Boom.
An explosion rang out abruptly across Saint Denis.
Screams followed as the crowd scattered in panic. Patrol officers rushed toward the scene at once.
People in this day and age didn't linger to watch the excitement. Stray bullets were far too easy to catch.
"Molly, go stir up some chaos in the crowd."
Up on the rooftop, Hosea felt an uneasy weight in his chest.
"Alright… you know me, Hosea. I'm not very good at this sort of thing."
Molly sounded reluctant. This was her first time taking part in a gang operation. In the past, she'd never involved herself in such matters.
Hosea couldn't quite understand why Dutch would have a pampered young lady like her come out for this.
"It's alright, Molly. Just act like anyone else. Show that you're frightened."
Molly nodded. "Okay… I'll try."
In truth, it wasn't Dutch who had asked her to come. Molly had insisted on it herself.
What she wanted from Dutch had always been simple—his love. Her family wasn't short of money.
But lately, she had felt more and more that Dutch no longer paid her much attention.
So she had gone to Arthur to talk about it.
In the original storyline, Molly had wanted to bring it up, but Uncle interrupted her before she could speak. Now Uncle had long since gone off to retire at the ranch in Valentine, enjoying his later years. There was no sudden interruption this time.
After listening to Molly's troubles, Arthur hadn't known what to say. In the end, he offered a vague response: Dutch cared deeply about the gang. If someone wanted his attention, they'd have to do something worth noticing.
That was why Molly chose to join this operation—to make Dutch see her.
She had just come downstairs.
The patrol officers hadn't arrived yet, but a large number of Pinkerton agents had already surrounded the area.
Molly's face turned pale with panic. She recognized Pinkerton agents on sight.
"Miss, this area is dangerous. Please leave immediately."
The agent took one look at her frightened expression and elegant attire and didn't suspect her of being a gang member. With her refined makeup and fashionable dress, she hardly looked like someone living rough. Assuming she had simply been startled by the explosion, he tried to reassure her.
"O-Okay… thank you."
Terrified, Molly hurried away. However naive she might be, she understood what the presence of the Pinkertons meant.
She wanted to find Dutch and warn him, but Dutch was already inside the bank.
Overwhelmed, she couldn't stop herself from crying.
"There's no need to be afraid, miss. Just leave this dangerous area. We'll handle the situation."
Molly, raised in comfort and privilege, was strikingly beautiful. Her tears immediately caught the attention of a young Pinkerton agent.
Unfortunately for him, he was on duty.
Upstairs, Hosea had already noticed the commotion.
He had also seen the Pinkerton agents coming up.
If it were Arthur or someone else, they might have tried to escape at this moment. But Hosea couldn't. He was old.
The Pinkerton agents soon reached the rooftop and spotted him.
They raised their guns. "Sir, you're under arrest."
Hosea lifted his hands calmly. "This is just a misunderstanding, gentlemen."
One of the senior agents spoke up. "Mr. Matthews, this is no misunderstanding."
Hearing his name spoken so precisely shattered Hosea's last bit of hope.
It was a trap. A trap aimed at the Van der Linde Gang. And they had walked right into it.
"The Pinkertons no longer have law enforcement authority. You have no right to arrest me."
Hosea's voice remained steady. That was what Davey had told him.
The agents laughed.
The senior agent explained, "Which is why we have you to thank, Mr. Matthews. It was your capture of Mr. Bronte that granted us temporary law enforcement authority."
"So yes, you are under arrest."
Hosea's heart sank with regret.
He hadn't expected it to turn out like this. It was Bronte's death that had restored the Pinkertons' authority.
He never should have let Dutch seek revenge. He had opposed it from the beginning. But regret was useless now.
...
Lemoyne National Bank.
"Gentlemen, robbing thieves isn't a crime."
"These people have stolen this country's future…"
Even at a time like this, Dutch insisted on delivering his philosophy.
When the explosion sounded in the distance, he burst into laughter. "I just love Hosea. The man's a true artist."
"Alright, gentlemen. It's our turn."
"Follow the plan. Move."
The patrol officer at the bank entrance posed no threat.
Arthur knocked him unconscious with a single blow instead of killing him outright.
Gunfire now would draw too much attention.
Dutch called out, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is a robbery! Don't do anything foolish—stay calm and you won't get hurt!"
...
In a second-floor room nearby.
Ross reported, "Sir, they're inside. Shall we proceed?"
Milton took a slow sip of coffee. "We should give them a little more time, shouldn't we?"
Ross continued, "There's more good news, sir. We've captured the man behind the explosion—Hosea Matthews."
"He's one of the leaders of the Van der Linde Gang. Perhaps we could use him as leverage. Make those outlaws hesitate."
Milton felt a twinge of regret.
If not for Davey, he would have preferred to shoot Hosea in the street, right in front of the Van der Linde Gang.
First, it would demonstrate the Pinkertons' strength—capturing a major gang leader at the very start of the robbery.
Second, it would enrage the Van der Linde Gang.
Hosea's death would push them into madness.
And the more chaos they caused, the better it was for the Pinkertons.
When the public feared criminals, they would rely more heavily on the Pinkertons for protection.
"It's pointless, Ross. You've forgotten—Davey's people are watching us. As much as I'd like to kill them, that would only bring us bigger trouble."
Milton's tone carried a trace of helplessness. Davey's presence forced him to act with restraint.
A thought suddenly struck Ross. "Perhaps we could talk to Davey."
Milton frowned. "About what? You know he's stationed plenty of security company employees nearby. They're well-trained and capable."
Ross replied, "Sir, I have a plan."
"I want to speak with him about killing Hosea. Perhaps Davey would agree."
"It would be more advantageous for us."
...
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