Don't underestimate this rough understanding - if this parallel timeline doesn't have major changes, it would be enough to elevate Henry's perspective on international affairs and America itself above most people.
At least the major directions and choices wouldn't have significant errors.
This was also why he knew about the existence of "city bosses."
This allowed him to jump out of the constraints of his current identity and position to consider problems comprehensively.
America was a world of capital, so if Henry wanted to accomplish anything, he had to become part of the capital.
Henry was very confident about eliminating the McKinley branch at Devonshire Manor and even McKinley family members in Denver, but taking over their business and industries was another matter entirely.
Much of the mining industry here in Fresco was the foundation for his initial foothold, which he certainly couldn't let slip away.
He needed sufficient subordinate teams and partners.
Henry already had a preliminary action plan - now it depended on subsequent developments.
Of course, sufficient intelligence support was very important.
But if it really wasn't available, that was fine too - he had his own special tricks.
Henry calculated briefly. In these two days he had already released 44 assassins or gang members, plus Barrett and that Louis character.
There shouldn't be too many ill-intentioned people in town temporarily.
In fact, Fresco Town rarely had unfamiliar faces before, being deep in the mountains and forests after all.
——
When Billy the Kid woke up on the third floor of Aurora Bar, he felt completely refreshed.
He'd drunk enough last night, and later the bar girl, under his powerful persuasion of 20 dollars, had provided first-class service and skills.
He was very satisfied with his current condition. The deep sleep after wild release had brought him to his physical peak.
He took out his pocket watch - it was nearly 11 AM. What a good sleep indeed.
After washing up, Billy the Kid went downstairs and ate a steak and oatmeal porridge, stopping when he felt sixty percent full.
Going to the bar's stable to lead out his horse, Billy the Kid carefully fitted the saddle, mounted, and rode toward the town's front entrance.
When he'd entered yesterday, two mounted police had questioned him briefly.
But his thin build made him look unthreatening, so he passed through smoothly.
Billy the Kid soon reached the town entrance, where indeed two mounted police were at the checkpoint.
He rode closer, and the two officers immediately became alert.
One was Thor, who raised his rifle horizontally with the barrel tilted slightly down, shouting loudly: "Stop! What's your business?"
Billy the Kid said with a grin: "Send one of you to tell Sheriff Henry I'm waiting for him at the village entrance. The other stays to keep me company."
Thor immediately raised his rifle to aim at Billy the Kid.
"Bang!" A gunshot rang out.
Billy the Kid's single-action revolver had somehow reached his hand and, from over ten meters away, struck the front part of Thor's rifle barrel.
The tremendous shock made his left hand, gripping the front lower part of the barrel, completely lose its hold, and the rifle swung upward.
"Bang!" The second shot followed like a shadow, the bullet hitting the raised rifle near the right-hand trigger area, causing the entire rifle to be shaken completely free and fly several meters away.
Thor was stunned speechless by this supernatural marksmanship.
Hank on the other side had just started to raise his rifle when Billy the Kid's revolver pointed at his head, making him freeze immediately.
Billy the Kid smiled and said: "Don't worry, I have no interest in your little lives. You go call Henry over."
Hank, with the gun pointed at him, had no choice but to ride toward the police station over 300 meters away.
Billy the Kid holstered his pistol and said to Thor: "Come on, come with me over there to wait for Sheriff Henry. You'll be fine if you don't run around, but if you don't listen, you die."
Thor looked at Billy the Kid's grinning appearance but felt chills in his heart. He obediently followed his instructions, riding alongside him toward the open area at the town entrance.
When Hank reached the police station, he happened to encounter Henry coming out. Overjoyed, he said: "Sheriff Henry, there's a thin bandit with amazing marksmanship at the town entrance. He's kidnapped Thor and wants you to come find him at the entrance."
Henry said: "Then dismount. I'll ride your horse over."
After speaking, Henry returned to his office to get his "one-in-a-thousand" rifle - actually taking it from his space - then turned to leave, mounting Hank's police horse and galloping toward the town entrance.
Arriving at the entrance, he found over ten townspeople watching nearby, drawn by the recent gunshots.
About a hundred meters away, a thin white man around twenty sat on horseback with empty hands, his rifle hanging from his saddle.
About ten meters to his right, Thor sat on his own horse completely unharmed.
When Henry rode to within about fifty meters of Billy the Kid, Billy called out loudly: "Sheriff Henry, please stop your horse."
Henry pulled the reins and quickly stopped his horse, wanting to hear what this fellow had to say.
"Very good, Sheriff Henry. I'm not here for your bounty. I'm Billy the Kid - New Mexico police have a 5,000-dollar bounty on me."
"I happened to hear about your marksmanship and rode nearly 200 miles of mountain roads just to have one fair duel with you. Do you agree?" Billy the Kid glanced at Thor as he said this.
Henry understood - if he disagreed, this guy would instantly take Thor's life.
"I agree. What do you need me to do?" Henry was very straightforward.
"We'll duel with pistols. The time is perfect - it's noon, very fair. We both dismount and walk twenty paces toward each other then stop. Have this officer fire a shot into the air and we begin."
"No problem." Henry finished speaking and jumped down from his horse decisively, standing steady.
"Thor, you also ride to the middle. When we're in position, call 'ready,' then fire one shot into the air. Absolutely no other movements, absolutely not! Do you understand?" Henry shouted instructions to Thor.
"Understood," Thor replied loudly.
"Very good. I knew I wasn't wrong about you, Sheriff Henry. You're an opponent worthy of respect," Billy the Kid also dismounted and stood steady, facing Henry directly.
"Let's begin. Forward," Henry called out loudly.
"Begin," Billy the Kid also responded loudly.
Both men stepped forward simultaneously, step by step with clear rhythm.
By now over twenty people had gathered at the town entrance, including Hank. They had heard Henry and Billy the Kid's conversation and were watching tensely and excitedly.
Some who knew Billy the Kid's reputation and record were discussing among themselves.
"Billy the Kid killed 21 gunmen single-handedly in Lincoln County, including two sheriffs."
"I heard he suffered shameful betrayal - he was originally a sheriff too."
"Billy the Kid actually came all the way here - 500 miles? Henry is truly famous!"
"Too bad Billy the Kid is probably finished!"
"Damn! No time to open betting!"
(End of Chapter)
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