Chapter 405: Chapter 299: Stance (Part 2)
"Buddy, give me some cash. I need to go see a guy about something!"
Nash opened the paper bag filled with cash, pulled out a thick stack without a glance or a count, and tossed it straight to Cook. The motion was clean and crisp, without a hint of hesitation.
Catching the stack of cash, Cook felt an unexpected sense of being trusted and couldn’t help but ask.
"You’re giving me this much? Aren’t you afraid I’ll run off with it?"
A slightly menacing smile appeared on Nash’s heavily tattooed face, and his eyes held a chilling ruthlessness.
"Why would I be? No one cheats the Assabasca people out of their money. I’ve already memorized your scent. Even if you fled to Hell, I’d drag you back and tear you to pieces."
Cook shivered involuntarily and lifted his arm to sniff it.
’Are you a dog?’
’You can find me just by my smell?’
But he only dared to think this, not say it. He waved the list in his hand.
"Hey, don’t you worry. Everyone in Baird Town knows I’m an honest guy. I’d never do something like that. Just wait for my good news."
With that, Cook stuffed his hands in his pockets, affecting a cool demeanor. He sauntered over to the bar’s back door, pulled it open, and swaggered inside.
A short while later, Cook emerged from the back door of the bar with a man with bleached-blond hair.
The two of them stood behind the door, murmuring in low voices for a while as if discussing something.
Then, they both pulled out their phones, fingers tapping quickly across the screens, seemingly exchanging some kind of files.
Next, Cook pulled a few bills from his pocket and tossed them to the blond man.
The man took the money with a satisfied smile, nodded at Cook, and turned to go back into the bar.
Cook lingered at the back door for a moment, as if collecting his thoughts or checking if there was anything wrong with what he’d just received.
After a moment, he stepped back inside the bar.
Not long after, he came out again with another man.
It was the same routine. They first exchanged something using their phones, then Cook paid the man, who took the money and left quickly.
This repeated over and over.
After going through this exchange with more than ten people, Cook finally staggered back to the car.
As soon as he got in, a look of delight spread across his face. He excitedly held up his phone and waved it at Nash.
"Buddy, I’ve got all kinds of videos of Valerie in here. Wanna see? They’re absolutely explosive, man. Way beyond anything you can imagine."
"Save them for Khilla. I’m just here to assist you with your work. Where to next?"
Nash shook his head, indifferent. He had no interest in these so-called explosive videos.
Right now, he just wanted to get this evidence collection over with and help Yves win custody of his daughter.
Seeing this, Cook didn’t seem to mind the brush-off.
He helped himself to a can of Coca-Cola from the car’s mini-fridge. With a PSSSH of the tab, a puff of white vapor escaped. He tilted his head back, took a huge gulp, and smacked his lips in satisfaction.
"First the school, then the hospital. Damn federal government. Teacher Mary is somehow still a teacher. My God, she’s been teaching for forty years. I have no idea why this town can’t even find someone to replace her. This country is hopeless."
As he spoke, the SUV started up and drove away from the bar, heading toward the school.
The wheels kicked up a cloud of dust, and the vehicle soon disappeared down the road.
In the restaurant, the group was eating Texas barbecue.
Just then, a middle-aged man in an apron slowly walked over.
He stopped at their table, his gaze falling on Yves, his face full of confusion.
He stared at Yves for a long time, studying him with a probing and uncertain look.
Then, his eyes shifted to Fiona, whom he recognized. He hesitated before asking uncertainly.
"Are you... Trunks?"
"Old Cassie, you’re only just now recognizing me? Looks like it’s time for you to retire!" Yves said with a wry smile, looking up at the middle-aged man with resignation.
"Oh my God, everyone, it really is Trunks! He’s back!"
The moment Yves confirmed it, Old Cassie let out a loud exclamation that echoed through the restaurant, immediately drawing the attention of the few other diners and servers.
Hearing the name, everyone crowded around, their faces filled with surprise and excitement.
Yves was something of a former celebrity in the town.
In fact, ever since Feng Mountain’s group had walked into the restaurant, everyone had been wondering about Yves’s identity.
After all, he had been away from the town for over three years—enough time for a person to change a lot.
Back then, Yves had long, punk-style hair and was drunk all the time. His appearance then was worlds apart from how he looked now.
Now, he was neat and presentable, looking like someone who had his life together.
That’s why no one had been quite sure it was him at first.
Immediately, a crowd swarmed around Yves.
Everyone started talking at once, asking where he had been for the past few years and what he had been doing. The tangle of voices was loud enough to tear the roof off the place.
"Excuse me, gentlemen, I’m still eating here!" Fiona said huffily, seeing everyone mobbing her father with questions. She raised her fork, pouting. Her adorable yet angry expression made the people around her want to laugh.
"Our apologies, Your Highness, for interrupting your meal. We’ll take this over there!"
Seeing this, Old Cassie quickly laughed, patted Yves on the shoulder, and gestured with his chin toward a corner of the restaurant, indicating they should move somewhere quieter to talk properly.
Yves understood and got up, following the group to the corner. After they all found places to sit, they started chatting again.
Old Cassie glanced in Fiona’s direction and sighed softly, a look of helplessness on his face. He then turned back to Yves and asked.
"Trunks, you’ve heard about what’s going on with Valerie?"
Yves just lowered his head and nodded grimly.
’What good would knowing do? It’s like I was gored by a longhorn back then.’
’Why did I ever agree to give my ex-wife custody of Fiona?’
’Thinking about it now, even if she had to wander around with me, it would have been much better than staying in a wretched place like Baird.’
"There was nothing we could do. You took care of Black Eye, but who would’ve thought Bao Wen would show up?"
"That’s right. Bao Wen and those Zorro bastards have turned Baird Town into a complete mess. Trunks, I think you should step up and stop them."
Someone next to him chimed in, a hint of expectation in his eyes, as if Yves could save the town just like he did before.
"Trunks, you’re Baird’s great hero. We all believe in you."
Another person added on. In an instant, everyone was chiming in, praising Yves to the high heavens. The flattery was endless, as if it were free, and it all poured into Yves’s ears.
Unfortunately, the Yves of today was no longer the hot-headed man from three years ago, easily swayed by a few words from others.
He sneered inwardly.
’Easy for them to say.’
’But when Fiona was suffering, why didn’t I see any of you stand up for justice?’
’Even when Fiona was starving, if you’d just given her a single hamburger, she wouldn’t have had to eat those hard, expired pizzas.’
Yves had seen these people for who they truly were.
It was the same back then. When Black Eye formed his gang and terrorized the town, there’s no way he would have dared to touch Fiona unless someone was pulling strings in the background that day.
If it hadn’t been for that, he wouldn’t have impulsively crippled Black Eye, forcing him to leave his daughter behind and flee.
Facing everyone’s expectations, Yves’s tone was calm yet distant.
He stated his position, making it clear he didn’t want to get involved in their mess again.
"I only came back this time to take Fiona and leave. I won’t get involved in anything else. What happens in Baird Town has nothing to do with me anymore."
.....
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