Rather than a meeting between two social extremes, it is better to say that this is a debate between Dutch and Stritch. In the end, the debate ended with Dutch persuading Stritch - despite Stritch's tone. Arrogant and disrespectful. Dutch pointed at the items in the box with a proud face. In his own words, a brave and strategic confrontation is not as good as a eloquent ventriloquism.
At the bottom of the wooden box lies a list full of tavern names and Stritch Manstar's personal token. All these evidences prove that Stritch has surrendered, and the Van der Linde gang is one step closer to achieving financial freedom. .
Dutch clapped his hands and brought people back from the joyful atmosphere. John knew that whether he was happy or sad, the gang leader must first calm down from the fluctuating emotions, and Dutch was the one who was good at this skill.
"Brothers, Stritch's wealth is in our hands, but how to make this money legal is still up for debate. I still follow the gang's old creed: listen to everyone's free speech."
Bos was the first to speak: "I think we should use the bribes from these bootleggers to find Van Gregoire Couch who has made a lot of money for us. These should be enough to get our gold bricks back."
Dutch smiled bitterly, blinked at Fantasy, and signaled him to change the subject and talk about something else.
Upon seeing this, Fantasy immediately said: "Oh, I think it would be very effective to hide this money somewhere first and then go back to find Stritch."
"Since we got the money, why did we go back to find that guy?" Miller asked puzzledly.
Dutch continued: "I think Brother Fantasy's idea is very good. If we take the money and leave without saying goodbye, we must know that Stritch's list and tokens are all with us. These are the factors that determine Stritch's position in De... Price is a token of status that she will not ignore, and Stritch is the business partner and mistress of the bastard Mayor Lemieux. She will try her best to mobilize the mayor's Pinkerton detective no matter what. That’s when we were truly at the end of our rope.”
John nodded in approval. This plan was the most feasible at the moment, even though it was obviously Dutch speaking out of Fantasy.
Fantasy's proposal was approved by everyone except Bos. After suffering the hints from his wife and others' eyes, Bos still insisted on the idea of getting the gold back, but his stubbornness could not change anything.
Dutch made arrangements for everyone based on Manstar's list, and John was assigned to the harbor area to deal with a grocer named Anthony Jobabnowy who ran the bootlegging trade. To his surprise, After hearing Stritch’s name, Boss Anthony was very cooperative and obediently took out three thousand dollars. When we finally met at the Chrysler Hotel in Lyon, we learned that everyone's debt collection trip went very smoothly, which once again proved the influence of Stritch Manstar in the Saint-Denis area.
Dutch hid the money under the floor of an empty house outside the market, bribed the landlord, and asked Ella to stay there and not to leave the house without an order. After everything was ordered, the group of people took the box and set off to Stritch's manor. Dutch lowered his head in deep thought along the way, and John could see that he was thinking about a strategy to deal with Stritch later.
When approaching the gate of the manor, Dutch asked everyone to hide a pistol in their boots in case of emergencies.
"Oh, gentlemen, you are back!" Less than a few hours after the Van der Linde gang left, Stritch was sitting in the garden having afternoon tea with her husband.
"Dear lady, we got what you wanted," Dutch said.
Stritch put down the porcelain cup in his hand and stood up and said: "Sure enough, there is strength in numbers. When I finish counting the numbers, I will give you rich rewards. Now, please open the box and give me a reason to sincerely admire your abilities!" "
"I think, before that, let's discuss the amount of commission for Mr. Price. This is the top priority." Dutch said unhurriedly.
"Why don't you open the lid and speak frankly? Humph, I guess you don't dare to open it? Do you still need me to open it myself? Mr. Van der Linde." Stretch's expression suddenly changed. John clearly remembered that he had not revealed it to her. their names.
"This... let's get back to the price business." Dutch finally faltered, and there was a plea in his words, which shocked everyone.
Then a familiar voice sounded from behind the Van der Linde gang in the direction Stretch was facing.
"De Price never hires fools to negotiate prices."
——This is the voice of Mayor Lemieux!
John turned around, and Lemieux led a dozen guards into the gate of the manor, heading this way.
"Dutch Van der Linde, you are always bad at learning, and your ideas are full of flaws, so that you are at an extreme disadvantage against me many times." Lemieux said with a smile.
"How... did you... know about this?" Dutch's voice was broken.
"You don't want to know, and you won't know. After all, what's the point of a dying man knowing the way he died? It's better to let him be as confused when he died as when he was alive. Chief Oliver, please issue an order to Order to detain these people!" Lemieux lit a cigarette and waved it in the air. The sparks from the cigarette butt were swinging up and down in the air, as if the fate of Dutch and others was at the mercy of others.
"Wait!" Dutch stopped the whistle that Chief Oliver was supposed to blow. "Don't you want to know where the money in the box is hidden? If we are caught, this money will be lost forever."
"Police officers in Saint-Denis, are you still waiting to hear this nonsense?" Lemieux snapped.
"Wait a minute!" It was Stritch Manstar who shouted this time. The extremely high-pitched tenor echoed in the ears of everyone present, and the policemen also retracted their steps.
"Mr. Mayor, you also have a share in this batch of money. Maybe you won't lose much if you give it up, but I am determined not to. I heard that the prohibition on alcohol is about to be promulgated..."
Lemieux laughed: "Mrs. Bryant, do you know? Standing in front of you is the number one public enemy of Saint Denis, a dangerous burden of the old era. If you are determined to find the money, it will be difficult for me not to I suspect you are an accomplice."
"Mr. Lemieux, although we have been fighting openly and secretly, the cooperation we promised to De Price has indeed brought about a win-win situation. Why do we have to try to break the harmonious relationship that Mr. Price has been committed to maintaining for a long time?" ?”
"When special times come, I must abide by the law and bring the bad guys to justice. This is two different things from making money. This is my principle."
"Is this also the reason why you are vigorously promoting Prohibition? You also know that once Prohibition is implemented in Saint-Denis, I will be in jail, and you know my physical condition. Once I leave those drugs, I will be miserable. "
"So Mrs. Bryant, how are you sure these people will reveal to you where the money is hidden?"
"I can see that there are many unsteady ones among them. I have enough ways to make them speak. After that, you can use your set of laws to deal with these thieves at will."
"Madam, you don't want to keep this money all to yourself, do you? Besides, you also said that I have a share of the money."
"I'm afraid this is the last time I make money before Prohibition. What's wrong? Mr. Lemieux, do you want to rob money before killing yourself?" Stritch's face suddenly darkened.
"It's not up to you to decide." Lemieux sneered.
"Oh, really?" Stritch snapped his fingers, and the guards of the manor immediately surrounded the people, three times as many as Lemieux.
"You are openly defying the government!" Lemieux shouted in the encirclement.
"Mr. van der Linde, please go and get the money now, otherwise the deadlock between me and Mr. Lemieux will not be eliminated, but don't get away with it. You must leave some people here, just like Mortgage it.”
Dutch followed Stritch's request and escaped from Manstar's residence with only Fantasy, John, Bos and Baoliqi, and then rushed to the hiding place in the downtown area. After repeatedly confirming that he was not being followed, Dutch finally Dare to ask the landlord to open the door...
