this strange phenomenon, because a cold pistol was already pointed at his forehead.
"Come out and tell us where the safe is." Lu Mingfei said in a low voice, with a cold threat in his tone. His eyes were as sharp as a knife, piercing deep into the soul of the man in the suit.
The man in the suit felt a chill rising from the soles of his feet, and cold sweat soaked his back. He raised his hands, tremblingly crawled out from under the desk, and begged in a low voice: "Don't shoot! Don't shoot! I'll take you there! The safe is upstairs... I'll take you there!"
Lu Mingfei pointed his gun at the stairs and motioned him to lead the way. The man in the suit did not dare to delay at all and led the way trembling all over.
They walked towards the stairs step by step, and the man in the suit's heart beat faster and faster, as if it would jump out of his chest at any time. He didn't know who these people were, nor what they wanted, but he knew that if he made a mistake, he would probably die here today.
Calvo followed closely behind with a look of confusion and vigilance in his eyes. Although he didn't understand how Lu Mingfei did it, he knew that the soldier next to him was no ordinary person. Even when facing a dozen strong men with guns, he could still deal with them easily. Such strength seemed almost unbelievable to him.
The man in the suit led Lu Mingfei and Calvo upstairs tremblingly. When they finally arrived at the door of a room on the second floor, the man in the suit stretched out his trembling hand, took out the key, slowly inserted it into the keyhole, and opened the door.
The moment the room was opened, the man in the suit rushed to the side. Lu Mingfei completely ignored him and quickly pulled the trigger in his hand. Because he pulled the trigger so quickly, the gunshots seemed to be only one shot.
When the gunshots stopped, Calvo, who was following Lu Mingfei, could see the scene in the room clearly. Seven or eight strong men holding rifles or pistols were lying in a pool of blood. Each of them had a bloody hole on his forehead, and the blood dyed the floor red.
Calvo looked at Lu Mingfei's back in disbelief. He had only told Lu Mingfei that there was someone else in the room before going upstairs, but he didn't expect that Lu Mingfei knew the location of everyone in the room.
"The safe is here...the password is..." The man in the suit was so scared when he saw the corpses all over the floor of the room that he immediately pointed in the direction of the corner and said. His voice became hoarse with fear, and he tremblingly reported a string of numbers with obvious pleading in his voice.
He had originally planned to let the people in the room kill Lu Mingfei and the others, but he didn't expect Lu Mingfei to be so powerful.
There was a heavy wooden desk in the room and a steel safe in the corner.
Lu Mingfei nodded and signaled Calvo to open the safe. Calvo walked forward and pressed the password. The safe made a dull mechanical sound and slowly opened.
There was a large amount of cash in the safe, as well as several stacks of IOUs and account books. The amount of cash was enough to make any ordinary person stunned. A hint of surprise flashed in Calvo's eyes, but he quickly suppressed the fluctuations in his heart and quickly put the cash into a bag he carried with him.
"This money is enough for you to cure your mother's illness, and it is also enough for you to settle down in the United States." Lu Mingfei looked at Calvo and said, with a tone of comfort and encouragement.
"Thank you... Thank you so much..." Calvo had tears in his eyes and his voice trembled slightly with excitement. He bowed deeply, his gratitude overflowing with words.
"Now, it's time to deal with the end of this matter." Lu Mingfei turned his head and looked at the man in the suit, his eyes were cold and resolute. The man in the suit instantly looked ashen, fell to his knees with a plop, and begged: "Please let me go... I am a member of the Elders Council... If you kill me, the Elders will not let you go..."
The man in the suit's words were full of fear, his voice trembled with extreme panic, and his eyes flashed with pleading.
"The Presbyterian Church, that shitty Presbyterian Church again." Lu Mingfei's voice was cold. He had long been filled with disgust and anger towards the Presbyterian Church.
"Bang!" A gunshot rang out, and a bloody hole appeared on the forehead of the man in the suit. His eyes still maintained a look of fear. His body slowly fell down and hit the floor heavily. Blood gushed out of the wound, quickly staining the floor red.
"Let's go, we have other things to do." Lu Mingfei put away his gun and said coldly.
His eyes remained calm and firm, without a trace of fluctuation. Killing had long become a familiar means for him. For the sake of survival and protection, he had never hesitated.
Calvo took one look at the man in a suit lying in a pool of blood and a complex emotion welled up in his heart. Although he did not like these villains, he was still shocked to see life disappear so quickly.
He knew that this world was far more cruel than he had imagined, and Lu Mingfei's ruthlessness was precisely for the purpose of surviving in this cruelty.
"Well, let's go." Calvo took a deep breath, suppressed the complicated emotions in his heart, and followed Lu Mingfei out of the room. He understood that he had to become stronger in order to protect himself and his family in this world full of blood and violence.
When Lu Mingfei and Calvo walked out of the small building, the night sky was full of stars and the breeze was blowing, bringing a hint of coolness.
"Next, let's go find Hill. He should have already arranged the boat tickets and visas." Lu Mingfei said as he continued walking away.
Calvo followed Lu Mingfei, his heart full of gratitude and admiration. He knew that Lu Mingfei not only saved their family, but also showed them a way to a new life.
Just as they were moving away from the small building, a low chant suddenly came out of Lu Mingfei's mouth. As the chant echoed, a hot energy condensed in the air, like a volcano about to erupt.
A moment later, a beam of scorching flame suddenly spurted out from the interior of the building, followed by a deafening explosion. The entire building collapsed in the flames in an instant and turned into ruins.
"Hurry up." Lu Mingfei's voice came from the front. He did not look back, but continued to walk forward, as if the explosion behind him had nothing to do with him. His steps never stopped and remained unwavering.
Calvo looked back at the burning ruins and was shocked again. Lu Mingfei's power made him feel both awed and reassured.
Not long after, Lu Mingfei and Calvo returned to the Kaczynski family's restaurant. When they opened the door, they found that Hill had returned. The atmosphere in the restaurant was extremely tense and everyone was waiting anxiously.
"Mr. Lieutenant, four tickets to the United States, leaving tomorrow morning." Hill looked a little tired, with some minor scratches on his face. It was obvious that he was not having a smooth time getting the tickets, but he didn't say anything, just handed the four tickets to Lu Mingfei.
"Yes." Lu Mingfei took the ticket and nodded without asking any more questions. He knew that Hill paid a heavy price for this, but at this time, actions are more important than words.
"Pack your things for the trip to America. Calvo, come here. I'll teach you some simple English. You'll need it in America. Hill, come over here and listen."
Lu Mingfei continued, his tone was calm but full of responsibility. He understood that what he had to do was not only to save them, but also to help them survive in the new environment.
Before traveling through time, perhaps the only thing Lu Mingfei could show off was his English, and now this skill finally came in handy.
He began to patiently teach Calvo and Hill some simple English sentences so that they could cope with daily life in the United States.
At the same time, Kaczynski's wife and daughter were busy packing the things they needed for going to the United States. Their movements were hurried and a little flustered, but deep down they were full of hope for the future. Although the road ahead was unknown, with Lu Mingfei's help, they believed that they could start over in the United States.
At dawn, the news that the Jewish lending institution had been blown up spread throughout the city. This news was like a sudden storm, sweeping across the city quickly.
When many civilians heard the news, they flocked to the streets and celebrated excitedly. For those who were overwhelmed by debt, this meant that they could finally get rid of the heavy burden and no longer had to work to pay off their debts for those ruthless Jews.
However, the military and police were dispatched urgently and began searching the entire city, trying to find the culprit of the explosion. The atmosphere in the city became tense, and sirens echoed in the streets, announcing the coming storm.
But none of this had anything to do with Lu Mingfei and the others. They had already packed their things and arrived at the dock.
The pier was shrouded in a thin mist in the early morning. The waves in the distance gently beat against the shore, making a low sound, as if seeing off the people who were about to leave.
"The ship is about to leave, let's get on board quickly." Lu Mingfei looked at the ship not far away, and saw that some passengers had already started to board, so he said to the Kaczynski family.
"I don't know your name yet..." Calvo suddenly spoke, his voice choked with sobs. He stared at Lu Mingfei's face, tears welling up in his eyes. He wanted to engrave this face in his mind forever.
He knew that this man had not only saved their lives, but had given them a chance to live again.
"My name is William Hans. I'm a very good friend of your father. You can also call me Uncle Hans." Lu Mingfei looked at Calvo with tenderness and determination in his eyes.
"Okay, I understand, Uncle Hans." Calvo nodded vigorously, with a tearful tone in his voice.
To him, Lu Mingfei was like a towering mountain that propped up his collapsing sky.
The ship's whistle sounded in the quiet morning, announcing that the ship was about to set sail.
"Hurry up and get on board, Hill. You should come with us." Lu Mingfei handed out boat tickets to several people one by one, with a hint of urging in his tone.
"Me? Lieutenant, aren't you supposed to go?" Hill looked at the ticket in his hand, feeling a little overwhelmed. He had always thought that the extra ticket was left for him by Lu Mingfei, but now that he was suddenly told that he had to board the ship, he seemed a little flustered.
"I can't leave now. Paul and the others are still waiting for me." Lu Mingfei patted Hill on the shoulder and said with a smile. Although his voice was relaxed, there was unquestionable determination in his eyes.
"Then I won't leave either." When Hill heard Lu Mingfei's words, he immediately responded firmly and even wanted to throw away the boat ticket.
His eyes were full of determination. The years of fighting side by side with Lu Mingfei had formed a deep comradeship between them. He was unwilling to leave alone and leave Lu Mingfei alone on the battlefield.
"Hill, haven't you always wanted to be a painter? I made a lot of money yesterday, enough for you to go to the United States to paint with peace of mind, without having to sweep the streets anymore. By then, you will definitely become a great painter. Don't forget that you still have to paint a portrait for me." Lu Mingfei stuffed the ticket back into Hill's hand, with a hint of ridicule and encouragement in his tone.
He knew that Hill had a deep love for painting, and he hoped that Hill could realize his dream in a peaceful environment instead of embarking on the path of the man known as the devil.
"Mr. Lieutenant... I..." When Hill heard the word "painting", his heart was obviously shaken. He had always longed to become a real painter one day, and now, Lu Mingfei gave him this opportunity.
"Believe me, I'm very strong and will never die on the battlefield. When the war is over, I will go to America to find you. By then, I hope you will have become a great painter." Lu Mingfei continued, his tone full of confidence and expectation.
He knew that he had the ability to survive on the battlefield, and he also believed that Hill had the ability to realize his dream in a peaceful land.
"Then after the war is over...you must come..." Hill was finally moved by Lu Mingfei's words, and there was a hint of reluctance and expectation in his voice.
"Yeah." Lu Mingfei smiled and nodded.
Hill and his companions boarded the ship. The ship's whistle sounded again, and the huge ship began to move slowly, gradually leaving the port and heading towards the distant shore.
Lu Mingfei stood on the dock, watching the ship go away, a smile on his face.
The gears of history began to turn in the other direction at this moment.
Just as Lu Mingfei was watching the ship go away, suddenly, a figure jumped from the ship into the sea, stirring up a wave.
"Asshole! You will regret your decision today!!!" Lu Mingfei looked at the figure swimming desperately towards the shore and couldn't help but yelling loudly, his voice full of anger and helplessness.
"No! Absolutely not!!!" The figure paddled his arms vigorously in the water and responded without hesitation. His voice echoed in the sea breeze with determination.
Lu Mingfei stood on the shore, complex emotions flashing in his eyes, and the gears of history seemed to have returned to their original direction again.
Today shouldn't be short.
(End of this chapter)
